Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2014

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. Great businesses begin with a customer problem that has a big and monetizable pain point. Nail the business model.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Startup Angel Investor Technical Review 283

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2017

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. Great businesses begin with a customer problem that has a big and monetizable pain point. Nail the business model.

Startup 161

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 161

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 10, 2011

There’s a safety net in almost every part of one’s public and private life – health insurance, free college tuition, unions, collective bargaining, fixed work hours, etc. And what’s great for the mass of society – a government safety net verging on the ultimate nanny state – makes it impossible to fail.

Finland 327

Finland Naming Russia Government 327

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2012

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. Great businesses begin with a customer problem that has a big and monetizable pain point. Nail the business model.

Startup 296

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 296

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 10, 2021

A key to making this entire process much easier is to invest a little time and write a business plan. It’s true — not all investors will ask to see your business plan. Why do investors want to see a business plan? The business plan document itself isn’t what’s important to investors.

Business Plan 138

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Exit Strategy 138

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. Great businesses begin with a customer problem that has a big and monetizable pain point. Nail the business model.

Startup 286

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 286

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. Each has met legal securities minimums for net worth and professionalism, to reduce the risk to entrepreneurs. Your pitch and business plan are important. Most share expertise as well as money.

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Accredited Investor Syndicate Syndication 265

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2012

I expect that should seem intuitive to all entrepreneurs, but every investor I know has many stories about startup funding requests with major business model elements missing. I support her assertion that a business model consists of at least the first seven of the following ten basic elements: Value proposition.

Business Model 242

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 242

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2012

After struggling to create your business plan for months, every entrepreneur likes to think that their document is inspirational and will reach someone who is smart enough to see the brilliance of the idea, intuitive enough to recognize their business acumen, and enthusiastic enough to offer the money required to make it happen.

Elevator Pitch 244

Elevator Pitch Technical Review Business Plan .Net 244

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2011

I expect that should seem intuitive to all entrepreneurs, but every investor I know has many stories about startup funding requests with major business model elements missing. I support her assertion that a business model consists of at least the first seven of the following ten basic elements: Value proposition.

Business Model 246

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 246

Up and Running

AUGUST 6, 2021

Ultimately, you cast a broader net without broadening your target audience. Before you pivot your audience to the younger generation, be sure to run through your current messaging and business model. If you happen to hire someone who knows a lot about Snapchat, you can actually draw upon that expertise in a productive way.

Small Business 149

Small Business Customer Social Media Channel 149

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2010

The value proposition is a short statement that clearly communicates the target customer, the customer’s problem and the pain that it causes, the unique solution that addresses this problem, and the net benefit of this solution (value derived versus relative cost) from the customer's perspective. Partnership.

Intellectual Property 265

Intellectual Property Balance Sheet Phoenix Arizona 265

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2023

Most modern investors still look for a business model that embodies a gross margin over 50%, and a net margin in the 20% range. A healthy business, ready to scale, has been doing this for a year or more, with an existing customer set generating a non-trivial and growing revenue stream.

Valuation 235

Valuation Revenue Viral Retention 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2020

Most modern investors still look for a business model that embodies a gross margin over 50%, and a net margin in the 20% range. A healthy business, ready to scale, has been doing this for a year or more, with an existing customer set generating a non-trivial and growing revenue stream.

Revenue 434

Revenue Valuation Viral Retention 434

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2021

By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. Each has met legal securities minimums for net worth and professionalism, to reduce the risk to entrepreneurs. Your pitch and business plan are important. Most share expertise as well as money.

Search 317

Search Accredited Investor Angel Investor Venture Capital 317

Steve Blank

MARCH 4, 2014

The Enterprise: Business Model Execution We know that a startup is a temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. The corollary for an enterprise is: A company is a permanent organization designed to execute a repeatable and scalable business model.

IRR 335

IRR Startup Business Model Agile 335

Up and Running

MAY 1, 2014

You’ve reviewed what a business plan is , and why you need one to start and grow your business. It’s time to dig into the process of actually writing a business plan. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll take you through every stage of writing a business plan that will actually help you achieve your goals.

Business Plan 163

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Distribution 163

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

To refresh your memory, angel investors are typically high net worth individuals, accredited by the SEC and willing to invest their own money in a high-potential startup for a share of the ownership. Alternatively, with minimal response, you need to rethink your business plan. Crowdfunding is not the best platform here.

Non-disclosure Agreement 299

Non-disclosure Agreement Angel Investor Bootstrapping SEC 299

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 24, 2018

You don’t often get into a niche market by casting a wide net, but there are broad service requirements in almost every industry. The key to developing an enduring business model is to find a market for your product that needs your input or expertise. Do not make the mistake of casting a wide net. An Analogy.

.Net 170

.Net Framework Business Model Demand 170

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

There are several different types of business plans that can help you stay on track. If you’re seeking a bank loan or outside investment, you probably need a traditional business plan. But if you’re writing a plan as an internal guide for strategic growth, you should consider a lighter version— a Lean Plan.

Business Plan 63

Business Plan Curation Balance Sheet Intellectual Property 63

The Startup Magazine

OCTOBER 5, 2020

However, the beauty of being in college is that it’s a safety net. If all else fails and your business model goes belly up, you still have your studies to rely on for future prospects. For instance, many colleges will hold business plan competitions. Additionally, college is a hub of knowledge and support. .

