Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. Yet I still get too many business plans that clearly are looking for money to do research and development (R&D) on a new and unproven technology. Commercial product prototypes. Technology pilots.

Resource 102

Resource Ideas Funding Research 102

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2009

Santa Barbara-based Inlustra , a firm developing Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor materials, announced this morning that the firm has begun delivering its products to customers. Inlustra said its production processes reduce the number of microscopic defects in its semiconductor materials.

Product 100

Product Santa Barbara Research Customer 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2023

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market research data. These are also important for your product positioning in the competitor section of your business plan.

Statistics 120

Statistics Research Report Newsletter 120

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. Yet I still get too many business plans that clearly are looking for money to do research and development (R&D) on a new and unproven technology. Commercial product prototypes. Technology pilots.

Develop 102

Develop Development Product Funding 102

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2011

What people don't know is how First Round got started and often people know less about the amazing background of one of its co-founders, Howard Morgan (everyone tends to know Josh Kopelman as one of the highest profile players in our industry overall). Howard Morgan earned a PhD in Operations Research/Computer Science in 1968.

Capital 284

Capital Venture Capital Technical Review Startup 284

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 19, 2013

I still get business plans, looking for an investor, that say all too clearly that the primary “use of funds” will be to do research and development (R&D) on some promising new technology, like superconductivity or cancer cures. This stage is the transition to pilot-scale research on the technology. Technology development.

Research 97

Research Develop Development Funding 97

Xconomy

MARCH 28, 2019

Attacks will cost the world $6 trillion by 2021, research firm Cybersecurity Ventures says- –the greatest transfer of economic wealth in history and more profitable than the trade in all major illegal drugs. Cybercrime has become a global epidemic. As the threat keeps rising, the cybersecurity industry keeps growing. billion.

Company 111

Company Companies Venture Capital Research 111

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. Yet I still get too many business plans that clearly are looking for money to do research and development (R&D) on a new and unproven technology. Commercial product prototypes. Technology pilots.

Help 165

Help Research Startup Funding 165

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Are you someone who'd like to save money, energy, and maybe the environment while shopping for your new television, appliance, or other electronic product? What we do, is we score the energy efficiency of a product, relative to all other products in the same category, with a simple, numeric scored called the Enervee score.

Product 227

Product Santa Monica Startup Platform 227

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2007

I generally am working as an acting CTO for about 3-4 start-ups or other companies at any one time. Most often I'm being brought in the early stage, Start-up or Expansion (as the company looks at new product lines). I was just talking with someone who asked me to define how that could work and what they meant. Great question.

Startup 231

Startup CTO Hire Technical Advisors Technical Review 231

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2012

I still get business plans, looking for an investor, that say all too clearly that the primary “use of funds” will be to do research and development (R&D) on some promising new technology, like superconductivity or cancer cures. This stage is the transition to pilot-scale research on the technology. Technology development.

Research 89

Research Funding Venture Capital Angel 89

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2020

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype, and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market research data. These are also important for your product positioning in the competitor section of your business plan.

Marketing 157

Marketing Statistics Research Report 157

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 19, 2010

Yesterday I wrote a post about the " Urgency Addiction ” and how many people start important tasks late and then motivate with a huge wave of productivity and inspiration driven by deadlines and commitments to others. “A study by Microsoft showed just how lethal interruptions are to productivity.

Product 301

Product Writing Email Tool 301

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 14, 2014

Drawing from the UK Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) experience, US Senator Chris Coons will talk about the version of the Research & Development tax credit bill he sponsored on August 8 in New York City. All engaged parties indulge in progressive research and development, which is the pillar of economic prosperity.

Research 88

Research Invest Develop Development 88

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2023

Today’s customers demand more than a good product; they expect a great customer experience. People love Apple’s whole customer experience, and willingly pay a premium for the product. Much has been written about product design, but designing the total experience from the front rarely happens yet.

Design 105

Design Customer Custom Product 105

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2011

I still get business plans, looking for an investor, that say all too clearly that the first goal of the new business is to do research and development (R&D) on some promising new technology, like superconductivity or cancer research. This stage is the transition to pilot-scale research on the technology. Commercialization.

Research 93

Research Develop Development Activity 93

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 4, 2009

Alfred Wong , Chief Science Officer, and Albert Liu , Vice President of Business Development, at Pong Research (www.pongresearch.com), a company developing products for redirecting cell phone antennas to reduce the radiation exposure of users. Talk about the technology behind the product?

Research 138

Research UCLA Design Product 138

Berkonomics

MARCH 18, 2021

Sometimes, you can reduce your personal risk by taking in other people’s money in various ways, perhaps starting with a consulting contract with a customer, purchasing a going business where profit or loss is known, or spinning off an existing revenue-generating portion of an existing business. Research the market before allocating resources.

Entrepreneur 156

Entrepreneur Resource Statistics Customer 156

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.” Others are debilitated by their fear, avoid risk at all costs, and never start.

