Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 13, 2013

Like most startup entrepreneurs, when I began my first company in 1999 I had no formal sales experience. It’s what I call “ the evangelical phase ” of a company in which you’re out trying to persuade customers that a product you’ve designed is going to meet their needs better than other solutions on the market. So there you have it.

Sales 393

Sales Startup Resource Customer 393

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Here are the right questions to ask yourself, in the right order, before asking others about money: Do you understand and aspire to entrepreneur lifestyle? Fundraising is extremely difficult, which is why most entrepreneurs do bootstrapping. Start with the local Chamber of Commerce, industry associations, or investor seminars.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Invest Training Ideas 103

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

In my business of mentoring new entrepreneurs and advising small company owners, I recognize that most don’t start as experienced leaders, and most don’t realize that people leadership is a primary key to their future success. Building a business is not a one-person job, and leading by edict rarely works today.

Develop 124

Develop Development Technical Advisors Satisfaction 124

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2019

Image via Wikipedia As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As an investor, I sometimes see CEOs who negotiate to send their VP of Marketing to talk.

Entrepreneur 87

Entrepreneur Customer Custom Guide 87

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2017

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As an investor, I sometimes see CEOs who negotiate to send their VP of Marketing to talk.

Company 97

Company Companies Entrepreneur Customer 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2015

The successful entrepreneurs I have met and worked with over the years all seem to share that passion for learning, and they see rapid market change not as a problem, but as an opportunity for them to move ahead of the crowd in changing the world. Finally, it is always helpful to check your motivation to be an entrepreneur.

Startup 103

Startup Case Study Entrepreneur Class 103

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2013

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As an investor, I sometimes see CEOs who negotiate to send their VP of Marketing to talk.

Startup 116

Startup Entrepreneur Customer Custom 116

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

An entrepreneur having low self worth is the number one deterrent for a potential customer not buying into what you are selling. That is, of course, as long as what you are selling is the absolute best in your market.) Pick 1, tops 2 marketing strategies that seem enjoyable for you and become a master in just those.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Marketing SEO 85

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Most of the guidance you see for entrepreneurs is aimed at those who are selling a product (Apple, Tesla, Xiaomi), or selling a service (Uber, Airbnb, Snapchat). The “product” value is difficult to quantify, the costs are nebulous, and entrepreneurs have to clone themselves to scale the business. Don’t forget seminars and events.

Social Media 56

Social Media Pricing Technical Review Demand 56

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2015

Too many entrepreneurs naively believe that candidates with lofty titles from a larger company can easily do the same job for their startups. As the founder, you won’t have a finance chief, a marketing staff or a requirements manager. Nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone must know how to listen, talk and write.

Startup 99

Startup Mentor Layoffs News 99

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

I’m often asked about the differences between being at a VC and being an entrepreneur and whether I prefer one or the other. I think the best firms try to continue to reinvent themselves as markets change as we would encourage startups to do. That’s what we’re trying to do at Upfront. Branding & Shared Values.

Rancho Palos Verdes 150

Rancho Palos Verdes Santa Monica Venture Capital Startup 150

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

Those who are more involved in traditional entertainment are seeing a major shift online which is why an additional one-day seminar was created to coincide with Silicon Beach Fest Hollywood as a partnership called, Idea to Screen. Online content isn’t a small market, nor is it going away anytime soon.

Hollywood 100

Hollywood Screening Ideas Entertainment 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Here are the right questions to ask yourself, in the right order, before asking others about money: Do you understand and aspire to entrepreneur lifestyle? Fundraising is extremely difficult, which is why most entrepreneurs do bootstrapping. Start with the local Chamber of Commerce, industry associations, or investor seminars.

Training 96

Training Ideas Entrepreneur Commerce 96

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2013

You should investigate the wide variety of software systems that are on the market, and pick one you makes you comfortable, since you will probably be doing the basic data entry yourself. Don’t be shy about investigating local classes as adult education, or even a seminar with the SBA on bookkeeping. Marty Zwilling.

Patents 93

Patents Tool Organization Startup 93

socalTECH

MARCH 10, 2010

One of the more successful serial entrepreneurs here in Southern California has been Robin D. Those include how-to on resumes, aptitude tests, videos, coaching seminars, and more of that nature. He's one of the smartest marketing people on the planet. Robin Richards: I'm looking for entrepreneurs who will not be denied.

Startup 223

Startup Content Sites CTO Coach 223

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2010

Here are the right questions to ask yourself, in the right order, before asking others about money: Do you understand and aspire to entrepreneur lifestyle? Fundraising is extremely difficult, which is why most entrepreneurs do bootstrapping. Start with the local Chamber of Commerce, industry associations, or investor seminars.

Training 84

Training Entrepreneur Startup Ideas 84

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2010

Many say it’s just marketing hype applied to old principles that have been around for a long time. That’s about 25 words which I’m certain doesn’t paint much of a picture to the entrepreneurs I know. That allows them to focus on their core competencies, reduce overall costs, and be more agile in responding to market changes.

Cloud Computing 48

Cloud Computing Demand IBM IBM 48

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 15, 2016

You should investigate the wide variety of software systems that are on the market, and pick one you makes you comfortable, since you will probably be doing the basic data entry yourself. Don’t be shy about investigating local classes as adult education, or even a seminar with the SBA on bookkeeping.

Startup 65

Startup Patents Tool Organization 65

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 23, 2012

You should investigate the wide variety of software systems that are on the market, and pick one you makes you comfortable, since you will probably be doing the basic data entry yourself. Don’t be shy about investigating local classes as adult education, or even a seminar with the SBA on bookkeeping.

Startup 96

Startup Patents Tool Organization 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2011

You should investigate the wide variety of software systems that are on the market, and pick one you makes you comfortable, since you will probably be doing the basic data entry yourself. Don’t be shy about investigating local classes as adult education, or even a seminar with the SBA on bookkeeping.

Patents 93

Patents Tool Organization Class 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2010

You should investigate the wide variety of software systems that are on the market, and pick one you makes you comfortable, since you will probably be doing the basic data entry yourself. Don’t be shy about investigating local classes as adult education, or even a seminar with the SBA on bookkeeping. Marty Zwilling.

Patents 48

Patents Tool Organization Startup 48