Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

YOU Selling – My wise old friend & mentor, Ameet Shah, once told me after a meeting we had with clients (when I worked at Accenture), “there are two ways to run a meeting: asking or telling. You’re a persuasive guy but be careful not to always be telling people the answer.

Sales 314

Sales Startup Venture Capital Customer 314

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. A perfect size is ten slides, with the right content, that can be covered in ten minutes. Investor and strategic partner pitch.

Entrepreneur 156

Entrepreneur Tips Funding Startup 156

Tech.Co

MAY 31, 2017

Put it in the slides: At the 2016 event, Liu & Huang overlooked the need to include some of their key findings in their slide deck. Test your skills: Create a mock competition environment and have experts or mentors in your field be the judges.

Competition 88

Competition Slides Artificial Inteligence Tips 88

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2022

Dini, tied together several threads I have often seen in my own experience of mentoring and helping aspiring entrepreneurs. Only a few of these slide into farming, as the company grows in employees and products. Dini makes the case that entrepreneurs are hunters, while the rest of us (large majority) are farmers.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Marketing News Slides 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

There are lots of resources available for the challenge of that activity, including the Internet and mentors like me. Present at trade shows and network with your ten-slide pitch to build your following. Thus, I’m more impressed with entrepreneurs who ask me to review their implementation plan, rather than listen again to their idea.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. The size of the document should be based on your style, but 10-20 pages or slides are usually more than adequate to outline even a complex business.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2014

Dini, tied together several threads I have often seen in my own experience of mentoring and helping aspiring entrepreneurs. Only a few of these slide into farming, as the company grows in employees and products. Dini makes the case that entrepreneurs are hunters, while the rest of us (large majority) are farmers.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Startup News Slides 109

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2014

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. A perfect size is ten slides, with the right content, that can be covered in ten minutes. Investor and strategic partner pitch.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Slides 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2015

Dini, tied together several threads I have often seen in my own experience of mentoring and helping aspiring entrepreneurs. Only a few of these slide into farming, as the company grows in employees and products. Dini makes the case that entrepreneurs are hunters, while the rest of us (large majority) are farmers.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur News Slides Startup 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2015

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. A perfect size is ten slides, with the right content, that can be covered in ten minutes. Investor and strategic partner pitch.

Startup 104

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Slides 104

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. The size of the document should be based on your style, but 10-20 pages or slides are usually more than adequate to outline even a complex business.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 109

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2019

Dini, tied together several threads I have often seen in my own experience of mentoring and helping aspiring entrepreneurs. Only a few of these slide into farming, as the company grows in employees and products. Dini makes the case that entrepreneurs are hunters, while the rest of us (large majority) are farmers.

Entrepreneur 95

Entrepreneur News Slides Startup 95

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

If I see tons of “update slides” and know that we don’t have an important board decision I might just bite my tongue. Knowing the broader team helps you to be more helpful to the CEO and helps you be a better mentor or debate partner. There are a lot of times where this is the right answer.

Startup 251

Startup Help Technical Review Writing 251

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2012

When I was creating the slide to introduce the team, he asked to be listed as an iOS developer instead of a designer as he was registered. I met with a lawyer, talked to an investor and a few mentors, all who are serial entrepreneurs to advise me. But a wise mentor of mine said, “Go with your gut! LESSONS AND LAUGHS.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas San Diego Mentor 100

CEO Flow

JUNE 8, 2009

I’ve worked with, mentored and observed dozens of companies over the past couple of years. Note that companies are not pull OR push…there would be a sliding scale (such as 70/30 push/pull). * We have more forecasting tools – but less predictability. * Push v Pull Management. Push System. * Mistakes are punished.

Metrics 66

Metrics Slides Competition Activity 66

CEO Flow

JUNE 8, 2009

I’ve worked with, mentored and observed dozens of companies over the past couple of years. Note that companies are not pull OR push…there would be a sliding scale (such as 70/30 push/pull). * We have more forecasting tools – but less predictability. * Push v Pull Management. Push System. * Mistakes are punished.

Metrics 66

Metrics Slides Competition Activity 66

CEO Flow

JUNE 8, 2009

I’ve worked with, mentored and observed dozens of companies over the past couple of years. Note that companies are not pull OR push…there would be a sliding scale (such as 70/30 push/pull). * We have more forecasting tools – but less predictability. * Push v Pull Management. Push System. * Mistakes are punished.

Metrics 66

Metrics Startup Slides Activity 66

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 9, 2014

This was a chance to blow open the story on their companies, to address a room full of potential investors, mentors, partners, customers, and press. Roam & Wander won me over as soon in the same way that the packed room of investors uttered a unanimous ‘aww’ during their slide deck presentation.

Startup 111

Startup Mobile Commerce Education 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2018

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. A perfect size is ten slides, with the right content, that can be covered in ten minutes. Investor and strategic partner pitch.

Startup 65

Startup Entrepreneur Slides Content 65

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist. The details can be added later.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Jason Nazar

JUNE 1, 2016

Forget Your Slides. Have your slides there, reference the key points as needed, but keep the focus on each other — not a slideshow. Read what other startup mentors have to say about attracting investor attention. Get all the great points out first and fast. Put your deck away. Don’t Get Defensive.

Slides 49

Slides Startup Entrepreneur Metrics 49

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Dini, tied together several threads I have often seen in my own experience of mentoring and helping aspiring entrepreneurs. Only a few of these slide into farming, as the company grows in employees and products. Dini makes the case that entrepreneurs are hunters, while the rest of us (large majority) are farmers.

Entrepreneur 54

Entrepreneur News Slides Startup 54

CEO Flow

JUNE 8, 2009

I’ve worked with, mentored and observed dozens of companies over the past couple of years. Note that companies are not pull OR push…there would be a sliding scale (such as 70/30 push/pull). * We have more forecasting tools – but less predictability. * Push v Pull Management. Push System. * Mistakes are punished.

Metrics 40

Metrics Slides Competition Activity 40

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 11, 2009

But I would argue that you can develop relationships with many advisers, mentors and VCs that will help with introductions for no equity. It’s OK to have the advisor slide where you glance quickly over the names. After all, most people are good for a few introductory emails. People like to help. Just don’t lay it on thick.

Startup 306

Startup Venture Capital Equity Technical Review 306