Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2022

Most people think innovation is all about ideas, when in fact it is more about delivery, people, and process. They take you step-by-step through the innovation execution process, in the context the ten most common myths about innovation, which I think makes their approach particularly instructive: Innovation is all about ideas.

Ideas 139

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur Resource 139

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Every entrepreneur wishes that he could predict whether his idea could be the “next big thing,” before he spent his life savings and years of energy on it. I define these products and services as “solutions” (customers buy solutions to a problem), but Guy Kawasaki more generically calls them causes, meaning any new idea, company, or service.

Ideas 155

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur Summary 155

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2021

As a business mentor, I sometimes feel besieged by people begging for my view and support of their latest idea. In reality, I like most ideas, but I have to tell them that the real challenge is taking the inspiration from a dream to a business reality. Now you see why no one should judge business success potential by the idea alone.

Entrepreneur 138

Entrepreneur Ideas Mentor Patents 138

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2023

Here are some key drivers that will likely lead you to a fundable idea: A business crisis. So why do I see some many funding requests for products along these lines? As an alternative, if you are an entrepreneur looking for the next big thing, where should you look?

Ideas 122

Ideas Outsource Development Entrepreneur Outsource 122

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

Yet I still too often hear the question, “Can you give me a really sure-fire idea for starting my own business?” My standard answer is that ideas are a dime a dozen, and success is all about smart execution, not ideas. Entrepreneurs need to focus on ideas that lead to customer autonomy, not dependence.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Ideas Technology Startup 110

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2020

As an advisor to entrepreneurs, one of the most common requests I get is for an evaluation of a next startup idea. I try to explain that even the most innovative idea will fail if it is not a good fit for you at this time, so the question I ask them is “why you now” rather than “ why this solution now ?”

Entrepreneur 152

Entrepreneur Ideas Startup Funding 152

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2021

Every business I know needs to be on a constant lookout for new ideas, both in what they offer to customers, and in their internal operations, to stay competitive. Fortunately, there are ways to nurture the creation and capture of new ideas. Believe me, it’s no fun to see a competitor implement a good idea that slipped your mind.

Ideas 137

Ideas PPC Competition Customer 137

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Most entrepreneurs I meet are reluctant to disclose anything about their idea to investors before getting a signed confidential disclosure agreement (CDA). These professionals value their integrity, like your therapist or financial advisor, and will not share your business details nor steal your idea.

Ideas 160

Ideas Startup Technical Review Patents 160

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2020

In my experience, consummate entrepreneurs tend come up with more startup ideas than they can ever implement, and some of the ideas may not even make business sense. But how does any entrepreneur know which ideas to implement, and which ones are best left behind? Separate nice-to-have ideas from ones solving painful problems.

Technical Review 173

Technical Review Ideas Startup Patents 173

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2021

In fact, some very innovative individuals, known as ‘idea people’ or inventors, often end up creating the most dysfunctional teams. Innovation is not all about coming up with new ideas. Generate ideas. This requires divergent thinking, with the strengths of every team member, to generate as many ideas as possible.

Ideas 128

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction 128

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

In business, and in your personal life, the ability to anticipate and overcome criticism is one of the biggest differentiators between leaders, who make things happen, and followers, who may have great ideas but never seem to get things to go their way. The reality is that good ideas are always challenged, so you need to expect it.

Ideas 126

Ideas Entrepreneur Mobile Case Study 126

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

Many aspiring entrepreneurs I mentor can talk at length about their innovative ideas and passions, and ask lots of good questions, but never make much progress in building a real business. In my experience, building a business is much more about getting things done than having great ideas. It’s time to get the help you need.

Ideas 122

Ideas Entrepreneur Writing Startup 122

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2023

As an advisor to early-stage entrepreneurs, I see a lot of dreams, but not so many business results. I’m always excited by the dream, and disappointed by what I perceive as a lack of courage in many people to take the actions required to realize the dream.

