Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2012

There are unknowns at every turn, leading product development, attracting customers, managing cash, and dealing with human resources and office politics. Too many startups simply follow the standard distribution channels, use standard pricing, and count on their one extra feature to give them the market.

Advisory Board 240

Advisory Board Forecast Early Stage Product Development 240

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2011

There are unknowns at every turn, leading product development, attracting customers, managing cash, and dealing with human resources and office politics. Too many startups simply follow the standard distribution channels, use standard pricing, and count on their one extra feature to give them the market.

Advisory Board 232

Advisory Board Startup Forecast Early Stage 232

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2020

Others do far too little, assuming the viral effect and word-of-mouth will soon kick in, and sales will suddenly grow exponentially. Continually add new marketing and distribution partners. Ask every employee to focus on sales. Introduce new products and enhancements every month. Shorten the close cycle to grow faster.

Social Media 329

Social Media Metrics Viral Channel 329

Up and Running

JUNE 14, 2017

Some believe in the all-in approach to product development: build an advanced app. An entrepreneur can quantitatively test potential buyers’ real intentions and develop a genuine understanding their needs before building out the product (app). It’s hard to imagine product functionality. Priorities change.

Technical Review 96

Technical Review Distribution Redemption Demand 96

Steve Blank

AUGUST 27, 2009

This series of posts is a brief explanation of how we’ve evolved from Product Development to Customer Development to the Lean Startup. The Product Development Diagram Emerging early in the twentieth century, this product-centric model described a process that evolved in manufacturing industries.

Silicon Valley 263

Silicon Valley Product Startup Product Development 263

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 8, 2009

Traction can simply mean showing that you’re making progress with customers, product development, channel partners, initial revenue as a proof point, attracting well-known angel investors, winning industry awards / recognition. They tell you they’re going to ship product and they do. They hire key staff.

Technical Review 309

Technical Review Term Sheet Venture Capital Revenue 309

View from Seed

AUGUST 10, 2021

Here in 2021 startups operate in a more distributed fashion earlier in their lifecycle, a trend which preceded COVID but certainly was accelerated by the remote work environment for knowledge workers brought on by the pandemic.

Chicago 177

Chicago Cofounder Miami B2B 177

ConversionXL

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

They drew people in with a product they assumed would be a hit and pushed forward without taking in customer feedback. People had a terrible experience using their product. After turning their attention toward feedback and testing, letting the voice of their customers fuel their content strategy and product development, they took off.

Product 102

Product Marketing Social Media Channel 102

View from Seed

AUGUST 10, 2021

Here in 2021 startups operate in a more distributed fashion earlier in their lifecycle, a trend which preceded COVID but certainly was accelerated by the remote work environment for knowledge workers brought on by the pandemic.

Chicago 156

Chicago Cofounder Miami B2B 156

Growthink Blog

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

And a boost toward a faster timeline and better probability of a business sale at an exciting price. Company Scenario #2: A company with a solid revenue base - say more than $5 million in sales - but competes in an industry not one of great, current interest to buyers / investors. A boost toward better financial results. Relationships.

Harvest 48

Harvest IP Software Review Forecast 48

This is going to be BIG.

AUGUST 22, 2012

Let’s start out with the basic functions of a tech company: 1) Engineering 2) Marketing 3) Sales 4) Business development 5) PR 6) Design 7) Product Management 8) HR 9) Operations 10) Finance Ok, that's just overwhelming. Let’s take sales and business development. Ready to start simplifying?

PR 144

PR Technical Review Seed Stage Design 144

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 6, 2022

Look, if you work in sales, wanna learn how to sell, and frankly who doesn't check out the sales podcast, where host Will Barron helps sales professionals learn how to find buyers and win big business ineffective and ethical ways. It's just not the same when you're distributed and talking remotely. Show us that demand.

San Francisco 98

San Francisco Technical Review Incubator Silicon Valley 98

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2010

There are unknowns at every turn, leading product development, attracting customers, managing cash, and dealing with human resources and office politics. Too many startups simply follow the standard distribution channels, use standard pricing, and count on their one extra feature to give them the market.

