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). If you are approaching a recognized venture capital group, or even an accredited angel investor, a non-disclosure agreement is counter-productive. Sharing trade secrets.

Ideas 159

Ideas Tips Technical Review Patents 159

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. This early stage is often called basic research , well before any specific commercially viable products might be envisioned. Commercial product prototypes. Product verification and clinical trials.

Resource 102

Resource Ideas Funding Research 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2020

In my experience with entrepreneurs, there seems to a wealth of self-proclaimed “idea people” who aspire to start businesses, but only a few who are willing and able to dig in and get the job done. All the great ideas in the world won’t make a business, if the ideas never get implemented.

Ideas 122

Ideas Entrepreneur Startup IBM 122

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 132

Ideas PPC Customer Custom 132

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Can you create a product in a vacuum? Creating a new product in a relative vacuum is an exercise in complete trust that you know what’s best for the customer, perhaps even without interaction with such a customer. On the other hand, most products or services are created in response to a real or perceived need.

Product 156

Product Customer Custom Ideas 156

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. The only way to build productive, collaborative, innovative, and cohesive teams is by resolving core dysfunction issues and implementing a structured process for innovation. Generate ideas.

Ideas 123

Ideas Framework Satisfaction Startup 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2023

So why do I see some many funding requests for products along these lines? Here are some key drivers that will likely lead you to a fundable idea: A business crisis. Other countries can provide e-commerce with different business models, outsource manufacturing at low cost, and a huge market for new products.

Ideas 118

Ideas Outsource Development Outsource Course 118

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 4, 2023

Ironically, as a startup investor and mentor, I have seen too many failures caused by just the opposite – too much money spent too soon, taking time to get product perfection, and assuming customers will wait. Startups funded by rich uncles rarely think about productivity. Rethink or reframe the challenge.

Resource 112

Resource Ideas Competition Entrepreneur 112

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. Serious investors, on the other hand, look for a professional business plan or summary first, and hardly ever look at the product plan.

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Entrepreneur 112

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 22, 2017

Wednesday, June 28, 2017 -- Product Strategy Real-Time: See How the Pros Make New Ideas Viable (MAKE IT Monthly). Why do some products succeed spectacularly and others never take off? See [link] (more)

Ideas 100

Ideas Product Help Startup 100

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 124

Ideas Tips Marketing Social Media 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2023

Every one of you business owners I know periodically introduces new products and services to sustain growth, fight off competitors, or take advantage of new technologies. The cost of any new product these days must include education and rollout marketing, perhaps equal or greater than the development costs.

Product 141

Product Services Technical Review Artificial Inteligence 141

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2021

The real solution is better productivity and less procrastination, to put you back in control of your business. Jan Yager, a recognized expert on the subject of time management, addressed this issue in the classic edition of her book, “ Work Less, Do More: The 14-Day Productivity Makeover.” Rest makes you more productive.

Product 153

Product Email Customer Custom 153

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

As an advisor to new hardware entrepreneurs, I often hear the myth that a business plan is no longer required to find an investor, if your idea is good enough. For the rest of us, we need a business plan, as well as a product plan. Professional investors and even customers invest in people, rather than just a product.

Product 169

Product Summary Startup Examples 169

SoCal Tech Calendar

OCTOBER 26, 2011

Saturday, October 29, 2011 -- Learn How To Sell and Protect Your Product Ideas. Speaker: Andrew Krauss - Licensing Expert - How To License Your New Product Ideas For Royalties. Speaker: John Calvert - Patent Office - On Patents. See [link] (more)

Ideas 100

Ideas Product Patents 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2022

In my own experience networking as a startup investor and business executive, I always gave extra consideration to someone who didn’t immediately pitch me about their great idea or background. All productive business relationships must be based on some shared goals and common interests, potentially in different industries.

Product 102

Product Mentor Startup Activity 102

Berkonomics

APRIL 8, 2021

How do you make your product go viral? What are the elements needed to focus upon in making the attempt to take a product viral? Some apps, like Discord, attach a brand link to the bottom of each message so that every recipient can click upon the link and become a user of the product without further marketing by the company.

Sites 156

Sites Product Social Network Press 156

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 11, 2009

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 -- Golden Opportunities: New Product Ideas. How do you find new product ideas that are likely to succeed? Techbizconnection. Large software companies are increasingly relying on fostering communities and nurture business ecosystems to be successful.

Ideas 100

Ideas TechBiz Product Entrepreneur 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 5, 2023

In my experience with entrepreneurs, there seems to a wealth of self-proclaimed “idea people” who aspire to start businesses, but only a few who are willing and able to dig in and get the job done. All the great ideas in the world won’t make a business, if the ideas never get implemented.

