Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2021

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing the results of your mentoring and leadership. Success is the right balance of both for fun and profit.

Startup 160

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 160

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Similarly, it will be very satisfying to see the productivity increases from your leadership and mentoring.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2021

In my role as advisor and mentor to many new entrepreneurs, I often find myself suggesting that they think bigger. Ideas to improve the usability of an existing product, or ways to extend its audience, are not likely to be unique to you, and difficult to win over competitors. Marketing should begin even at the idea stage.

Startup 162

Startup Metrics Ideas Entrepreneur 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2020

In my experience as a business mentor, one of the biggest challenges I see is a failure to focus. Most of you aspiring entrepreneurs have new ideas on a regular basis, and find it hard deciding which to pursue, or try to tackle several at the same time. Demonstrate real knowledge of your market and competitors.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Startup Patents Resource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2012

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing the results of your mentoring and leadership. Success is the right balance of both for fun and profit.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Ideas 102

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

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2020

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always surprised by the fact that some never seem to be able to that first startup going, while many others never seem to stop, starting their second or third initiative before the first one is fully hatched. Incent and reward new ideas with action, not more study.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Many people believe that new ideas are the critical element of innovation, but in my experience as a mentor and investor, long-term business success is more about implementation than ideas. Everyone has ideas, but only a few can make them happen. Be willing to share technology to promote standards.

Artificial Inteligence 114

Artificial Inteligence Ideas Satisfaction Customer 114

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. Other project and research reports in their library are a rich source of new ideas, if you are still looking for a place to start.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2013

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing the results of your mentoring and leadership. Success is the right balance of both for fun and profit.

Startup 100

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2021

It can come from experience, or from training in a prior company, and it can even be self-taught from the Internet by smart entrepreneurs, just like they learned the skill of establishing a company, negotiating a contract, or filing a patent. It means mentoring less experienced team members, and quickly replacing incompetent staff members.

Startup 171

Startup Organization Training Entrepreneur 171

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2022

One way to do this is to nurture mentoring relationships with experts in other disciplines, as Bill Gates did with Warren Buffet. For example, Elon Musk, who owns many battery patents , normally kept for a competitive edge, decided to open them all to any competitors in an effort to expand the market for his electric vehicles.

Competition 139

Competition Examples Customer Custom 139

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

What was Bill Gross’s heretical idea as portrayed to the tech elite? The patents Overture held became known in small circles as Google’s ’361 problem as outlined here. We now have 2nd and 3rd time entrepreneurs fueled by recycled capital and mentors who have built startups to successful outcomes and have seen scale.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Similarly, it will be very satisfying to see the productivity increases from your leadership and mentoring.

Startup 118

Startup Satisfaction Customer Custom 118

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2012

Based on my experience as a mentor and an entrepreneur, if you fail on your first startup, you are about average. They count on learning from their mistakes, and use the experience to move to the next idea. Idea has limited business opportunity. Not every good idea is a good business. How can you improve your odds?

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Ideas Resource Statistics 109

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. Other project and research reports in their library are a rich source of new ideas, if you are still looking for a place to start.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Here are some of the key new rules I have learned by starting my own company, investing as an angel in other startups and mentoring many more new entrepreneurs over the last few years: Do incorporate a company, but keep it simple. Trademarks, copyrights and even patents can be completed online by anyone through the U.S.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media Outsource Development 108

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 12, 2010

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing the results of your mentoring and leadership. Success is the right balance of both for fun and profit.

Startup 88

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 88

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

Based on my experience as a mentor and an entrepreneur, if you fail on your first startup, you are about average. They count on learning from their mistakes, and use the experience to move to the next idea. Idea has limited business opportunity. Not every good idea is a good business. How can you improve your odds?

Startup 100

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Resource 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2015

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Similarly, it will be very satisfying to see the productivity increases from your leadership and mentoring.

