Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 7, 2011

I always advise software startups to file patents to protect their “secret sauce” from competitors, and to increase their valuation. The bad news is that patent trolls can squeeze the lifeblood out of innocent and unsuspecting entrepreneurs, as exemplified by the current mess around Lodsys patent No.

Patents 91

Patents Software Technical Advisors Innocal 91

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2014

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business that builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. There is always time later for your next startup, using that disruptive technology of your dreams.

Technology 103

Technology Entrepreneur Study Research 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2020

These days, you can find existing patents and trademarks through Google and the US Patent Office online site without spending thousands of dollars with your favorite patent attorney. Of course, existing patents don’t stop you from innovating, but charging ahead into a wall is no fun.

Technical Review 173

Technical Review Ideas Patents Startup 173

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2010

Last week, San Diego-based Confident Technologies (www.confidenttechnologies.com) announced that it had acquired the assets of Vidoop, and created a company focused on security and authentication of users. What does Confident Technologies do? The Confident authentication suite of software, which also includes out of band technology.

Technology 124

Technology Web Sites Orange County 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2014

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand. Customer data, as well as internal data, is a key resource for every business that must be secured and protected.

Customer 98

Customer Custom Technology Startup 98

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2015

We caught up with Mike recently to better understand the company's technology, why there's an interest in energy storage by utilities, and more about that deployment. Can you talk about your technology? We have a lot in common in terms of those air conditioners and even the technology, but our product is different in an important way.

Southern California 219

Southern California Technical Review Demand Outsource Development 219

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Startups simply don’t have the resources to keep ahead of large competitors who see initial traction and go after it. Here are some of the key ones: Patent protection in place as a barrier to entry. Investors are looking for technology, process, or business model breakthroughs, to move costs to a new level.

Competition 166

Competition Funding Startup Patents 166

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2020

You need to find the skills or experience you don’t have in business, technology, or money. Value is embodied in previous success with investors, proven problem solving ability, and having built and executed a business plan with minimal resources. Key to required patents or trade secrets.

Startup 174

Startup Equity Patents CTO Hire 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2016

For a software startup, a patent can be the intellectual property providing the key competitive advantage, or it can be an expensive non-defensible bureaucratic nightmare -- or both. Some argue to simply eliminate software patents, while others put their hopes in U.S. Every business is global, but patent rules differ around the world.

Patents 53

Patents Software Review Software Technical Advisors 53

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

In fact, I think the evidence is clear that many entrepreneurs started their journey while still in college, and capitalized on all the resources there, before moving on: Extend your technology focus with business basics. Contrary to a popular myth, a great invention and passion alone won’t drive a great business.

Entrepreneur 157

Entrepreneur Mentor Class Resource 157

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

A strong answer should be something like “Our product introduces a new lower-cost technology, which we have patented and trademarked, that makes us very attractive today, and will provide a wealth of additional products as we move forward.” The problem is that startups have limited resources to keep them ahead of big companies.

Competition 133

Competition Patents Resource Invest 133

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. Find technical and legal guidance and advisors.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2020

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business which builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. There is always time later for your next startup, using that disruptive technology of your dreams.

Startup 157

Startup Social Media Study Research 157

socalTECH

DECEMBER 12, 2012

We brought together some very brilliant engineers I'd known from my former companies in the technology industry, and we built this really as something that would deliver value to the music industry. How difficult was it to get this to work on the technology side? That's been put to good work in the technology space.

Startup 235

Startup Entertainment Los Angeles Ideas 235

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2019

A strong answer should be something like “Our product introduces a new lower-cost technology, which we have patented and trademarked, that makes us very attractive today, and will provide a wealth of additional products as we move forward.” The problem is that startups have limited resources to keep them ahead of big companies.

Competition 120

Competition Patents Resource Invest 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2015

A strong answer should be something like “Our product introduces a new lower-cost technology, which we have patented and trademarked, that makes us very attractive today, and will provide a wealth of additional products as we move forward.” The problem is that startups have limited resources to keep them ahead of big companies.

Startup 118

Startup Competition Patents Resource 118

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2020

Both have obviously been able to expand their focus and impact, based on learning from early challenges, availability of additional resources, and early success applied more broadly. It clearly takes focus to create and file a patent, but it will give you a tremendous advantage over “me too” competitors.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Startup Patents Resource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2014

A strong answer should be something like “Our product introduces a new lower-cost technology, which we have patented and trademarked, that makes us very attractive today, and will provide a wealth of additional products as we move forward.” The problem is that startups have limited resources to keep them ahead of big companies.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Competition Patents Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2012

A good answer might be “We have several patents on the base technology, which is so robust that we expect to roll out new products every year for the next ten years, always staying a step ahead of our competitors.” Our product is truly disruptive technology.” Investors will suspect you have a technology looking for a solution.

