Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2019

Nail the business model. Leverage your customer conversations to predict and validate your business model. For example, when you think about distribution channels, revenue streams, or the relationship with the customer, ask customers what they expect.

Startup 245

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 245

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

JULY 9, 2017

An effective tool I see used more and more, as a prelude to a more detailed business plan, is the Business Model Canvas , first introduced by Alexander Osterwalder back in 2008. In my experience as a new business advisor, a business is nothing until people are aligned and work in sync. Key activities. Key partners.

Business Model 143

Business Model Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor 143

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2014

The real milestone, proving the business model, is that first product sold for full price to a total stranger, leaving him happy. Even with the global reach of the Internet, selling your first product from your website will likely not be much of a business. business model customer sales entrepreneur investor startup'

Business Model 248

Business Model Sales Customer Distribution 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2021

How do you convince investors that your business model will really work, before you have a revenue stream that exceeds your expenses? Even if you are bootstrapping your business, and you are the only investor, you should be asking yourself the same question. Word of mouth is not adequate for marketing and sales.

Business Model 414

Business Model Angel Investor Bootstrapping Revenue 414

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

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

A nonprofit organization is generally defined as an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals. Yet as an active angel investor, I still get this question on a regular basis, so I’ll try to outline the considerations in common-sense terms.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2018

I’m sure you can all think of several examples of businesses that popped up quickly, with great business models, but then faded just as quickly. For example, you may have a product, but not a strong distribution channel. Examples would include Pets.com, Webvan, and Blockbuster. Find ways to work with your competition.

Angel Investor 167

Angel Investor Dilution Software Review Distribution 167

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2014

Nail the business model. Leverage your customer conversations to predict and validate your business model. For example, when you think about distribution channels, revenue streams, or the relationship with the customer, ask customers what they expect.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Startup Angel Investor Technical Review 283

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2015

How do you convince investors that your business model will really work, before you have a revenue stream that exceeds your expenses? Even if you are bootstrapping your business, and you are the only investor, you should be asking yourself the same question. Word of mouth is not adequate for marketing and sales.

Business Model 120

Business Model Angel Investor Startup Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2017

Nail the business model. Leverage your customer conversations to predict and validate your business model. For example, when you think about distribution channels, revenue streams, or the relationship with the customer, ask customers what they expect.

Startup 161

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 161

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2012

Nail the business model. Leverage your customer conversations to predict and validate your business model. For example, when you think about distribution channels, revenue streams, or the relationship with the customer, ask customers what they expect.

Startup 296

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 296

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

According to most definitions, anyone who starts a business is an entrepreneur , but most people don’t realize there are many startup types out there, and picking the wrong one can be just as disastrous as being stuck in a cubicle at work, or doing things with no interest and no skills. Aspire to be in control of your own domain.

Intellectual Property 243

Intellectual Property Matching Business Model Cofounder 243

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2013

Distribute an Executive Summary and Recommendations report, as well as transcripts of your interviews, to all the key players in your company. Align your business model to how your customers want to buy. Debate and adjust your offering to better match what customers want. Their perception is your reality.

Revenue 263

Revenue Startup Technical Review Business Model 263

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2017

Distribute an Executive Summary and Recommendations report, as well as transcripts of your interviews, to all the key players in your company. Align your business model to how your customers want to buy. Debate and adjust your offering to better match what customers want. Their perception is your reality.

Small Business 147

Small Business Revenue Technical Review Business Model 147

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2011

The real milestone, proving the business model, is that first product sold for full price to a total stranger, leaving him happy. Even with the global reach of the Internet, selling your first product from your website will likely not be much of a business. Direct sales are too expensive, and word-of-mouth is too slow.

Business Model 244

Business Model Sales Customer Distribution 244

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Nail the business model. Leverage your customer conversations to predict and validate your business model. For example, when you think about distribution channels, revenue streams, or the relationship with the customer, ask customers what they expect.

Startup 286

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 286

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2023

A technical champion may drive a specific innovation, but the business leader has to own the result, in order to drive an appropriate business model, customer acquisition, support, and a growth strategy. Business risks are not just development risks. Set milestones and meet them. Ownership. Value creation.

Intellectual Property 343

Intellectual Property Metrics .Net Social Network 343

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Startups need the agility to test various business models and positioning messages. Partners and distribution channels will take you seriously. In many business arenas, brand-name partners and distribution are a prerequisite to scaling the business.

Hockey Stick 120

Hockey Stick Startup Stealth Agile 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 30, 2023

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. Many of the major business successes started this way. Many of the major business successes started this way. Martin Zwilling

Social Media 230

Social Media Business Model Equity Distribution 230

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2012

Distribute an Executive Summary and Recommendations report, as well as transcripts of your interviews, to all the key players in your company. Align your business model to how your customers want to buy. Debate and adjust your offering to better match what customers want. Their perception is your reality.

