Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

More success has been logged with companies like Amazon, which lightly funds many business model experiments each year, and is not hesitant to pivot or learn from failures. Look for technologies to adapt from other domains. Insights from these technologies are often not seen by the original inventor industries.

Artificial Inteligence 286

Artificial Inteligence Technology Leadership Business Model 286

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2023

No matter how well your business seems to have worked for you up to this point, you can be certain that it will need to be heavily transformed for tomorrow’s new world-wide economy and no industry sector boundaries. It is fair to bring in outside technology to reduce the risk and speed the implementation.

Partner 350

Partner Operations Metrics Leadership 350

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2020

In this world of constant change, new technologies, and a thousand cultures, it’s evident and somehow comforting to me that the basic rules for business prosperity really haven’t changed in the last hundred years. Business success is still more about the people than the technology or idea involved. Master-mind alliance.

Technical Review 315

Technical Review Angel Investor Differentiation Business Model 315

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2022

Make your purpose to leave a legacy as a model leader , and it will live on for years, with continuing positive impacts in staff meetings, presentations, and around the water cooler. Many technologists have a passion for a new technology, but only a few are able to communicate the value in terms of future impact on society.

Technical Review 357

Technical Review Green Social Media Lean 357

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Investors hate technology solutions looking for a problem, due to the high risk of no customers. Implement a modern real business model.

Forecast 304

Forecast Stock Options Technical Review Metrics 304

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2019

Neither breakthrough technology nor maximum features will assure that “if we build it, they will come.” In fact, NISI recommends starting with the minimum focused set of features and technology that will drive a customer purchase. Nail the business model. Nail the solution.

Startup 245

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 245

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

According to a well-researched Motly Fool report, the challenge is very real, since around half of all businesses fail in the first five years. The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development.

Intellectual Property 341

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 341

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2020

Entrepreneurial thinkers see their business mission as enriching the lives of customers, rather than being a better producer of products and services. Entrepreneurs relish change and new technology, which lead to new sales. Continually evaluate the essential elements of the business model.

Technical Review 294

Technical Review Business Model Employee Sales 294

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2022

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. In fact, businesses need to adapt even more completely to the changes in the buying and social behavior of consumers.

Customer 306

Customer Technical Review Social Media Social Network 306

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

In my experience, even the best technology and business model won’t succeed without successful relationships. The quality of relationships with customers, investors, partners, and suppliers can easily be their sustainable competitive advantage, or their death knell. That’s why investors say they invest in people, not ideas.

Business Model 229

Business Model Developer Partner Entrepreneur 229

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

A proven business model, ready to scale, is particularly attractive. Since your product or technology may still be in the early stages of development, the investor in actually investing in you, and your previous achievements, as much as your current startup. Evidence of adaptability and flexibility.

Intellectual Property 278

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 278

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. This whole process is particularly worrisome to many startup founders, since their expertise and background more likely technology than sales. Marty Zwilling.

Business Model 248

Business Model Sales Customer Distribution 248

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2013

Within the startup realm, there is a big difference between having an innovative product versus an innovative business. Some startups have a new technology, but stick to a tried-and-true business model. Others take an existing product, and give it new life with a creative business model. Marty Zwilling.

Business Model 231

Business Model Product Metrics Global 231

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. Try this one.

Business Model 143

Business Model Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor 143

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

According to my experience and this Motley Fool article from a few years ago, the challenge is very real, with around half of all new businesses no longer existing after five years. Apply for contests and business grants. Get a loan or line-of-credit.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator Bootstrapping 261

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

Also, you must focus on business model innovations that cut costs for your customers, such as self-service, un-bundling your pricing, and selling directly to the customer. Innovation is not all about break-through technologies and big financial investments. Outsource functions outside your core competency.

Technical Review 239

Technical Review Revenue Social Media Cost 239

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2012

Yet I continue to see business plans, or even talk to founders, and can’t find the specifics of the business model anywhere. As Guy Kawasaki says in his book “ The Art of the Start ,” if you can’t describe your business model in ten words or less, you don’t have a business model. eCommerce model.

Business Model 238

Business Model eCommerce Business Plan Revenue 238

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service.

