Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2019

When you are starting a new business, every resource is precious, including time, funding, and people. It’s always tempting to think that more product variations will satisfy more customers and lead to new sales. But I often see premiums being paid for social media monitoring, standard accounting, and facilities mgmt.

Outsource Development 122

Outsource Development Outsource Metrics Technical Review 122

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. Always add 20 percent to your best estimate of funding requirements when approaching investors. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2021

If you can’t state clearly why your startup is the only choice, then it’s time to regroup before spending your hard-fought funding. You won’t need the multiple follow-ups and time to close new sales. Use social media for marketing, not just feedback. Build a marketing plan with deliverables and metrics.

Technical Advisors 154

Technical Advisors Tips Marketing Case Study 154

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

Customers today quickly get beyond these, and put a competitive priority on the experience of others, reflected in reviews and social media, and their own total experience with your sales process, delivery, returns, and support on their schedule. These have the vision and the resources to fund long-term digital success.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

At the time, it was doing Facebook media buying for e-commerce companies. It’s different than working with a group like us that’s trying to optimize every small piece of the funnel, and being accountable for the entire funnel to drive as much sales or revenue. And then bit by bit, we grew the organization.

Commerce 211

Commerce Content Marketing Startup 211

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

To keep you on a positive track with potential investors, I recommend the following logic principles, to balance your passion in presenting your vision of a new business: Make sure your plan includes some business metrics. Equity investors realize that they won’t see any real return until an exit occurs, such as a sale, merger, or IPO.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. Always add 20 percent to your best estimate of funding requirements when approaching investors. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. Always add 20 percent to your best estimate of funding requirements when approaching investors. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2020

For example, I used to regularly hear pitches for the next great social media site, usually focused on a special interest or niche , such as photography, cooking, healthy living, or a thousand others. Define success metrics, and measure progress regularly. Focus on communication and responsibility assignment.

Startup 123

Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Outsource 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2016

Others do far too little, assuming the viral effect and word-of-mouth will soon kick in, and sales will suddenly grow exponentially. Word-of-mouth and social media may get you started, but there is no substitute these days for special promotions, webinars, presence at trade shows, and actively calling on decision makers.

Search Engine Optimization 57

Search Engine Optimization Startup Social Media Metrics 57

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

I was running the largest deals in the media and entertainment video area across many different Google products. I also lead our media and entertainment vertical practice. How is your company funded, and where are you now? Rachel Payne: We have been around for a couple of years, and have raised a round of funding.

Google 233

Google Content Startup Venice 233

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2017

They are tasked with “getting deals done” so they race around talking to tons of potential partners inking anything from channel sale deals , product integration, international distribution agreements, co-marketing arrangements, M&A discussions, etc. Here’s how it goes: You have a business development group with two people.

Activity 164

Activity Conference Press Case Study 164

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2015

Don’t skip the market research, input from influencers, analysis of competitors, and the simple act of really listening to potential customers via social media, before quantifying your opportunity. Decide early where and when money will come from, set some milestones and metrics, and work to a plan, or be caught short.

Startup 107

Startup Sales Customer Custom 107

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Cashflow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. Always add 20 percent to your best estimate of funding requirements when approaching investors. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2018

The problem is that stakeholders, like marketing and sales, don’t know what the latest version of the roadmap is. Greathouse: Having run these groups, I know all about the inherent friction between sales and marketing with regard to lead quality, volume, etc., That causes friction internally. It was a viable option for us.

Venture Capital 115

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Santa Barbara SaaS 115

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

Now, thanks to social media, you don't have to outspend. He’d been working at a well-funded startup for about a year and had come to terms with the fact that the startup was really a pretty dumb idea. Through advertising or direct sales, these sites harvest intent. You could just outspend. There is a much better technique.

Startup 248

Startup Venture Capital Conference Social Media 248

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2016

Include mobile-app support and new social-media channels. Use social media and personal discussions to isolate their interests and needs. They are looking for online reviews and social-media recommendations from their friends. Responding to all feedback from reviews is required online and all social-media channels.

