Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

You may think that patents and copyrights are not required, since your products are so innovative, but you will find that competitors are quick to copy your idea if you don’t protect it. Although Elon Musk doesn’t talk about it very much, he owns over 350 patents through Tesla, just one of his many companies.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2018

New technology markets and paradigm shifts have traditionally been bad bets when seeking investors, since these were known to take decades to develop, and cost lots of money. For example, consider how many years it took for the market to move from radio to television, or fully accept personal computers on every desktop.

Marketing 92

Marketing Demand Examples Social Media 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2020

And we all know Facebook didn’t invent social media. Certainly I’m not recommending just one more Facebook, with a couple of features from Twitter, since social media has an unlimited potential for innovation. Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market.

Startup 157

Startup Social Media Study Research 157

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Of course, their answer is that the second intends to get to market faster, but every engine has limits regardless the fuel applied. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science. Tackling most of the support tasks yourself. The timing of cash flow is everything.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

This raises a big red flag with potential investors, who conclude that no competitors means no market, or you haven’t looked, and the new startup is likely not investable. First to market, for example, is not normally a sustainable advantage for startups. Here are some of the key ones: Patent protection in place as a barrier to entry.

Competition 166

Competition Funding Startup Patents 166

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2019

When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least eight items that should be in your IP portfolio. Select it well – marketers will tell you that you will be selling your name, more than your products. Social media accounts.

IP 93

IP Invest Patents Social Media 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2021

You have done everything to register your brand legally , including domains, copyrights, patents, and trademarks. Evaluate the brand impact of proposed market moves. The push is always on to grow your market with new geographies, new products, and new market segments. Always check language nuances and translation issues.

Examples 170

Examples Customer Custom Social Media 170

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Watch that patent provide a real barrier to competitive entry. At the same time, you can never let up on the work and the sweat required for continuous innovation, exemplary customer satisfaction, and staying ahead of competitors: Marketing is a never-ending challenge. Keeping expenses down must always be top priority.

Startup 118

Startup Satisfaction Customer Custom 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2022

I recommend that you look for new or emerging opportunities in new markets. You need intellectual property , such as a patent, trade secret, or process expertise that will be a barrier that you can defend. Assess your connections, both social media and financial. Test a prototype solution before you build a business plan.

Social Media 105

Social Media Writing Ideas Resource 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2022

They look at your track record, industry leadership, marketing energy, moral values, and peer relationships. Back in the early days of the personal computer, Bill Gates and Microsoft were widely recognized and having the strongest technical culture, as well as a commanding marketing presence.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Social Media Entrepreneur Startup 147

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

Registered patents and other intellectual property. A strategy of learning and willingness to pivot, based on market feedback, is a great survival skill and attitude, cherished by investors. In this context, investors are attracted to thought-leaders visible on social media, and people with strong technical credentials.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Of course, their answer is that the second intends to get to market faster, but every engine has limits regardless the fuel applied. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science. Tackling most of the support tasks yourself. The timing of cash flow is everything.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2017

When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least eight items that should be in your IP portfolio. Select it well – marketers will tell you that you will be selling your name, more than your products. Social media accounts.

Startup 69

Startup Patents IP Social Media 69

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2021

For example, I’m not sure the world needs one more social media niche site, or another dating site, or yet another flavored drink alternative. You may be a product expert, but have little experience with running a business, or marketing, or sales. Communicate and market your solution to the max.

Startup 162

Startup Metrics Ideas Entrepreneur 162

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

Watch that patent provide a real barrier to competitive entry. At the same time, you can never let up on the work and the sweat required for continuous innovation, exemplary customer satisfaction, and staying ahead of competitors: Marketing is a never-ending challenge. Keeping expenses down must always be top priority.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

Find market evidence of customers with means who are willing to pay for a solution. Even adding money won’t do it – you need to create a committed and engaged team and partners for marketing and sales, as well as production and distribution. Choose a business model that will win in the market. Pay attention to the market.

Tips 80

Tips Startup Satisfaction Ideas 80

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2020

The common reason given is that this prevents any competitor from stealing their idea and beating them to market. If there really are no competitors, then there is likely no market opportunity, or you haven’t looked yet. In my view, this paranoid approach costs them much more than the risk of being open. Marty Zwilling.

Search Engine Optimization 174

Search Engine Optimization Ideas Startup Customer 174

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Be a visible and available expert in your domain.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2010

When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most people think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least seven items that should be in your IP portfolio. Select it well – marketers will tell you that you will be selling your name, more than your products. Patent attorney fees start at around $5K.

