Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. In fact, they are probably in such a hurry to give you money that they don’t want you to waste time writing anything down and passing it along to new investors.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2014

Maybe starting a new business isn’t your passion, but in these days of rapid change, where everyone is dealing with uncertainty, I believe that thinking and acting like entrepreneurs will help you get ahead in any profession. So how do good entrepreneurs do it, and what do they do that everyone can learn from?

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Mentor Study Competition 110

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

She actually IS the prototypical entrepreneur. But Tracy did what entrepreneurs do. Tracy studied SEOMoz and several other online sources of SEO tips. Sam is the managing director of Launchpad LA and we were about to pick our 2012 class of entrepreneurs. More on that later. That may soon change. She never gave up.

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Startup Entrepreneur SEO Venture Capital 363

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 4, 2013

An entrepreneur, weightlifter and travel photographer, James offers his readers advice and insights that help them become better leaders, with an emphasis on improving one''s health in the process. One of the biggest challenges of being an entrepreneur is deciding what not to do. Focusing On Everything = Focusing On Nothing.

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Entrepreneur Startup Research Social Media 222

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2013

On a regular basis, I am approached by entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like a recent BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this NY Times article. With bootstrapping, no business plan is expected by anyone.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Technical Review Writing Slides 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

They realize that their productivity is suffering, as well as their health, but they don’t know what to do about it. Here is my prioritized list of work management strategies I recommend to all business professionals and entrepreneurs: Avoid reliance on multi-tasking to keep up with requests.

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Demand Activity Email Mentor 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2013

According to the most recent study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, there were approximately 514,000 new businesses created per month in the US in 2012. So what’s an entrepreneur to do to get his new business noticed these days? Building your home base with personal and product traction.

Platform 105

Platform Entrepreneur Startup Social Media 105

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 4, 2016

These people are like the friend in college who always tempted you by telling you about the latest party when you were at the library studying. In many instances this help is genuine, well-meaning and productive. Mostly I just wanted to write this as a reminder to founders to be suspicious of people who constantly introduce you around.

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Innocal Conference Help Study 255

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2010

My advice to entrepreneurs was and is “ when the hors d’oeuvres tray is being passed take two ” (e.g. So I agreed to offer my current thinking on the economy and what it portends for the VC industry & fund raising for entrepreneurs. raise money now to weather any storms). VCs get paid to “put money to work.&#. We took $2.3

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Entrepreneur Venture Capital Technical Review Startup 298

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 1, 2016

If you haven’t tried it, one way to be happier at work is to be an entrepreneur, according to a classic study by the Wharton School of Business a while back. If you are sick of the corporate grind, take your favorite idea or hobby, and join other happy entrepreneurs. Stay rooted in the present. Keep expectations realistic.

Entrepreneur 69

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Study Writing 69

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2014

This blog started from a series of conversations I found myself having over and over again with founders and eventually decided I should just start writing them.It He wants to compete to be the lead drummer in the competitive ensemble and study under Terence, an obsessive instructor who is hell bent on winning competitions for the school.

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Competition Startup Writing Marketing 394

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

After seeing Chamillionaire interact with several entrepreneurs both at events and as an investor I started introducing him to startups in an advisory capacity. And after one meeting they started asking for his advice about marketing, customer engagement, product design, monetization – whatever.

Conference 150

Conference Slides Social Media Summary 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like the BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this Forbes article. You need funding, and plan to get it from friends and family.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 109

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2012

I don’t have any big scientific studies to prove this, but in my considerable business experience, I haven’t seen many successes come out of a group of fearful pessimists or unhappy people. Productive group activity. If you want to be heard, write down the message and deliver it in a positive tone. Be perceived as a leader.

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Entrepreneur Ideas Study Writing 108

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

I speak a lot on college campuses and entrepreneur events and amongst the most common things I’m asked to talk about are: What do VCs fund? Hard Problems I encourage entrepreneurs to try and tackle harder problems even if it makes fund raising more difficult and is less likely to succeed.

Design 150

Design Ideas Startup Writing 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Unless you are a serial entrepreneur with a string of successes behind you, you need a business plan to convince investors that you can build a business out of the dream that has been driving your passion to change the world. Professional investors look for the right people, more than the right product.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2010

There have been many studies done on the topic including looking at twins raised in separate families. There have been studies of adopted children to their natural parents versus the parents that raised them. I have also seen studies on “birth order.&#. I’m an ex entrepreneur. I suspect he’s not.

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Startup Statistics Entrepreneur Study 289

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2012

Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. Put yourself on the site. People buy from people.

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Search Engine Optimization Entrepreneur Sites Advertising 96

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2010

I’ve been loving the product even if it sucks up some of my time. I stumbled upon the Question, “ What-is-the-motivation-behind-writing-public-reviews-and-tips-as-on-Amazon-Yelp-Foursquare-StickyBits-etc &# and took the bait. Or let’s face it – writing lots of answers on Quora.