Customer 55

Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 55

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2013

All too often I talk to startups which still don’t have a social media plan even though most of their customers now use social media as a key part of their buying decision. If you have had to pivot from the consumer market to enterprise customers, that requires new pricing models and new sales channels.

Startup 94

Startup Social Media Entrepreneur Framework 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2018

Even if you are funding the project yourself (bootstrapping), you should be asking yourself the same question before you have burned all your resources. Start selling it on social media before you build it. It takes real money to sustain a business, with a margin in the 50 percent range, and some realistic milestones and metrics.

Customer 59

Customer Custom Pricing Startup 59

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2012

All too often I talk to startups which still don’t have a social media plan even though most of their customers now use social media as a key part of their buying decision. If you have had to pivot from the consumer market to enterprise customers, that requires new pricing models and new sales channels.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Social Media Startup Framework 93

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

But more importantly we talked in the video about fund raising and how Scott has become so efficient at it. And finally, Scott demonstrated his internal management tool for managing the metrics of his business. Company plans to use the capital to build out sales and marketing and r&d. -a It’s awesome. Foursquare.

Zag 248

Zag Truecar Venture Capital CarsDirect 248

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2010

Last week, Los Angeles-based MOVIECLIPS.COM (www.movieclips.com) announced the firm's Series A funding round, worth $3M, from Shasta Ventures, First Round Capital, and a number of Silicon Valley angels. A few companies have aggregated all of that free media out there from those marketing materials.

Startup 190

Startup Los Angeles Content Hollywood 190

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2008

As companies figure out a way to monetize social media, one of the areas which has been lacking is a way to measure the impact and effectiveness of social media advertising. Sometrics is venture backed by The Mail Room Fund, a Los Angeles-based early stage fund backed by Accel, Venrock, and the William Morris Agency.

Social Media 113

Social Media Advertising Social Network Userplane 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2008

As companies figure out a way to monetize social media, one of the areas which has been lacking is a way to measure the impact and effectiveness of social media advertising. Sometrics is venture backed by The Mail Room Fund, a Los Angeles-based early stage fund backed by Accel, Venrock, and the William Morris Agency.

Social Media 100

Social Media Advertising Social Network Userplane 100

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 5, 2014

Speakers listed: Brock Pierce – Digital currency pioneer investing in Bitcoin, games, and online gambling businesses; Clearstone Global Gaming Fund. Peter Csathy – CEO Manatt Digital Media Ventures, accomplished media and digital media entrepreneur. Peter Csathy jumps in to answer questions about content.

Startup 95

Startup Google Education Venture Capital 95

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

billion in sales and thus controls less than 10% of the market. The metrics were good but we wondered how much better they would be when we expanded our product. You may have paid marketing: SEM, Social Media Ads, Banner Ads, email lists, etc. The top 5 players combined control less than 25% of the market.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

There are obvious reasons the industry has had less-than-desirable returns, including: massive over-funding of the sector, huge increases in inexperienced venture capitalists that took a decade to peter out, and the massive correction in the value of the public stock markets that closed many exit opportunities for half a decade.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Startup 347

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2010

In the media NYC is “hot” right now yet having just spent 6 days in NY I heard many similar stories as I get in LA: not enough VC and hard to get great tech resources. Company grew by more than “400% each year” for past few years [assume growth metric = revenues]. Metrics: 2.5mm members, 1,000 brands, 2,500 sale events to-date.

Venture Capital 217

Venture Capital Capital Metrics Competition 217

SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

The short story is that he received 400+ responses and goes through how he categorized/vetted the responses: 300 Didn’t Fit – Outside expertise/interest, pushing for immediate funding assistance, too many ideas (not focused), looking for sales agents.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Technical Advisors CTO Coach Startup 170

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

Welcome to the Lost Decade (for Entrepreneurs, IPO’s and VC’s) - Steve Blank , July 15, 2010 If you take funding from a venture capital firm or angel investor and want to build a large, enduring company (rather than sell it to the highest bidder), this isn’t the decade to do it. Metrics availability. Not so bad. Performance.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217