Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2021

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. This early stage is often called basic research , well before any specific commercially viable products might be envisioned. Commercial product prototypes. Product verification and clinical trials.

Help 165

Help Research Startup Funding 165

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2015

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. This early stage is often called basic research , well before any specific commercially viable products might be envisioned. Commercial product prototypes. Product verification and clinical trials.

Develop 102

Develop Development Product Funding 102

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 28, 2022

Many entrepreneurs still don’t understand that building a business culture today of doing good, like helping people (society) and planet (sustainability), is also a key to maximizing profit. Every company needs this focus to attract the best minds and loyalty in both categories. Craft your culture into an actionable plan.

Organization 143

Organization Startup Pricing Customer 143

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2022

Serious entrepreneurs know that, but too many “wannabes” still fall for that elusive get-rich-quick scheme with no risk. As an active angel investor, I still hear entrepreneurs asserting large opportunities with minimal risk and no competition. You can grow organically, or stretch out with big capital investments for volume and reach.

Entrepreneur 153

Entrepreneur Marketing Customer Custom 153

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 27, 2011

Thus, evaluating the tasks a candidate has previously performed is a valid methodology when filling job openings in relatively static organizations. As made clear in Optimistically Pessimistic , most entrepreneurs’ experiences are not linear. Many emerging entrepreneurs have fractured, seemingly random careers. Who Not What.

Entrepreneur 252

Entrepreneur Paramount Startup Organization 252

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2022

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and a technologist, I’m happy to report that the tide may be turning, and we are experiencing a new era of opportunity for entrepreneurs, and a new appreciation of the power of the digital world. Apple gets great marks for consumer productivity, Walmart for brand data, and Fidelity for finance data.

Social Media 107

Social Media Tool Google Yahoo 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2015

Many entrepreneurs still don’t understand that building a business culture today of doing good, like helping people (society) and planet (sustainability), is also a key to maximizing profit. Every company needs this focus to attract the best minds and loyalty in both categories. Craft your culture into an actionable plan.

Entrepreneur 117

Entrepreneur Organization Startup Pricing 117

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2023

The most valuable assets of a new startup are the people on the team, and the most challenging task of the entrepreneur and team leaders is to spend their leadership time and energy productively. The authors define a leadership matrix of four behavioral categories and eight team member subtypes. Steamrollers.

Resource 107

Resource Entrepreneur Startup Guide 107

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2016

Successful entrepreneurs are usually hard-driving, and highly focused on some specific goals, like being the dominant player in a given domain, or the low-priced provider of their product. Organize your list by both sequence and priority. A list organized by sequence requires that you decide what you need to do in what order.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Writing Organization Satisfaction 102

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2014

If you recognize yourself in any of these categories, you may be more of a “wanna be” than a real entrepreneur: You are a dreamer, not a do-er. Most people in this category actually prefer to think of themselves as “idea people,” rather than implementers. Learn to commit, focus, organize your work, and delegate when appropriate.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Organization 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2013

If you recognize yourself in any of these categories, you may be more of a “wanna be” than a real entrepreneur: You are a dreamer, not a do-er. Most people in this category actually prefer to think of themselves as “idea people,” rather than implementers. Learn to commit, focus, organize your work, and delegate when appropriate.

Entrepreneur 114

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Organization 114

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 30, 2015

Serious entrepreneurs know that, but too many “wannabes” still fall for that elusive get-rich-quick scheme with no risk. As an active Angel investor, I still hear entrepreneurs asserting large opportunities with minimal risk and no competition. You can grow organically, or stretch out with big capital investments for volume and reach.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Startup Marketing Customer 103

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2021

Successful entrepreneurs are usually hard-driving, and highly focused on some specific goals, like being the dominant player in a given domain, or the low-priced provider of their product. Organize your list by both sequence and priority. A list organized by sequence requires that you decide what you need to do in what order.

Writing 121

Writing Organization Satisfaction Entrepreneur 121

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2017

Not so long ago, every business assumed that the keys to success were the highest quality product, the best value for the buck, and the best customer service. Entrepreneur of the Year” finalist. Exploit your product and service differences. Now all we hear about is providing the best “customer experience.”

Customer 85

Customer Custom Product Marketing 85

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

All true entrepreneurs operate off a set of tenets that are built into their psyche, or drilled into them from training and mentors. I assert that designers have a lot in common with entrepreneurs, since both must innovate and start a deep understanding of what their customer really wants (“customer-centered”).

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Design Ideas Competition 103

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2009

This is part of my new series on what makes an entrepreneur successful. I originally posted it on VentureHacks , one of my favorite websites for entrepreneurs. They spot opportunities that aren’t being met and the design products to meet these needs. If you haven’t spent time over there you should.

Entrepreneur 306

Entrepreneur Startup Outsource Development Customer 306

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2020

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and a technologist, I’m happy to report that the tide may be turning, and we are experiencing a new era of opportunity for entrepreneurs, and a new appreciation of the power of the digital world. Apple gets great marks for consumer productivity, Walmart for brand data, and Fidelity for finance data.

Social Media 131

Social Media Startup Tool Google 131

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 31, 2022

Trying to do everything is a sure way to maximize stress, lower job satisfaction, and minimize productivity. If you are a genius at invention, for example, then that is the role you should seek to keep you motivated and productive. Great people leadership and communication skills are critical here, as well as managing an organization.

Activity 108

Activity Satisfaction Metrics Startup 108

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2019

Every entrepreneur I know is dismayed by the number of friends who approach them with a line such as “I have an even better idea that will change the world, and one of these days I’m going to get around to starting my own business.” Pragmatists create a minimum viable product (MVP), test it in the market and iterate to success.