Patents 50

Patents Startup IP Blogging 50

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2023

A smaller market sizing may make a good family business, if you have the funding. Highly saturated domains (more than 10 existing players), such as niche social media sites, are highly risky. Don’t try to explain your technical implementation, your patent algorithm, or your unfair competitive advantage here.

Startup 96

Startup Education Ideas Customer 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least eight items that should be in your IP portfolio. Select it well – marketers will tell you that you will be selling your name, more than your products. Social media accounts.

Startup 103

Startup Patents IP Social Media 103

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

But they can otherwise save you much time and effort, and are also safer and more productive than the old-fashioned approach of broadcast emailing or cold-calling every investor you can find in online directories, or responding to the risky spam offers you get for funding on social media.

Platform 94

Platform Equity Invest Technical Advisors 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

Customers today quickly get beyond these, and put a competitive priority on the experience of others, reflected in reviews and social media, and their own total experience with your sales process, delivery, returns, and support on their schedule. Features, availability, and brand are just the price of entry.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Be a visible and available expert in your domain.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

For example, “We just patented a new battery technology that will cut your smartphone charge time and cost in half.” Quantify the market opportunity in business terms. For example, “Nielsen projects that the market for smart phones will double every year for the next five years.” Use non-fuzzy terms to quantify customer value.

Product 169

Product Summary Startup Examples 169

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

Registered patents and other intellectual property. A strategy of learning and willingness to pivot, based on market feedback, is a great survival skill and attitude, cherished by investors. In this context, investors are attracted to thought-leaders visible on social media, and people with strong technical credentials.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2020

The simple solution I recommend to inventors is to find a partner who can focus on business and marketing, while you focus on technology. Understanding what drives customers to buy, in different market segments and cultures, is usually just as challenging as creating and combining technology to deliver function.

Startup 124

Startup Entrepreneur Customer Custom 124

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 25, 2009

all the other folks out there that will try to enter the same market) the barriers have been dropping over the last few years. Fantastic post by Christian Gammill - Startup Delta Force… From a competitive perspective (e.g. How’s that for duality. Business - how are you actually going to make money? many more (please comment below)

Startup 150

Startup SEM IP SEO 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

That’s why I recommend that they find a co-founder who loves business challenges, including marketing and finance. Business people know how to downplay the technology and market the value of the solution. Marketing is a necessary evil to mask poor technology. The right marketing efforts can cost as much as the technology.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Patents Entrepreneur Customer 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

His challenge is to focus on one market, with a specific design, cost, and price. Then, he'll need to patent it and create a plan to show opportunity, competition, and financial projections. Only a great team, and listening to customers, will allow you to adjust as you learn more, or the market changes.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

And we all know Facebook didn’t invent social media. Certainly I’m not recommending just one more Facebook, with a couple of features from Twitter, since social media has an unlimited potential for innovation. Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market.

Startup 65

Startup Social Media Study Research 65

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2020

A smaller market sizing may make a good family business, if you have the funding. Highly saturated domains (more than 10 existing players), such as niche social media sites, are highly risky. Don’t try to explain your technical implementation, your patent algorithm, or your unfair competitive advantage here.

Startup 166

Startup Education Ideas Customer 166

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2017

Get an NDA before detailed patent disclosures. Entrepreneurs should never disclose the details of a planned or current patent application to any outsiders, until after a non-disclosure or other contract has been signed. Some entrepreneurs avoid the patent process, since patent details become public once a patent is issued.

Technical Review 61

Technical Review Patents Ideas Social Media 61

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Trademarks, copyrights and even patents can be completed online by anyone through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office site for a few hundred dollars. Take advantage of social media and free websites for marketing. Site marketing is easily extended through blogs, Twitter, Facebook and social media.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media Outsource Development 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Of course, their answer is that the second intends to get to market faster, but every engine has limits regardless the fuel applied. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science. Tackling most of the support tasks yourself. The timing of cash flow is everything.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2017

If you follow these recommended steps before approaching investors, you may indeed convince someone that your million dollar idea could lead to a billion dollar business: Gather some market sizing data from industry experts. A good social cause doesn’t always imply a viable business. Test your assumptions in the target marketplace.

Ideas 74

Ideas Social Media Startup Customer 74

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

I suggest you use social media, blogging, crowdfunding, or documented research to quantify a real demand from people who can afford it, and don’t have a better alternative already out there. Any startup with no patents, trade secrets, or other secret sauce is very high risk today.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94