Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 23, 2020

For example, if that person is an investor, listen for a background in technology or a focus on financial returns, before highlighting your vision to change the social culture. Ask questions first to find what people or interests you might have in common, and then explore these at a personal level to build a positive relationship.

Networking 126

Networking Social Media Startup Media 126

TechCrunch LA

JULY 29, 2019

When Stackin initially pitched itself as part of Techstars Los Angeles accelerator program two years ago, the company was a video platform for financial advice targeting a millennial audience too savvy for traditional advisory services. It turns out that consumers didn’t want another video platform.

Services 212

Services Mobile Platform Los Angeles 212

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2014

They get pitched by so many blowhards that more genuine people who aren’t in it for just a story stand out from the crowd. The other thing that tech execs often want to do is to delegate the PR to their marketing person. They don’t have enough billable hours to be able to really understand what you do or effectively pitch it.

Press 319

Press Startup Writing Training 319

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Editor's note, TuesdayNights is running its Impact Conference in Santa Monica on Friday, where we are a Media Partner) Photo: Left, Melinda Moore and Right, Justine Lassoff. You just have to be aware of that bias when you are pitched by women. Personal networking is really and element you need to focus on. What is TuesdayNights?

Help 224

Help Entrepreneur Capital Startup 224

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 16, 2020

Over their longtime personal and professional relationship, the two Los Angeles-based serial entrepreneurs have invested in each other’s companies and investment firms, but never worked together until now. “We want to connect them to the right person at those companies to create a commercial relationship.

Funding 230

Funding Southern California Los Angeles Invest 230

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

That’s why I caution my aspiring entrepreneur clients against proclaiming to investors that they are a great “idea” person. At least the first time around, it pays big dividends for an idea person to find a partner with the business skills you haven’t tested yet. For example, I have a friend with a Ph.D.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2019

In my role as a mentor to entrepreneurs and an angel investor, I find that too many are stuck in this myth that a good pitch, and good marketing content, should consist of more product features, and more hype on customer benefits. That’s why I recommend every solution pitch must start with a painful problem, not just “nice-to-have.”

Startup 102

Startup Custom Customer Social Media 102

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

If you are one of the thousands of entrepreneurs who need equity funding to get your startup going (no loans to repay), you are probably overwhelmed at the prospect of finding, contacting and pitching to the huge number of qualified angels and investment groups around the country. Register Internet and social media startup names.

Platform 94

Platform Equity Invest Technical Advisors 94

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 27, 2013

Think about how you would sell in person. Practice on your friends and pitch selling them on your concept and perfecting the pitch. Billy Mays was doing road shows for 12 years perfecting his pitch before he actually took Orange Glo, Kaboom and OxiClean on TV. Nick Tran, Director of Social Media for Taco Bell.

Dollar Shave Club 106

Dollar Shave Club Tips Marketing Sales 106

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Social Media Week (SMW) helps organizations connect and share the latest social media findings through social, cultural and economic talks and workshops in major cities worldwide. A City of Angels: How Social Media is Bringing LA Closer to Utopia. Social Media and Urban Development in Hollywood. 10:30-11:00am. Tues 9/25.

Social Media 92

Social Media Los Angeles Media Angel 92

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2013

Calling high means reaching the highest level appropriate person in an organization that you can reach to hear your pitch. The senior person you meet is unlikely to be the person actually making the decision. In a small to mid-sized organization this is likely the CEO or perhaps a COO or SVP. It’s too strategic.

Sales 375

Sales Technical Review Organization Case Study 375

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2023

The Founder needs to remember that meetings up to this point have been primarily off-site, with staged demos, and managed personally by the CEO or a small team. That might start with the CEO giving the investor pitch to the whole organization, and distributing the current business plan document to everyone.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Invest 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2017

This may seem intuitively obvious, but as an angel investor, I have heard hundreds of new business pitches that focus heavily on the product, but don’t tell the rest of the story. Mark Zuckerberg was not the first to build a social media platform, so he had to find investors who believed in him. Temper your emotion with data.

Social Media 58

Social Media Coach Invest Media 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

Let me assure you that a business plan and product plan are two different things (I have personally written several of both). Be sure to include this in your “elevator pitch,” which you must always deliver as a prelude to your technology features. You need both to survive. Use non-fuzzy terms to quantify customer value.

Product 169

Product Summary Startup Examples 169

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2015

Here are eight key points that I believe should be taken from the show by every startup founder looking for investors in real life, across the range of venture capitalists, angel investors, or even friends and family: You will be judged first as a person, then by your idea. Personalize your presentation, if possible, for every investor.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Sample Ideas Custom 106

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2014

Highlight the problem and your concerns in industry blogs, speaking in public forums, and making yourself visible on social media and networking opportunities. Craft and hone your elevator pitch early. Social media sites today, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, provide ideal forums for presenting your cause and your concept.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Social Media Startup Blogging 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2021

Think personal computers compared to mainframes, or smartphone cameras compared to professional cameras. Facebook built the social media market before customers even knew they needed it. Pitch your innovation against today’s market. Pick a technology that somehow seems inferior to the major incumbents. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Entrepreneur Marketing Custom 157

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2022

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. In my view, that was their key to the early goodwill they needed. Brand recognition and market influencer support.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Social Media Entrepreneur Startup 147

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2020

But customers today are fickle, instantly aware of every new alternative, due to the Internet and social media, and not afraid to change. Be responsive on social media, as well as every physical interaction, so that every customer feels a special sensitivity and connection. Go beyond asking customers how they want you to improve.

