Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2023

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. There is real value in doing the key things yourself, before your startup is even started: Demonstrate thought leadership before selling a product. Follow up personally on every new connection.

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Ideas Startup Social Media Blogging 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. There is no crowd of successful entrepreneurs. Successful startups are all about the right people with the right stuff.

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Entrepreneur Tips Funding Startup 156

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

As a business advisor, I meet many business professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs who are anxious to be their own boss , or have an innovative idea to start or acquire a new business. Also, initiating a startup is quite different from taking over a thriving business, where the focus is on repeatable processes and quarterly profits.

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Startup Ideas Metrics Entrepreneur 94

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2010

I sit through a lot of presentations. Understand Personality Types – One of the benefits of working for a big company (Accenture) was that we had lots of speakers come in and train us in topics like leadership, creativity, presentations, strategy, etc. Many of these are not as effective as they could be. Most of them sucked.

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Slides Venture Capital Startup Summary 358

InfoChachkie

APRIL 9, 2013

The worlds of standup comedy and business presentations are not as disparate as they may appear at first glance. Comedians are entrepreneurs. In addition, both comedians and entrepreneurs must engage and entertain their demanding audiences. As such, there is much entrepreneurs can learn from their comic brethren.

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Tips Entrepreneur RSS Startup 241

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 15, 2023

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. Yet the process is eerily realistic, and every entrepreneur can glean some important lessons. Personalize your presentation, if possible, for every investor.

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socalTECH

MAY 31, 2011

Los Angeles-based Schmoozd , the startup networking event run by John Diep, said that it has selected twelve startups to present at its upcoming Startup to Startup event Wednesday. READ MORE>>.

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SoCal Tech Calendar

APRIL 16, 2017

Saturday, April 22, 2017 -- Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum - The Future of Startups. Startups in 2027 and Beyond: Opportunities and Challenges for Entrepreneurs in the Next Decade. The event will begin with a Keynote Presentation from Preston McAfee, Chief Economist and CVP of Microsoft. See [link].

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2023

People with a victim mentality should never be entrepreneurs. We all know the role of starting and running a business is unpredictable, and has a high risk of failure. They live in the present or the future, and rarely dwell on mistakes of the past. I’m sure you all know someone who is the perennial victim.

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Entrepreneur Satisfaction Startup Help 119

SoCal Tech Calendar

APRIL 16, 2017

Saturday, April 22, 2017 -- Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum - The Future of Startups. The event will begin with a Keynote Presentation from Preston McAfee, Chief Economist and CVP of Microsoft. What is the future of Entrepreneurship? See [link] (more)

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CalTech Entrepreneur Startup Metrics 100

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series called “ Start-up Lessons.&#. I came across this blog post about getting a computer science degree as the best degree for getting into venture capital or working at a VC-backed start up. I paid up for the diploma but can’t say that I saw better results. So back to MBAs.

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Startup Venture Capital Study Course 337

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

Don Charlton’s heroic journey began with him growing up on government assistance and culminated in his founding The Resumator , one of America''s fastest growing startups. Don began by explaining that his impoverished childhood drove him to a life as an entrepreneur. ". I grew up ridiculously poor. Growing up.

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Startup Entrepreneur Design Santa Barbara 250

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2023

Entrepreneurs seem more quickly frustrated these days when their “million-dollar idea” doesn’t turn into a sustainable business overnight. So why do entrepreneurs think that building a business is intuitively obvious, and should happen overnight? Staying in the present. Use the original dream as a rudder to steer your efforts.

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Entrepreneur Product Services Ideas 102

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 -- The Art of the Start-up. For entrepreneurs, deciding to form a company, or become involved with a start-up, presents enormous challenges. Navigating around legal, fund raising and other issues can often seem overwhelming, and traps for the unwary or uninformed are numerous.

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Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2011

Today’s post is a subtle one about positioning yourself in a presentation. It’s any meeting where you are in a small room and are being called on to present on some form of overhead slides. From witnessing all of these presentations I can tell you that there is a right place and a wrong place to sit.

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Tips Screening Slides Venture Capital 392

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 6, 2016

Saturday, November 12, 2016 -- Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum - Biotech. Gordon Binder, Venture Capital investor, former Chairman and CEO of Amgen, and Trustee Emeritus of both Caltech and MIT keynotes the Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum program “Entrepreneurs in a Biotech Age”.

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InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

As part of UC Santa Barbara’s Distinguished Lecture Series, Jason Nazar, Co-Founder and CEO of Docstoc , recently shared ten lessons that emerging entrepreneurs can learn from superheroes. Jason’s inspiration for this 6 ½ minute talk was a blog entry he wrote in 2008, which went viral within the startup community.

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Entrepreneur Startup eBook Course 279

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2020

Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. Is it any wonder why so few entrepreneurs ever find the professional investors they seek? Yet I’m still often approached by aspiring entrepreneurs who have neither.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2023

Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur. Although many won’t admit it, true entrepreneurs can’t wait to exit their current startup, and build a new and better one with their next great idea. For these reasons, I always look for an overt exit strategy in every startup I might consider for an angel investment.

