Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2021

Entrepreneurs often have formidable technical expertise, key to developing a new product or service, but a great naïveté in management skills. That means your chief responsibility is to communicate clearly about what you need done, and who has the responsibility to do it. Most startups begin first, and think about organization later.

Startup 171

Startup Organization Training Entrepreneur 171

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Be a miser with contract services and facilities. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory. This could equate to two technical founders (with a minimal salary), funding two developers for a year.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

Don’t get caught in the myth that you shouldn’t worry about monetization until after you have a large customer base. Building a successful business is all about execution. Patents and trademarks are very valuable in attracting investors for scaling, as well as future premium buyouts. Practice dreaming more than doing.

Startup 174

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 174

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

What I love about my job is getting to see teams of super-early-stage companies develop ideas that while raw have potential to make an impact on the market. I have written about the next phases many times. This is all about “leverage” which is the key to success. And so must you.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Metrics Startup Sales 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Be a miser with contract services and facilities. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory. This could equate to two technical founders (with a minimal salary), funding two developers for a year.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

In a new startup, there is tremendous competitive value in registering intellectual property early, but you don’t need to contract these tasks to expensive experts any longer. Trademarks, copyrights and even patents can be completed online by anyone through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office site for a few hundred dollars.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media Outsource Development 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2014

It wasn’t so many years ago that starting a new e-commerce business on the Internet was a complex custom development project, usually costing a million dollars or more. The same is true for filing patents, registering trademarks, and filing copyrights. A programmer can build a new smartphone app for a few thousand dollars.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Commerce 104

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Be a miser with contract services and facilities. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory. This could equate to two technical founders (with a minimal salary), funding two developers for a year.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

To be clear, I define a product specification as the technical definition of your product, to be used for development and testing purposes, with a quick business summary for context. For example, “We just patented a new battery technology that will cut your smartphone charge time and cost in half.” You need both to survive.

Product 169

Product Summary Startup Examples 169

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

One of the readers asked my opinion around sharing your startup concept: My first question has always been - how do you protect your idea while shopping around for feedback, partners, developers, etc.? You’ll learn a lot more about the sector/industry. You’ll learn about competitive products that exist or are being built.

Startup 211

Startup IP Ideas Patents 211

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

One of the readers asked my opinion around sharing your startup concept: My first question has always been - how do you protect your idea while shopping around for feedback, partners, developers, etc.? You’ll learn a lot more about the sector/industry. You’ll learn about competitive products that exist or are being built.

Startup 198

Startup IP Ideas Patents 198

socalTECH

AUGUST 8, 2012

Since Dolgoff is raising money for his 2D-to-3D startup via Fundable, we thought it would be interesting to hear about the project, and how he ended up turning to Fundable. Tell us about your project? Gene Dolgoff: After years of research and development, we have developed technology which converts two dimensional video to 3D.

Startup 252

Startup Sites Patents Outsource Development 252

socalTECH

MARCH 15, 2013

We sat down with Forsblom to learn more about what he learned from his experience in Finland, and what he's hoping to do here. Nils Forsblom: TenFarms is a mobile app developer. We have a couple of different ideas in the pipeline, and have filed patents in our unique way of showing advertising on a very small screen.

Mobile 233

Mobile Southern California Startup Outsource Development 233

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Once you have a potential investor excited about your team, your product, and your company, the investor will inevitably ask “What is your company’s valuation?” I’ve written about this before, but it’s a mysterious subject, and I’m always learning more. Early customers and contracts in progress add value.

Startup 108

Startup Invest Patents Outsource Development 108

SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

Background This post partly really came about as a result of a great conversation yesterday with David Croslin a former CTO at HP who recently conducted an interesting experiment. Later he posted about his experience in Challenges of Startups. And a big factor is how big is the Founder Developer Gap.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Technical Advisors CTO Coach Startup 170

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

The best entrepreneurs manage cashflow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Be a miser with contract services and facilities. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory. This could equate to two technical founders (with a minimal salary), funding two developers for a year.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2012

Many writers have outlined the critical success factors for product companies, like sell every unit at a profit, patent the design, and continuous product improvement. Thus it’s up to you to communicate effectively what you are about, to customers as well as your own team. Attract and retain the highly skilled and motivated people.

Satisfaction 91

Satisfaction Patents Outsource Development Services 91

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2015

Santa Barbara-based Ice Energy (www.ice-energy.com) has quietly been working away at developing energy storage systems to help smooth out the demand for energy on the nation's power grid. Can you talk about your technology? We have thirteen patents associated with the Ice bear. Can you talk about that?

Southern California 100

Southern California Technical Review Demand Outsource Development 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Once you have a potential investor excited about your team, your product, and your company, the investor will inevitably ask “What is your company’s valuation?” I’ve written about this before, but it’s a mysterious subject, and I’m always learning more. Early customers and contracts in progress add value.

Funding 98

Funding Startup Patents Outsource Development 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Many writers have outlined the critical success factors for product companies, like sell every unit at a profit, patent the design, and continuous product improvement. Thus it’s up to you to communicate effectively what you are about, to customers as well as your own team. Attract and retain the highly skilled and motivated people.

Product 91

Product Services Satisfaction Patents 91

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2015

Don’t get caught in the myth that you shouldn’t worry about monetization until after you have a large customer base. Building a successful business is all about execution. Patents and trademarks are very valuable in attracting investors for scaling, as well as future premium buyouts. Practice dreaming more than doing.

