Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

It’s equally easy to go online and incorporate your new entity, register some intellectual property and have some fun with social media for marketing and interacting with customers. Use multiple social-media channels, blogging, email and voicemail to build the same image and responsiveness as larger competitors.

Equity 349

Equity Hockey Stick Bootstrapping Sweat Equity 349

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2023

Build a business plan and model that is attractive to investors. I see too many business plans that are really product plans for customers, touting free services and long feature lists. It’s hard to build and scale a business on free high-support products. These are more likely scalable and investable.

Hockey Stick 339

Hockey Stick Intellectual Property Non-Compete Business Model 339

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JULY 12, 2010

In the case of ITWatchDogs, the reasons we were cheaper were that (a) we sold direct instead through a channel , so our product wasn't marked up 6x before it got to the customer, and (b) we used the newest, cheapest parts whereas our established competitors had stopped innovating and were using expensive 5-year-old parts.

Intellectual Property 319

Intellectual Property Bootstrapping Software Review Open Source 319

Up and Running

MAY 12, 2020

Develop a Business Plan. It’s been proven that planning makes you more successful. Beyond writing a business plan to acquire funding (if that’s what you need), a business plan can help keep you on track to meet your milestones and goals. Determine what type of business plan is right for you .

Software Review 153

Software Review Exit Strategy Technical Review Business Plan 153

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

As an advisor to new hardware entrepreneurs, I often hear the myth that a business plan is no longer required to find an investor, if your idea is good enough. You may have heard that venture capitalists in Silicon Valley no longer read business plans. Budget time and dollars for each.

Business Plan 423

Business Plan Product Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 423

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2016

In that spirit, I offer my perspective on ten common startup failure sources that rarely get admitted by entrepreneurs: Choose to skip the written business plan. A business plan is for you first, not investors. Bypasses intellectual property as not worth the cost.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor Viral 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2020

It’s equally easy to go online and incorporate your new entity, register some intellectual property and have some fun with social media for marketing and interacting with customers. Use multiple social-media channels, blogging, email and voicemail to build the same image and responsiveness as larger competitors.

Hockey Stick 423

Hockey Stick Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 423

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2020

Build a business plan and model that is attractive to investors. I see too many business plans that are really product plans for customers, touting free services and long feature lists. It’s hard to build and scale a business on free high-support products. These are more likely scalable and investable.

Hockey Stick 386

Hockey Stick Intellectual Property Startup Non-Compete 386

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 26, 2016

In no small way, the success of your venture will depend on the details of your business plan. It should outline your business goals and how you will achieve them. Also, your business plan should incorporate risk-management tactics and financial projections. Develop a comprehensive marketing plan.

Business Plan 100

Business Plan Intellectual Property Social Media Small Business Administration 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Do describe your intellectual property and “secret sauce”.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2015

In that spirit, I offer my perspective on ten common startup failure sources that rarely get admitted by entrepreneurs: Choose to skip the written business plan. A business plan is for you first, not investors. Bypasses intellectual property as not worth the cost.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Viral Distribution 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Do describe your intellectual property and “secret sauce”.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2019

New entrepreneurs are always looking for a shortcut in getting their venture story and plan across to investors, and closing on the funding they need. 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.

Intellectual Property 250

Intellectual Property Business Model Angel Investor Channel 250

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2020

Marketing programs and distribution channels are required for even the best solutions, with an appropriate and viable rollout and growth strategy. Lack of intellectual property. Potential return on investment cannot be calculated without a clear understanding and evidence of actual costs, revenue flows, and margins.

Due Diligence 308

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Preferred Stock Seed Stage 308

Gust

AUGUST 5, 2012

People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Do describe your intellectual property and “secret sauce”.

Business Plan 182

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 182

Up and Running

MAY 1, 2014

You’ve reviewed what a business plan is , and why you need one to start and grow your business. It’s time to dig into the process of actually writing a business plan. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll take you through every stage of writing a business plan that will actually help you achieve your goals.

Business Plan 163

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Distribution 163

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Do describe your intellectual property and “secret sauce”.

Business Plan 186

Business Plan Exit Strategy Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 186

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

In that context, I offer you my list of ten top startup failure causes, seen over and over again: No written plan. Don’t believe the old urban legend that a business plan isn’t worth the effort. The discipline of writing down a plan is the best way to make sure you actually understand how to transform your idea into a business.

Intellectual Property 251

Intellectual Property Startup Viral Early Stage 251

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2017

New entrepreneurs are always looking for a shortcut in getting their venture story and plan across to investors, and closing on the funding they need. 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.

Business Model 143

Business Model Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor 143

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2012

In that context, I offer you my list of ten top startup failure causes, seen over and over again: No written plan. Don’t believe the old urban legend that a business plan isn’t worth the effort. The discipline of writing down a plan is the best way to make sure you actually understand how to transform your idea into a business.

Intellectual Property 274

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Viral Early Stage 274

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2013

Build a business plan and model that is attractive to investors. I see too many business plans that are really product plans for customers, touting free services and long feature lists. It’s hard to build and scale a business on free high-support products. These are more likely scalable and investable.