Advisory Board 125

Advisory Board Startup Forecast Early Stage 125

ConversionXL

MAY 1, 2017

One of the greatest threats to long-term success is when companies aren’t vigilant enough about responding to the changes in their market—whether it’s by failing to spot product or channel fatigue, acknowledge new competition, make needed updates to products or marketing adjustments in a timely fashion, or embrace new technology coming online.

Technical Review 127

Technical Review Algorithm Channel Analytics 127

View from Seed

AUGUST 10, 2021

Here in 2021 startups operate in a more distributed fashion earlier in their lifecycle, a trend which preceded COVID but certainly was accelerated by the remote work environment for knowledge workers brought on by the pandemic.

Chicago 136

Chicago Cofounder Miami B2B 136

Berkonomics

JULY 13, 2023

Example tactics for one strategy: [Email readers, continue here…] Strategy Three: Expand into at least three new continents through new distribution channels. Assign our development manager to localize design and oversee the needed enhancements to our product and support materials for each new territory.

Asia 62

Asia America Distribution Channel 62

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

When they promise to help you with marketing, sales, distribution, integrated product development, etc. But the venture guys don’t make the calls on what the product / business guys do. Imagine your investor has to call the CEO of a $20 billion company for approval for your merger or sale.

Strategic Investors 279

Strategic Investors Venture Capital Due Diligence Early Stage 279

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 11, 2014

. ——– In the 20 th century companies could be leaders in a market for decades by just focusing on their core product(s). Most companies incrementally improved their products with process innovation (better materials, cheaper, product line extensions) and/or through acquisitions.

Channel 288

Channel Customer Development Distribution Restful 288

Startup Lessons Learned

APRIL 14, 2009

This may sound crazy, coming as it does from an advocate of c harging customers for your product from day one. Their product definition fluctuates wildly – one month, it’s a dessert topping, the next it’s a floor wax. In fact, this company hasn’t shipped any new products in months. What’s going on?

Customer 167

Customer San Francisco Lean Hockey Stick 167

Hearpreneur

DECEMBER 24, 2017

We’re very new to the industry, and while we’re passionate about the product, there have been obstacles every step of the way – production, shipping, distribution, etc. But it’s rewarding to see our customers so excited about the product, and the huge growth in sales from last year has been encouraging.

Las Vegas 88

Las Vegas Entrepreneur Software Review Community 88

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

Seth Rosenberg at Graylock published ‘ Product Led AI’ – pointing to opportunities for founders building AI-first companies. Undoubtedly, there will be detractors who believe many products are simply features on top of foundational models.

Generative AI 78

Generative AI ChatGPT Artificial Inteligence Cofounder 78

K9 Ventures

AUGUST 13, 2010

SneakerLabs’ first product was a Java-based chat server and client. Since I had good connections with the University, we got a lot of feedback on how the product could be improved to meet their needs. We listened to their feedback and started adding features to the product accordingly. The product worked. Not so fast.

Revenue 72

Revenue Developer Java Customer Development 72

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 24, 2009

One is explaining the world as it used to work: the importance of gatekeepers, the scarcity implied by limited distribution, and the resulting quality bar that the industry is so proud of. Mostly it is the time and expense required to create the means of distribution for that industry. It’s just taking some longer than others.

San Francisco 113

San Francisco Lean Technical Review Distribution 113

ConversionXL

MAY 27, 2022

Sales intelligence platform Cognism cut their lead generation efforts by 90% in 2021. In this article, you’ll learn how to build a demand generation funnel that fuels the pipeline, shortens the sale cycle, and generates revenue. an ebook); Then you blast them with sales messaging (e.g., email, ads, retargeting, etc.)

Demand 124

Demand B2B Distribution Channel 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2016

Others do far too little, assuming the viral effect and word-of-mouth will soon kick in, and sales will suddenly grow exponentially. Continually add new marketing and distribution partners. Ask every employee to focus on sales. Introduce new products and enhancements every month. Shorten the close cycle to grow faster.