Startup 105

Startup Entrepreneur Writing Ideas 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2014

In reality, startup titles should be more about the division of labor than an executive position. Here are some pre-conceived notions about what non-standard titles in a startup, like the following, might mean: Chief Inspiration Officer. More executives, or other more creative titles are seen as a big red flag. Chief Legal Officer.

CTO Hire 100

CTO Hire Funding Cloud Computing CIO 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

Once you have a potential investor excited about your team, your product, and your company, the investor will inevitably ask “What is your company’s valuation?” I’ve written about this before, but it’s a mysterious subject, and I’m always learning more. Early customers and contracts in progress add value.

Startup 93

Startup Patents Outsource Development Web 93

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2013

Entrepreneurs often have formidable technical expertise, key to developing a new product or service, but a great naïveté in management skills. That means your chief responsibility is to communicate clearly about what you need done, and who has the responsibility to do it. Most startups begin first, and think about organization later.

Startup 109

Startup Entrepreneur Organization Training 109

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 3, 2015

I often write about the best strategies for startup fundraising or how to manage startup financing and optimize for growth. To make sure your IP is protected — As I’ve written before, failing to develop an IP strategy, including a plan for protecting your IP as well as avoiding unwitting infringements of someone else’s, is a huge mistake.

Startup 40

Startup Outsource Development IP Outsource 40

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

In reality, startup titles should be more about the division of labor than an executive position. Here are some pre-conceived notions about what non-standard titles in a startup, like the following, might mean: Chief Inspiration Officer. More executives, or other more creative titles are seen as a big red flag. Chief Legal Officer.

Startup 97

Startup Invest CTO Hire Cloud Computing 97

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2016

Don’t get caught in the myth that you shouldn’t worry about monetization until after you have a large customer base. Building a successful business is all about execution. Patents and trademarks are very valuable in attracting investors for scaling, as well as future premium buyouts. Practice dreaming more than doing.

Startup 57

Startup Entrepreneur Writing Ideas 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 17, 2012

Entrepreneurs often have formidable technical expertise, key to developing a new product or service, but a great naïveté in management skills. That means your chief responsibility is to communicate clearly about what you need done, and who has the responsibility to do it. Most startups begin first, and think about organization later.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Organization Training 94

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 13, 2015

While it is impossible to know what the future holds, startup business owners can bank on the fact that potential future buyers will be evaluating their financial statements in addition to the value of their corporate team, working partnerships, marketing efforts, patents, and reputation. Key functions should not be outsourced.

Startup 40

Startup Acquisition Outsource Development Outsource 40

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2011

Entrepreneurs often have formidable technical expertise, key to developing a new product or service, but a great naïveté in management skills. That means your chief responsibility is to communicate clearly about what you need done, and who has the responsibility to do it. Most startups begin first, and think about organization later.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Startup Organization Training 111

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2010

In reality, startup titles should be more about the division of labor than an executive position. Here are some pre-conceived notions about what non-standard titles in a startup, like the following, might mean: Chief Inspiration Officer. More executives, or other more creative titles are seen as a big red flag. Chief Legal Officer.

Startup 90

Startup CTO Hire Cloud Computing CIO 90

Frank Addante

MARCH 26, 2007

About Frank Addante > (from the Silicon Valley Business Journal) Twitter Updates follow me on Twitter Blog Archive ► 2010 (2) ► June (1) Part II: Optimized for Profitability ► February (1) Get Out of the Office! Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► October (1) New Video!

Outsource Development 40

Outsource Development CTO Hire Startup Venture Capital 40

Frank Addante

OCTOBER 19, 2006

About Frank Addante > (from the Silicon Valley Business Journal) Twitter Updates follow me on Twitter Blog Archive ► 2010 (2) ► June (1) Part II: Optimized for Profitability ► February (1) Get Out of the Office! Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► October (1) New Video!

Startup 40

Startup Ideas Venture Capital Competition 40

Frank Addante

AUGUST 14, 2006

About Frank Addante > (from the Silicon Valley Business Journal) Twitter Updates follow me on Twitter Blog Archive ► 2010 (2) ► June (1) Part II: Optimized for Profitability ► February (1) Get Out of the Office! Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► October (1) New Video!

Startup 40

Startup Email Ideas Venture Capital 40

SoCal Delicious

MAY 6, 2012

We are about to head on a four-month, 48-state road trip to help people across America bring their ideas to life and shine the light on some of the amazing entrepreneurs and communities. He previously led business development for Affiliate Fuel, leading to its acquisition by Experian in 2005. Our Best Interviews Via Email: Monthly.

Los Angeles 78

Los Angeles Entrepreneur Angel Fractional CTO 78

Frank Addante

MAY 15, 2006

About Frank Addante > (from the Silicon Valley Business Journal) Twitter Updates follow me on Twitter Blog Archive ► 2010 (2) ► June (1) Part II: Optimized for Profitability ► February (1) Get Out of the Office! Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? Patent Lawsuit 6.

Advertising 40

Advertising Startup Chief Technology Officer Technical Review 40

Frank Addante

JUNE 4, 2006

About Frank Addante > (from the Silicon Valley Business Journal) Twitter Updates follow me on Twitter Blog Archive ► 2010 (2) ► June (1) Part II: Optimized for Profitability ► February (1) Get Out of the Office! Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► October (1) New Video!

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Email CTO Hire 40