Seed Money 91

Seed Money Startup eCommerce .Net 91

Steve Blank

JUNE 4, 2012

This is a 3-day program for entrepreneurship faculty from around the world how to teach entrepreneurship via the Lean LaunchPad approach ( business model canvas + customer development ) and bring their entrepreneurship curriculums into the 21st century. The reality is that the United States is still a nation of small businesses.

Silicon Valley 307

Silicon Valley Lean Utah Customer Development 307

Up and Running

APRIL 23, 2019

Begin the vision process by naming your net financial goals so that they’ll lead you to the follow-up step of identifying the how and the when. Set out to run a profitable business. Invest the time in a solid business plan. Writing a business plan —even a Lean Business Plan that’s short and easy to update—will help.

Metrics 88

Metrics Balance Sheet Business Plan .Net 88

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2014

Most modern investors still look for a business model that embodies a gross margin over 50 percent and a net margin in the 20 percent range. A healthy business, ready to scale, has been doing this for a year or more, with an existing customer set generating a non-trivial and growing revenue stream.

Revenue 246

Revenue Entrepreneur Valuation Viral 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2013

In reality, you need to set these projections as goals for your own use, to convince employees as well as investors that you have a business which is challenging, but achievable. Your “burn rate” or net cash flow out is usually the single most important survival parameter to a startup. Cash flow is king. " Marty Zwilling.

Forecast 238

Forecast Business Plan Burn Rate .Net 238

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2016

Most modern investors still look for a business model that embodies a gross margin over 50%, and a net margin in the 20% range. A healthy business, ready to scale, has been doing this for a year or more, with an existing customer set generating a non-trivial and growing revenue stream.

Revenue 145

Revenue Valuation Startup Viral 145

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2015

That does work once in a while, usually with some serious collateral damage, but a less painful approach is to prepare and plan for each step along the way. One preparation example is the value of building a business plan before you start. Common financial metrics include burn rate, gross margin, revenue growth and net profit.

Elevator Pitch 120

Elevator Pitch Burn Rate Startup Metrics 120

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 19, 2018

Banks offer commercial loans for businesses but they can be difficult to get for startups. They are for established businesses. You have to have a viable business plan with a good credit score and collateral to qualify. The investor owns a portion of your business and could potentially have decision-making power.

Finance 157

Finance Equity Vesting Dividend 157

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. Each has met legal securities minimums for net worth and professionalism, to reduce the risk to entrepreneurs. Your pitch and business plan are important. Most share expertise as well as money.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Accredited Investor Venture Capital Startup 120

Up and Running

OCTOBER 3, 2018

What they don’t usually show on screen on shows like Flip or Flop is that writing a business plan is a must. If you’re thinking about starting a business that buys up homes, fixes them up and then re-sells them at a profit, the first step is to write a business plan. It serves as a mini version of your entire plan.

El Paso 61

El Paso Business Plan Technical Review Forecast 61

Up and Running

JULY 22, 2014

Financial experts will have different opinions about what should be included in a financial plan, depending on the type of business you have and what you’re trying to accomplish with your business plan. These three components (revenue, COGS, and gross margin) are the backbone of your business model—i.e.,

Balance Sheet 148

Balance Sheet Forecast Equity .Net 148

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

That is a mistake and I’m going to teach you how to get to the nitty-gritty of that, so that you make sure that the day you open your business you know who your target customer is. We’re also going to talk about developing a business plan. I want you to have a plan for success, so we’re going to talk about that.

Social Media 60

Social Media Small Business Software Review Technical Review 60

Growthink Blog

JANUARY 20, 2015

Undertaking a formal and comprehensive study of a business’ industry, market, and competition usually leads to one of two results - either the target market is much smaller and less lucrative than surmised or… …it is defined so imprecisely and broadly as to uncover faulty strategic thinking / an unsound business model.

Conversion Ratio 48

Conversion Ratio Venture Capital Business Model Retention 48

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

Innovative products and business models are the foundations of a promising startup. Creating a scalable business model. Whether you are hoping to expand a small business with a loan or going for a round of venture capital, you will need a scalable business model. Determining how much money to ask for.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 12, 2021

With this data, your teams can come up with strategies to cut down costs, create plans to maximize profits, and design a safety net to protect the company during its difficult times. The budget acts as the foundation for the business’s financial decisions. Doing this can spell financial doom for your business.

Technical Review 132

Technical Review Software Review Forecast Cloud 132

Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 23, 2013

The Net Promoter Score is an obvious one for an established product—how likely are you to tell someone else about the product or service. We often tell founders that a business plan is nonsense. A business model, on the other hand, is a snapshot of your business assumptions at this moment in time.

Analytics 167

Analytics Lean Widget Metrics 167

Tim Keane

MARCH 9, 2011

How to prepare a sales forecast for a business plan » March 09, 2011. Example one: Sustainable net operating income with some growth in a stable market.  Example one: Sustainable net operating income with some growth in a stable market.  Startups and angels: Along the way to success.

Finance 83

Finance Bootstrapping Startup Equity 83