Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

Then, he'll need to patent it and create a plan to show opportunity, competition, and financial projections. Create a written plan, with target milestones and metrics. I have tried to convince him the general idea alone does not make a business. His challenge is to focus on one market, with a specific design, cost, and price.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2020

But not many of us have enough savings to live for a year or more without a salary, fund the startup, and still feed the family. It’s easy for part-timers to make excuses that other priorities caused you to miss milestones, but predictable results and metrics in this mode are even more critical than for full-time members.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Metrics 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2017

A strong work ethic is great, but patents and intellectual property are critical. What metrics should you use to measure success? Define both hard data and soft (anecdotal) metrics on the new solution, as well as on the productivity of you team. Do you have a model to predict funding requirements?

Metrics 58

Metrics Resource Startup Training 58

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. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young. You will make mistakes.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

For a well-funded seed company I have controversially recommended hiring a great office manager that doubles as an administrative assistant. For a well-funded A or B round company I have recommended “ leveling up ,” which entails many things but in summary I tell people to “act your stage.” HR & Legal.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Metrics Startup Sales 150

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. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young. You will make mistakes.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2016

You need to quantify measurable criteria for success, using business metrics. It’s time for the executive team and advisory board to commit the necessary funds and people resources to complete the plan. For startups, this will likely require a funding effort with friends and family, or grants. A dream is not enough.

Startup 56

Startup Metrics Entrepreneur Resource 56

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. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young. You will make mistakes.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

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

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2018

But not many of us have enough savings to live for a year or more without a salary, fund the startup, and still feed the family. It’s easy for part-timers to make excuses that other priorities caused you to miss milestones, but predictable results and metrics in this mode are even more critical than for full-time members.

Ideas 102

Ideas Entrepreneur Tips Startup 102

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Any thoughts on my recent post Startup Metrics ? The Startup Metrics post is a good example of what I call “holocognics.” Startup Metrics discusses what a Startup needs to consider before “going live.” It also helps if there is a reason that other people can’t compete with you, either because of some trade secret or patent.

Startup 150

Startup SEO Pepperdine Blogging 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2016

But not many of us have enough savings to live for a year or more without a salary, fund the startup, and still feed the family. It’s easy for part-timers to make excuses that other priorities caused you to miss milestones, but predictable results and metrics in this mode are even more critical than for full-time members.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Metrics 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2014

But not many of us have enough savings to live for a year or more without a salary, fund the startup, and still feed the family. It’s easy for part-timers to make excuses that other priorities caused you to miss milestones, but predictable results and metrics in this mode are even more critical than for full-time members.

Startup 109

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Metrics 109

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

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. Why Lawyers Don’t Run Startups - Steve Blank , May 27, 2010 Startups need to have a great lawyer, accountant, patent attorney, etc. I Be specific. It's a great talk. What should I do?’.

Startup 248

Startup Venture Capital Conference Social Media 248