Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

Every entrepreneur I know has their favorite excuse for a previous failure – an investor backed out, the economy took a downturn, or a supplier delivered bad quality. I certainly agree that starting a business is fraught with risk, and none of us get it all right the first time. A business plan is for you first, not investors.

Intellectual Property 436

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Viral Distribution 436

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2020

I always tell entrepreneurs that two heads are better than one, so the first task in many startups is finding a co-founder or two. You need to find the skills or experience you don’t have in business, technology, or money. Experience and connections in your business area. Textbook knowledge and academic degrees don’t count here.

Cofounder 435

Cofounder Technical Cofounder Equity Intellectual Property 435

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Write your business plan and develop your business model with this in mind so you can avoid these issues. . You can choose from a few different types of business plans depending on your needs. If you’re seeking investment, you need a traditional business plan. Executive summary.

Business Plan 154

Business Plan Technical Review Forecast Software Review 154

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. As with most business and personal interactions, first impressions tend to become lasting ones. Others send investors email and business plans in all uppercase or no punctuation.

Intellectual Property 316

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 316

Gust

JANUARY 4, 2012

Many thanks to David Rose , Ilana Grossman , Justin Stanwix , and the whole Gust team for making the Gust Blog such a valuable platform and resource for entrepreneurs and angel investors. Here are just a few examples: Creating and revising a business plan (copyright, trade secret). Creating product mock-ups , wireframes, etc.

Intellectual Property 143

Intellectual Property IP Startup United States 143

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 8, 2019

Intellectual property (IP) is a primary business component for many entrepreneurs. However, intellectual property differs from other company assets in the way that it is not tangible. Since it is not a piece of physical property, many entrepreneurs neglect to realize its value.

Intellectual Property 127

Intellectual Property IP Management Startup 127

Up and Running

AUGUST 20, 2018

This article is part of our “ Business Planning Guide “ —a curated list of our articles that will help you with the planning process! What is a business plan? In its simplest form, a business plan is a guide—a roadmap for your business that outlines goals and details how you plan to achieve those goals.

Business Plan 119

Business Plan Technical Review Lean Forecast 119

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

We all want the best for our babies—and our business plans! Nearly all businesses, whether they are small or large, are comprised of intellectual property (IP) and trade secrets, which can serve as the foundation for commercial success. See Also: Why Should You Care About Intellectual Property?

Intellectual Property 60

Intellectual Property Business Plan IP Early Stage 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2017

A large portion of your competitive advantage and your potential value to investors is the size of your intellectual property portfolio. When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. Companies often use non-patentable but important trade secrets to run their business.

Intellectual Property 174

Intellectual Property Non-disclosure Agreement IP United States 174

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

A large portion of your competitive advantage and your potential value to investors is the size of your intellectual property portfolio. When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. Companies often use non-patentable but important trade secrets to run their business.

Intellectual Property 259

Intellectual Property Non-disclosure Agreement IP Startup 259

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

I hear a lot of entrepreneurs contemplating their great “idea” for several years with little discernable progress, and looking for money to start. Here are some tips which will signal traction and fundability to investors, as well as to your team: Document your business plan. Register some intellectual property.

Intellectual Property 281

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Sweat Equity CTO Hire 281

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2014

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. As with most business and personal interactions, first impressions tend to become lasting ones. Others send investors email and business plans in all uppercase or no punctuation.

Angel Investor 268

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Early Stage 268

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 23, 2012

A startup is all about "execution" - meaning the equity should be allocated based on the value that each partner brings to the table in each of these dominant variables: Experience running a startup business. Pre-existing intellectual property. Building a product doesn’t get it distributed and sold.

Intellectual Property 252

Intellectual Property Equity Cofounder CTO Hire 252

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2021

A large portion of your competitive advantage and your potential value to investors is the size of your intellectual property portfolio. When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. Companies often use non-patentable but important trade secrets to run their business.

Intellectual Property 363

Intellectual Property Portfolio Valuation Non-disclosure Agreement 363

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2015

Aspiring entrepreneurs often ask me what to do first when starting a business. Just don’t try to sell your business to investors before it is well established. Instead, entrepreneurs need to focus first on execution disciplines and timing. Build your time line and momentum quickly after your business' start.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Preferred Stock Stealth 120

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

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Visit the university library for access to otherwise costly business reports.

Arizona 276

Arizona Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Entrepreneur 276

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2011

A large portion of your competitive advantage and your potential value to investors is the size of your intellectual property portfolio. When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. Companies often use non-patentable but important trade secrets to run their business.

Intellectual Property 237

Intellectual Property Social Media Non-disclosure Agreement Media 237

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2012

I’ve noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to have no trouble attracting investors, while others with a great business plan struggle with it. On the top line, angel investors look to invest in entrepreneurs that have an almost unwavering passion and sense of urgency. Values intellectual property.

Technical Review 294

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 294

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2013

I’ve written about these before, but since I see them so often, I thought it might be worth reiterating: “Business plans are for dummies.” Some startups think business plans are only for investors. In reality, you should do a business plan primarily for yourself, as it forces you to think through all the elements.

