Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2023

Entrepreneurs who search for real pain points, and build solutions around them, have the best chance of changing the world. So why do I see some many funding requests for products along these lines? So why do I see some many funding requests for products along these lines? That’s the great thing about being an entrepreneur.

Ideas 118

Ideas Outsource Development Outsource Course 118

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 5, 2011

Saturday, June 11, 2011 -- Crowdsourcing for the Entrepreneur: Unlocking the Power of Online Communities. Crowdsourcing, as a method of leveraging the massive pool of online users as resources, has become a viable set of techniques, tools, and marketplaces for organizations and entrepreneurs to drive innovation and generate value.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Enterprise Forum Netflix CalTech 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

In my experience as an advisor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I often encounter the myth that an initial startup requires investors. The reality is that over 80 percent of new businesses will never attract venture capital or Angel funding, according to experts , and there are many good reasons for skipping that painful and distracting process.

Entrepreneur 67

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Outsource Development 67

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2020

Entrepreneurs who search for real pain points, and build solutions around them, have the best chance of changing the world. So why do I see some many funding requests for products along these lines? So why do I see some many funding requests for products along these lines? That’s the great thing about being an entrepreneur.

Customer 167

Customer Custom Startup Outsource Development 167

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

It’s a jungle fight for survival out there for aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages and demographics. The best entrepreneurs work on making better time management a top objective. Talent can also be outsourced, but surviving in the business jungle without talent is unlikely. entrepreneur jungle startup survival'

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup News Framework 105

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

The new hot topic for entrepreneurs the last couple of years is crowd funding, which is anticipated to at least supplement, if not replace, the slow and mysterious process of current Angel and venture capital investors. Good-cause crowd funding. Pre-order crowd funding. Rewards-based crowd funding.

Funding 99

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2023

Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own. Attract and relish investor funding. They also don’t try to do everything in-house, since growing all the expertise you need is slow and expensive.

Tips 135

Tips Invest Startup Outsource 135

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2022

These days, everyone wants to be an entrepreneur, pitching their latest and greatest new idea, and looking for someone to give them money. Talk is cheap, but entrepreneurs who show you a working model of their idea know how to execute. You should never outsource the management of your core technology.

Outsource Development 110

Outsource Development Ideas Tool Outsource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2012

The new hot topic for entrepreneurs these days is crowd funding, which is anticipated to at least supplement, if not replace, the slow and mysterious process of current Angel and venture capital investors. This new model will allow large numbers of “regular” people to invest small amounts each online to fund early startups.

Funding 96

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 96

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2020

For some reason, too many aspiring entrepreneurs I know seem to focus on “actions” rather than “results.” These are not the entrepreneurs that I want to support, since I’m well aware that running a startup is far more complex, albeit more satisfying, than most conventional roles in established enterprises.

Product 123

Product Startup Tips Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2019

When you are starting a new business, every resource is precious, including time, funding, and people. Outsourcing services that could be done in-house. There is always a need for highly skilled or capital-intensive services, such as legal and manufacturing, that should be outsourced.

Outsource Development 122

Outsource Development Outsource Metrics Technical Review 122

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Thus I was happily surprised when I found the classic book, “ The Tech Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide ,” by Bernd Schoner, PhD, and cofounder of ThingMagic, which leans heavily on the people side of the equation. The operations superstar.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 123

socalTECH

AUGUST 7, 2014

The two of us really wanted to be entrepreneurs. With globalization, and the rise of technology, we believed that you were going to see more and more individuals looking to outsource tasks. We were really stubborn entrepreneurs, and worked at it for three years, because we were really determined to make it work. READ MORE>>.

Startup 231

Startup Technology Outsource Santa Monica 231

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2016

As an advisor to startups and an angel investor, I encounter many Millennials as entrepreneurs who are leaders and great role-models for the rest of us in business. Most great entrepreneurs, including Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Michael Dell, have talked about their failures as the key to later success.

Entrepreneur 60

Entrepreneur News Outsource Activity 60

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2022

The bad news is that it’s still a jungle fight for survival for entrepreneurs of all ages and demographics, with over 80 percent not having access to bank loans or venture capital. The best entrepreneurs work on making better time management a top objective. Treasure – Most entrepreneurs assume that treasure means funding.

Startup 112

Startup News Framework Outsource 112

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2012

There is a mythology amongst some LPs (funds that invest in VCs) and some VCs that “entry price doesn’t matter – only investing in the absolute best entrepreneurs.” Bimodal returns are a fallacy, many great VC funds are built on the power law curve. Outsourcing can be cheap. Often it does.

Startup 323

Startup Technology Venture Capital Santa Barbara 323

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

I expect that should seem intuitive to all entrepreneurs, but every investor I know has many stories about startup funding requests with major business model elements missing. Common choices include manufacturing in-house, outsourcing, off-the-shelf parts. Be specific on sales channels and marketing initiatives. Production.

