Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

A critical stage for most first-time entrepreneurs is getting their idea developed into at least a prototype to validate their technology. Specifically, I often point to the NSF or the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for high-tech startups. Another alternative is to find an inexpensive class on grant writing.

Funding 90

Funding Technical Review Startup Research 90

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

You’ll get sales information from your VP of Sales, marketing information from your VP Marketing, tech information from your CTO and so on. Similarly I liked to keep myself apprised of the technical decisions we were making. As a content management system we had lots of write activities and went with Postgres.

Startup 308

Startup CTO Coach Technical Review CTO Hire 308

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2011

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. This term refers to the penchant to add just one more feature to the product or service before first delivery, just because you can.

Technical Review 96

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. This term refers to the penchant to add just one more feature to the product or service before first delivery, just because you can.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 75

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 23, 2015

We typically do not ask entrepreneurs to visit our offices in Santa Barbara, but Jeff wanted to meet with Kevin, an investor in our Fund who helped us vet opportunities and occasionally invested alongside of us. Tech Diligence - Consider The Source. Subject: Reference for Twilio. Forwarded message -.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review Southern California 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. China is indelibly an important part of the future of the global technology system. Write things down. I hate losing. They’re competitive.

Outsource Development 333

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 333

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. China is indelibly an important part of the future of the global technology system. Write things down. I hate losing. They’re competitive.

Outsource Development 328

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 328

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

In most cases if you can’t get a prototype done you’re probably not an entrepreneur. I know you’re not a tech guy and haven’t done anything other than an HTML course you once took, but if you’re inspirational and a leader you’ll find somebody to moonlight for free to get your prototype built.

Angel 291

Angel Funding Venture Capital Startup 291

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

I had seen many cycles and decided that since I was going to do it all over again I should write about it. It included one firm who I asked not to call Salesforce.com as a reference (they were our largest pilot customer) and in their kindness they called Marc Benioff (the CEO) and asked his opinion. That changed very quickly.

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274

InfoChachkie

JUNE 20, 2011

Thus, entrepreneurs must consistently balance expanding their bandwidth via delegation with the more efficient, but non-scalable tendency to complete tasks themselves. Due to their lack of practical experience, this delegation/efficiency tradeoff is especially acute with respect to hiring Interns.

Startup 244

Startup Software Review Technical Review Class 244

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2022

Some entrepreneurs forget that talking is not communicating. Communication is not just talking, but also listening, writing, body language, and “actions speak louder than words.” From an entrepreneur perspective, here are the key barrier-to-understanding elements: Unclear frame of reference. Stereotyping and biases.

Technical Review 137

Technical Review Entrepreneur Guide Mentor 137

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 11, 2012

The multi-tiered platform allows for money to be transferred between Facebook friends, the ability to click and purchase any item that you see on Facebook and through the published API’s, developers can integrate and write their own applications on top of the ZunguZ platform. Ernst & Young – World Entrepreneur Awards – FINALIST (Annex.13).

Software Review 92

Software Review Social Network Platform Technical Review 92

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 15, 2009

I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. We helped the write out their requirements for a system. They hired a consultant to help them with the review. I hate losing.

Startup 151

Startup Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review 151

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 2, 2010

I’m writing this series because if you better understand how VC firms work you can better target which firms make sense for you to speak with. I’m writing this post to explain to entrepreneurs what you should be thinking about in terms of the VC’s you approach and the size and stage of their funds.

Venture Capital 269

Venture Capital Funding Invest GRP Partners 269

InfoChachkie

MAY 23, 2011

As noted in Contract Traps Entrepreneurs Should Avoid , exclusivity can kill a small company. As noted in Alliances , startups with compelling technologies can often form an alliance of partners around their unique solutions. Once you establish a non-exclusive partnership, you can reference it when other BDCs ask for excludesivity.

Technical Review 183

Technical Review Marketing Sales Competition 183

InfoChachkie

JUNE 25, 2009

Yet, despite his exceptional courtroom theatrics, you would be foolhardy to hire good old Johnnie to review your software cross-licensing agreement. It is surprising how often entrepreneurs forget this simple fact. The reference may be well-intentioned, but the lawyer’s allegiance may be divided between the investor and you.

Technical Advisors 124

Technical Advisors Technical Review IP Patents 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2013

Some entrepreneurs forget that talking is not communicating. Communication is not just talking, but also listening, writing, body language, and “actions speak louder than words.” From an entrepreneur perspective, here are the understanding barrier categories: Unclear frame of reference. Technical semantics and jargon.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Technical Review Guide Mentor 101

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2019

Some entrepreneurs forget that talking is not communicating. Communication is not just talking, but also listening, writing, body language, and “actions speak louder than words.” From an entrepreneur perspective, here are the key barrier-to-understanding elements: Unclear frame of reference. Stereotyping and biases.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Entrepreneur Guide Mentor 94

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. Direct Response Email and Newsletters – Although rightfully vilified due to the irresponsible actions of Spammers, targeted, opt-in email lists can be lucrative sources of customers.

Customer 164

Customer Custom Advertising SEM 164

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 12, 2014

Some entrepreneurs forget that talking is not communicating. Communication is not just talking, but also listening, writing, body language, and “actions speak louder than words.” From an entrepreneur perspective, here are the barrier to understanding categories: Unclear frame of reference. Technical semantics and jargon.

Technical Review 104

Technical Review Guide Entrepreneur Mentor 104

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 15, 2010

This sometimes frustrates entrepreneurs who just want to “get back to running the business.&# But if you understand it you’ll see that it is perfectly rational and it should also influence how you form relationships with investors. For this reason I tell entrepreneurs the following: Meet your potential investors early.

Invest 411

Invest Technical Review Venture Capital Startup 411

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2017

Some entrepreneurs forget that talking is not communicating. Communication is not just talking, but also listening, writing, body language, and “actions speak louder than words.” From an entrepreneur perspective, here are the barrier to understanding categories: Unclear frame of reference. Technical semantics and jargon.

Mentor 61

Mentor Technical Review Entrepreneur Guide 61

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2016

The reality is that entrepreneurs usually don’t have the money or time for executive recruiters to do the filtering and selection for them. Next comes the more arduous process of reviewing every applicant, looking for key attributes including the following. Get it reviewed and approved by peers, including salary and perks.

Technical Review 56

Technical Review Coach Training Screening 56

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

As an entrepreneur and startup investor, I have helped create companies which achieved two IPOs which collectively raised over $100 million, as well as two acquisitions which totaled $385 million. Value is created through diligent hard work. 5) Allow Partners To Write Your Agreements. “Learn from the mistakes of others.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 13, 2011

For the next four days if you’re in the tech industry you’re going to hear a non-stop stream of information about SXSW. They have fun & meet tons of interesting people and they confuse this with the need to do be at every major tech event. Write them in advance and request meetings. We just hung.

Conference 289

Conference Startup Technical Review Writing 289

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2010

They come in the form of personal references. No rule is ever absolute no matter how it sounds when one writes a blog. I learned how to establish a technology center in India and how to manage disparate development teams (and this has drive my thoughts also about what does NOT work.). I learned about revenue recognition.

Startup 285

Startup Venture Capital Sales Software Review 285

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

5 Lessons from 150 startup pitches - A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks , July 11, 2010 I just reviewed several hundred startup pitches for Capital Factory. Wannabe entrepreneur symptoms and cures - Gabriel Weinberg , July 25, 2010 I was once a wannabe entrepreneur. Not that I blame you! We have the most features.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217