Hockey Stick 278

Hockey Stick Intellectual Property Startup Non-Compete 278

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2010

That’s because a company’s value is a composite of all of the quantitative and qualitative factors that comprise a company: revenues, expenses, risks, growth prospects, quality of the management team, competitive advantages, strength of the intellectual property, and so forth. His website is [link].

Intellectual Property 223

Intellectual Property .Net Valuation Distribution 223

Gust

NOVEMBER 3, 2013

In that context, I offer you my list of ten top startup failure causes, seen over and over again: No written plan. Don’t believe the old urban legend that a business plan isn’t worth the effort. The discipline of writing down a plan is the best way to make sure you actually understand how to transform your idea into a business.

Intellectual Property 183

Intellectual Property Startup Viral Early Stage 183

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2016

Poorly written or missing business plan. If you recently sold your last startup for $800 million, you probably don’t need a business plan at all to get money for your next startup. Other social ventures may make good family businesses, but scaling and profitability are limited.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Investor Reputation 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Build a business plan and model that is attractive to investors. I see too many business plans that are really product plans for customers, touting free services and long feature lists. It’s hard to build and scale a business on free high-support products. These are more likely scalable and investable.

Hockey Stick 120

Hockey Stick Intellectual Property Non-Compete Business Model 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2016

It’s equally easy to go online and incorporate your new entity, register some intellectual property and have some fun with social media for marketing and interacting with customers. Use multiple social-media channels, blogging, email and voicemail to build the same image and responsiveness as larger competitors.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Hockey Stick Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2015

Build a business plan and model that is attractive to investors. I see too many business plans that are really product plans for customers, touting free services and long feature lists. It’s hard to build and scale a business on free high-support products. These are more likely scalable and investable.

Hockey Stick 120

Hockey Stick Intellectual Property Non-Compete Business Model 120

Steve Blank

DECEMBER 7, 2009

——— While how you iterate and execute your idea is more important than the idea itself, there are parts of your intellectual property a startup does need to protect. Lessons Learned Your business concept is not a company. Over the next two years we left them in the dust. More on this in the next post.

Silicon Valley 225

Silicon Valley Non-disclosure Agreement NDA Startup 225

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Not only has Genadinik’s course helped over 19,000 students begin their business, he’s an entrepreneur making over $100K a year. As a three-time best-selling Amazon author and the host of a popular business and marketing channel on YouTube, his advice is highly sought-after. How to protect intellectual property.

Intellectual Property 60

Intellectual Property Early Stage Hosting Channel 60

Steve Blank

MARCH 11, 2010

Students formed 5-person teams, came up with a business idea then got out of the building to validate their business model. Our goal was not to teach the students to write a business plan nor were we trying to teach them how to give a pitch to VC’s. A Startup is a Search For A Business Model. Customer Discovery.

Intellectual Property 226

Intellectual Property Business Model Customer Development Distribution 226

Business Plan Blog

JULY 9, 2013

Sustainable competitive advantages are not easily copied and generally stem from one or more of the following: vendor relations, product sourcing advantages, prime location, unique products/services; customer loyalty, customer service reputation, or distribution channel advantages. While all I.P. Brand Loyalty.

Intellectual Property 45

Intellectual Property Differentiation Distribution Business Plan 45

Steve Blank

MARCH 25, 2011

In addition, they demoed to the paper management research group at the Stanford Intellectual Property Exchange project (a joint project between the Stanford Law School and Computer Science department to help computers understand copyright and create a marketplace for content). and report the results of face-to-face customer discovery.

Cloud 228

Cloud Intellectual Property Lean Customer Development 228

Steve Blank

JUNE 8, 2009

Customer Development by Vertical - Click to Enlarge (As a reminder, the Customer Development process says your business plan is just a series of untested hypothesis (unless you’re a domain expert.) Some of these are questions that would be addressed in a business plan. Others you need to know when you execute the plan.

Vertical 122

Vertical Silicon Valley RSS Marketing 122

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2021

Of course, you can find these elements embodied in many of the business plan templates and tools out there, such as the Business Model Canvas. Identify your intellectual property or “secret sauce.” Specify a primary customer channel for sales. Patents are a good place for you to start.

Intellectual Property 332

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Business Model Channel 332

Gust

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Marketing/Sales Channels/Partnerships 0-10%. Good product and intellectual property are important, but the quality of the team is key. The company needs some additional work on building sales channels and partnerships (80% of norm). Strength of the Product and Intellectual Property.

Valuation 146

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Intellectual Property Technical Review 146

Up and Running

MARCH 1, 2016

So, if I were going to invent something, I’d probably start by creating an affordable jeweler’s workbench, not least because I’d be able to test it, and because I already know all the distribution channels I’d need to hit in order to sell it. You can do this on your own too using the lean planning methodology. Patent Search.

Non-disclosure Agreement 60

Non-disclosure Agreement NDA Non-Compete Naming 60

Up and Running

DECEMBER 22, 2015

I have to admit, I’ve seen some judges of graduate-level business plan competitions care about IRR, but never an actual angel investor during actual due diligence. Please, get a clue: Real businesses usually turn out net profits in single digits, and only rarely up as high as 20%. You’re out of school now.

Angel Investor 60

Angel Investor IRR Software Review Startup 60