Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2012

Since my background includes software development, I often get the question about when to build a solution in-house, versus outsourcing it to a local company, near-shore service, or off-shore organization in China, India, or Eastern Europe. Don’t outsource your core competency. It’s like giving up control of your company.

Outsource Development 89

Outsource Development Outsource Software Development Software 89

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2018

We are in the age of outsourcing, by any of many popular names, including subcontracting, freelancing, and virtual assistants. He is regarded by many as the number-one authority on virtual staffing and personal outsourcing, and is himself a successful entrepreneur based in the Philippines. Be flexible.

Outsource Development 72

Outsource Development Outsource Summary Training 72

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

I recognize that entrepreneurs tend to substitute vision and passion for formal processes, but using no discipline or process in building something new is a sure way to spend money, rather than see any return and build a self-sustaining business. Formalize the use of tools and information technology. Team building status and plan.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Startup Competition 131

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

JULY 27, 2014

Now you can do it for free, or a few hundred dollars, with one of the many web building tools available, like Shopify or Weebly Store. You can now skip the mandatory office space rental, with secretary and bookkeeping staff, or outsourcing. Minimize investment in prototypes and tooling. Martin Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Commerce 104

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2010

Since my background includes software development, I often get the question about when to build a solution in-house, versus outsourcing it to a local company, near-shore service, or off-shore organization in China, India, or Eastern Europe. Don’t outsource your core competency. Outsourcing for services needs to be carefully managed.

Outsource Development 51

Outsource Development Outsource Software Offshore 51

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2013

In fact, we are all media companies now, with our cell phones, computers, and professional-looking publishing tools. I’ve focused these more towards startups and entrepreneurs: Show a personal face. So start now to think of your startup as a media company, rather than an outsourcer of advertising from some anonymous experts.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Startup Content Media 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 7, 2013

Many aspiring entrepreneurs are looking to the Internet as an opportunity to get rich quick, instead of a place where you can start a business you love, for very little capital and minimal technical expertise. Take advantage of software tools to automate routine business functions, like taking and delivering orders. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Case Study 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 10, 2021

While I’m not so sure that I agree that these represent the ultimate apocalypse of customers, I do believe the solutions he recommends should be taken seriously by every entrepreneur. Upgrade to modern information technology tools. Only modern tools can assure you the best and seamless execution for every customer interaction.

Custom 173

Custom Customer Social Media Outsource Development 173

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. As an alternative, if you are an entrepreneur looking for the next big thing, where should you look? I hear this term every day, wrongly applied to new social media site, or a new productivity tool.

Custom 167

Custom Customer Startup Outsource Development 167

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2020

Every aspiring entrepreneur I know is talking about the fact that there are over 2,000 billionaires in the world today, and how their innovative idea could make them one of the next ones. Becoming an entrepreneur is actually a commitment to a new lifestyle, certainly very exciting, but also facing many unknowns and risks.

Outsource Development 154

Outsource Development Social Media Software Review Custom 154

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2012

This probably seems obvious to military types, but I see entrepreneurs violating this rule all the time. One person can look like an army charging the hill, if they use all the networking facilities of the Internet, all the tools available to build business plans, financial models, and product prototype. Better safe than sorry.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Slides Outsource Summary 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2010

This probably seems obvious to military types, but I see entrepreneurs violating this rule all the time. One person can look like an army charging the hill, if they use all the networking facilities of the Internet, all the tools available to build business plans, financial models, and product prototype. Better safe than sorry.

Entrepreneur 86

Entrepreneur Slides Outsource Summary 86

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

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Back in 2003 and 2004, we were focused on the international market, and started outsourcing to India and the Philippines for call center services. Many entrepreneurs think about starting your own thing, did you ever think about that compared to turning around a company? I think the model is a little bit on its head.

Outsource Development 190

Outsource Development Startup Outsource Altadena 190

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

A great recent example of this was a successful group of entrepreneurs who had created a company that will do $10-12 million in revenue at their system integration business (read: services business) in 2011 after having done $5 million or so in 2010 and $2-3 million in 2009. And stop effing around trying to create a product company.&#.

Services 332

Services Venture Capital IP Startup 332

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 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. Look for tools to automate and simplify strategy execution. Define success metrics, and measure progress regularly.

Startup 123

Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Outsource 123

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

I recognize that entrepreneurs tend to substitute vision and passion for formal processes, but using no discipline or process in building something new is a sure way to spend money, rather than see any return and build a self-sustaining business. Formalize the use of tools and information technology. Team building status and plan.

