Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2023

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand and relate to. Customer data integrity and security. Reduce litigation risks and support costs.

Elevator Pitch 272

Elevator Pitch Social Network Agile Technology 272

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2021

It seems like everyone wants to be an entrepreneur and get rich these days. Ask some potential customers to see if there is real interest, and start thinking about price versus cost. Make ‘em want it bad (pitch it). Start by developing an “elevator pitch” that you can deliver in 30 seconds to hook a potential investor.

Non-disclosure Agreement 340

Non-disclosure Agreement Elevator Pitch NDA Entrepreneur 340

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 29, 2017

You’re in discussions with strategic partners and potential beta customers. Think of your first B2B web site as one step beyond your elevator pitch. It’s the first place a potential customer will go to check you out. It’s the first place a potential customer will go to check you out. Plan to iterate.

Elevator Pitch 100

Elevator Pitch Web Portfolio B2B 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2020

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand and relate to. Customer data integrity and security. Reduce litigation risks and support costs.

Technology 412

Technology Elevator Pitch Social Network Agile 412

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Whether you are trying to raise money for your business or just want to perfect your business strategy, a solid elevator pitch is an essential tool for achieving your goals. An elevator pitch can be delivered either verbally, ideally in 60 seconds or less, or as a one-page overview of your business. Simple as that.

Elevator Pitch 166

Elevator Pitch Forecast Oregon Differentiation 166

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. Show them that you have done your homework with industry experts and potential customers, and convince them you are not asking for charity or a donation.

Sweat Equity 274

Sweat Equity Elevator Pitch Startup Equity 274

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2015

I see too many executive summaries that are simply heavy-duty customer pitches, or lightweight visions of the future. Skip the fuzzy marketing terms, such as "easier to use," "lower cost" and "disruptive technology. Nice-to-have solutions and customers with no money are not compelling.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Technical Review 120

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 27, 2016

Some of these businesses are founded by people who are passionate about a cause, like Saha Global ’s mission to help with the world water crisis, others are entrepreneurs seeking to fill an underserved niche, as these 12 business owners did. Pin down your elevator pitch. Who are your customers? Avoid burnout at all costs.

Elevator Pitch 100

Elevator Pitch Technical Review Affiliate Global 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2014

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand. Customer data integrity and security. Reduce litigation risks and support costs. Personal-privacy assurances.

Technology 245

Technology Customer Elevator Pitch Social Network 245

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

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. Remember to aim the content of both of these at investors, not customers. Close at least one initial customer.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2021

Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. Show them that you have done your homework with industry experts and potential customers, and convince them you are not asking for charity or a donation.

Sweat Equity 346

Sweat Equity Elevator Pitch Equity Venture Capital 346

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020

As an entrepreneur, I understand your passion when pitching your solution to investors and customers, but passion alone won’t make one more technology pitch stand out above all the rest. Unfortunately, most elevator pitches, product descriptions, and marketing messages are abstract, and include no characters at all.

Elevator Pitch 363

Elevator Pitch Restful Audience Technology 363

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

That’s why I caution my aspiring entrepreneur clients against proclaiming to investors that they are a great “idea” person. His challenge is to focus on one market, with a specific design, cost, and price. In addition, creating a business requires leading and interacting with other people, including partners, investors, and customers.

Elevator Pitch 315

Elevator Pitch Cofounder Dividend Leadership 315

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

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. Remember to aim the content of both of these at investors, not customers. Close at least one initial customer.

Angel Investor 224

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2012

An "elevator pitch" is a concise, well-practiced description of your startup and your plan, delivered with conviction and enthusiasm, that your mother should be able to understand in the time it would take to ride up an elevator. A good elevator pitch is not just for an elevator discussion.

Elevator Pitch 283

Elevator Pitch Startup Differentiation Distribution 283

Up and Running

APRIL 11, 2012

He defines the elevator pitch, video pitch, executive summary, PowerPoint presentation, and business plan as different forms. This fits beautifully with my thinking that the plan is what’s going to happen, when and why, and how much it costs and brings in; and all these variations are just the output.

Business Plan 85

Business Plan Elevator Pitch Technical Review Due Diligence 85

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2018

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand and relate to. Customer data integrity and security. Reduce litigation risks and support costs.

Elevator Pitch 227

Elevator Pitch Social Network Agile Technology 227

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2014

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. For aspiring entrepreneurs, or if your last startup failed, it’s all about standing out above the crowd of others like you. Financial model.

Entrepreneur 270

Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor 270

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

In addition, like an entrepreneur with a new business, you have to factor in all the indirect costs previously covered by employers, including training, health care, and time off for vacations. In fact, thinking like an entrepreneur is a good strategy today for success, even if you are currently in a long-term employment situation.

Employee 246

Employee Elevator Pitch Differentiation Social Media 246

Steve Blank

MARCH 8, 2011

It was designed to bring together many of the new approaches to building a successful startup – customer development, agile development, business model generation and pivots. Startups, are not about executing a plan where the product, customers, channel are known. Get Out of the Building and test the Business Model.

