Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 23, 2021

For example, I commonly see metrics to keep track of revenue per employee, overtime, and absenteeism, but I don’t often see measures of overall customer satisfaction with individual employees. Provide training, tools, and required decision authority. Incentives should be a combination of metrics and recognition to highlight results.

Customer 147

Customer Custom Technical Review Metrics 147

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. Innovate In the early years of a startup there is a lot of kinetic energy of enthusiastic innovators looking to launch a product that changes how an industry works.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. This is the first business process that every startup needs, that I wouldn’t expect to find for a hobby. Show that you have a process to hire, fire, and train others as required.

Outsource Development 115

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 115

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Most experts agree that the pace of business change is increasing , and all the business owners I know are struggling to keep up, much less surpass the wealth of global competitors now entering the market. Use test marketing to identify changes before scale-up. Put operational systems and metrics in place early.

Marketing 116

Marketing Resource Training Startup 116

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2022

If you are one of the many entrepreneurs who aspire to get beyond the “art of the start,” there are some proven principles to follow. Very few startups are cash-rich enough to self-finance aggressive second-stage growth. Of course, that means a new level of risk, giving up some control, and a new business plan.

Sales 147

Sales Metrics Guide Startup 147

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 2, 2010

As a tech startup grows it needs to develop more process & management if it is to scale. Some objections are real and they end up becoming changes to your product, your service plan or your pricing / bundling. More experienced sales leaders seldom compete on price. It is tacit knowledge.

Sales 289

Sales Startup Training Pricing 289

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. This is the first business process that every startup needs, that I wouldn’t expect to find for a hobby. Show that you have a process to hire, fire, and train others as required.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Startup Competition 131

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. You can be pissed off, but I don’t set prices. That’s stupid.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2019

With the real data from that surge, you need to take a hard look at business model realities, cost of customer acquisition, inventory costs, and other key metrics. Control costs and adjust prices to maintain your margin. As transaction volume increases, delivery costs go up, returns increase, and quality problems can cost you plenty.

Metrics 86

Metrics Startup Training Customer 86

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

If you are one of the many entrepreneurs who aspire to get beyond the “art of the start,” there are some proven principles to follow. Very few startups are cash-rich enough to self-finance aggressive second-stage growth. Of course, that means a new level of risk, giving up some control, and a new business plan.

Startup 97

Startup Sales Metrics Guide 97

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2023

Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. The conundrum is that once you have really proven the business model, you no longer need the investor money you asked for to start the business.

Customer 109

Customer Custom Satisfaction Sales 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2013

Young entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, often remain naively unfocused, despite their passion, of what it takes to provide the high-quality service expected. It’s a tough job, and inexperienced entrepreneurs just don’t know where to start, and how to do it. Train and coach continuously. Set the tone and lead the way.

Customer 92

Customer Custom Startup Services 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2016

In my role as an advisory board member for several startups, I’m always excited to see that initial surge of revenue from a great rollout campaign. At the startup entry level, most entrepreneurs find little need for Profit and Loss statements and Income statements – they know all the key transactions.

Startup 57

Startup Training Entrepreneur Customer 57

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

If you are one of the many entrepreneurs who aspire to get beyond the “art of the start,” there are some proven principles to follow. Very few startups are cash-rich enough to self-finance aggressive second-stage growth. Of course, that means a new level of risk, giving up some control, and a new business plan. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 108

Startup Sales Metrics Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2021

Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. The conundrum is that once you have really proven the business model, you no longer need the investor money you asked for to start the business.

Sales 165

Sales Customer Custom Social Media 165

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2012

I realized a while back that creating a new company for the first time is a lot like whipping up a great dinner entree for the first time – you need a recipe, even though it may look simple. Yet you may not be so sure where to start, and how to put it all together. In all cases, don’t skip the basic training. Don’t stand still.

Startup 96

Startup Writing Metrics Marketing 96

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2018

I realized a while back that creating a new company for the first time is a lot like whipping up a great dinner entrée for the first time – you need a recipe, even though it may look simple. Yet you may not be so sure where to start, and how to put it all together. In all cases, don’t skip the basic training. Don’t stand still.

Startup 81

Startup Coach Metrics Marketing 81

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2015

Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. The conundrum is that once you have really proven the business model, you no longer need the investor money you asked for to start the business.

Startup 107

Startup Sales Customer Custom 107

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

If you are one of the many entrepreneurs who aspire to get beyond the “art of the start,” there are some proven principles to follow. Very few startups are cash-rich enough to self-finance aggressive second-stage growth. Of course, that means a new level of risk, giving up some control, and a new business plan.

Startup 56

Startup Sales Metrics Guide 56

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

I realized a while back that creating a new company for the first time is a lot like whipping up a great dinner entrée for the first time – you need a recipe, even though it may look simple. Yet you may not be so sure where to start, and how to put it all together. In all cases, don’t skip the basic training. Don’t stand still.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Startup Coach Metrics 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2019

With the advent of instant communication and social media, customer service starts at the first hint of interest by you, and never ends for repeat customers. The marketing metrics covers support as part of experience. Customer experience starts with user-centric product design. The world has changed.

