Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

The cost of entry has never been lower, with new tools to create your own website , and free social media to get your message out everywhere. By far, the majority of new businesses I know are self-funding (bootstrapped) from your own savings and prior assets. Explore multiple sources based on your level of need and risk.

Intellectual Property 245

Intellectual Property Social Media Angel Investor Metrics 245

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2018

On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site. These are ones you need to bootstrap, crowdfund or pitch to friends and family. These historically have included work-at-home, restaurants, telemarketing and social-service providers.

New York City 202

New York City Silicon Valley Bootstrapping Technical Review 202

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2023

Even if you are bootstrapping your business, and you are the only investor, you should be asking yourself the same question. Don’t skip the market research, input from influencers, analysis of competitors, and the simple act of really listening to potential customers via social media, before quantifying your opportunity.

Business Model 273

Business Model Customer Angel Investor Bootstrapping 273

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2023

If you can’t bootstrap the venture yourself, find a partner, friend or family member, rather than a professional investor to carry some financial weight. There are a wealth of tools available today, relying on social media and marketing, to create or foster the market your company needs. So hang in there and get busy. “I

Bootstrapping 339

Bootstrapping Business Model Social Media Partner 339

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2014

On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site. These are ones you need to bootstrap, crowdfund or pitch to friends and family. These historically have included work-at-home, restaurants, telemarketing and social-service providers.

New York City 254

New York City Silicon Valley Bootstrapping Technical Review 254

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

The first step is to set your criteria, including a match for your sector type and stage, and then proactively seek out and contact the best candidates: Review profiles on professional social media sites. Searching LinkedIn, for example, is a must for contemporary entrepreneurs.

Angel Investor 246

Angel Investor Stealth Bootstrapping Early Stage 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2021

Even if you are bootstrapping your business, and you are the only investor, you should be asking yourself the same question. Don’t skip the market research, input from influencers, analysis of competitors, and the simple act of really listening to potential customers via social media, before quantifying your opportunity.

Business Model 414

Business Model Angel Investor Bootstrapping Revenue 414

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

The first step is to set your criteria, including a match for your sector type and stage, and then proactively seek out and contact the best candidates: Review profiles on professional social media sites. Searching LinkedIn, for example, is a must for contemporary entrepreneurs.

Stealth 434

Stealth Startup Angel Investor Bootstrapping 434

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2016

This term is used to describe non-traditional ways to incent growth such as social-media and viral marketing. These alternatives are used in lieu of traditional media such as radio, newspaper and television. It’s a term of respect and endearment. Growth-hacking” marketing.

Software Review 120

Software Review Sweat Equity Accredited Investor Angel Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2016

On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site. These are ones you need to bootstrap, crowdfund or pitch to friends and family. These historically have included work-at-home, restaurants, telemarketing and social-service providers.

New York City 120

New York City Silicon Valley Startup Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

I recently found the classic sales training book “ Bootstrap Selling The Sandler Way ,” by Bill Morrison, who has 20 years in sales leadership roles, and I was amazed at how many of his sales lessons are great lessons for new entrepreneurs as well.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Sales Technical Review Social Media 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

Most founders bootstrap product development. In today’s world of information overload, everyone relies on marketing and social media to find solutions to match their needs. Outside investors are most interested in scaling a proven business model, not research and development. Fabulous solutions require great technology.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Intellectual Property Cofounder Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

I recently finished a new sales training book “ Bootstrap Selling The Sandler Way ,” by Bill Morrison, who has 20 years in sales leadership roles, and I was amazed at how many of his sales lessons are great lessons for new entrepreneurs as well.

Sales 120

Sales Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Technical Review 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2020

If you can’t bootstrap the venture yourself, find a partner, friend or family member, rather than a professional investor to carry some financial weight. There are a wealth of tools available today, relying on social media and marketing, to create or foster the market your company needs. So hang in there and get busy. “I

Entrepreneur 304

Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Business Model Social Media 304

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

The media tends to highlight experienced entrepreneurs who succeed with early new venture funding, like Uber’s Garrett Camp , but fail to point out the more common bootstrapping successes. Bootstrapping doesn’t mean that you don’t share equity. Outside funding is not a startup entitlement.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Exit Strategy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2016

Most people have heard of Foursquare for local nightlife and Airbnb for rooms, but other nationally recognized sources for local services are still hard to find, including social media, local news, advertising, and event calendars. You need local partners and relationships for credibility.