Technical Review 234

Technical Review Business Model Revenue Social Media 234

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2016

The right channel for marketing and distribution is one of the basic “four Ps” of business (product, promotion, price and placement). Treat distribution partners as part of your team. Don’t let an innovative solution and a great business model get lost in the wrong channel.

Channel 120

Channel Distribution Partner Acquisition 120

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. Many of the major business successes started this way. Many of the major business successes started this way.

Startup 393

Startup Social Media Business Model Equity 393

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2021

According to most definitions, anyone who starts a business is an entrepreneur , but most people don’t realize there are many startup types out there, and picking the wrong one can be just as disastrous as being stuck in a cubicle at work, or doing things with no interest and no skills. Aspire to be in control of your own domain.

Intellectual Property 328

Intellectual Property Matching Business Model Cofounder 328

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2022

Every entrepreneur thinks he can relax a bit after his business model is proven, funding is in place, and revenues are scaling as projected up that hockey-stick curve. Unfortunately, the market is changing so fast these days that any upward climb can level off quickly, as the core business growth begins to stall.

Hockey Stick 265

Hockey Stick Guerilla Acquisition Startup 265

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Before you spend big money on inventory and scale over a wide area, make sure you have finalized your marketing, manufacturing, and distribution resources. Many new businesses have lost their credibility by not being able to deliver or having a major recall early in the growth cycle. Put operational systems and metrics in place early.

Marketing 290

Marketing Leadership Differentiation Equity 290

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

A nonprofit organization is generally defined as an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals. Yet as an active angel investor, I still get this question on a regular basis, so I’ll try to outline the considerations in common-sense terms.

Angel Investor 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2011

Distribute an Executive Summary and Recommendations report, as well as transcripts of your interviews, to all the key players in your company. Align your business model to how your customers want to buy. Debate and adjust your offering to better match what customers want. Their perception is your reality.

Customer 242

Customer Technical Review Business Model Revenue 242

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2019

An effective tool I see used more and more, as a prelude to a more detailed business plan, is the Business Model Canvas , first introduced by Alexander Osterwalder back in 2008. In my experience as a new business advisor, a business is nothing until people are aligned and work in sync. Key activities. Key partners.

Intellectual Property 250

Intellectual Property Business Model Angel Investor Channel 250

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2021

Most technical entrepreneurs focus hard on building an innovative product, but forget that an elegant solution doesn’t automatically translate into a successful business. Businesses require an equally elegant business model, with the right price, messaging and delivery channel to the right target customers to keep the dream alive and growing.

Technical Review 399

Technical Review Product Advisory Board Business Model 399

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2022

Look outside your industry for new technologies and models. Entrepreneurs are always looking for breakthroughs and business models in other industries that can be adapted to a new one. You may recall the Chevy Nova , where Latino countries quickly picked up on the name, ‘no va’ meaning ‘does not go’ in Spanish.

Silicon Valley 367

Silicon Valley Artificial Inteligence Global Agile 367

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Most technical entrepreneurs focus hard on building an innovative product, but forget that an elegant solution doesn’t automatically translate into a successful business. Businesses require an equally elegant business model, with the right price, messaging and delivery channel to the right target customers to keep the dream alive and growing.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Advisory Board Software Review Business Model 220

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2020

Driven by the current pandemic, smart entrepreneurs of all ages are jumping into the fray with new ideas, new recovery strategies, and discarding outmoded business models. These are chances to broaden your product line, change distribution, offer new services. Every dark cloud has a silver lining.

Viral 430

Viral Revenue Distribution Cloud 430

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2022

Pivoting” is changing a fundamental part of your business model. The pivot can be as simple as changing the pricing model, or as complex as moving from a product business to a services business. Formalize change through structure and rewards. Team, market, and cultural maintenance.

Social Media 317

Social Media Lean Distribution Business Model 317

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

A non-profit organization is generally defined as an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals. Yet I still get this question on a regular basis, so I’ll try to outline the considerations in common-sense terms.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2013

If you can’t make money, it isn’t a business. Business constraints, such as market size, customer demographics, manufacturing, distribution, and support costs need to be set, or there is no context for getting it right. “We can’t worry about making money until we get it built.” Hence the pressure to deliver.

Engineer 250

Engineer Distribution Technology Entrepreneur 250

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2023

Look for more ways to demonstrate a competitive advantage, and partner with complementary organizations if you need strength in manufacturing, distribution, or customer support. Look for every opportunity to scale the business. Success requires deep penetration of the core market, not just being a fringe player in a large opportunity.

Agile 229

Agile Leadership Global Distribution 229