Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2020

One obvious alternative is to become an entrepreneur. As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to switch and get real satisfaction from this lifestyle. In fact, Mehta focuses on a special class of entrepreneurs that he calls disruptors. Then write them down. Be prepared to experiment.

Entrepreneur 123

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Writing Startup 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2019

They can talk with passion about their innovative new idea, and ask lots of questions, but never seem to really get started. The challenge we all have as business founders is to move from the idea stage to a real business. Always write in the future tense, what you will do, and name yourself as the key person responsible.

Ideas 99

Ideas Slides Writing Startup 99

InfoChachkie

MARCH 8, 2011

As highlighted in the movie The Social Network , the Winklevoss brothers are embroiled in a protracted lawsuit with Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Facebook. They claim that Mr. Zuckerberg “stole” their idea of creating a social network for the Harvard student community. I encourage emerging entrepreneurs to utilize Quora.

Writing 150

Writing Social Network Ideas Entrepreneur 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2021

The most successful entrepreneurs and executives I have seen are savvy business people first, and experts in their field second. It still amazes me how many entrepreneurs can fathom the physics of gyroscopes, but fail to comprehend the big picture requirements for positive cash flow and profit. Marty Zwilling.

Mentor 139

Mentor Entrepreneur Ideas Networking 139

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2023

A common challenge faced by every entrepreneur is that they don’t have the bandwidth, interest or skills to do everything that is required to build their startup. Investors worry about a single entrepreneur getting overloaded, disabled or led astray, with no balancing and supporting partner.

Startup 99

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 99

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2022

One alternative is to become an entrepreneur. As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to get satisfaction from this lifestyle. In fact, Mehta focuses on a special class of entrepreneurs that he calls disruptors. Then write them down. Be prepared to experiment.

Satisfaction 153

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Writing Startup 153

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 8, 2018

Steven Johnson, author of How We Got To Now , analyzes technological breakthroughs, looking for patterns that allow entrepreneurs to identify “How We’ll Get To Tomorrow.” As Mr. Johnson points out, big ideas generally result from the collision of many small hunches. Modern-day entrepreneurs use Evernote, Google Keep, etc.

Ideas 69

Ideas Startup Technical Review Santa Barbara 69

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2023

Successful entrepreneurs often start with a “random” idea, but they quickly focus their efforts and follow a “system” to organize their startup and maximize the clout of their activities. If you can’t write it down, you probably don’t understand it. Provide a unique point of view. Build a team. Focus on a specific niche.

Social Media 94

Social Media Media Ideas Writing 94

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than angel investors or professional investors (VCs). You see, investors invest in people, before they invest in ideas or products. You see, investors invest in people, before they invest in ideas or products.

Invest 135

Invest Technical Review Startup Ideas 135

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2016

Some people even believe that entrepreneurs must be born with the right genes, and no element of education is relevant. In my view, the most effective entrepreneurs are those with a background of an array of real-life experiences, both positive and negative, as well as good academic and coaching activities.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Tips Writing Coach 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2013

Many believe that entrepreneurs are born, not made. While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. We can all point to examples of successful entrepreneurs who dropped out of college, but still went on to make a big impact.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2021

A common challenge faced by every entrepreneur is that they don’t have the bandwidth, interest or skills to do everything that is required to build their startup. Investors worry about a single entrepreneur getting overloaded, disabled or led astray, with no balancing and supporting partner.

Startup 126

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 126

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

Our profile this morning is with Network Automation , a Los Angeles company competing in the IT automation market. Southern California--despite the lack of huge, name brand firms-- has a significant number of enterprise software companies, of which Network Automation is just one. The traditional way to handle that is to write code.

Networking 214

Networking IBM IBM Pacific Palisades 214

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2020

Successful entrepreneurs often start with a “random” idea, but they quickly focus their efforts and follow a “system” to organize their startup and maximize the clout of their activities. If you can’t write it down, you probably don’t understand it. Provide a unique point of view. Build a team. Focus on a specific niche.

Social Media 126

Social Media Media Ideas Writing 126

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2013

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. It does mean that you need to look, listen, and participate in the business world around you, and network through all available channels, like business-oriented social networks online (LinkedIn), local business organizations (Chamber of Commerce), and events or conferences in your domain.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Tips Startup Social Network 108

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

She actually IS the prototypical entrepreneur. The idea came from having been recently married herself and seeing how expensive it can be to buy a new wedding dress. But Tracy did what entrepreneurs do. Sam is the managing director of Launchpad LA and we were about to pick our 2012 class of entrepreneurs.

Startup 363

Startup Entrepreneur SEO Venture Capital 363

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

The challenge is when and how to make the switch to the entrepreneur lifestyle. As a mentor to young aspiring entrepreneurs , I often get asked for tips on a strategy to get started. Don’t be shy about networking for advisors with business experience for coaching and mentoring. The ability to pivot quickly is a key to success.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

SoCal Tech Calendar

MARCH 30, 2017

At our OC Angel Investor Roundtable, the panel of investors will focus on pitching to early-stage investors, and what it really takes to get them to write you a check! There will be plenty of time for networking with the Investor panelists at Expert DOJO on 3rd St Promenade in Santa Monica!