Startup 126

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Knowledge Base 126

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 21, 2014

I’d like to do a few posts on what life looks like on the way up and perhaps how to keep your head on straight and avoid drinking your own Kool Aid because as I often advise entrepreneurs on irrational exuberance, “ In a strong wind even turkeys can fly.” Poorly implemented this category was the definition of shelfware.

Marketing 354

Marketing Case Study Metrics Sales 354

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 23, 2019

Many entrepreneurs still don’t understand that building a business culture today of doing good, like helping people (society) and planet (sustainability), is also a key to maximizing profit. Every company needs this focus to attract the best minds and loyalty in both categories. Craft your culture into an actionable plan.

Organization 128

Organization Startup Pricing Customer 128

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2018

Specific measures that go beyond the traditional linear thinking include the following: Develop new products for your existing segment. Rather than enhancing the offering you have, develop and offer new products that capitalize on the customers that you already know well. Redefine your product to reach a new category.

Examples 99

Examples IP Acquisition Social Media 99

socalTECH

APRIL 18, 2017

How to you take the recurring revenue model--which has been popular with software and other online services--an apply that to physical products and services? Employees love it, because not only are they getting better tasking, healthier products, but also because they are continually discovering new snacks.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Services Sales Customer 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2011

If you recognize yourself in any of these categories, you may be more of a “wanna be” than a real entrepreneur: You are a dreamer, not a do-er. Most people in this category actually prefer to think of themselves as “idea people,” rather than implementers. Learn to commit, focus, organize your work, and delegate when appropriate.

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Organization 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2011

All true entrepreneurs operate off a set of tenets that are built into their psyche, or drilled into them from training and mentors. I assert that designers have a lot in common with entrepreneurs, since both must innovate and start a deep understanding of what their customer really wants (“customer-centered”).

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Design Ideas Competition 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 16, 2011

Successful entrepreneurs are usually hard-driving, and highly focused on some specific goals, like being the dominant player in a given domain, or the low-priced provider of their product. Organize your list by both sequence and priority. A list organized by sequence requires that you decide what you need to do in what order.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Writing Organization Satisfaction 100

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

Len Short is truly an online marketing pioneer, heading up marketing at Charles Schwab, AOL and then (PRODUCT)RED. Len later joined (PRODUCT)RED as its Founding CMO. “We’re focusing now on re-disrupting categories that moved early online, but in some ways, have been freeze-dried since then.

Google 220

Google Technical Advisors Technical Review Equity 220

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2018

As an advisor to new business owners, and an occasional angel investor, I see new business proposals daily, many seeking investors to fund early research and development (R&D) of a new product idea. Funding new product research and development is just too risky, with a large time delay before any return is likely.

Research 57

Research Develop Development Funding 57

InfoChachkie

JULY 26, 2010

Entrepreneurs can emulate de la Guerra’s strategy and make their adVenture appear far larger than reality and thus increasing its influence and market reach while discouraging competitive threats by creating an industry alliance. Revenue – We generated significant fees, over and above our product sales, from our members.

Entrepreneur 168

Entrepreneur Santa Barbara Startup Conference 168

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2019

Los Angeles-based BiasSync (www.biassync.com) was founded by three, very experienced serial entrepreneurs-- Michele Ruiz (broadcast journalism), Robin Richards (CareerArc, Internships.com, NTI Group, MP3), and Dan Gould (former VP of Technology for Tinder). What is BiasSync? Sometimes, it's just content presented online.

Content 150

Content Training Education Outsource Development 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 18, 2018

Successful entrepreneurs are usually hard-driving, and highly focused on some specific goals, like being the dominant player in a given domain, or the low-priced provider of their product. Organize your list by both sequence and priority. A list organized by sequence requires that you decide what you need to do in what order.

Writing 97

Writing Organization Satisfaction Entrepreneur 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2015

Every entrepreneur I know is dismayed by the number of friends who approach them with a line such as “I have an even better idea that will change the world, and one of these days I’m going to get around to starting my own business.” Pragmatists create a minimum viable product (MVP), test it in the market and iterate to success.

Startup 114

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Knowledge Base 114

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2022

For example, I’m an introverted product guy who doesn’t care so much about building the personnel relationships needed to keep a motivated team. Many smart people I know fall into the category of “idea” people. Ability to organize and motivate individuals into teams. Pay attention to all.

Mentor 133

Mentor Startup Customer Custom 133

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2010

I’ve been loving the product even if it sucks up some of my time. I wrote the following answer: “I have always believed that UGC (user generated content) website users fall into three categories that follow the 1/9/90 rule. creation of social status within the organization for having contributed.

Technical Review 294

Technical Review Writing Content Sites 294

socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2014

Asher Delug: We have had amazing growth coming from our smart wall product, our inter-app interstitial ad product, which patent pending. Plus, our In-App Banner Apps product has also been scaling very fast. Asher Delug: We''ve been very product focused, and focused on innovation since inception. There are lots of U.S.

Startup 196

Startup Mobile Advertising Organization 196

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

There were many moments in each space when pioneers were funding startups and the press hadn’t written much about them and if you were a typical investor you were still funding the last trend while some VCs were trailblazing into new categories. And of course many more of us are gluten intolerant or want to live gluten-reduced lives.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2016

Phil Hui-Bon-Hoa , the CEO of El Segundo-based Kaleo (www.kaleo.com), is a serial entrepreneur who has previously built and sold four companies, including one acquired by IFILM, and another by Sun Microsystems. We're trying to save companies money, and increase the productivity of employees.

El Segundo 169

El Segundo Southern California Startup CTO Hire 169