Lean 304

Lean Business Model Customer Development Guinea 304

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

As of today, I will have published an article here for entrepreneurs and startups every day for the last 1001 days, since I started Startup Professionals Musings near the close of 2008. Here are ten key messages that I would like to leave you with: I continue to gain respect for entrepreneurs. I’m sure you know what I mean.

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Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur Startup Silicon Valley 241

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2016

As a startup advisor and investor, I find that more and more entrepreneurs avoid using the term “profit” in pitching their new venture. Of course, I understand and don’t condone bad actors who get greedy, and exploit ways to unjustly squeeze customers and employees. Validate your business model on real customers.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy 120

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Define your ideal customer. How easy is it to acquire a customer, and how much will it cost? How much money and effort will it cost to deliver value? Interview potential customers to ensure that they have the problem you are trying to solve. Determine if your initial price points will work for your customers.

Elevator Pitch 60

Elevator Pitch Startup Balance Sheet Forecast 60

Up and Running

MARCH 14, 2018

If there’s one thing I can’t stress enough, it’s the importance of rehearsing your pitch. I’ve seen too many entrepreneurs think, “Oh, I know my business inside and out—pitching will be a breeze!” I’ve seen many entrepreneurs crash and burn when delivering their investor pitch—and ramble on and on. Don’t wing it.

Hockey Stick 164

Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Angel Investor 164

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

A great elevator speech will spark interest in your business and hopefully lead to a deeper conversation. Elevator speeches are a great opportunity for entrepreneurs. What’s the difference between an elevator pitch and an elevator speech? If you can’t make customers lives better, they won’t buy from you.

Elevator Pitch 118

Elevator Pitch Audience Matching Conversion 118

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2018

As an advisor to young entrepreneurs, I find that many are a bit naïve about how the investment process really works. In my first working session with this entrepreneur, I suggested ways to break this request into stages or tranches, based on showing traction, with the first amount in a more affordable range of $50 thousand or less.

Elevator Pitch 215

Elevator Pitch Equity Revenue Differentiation 215

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Unless you are a serial entrepreneur with a string of successes behind you, you need a business plan to convince investors that you can build a business out of the dream that has been driving your passion to change the world. For example, “I just patented a new cell-phone technology that will double battery life for half the cost.

Elevator Pitch 163

Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Silicon Valley Revenue 163

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2016

Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand and relate to. Customer data integrity and security. Reduce litigation risks and support costs.

Elevator Pitch 145

Elevator Pitch Social Network Agile Technology 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2018

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. For aspiring entrepreneurs, or if your last startup failed, it’s all about standing out above the crowd of others like you, and demonstrating your readiness.

Elevator Pitch 164

Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor Business Plan 164

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2012

As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. I’m talking about doing some real networking to test your elevator pitch, and get to know some potential investors before you ask them for money. How about talking to some real customers to see if they are as excited about your idea as you are?

Elevator Pitch 240

Elevator Pitch Public Relations Startup IP 240

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2015

Image via Flickr by Jupiter Labs Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. Every good entrepreneur needs to invest skin in the game, to show credibility and leadership to others.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Equity 120

Gust

OCTOBER 11, 2011

An “ elevator pitch ” is a concise, well-practiced description of your startup and your plan, delivered with conviction and enthusiasm, that your mother should be able to understand in the time it would take to ride up an elevator. A good elevator pitch is not just for an elevator discussion.

Elevator Pitch 174

Elevator Pitch Startup Differentiation Distribution 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2011

As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. I’m talking about doing some real networking to test your elevator pitch, and get to know some potential investors before you ask them for money. How about talking to some real customers to see if they are as excited about your idea as you are?

PR 231

PR Elevator Pitch Public Relations Startup 231

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2014

It seems like everyone wants to be an entrepreneur and get rich these days. Ask some potential customers to see if there is real interest, and start thinking about price versus cost. Make ‘em want it bad (pitch it). Start by developing an “elevator pitch” that you can deliver in 30 seconds to hook a potential investor.

Non-disclosure Agreement 269

Non-disclosure Agreement Elevator Pitch NDA LLC 269

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. What you don’t realize is these famous investors only deal with entrepreneurs who sold their last company for a $100M dollars or more.

Business Plan 423

Business Plan Product Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 423

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2010

As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. I’m talking about doing some real networking to test your elevator pitch, and get to know some potential investors before you ask them for money. How about talking to some real customers to see if they are as excited about your idea as you are?

Public Relations 226

Public Relations Elevator Pitch Startup IP 226

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2017

It seems like everyone wants to be an entrepreneur and get rich these days. Ask some potential customers to see if there is real interest, and start thinking about price versus cost. Make ‘em want it bad (pitch it). Start by developing an “elevator pitch” that you can deliver in 30 seconds to hook a potential investor.

Non-disclosure Agreement 141

Non-disclosure Agreement Elevator Pitch NDA LLC 141