Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

The next step in complexity is building a software product that you can offer as a service to your customers. Any credible software developer should be willing to tackle this kind of tool for a couple of thousand dollars. Then there are full-featured software sites like Facebook.

Hosting 248

Hosting Bootstrapping .Net Social Network 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2013

The next step in complexity is building a software product that you can offer as a service to your customers. Any credible software developer should be willing to tackle this kind of tool for a couple of thousand dollars. Then there are full-featured software sites like Facebook.

eCommerce 196

eCommerce Hosting Bootstrapping .Net 196

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

For example, if your startup is building a high-tech software product, a dream team of advisors would be a former CEO or high-level exec in another software company, a former software marketing executive, and a former financial executive.

Advisory Board 239

Advisory Board Technical Review Startup Software Review 239

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2013

I was with IBM in the early PC days when Bill worked with us to provide PC DOS and other software. At the same time, he was always pushing the limits of our business relationship with new ideas. On the other hand, a great idea without a business plan is a non-starter. Investor negotiations. Product development.

Entrepreneur 275

Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review Retention 275

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

In my angel investor mode, I often find myself flipping to the “management” section of a business plan, even before I read the solution description and opportunity. Business credentials and functional coverage. If your team has a depth of expertise in software, that won’t help you get funding for a new hardware solution.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Software Review 152

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2011

For example, if your startup is building a high-tech software product, a dream team of advisors would be a former CEO or high-level exec in another software company, a former software marketing executive, and a former financial executive.

Advisory Board 239

Advisory Board Technical Review Software Review Startup 239

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

The next step in complexity is building a software product that you can offer as a service to your customers. Any credible software developer should be willing to tackle this kind of tool for a couple of thousand dollars. Then there are full-featured software sites like Facebook.

Cost 220

Cost Startup Hosting Bootstrapping 220

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2023

Simply stated, it means that your business has the potential to multiply revenue with minimal incremental cost. Ready to scale is when you have a proven product and a proven business model, about to expand to new geographies and markets. Build a business plan and model that is attractive to investors.

Hockey Stick 339

Hockey Stick Intellectual Property Non-Compete Business Model 339

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2010

Why is it that most of the business plans I see are really product plans? I define a product plan as a detailed description of your product or service, with a bit of business thrown in at the end. A business plan is a detailed description of your business, with a bit of product description thrown in near the front.

Business Plan 121

Business Plan Product Differentiation Business Model 121

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2013

When I was a software development manager, I tried to get a “bottoms up” time estimate from the team, and then pad it by 50%. While everyone was busy building the product and business model you detailed in your business plan, early feedback from the field makes it clear that you were somewhat wrong.

Founder 250

Founder Startup Software Developers Software Development 250

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

The market is changing so fast these days, and if you are not planning a solution today for tomorrow’s customers, you may be setting yourself up for failure and don’t even realize it. There are always new competitors who are planning their arrival tomorrow.

Customer 144

Customer Advisory Board Technical Review Angel Investor 144

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2010

I was with IBM in the early PC days when Bill worked with us to provide PC DOS and other software. At the same time, he was always pushing the limits of our business relationship with new ideas. On the other hand, a great idea without a business plan is a non-starter. Investor negotiations. Product development.

Entrepreneur 237

Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review Retention 237

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2012

When I was a software development manager, I tried to get a “bottoms up” time estimate from the team, and then pad it by 50%. While everyone was busy building the product and business model you detailed in your business plan, early feedback from the field makes it clear that you were somewhat wrong.

Software Developers 229

Software Developers Software Development Business Model Product Development 229

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2013

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. You don’t need surprises or disappointments either. Being unprepared for the next steps.

Software Review 265

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Startup 265

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. Yet I still get too many business plans that clearly are looking for money to do research and development (R&D) on a new and unproven technology.

Angel Investor 256

Angel Investor Early Stage Incubator Government 256

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

See how many of the following “new” Internet concepts you recognize, and can explain in terms of value to your business. If you have heard the lingo, but most of these are not in your startup business plan, you are already in jeopardy as an entrepreneur: Blogging. You can use it for your business.

Internet 239

Internet SEM Wiki Viral 239

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 6, 2011

When I was a software development manager, I tried to get a “bottoms up” time estimate from the team, and then pad it by 50%. While everyone was busy building the product and business model you detailed in your business plan, early feedback from the field makes it clear that you were somewhat wrong.

Startup 245

Startup Software Developers Software Development Business Model 245

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2021

Today’s smartphones are more attractive than a separate phone, camera, computer, and software packages. Home computers have long been offered in unbundled as well as bundled hardware and software, to allow for a lower entry cost and flexible configuring versus simplicity. Break existing bundles into separate packages (unbundle).