Sales 102

Sales Customer Custom Outsource 102

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2021

In my experience as a business advisor and occasional investor, many of you won’t make it that far, succumbing to the high costs of getting those first customers, funding an initial inventory, and building an operational support process. Start networking for funding before the crisis. Build your plan around resources you know.

Startup 161

Startup Resource Customer Custom 161

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2020

I’m sure you have all seen entrepreneurs and startups with great ideas that never seem to live up to their potential, while others with more mundane solutions seem to take off quickly and never slow down. As you move from development to rollout, a team effort is required, including marketing, sales, funding, and customers.

Startup 123

Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Outsource 123

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own. Attract and relish investor funding. They also don’t try to do everything in-house, since growing all the expertise you need is slow and expensive.

Funding 67

Funding Startup Outsource Ideas 67

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2012

Others hire consultants, or outsource much of the real work. An obvious reason is limited funds, but a more important reason is the need to know and intimately understand what is really going on in the business and the market. Too many entrepreneurs are reluctant to start the sales process, preferring to tweak and refine the product.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Template Mentor 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2020

Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own. Attract and relish investor funding. They also don’t try to do everything in-house, since growing all the expertise you need is slow and expensive.

Startup 154

Startup Outsource Ideas Research 154

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2020

These days, everyone wants to be an entrepreneur, pitching their latest and greatest new idea, and looking for someone to give them money. Talk is cheap, but entrepreneurs who show you a working model of their idea know how to execute. You should never outsource the management of your core technology.

Outsource Development 124

Outsource Development Ideas Tool Outsource 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2017

This probably seems obvious to military types, but I see entrepreneurs violating this rule all the time. Don’t be afraid to use some mercenaries to back you up (outsourcing, consultants). Don’t charge the hill until you are “ready.” Needless to say, they usually get shot down, and get no second chance. Better safe than sorry.

Funding 60

Funding Slides Outsource Summary 60

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Thus I was happily surprised when I found the classic book, “ The Tech Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide ,” by Bernd Schoner, PhD, and cofounder of ThingMagic, which leans heavily on the people side of the equation. The operations superstar.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 123

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2012

This probably seems obvious to military types, but I see entrepreneurs violating this rule all the time. Don’t be afraid to use some mercenaries to back you up (outsourcing, consultants). Don’t charge the hill until you are “ready.” Needless to say, they usually get shot down, and get no second chance. Better safe than sorry.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Slides Outsource Summary 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2011

Enough detail is required so that someone else can build it without you (outsourcing). Business model, executive team, marketing & sales, financials, and funding. I realize that many of you entrepreneurs are technical types, and you feel certain that an exciting product plan will highlight an exciting business opportunity.

Product 93

Product Entrepreneur Outsource Development Competition 93

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Even if you ignore all the hype around crowdfunding, there can be no doubt that it is a real alternative for entrepreneurs to achieve visibility and funding today. Other popular funding assistance sites for startups, including StartupAmerica and Startups.co

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2010

This probably seems obvious to military types, but I see entrepreneurs violating this rule all the time. Don’t be afraid to use some mercenaries to back you up (outsourcing, consultants). Tags: strategy entrepreneur startup funding business. Don’t charge the hill until you are “ready.” Better safe than sorry.

Entrepreneur 86

Entrepreneur Slides Outsource Summary 86

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

That’s why I caution my aspiring entrepreneur clients against proclaiming to investors that they are a great “idea” person. Don’t assume you can outsource the implementation decisions. The bridge from thinking and talking, to doing, is a long and difficult one for many to get over. A full plan may be no more than 20 pages.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2022

This probably seems obvious to military types, but I see entrepreneurs violating this rule all the time. Don’t be afraid to use some mercenaries to back you up (outsourcing, consultants). Don’t charge the hill until you are “ready.” Needless to say, they usually get shot down, and get no second chance. Better safe than sorry.

Slides 126

Slides Outsource Summary Conference 126

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2015

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. I still see entrepreneurs who spend money and time for months on a new business idea without any separation of personal and business funds, and any formal accounting system for their new business.

Outsource Development 99

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2019

The bad news is that it’s still a jungle fight for survival for entrepreneurs of all ages and demographics, with over 80 percent not having access to bank loans or venture capital. The best entrepreneurs work on making better time management a top objective. Treasure – Most entrepreneurs assume that treasure means funding.

Startup 94

Startup News Framework Outsource 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2020

Many entrepreneurs are convinced that banks are not worth the effort for startups, especially early-stage ones that still don’t have a revenue stream, or collateral to back up their financing needs. If you don't have a team on staff, then a banker is going to want to hear about outsourcing and advisors.

Technical Advisors 162

Technical Advisors Tips Startup Equity 162

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 31, 2021

Most relevant to startups is the push to fund initiatives and technologies that can help prevent or protect against extreme wildfires; rising sea levels and hurricanes; new agriculture resource management; and “climate-smart” technologies.

Startup 229

Startup Technical Review Invest Research 229