Los Angeles 100

Los Angeles Venture Capital Conference Angel 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 31, 2014

One obvious alternative is to become an entrepreneur. As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to switch and get real satisfaction from this lifestyle. In fact, Mehta focuses on a special class of entrepreneurs that he calls disruptors. Then write them down. Be prepared to experiment.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Startup Writing 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

MARCH 29, 2017

At our OC Angel Investor Roundtable, the panel of investors will focus on pitching to early-stage investors, and what it really takes to get them to write you a check! There will be plenty of time for networking with the Investor panelists at ROC's amazing Irvine based co-working space!

Orange County 100

Orange County Venture Capital Conference Angel 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2013

Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than Angel investors or professional investors (VCs). You see, investors invest in people, before they invest in ideas or products. You see, investors invest in people, before they invest in ideas or products.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Ideas 109

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Many believe that entrepreneurs are born, not made. While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. We can all point to examples of successful entrepreneurs who dropped out of college, but still went on to make a big impact.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2010

On why you should be an entrepreneur, “A lot of people do what they have to do. As a teenager he experimented with writing & producing his own rap music and received a lot of feedback from elders that he had a talent with words. You want to get yourself to a position where you can do what you want to do&# (Chamillionaire).

Entrepreneur 356

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup Email 356

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

” It’s the most common refrain I hear from investors and even entrepreneurs these days. What was Bill Gross’s heretical idea as portrayed to the tech elite? If you want the full SlideShare deck with many slides not in either post it’s in this link –> The LA Tech Market. for $565 million to Excite.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2013

The most successful entrepreneurs and executives I have seen are savvy business people first, and experts in their field second. It still amazes me how many entrepreneurs can fathom the physics of gyroscopes, but fail to comprehend the big picture requirements for positive cash flow and profit. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Startup 101

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2018

Greathouse: Your collective experiences have clearly made bootstrapping a viable option for you, more so than might be the case for a typical, younger entrepreneur who needs more direction, doesn’t have cash discipline, etc. Greathouse: How did you come up with the idea for ProductPlan? Semick: It wasn’t our first idea.

Venture Capital 115

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Santa Barbara SaaS 115

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2009

This is part of my new series on what makes an entrepreneur successful. I originally posted it on VentureHacks , one of my favorite websites for entrepreneurs. Well obviously that’s meaningless if your startup idea sucks. Thinking out loud – I’m sure that’s important for entrepreneurs as well.

Entrepreneur 306

Entrepreneur Startup Outsource Development Customer 306

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

As a new business advisor and occasional investor, I get approached regularly by people who have a dream or a new business idea, and are looking for support and money to make it a reality. Thus, I’m more impressed with entrepreneurs who ask me to review their implementation plan, rather than listen again to their idea.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2013

Fundraising is stressful and difficult, which is why 90% of successful entrepreneurs do bootstrapping. If you haven’t yet written down a business plan, you probably have no idea how much money you really need, or even if the opportunity is real. Do you have passion for this idea and this business opportunity? Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Funding Training Startup 101

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2016

Too many aspiring entrepreneurs I mentor can talk at length about their innovative ideas and passions, and ask lots of good questions, but never make much progress in building a real business. In my experience, building a business is much more about getting things done than having great ideas. It’s time to get the help you need.

Writing 100

Writing Ideas Startup Entrepreneur 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Entrepreneurs are always looking for “the next big thing,” when maybe in fact it’s a lot of little things that are only recognized after the fact as components of a big evolution or revolution. So how do entrepreneurs train to lead the Anywhere Revolution, rather than be dragged along by its wave? Be a ubiquitous connector.

Entrepreneur 95

Entrepreneur Ideas Writing Training 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

As of today, I will have published an article here for entrepreneurs and startups every day for the last 1001 days, since I started Startup Professionals Musings near the close of 2008. Here are ten key messages that I would like to leave you with: I continue to gain respect for entrepreneurs. I’m sure you know what I mean.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Blogging Social Media 96

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2019

What every entrepreneur needs more than anything else, after they have built an innovative new product or service, is visibility, credibility, and trust by customers, potential employees, and future business partners. Yet, most good business people I know agree, but don’t know where to start.

Writing 19

Writing Technical Review Entrepreneur Advertising 19

InfoChachkie

APRIL 21, 2013

How did Sarah Penna create one of YouTube''s most successful networks? As noted in YouTubers Come Of Age , YouTube has progressed from its initial incarnation as a repository of random videos to a number of vertically focused, professionally managed networks. I actually come from a long line of entrepreneurs.

Networking 214

Networking Startup Santa Barbara RSS 214

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2011

Entrepreneurs are always looking for “the next big thing,” when maybe in fact it’s a lot of little things that are only recognized after the fact as components of a big evolution or revolution. So how do entrepreneurs train to lead the Anywhere Revolution, rather than be dragged along by its wave? Be a ubiquitous connector.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Ideas Writing Training 92

Tech.Co

JANUARY 28, 2016

At the LA Angel Investor Roundtable, the panel of investors will focus on pitching to early-stage investors, and what it really takes to get them to write you a check! There will be plenty of time for networking with the Investor panelists! There will be plenty of time for networking with the Investor panelists!

Los Angeles 70

Los Angeles Angel Venture Capital Writing 70

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2011

In the early days you don’t really want 3 extra teams hearing your ideas and gearing up to compete before you feel you’ve got a solid head start. They think that only by being open and testing your ideas in an open marketplace can you be successful. But once a VC has heard your idea he can’t “un-think&# it.

Marketing 380

Marketing Startup Press Technical Advisors 380