Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2023

Some analysis and due diligence along the following lines should be performed on every idea, as a reality check, before committing your efforts and other people’s money to building a business: Look for places where competitors are few. Passion, optimism, and determination are necessary but not sufficient to assure a successful startup.

Ideas 106

Ideas Technical Review Patents Startup 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2022

I continue to be amazed that more than a quarter of new businesses don’t even have a website , and many more don’t pay attention to social media, or monitor feedback on sites like Yelp. At minimum, that requires a modern website, and visibility on relevant social media sites, likely including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Technical Review 142

Technical Review Social Media Conference Customer 142

Tech.Co

JANUARY 3, 2020

However, as a business owner, you know that resting on your laurels can be dangerous, which is why staying up to date with the latest business technology is a necessity. And if you aren't making good use of this business tech, you're missing out. The post The Business Tech You Need in 2020 appeared first on Tech.co.

Technical Review 91

Technical Review Software Review Social Media Platform 91

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 21, 2009

On the third Wednesday of every month I co-chair a meeting called the SoCal VCA (venture capital alliance), which represents participants from all of the top venture capital firms in Southern California as well as prominent members of the Tech Coast Angels (TCA). We feature a prominent speaker at every event.

Venture Capital 241

Venture Capital Technical Review Southern California Company 241

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Verifying Looking for regular tech news straight to your inbox? million site visits in October alone. Not only has this helped to raise its profile, it's also allowed them to invest further into their science team, and their cloud-based planning and monitoring tool, Land Tender. Gumroad homepage.

Startup 210

Startup Generative AI Newsletter Tool 210

TechCrunch LA

JULY 19, 2022

Today, when you start a brand, your first hire is probably someone to build out your Shopify site. Ghost is not alone in developing technology focused on inventory. Last week, Syrup Tech raised $6.3 The investment was led by Union Square Ventures and included participation from Eniac Ventures, Human Capital and Flexport.

Product 191

Product Funding Technical Review Equity 191

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2022

In my experience, the good news is that everyone is becoming more and more comfortable with relationships via the new media and technology. Maximize online referrals and positive service reviews. I still find too many service organizations that ignore or discount online reviews and satisfaction surveys.

Services 121

Services Technical Review Social Media Case Study 121

Tech.Co

MAY 31, 2023

Best Communication Tools for Startups Communication tools refer to any type of technology that helps businesses stay connected. If you manage remote or hybrid teams, RingCentral provides the best web conferencing software we've reviewed. Here are a couple of our favorites. From its 4.3-inch

Tool 128

Tool Startup Software Review Technical Review 128

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. The hottest new way of funding startups is to use online sites, like Kickstarter , to request donations, pre-order, get a reward, or even give equity.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Many of the entrepreneurs I advise or invest with spend considerable time on the Internet, keeping up with technology, customers, and competitors, but very few feel the need for an early personal presence. Consistently review and respond to relevant online feedback. Invest your time in networking online, as well as offline.

Product 127

Product Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Technical Review 127

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2022

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. 3 out of 4 people like getting exclusive offers that they can redeem via Facebook or other sites.

Customer 122

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 122

socalTECH

OCTOBER 3, 2011

Venice, California-based Tecca , the online and mobile site providing articles, reviews, how-to articles, and other information about electronics products, said Monday that it is now reaching over one million unique visitors a month. The site says it is now the largest technology website specifically catering to women.

Fandango 140

Fandango Technical Review Venice Yahoo 140

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

Although the major crowd funding sites today, including Kickstarter and Indiegogo , don’t technically require a business plan, they do demand essentially the same information in a project format. A business plan may be a small investment to get a shot at that opportunity. On the other hand, your mother probably won’t read one.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

Even a million users on your social media site won’t pay the bills until you sell some advertising or a premium service. In a larger public company, it’s all about making your quarterly numbers, versus investing in strategic growth alternatives that may not pay off until several quarters later. Don’t make growth a big-bang event.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

socalTECH

AUGUST 23, 2017

LA's technology startup industry has saw a surge in new companies and efforts from its serial entrepreneurs in the last few months. Serial Entrepreneur: Jon Kraft, co-founder of Pandora (Interim CEO), Jean-Marc Touch, co-founder Funding status: Angel backed, raising funding via crowdsourcing site StartEngine. Ground Control.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Company Companies Technical Review 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2017

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. 3 out of 4 people like getting exclusive offers that they can redeem via Facebook or other sites.

Technical Review 55

Technical Review Technology Social Media Social Network 55

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capitalists) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. These resources often include a cash investment, as well as office space, and consulting. Apply for contests and business grants.