Startup 114

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Knowledge Base 114

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2023

Too many founders have learned that passion and free beta products do not imply a sustainable business. 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. Start selling it before you build it.

Customer 109

Customer Custom Satisfaction Sales 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2023

Ready to scale is when you have a proven product and a proven business model, about to expand to new geographies and markets. A software product is a classic example of a scalable solution, since it costs real money to build the first copy, but unlimited additional copies can be quickly cloned for almost no incremental cost.

Tips 135

Tips Invest Startup Outsource 135

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

That great productivity drain that we somehow all buy into. So I ask you – if you’re being reactive to somebody else’s emails are you really being as productive in your company as you could be? I spent a late morning meeting with a product exec at one portfolio company. Research & Development.

Email 314

Email Product Startup Writing 314

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Consider licensing your product or intellectual property, and “white labeling.” Marty Zwilling.

Develop 70

Develop Development Product Startup 70

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

You don’t have to be a new venture advisor like me to hear all the excuses for not starting your own business. They ignore the fact that Colonel Sanders was 62 when he franchised KFC, Steve Jobs started Apple in his garage, and Michael Dell and several others dropped out of school to build billion dollar businesses.

Startup 72

Startup Entrepreneur Incubator Guide 72

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Starting an entrepreneurial business, or maintaining the competitiveness of a mature business, requires innovation. As a starting point, I like the Wikipedia simple definition of innovation as “the application of better solutions to meet new requirements or market needs.” Innovation must be driven top down by visionary leaders.

Organization 94

Organization Ideas Technical Review Research 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2023

If you are one of the new age of entrepreneurs who hates the thought of doing a business plan as a first step in starting your new venture you will love this message. Don’t start by committing more than you can afford to lose. Get started and get some momentum. Pick a domain where you have some experience and expertise.

Startup 142

Startup Capital Resource Research 142

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2021

Universities are a rich source of new ideas from their students, their professors, and their own research, and they value entrepreneurs from the real world to decide which ones are viable in the marketplace. Start by contacting the university outreach liaison, or a professor in your area of interest or expertise. Building a team.

Incubator 172

Incubator Mentor Class Resource 172

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2010

Yet most startup teams have no idea where to start, and what kinds of data to look for, in building this key section of their business plan. Search on any product name for census data, online research reports, trade association publications, and online newspapers with relevant statistics. Absence of these raises a big red flag.

Research 88

Research Marketing Statistics Startup 88

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2010

I still get business plans, looking for an investor, that say all too clearly that the first goal of the new business is to do research and development (R&D) on some promising new technology, like superconductivity or cancer research. This stage is the transition to pilot-scale research on the technology. Commercialization.

Research 82

Research Activity Funding Technology 82

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Here’s one for executives of any company with next generation products in mind. And the most difficult: starting a new project from scratch. It is up to you to decide if research and development for advanced or next generation products is a strategic priority for you and your company. First, let’s recognize the problem.

Company 156

Company Companies Resource Cloud Computing 156

Tech.Co

JULY 31, 2017

Being intentionally productive is something we all strive for, but often fail to achieve. Routine work is the worst enemy of productivity. Happy teams are productive teams. Keeping your team happy is important, but forcing them to “fake it till you make it” will likely result in higher turnover rates and lower productivity.

Snapchat 65

Snapchat Product Email Social Media 65

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 21, 2019

Second, almost no professional investor will consider putting that much into a startup until there is proof of market demand, product viability or some other mitigation of failure. A much more rational approach to starting up.

Startup 120

Startup Invest Summary Resource 120

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2020

Today’s customers demand more than a good product; they expect a great customer experience. People love Apple’s whole customer experience, and willingly pay a premium for the product. Much has been written about product design, but designing the total experience from the front rarely happens yet.

Customer 150

Customer Custom Design Product 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2021

Starting an entrepreneurial business, or maintaining the competitiveness of a mature business, requires innovation. As a starting point, I like the Wikipedia simple definition of innovation as “the application of better solutions to meet new requirements or market needs.” Innovation must be driven top down by visionary leaders.

Organization 172

Organization Ideas Technical Review Research 172

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2017

If your product is highly innovative, and speed to market is critical, you won’t get it right the first time anyway, no matter how cautiously you plan. These are the environments where you really need extended planning to ensure proper positioning before launching the product. But Lonnie L.

Marketing 54

Marketing Research Technical Review Entrepreneur 54

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 26, 2023

Based on traditional research, getting new customers is five to ten times harder than getting additional revenue from existing customers. Thus the subscription model (low fixed monthly payments), has become the norm for new products and services. Front-of-the-line model. Surprise box model. Network model.

Startup 117

Startup Pricing Customer Custom 117

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2023

If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point. Some entrepreneurs seem to think that their product pitch is also their investor pitch. Research your audience before presenting. Start with the problem and your solution. Or they get sidetracked by a technical glitch due to poor preparation.

Slides 147

Slides Funding Technical Review Startup 147