Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.”

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Startup Statistics Social Media 109

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

For some aspiring to be tech entrepreneurs, I often suggest a two-step process, as I argued in this post that “ The First Startup Founder You Need to Invest in Is You.” He or she has worked at some very successful big technology or media companies and went to a great school. I saved my main point for last.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital IP 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

Periodically we do portfolio reviews to evaluate whether we have enough diversified risk across the fund. One such theme was “water conservation” and we morphed it into a broader theme of agriculture technology or “ag tech” for short. We look at stage, geography and of course sector. 6SensorLabs.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.”

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Statistics Startup Social Media 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

A business needs technical, marketing, financial and many other skills. Prepare an executive summary and investor presentation. Angel investors expect to review a short executive summary before booking time to hear an investor presentation or taking the time to analyze a full business plan.

Angel 65

Angel Startup Technical Review Social Media 65

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

Reviewing financial & operational performance. By now you have many smart people around your board but probably people who don’t totally understand the nuances of your employees, customers, sales reps, marketing messages, technology challenges, competitors and strategic choices. Mentorship. As You Start to Mature.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 119

Entrepreneur Technical Review Statistics Startup 119

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2015

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.”

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup Statistics 109

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2013

Reports suggest that 90% of today’s shoppers skip marketing pitches, to research online before they buy, and over 50% check user reviews before making a decision. Distribute an Executive Summary and Recommendations report, as well as transcripts of your interviews, to all the key players in your company.

Startup 105

Startup Search Engine Optimization Summary Customer 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 5, 2018

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.”

Funding 62

Funding Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup 62

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

People said this about Ring (which went from startup to selling to Amazon > $1 billion in around 5 years), Facebook, YouTube, Airbnb, Uber, Twitter, Instagram and many other great behemoths of the technology industry. Ah, but Bird doesn’t have network effects! There is nothing viral! Anybody can launch a scooter service! Not really.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2010

He listened intently through every presentation, asked questions and did a great summary of what he felt he had learned over the two days. The Greycroft event was a 10 out of 10 so I’ve diligently taken notes. I really enjoyed learning more about Buddy Media and meeting Michael Lazerow.

Startup 279

Startup Venture Capital Tips Custom Development 279

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2012

Reports suggest that 90% of today’s shoppers skip marketing pitches, to research online before they buy, and over 50% check user reviews before making a decision. Distribute an Executive Summary and Recommendations report, as well as transcripts of your interviews, to all the key players in your company.

Tips 93

Tips Search Engine Optimization Summary Startup 93

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2011

Recent reports suggest that 90% of today’s shoppers skip marketing pitches, to research online before they buy, and over 50% check user reviews before making a decision. Distribute an Executive Summary and Recommendations report, as well as transcripts of your interviews, to all the key players in your company.

Customer 96

Customer Custom Search Engine Optimization Summary 96

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2017

Reports suggest that 90% of today’s shoppers skip marketing pitches, to research online before they buy, and over 50% check user reviews before making a decision. Distribute an Executive Summary and Recommendations report, as well as transcripts of your interviews, to all the key players in your company.

Search Engine Optimization 58

Search Engine Optimization Startup SEO Customer 58

socalTECH

DECEMBER 1, 2008

In what looks to be a challenging funding climate for entrepreneurs, we thought it would be interesting to talk to one fund which is still making investments--Saban Ventures (www.saban.com)--a new, digital media focused venture capital fund located in Los Angeles. Richard Yen: We're fairly broad in respect to digital media.

Southern California 100

Southern California Media Venture Capital Invest 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 1, 2008

In what looks to be a challenging funding climate for entrepreneurs, we thought it would be interesting to talk to one fund which is still making investments--Saban Ventures (www.saban.com)--a new, digital media focused venture capital fund located in Los Angeles. Richard Yen: We're fairly broad in respect to digital media.

Capital 100

Capital Southern California Media Venture Capital 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

Here is my summary of how business relationships relate to friends. These should never be confused with social-media friends that you have never met or hardly know. Many entrepreneurs find their role lonely due to the fear that business and friendships simply don’t mix well. You need business partners, investors and customers.

