Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service. If you haven’t yet finalized the business model, cost projections, and customer segments, you aren’t ready for investors. Excuse the typos and cleanup -- I’ve been too busy to finalize.” Look how many social media ‘likes’ my site has generated.”

Business Plan 273

Business Plan Technical Review Angel Investor Social Media 273

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan. Do research on investor visibility via Google and social media.

Technical Review 310

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 310

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

A proven business model, ready to scale, is particularly attractive. There is no substitute for experience and trained skills in the business area you are attacking. In this context, investors are attracted to thought-leaders visible on social media, and people with strong technical credentials.

Intellectual Property 316

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 316

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. Start selling it before you build it.

Business Model 414

Business Model Angel Investor Bootstrapping Revenue 414

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2019

Today’s customer buying dynamics are all about “user experience,” according to Brian Solis, in his classic book “ What’s the Future of Business? ”. There is one old saying in business that is still very true in this age of social media: People do business with people they like. Consistency.

Customer 213

Customer Technical Review Social Media Social Network 213

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. Start selling it before you build it.

Business Model 120

Business Model Angel Investor Startup Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2019

Then there is the need for more substantial business accounting, database, and social media monitoring. Every startup I know, in this changing world, has incurred delays and strategy pivots before they zero-in on the best customer solution and business model. Unanticipated pivots, quality write-offs, and shrinkage.

Cost 264

Cost Founder Software Review Startup 264

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2016

With the success of Facebook and Twitter, I still see new social media startups almost every day, with most destined to fail. Never take your eye off the ball in business. While there should be no stigma for failure, there is no joy in being a dead business walking. Relying on an old formula for success.

Business Model 120

Business Model Intellectual Property Startup Bankruptcy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service. If you haven’t yet finalized the business model, cost projections, and customer segments, you aren’t ready for investors. Excuse the typos and cleanup -- I’ve been too busy to finalize.” Look how many social media ‘likes’ my site has generated.”

Technical Review 310

Technical Review Angel Investor Business Plan Social Media 310

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2019

Constantly validate your solution fit, schedule, and business model with feedback from key customer advocates. Keep the motivation level high for all constituents through internal and external marketing, social media, and events. Advance: Institutionalize new learning and leadership creation.

Technical Review 226

Technical Review Leadership Portfolio Matching 226

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2023

With the availability of high-speed Internet and social media access around the world, it’s easy for entrepreneurs to assume that the world is just one big homogeneous market, and project their business will scale accordingly. Re-validate your business model in every market. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Global 276

Global Algorithm Business Model Social Media 276

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2022

In addition, these days you have to help your customers find you, through traditional marketing, more social media, and influencers. You all remember the seemingly limitless growth of social media and dating sites, so for many adding another one seemed like a sure-fire success. Capitalize on a continuing market demand trend.

Artificial Inteligence 362

Artificial Inteligence Entrepreneur Angel Investor Social Media 362

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. And we all know Facebook didn’t invent social media.

Social Media 230

Social Media Business Model Equity Distribution 230

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2014

Today’s customer buying dynamics are all about “user experience,” according to Brian Solis, in his recent book “ What’s the Future of Business? There is one old saying in business that is still very true in this age of social media: People do business with people they like. Consistency.

Technical Review 252

Technical Review Entrepreneur Social Media Social Network 252

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2013

Align your business model to how your customers want to buy. Start with a new understanding of the real customer need, their search process in finding you (referral, website, social media), and most desired payment model, like one-time payment versus subscription, or lease versus purchase.

Revenue 263

Revenue Startup Technical Review Business Model 263

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2023

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. Rather than quitting, there are always alternatives, like pivoting the business model or merging with new partners for support.

Bootstrapping 339

Bootstrapping Business Model Social Media Partner 339

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2023

With the success of Facebook and Twitter, I still see new social media startups almost every day, with most destined to fail. Never take your eye off the ball in business. While there should be no stigma for failure, there is no joy in being a dead business walking. Relying on an old formula for success.

Intellectual Property 314

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Bankruptcy Viral 314

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2017

Align your business model to how your customers want to buy. Start with a new understanding of real customer solutions needs, their search process in finding you (referral, website , social media), and most desired payment model, like one-time payment versus subscription, or lease versus purchase.

Small Business 147

Small Business Revenue Technical Review Business Model 147

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2017

Today’s customer buying dynamics are all about “user experience,” according to Brian Solis, in his classic book “ What’s the Future of Business? ”. There is one old saying in business that is still very true in this age of social media: People do business with people they like. Consistency.