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Technical Review Writing Content Sites 294

InfoChachkie

APRIL 25, 2011

Although many are entertaining, most fail to provide entrepreneurs with a sufficient return on their time investment. If you are a leader at a startup and you are reading a business book, you are not closing customers, raising capital, improving your product, or spending time with your loved ones. No doubt, he did. Ask For Mentoring.

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Technical Review Blogging Class Entrepreneur 279

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2018

Maybe starting a new business isn’t your passion, but in these days of rapid change, where everyone is dealing with uncertainty, I believe that thinking and acting like entrepreneurs will help you get ahead in any profession. So how do good entrepreneurs do it, and what do they do that everyone can learn from?

Entrepreneur 64

Entrepreneur Mentor Competition Study 64

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

If you truly believe that you, your company and your products are exceptional and your company will be valuable then you’re actually doing them a FAVOR by helping them invest in your startup. Like any sale you first need to plan your “prospects” and qualify whether or not they’d be a good fit for your product?—?an

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Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

After all, I am no stranger to the publicly expressing the frustrations of dealing with the downside of this industry as I wrote about in 2006 when I was an entrepreneur. In the original version of his post, Andy writes. The best VCs don’t try to help entrepreneurs. I read Andy’s post with a knowing smile on my face.

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Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

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. The questions that a VC mulls before writing a check are precisely the questions you should be asking yourself. Market Size. How much ad revenue does TripAdvisor make?

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Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 29, 2013

Now you wanted to merge with a broader-based business and sell all products. I’ll write you an angel check, then. I didn’t so much want to see a baby products company make money as I wanted to see you succeed. I didn’t so much want to see a baby products company make money as I wanted to see you succeed.

Venture Capital 406

Venture Capital Study Writing News 406

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

If you’re a technology startup you need to excel at product, of course. The starting point of product IS marketing, which is what a lot of young entrepreneurs that never studied business don’t realize. But being best-in-class at online marketing is also a sine qua non to standout from your peer group.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

"The best way to prepare [to be a programmer] is to write programs, and to study great programs that other people have written. Mark noted that even if an entrepreneur does not become a master developer, by simply understanding the software development process, they will be a more effective startup leader.

Tips 275

Tips Startup IP Santa Barbara 275

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

In my ongoing quest to get you good transcripts of the wonderful interviews we’ve done in the past, I present you with one amazing interview here with Tom McInerney – a friend, co-investor, former entrepreneur turned angel investor and “wizard of Oz&# behind the scenes at the uber hot startup Klout.

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Angel Startup Ideas .Net 302

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2017

Even with product businesses, it’s the ultimate way to build your brand credibility, bring in customer leads, and get feedback from your target market. You should start blogging about your business before you have a product, to test interest and establish your credibility. An informal writing style is generally recommended.

Blogging 69

Blogging Search Engine Optimization Web Writing 69

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2018

For example, it’s easy to get so focused on selling the product you have, that you miss the customer desire for free shipping, or personalization, or colors you don’t have. Talk about your products, not your customer. Talk about your products, not your customer. Don’t let your conversation marketing do the same thing.

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Marketing Examples Startup Customer 91

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 22, 2014

While we have become more productive as a society, with the advent of computers aiding our work, physical inactivity has become a high risk factor in contributing to chronic illnesses. AA: Most product and companies in the space today are focused on young, fit people who are already active. You recently conducted a pilot study.

USC 104

USC Southern California Activity Study 104

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Huge thank you to Steve De Long for the write up. So we can say no based on geography, we can say no based on it doesn’t fit in our themes.“… “Then we engage with the product and the entrepreneur and because we know these areas very well we don’t have to spend a lot of time understanding the market or understanding the customer.”.

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Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

After you have successfully attracted angels or venture capital with your business case, your million dollar product idea, and you have a signed term sheet, there is still one more hurdle to overcome before investors write the check. Product or service readiness. Investors are evaluating your process as well as your product.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Startup Writing Competition 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 1, 2017

If you haven’t tried it, one way to be happier at work is to be an entrepreneur, according to a Forbes article and a study by Babson College. If you are sick of the corporate grind, take your favorite idea or hobby, and join other happy entrepreneurs. A great way is to become an entrepreneur and join the happiest work segment.

Satisfaction 61

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Study Writing 61

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2012

According to a recent study done by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, there were 565,000 new businesses created per month in 2010 in the US alone, which is a 15-year high. So what’s an entrepreneur to do to get his new business noticed these days? Building your home base with personal and product traction.

Startup 104

Startup Social Media Platform Blogging 104

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 31, 2015

I believe many entrepreneurs have ADD. I believe it is what drives my huge bursts of creativity and productivity that what Stephen Covey called “The Urgency Addiction.” I have checked Twitter at least 10 times during the writing of this post so far and Facebook 3 times. I study for tests last minute.

Startup 150

Startup Writing Class Orange County 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2010

After you have successfully attracted angels or venture capital with your business case, your million dollar product idea, and you have a signed term sheet, there is still one more hurdle to overcome before investors write the check. Product or service readiness. Investors are evaluating your process as well as your product.

Technical Review 90

Technical Review Writing Competition Tips 90