Outsource Development 115

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 115

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2015

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.

Ideas 107

Ideas Outsource Development Startup Tool 107

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

JULY 16, 2014

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 105

Outsource Development Startup Ideas Tool 105

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. As an alternative, if you are an entrepreneur looking for the next big thing, where should you look? I hear this term every day, wrongly applied to new social media site, or a new productivity tool.

Ideas 118

Ideas Outsource Development Outsource Course 118

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 13, 2014

While I’m not so sure that I agree that these represent the ultimate apocalypse of customers, I do believe the solutions he recommends should be taken seriously by every entrepreneur. Upgrade to modern information technology tools. Only modern tools can assure you the best and seamless execution for every customer interaction.

Custom 96

Custom Customer Social Media Outsource Development 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2014

In fact, we are all media companies now, with our cell phones, computers, and professional-looking publishing tools. I’ve focused these more towards startups and entrepreneurs: Show a personal face. So start now to think of your startup as a media company, rather than an outsourcer of advertising from some anonymous experts.

Custom 99

Custom Customer Startup Content 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2021

Many aspiring entrepreneurs are looking to the Internet as an opportunity to get rich quick, instead of a place where you can start a business you love, for very little capital and minimal technical expertise. Take advantage of software tools to automate routine business functions, like taking and delivering orders.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Case Study Software Review Startup 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2015

While I’m not so sure that I agree that these represent the ultimate apocalypse of customers, I do believe the solutions he recommends should be taken seriously by every entrepreneur. Upgrade to modern information technology tools. Only modern tools can assure you the best and seamless execution for every customer interaction.

Custom 97

Custom Customer Social Media Outsource Development 97

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

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 13, 2013

Lack of understanding about your business costs is one of the biggest rookie mistakes—and, if you are a new entrepreneur, heading up a new venture, or attacking a new marketplace, you are indeed a rookie. In other words, it’s a decision-making tool that gives you the financial information you need to take control of your business operations.

Outsource Development 91

Outsource Development Outsource Startup Marketing 91

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2015

I recognize that entrepreneurs tend to substitute vision and passion for formal processes, but no discipline or process in building something new is a sure way to spend money, rather than see any return and build a self-sustaining business. Typically some production and delivery is outsourced, requiring formal contracts and documentation.

Outsource Development 99

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 99

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2016

Many aspiring entrepreneurs are looking to the Internet as an opportunity to get rich quick, instead of a place where you can start a business you love, for very little capital and minimal technical expertise. Take advantage of software tools to automate routine business functions, like taking and delivering orders.

Startup 107

Startup Technical Review Case Study Software Review 107

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2022

This probably seems obvious to military types, but I see entrepreneurs violating this rule all the time. One person can look like an army charging the hill, if they use all the networking facilities of the Internet, all the tools available to build business plans, financial models, and product prototype. Better safe than sorry.

Slides 126

Slides Outsource Summary Conference 126

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2014

I’m continually amazed at the number of entrepreneurs who go for months into a new business without really keeping a formal record of money spent or assets acquired. Use a simple accounting tool like QuickBooks, get away from co-mingled funds, and you have the first business process you need. Product development process.

Startup 107

Startup Outsource Development Training Outsource 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2014

This probably seems obvious to military types, but I see entrepreneurs violating this rule all the time. One person can look like an army charging the hill, if they use all the networking facilities of the Internet, all the tools available to build business plans, financial models, and product prototype. Better safe than sorry.

Startup 107

Startup Venture Capital Slides Outsource 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2011

In fact, we are all media companies now, with our cell phones, computers, and professional-looking publishing tools. I’ve focused these more towards startups and entrepreneurs: Show a personal face. So start now to think of your startup as a media company, rather than an outsourcer of advertising from some anonymous experts.

Media 91

Media Startup Companies Company 91

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 8, 2012

Many aspiring entrepreneurs are looking to the Internet as an opportunity to get rich quick, instead of a place where you can start a business you love, for very little capital and minimal technical expertise. Take advantage of software tools to automate routine business functions, like taking and delivering orders.

Technical Review 99

Technical Review Case Study Startup Software Review 99

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2010

We're in the category of energy monitoring tools. Google is doing a web presentment tool, taking data from utility companies. We're outsourcing lots of development, and our developers are all around the world in low cost locations. Google has its own home energy monitoring project, PowerMeter - is this competitive or different?

Startup 140

Startup OCTANE Outsource Development Google 140