Sweat Equity 277

Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Viral 277

Up and Running

MARCH 12, 2019

Our commercial marketplace is ripe for innovation, and if you’re building a business right now, you’re probably thinking about how to streamline or disrupt an industry that’s been stagnant—just doing business as usual—for decades. So how can you protect your intellectual property when you outsource software development work?

IP 80

IP Software Developers Software Development Intellectual Property 80

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2018

I always tell entrepreneurs that two heads are better than one, so the first task in many startups is finding a co-founder or two. You need to find the skills or experience you don’t have in business, technology, or money. Experience and connections in your business area. Textbook knowledge and academic degrees don’t count here.

Equity 238

Equity Cofounder Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property 238

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

I say this not to discourage you from acting on your idea, but to encourage you to anticipate the work required to get you from inspiration to a sustainable and satisfying business. Thus, I’m more impressed with entrepreneurs who ask me to review their implementation plan, rather than listen again to their idea.

Intellectual Property 235

Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Harvest Technical Review 235

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2018

In fact, I often have to tell aspiring entrepreneurs that their inventions have zero value, at least not until they are put in the context of a business plan, with qualified people committed to executing the plan. Technology limited to a single product is seldom enough for a business. Don’t get me wrong.

Technical Review 215

Technical Review Intellectual Property Early Stage Global 215

Up and Running

AUGUST 28, 2018

If you’re thinking about starting an outpatient medical practice, one of the first things you should do is write a business plan. There are a few different types of business plans , depending on how you intend to use it. There are a few different types of business plans , depending on how you intend to use it.

Business Plan 72

Business Plan Technical Review Exit Strategy Oregon 72

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2010

I’ve noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to have no trouble attracting investors, while others with a great business plan struggle with it. On the top line, angel investors look to invest in entrepreneurs that have an almost unwavering passion and sense of urgency. Values intellectual property.

Angel Investor 241

Angel Investor Technical Review Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 241

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

As an active angel investor myself, I understand how the process works, and I see the disappointment in the eyes of entrepreneurs who approach angel groups for funding and often get turned away for not being timely or prepared in the minds of potential investors. A business needs technical, marketing, financial and many other skills.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Groups 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2018

Now is the time to be an entrepreneur and create a business from your passion. The cost of rolling out a business has never been lower – it only takes a few hundred dollars to incorporate a Limited Liability Corp (LLC) online, create your own website, use social media to get attention, and you are in business.

Technical Cofounder 184

Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property Silicon Valley LLC 184

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Define some intellectual property. File a patent and trademarks to show real intellectual property. A conundrum for many frustrated entrepreneurs is that they need money from investors to design and build a prototype product, yet most angel investors expect to see at least a prototype before they invest.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2021

These resources are definitely not limited to students, since every university seeks out and needs the real world exposure and experience of entrepreneurs who already are active in the real world marketplace. Business plan assistance. Product research and prototype development. Legal guidance.

Arizona 432

Arizona Phoenix Intellectual Property Incubator 432

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

A startup is all about "execution" - meaning the equity should be allocated based on the value that each partner brings to the table in each of these dominant variables: Experience running a startup business. Pre-existing intellectual property. Building a product doesn’t get it distributed and sold. Marty Zwilling.

Equity 228

Equity Intellectual Property Cofounder CTO Hire 228

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2013

I’ve noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to have no trouble attracting investors, while others with a great business plan struggle with it. On the top line, angel investors look to invest in entrepreneurs that have an almost unwavering passion and sense of urgency. Values intellectual property.

Technical Review 273

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 273

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2014

Building a new business is quite different from an executive role in a mature company, so people from these backgrounds are often a liability. Value is embodied in previous success with investors, proven problem-solving ability, and having built and executed a business plan with minimal resources. But don’t get greedy.

Cofounder 261

Cofounder Stock Founder Technical Cofounder 261

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2014

In fact, I often have to tell aspiring entrepreneurs that their inventions have zero value, at least not until they are put in the context of a business plan, with qualified people committed to executing the plan. Technology limited to a single product is seldom enough for a business. Don’t get me wrong.

Technical Review 266

Technical Review Intellectual Property Early Stage Global 266

YoungUpstarts

JULY 5, 2020

In addition to Canada’s stable economy, other perks include its proximity to the United States and its similar business ethics and culture with the U.S, which makes running your business in Canada smooth with less cultural challenges to deal with. Entrepreneur Visa. Business Visitor Visa. Business Planning.

Canada 264

Canada North America Intellectual Property Asia 264

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2012

I hear a lot of entrepreneurs contemplating their great “idea” for several years with little discernable progress, and looking for money to start. Here are some tips which will signal traction and fundability to investors, as well as to your team: Document your business plan. Register some intellectual property.

Intellectual Property 260

Intellectual Property Sweat Equity CTO Hire Fractional CTO 260

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2021

New entrepreneurs often seem to confuse viability with fundability. Certainly a non-viable business should be not fundable, but many viable businesses are also not fundable. Some investors say half the ideas pitched to them don’t have any plan at all, even though some have great potential. Don’t take this shortcut.

Intellectual Property 429

Intellectual Property Bootstrapping Venture Capital Revenue 429