Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2016

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue).

Matching 120

Matching Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers 120

David Teten

JANUARY 21, 2021

With a portfolio that includes food, tech, and services, the fund is industry-agnostic and focused on the overlooked and underrepresented with high-margin business models. We identify great innovative companies with solid business models and help them determine the right growth path for their businesses.

Equity 78

Equity Revenue Cofounder Colorado 78

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2018

In my experience with technical entrepreneurs, they work hard on creating an innovative and elegant solution, and assume that customers will flock to them (“if we build it, they will come”). The founder had simply not done the work to validate a price and the perfect customer segment. Look for feedback on how to make it a better fit.

Product 137

Product Advisory Board Business Model Cofounder 137

Tim Keane

MARCH 9, 2011

But, what constitutes success for the parties involved – investors, entrepreneurs, employees, and customers – can vary dramatically. Can you bootstrap your way to positive cash flow? Can you bootstrap your way to positive cash flow?   If the answer is relatively soon, then bootstrapping is a very serious consideration. 

Finance 83

Finance Bootstrapping Startup Equity 83

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MARCH 11, 2014

Welcome back to Smart Bear Live … the show were Jason speaks with entrepreneurs looking to improve their businesses. Listen to this episode if you want to hear about a founder who has a product and users and paying customers … and is trying to figure out how to take his company to the next level and grow faster.

Technical Cofounder 220

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Software Review Management 220

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2013

This suggests you have lost your passion for the current business model, probably because someone suggested you change from your original concept to make it easier, or to make more money. Otherwise, look for advances from distributors, vendors, and even future customers. I can’t find any investors in this economy.”

Turkey 252

Turkey Startup Bootstrapping Differentiation 252

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 31, 2011

As I discussed in Matching Algorithm , I end up talking to a lot of startups who want to become the eHarmony of careers, eHarmony of clothes, eHarmony of jobs, eHarmony of tutoring, eHarmony of services, eHarmony of investments, etc. Do you have time to manually find matches? How hard is it to find matches on either side?

Marketing 204

Marketing Matching Algorithm Bootstrapping 204

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2016

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, a well-written and complete business plan demonstrates that you understand the issues and have a real plan for execution. Team not a good match for the challenge. Real customer revenue and thousands of new users represent traction and are the best indication of fundability.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Investor Reputation 120

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 31, 2011

As I discussed in Matching Algorithm , I end up talking to a lot of startups who want to become the eHarmony of careers, eHarmony of clothes, eHarmony of jobs, eHarmony of tutoring, eHarmony of services, eHarmony of investments, etc. Do you have time to manually find matches? How hard is it to find matches on either side?

Marketing 196

Marketing Matching Algorithm Bootstrapping 196

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2011

This suggests you have lost your passion for the current business model, probably because someone suggested you change from your original concept to make it easier, or to make more money. Otherwise, look for advances from distributors, vendors, and even future customers. I can’t find any investors in this economy.”

Turkey 229

Turkey Startup Bootstrapping Differentiation 229

Up and Running

OCTOBER 21, 2014

‘Starting a business’ really only comes down to figuring out your business idea ; doing your paperwork; and sorting out the money. Given the number of funding resources available today, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem getting that initial start-up cash, especially if you focus on a lean business model or MVP route to market.

Elevator Pitch 166

Elevator Pitch Software Review SBA Business Plan 166

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2010

This suggests you have lost your passion for the current business model, probably because someone suggested you change from your original concept to make it easier, or to make more money. Otherwise, look for advances from distributors, vendors, and even future customers. I can’t find any investors in this economy.”

Turkey 239

Turkey Startup Bootstrapping Differentiation 239

Reid Hoffman

MARCH 19, 2019

But in today’s world, speed-to-scale entrepreneurship is what we need to improve society, transform industries, and create massive value for customers, employees, and investors. Customers value and benefit from the convenience, price, and selection of Amazon, which is why the company is, by a wide margin, America’s largest bookseller.

Cofounder 28

Cofounder Business Model IPO Non-Compete 28

Austin Startup

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

They believe that the neighborhood you want to call home-sweet-home should match your lifestyle and identity seamlessly, so they’ve figured out how to help people find, and test out, that perfect community. We’re big on bootstrapping and we’re really good at identifying “Yes.” Our next milestone is to get ourselves out of Texas.

Startup 48

Startup Cofounder Elevator Pitch Bootstrapping 48

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

NOVEMBER 29, 2010

Some startups die because their business model is platform-dependant. is still around at least, but wisely pivoted into matching celebrities (like Mandy Moore) with major brands (like NBC). Bootstrapped companies have no such luxury. Companies like TweetUp and Ad.ly They "survived.".

Marketing 229

Marketing Ruby SEO Widget 229

Babbling VC

APRIL 3, 2011

Here's the next question/request which came up in regards to blog topics: From a purely selfish standpoint, I'd like to hear about your views on bootstrapping vs. VC. I know it goes against your business model :-) but it must tickle you that to some, the sign of success is funding and not a successful business.

Venture Capital 81

Venture Capital Bootstrapping Global Valuation 81

Up and Running

MAY 28, 2015

How does that compare versus doing something like bootstrapping or something like that? Bootstrapping comes a little bit later, where this idea of throwing your own money into the mix, making it happen yourself is important. You can go on there and say, “I’m an entrepreneur, and I am starting a business. It’s X, Y, and Z.”

Small Business 60

Small Business Email Startup Aggregator 60

Up and Running

MAY 28, 2015

All of the sudden, he’s got a number of potential customers that he’s selling to, and then he can make some educated guesses when he puts together that forecast. I guess one of the things to talk about is how someone might maybe use business model canvas first and then the lean plan.

Lean 60

Lean Business Plan Video Software Review 60

The Entrepreneurial Mind

FEBRUARY 17, 2011

The best approach is to experiment and see what works best for your business model. Ask yourself several questions: What is the nature of the relationship with my customers? The marketing medium used and the format of the message needs to match what you are trying to communicate about your product. Here is a good example.

Social Media 75

Social Media Media Marketing Business Model 75

Tim Keane

JULY 16, 2008

Use your business model to build an early warning system. A business model reveals how the business plans to make money. It incorporates all of the assumptions you are making about your business. If the business model is proven and the input of cash at this level will create real growth, fine.

Wisconsin 60

Wisconsin Startup Angel Investor Business Model 60

sivers.org

JUNE 25, 2010

Also important: Only go for providers who have great reviews from many past customers. The programmer will probably not understand your business model, and therefore cant help you point out anything that doesnt make sense in the requirements. Or if prototype is good enough to sell, sell it to customers. Insightful.

CTO Hire 84

CTO Hire Hiring Software Review Technical Review 84