Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. Buffer your projected resource requirements. They understand startup realities.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

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

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 6, 2017

What’s your role in the Coachella Valley area startup ecosystem? At the time of founding, our iHub’s main focus was renewable energy because of the abundant sunshine in greater Palm Springs, the reliable wind in the San Gorgonio Pass, and the geothermal resources at the Salton Sea. Joe Wallace, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer at CVEP.

Startup 119

Startup Technical Review Patents Services 119

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 6, 2017

What’s your role in the Coachella Valley area startup ecosystem? At the time of founding, our iHub’s main focus was renewable energy because of the abundant sunshine in greater Palm Springs, the reliable wind in the San Gorgonio Pass, and the geothermal resources at the Salton Sea. Joe Wallace, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer at CVEP.

Startup 105

Startup Technical Review Patents Services 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 30, 2023

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business which builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. Many of the major business successes started this way. Many of the major business successes started this way.

Social Media 92

Social Media Study Research Satisfaction 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. Buffer your projected resource requirements. They understand startup realities.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2014

Two heads are better than one, so the first task in many startups is finding a co-founder or two. 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. Key to required patents or trade secrets.

Equity 104

Equity Patents Startup CTO Hire 104

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. Buffer your projected resource requirements. They understand startup realities.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2013

a crowd-powered platform that gives accredited investors access to exclusive deal flow and technology transfer opportunities has launched in beta its crowd-powered portal for startups, JumpStartFund. Members submit ideas and patents, the JumpStartFund community members and the JumpStartFund team vets them. Social network for investors.

El Segundo 76

El Segundo Social Network Startup Patents 76

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. Buffer your projected resource requirements. They understand startup realities.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2017

As a starting point the board is intended to have legal and financial responsibilities to a few key constituencies: shareholders, debt holders, creditors, employees, government and major parties with whom the business operates. ICOs certainly have a place in startup financing.

Startup 217

Startup Technical Review Equity Report 217

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business which builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. Many of the major business successes started this way. Many of the major business successes started this way.

Startup 65

Startup Social Media Study Research 65

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. Visibility to startup job opportunities and career guidance.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Capital Class Startup 55

Xconomy

MAY 30, 2016

Lita Nelsen has seen it up close—and played a part in its evolution—from her studies there in the 1960s, to her business-school fellowship in the late 1970s, to her 30 years working in MIT’s Technology Licensing Office. And so that’s what Stanford did, so it was set up in that model. Then it got acquired by Millipore.

Startup 67

Startup Compton Research Technology 67

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2016

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business which builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. Many of the major business successes started this way. Many of the major business successes started this way.

Technology 57

Technology Startup Study Research 57

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 30, 2012

All too many startups are founded simply on the basis of a new and exciting technology invented by an industrious technologist. The right approach is to start by solving a problem causing real pain to a large number of customers willing to pay real money for a solution. It is to earn more bottom-line profit-ability than a random walk.

Startup 99

Startup Competition IP Patents 99

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

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Behind most great startup success stories is a long list of mistakes! Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. Assume your initial strategy will be wrong.

Tips 102

Tips Help Startup Blogging 102

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

NOVEMBER 9, 2010

All too many startups are founded simply on the basis of a new and exciting technology invented by an industrious technologist. The right approach is to start by solving a problem causing real pain to a large number of customers willing to pay real money for a solution. It is to earn more bottom-line profit-ability than a random walk.

Startup 92

Startup Competition IP Patents 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

Angel investors are still the lifeblood of early-stage startups, despite the surge of activity in crowdfunding and an increasing early interest from venture capitalists. They expect to see at least a prototype solution, funded from your own resources, or friends and family or a grant. Simplicity is preferred at this stage.

Angel 65

Angel Startup Technical Review Social Media 65

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

Simple metrics and your personal knowledge of the industry can’t keep up with all the relevant competitive forces. That means that many companies are now forgoing the rush to go public (IPO), in favor of major equity investments from specialized venture capital funds, such as Japan’s SoftBank. You need to be part of a larger ecosystem.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 24, 2011

There has recently been a common theme among the entrepreneurs I have interviewed and the conferences I have attended: despite the relatively weak state of the world economy, now is a great time to create a high-tech startup. As Guy Kawasaki pointed out in our recent conversation , “…it is cheaper than ever to start a company.

Company 257

Company Companies Startup Study 257

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Cashflow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. Buffer your projected resource requirements. They understand startup realities.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2014

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business that builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. Many of the major business successes started this way. Don’t be intimidated by the negative image that imitation currently has in the startup world.

Technology 103

Technology Entrepreneur Study Research 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

As a technology buff, I’m all too sensitive to the common investor complaint that technical people often end up selling yet another “solution looking for a problem,” because they are so impressed with their technology. Patents, trade secrets, and trademarks are very attractive to investors, since these are not easily overcome by competitors.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

Tech Coast Venture Network

FEBRUARY 22, 2010

It is not necessarily a great product; more often than not, it is the ability to marshal the resources of the business and to plan and execute an effective strategy in an efficient manner. There are three key resources that businesses need in order to compete and win: People , Money , and Time. Get Money well in advance of your need.

Design 100

Design Resource Metrics Patents 100

Jason Nazar

MAY 2, 2016

I’ve spent almost 20 years starting businesses and helping hundreds of clients, colleges & friends start theirs. I created this resource to have the single most comprehensive guide anywhere on all the different items involved in starting a business. Set up your computer and network. Recommended.

Outsource Development 40

Outsource Development Startup Google Mentor 40

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2021

We all hate to see your proposal rejected , when a bit more effort and homework could expedite your startup funding and rollout. No new venture can muster the resources and expertise to attack all these opportunities concurrently, so I recommend a clear and quantified focus on one to maintain credibility.

Funding 132

Funding Template Resource Competition 132

SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

I’ve worked with 30+ early-stage companies in all sorts of capacities (and spoken to many, many more), so I thought it might be worthwhile trying to classify the various ways that I’ve engaged in different technology roles in startups. Later he posted about his experience in Challenges of Startups.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Technical Advisors CTO Coach Startup 170

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

One of the first tough decisions that startup founders have to make is how to allocate or split the equity among co-founders. Another common “failure to start” situation I see is one where the “idea person” insists that the idea is 90% of the value (and 90% of the equity). Domain expertise and connections.

Equity 91

Equity Startup CTO Hire CTO Coach 91

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 23, 2012

One of the first tough decisions that startup founders have to make is how to allocate or split the equity among co-founders. Another common “failure to start” situation I see is one where the “idea person” insists that the idea is 90% of the value (and 90% of the equity). Domain expertise and connections.

Startup 101

Startup Entrepreneur Equity CTO Hire 101