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Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 99

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 5, 2010

The reason is that conferences usually pack them up with speakers to maximize the number of high profile guests in attendance to sell more general admission tickets. Startup Matchmaking (Wed 5th Oct – Santa Monica) - The first event is tonight (Tues, Oct 5, 2010) at Wokcano in Santa Monica.

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CalTech Startup Santa Monica Venture Capital 222

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2022

In my role as an angel investor to startups, I’m struck by the broad variety of advisor strategies I see in investor presentations and business plans that cross my desk. Some entrepreneurs are “lone rangers,” never mentioning any outside guidance, while others tout dozens of advisors. Advisors in name-only will hurt you.

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Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Writing 123

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2020

In my experience in large businesses as well as years of advising startups, I see far too much focus on product skills, and too little on people and process skills. His focus is on sales, but I see the same skills needed for entrepreneurs. It’s up to you to clear the way. Diagnosing and understanding the customer problem.

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Entrepreneur Startup Sales Customer 134

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 11, 2016

Saturday, November 12, 2016 -- Entrepreneurs in a Biotech Moment. Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum. Gordon Binder, Venture Capital investor, former Chairman and CEO of Amgen, and Trustee Emeritus of both Caltech and MIT, leads the November Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum program, "Entrepreneurs in a Biotech Age."

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Entrepreneur CalTech Southern California Startup 100

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 18, 2013

TechZulu is excited to invite you to the 2014 Startup and Entrepreneurial Forecast taking place on Tuesday Jan. We will have a line up of amazing panelist who will share their insights and forecast for startup trends in 2014. The panel is comprised of Southern California’s Top VC’s, Angels, and Startup Accelerator founders.

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Startup Entertainment Media Santa Barbara 111

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020

As an entrepreneur, I understand your passion when pitching your solution to investors and customers, but passion alone won’t make one more technology pitch stand out above all the rest. I’m not talking here about trying to be a stand-up comic, or weaving theatrical tales. Relate when and where your passion started.

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Startup Competition Customer Custom 145

Tech Coast Venture Network

APRIL 22, 2010

Virgina Lorimor There are several options for financing a start-up business that tend to follow a natural course in a business’ development: Personal Investment. This is where all entrepreneurs have to start. Groups like Tech Coast Angels and Octane hold pitch sessions to hear entrepreneurs sell their businesses.

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Startup Tech Coast Angels TCVN Incubator 124

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 21, 2014

Introducing Bitcoinference | A Decentralized Conference , hosted by illustrious startup accelerator, 500 Startups. Bitcoin has had a rough start to the year (to say the least) – with a never-ending news feed consisting of massive bankruptcy , scandal stories, and car chase media fiascos. Getting Things Started.

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Startup Venture Capital Draper Invest 104

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2016

The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point. I’ve seen several presentations that never moved past the first slide before running out of time.

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Startup Slides Technical Review Research 64

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2019

Relationships are the key to survival and success for entrepreneurs, and first impressions usually turn into lasting impressions. As an advisor to many early-stage entrepreneurs, I caution them to always be prepared for that chance meeting with a famous investor, a potential partner or an industry guru. Marty Zwilling.

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Startup Entrepreneur Content Platform 135

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2021

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.

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Entrepreneur Tips Writing Coach 149

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Most aspiring entrepreneurs believe that a great idea alone will assure business success. In fact, I believe modern entrepreneurs need to be super sales people, in the most positive sense, to their team as well as customers. Entrepreneurs set the price of their solution based on their costs, and their perception of value.

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Sales Training Startup Customer 139

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2021

Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur. Although many won’t admit it, true entrepreneurs can’t wait to exit their current startup, and build a new and better one with their next great idea. For these reasons, I always look for an overt exit strategy in every startup I might consider for an angel investment.

Startup 173

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 173

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

I use George Bush vs. Al Gore as allegory and I’ve been using it with entrepreneurs for years to sink in a simple point about how to communicate with the market. Partisan rancor aside, we had just come off a boom decade – especially in tech – and many people at the start of the election thought Al Gore was a shoe in.

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Entrepreneur Startup Press Venture Capital 370

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Thursday, October 6, 2011 -- EFactor presents: 7 Steps to a Successful Startup. Are you an entrepreneur? Do you want to transform it into a successful startup? Entrepreneurs don't like to write business plans, but how do you know if there is real potential for you idea? Do you have a great idea? See [link] (more)

TechEmpower 100

TechEmpower Startup Tips Writing 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Every startup and every new business needs a unique selling proposition (USP) to get people’s attention these days, and make it stand out in the information overload we all see. I’m looking for the “hook” right up front, or I lose interest quickly, just like every customer and investor these days. Do include some quantification.

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Startup Education Ideas Customer 166

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I talked about this in the TWiVC video but I didn’t do a good enough job of writing it up in the summary notes in the post. The “Triple Play&# of VC Presentations. Can you just show up without one? Be ready to map your presentation to their preferred method. I funded them 8 weeks later. Call an audible.

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Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Eric Greenspan

MAY 19, 2015

Years ago I began doing a presentation called Think Big for area high schools and colleges which included The Ten Commandments for Entrepreneurs. It became quite popular and I was asked to keynote my Think Big presentation for Women’s Economic Ventures. To fail is to give up. I hope she followed her dream.

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Entrepreneur USC UCLA Startup 100