Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2020

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Most founders like to talk about their many months or years of sweat-equity , but cash invested is a stronger commitment.

Technical Review 174

Technical Review Startup Invest Patents 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Deferred payments start with stretching the payables period but, more importantly, include giving employee equity in lieu of a higher salaries and negotiating vendor deferred payments out of future revenues. You will make mistakes.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Most founders like to talk about their many months or years of sweat-equity , but cash invested is a stronger commitment.

Startup 83

Startup Technical Review Invest Patents 83

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Watch that patent provide a real barrier to competitive entry. In my experience, both are always required in heavy doses.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2014

The first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity is that person worth? Just because it was your idea doesn’t mean you “deserve” 90 percent of the equity. The value in a startup is all about tangible results, so there is no equity value in the idea alone. Key to required patents or trade secrets.

Equity 104

Equity Patents Startup CTO Hire 104

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

As a startup advisor and investor, living in an area with several local universities, I’m continually surprised by how little many entrepreneurs know about the resources available from these institutions. Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2017

There’s a lot of mystique about what happens at board meetings and a lot of imagined board-room drama. Boards are not appointed to be founder-friendly lapdogs for the 1–3 founders who start companies and usually own the largest equity positions in the company. ICOs certainly have a place in startup financing.

Startup 217

Startup Technical Review Equity Report 217

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Deferred payments start with stretching the payables period but, more importantly, include giving employee equity in lieu of a higher salaries and negotiating vendor deferred payments out of future revenues. You will make mistakes.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2013

Helping solicit new business ideas and patents from individuals, federal research labs, universities and other R&D organizations countrywide. One becomes a member by creating a profile, add team members, promote their company page and message or receive updates about the companies they follow. Social network for investors.

El Segundo 76

El Segundo Social Network Startup Patents 76

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

In many cases, growing the ecosystem is so important that your best competitive move may be to invest in facilitating “competition,” such as Tesla Motors giving away their battery patents to other auto providers, without royalties, to build the ecosystem. Find funders who seek long-term returns. Money-making is different in the digital age.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

As a startup advisor and investor, living in an area with several local universities, I’m continually surprised by how little many entrepreneurs know about the resources available from these institutions. Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

In fact, an entrepreneur friend of mine, who made millions on her marketing expertise, asserted recently that most inventors fail in business because they refuse to believe that any business expertise or experience is worth more than 5 percent in partner equity. Patents are not worth the effort, since big companies will win.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Patents Entrepreneur Customer 101

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Entrepreneurs who are looking to attract investors need to develop and pitch a plan -- preferably written -- that answers every potential investor question about your startup before it is asked. Investors want to hear about customers with money who have a painful problem that you can solve now.

Invest 108

Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

The Startup UCLA Accelerator Is About Entrepreneurship Not Investment Returns. Participating companies get between $4,000 and $8,000 in addition to mentorship and office space while participating in the 12 week program, and have to give up zero equity in exchange. About PandoDaily. It also won a number of key patents bit.ly/RiJCFI

UCLA 47

UCLA Invest Startup Class 47

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2013

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need expensive resources up front.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Technical Review Equity 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2012

Of course, the first one gets the patent. But patent disclosure requirements often make imitation easier, and smart technologists can work around most patents anyway. Even banks, as well as equity investors, look more favorably on a proven business model than a new and unproven one. Easier to find investors.

Patents 84

Patents Startup Statistics Course 84

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Deferred payments start with stretching the payables period but, more importantly, include giving employee equity in lieu of a higher salaries and negotiating vendor deferred payments out of future revenues. You will make mistakes.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 26, 2011

Of course, the first one gets the patent. But patent disclosure requirements often make imitation easier, and smart technologists can work around most patents anyway. Even banks, as well as equity investors, look more favorably on a proven business model than a new and unproven one. Easier to find investors.

Startup 91

Startup Patents Statistics Course 91

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Deferred payments start with stretching the payables period but, more importantly, include giving employee equity in lieu of a higher salaries and negotiating vendor deferred payments out of future revenues. You will make mistakes.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2013

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat.

Startup 100

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need expensive resources up front.

Technical Review 95

Technical Review Startup Equity Entrepreneur 95

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2015

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Most founders like to talk about their many months or years of sweat-equity , but cash invested is a stronger commitment.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Invest Startup Patents 103

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2012

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Ideas 102

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 6, 2017

In this article #StartupsEverywhere , I talked with Joe Wallace, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, and Hank McCarrick, CEO and founder of Seco Sys about sustainability, emerging eco tech, and challenges in the ecosystem. Can you tell us more about your company.

Startup 105

Startup Technical Review Patents Services 105

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 6, 2017

In this article #StartupsEverywhere , I talked with Joe Wallace, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, and Hank McCarrick, CEO and founder of Seco Sys about sustainability, emerging eco tech, and challenges in the ecosystem. Can you tell us more about your company.

Startup 119

Startup Technical Review Patents Services 119

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Now let’s talk about the bases that need to be covered. For example, “I just patented a new cell-phone technology that will double battery life for half the cost. List key competitors and alternatives, highlighting your sustainable competitive advantages, such as patents and trademarks. The details can be added later.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need expensive resources up front.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Equity 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2015

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Watch that patent provide a real barrier to competitive entry. In my experience, both are always required in heavy doses.

Satisfaction 101

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Customer Custom 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

As a startup advisor and investor, living in an area with several local universities, I’m continually surprised by how little many entrepreneurs know about the resources available from these institutions. Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Capital Class Startup 55

socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2014

Los Angeles-based mobile advertising company Airpush has quietly grown to around $100M in annual revenues, according to a recent ranking from Forbes--a big surprise, as the company was completely bootstrapped by founder Asher Delug , who eschewed the usual use of venture capital and private equity to build a company to those revenue levels.

Startup 196

Startup Mobile Advertising Organization 196

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

I’m a technologist, so I always love to learn about the product, but every investor needs to make sure you have a business, as well as a product. Patents, trade secrets, and trademarks are very attractive to investors, since these are not easily overcome by competitors. Specific investment size request, and equity offered.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

The best entrepreneurs manage cashflow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Deferred payments start with stretching the payables period but, more importantly, include giving employee equity in lieu of a higher salaries and negotiating vendor deferred payments out of future revenues. You will make mistakes.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

socalTECH

MARCH 31, 2014

Tell me about Bitvore - what''s your technology used for? It''s about as complicated as Google Adwords. What companies are looking for, and what they care about, are material events. To give you an overview, there are something like 6,000 equities in the U.S. It''s an easy to use, simple package, and not complicated.

Orange County 245

Orange County Startup News IBM 245

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2016

Mark Zuckerberg can tell you a horror story about how his early informal breakup with a co-founder ultimately cost him a settlement later worth four billion dollars. I’m not talking about fraud, or even intentional efforts to mislead anyone. Give away more equity than required to drive the business.

Startup 62

Startup Patents Entrepreneur Writing 62

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2016

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Most founders like to talk about their many months or years of sweat-equity , but cash invested is a stronger commitment.

Startup 57

Startup Technical Review Invest Patents 57

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Patents issued to you before you incorporate the business will not be considered part of the business valuation by investors. Co-founder and equity negotiations work best if you own all the equity. Negotiation and equity ownership needs to happen when they join you, and you need the leverage of being the business owner.

Company 61

Company Companies Startup Equity 61

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2016

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Watch that patent provide a real barrier to competitive entry. In my experience, both are always required in heavy doses.

Satisfaction 61

Satisfaction Startup Customer Custom 61