Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

For example, no one predicted that Howard Schultz could take the simple idea of a better coffee experience called Starbucks, and innovate it into a successful chain of almost 34,000 shops in 80 countries. Look for technologies to adapt from other domains. Be willing to share technology to promote standards.

Artificial Inteligence 114

Artificial Inteligence Ideas Satisfaction Customer 114

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 31, 2020

First, an example of grant-based financing . I was chairman of a company that, for twelve years never took a dollar of outside investment. The company was funded entirely by grants from the National Institute of Health, amounting to millions of non-dilutive dollars in all. The effort to write a grant request is not trivial.

Equity 156

Equity Writing Education Research 156

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2014

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand. Often new technologies are seen by senior decision-makers as new opportunities for litigation and hack attacks.

Customer 98

Customer Custom Technology Startup 98

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

First to market, for example, is not normally a sustainable advantage for startups. Here are some of the key ones: Patent protection in place as a barrier to entry. Investors are looking for technology, process, or business model breakthroughs, to move costs to a new level. This approach is not convincing.

Competition 166

Competition Funding Startup Patents 166

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 10, 2010

Patents held by startups generally have a limited ability to reduce competition. The average time required to obtain a patent is 36-to-40 months, during which there is no guarantee your adVenture will ultimately receive patent protection. Even if you are granted a patent, the scope of your claims may be significantly denuded.

IP 256

IP Patents Company Companies 256

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2020

For example, I usually hear about an aggressive marketing budget, with a plan to penetrate a few big retail chains, and some videos to catch your attention on YouTube. Examples include the Nike Run Club app where people participate in challenges and win trophies. Offer an alliance with competitors to expand the market.

Marketing 170

Marketing Startup Examples Customer 170

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2023

For example, “While Product X has worked well in the server market, my product also provides Cloud support, to drastically reduce IT costs and maintenance.” Patents and trade secrets are more powerful advantages than missing competitive features, which might be quickly filled in as you gain traction.

Competition 111

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Customer 111

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

Every entrepreneur has an idea for transforming a market with innovative new technology, or transforming society with a new process. Harris, in his classic book “ Transformative Entrepreneurs ,” provides examples of key elements of transformative ideas and leadership abilities that separate the winners from the losers. Innovate or die.

Startup 171

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Competition 171

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2020

The new paradigm, driven by disruptive technologies, cloud-served supercomputing, and the new generation of young adults with global empathy, is partnering and giving something now for a competitive advantage in the future. FabLab s is an example of a new class of facilities for entrepreneurs to start experimenting early.

Startup 124

Startup IBM IBM Examples 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2010

I always advise software startups to file patents to protect their “secret sauce” from competitors, and to increase their valuation. Yet the software patent process is a mess. I say this with conviction even after I survived the process, and have a software patent pending. Patents granted that don’t meet the criteria.

Patents 50

Patents Software Technical Advisors IBM 50

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

There are no “overrides” – for example, businesses don’t thrive just because they offer the latest technology, or because everyone wants to be “green,” or because their goal is to reduce world hunger. Investors look for a sustainable competitive advantage, like a patent. Customers always have alternatives.

Sales 102

Sales Customer Custom Outsource 102

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 25, 2011

Google bought Motorola Mobility for $12B to get access to their 17,000 patents. Nortel sold its 6000 patents for $4.5B Even IBM (the #1 in US Patents) sold over 1000 of its patents recently. to Apple, Sony, Microsoft, EMC consortium.

Technology Council 100

Technology Council IP TCOSC Patents 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2023

Every entrepreneur has an idea for transforming a market with innovative new technology, or transforming society with a new process. Harris, in his classic book “ Transformative Entrepreneurs ,” provides examples of key elements of transformative ideas and leadership abilities that separate the winners from the losers. Innovate or die.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Competition 101

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Most universities have a file of patents from project work that they are willing to license to any entrepreneur for business commercialization, with little or no cost up front. These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2022

For example, BlackBerry was really the first in the smart mobile phone market, but they never thought beyond their tiny physical keyboard as they added new features. Plus you can challenge yourself to keep abreast of technology advancements in related industries, looking for a fit in your own. Always practice thinking outside the box.

Competition 139

Competition Examples Customer Custom 139

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2023

Despite some recent advances, there are still some cultures which have less regard for patents and other intellectual property. For example, it is no secret that software pirating is still very common in China, Vietnam, and other cultures. Don’t count on contracts and non-disclosure agreements to save you.

Software Review 114

Software Review Technical Review Outsource Development Outsource 114

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2019

A strong answer should be something like “Our product introduces a new lower-cost technology, which we have patented and trademarked, that makes us very attractive today, and will provide a wealth of additional products as we move forward.” First mover advantages are only sustainable by large companies, or founders with deep pockets.