Patents 90

Patents Competition IBM IBM 90

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2010

A good answer might be “We have several patents on the base technology, which is so robust that we expect to roll out new products every year for the next ten years, always staying a step ahead of our competitors.” Our product is truly disruptive technology.” Investors will suspect you have a technology looking for a solution.

Competition 89

Competition Patents IBM IBM 89

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. Find technical and legal guidance and advisors.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Practice being a good communicator. Customers can touch and see a great product, but services are a bit ethereal.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2020

The more potentially disruptive your technology, the more important it is that this message be quick, simple, and quantified. An educated marketplace is one where your target customers already understand the problem and the impact of your technology. Is there an educated marketplace waiting? Is the opportunity large and growing?

Startup 166

Startup Education Ideas Customer 166

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

These days, you can find existing patents and trademarks through Google and the US Patent Office online site without spending thousands of dollars with your favorite patent attorney. Of course, existing patents don’t stop you from innovating, but charging ahead into a wall is no fun.

Ideas 106

Ideas Entrepreneur Technical Review Patents 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2023

These days, you can find existing patents and trademarks through Google and the US Patent Office online site without spending thousands of dollars with your favorite patent attorney. Of course, existing patents don’t stop you from innovating, but charging ahead into a wall is no fun.

Ideas 106

Ideas Technical Review Patents Startup 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2023

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand and relate to. Customer data, as well as internal data, is a key resource for every business that must be secured and protected.

Social Network 108

Social Network Training Startup Technology 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2020

Innovative technologies have no value until they are turned into solutions to real customer problems. Creating intellectual property, including patents, is the kay to long-term value and a sustainable competitive advantage. People are your best innovation resource. Business risks are not just development risks. Value creation.

Coach 144

Coach Metrics Social Network Competition 144

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

The same is true for filing patents, registering trademarks, and filing copyrights. Use the cloud and subscriptions for computing technology. Almost anyone can start a company today on a shoestring budget, following these cost-cutting recommendations: Establish a solid legal structure for your business.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Outsource Development 162

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2013

a crowd-powered platform that gives accredited investors access to exclusive deal flow and technology transfer opportunities has launched in beta its crowd-powered portal for startups, JumpStartFund. Members submit ideas and patents, the JumpStartFund community members and the JumpStartFund team vets them. Social network for investors.

El Segundo 76

El Segundo Social Network Startup Patents 76

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2023

Innovative technologies have no value until they are turned into solutions to real customer problems. Creating intellectual property, including patents, is the kay to long-term value and a sustainable competitive advantage. People are your best innovation resource. Business risks are not just development risks. Value creation.

Coach 137

Coach Metrics Competition Ideas 137

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2011

We can all argue the shortcomings and non-defensibility of patents, but these are still your best competitive protection, sustainable for twenty years. The best position is some innovative technology, with a great initial product, and a big list of follow-on products that can be commercialized to keep ahead of competitors.

Competition 102

Competition Patents Startup Social Network 102

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

On the other end of the spectrum are ideas that truly represent a disruptive technology , or could lead to real social or environmental change. Examples I have seen include atomic battery technology, or how marine algae could help feed the world. Do you have the resources to build a business?

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Ideas Resource Examples 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2021

There are lots of resources available for that question, including the Internet and mentors like me. As an example of a good resource, I enjoyed the classic book, “ Idea To Invention ,” by Patricia Nolan-Brown, that does a great job on the key steps. Look hard at the technology for feasibility and risk.

Ideas 136

Ideas Entrepreneur Mentor Resource 136

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2020

Patents and trade secrets are more powerful advantages than missing competitive features, which might be quickly filled in as you gain traction. Make it evident that you have learned and evaluated competition from a higher perspective – meaning the evolution of industry technology and trends.

Competition 125

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Customer 125

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2016

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business which builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. There is always time later for your next startup, using that disruptive technology of your dreams.

Technology 57

Technology Startup Study Research 57

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2012

We can all argue the shortcomings and non-defensibility of patents, but these are still your best competitive protection, sustainable for twenty years. The best position is some innovative technology, with a great initial product, and a big list of follow-on products that can be commercialized to keep ahead of competitors.

Competition 97

Competition Patents Startup Social Network 97

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2018

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand and relate to. Customer data, as well as internal data, is a key resource for every business that must be secured and protected.

Social Network 91

Social Network Training Startup Technology 91