Startup 106

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Social Media 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2021

The entrepreneurs I see are always talking about “disruptive innovation” ideas, but the plans I read are more often linear extensions of a current hot offering, like one more social network with the best of Facebook and Twitter, one more dating site dimension, or another “must-have” accessory for smartphones. Marty Zwilling.

Ideas 121

Ideas Entrepreneur Startup IBM 121

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

One thing I have learned the hard way in business is that implementing new ideas is usually much more difficult than conceiving the idea in the first place. That’s why I caution my aspiring entrepreneur clients against proclaiming to investors that they are a great “idea” person. For example, I have a friend with a Ph.D.

Ideas 126

Ideas Entrepreneur Outsource Patents 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 8, 2020

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. They have enough confidence in their ability to deliver that they don’t worry about someone stealing the idea to get there first, and they don’t forget to listen carefully to critical feedback.

Ideas 125

Ideas Marketing Startup Entrepreneur 125

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2019

A popular approach for aspiring entrepreneurs these days seems to be to corner anyone who will listen, with a pitch on their current “million dollar idea.” In my opinion, ideas are a commodity, and are really not worth much, outside the context of a visionary leader who can execute. Positive inspirational communication.

Ideas 102

Ideas Entrepreneur Startup Angel 102

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 15, 2016

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 -- IDEAS Los Angeles. IDEAS – a spark of soul, a measure of brilliance, an act of creation. Ideas are the inspiration, and the ignition, of human endeavor. IDEAS LA aims to capture the essence of our collective ingenuity in a fun and interactive setting.

Los Angeles 100

Los Angeles Angel Ideas Entertainment 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 15, 2016

Thursday, June 16, 2016 -- IDEAS Los Angeles. IDEAS – a spark of soul, a measure of brilliance, an act of creation. Ideas are the inspiration, and the ignition, of human endeavor. IDEAS LA aims to capture the essence of our collective ingenuity in a fun and interactive setting.

Los Angeles 100

Los Angeles Angel Ideas Entertainment 100

socalTECH

MAY 15, 2014

Irvine-based Oculus VR , the virtual reality technology developer which was just picked up by Facebook for $2 billion--has a lot of developers with great virtual reality game and simulation ideas and software in the works.

Ideas 266

Ideas Software Technology Development 266

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

Ideas posted on the site include "Pizza Bot" -- mobile app for pizza delivery; "Trashnado" -- mobile app for garbage removal; "Power Belt" - a wearable belt to charge your cell phone--and others. All of those ideas have a pre-commited amount of capital from investors willing to back those ideas. READ MORE>>.

Idealab 159

Idealab Startup Ideas Venture Capital 159

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Venice, California-based Snapchat said Tuesday that it has settled a dispute with Reggie Brown , the fellow Stanford University student who had claimed that he came up with the idea for Snapchat. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. READ MORE>>. snapchat lawsuit reggie brown legal settlement social media'

Snapchat 166

Snapchat Ideas Venice Startup 166

L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 14, 2019

Renewable energy storage firm Energy Vault, a portfolio company of Pasadena's Idea Lab, received a $110 million investment from SoftBank Vision Fund to scale its operations and expand into international markets.

Pasadena 100

Pasadena Funding Ideas Invest 100

InfoChachkie

MAY 7, 2012

Ideas are infinite, and in the absence of competent execution, they are worth nothing. Thus, if both ideas and money are abundant, what is the scarce constraint in the fundraising equation? Skilled entrepreneurs bring ideas and money together by building a bridge of trust. The same precept holds true today.

Venture Capital 251

Venture Capital Ideas Entrepreneur Technical Review 251

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

In my experience, consummate entrepreneurs tend come up with more startup ideas than they can ever implement, and some of the ideas may not even make business sense. But how does any entrepreneur know which ideas to implement, and which ones are best left behind? Separate nice-to-have ideas from ones solving painful problems.