Satisfaction 101

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Customer Custom 101

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2013

Dean Kamen, while still struggling with the Segway Human Transporter, holds 440 other device patents. Good ideas can come from anyone at any time. Great entrepreneurs are mentors to everyone on their team. Learn to anticipate change, bounce back stronger, and teach others to do the same.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Startup Examples Ideas 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2012

Dean Kamen, while still struggling with the Segway Human Transporter, holds 440 other device patents. Good ideas can come from anyone at any time. Great entrepreneurs are mentors to everyone on their team. Learn to anticipate change, bounce back stronger, and teach others to do the same.

Startup 104

Startup Examples Entrepreneur Ideas 104

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 11, 2011

8 patents pending, and world programming finalist. There will be technical and product mentors there to help. Technical and product mentors are provided roaming across the entire place. Josh Woods: Senior Engineer at BetterWorks. Sunday August 14th 9am-5pm. Whatever is done is done. Demos and awards start at 5:30pm.

Santa Monica 72

Santa Monica Yammer Geni Southern California 72

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2012

Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. The patent process is far from perfect, but it’s a huge step ahead of no proprietary content. Unfortunately, for every success story you see, there is an even longer list of failure stories with mistakes that you don’t see.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Social Network Startup Patents 98

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2017

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. File at least a provisional patent and one or more trademarks.

Ideas 56

Ideas Mentor Resource Product 56

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2011

It can come from experience, or from training in a prior company, and it can even be self-taught from the Internet by smart entrepreneurs, just like they learned the skill of establishing a company, negotiating a contract, or filing a patent. It means mentoring less experienced team members, and quickly replacing incompetent staff members.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Startup Organization Training 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2010

Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. The patent process is far from perfect, but it’s a huge step ahead of no proprietary content. Unfortunately, for every success story you see, there is an even longer list of failure stories with mistakes that you don’t see.

Guide 92

Guide Startup Social Network Patents 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2013

It can come from experience, or from training in a prior company, and it can even be self-taught from the Internet by smart entrepreneurs, just like they learned the skill of establishing a company, negotiating a contract, or filing a patent. It means mentoring less experienced team members, and quickly replacing incompetent staff members.

Startup 109

Startup Entrepreneur Organization Training 109

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. The patent process is far from perfect, but it’s a huge step ahead of no proprietary content. Unfortunately, for every success story you see, there is an even longer list of failure stories with mistakes that you don’t see.

Tips 102

Tips Help Startup Blogging 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 17, 2012

It can come from experience, or from training in a prior company, and it can even be self-taught from the Internet by smart entrepreneurs, just like they learned the skill of establishing a company, negotiating a contract, or filing a patent. It means mentoring less experienced team members, and quickly replacing incompetent staff members.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Organization Training 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

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. Other project and research reports in their library are a rich source of new ideas, if you are still looking for a place to start.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Capital Class Startup 55

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2016

Dean Kamen, while still struggling with the Segway Human Transporter, holds 440 other device patents. Good ideas can come from anyone at any time. Great leaders are mentors to everyone on their team. Learn to anticipate change, bounce back stronger, and teach others to do the same. Teach others “the how.

Examples 76

Examples Startup Coach Patents 76

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Don’t believe that Silicon Valley myth that all you have to do is sketch your idea on the back of a napkin, and investors will line up to give you money. Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2016

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Similarly, it will be very satisfying to see the productivity increases from your leadership and mentoring.

Satisfaction 61

Satisfaction Startup Customer Custom 61

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

After Tanz had sold his pre-Instagram photo-sharing app called MoJungle, he was intrigued with notion of bringing advertising to photos, and had no idea if it was even possible. They have built proprietary ad serving, video serving and image recognition technology, complete with patents, and invented in-image advertising.

Advertising 98

Advertising Santa Monica Startup Content 98

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Founders generally need more focus on the market sizing, volume projections, cost details and margin expectations to balance the optimism of their passion for the idea. Patents issued to you before you incorporate the business will not be considered part of the business valuation by investors.

Companies 61

Companies Company Startup Equity 61