Business Plan 273

Business Plan Technical Review Angel Investor Social Media 273

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2012

There are no “overrides” – for example, businesses don’t thrive just because they offer the latest technology, or because everyone wants to be “green, or because their goal is to reduce world hunger. Investors will want to understand your business model very well and very early. Marty Zwilling.

Business Model 242

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 242

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

My simple answer is that they keep their focus on customers, rather than technology. They present a convincing story that every entrepreneur has the same potential, but most get sidetracked and bogged down by their technology, competitors, and internal organization. They help hiring managers raise the bar for every interview.

Global 308

Global Marketing Technical Review Algorithm 308

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. Everyone must be part of the sales process. Marty Zwilling.

Business Model 414

Business Model Angel Investor Bootstrapping Revenue 414

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2020

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Investors hate technology solutions looking for a problem, due to the high risk of no customers. Implement a modern real business model.

Management 322

Management Entrepreneur Forecast Stock Options 322

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2020

In my experience, even the best technology and business model won’t succeed without successful relationships. The quality of relationships with customers, investors, partners, and suppliers can easily be their sustainable competitive advantage, or their death knell. That’s why investors say they invest in people, not ideas.

Business Model 339

Business Model Developer Partner Entrepreneur 339

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2014

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business that 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. Imitation with continuous innovation predictably drives progress.

Technology 259

Technology Entrepreneur Business Model Social Media 259

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. business model entrepreneur investors startup viable'

Business Model 120

Business Model Angel Investor Startup Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Friends and family will likely not expect the same level of sophistication on the business model and financials as a professional investor, but they do expect to see certain things. In high technology, this is called “release early and iterate,” which allows you to make corrections as you go, as well as adjust for the market changes.

Technical Review 338

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor 338

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2011

There are no “overrides” – for example, businesses don’t thrive just because they offer the latest technology, or because everyone wants to be “green, or because their goal is to reduce world hunger. Investors will want to understand your business model very well and very early. Marty Zwilling.

Business Model 246

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

A proven business model, ready to scale, is particularly attractive. Since your product or technology may still be in the early stages of development, the investor in actually investing in you, and your previous achievements, as much as your current startup. Evidence of adaptability and flexibility.

Intellectual Property 316

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 316

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

According to a well-researched Motly Fool report, the challenge is very real, since around half of all businesses fail in the first five years. The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development.

Finance 320

Finance Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 320

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2014

Neither breakthrough technology nor maximum features will assure that “if we build it, they will come.” In fact, NISI recommends starting with the minimum focused set of features and technology that will drive a customer purchase. Nail the business model. Nail the solution.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Startup Angel Investor Technical Review 283

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2017

Neither breakthrough technology nor maximum features will assure that “if we build it, they will come.” In fact, NISI recommends starting with the minimum focused set of features and technology that will drive a customer purchase. Nail the business model. Nail the solution.

Startup 161

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 161

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2012

Neither breakthrough technology nor maximum features will assure that “if we build it, they will come.” In fact, NISI recommends starting with the minimum focused set of features and technology that will drive a customer purchase. Nail the business model. Nail the solution.

Startup 296

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 296

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2019

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. New manufacturers and new technology are hard to get right the first time, so you will have unusable inventory and emergency repairs.

Cost 264

Cost Founder Software Review Startup 264

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2012

In this more traditional product pricing model, the price is set at two to five times the product cost. Use it when your new technology gives you a tremendous cost improvement. Value model. This is another model that requires deep pockets to start, so is normally not an option for startups.

Business Model 282

Business Model Revenue Portfolio Differentiation 282

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. This whole process is particularly worrisome to many startup founders, since their expertise and background more likely technology than sales. Marty Zwilling.

Business Model 244

Business Model Sales Customer Distribution 244

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2014

Unfocused entrepreneurs boast that their new technology will generate multiple disruptive products for consumers as well as enterprises around the world. Other elements of startup focus are a bit fuzzier, so let me zoom-in on some key ones here: Type of business model. Solve one problem really well.

Entrepreneur 257

Entrepreneur Technical Review Angel Investor China 257

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service.

Technical Review 310

Technical Review Angel Investor Business Plan Social Media 310