Ideas 86

Ideas Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur 86

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

A common request I hear from aspiring entrepreneurs is for an assessment of their latest idea. I don’t even try to assess things at the idea level, since I can’t read minds. Here are seven key considerations for how you should make your own best entrepreneur business idea decision in this context: Pick something you really enjoy doing.

Ideas 81

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur SpaceX 81

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2015

A popular approach for aspiring entrepreneurs these days seems to be to corner anyone who will listen, with a pitch on their current “million dollar idea.” In my opinion, ideas are a commodity, and are really not worth much, outside the context of a visionary leader who can execute. Elon Musk execution idea startup'

Startup 115

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Angel 115

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2019

They can talk with passion about their innovative new idea, and ask lots of questions, but never seem to really get started. The challenge we all have as business founders is to move from the idea stage to a real business. The process will force you solidify the specifics, and mentally commit to them.

Ideas 99

Ideas Startup Slides Writing 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

In business, and in your personal life, the ability to anticipate and overcome criticism is one of the biggest differentiators between leaders, who make things happen, and followers, who may have great ideas but never seem to get things to go their way. A new idea is a step into the unknown, and always represents some risk.

Ideas 92

Ideas Entrepreneur Mobile Case Study 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

In my experience, consummate entrepreneurs tend come up with more startup ideas than they can ever implement, and some of the ideas may not even make business sense. But how does any entrepreneur know which ideas to implement, and which ones are best left behind? Separate nice-to-have ideas from ones solving painful problems.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Ideas Technical Review Startup 107

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

A common request I hear from aspiring entrepreneurs is for an assessment of their latest idea. I don’t even try to assess things at the idea level, since I can’t read minds. Here are seven key considerations for how you should make your own best entrepreneur business idea decision in this context: Pick something you really enjoy doing.

Ideas 108

Ideas Entrepreneur SpaceX Satisfaction 108

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2012

The idea behind DoorBot is to allow residents to communicate with whoever is at their door, whether they are home or not, by sending video via Wi-Fi connected to a smartphone app. Edison Jr. , said it has started raising $250,000 to bring its product to life, via a crowdfunding effort. Siminoff and Edison Jr.'

Ideas 187

Ideas Startup Product 187

Eric Greenspan

MAY 9, 2013

There’s great ideas everywhere. My idea is to never plant anything you can’t eat. The time is ripe for the next generation keyboard idea. Keyboard idea 1. Keyboard idea 2. The post 3 Great Ideas You May Steal appeared first on Eric Greenspan. Here’s a couple of mine: 1. Edible Landscaping.

Ideas 117

Ideas Screening IBM IBM 117

socalTECH

AUGUST 29, 2013

Can tapping the power of the crowd not only help you find customers and help fund your project, but also help you shape your startup idea and find funding? A new, Los Angeles area startup, JumpStartFund (www.jumpstartfund.com) recently launched, offering up a combination of crowdfunding and crowd-advice for entrepreneurial ideas.

Ideas 178

Ideas Funding Startup Incubator 178

socalTECH

JULY 31, 2012

Stocktwits developed the idea of click-able stock tickers, allowing users to search for conversations about certain stocks on the micro-messaging site, as well as through partners like CNN Money, Yahoo Finance, and others.

San Diego 140

San Diego Ideas Yahoo Sites 140

SoCal Tech Calendar

OCTOBER 5, 2011

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 -- Funding the Big Idea! The event features our premier Speed Dating* program where you can personally meet one on one and present your idea to Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists, and Private and Public Equity Investors.

Funding 124

Funding Ideas Angel Entrepreneur 124

L.A. Business Journal

DECEMBER 2, 2016

Bam Venture Partners has started raising a second $30 million fund which it will use, in part, to invest in and incubate startup ideas thought of by Brian Lee, co-founder of the fund and chief executive of the Honest Co. of Playa Vista.

Incubator 100

Incubator Ideas Funding Startup 100