Startup 155

Startup Ideas IBM IBM 155

Berkonomics

JUNE 22, 2023

If your vision is for a product or service that fills a need in a mature industry, you may be flying against the prevailing winds as a market shrinks over time, taking your business with it. Some great ideas just can’t make money and ultimately die for lack of profit potential. Can you translate an idea into a compelling product?

Patents 286

Patents Pricing Ideas Marketing 286

socalTECH

MARCH 14, 2017

San Diego-based startup Envy has launched a new, visual search engine, which takes Tinder's swipe left and swipe right approach to the world, to reviewing products and services.

Product 113

Product Services San Diego Ideas 113

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2022

He is always open to the ideas of his team, and even if he doesn't agree that an idea will work, he'll say so, but he often supports and funds it anyway. Relationships are key to happiness and productivity. Jeff Bezos , founder of Amazon, attributes much of his success to building a motivated and enabled team.

Product 109

Product Training Customer Custom 109

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2015

In my experience with entrepreneurs, there seems to a wealth of self-proclaimed “idea people” who aspire to start businesses, but only a few who are willing and able to dig in and get the job done. All the great ideas in the world won’t make a business, if the ideas never get implemented.

Ideas 115

Ideas Startup IBM IBM 115

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

In fact, some totally avoid it, assuming their product or solution will speak for itself later. Contributing to industry blogs, or starting your own, is an ideal way to express your positive values, and build a reputation that can save you later if your product stumbles, or you receive some negative challenges.

Product 127

Product Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Technical Review 127

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 23, 2010

So you have a great new product or service that you and your associates love. Will you have to be both the evangelist for the product and for its marketplace as well? Early adopters should climb all over each other for a look. But what have you done to test the concept against the realities of the marketplace?

Product 180

Product Ideas Resource Email 180

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2020

There are many ways to add levity to a tough challenge, and engaging the team occasionally in some fun activities will work wonders for your team’s productivity and motivation. Investors have long agreed that you invest in the team, more than the product. Don’t take yourself too seriously as well.

Product 129

Product Examples Mentor Activity 129

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2012

said it has started raising $250,000 to bring its product to life, via a crowdfunding effort. 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. , READ MORE>>.

Ideas 187

Ideas Product Startup 187

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2017

It takes a special kind of person to turn an idea into a business, with strengths often opposite those of an inventor. Too many inventors I know spend their six years or more perfecting the product, and give up in desperation if the business doesn’t then take off overnight. Don’t expect the world will find you due to your invention.

Ideas 67

Ideas Product Startup Satisfaction 67

socalTECH

MAY 28, 2013

To bring that ability to name your own price on products, Los Angeles-based Greentoe (www.greentoe.com) recently launched, allowing consumers to name their own price to retailers of everything from electronics to baby products. Joe Marrapodi: GreenToe is a name your own price marketplace for products. What is Greentoe?

Pricing 273

Pricing Product Help Sales 273

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2015

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. Attend trade shows and network to find the right players and pitch your product.

Ideas 104

Ideas Mentor Resource Entrepreneur 104

Eric Greenspan

MAY 9, 2013

There’s great ideas everywhere. My idea is to never plant anything you can’t eat. We’d end hunger and rid the world of dangerous pesticides used in mass production. The time is ripe for the next generation keyboard idea. Keyboard idea 1. Keyboard idea 2. Here’s a couple of mine: 1.

Ideas 117

Ideas Screening IBM IBM 117

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 78

Ideas Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 78

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. Think Stewardship. The same precept holds true today.

Ideas 251

Ideas Venture Capital Education Entrepreneur 251

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 result was a product that was bloated and late to market.

Ideas 99

Ideas Slides Writing Startup 99

socalTECH

MAY 17, 2013

According to the firm, its product allows bloggers to insert sponsored posts that match a blogger''s audience on a cost-per-click basis. VIRURL is part of the move towards the somewhat controversial idea "native advertising", where sponsored content appears as part of a publisher''s news stream.

Advertising 168

Advertising Product Santa Monica Blogging 168

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 Satisfaction Entrepreneur Activity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2015

Most entrepreneurs I meet are reluctant to disclose anything about their idea to investors before getting a signed confidential disclosure agreement (CDA). If you are approaching a recognized venture capital group, or even an accredited angel investor, a non-disclosure agreement is counter-productive. Sharing trade secrets.

Ideas 106

Ideas Technical Review Patents Entrepreneur 106