Startup 280

Startup Green Social Media Audience 280

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2011

This is perhaps the most reliable source of information on angel investor groups across the world, and the software is used by most of the other angel organizations mentioned below for deal flow. With today’s access to the Internet, and Google searches, it really isn’t that hard. Here are the largest flocks: Angelsoft. Keiretsu Forum.

Angel Investor 255

Angel Investor North America South America Accredited Investor 255

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2020

Simply stated, it means that your business has the potential to multiply revenue with minimal incremental cost. Ready to scale is when you have a proven product and a proven business model, about to expand to new geographies and markets. Build a business plan and model that is attractive to investors.

Hockey Stick 386

Hockey Stick Intellectual Property Startup Non-Compete 386

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2021

Practice developing a business plan. Pick a startup business that you can do for minimal cost, like a services business with the skills you have. With simple software available today, find a domain name and implement your own website. It shows everyone you are serious, and limits your liability on any mistakes.

Startup 390

Startup LLC Social Network Naming 390

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2023

The last thing a new business needs is to antagonize potential customers or become embroiled in controversy. How many of these lead generation techniques are funded in your business plan? Marty Zwilling

Lead Generation 285

Lead Generation SEM Viral Marketing 285

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2012

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. You don’t need surprises or disappointments either. Being unprepared for the next steps.

Software Review 250

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur 250

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2010

For example, if your startup is building a high-tech software product, a dream team of advisors would be a former CEO or high-level exec in another software company, a former software marketing executive, and a former financial executive.

Advisory Board 125

Advisory Board Technical Review Software Review Early Stage 125

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2021

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. Yet I still get too many business plans that clearly are looking for money to do research and development (R&D) on a new and unproven technology.

Early Stage 412

Early Stage Angel Investor Incubator Government 412

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2011

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. You don’t need surprises or disappointments either. Being unprepared for the next steps.

Software Review 246

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Early Stage 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2020

The last thing a new business needs is to antagonize potential customers or become embroiled in controversy. How many of these lead generation techniques are funded in your business plan? Marty Zwilling.

Lead Generation 365

Lead Generation Customer SEM Marketing 365

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2010

Yesterday I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. You don’t need surprises or disappointments either. Being unprepared for the next steps.

Software Review 239

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Startup 239

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2019

Today’s smartphones are more attractive than a separate phone, camera, computer, and software packages. Home computers have long been offered in unbundled as well as bundled hardware and software, to allow for a lower entry cost and flexible configuring versus simplicity. Break existing bundles into separate packages (unbundle).

Startup 226

Startup Green Social Media Audience 226

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2010

When I was a software development manager, I tried to get a “bottoms up” time estimate from the team, and then pad it by 50%. While everyone was busy building the product and business model you detailed in your business plan, early feedback from the field makes it clear that you were somewhat wrong.

Software Developers 122

Software Developers Software Development Business Model Design 122

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2012

Why is it that most of the business plans I see are really product plans? I define a product plan as a detailed description of your product or service, with a bit of business thrown in at the end. A business plan is a detailed description of your business, with a bit of product description thrown in near the front.

Product 230

Product Business Plan Differentiation Business Model 230

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2019

Suddenly you will find that writing a ten-to-twenty page business plan with details is easy rather than daunting. Create a specific plan to network to get the help you need. The best are determined to do one thing well, rather than many things poorly, with limited resources.

Intellectual Property 248

Intellectual Property Dilution Cofounder Social Media 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2013

Based on my own experience and feedback from friends, every investor is approached by at least ten entrepreneurs with a “hot idea” for a new business, for every one who has a real “plan” for a new business. You need some evidence of a real solution before any business plan makes sense. Lumbard of CalTech.

Startup 265

Startup Business Plan Entrepreneur Internet 265

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2011

Based on my own experience and feedback from friends, every investor is approached by at least ten entrepreneurs with a “hot idea” for a new business, for every one who has a real “plan” for a new business. You need some evidence of a real solution before any business plan makes sense. Lumbard of CalTech.

Entrepreneur 262

Entrepreneur Business Plan Internet Search 262

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2012

I come from a high-tech software background, and only a few years ago, it would cost at least a million dollars ($1M) for a team of professionals to produce any commercial software product. Now, with open source software components, and low-cost development tools, the same job can be done by one good hacker for a few thousand dollars.

Cost 255

Cost Burn Rate SEM Startup 255

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2012

Based on my own experience and feedback from friends, every investor is approached by at least ten entrepreneurs with a “hot idea” for a new business, for every one who has a real “plan” for a new business. You need some evidence of a real solution before any business plan makes sense. Lumbard of CalTech.

Business Plan 243

Business Plan Internet Search Technology 243

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2023

This dual-leadership approach would have avoided the frustration I felt in a startup a few years ago where beta customers loved our software solution as a free prototype, but we couldn’t sell one in the first few months for a price that seemed reasonable for all our work and innovation. These two jobs need to be done in parallel.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Advisory Board Software Review Business Model 220