Tips 104

Tips Startup Technical Review Equity 104

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

I continue to collect great content that is the intersection of startups, products, online and technology. The United States is now a debtor nation to China and that the bill is about to come due. Ask a question and get an answer - that is, after all, what all Q&A sites offer. One out of ten of Americans are out of work.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most have the technical challenges well understood, but many are a bit short on some basic street smarts , or basic business realities. Strategic planning is a required ongoing investment. Even the best college degree is not a substitute. Survival requires regular updates.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

are eliminated during due diligence. In today’s world, if you don’t have a web site up and running, you will not be perceived as a real company. Investors routinely go to candidate web sites to get a feel for the tone and scope of the company, as well as its maturity and offerings. Marty Zwilling.

Invest 99

Invest Angel Technical Review Summary 99

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Investors invest in the jockey, more than the horse. Look how many social media ‘likes’ my site has generated.” Too much detail at first contact is just as much of a turnoff as no information.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Startup Statistics Social Media 109

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

Some analysis and due diligence along the following lines should be performed on every idea, as a reality check, before committing your efforts and other people’s money to building a business: Look for places where competitors are few. Passion, optimism, and determination are necessary but not sufficient to assure a successful startup.

Ideas 83

Ideas Technical Review Patents Startup 83

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 12, 2011

Chris Dixon is one of my favorite people in tech and writes one of the few blogs I read religiously. If you don’t read it and you care about tech & entrepreneurship, you should. If you like the quick summary notes, please check out Adam’s blog on tech, entrepreneurship & VC as a thank you.

Technical Review 281

Technical Review Venture Capital Startup Artificial Inteligence 281

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

Yet everyone has limits, and every investor implicitly has similar limits on what makes a startup investable, or one to avoid at all costs. On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site. You need a big differentiator in these arenas.

Startup 126

Startup Sites Technical Review Social Media 126

socalTECH

AUGUST 28, 2017

Unlike Yelp and listings sites that are focused on user-generated reviews or things like that, we're really a portfolio sharing site, and a tool of professionals. He and I connected, and walked through PartySlate and what we were doing, and he immediately said he wanted to invest and become an advisor to the company.

Technical Advisors 100

Technical Advisors Technical Review Metrics Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. The hottest new way of funding startups is to use online sites, like Kickstarter , to request donations, pre-order, get a reward, or even give equity.

Startup 128

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 128

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2015

Check Craigslist first, since most new ventures don’t have the money for executive search firms and the major job listing sites. Search online startup platforms and crowdfunding sites. Typically you can browse them by region or technology to find founders. How much money has been invested so far?

Sample 101

Sample Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup 101

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 8, 2011

For those who still might be wondering what Spotlight: LA Tech is all about, It’s a screening room for new technology homegrown in our region. It’s a gathering of friends and tech enthusiasts of all stripes. This Spotlight takes place Thursday, July 14, at The California Institute of Technology (CalTech).

CalTech 100

CalTech Technical Review Company Companies 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2016

There is an old saying in the startup investor community, “Smart investors invest in the team, not the idea.” As an angel investor, I’ve learned to believe in this approach, since I have seen great ideas go astray, due to poor execution and I have seen apparently marginal ideas make millions, managed by a savvy entrepreneur.

Ideas 53

Ideas Technical Review Entrepreneur Advertising 53

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2019

More and more customers these days are doing their own marketing research, scanning internet reviews and feedback from friends, rather than trusting messages that you push out through advertising. I recommend that you experiment to find the best sites for your business, with the majors including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Marketing 94

Marketing Social Media Technical Review Customer 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Some analysis and due diligence along the following lines should be performed on every idea, as a reality check, before committing your efforts and other people’s money to building a business: Look for places where competitors are few. Passion, optimism, and determination are necessary but not sufficient to assure a successful startup.

Ideas 106

Ideas Entrepreneur Technical Review Patents 106

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

Last year 300,000+ American angels invested an estimated $25 billion in more than 70,000 startup deals. I can remember when creating a web site for eCommerce could easily require a million dollar investment. I can remember when creating a web site for eCommerce could easily require a million dollar investment.

Startup 128

Startup Social Media Satisfaction Entrepreneur 128

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2011

Last week, we ran into Deena Varshavskaya , the founder of Los Angeles-based Wanelo (www.wanelo.com), a social shopping site focused on allowing women to share and follow others as they shop online. It's a site you can post, find, and collect your favorite products for anywhere online. How long has the site been running?

Technical Review 200

Technical Review Sites Advertising Design 200

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2014

Check Craigslist first, since most new ventures don’t have the money for executive search firms and the major job listing sites. Search online startup platforms and crowdfunding sites. Typically you can browse them by region or technology to find founders. How much money has been invested so far?

Startup 100

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Conference 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Investors invest in the jockey, more than the horse. Look how many social media ‘likes’ my site has generated.” Too much detail at first contact is just as much of a turnoff as no information.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Statistics Startup Social Media 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2019

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. 3 out of 4 people like getting exclusive offers that they can redeem via Facebook or other sites.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 85

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Nearly every successful tech startup I’ve observed over the past 20 years has gone through a similar growth pattern: Innovate, systematize then scale operations. Understanding how your company will change as you move through these phases is critical if you hope to scale to a large business one day.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286