Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2010

The first chasm is getting the customer requirements right, product or service, to satisfy a real need that a large number of customers will pay real money to satisfy. It takes focus to resist adding a long list of features that seem to make the opportunity larger, but dilute to focus of both you and potential customers.

Startup 227

Startup Technical Review Dilution Early Stage 227

David Teten

AUGUST 19, 2019

In addition, I’ve noted a few multi-product lending firms, e.g., Kapitus and United Capital Source , which provide RBI as one of many structural options to companies seeking capital. . We have a special program if you are pre-seed and need product development. Alternative Capital. “ You qualify if you have $5k+ MRR.

Revenue 60

Revenue Technical Review Software Review Equity 60

YoungUpstarts

MAY 6, 2019

Product development. Now that you have a refined product idea and a team that can turn this idea into reality, the product development stage will start. Initial product development usually consists of prototyping and MVP. Prototyping usually means the initial working draft of the product idea.

Startup 104

Startup Merger Technical Cofounder Early Stage 104

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 27, 2011

For a more elaborate explanation of the deal, please read my blog post 1M/1M: Alternative Financing For Startups Using A Sales Channel Partner. I have discussed at length why revenue sharing channel deals may serve as perfectly fine alternatives to raising equity (or even complements) because of their non-dilutive nature.

Dilution 114

Dilution Revenue Finance Entrepreneur 114

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 18, 2014

One of its primary goals was to galvanize product development by discovering often-unstated customer needs and creating solutions for them. Unfortunately, Toyota diluted that system in its drive for global expansion and global sales leadership. Make it a duty to dissent (even when you have to shoot down a HiPPO).

Employee 162

Employee Operations Global Dilution 162

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 17, 2011

A year ago I blogged about one of my most common mantras that applies to sales, biz dev & fund raising alike: “ Time is the Enemy of all Deals.&#. If you are able to raise money from credible sources at a reasonable dilution percentage then I personally favor getting the round done now and building your business.

Pre-Money Valuation 303

Pre-Money Valuation Dilution Valuation PR 303

YoungUpstarts

JULY 23, 2012

I learned that most juices of exotic “superfruits” like pomegranate or cranberry are often diluted with “fillers” like apple, pear or grape juice. The sections on POM Wonderful, the billion dollar global business focused on 100% pomegranate juice, were especially enlightening.

Ruby 150

Ruby Fiji America Dilution 150

ConversionXL

AUGUST 30, 2018

It slows product development. According to that same NNG research: Ecommerce sites can expect to double their sales. It’s likely to be related to improving revenues, reducing costs, increasing the number of new customers, increasing the sales from existing customers, or increasing shareholder value. It costs money.

Framework 111

Framework Design Product Development Technical Review 111

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 24, 2009

When I reviewed a recent product development book, it immediately shot up to Amazon sales rank 300. And as everyone’s attention starts to focus on those same indicators, their value is being diluted. My blog has over 14000 subscribers, for example. Is that a lot? Is that good?

San Francisco 113

San Francisco Lean Technical Review Distribution 113

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2010

I learned how to better run a product management process. I learned how to integrate customers into our product development process. But in our first year of sales (and those were really shitty years to be selling software) we sold $2.1 I learned how to establish sales targets and how to manage a sales pipeline.

Venture Capital 285

Venture Capital Hiring Software Review Stock Options 285

Seeing Both Sides

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Adding some debt onto your balance sheet will lower your cost of capital and your dilution, which is better for existing investors and the management team. In other words, being able to efficiently access the capital markets is as core to business-building as product management, go to market and your profit formula.

Balance Sheet 42

Balance Sheet Entrepreneur Dilution Portfolio 42

Business Plan Blog

OCTOBER 4, 2013

If you have a technical background and you are focused on product development, consider a co-founder with a sales and marketing background that can focus on selling your world class product. Rather, give titles such as VP of Engineering, Product/Technology, Sales, Marketing, Finance, etc.

Part-Time VPE 79

Part-Time VPE Fractional VPE Cofounder CTO Hire 79

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 14, 2013

It would be a blanket approach and, ultimately as you suggested, dilute the messaging and demonstrate a lack of focus. How does lean content integrate into the rest of the lean product development cycle? We''ve got a new batch on sale today, so register now for the best price.' Steph: For me, it leads.

Lean 167

Lean Conversion Audience Design 167

betashop.com

OCTOBER 8, 2012

million registered users, 7500 supplier partners, 600 team members, and a run-rate of more than $150M in sales in just 15 months. I firmly believe that in this age where the product development life-cycle is so short and user feedback comes so quickly, you will know within a year whether you are focusing on a worthwhile one thing.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Technology Software Review Valuation 108

blog.nahurst.com

JULY 19, 2010

I assume both cofounders will be diluted equally as more employees and investors get involved. Sorry for the rant, but in all seriousness, Ive seen too many good non-technical founders delay building a product for months because theyre too stingy with equity. Finding someone who can build a quality product is the hard part.

Technical Cofounder 43

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Equity Salary 43

maplebutter.com

JANUARY 8, 2013

Or should I launch products and a startup for each of them, focusing on only 1 product at a time? I would focus on one product and set a goal to generate $1M in yearly revenue from it. Do that – nothing else but one product / company / focus and get to $1M in sales with atleast $15% net profit. do something else.

Technical Review 44

Technical Review Startup Cofounder Software Review 44

Seeing Both Sides

JANUARY 13, 2015

People: founder-run and trying to recruit amazing technical talent (the product development team is a huge priority at this stage) and integrate a few senior managers to help prepare the company for scale - which leads to cultural clashes and communication challenges. first sales person, first marketing professional).

Mezzanine 20

Mezzanine IPO Finance Business Model 20