Entrepreneur 66

Entrepreneur Social Network Technical Review Social Media 66

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

If you’re a technology startup you need to excel at product, of course. Link has a summary of his argument plus a great video). While many tech startups do this intuitively (say, SnapChat thinking it would be much better if our photos out partying disappeared) it still happens. It’s worth a quick read.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 30, 2016

I was reminded of this yesterday watching my friend Justin Kan on Snapchat with this 10-second reminder, “No matter how much you raise at your company you’ll end up spending it in 12–24 months” https://medium.com/media/8594cb16d022a083932b0f3d60b79ebd/href I would probably amend it to say 12–18 months. People do what people do.

Startup 292

Startup Software Review Pricing Entrepreneur 292

socalTECH

JUNE 21, 2013

I kind of fell into it, after a period of diligence on the idea, and realizing it was a big opportunity. You can show them what your growth is like, give them a financial summary, and they can interact with you. My first professional experience was with a colleage from school, Ampush Media.

Startup 247

Startup Software Review Entrepreneur Equity 247

SoCal Delicious

JANUARY 15, 2010

Shortcut: sebastian-x.com Blog About Blogroll Links How brain-amputated developers created the social media plague Posted on 12 January, 2010 The bot playground commonly refered to as “social media&# is responsible for shitloads of absurd cretinism. The Twitter pest that costs you hard earned money WTF I’m ranting about?

Social Media 41

Social Media Develop Development Media 41

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

I know you’re not a tech guy and haven’t done anything other than an HTML course you once took, but if you’re inspirational and a leader you’ll find somebody to moonlight for free to get your prototype built. Existing tech or industry executives - Do you have strong relationships in your industry?

Angel 291

Angel Funding Venture Capital Startup 291

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 17, 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This is a long post, so I put an executive summary here if you want to get the point without reading all the detail. If you plan to read the post you can skip the summary if you want. I want to know how many people, their level of tech sophistication, their age and their interests.

Writing 356

Writing Startup Ideas Summary 356

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Partially due to the economy, but also due to longer, healthier lives and changes in job tenure, 60% of working Boomers are now expected to stay in the labor force, with real power and influence, for at least seven more years, to 2020. The immigrant rate of entrepreneurial activity seems to be declining each year (now about.5%),

Entrepreneur 118

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Technical Support 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2012

Partially due to the economy, but also due to longer, healthier lives and changes in job tenure, 62% of working Boomers are now expected to stay in the labor force, with real power and influence, for at least nine more years, to 2020.

Startup 112

Startup Technical Review Technical Support Study 112

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2011

Partially due to the economy, but also due to longer, healthier lives and changes in job tenure, 62% of working Boomers are now expected to stay in the labor force, with real power and influence, for at least nine more years, to 2020.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Technical Support Study Activity 94

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 22, 2010

But more broadly it got me thinking to one of the biggest mistakes tech executives get into in the first place. But you’d be surprised how much tech folks either hold journalists too much on a pedestal or disdain them. Do not equate that with them giving you glowing reviews – you have to earn that. Total waste.

Tips 307

Tips Startup Press Blogging 307

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2012

Executive Summary. If you want to watch the video version summary of my advice on fund raising it’s here. I get approached about clean tech or biotech periodically – I don’t focus on these. In ad tech there’s Seth Levine at Foundry Group and both Dana Settle & Ian Sigelow at Greycroft.

Develop 366

Develop Development Funding Venture Capital 366

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 22, 2011

If you’re a startup and you haven’t read my summary of Clay Christensen’s seminal work please do. The new entrant keeps margins low but suddenly has a lot of profits due to large volumes of business. This has particularly hurt the print media businesses that can no longer charge enough to pay for editorial, printing & distribution.

Startup 386

Startup Pricing Marketing Product 386

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 17, 2016

But if more of us in the tech sector speak up and in unison and constantly for the next 50 days it can change minds, encourage others and hopefully get amplified by the press to reach others. Use your blogs, use social media, use the TV media. Summary — What You Need to Do I don’t need to go on. Why does it matter?

Summary 150

Summary Media Technical Review Startup 150