Customer 84

Customer Custom Company Companies 84

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

My friend Ethan Anderson put it best to me after the panel, “You probably shouldn’t have been up there. I wrote about it here (mostly starting at point 7) and Chris Dixon wrote a great post about it here. So in the past we needed VC to really get a startup going. I said almost nothing in the 30 minutes.

Venture Capital 308

Venture Capital Training Startup Entrepreneur 308

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In the short term you need customers to find you at any price, and in the longer term you need revenue, profit, and return loyalty. Although his focus is naturally on bigger companies, I contend that his recommended strategies apply equally well to entrepreneurs and startups: Demand a mindset of deep thinking for the long term.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2015

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. This is the first business process that every startup needs, that I wouldn’t expect to find for a hobby. Show that you have a process to hire, fire, and train others as required.

Outsource Development 99

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2018

Others still routinely have phone hold queues for customer contact that can last up to an hour, with no alternative options. You need to communicate quantified and updates goals quarterly, including the metrics to assess progress and success. It takes a well-rounded and motivated team to run a competitive business today.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Customer Custom Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2016

If you can’t provide a memorable customer experience, your startup won’t survive very long these days. Here are some key ideas to get you started: It all starts with the right people on your team. It must be written down, with measurable team objectives, validated by metrics and compared against competition.

Customer 55

Customer Custom Startup Coach 55

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2019

I’m convinced that is why many great business leaders remember working their way up the ranks. For example, Howard Schultz was not the founder of Starbucks, but started his career in one of their first 60 shops. This starts with picking your roles carefully – to be in the right place at the right time.

Technical Advisors 75

Technical Advisors Startup Satisfaction Customer 75

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2018

I learned this the hard way a few years ago in a startup where customers loved our idea and the free prototype, but we couldn’t sell one for the full price needed to meet our financial projections. We simply hadn’t tested the price sensitivity in the market segment and geography that needed the features we offered.

Customer 59

Customer Custom Pricing Startup 59

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2016

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. This is the first business process that every startup needs, that I wouldn’t expect to find for a hobby. Show that you have a process to hire, fire, and train others as required.

Ideas 62

Ideas Outsource Development Startup Competition 62

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2018

I have been watching ProductPlan for several years, as the founders are both friends and pillars of the Santa Barbara Startup Community. Greathouse: We’ve known each other for a long time but let’s start with the basics for my readers. How did you and your co-founder, Greg Goodman, get started? Had you worked together before?

Venture Capital 115

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Santa Barbara SaaS 115

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2013

If you are one of the many entrepreneurs who aspire to get beyond the “art of the start,” there are some proven principles to follow. Very few startups are cash-rich enough to self-finance aggressive second-stage growth. Of course, that means a new level of risk, giving up some control, and a new business plan. Marty Zwilling.

Sales 96

Sales Metrics Startup Entrepreneur 96

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2011

I realized a while back that creating a new company for the first time is a lot like whipping up a great dinner entree for the first time – you need a recipe, even though it may look simple. Yet you may not be so sure where to start, and how to put it all together. In all cases, don’t skip the basic training. Don’t stand still.

Entrepreneur 91

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Metrics 91

SoCal CTO

MARCH 5, 2007

One of his companies - Gluecode - was sold to IBM for a pretty good price. Common revenue streams are consulting, training, support, customization, upgraded versions for corporate applications, etc. He has been the CTO for several start-ups, most notably eHarmony. Attorney and Startup Business Advisor – Aaron Shec.

Southern California 150

Southern California CTO Coach CTO Hire Social Media 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2016

You need metrics to show dominant penetration of the relevant customer demographic, added value over existing media, and real customer testimonials of value. Cultures and values are different, pricing norms are unique, and customer needs have to be validated in each location. Local businesses expect proof of value, not promises.

Advertising 63

Advertising Content Social Media Satisfaction 63

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 29, 2014

If we rewind to 8 years ago, it was me in San Diego training for my second marathon and I was trying to start another company at the time. So, what I ended up doing was I ended up creating a little website where I can go click, click, click and map my run. The MVP option goes at a rate of $5.99/month month or $29.99/year.

Social Media 83

Social Media Activity Startup Help 83

InfoChachkie

MAY 22, 2012

One way to accelerate your research is to speak with other startup CEOs who recently closed fundraising rounds. Judiciously comment on articles they post to LinkedIn, retweet their tweets, vote up one of their Quora posts and establish a Google Alert on them and their firm. Step 5 – Gain Traction, Follow-up – This step is iterative.

Venture Capital 236

Venture Capital Capital Research Customer 236

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 25, 2014

Tons of great conversations about new startups, hardware, and the entrepreneurs building them. It’d been a big year in tech, and the different supporting parts of team TZ – so what better way to kick off the festivities with an inaugural train-bound journey, courtesy of the good people at Amtrak.

Entertainment 99

Entertainment Google Entrepreneur Course 99