Custom 136

Custom Customer Social Media Startup 136

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

If this is personally your first startup, it’s very important to highlight prior leadership experience in school, business, or public life, and your ability to attract skilled people for your team, as well as advocates from your industry, social media, or prior relationships. Pitch a rational plan for expansion and growth.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

I don’t advise pitching to famous Silicon Valley venture capitalists for major funding until well after your business is a proven hit, and you are looking to scale it up across the country or world-wide. Make sure you can get consistent names on Twitter, Facebook, and other key social media sites. No presence gives you no credibility.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 13, 2020

Every radical turn in technology history has its great entrepreneur, and for space that person is SpaceX founder Elon Musk. And to top off the show, TechCrunch will also feature a space startup pitch-off featuring five early-stage founders chosen by the editors from a large application pool. Applications open today; apply here. .

SpaceX 150

SpaceX Los Angeles Tips Pricing 150

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 7, 2013

This time they’re inviting you to attend their annual Fast Pitch Conference. UCLA’s EA fast-pitch Conference is being held at UCLA tomorrow, with fast-pitch Semi Finals and the Final Round. Judging this year’s Fast-pitch Conference is a splendid all-star cast featuring: Jason Beck, VP of Vicente Capital Partners.

Competition 82

Competition UCLA Entrepreneur Conference 82

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2016

I still hear too many excuses for not working early on the elevator pitch, like wanting to fly under the radar, don’t have the team together yet, or can’t afford an agency. Highlight the problem and your concerns in industry blogs, speaking in public forums, and making yourself visible on social media and networking opportunities.

Custom 58

Custom Customer Social Media Startup 58

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

If you are not in that rare category of known and proven entrepreneurs, you should avoid the following list of my top ten turnoffs that I have personally experienced as an angel investor. Every pitch should start with a concise statement of the problem and your innovative solution. The best demos to investors are 30 seconds or less.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Startup Statistics Social Media 109

socalTECH

JUNE 20, 2014

Kevin is also well known as the organizer of the Digital LA networking group (digitalla.net), which hosts dozens and dozens of events in Silicon Beach every year (Editor''s note: socalTECH.com is a media sponsor of the event). We''re showing people that we have the cool media-entertainment stuff, which is cool and great, and we love that.

Santa Monica 205

Santa Monica Conference Belkin Southern California 205

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2017

In my role as a mentor to entrepreneurs and an angel investor, I find that too many are stuck in this myth that a good pitch, and good marketing content, should consist of more product features, and more hype on customer benefits. That’s why I recommend every solution pitch must start with a painful problem, not just “nice-to-have.”

Marketing 69

Marketing Startup Social Media Guide 69

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 23, 2011

They get pitched by so many blowhards that more genuine people who aren’t in it for just a story stand out from the crowd. PR isn’t something that can be delegated – The other thing that tech execs often want to do is to delegate the PR to their marketing person. It’s the best marketing ROI in my opinion.

Startup 349

Startup Writing Press Blogging 349

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2021

Social entrepreneurs pitch me their latest idea for eliminating world hunger (producing algae), but may forget that really hungry people probably don’t have any money. Online sites now advertise customized designs and personal fits. It takes a real selling opportunity to sustain a business idea.

Startup 112

Startup Ideas Examples Entrepreneur 112

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

No matter how smart or knowledgable Gore was he couldn’t get a break in the media. I have sat through countless pitches with Ivy League grads spewing off intellectual descriptions of the details of their product or service and why it will win in the market. In a VC pitch this type of messaging will do just fine.

Entrepreneur 370

Entrepreneur Startup Press Venture Capital 370

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2019

Always write in the future tense, what you will do, and name yourself as the key person responsible. Before you know it, you will have a ten-slide pitch that you can use to gauge interest from potential customers, as well as friends, family, and early investors. Create a specific plan to network to get the help you need.

Ideas 99

Ideas Slides Writing Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2021

The Founder needs to remember that meetings up to this point have been primarily off-site, with staged demos, and managed personally by the CEO or a small team. That might start with the CEO giving the investor pitch to the whole organization, and distributing the current business plan document to everyone.

Technical Review 151

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Invest 151

socalTECH

MARCH 1, 2013

One of those is Hollywood-based FilmBreak (www.filmbreak.com), which is applying the world of social networking, media, and the Internet to help film-makers gain access to the analytics and insights they need to better market their films. Lots of them were in online media and entertainment. That's really the core focus for us.

Hollywood 256

Hollywood CTO Hire Social Media Platform 256

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2020

For example, I used to regularly hear pitches for the next great social media site, usually focused on a special interest or niche , such as photography, cooking, healthy living, or a thousand others. I can tell you from personal experience that it’s easy to get blinded by daily crises, and miss key issues that gate success.

Startup 123

Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Outsource 123

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2009

But so that you finish reading my post first I’ll give you the summary version – when approaching somebody at a show be polite / respectful of time, try to be introduced if possible and never assume the person remembers who you are. I do about 15 in person meetings / week … that’s about 750 / year.

Startup 322

Startup Conference Email Venture Capital 322

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 11, 2013

Pitching stories and getting your name out to various companies and editors requires a lot of work. For all those who want to talk about the fragmentation of media and the models for journalism is in trouble; it’s actually not. If you are a writer and you are pitching to a new editor, you can pitch through us and manage those pitches.

Journal 90

Journal Startup Writing Media 90

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2018

Customer conversations are easy today, through responding to customers on social media, web live chats, and interactive applications on mobile devices. For example, it’s easy to get so focused on selling the product you have, that you miss the customer desire for free shipping, or personalization, or colors you don’t have.

Marketing 91

Marketing Examples Startup Custom 91