Competition 120

Competition Patents Resource Invest 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2023

The more potentially disruptive your technology, the more important it is that this message be quick, simple, and quantified. An educated marketplace is one where your target customers already understand the problem and the impact of your technology. Examples include Domino’s “We’ll deliver in 30 minutes or less, or it’s free!”

Startup 96

Startup Education Ideas Customer 96

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. You have no shelf life, so you can’t make money while you sleep. Practice being a good communicator.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2020

For example, “While Product X has worked well in the server market, my product also provides Cloud support, to drastically reduce IT costs and maintenance.” Patents and trade secrets are more powerful advantages than missing competitive features, which might be quickly filled in as you gain traction.

Competition 125

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Customer 125

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

In fact, I think the evidence is clear that many entrepreneurs started their journey while still in college, and capitalized on all the resources there, before moving on: Extend your technology focus with business basics. For example, I do business mentoring at nearby Arizona State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Entrepreneur 157

Entrepreneur Mentor Class Resource 157

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2018

New technology markets and paradigm shifts have traditionally been bad bets when seeking investors, since these were known to take decades to develop, and cost lots of money. For example, consider how many years it took for the market to move from radio to television, or fully accept personal computers on every desktop.

Marketing 92

Marketing Demand Examples Social Media 92

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2020

The more potentially disruptive your technology, the more important it is that this message be quick, simple, and quantified. An educated marketplace is one where your target customers already understand the problem and the impact of your technology. Examples include Domino’s “We’ll deliver in 30 minutes or less, or it’s free!”

Startup 166

Startup Education Ideas Customer 166

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

On the other end of the spectrum are ideas that truly represent a disruptive technology , or could lead to real social or environmental change. Examples I have seen include atomic battery technology, or how marine algae could help feed the world. Why doesn’t this product or service already exist?

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Ideas Resource Examples 126

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

These days, you can find existing patents and trademarks through Google and the US Patent Office online site without spending thousands of dollars with your favorite patent attorney. Of course, existing patents don’t stop you from innovating, but charging ahead into a wall is no fun. Minimize infrastructure dependencies.

Ideas 83

Ideas Technical Review Patents Startup 83

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

The same is true for filing patents, registering trademarks, and filing copyrights. Use the cloud and subscriptions for computing technology. For example, if you have no technical background, you probably can’t create or sell an enterprise software product for a low price, even today.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Outsource Development 162

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2018

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand and relate to. Often new technologies are seen by senior decision makers as new opportunities for litigation and hackers.

Social Network 91

Social Network Training Startup Technology 91

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2022

Facebook , for example, used this strategy and is making big money today, but only after a $150 million from investors, mostly goodwill. Proprietary technology with a high barrier to entry. This is the reason that many new startups offer freemium services, and prioritize attracting a large following above making a profit.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Social Media Entrepreneur Startup 147

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Most universities have a file of patents from project work that they are willing to license to any entrepreneur for business commercialization, with little or no cost up front. These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. You have no shelf life, so you can’t make money while you sleep. Practice being a good communicator.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

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. Look for examples of similar companies and revenue multiples achieved from acquirers. How much and when can I reasonably expect a payback?

Technical Review 174

Technical Review Startup Invest Patents 174

socalTECH

OCTOBER 22, 2020

Krisztina Holly: We are an early stage fund, known for our ability to discovery and cultivate very complex science and technology deals. We just launched a third, $100M fund focused on seed to Series A investments in transformative science and technology companies. For example, executive talent needs more cultivation.

Southern California 124

Southern California Capital Technical Review Startup 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2021

If your passion is a new technology, make sure you understand how it fits into the existing social culture, the environment, and political realities. Elon Musk offered his battery patents free to all takers in order to expand the electric car market, and provide a common infrastructure. Understand and exercise political judgement.

Patents 138

Patents Mentor Customer Custom 138

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. Look for examples of similar companies and revenue multiples achieved from acquirers. How much and when can I reasonably expect a payback?

Startup 83

Startup Technical Review Invest Patents 83

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2016

In my experience, there is no magic gene involved, just simple good habits executed consistently and convincingly until everyone around you wants to follow your example. This leading by example is easy to say, but not so easy to put into action. Learn to anticipate change, bounce back stronger, and teach others to do the same.

Examples 76

Examples Startup Coach Patents 76

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2015

Passionate entrepreneurs tend to talk on and on about their disruptive technology, their intent to change the world and free services, but if a business can’t provide quantifiable value to real customers, the dream will likely turn into a nightmare. Good hooks define a real problem, followed by a specific solution (not technology).

Startup 104

Startup Summary Patents Examples 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2020

In that critical first minute, no one needs to hear that you have a passionate dream of changing the world, introducing new disruptive technology, or a product with more features than competitors. For example, “I have patented a new tire that will double the wear mileage at half the cost.”

Sample 127

Sample Summary Startup Slides 127