Social Media 120

Social Media Metrics Viral Channel 120

Up and Running

MARCH 1, 2016

Coming up with an idea or inventing a product is a process that takes commitment, dedication, and self-belief. Ultimately, inventing a product or coming up with an idea means one thing: solving a problem, whether it’s your own or someone else’s. billion in total industry sales. Step 5: Protect your idea. Resources for inventors.

Non-disclosure Agreement 60

Non-disclosure Agreement NDA Non-Compete Naming 60

Berkonomics

MAY 25, 2017

Strategy Three: Expand into at least three new continents through new distribution channels. Assign our development manager to localize design and oversee the needed enhancements to our product and support materials for each new territory. Email readers, continue here…]. EMEA, Asia, Latin America.

Asia 97

Asia America Distribution Channel 97

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008

In an enterprise sales context, this is called a "repeatable and scalable sales process" - once you know how to do this, your company can graduate from early adopters and make an attempt at the mainstream. Thoughts on scientific product development Lo, my 5 subscribers, who are you?

Audience 119

Audience San Francisco Continuous Deployment Lean 119

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 28, 2010

It’s common, perhaps the norm, for startups to pivot like that—to discover that a product is catching on in unintended ways worth pursuing. They were interested in the tools and new distribution medium kaChing provided. These managers weren’t concerned with transparency. says Rachleff.

San Francisco 158

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment SEC 158

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 24, 2014

Just get it done” is fine when entrepreneurs are starting out, but not when the work is distributed to a bigger team. To help build new product development and venture teams, my colleague Rob Goldberg, of Stages of Innovation , created an assessment tool called Talent for Growth. Do they have a scalable technology advantage?

Startup 252

Startup Angel Investor Early Stage LLC 252

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

In my experience, the majority of changes we made to products have no effect at all on customer behavior. This kind of result is typical when you ship a redesign of some part of your product. Without split-testing, your product tends to get prettier over time. First of all, why split-test? One last note on reporting.

San Francisco 166

San Francisco Lean Technical Review Continuous Deployment 166

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2010

You can also use this space to keep track of innovators (R&D personnel) and rainmakers (sales & marketing personnel). Products: You obviously can’t create value without a viable product (or service) to sell. You should inventory your best accounts and prospects, as well as the status of any pending major sales.

Intellectual Property 223

Intellectual Property .Net Valuation Distribution 223

crowdSPRING Blog

MAY 17, 2010

Which brings me back to my old friend (and yours, too, I hope) the four P’s&# Product. Product : What exactly is it that you are selling and to whom? Does your product provide value? But critical to consider are whether your product offers enough variation (is there something for (almost) everyone?);

Marketing 84

Marketing Startup Small Business Viral 84

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 12, 2015

Writing a book requires an obvious level of time and thought commitment, but if the author wants to see any degree of commercial success, it also requires a commitment to promote and hustle sales. Once it’s complete, you’re looking at another 6-9 months for a national distribution rollout. Differentiated Approach.

Marketing 100

Marketing Differentiation Distribution Audience 100

Up and Running

JULY 26, 2016

If you’re building a startup, you’re likely to be in one of these two situations: Launching and selling a new product that nobody’s ever heard about, and probably don’t even know they need, or… Improving an existing product or service, which means that you’re going head on against someone with more traction, people, and money than you.

Revenue 60

Revenue Acquisition Channel Campaign 60

Steve Blank

MARCH 11, 2015

And when we do make bets, they’re small bets on incremental products or acquisitions that simply add to the bottom line.”. Startups have finite time and resources to find product/market fit before they run out of money. They’ve found product/market fit (what products customers want to buy). and how to price the product.

Widget 120

Widget Lean Business Model Metrics 120

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2010

We’ll be conducting a series of educational programes covering: fund raising, team building, product development, sales, marketing, business development and how to prioritize your time as a CEO. But at the highest level they’ve created a marketplace for “flash&# sales.

Los Angeles 276

Los Angeles Stealth Securities and Exchange Commission Southern California 276