Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2021

Although many won’t admit it, true entrepreneurs can’t wait to exit their current startup, and build a new and better one with their next great idea. For these reasons, I always look for an overt exit strategy in every startup I might consider for an angel investment. At minimum, you need to get an exit advisor to keep you on course.

Startup 173

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 173

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2021

As an angel investor in new startups, I’ve long believed that investors invest in people, not ideas. As a mentor, my mission is to recommend actions that can strengthen your image with investors and peers, as well as help you get the startup job done. Define and use real metrics to measure progress.

Customer 157

Customer Custom Metrics Ideas 157

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

As a new business advisor and occasional investor, I get approached regularly by people who have a dream or a new business idea, and are looking for support and money to make it a reality. Thus, I’m more impressed with entrepreneurs who ask me to review their implementation plan, rather than listen again to their idea.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I challenge them to think beyond what I call linear extensions to a current trend, such as another “easier-to-use” app for smartphones, a new dating site for pets, or another niche social network. What will you do if you get no traction on this idea? Great social entrepreneurs are rare.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Ideas Resource Examples 126

socalTECH

AUGUST 28, 2017

We're focused on larger scale events, not do-it-yourself type events, and we're really for people planning large scale events, looking for ideas, and who are looking for a professional to help them. Being a digital person, I kept looking online for new ideas. That's how I came up with the idea. Why did you create PartySlate?

Technical Advisors 100

Technical Advisors Technical Review Metrics Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cash flow personally every day. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

socalTECH

OCTOBER 26, 2016

We select ten per class, and help those startups connect with mentors and other people in that local environment who can be helpful to the business. Since then, we've replicated the model with a local managing director, local mentors, and have expanded to roughly 25 different programs around the world. billion combined.

Startup 100

Startup Los Angeles Mentor Class 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2019

For employees, showing empathy and respect for their ideas and challenges is key. Your role is to provide mentoring and support as required. Annual bonuses tied to production metrics are nice, but these will not generate the long-term trust and loyalty you need to set the culture.

Customer 92

Customer Custom Mentor Training 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cash flow personally every day. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

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. As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cash flow personally every day. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2015

Yet I can’t remember the last time any entrepreneur asked me to assess personal potential, despite the fact that most investors will admit they invest in the person more than the product. The second principle that all investors live by is that successful businesses are also about execution, rather than the idea.

Startup 106

Startup Incubator Entrepreneur Metrics 106

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Although many won’t admit it, true entrepreneurs can’t wait to exit their current startup, and build a new and better one with their next great idea. For these reasons, I always look for an overt exit strategy in every startup I might consider for an angel investment. At minimum, you need to get an exit advisor to keep you on course.

Startup 98

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 98

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Cashflow is a basic survival metric for every startup. As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cashflow personally every day. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 9, 2014

This was a chance to blow open the story on their companies, to address a room full of potential investors, mentors, partners, customers, and press. Updates could be as exciting as closing investment deals, or harrowing as the news of losing a co-founder. It sits above curriculum, investor connections, etc. ” Demo Day.

Startup 111

Startup Mobile Commerce Education 111

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2016

For a number ofyears, as a venture capitalists, I looked and led Maveron's investments in health and wellness. In today's world, people are lonely, and they are really looking for someone to mentor them, to guide them, to hold them accountable. That's because we'll already have made the investment in your baseline data.

Coach 100

Coach Startup Study Venture Capital 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2016

As a startup investor and mentor, I look beyond the façade to find these eight keys traits in the mindset of every entrepreneur. Everyone knows of a dreamer who can display passion but doesn’t have the mindset of discipline and skill building to traverse the long journey from idea to business success.

Startup 58

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Customer 58

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 23, 2013

Through ongoing analysis and refinement of existing processes, establishment of standards and metrics, team building and mentoring, Sergey has established a foundation and culture in which developers can flourish. David Cohen from TechStars, someone I look up to as an entrepreneur, says that they don’t invest in ideas, but teams.

Social Network 92

Social Network Networking Training Summary 92

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 13, 2013

App developers are coming up with new ideas daily to make our lives easier. Which I have shown to do, but anybody who invests in tech, invests in team. My every day is trying to fundraise, reaching, re-reaching out, and trying to keep people updated with metrics. Everybody’s idea is a non-revenue generating app.

Technical Review 87

Technical Review Mobile Startup Los Angeles 87

SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

What metrics are going to be the key startup metrics and how do we get those metrics without too much cost? If the startup lasts into a few rounds of investment, the rounds get larger, and the team grows. I believe you will find lots of CTOs quite willing to help you as a mentor. " Startups either grow or die.

CTO Coach 231

CTO Coach CTO Hire Outsource Development Develop 231

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

Though this was 2000 , and all startup & VC blogs we've grown to love didn't exist yet, I did have mentors available. What if someone copies your awesome business idea? No, the question is: What are doing now knowing that a big company will copy your idea? Metrics availability. How can I answer this question?

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217