Technical Review 137

Technical Review Technology Social Media Social Network 137

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. And we all know Facebook didn’t invent social media.

Startup 393

Startup Social Media Business Model Equity 393

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2015

In fact, for startups, it usually makes sense to announce your solution on social media and blogs even before you have built the first one. Startups need the agility to test various business models and positioning messages. Executing multiple iterations while very small is critical for anyone with a limited budget and runway.

Hockey Stick 120

Hockey Stick Startup Stealth Agile 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 18, 2020

Just because you love to share things you cook with the hungry, doesn’t mean you can make it a business. Every sustainable business model has to attract paying customers and revenue, as well as provide something with significant economic or emotional value. New business models are changing the rules of business.

Business Model 363

Business Model eCommerce Community Social Media 363

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2013

Today’s customer buying dynamics are all about “user experience,” according to Brian Solis, in his new book “ What’s the Future of Business? There is one old saying in business that is still very true in this age of social media: People do business with people they like. Consistency.

Customer 251

Customer Technical Review Startup Social Media 251

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

New business models that provide an ongoing revenue stream, or a secondary stream from advertising, raise your margins and can give you some additional satisfaction. Appreciate the media accolades and peer success feedback. Enjoy watching key members of your team grow from followers to leaders.

Sweat Equity 296

Sweat Equity Startup Salary Viral 296

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Use visibility and social media to pull clients in. In addition to relationships, today’s clients want to see you and your expertise on videos online, industry conferences, and social media to feel the trust for differentiation. Maximize repeat business with existing clients. Be targeted in marketing and lead generation.

Differentiation 141

Differentiation SBA Social Media Dividend 141

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2023

Other countries can provide e-commerce with different business models, outsource manufacturing at low cost, and a huge market for new products. I hear this term every day, wrongly applied to new social media site, or a new productivity tool. The impact of global instability. Truly “disruptive” technologies.

China 295

China California Government Global 295

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2012

Align your business model to how your customers want to buy. Start with a new understanding of the real customer need, their search process in finding you (referral, website, social media), and most desired payment model, like one-time payment versus subscription, or lease versus purchase.

Technical Review 234

Technical Review Business Model Revenue Social Media 234

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. Based on my own experience of many years in businesses of different sizes, I’ve prioritized a few of her top recommendations here: Make every total customer experience memorable.

Angel Investor 167

Angel Investor Dilution Software Review Distribution 167

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2014

A proven business model, ready to scale, is particularly attractive. There is no substitute for experience and trained skills in the business area you are attacking. In this context, investors are attracted to thought-leaders visible on social media, and people with strong technical credentials.

Angel Investor 268

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Early Stage 268

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2021

Unfortunately, in my role as business advisor , I don’t see the same response to more common weak signals , like the move to phone texting instead of voice, or politics invading social media. As times change, you may need new metrics, such as total experience, web site hits, and social media complaints.

Marketing 405

Marketing Flash Social Media Metrics 405

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

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan. Do research on investor visibility via Google and social media.

Technical Review 257

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 257

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2021

Levitin outlines ten universal truths about selling, and the customer decision process, which every business needs to address in their product, business model, and their whole customer experience. Business brand trust begins with customer empathy. Looking for wrongs never makes you right.

Customer 340

Customer Sales Business Model Social Media 340

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

New business models that provide an ongoing revenue stream, or a secondary stream from advertising, raise your margins and can give you some additional satisfaction. Appreciate the media accolades and peer success feedback. Enjoy watching key members of your team grow from followers to leaders.

Sweat Equity 435

Sweat Equity Salary Viral Leadership 435

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2011

Align your business model to how your customers want to buy. Start with a new understanding of the real customer need, their search process in finding you (referral, website, social media), and most desired payment model, like one-time payment versus subscription, or lease versus purchase.

Customer 242

Customer Technical Review Business Model Revenue 242

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2020

With the availability of high-speed Internet and social media access around the world, it’s easy for entrepreneurs to assume that the world is just one big homogeneous market, and project their business will scale accordingly. Re-validate your business model in every market. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Marketing 335

Marketing Global Algorithm Business Model 335

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service. If you haven’t yet finalized the business model, cost projections, and customer segments, you aren’t ready for investors. Excuse the typos and cleanup that I’ve been too busy to finalize.” Look how many social media ‘likes’ my site has generated.”

Technical Review 299

Technical Review Entrepreneur Business Plan Angel Investor 299