Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2012

I come from a high-tech software background, and only a few years ago, it would cost at least a million dollars ($1M) for a team of professionals to produce any commercial software product. Now, with open source software components, and low-cost development tools, the same job can be done by one good hacker for a few thousand dollars.

Startup 102

Startup Search Engine Optimization SEM Social Network 102

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

The reason one would accept losses is when they are investments in fueling faster growth. Perhaps the most misused terms I see these days from entrepreneurs involve CAC (customer acquisition costs) and LTV (life time value) and a lack of understanding these critical components is driving many companies to premature failure.

Metrics 150

Metrics Startup SaaS Custom 150

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

In our industry we applaud the efforts for entrepreneurs to have tried and we know that today’s failure can bring the experience for tomorrow’s success. What would it take in investments to acquire and retain traffic to support these businesses? Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 2, 2009

As Marketing Guru Guy Gabriel of Idea Engineering points out in Max Brand , viral marketing has made many an entrepreneur terminally ill. However, Search Engine Management (SEM) is not a “set and forget” exercise. Affiliates invest the up-front marketing expenses required to attract customers.

Custom 164

Custom Customer Advertising SEM 164

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

I come from a high-tech software background, and only a few years ago, it would cost at least a million dollars ($1M) for a team of professionals to produce any commercial software product. Now, with open source software components, and low-cost development tools, the same job can be done by one good hacker for a few thousand dollars.

Startup 50

Startup High Tech Search Engine Optimization SEM 50

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Bill Fried: I'm a serial entrepreneur. We bat about 800 in terms of people buying off on the idea, who understand the bigger reach we have on the Internet, and the more SEO/SEM we do, which delivers business to them that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Billy Fried: It's self funded, and I've invested about $300,000 to date.

Activity 164

Activity Startup Sites Web 164

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2011

He was a life-long entrepreneur and the first business he created out of college (actually, he founded it while he was at Caltech) was a company that manufactured high quality audio speakers. Bill had previously created a packaged software company called Knowledge Adventure the produced children’s educational software.

Competition 350

Competition Idealab Product Ideas 350

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2010

It’s always fun chatting with Jason because he’s knowledgeable about the market, quick on topics and pushes me to talk more about VC / entrepreneur issues. We’re staring to get the hang of how to divide the show up into talking about deals but also talking about issues for entrepreneurs during funding. Short answer: no.

Venture Capital 285

Venture Capital Startup Advertising Redpoint 285