New York City 158

New York City Kansas Advertising Cash Position 158

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2018

Even if you are funding the project yourself (bootstrapping), you should be asking yourself the same question before you have burned all your resources. Start selling it on social media before you build it. Pivoting early, based on real customer feedback, is always cheaper than later. Marketing is everything these days.

Angel Investor 147

Angel Investor Distribution Bootstrapping Viral 147

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2018

If you can’t bootstrap the venture yourself, find a partner, friend or family member, rather than a professional investor to carry some financial weight. There are a wealth of tools available today, relying on social media and marketing, to create or foster the market your company needs. So hang in there and get busy. “I

Bootstrapping 141

Bootstrapping Business Model Social Media Partner 141

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2014

If you can’t bootstrap the venture yourself, find a partner, friend or family member, rather than a professional investor to carry some financial weight. There are a wealth of tools available today, relying on social media and marketing, to create or foster the market your company needs. So hang in there and get busy. “I

Startup 275

Startup Bootstrapping Business Model Social Media 275

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2013

There are a thousand reasons listed by pundits across the media, but most of them agree that the number one reason is NOT running out of money. If you can’t bootstrap the venture yourself, find a partner, friend, or family member rather than a professional investor to carry some financial weight. Why do most startups fail?

Turkey 252

Turkey Startup Bootstrapping Differentiation 252

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2016

The first step is to set your criteria, including a match for your sector type and stage, and then proactively seek out and contact the best candidates: Review profiles on professional social media sites. Searching LinkedIn, for example, is a must for contemporary entrepreneurs.

Stealth 120

Stealth Startup Angel Investor Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2016

When Facebook first started looking for investors, there was so social-media market. If all else fails, I recommend bootstrapping your own efforts, at least until you get enough traction to relieve the qualms of accredited investors. Find existing cases to validate your numbers.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Investor Reputation 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2015

Even if you are bootstrapping your business, and you are the only investor, you should be asking yourself the same question. Don’t skip the market research, input from influencers, analysis of competitors, and the simple act of really listening to potential customers via social media, before quantifying your opportunity.

Business Model 120

Business Model Angel Investor Startup Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2016

If you can’t bootstrap the venture yourself, find a partner, friend or family member, rather than a professional investor to carry some financial weight. There are a wealth of tools available today, relying on social media and marketing, to create or foster the market your company needs. So hang in there and get busy. “I

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Business Model Social Media Partner 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2011

There are a thousand reasons listed by pundits across the media, but most of them agree that the number one reason is NOT running out of money. If you can’t bootstrap the venture yourself, find a partner, friend, or family member rather than a professional investor to carry some financial weight. Why do most startups fail?

Turkey 229

Turkey Startup Bootstrapping Differentiation 229

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2010

There are a thousand reasons listed by pundits across the media, but most of them agree that the number one reason is NOT running out of money. If you can’t bootstrap the venture yourself, find a partner, friend, or family member rather than a professional investor to carry some financial weight. Why do most startups fail?

Turkey 239

Turkey Startup Bootstrapping Differentiation 239

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2015

Through peers, social media or connections, make every effort to meet one or more of the investors before the actual pitch. Even today, more than 90 percent of new businesses are bootstrapped. Investors are not interested in “mulligans” at this stage, since they don’t expect to provide money for restarts later.

Cost 120

Cost Angel Groups Due Diligence Silicon Valley 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2010

A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to meet Lon Safko, probably most recognized as the author of his best-selling book " The Social Media Bible.” Lon: I'm just getting ready to release my updated book " The Social Media Bible Second Edition ” and I just started a new company last week called Extreme Digital Marketing.

Entrepreneur 208

Entrepreneur Advisory Board Social Media Washington 208

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2013

No wonder 90% of the successful startups still bootstrap. Social media is a boon for entrepreneurs and startups. With the key social media platforms today, an entrepreneur can tune a product, build a brand, and grow the business with very low cost and a high interactivity never before possible. It’s not too late to start.

IPO 273

IPO Entrepreneur Social Media Startup 273

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

No wonder 90% of the successful startups still bootstrap. Social media is a boon for entrepreneurs and startups. With the key social media platforms today, an entrepreneur can tune a product, build a brand, and grow the business with very low cost and a high interactivity never before possible.

IPO 120

IPO Angel Investor Startup Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Assess potential for funding or bootstrapping. Make sure you can get consistent names on Twitter, Facebook, and other key social media sites. Traditionally, business software products have been specialized and focused toward a given task, but I see a trend these days to highly functional “all-in-one” business tools.

Silicon Valley 286

Silicon Valley Angel Investor LLC Incubator 286