Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2023

Sometimes your solution is impressive, but mass acceptance requires a big culture change, a large support system, or government legislation. Unless you have a rich uncle, it’s probably not smart to challenge Intel for the next computer chip, which would require hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.

Technical Review 267

Technical Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property Internet 267

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2023

Cash is always hard to find, but in many cases it’s even harder to find access to needed distribution channels, government contract expertise, or the special skills required to deliver your solution. Usually it pays to work in an industry for a while, before you try to fix it. Willing to start today and find resources later.

Intellectual Property 312

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor Viral 312

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

He seemed to ignore the fact that hungry people have no money, and governments rarely pay. I once met with an entrepreneur who had developed a new algae strain to cure world hunger and make him rich. Even non-profits need income to run a business. Look for validation from your mainstream customers.

Technical Review 329

Technical Review Merger Software Review Acquisition 329

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Since government grants are funded by tax dollars for specific industries and research, usage of grant funds is carefully monitored. For example, federal and state governments don’t provide grants for starting a business, paying off debts, or covering operational expenses. Stringent spending controls. Extend your networking.

Government 230

Government Equity Cost SBIR 230

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2023

Products requiring changes to government regulations. On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site. You need a big differentiator in these arenas. Things such as driver-less cars and new medicines are far more than a technology challenge.

New York City 246

New York City Silicon Valley Bootstrapping Technical Review 246

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2020

Sometimes your solution is impressive, but mass acceptance requires a big culture change, a large support system, or government legislation. Unless you have a rich uncle, it’s probably not smart to challenge Intel for the next computer chip, which would require hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.

Technical Review 434

Technical Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property Internet 434

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

This source is a major focus these days, due to government initiatives to incent research and development on alternative energy and other technologies. If your offering is exciting enough, you may get millions in small amounts from other people on the Internet to help you fly high over the valley of death.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator Bootstrapping 261

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

I continue to be amazed that some government agency reportedly still gets 100 calls per day from victims of the Nigerian unclaimed cash scam alone. For more details, see this article from the The Penny Hoarder outlining the most common pitches to avoid. Cash transfer assistance funding. People who fall for this one must be really greedy.

Technical Review 371

Technical Review Due Diligence Non-disclosure Agreement Term Sheet 371

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

He seemed to ignore the fact that hungry people rarely have money, and governments are very unpredictable customers. For example, I once was approached by an entrepreneur, passionate that his new algae strain would cure world hunger and make him rich. Board members provide inexpensive expertise.

Advisory Board 356

Advisory Board Bandwidth Cofounder Technical Review 356

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

Cash is always hard to find, but in many cases it’s even harder to find access to needed distribution channels, government contract expertise, or the special skills required to deliver your solution. Usually it pays to work in an industry for a while, before you try to fix it. Willing to start today and find resources later.

Intellectual Property 436

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Viral Distribution 436

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2020

The most valuable organizations are able to govern their work environment through innovation, to cope with the increasing pace of change in culture and the marketplace. Organizations are assigned value by how well they take advantage of the best technology, and turn information into action. Stable and friendly work environment.

Valuation 311

Valuation Technical Review Due Diligence Leadership 311

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

It’s even better to let the attorney do the negotiating, since many innocent-sounding protective and governance provisions can have long-term negative consequences to you. To get the terms you want, it’s better to start with your own term sheet.

Technical Review 310

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 310

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

This source is a major focus these days, due to government initiatives to incent research and development on alternative energy and other technologies. If your offering is exciting enough, you may get millions in small amounts from other people on the Internet to help you fly high over the valley of death.

Finance 320

Finance Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 320

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

Products requiring changes to government regulations. On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site. You need a big differentiator in these arenas. Things such as driver-less cars and new medicines are far more than a technology challenge.

New York City 315

New York City Silicon Valley Startup Bootstrapping 315

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 4, 2021

Funding such an enterprise is more likely philanthropists, government grants, or bootstrapping. Not about entrepreneurship in the government sector. So far, the largest source of services and funding for social enterprises and social entrepreneurs has been federal, state, and local governments.

Entrepreneur 345

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Government Bootstrapping 345

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2011

It’s time for you to meet state and local government officials, make them aware of what you are doing, and get them excited and working for you. Extend your networking. Let’s face it, the business world and the political world are getting tightly intertwined.

Government 221

Government SBIR Dilution Database 221

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

Moving forward, you should expect the market volatility to increase, driven not only by customers, but by new technology, changing government regulations, and a surge in new competitors. If you as an entrepreneur are not “listening” to your online reviews, and not moving quickly to make changes, you are losing ground.

Agile 315

Agile Technical Review Leadership Social Media 315

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2023

Many of the current opportunities in alternative energy are the result of these forces, as well as the lack of effective government coalitions to conserve other resources. Many of the biggest and most obvious ones have non-business and non-technical hurdles, including the following: Government regulations.

China 295

China California Government Global 295

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2023

The most common support organization at this level is called a startup incubator or accelerator , and these exist in most countries, usually sponsored by a university, local government organization, or even local individuals. The incubator organization can help you find them or show you how to apply for a government grant.

Incubator 305

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 305

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

Government grants. As in any company, they can lead to employee problems, or messy legal issues. A nonprofit can also issue bonds to board members and members as a way of borrowing funds from those same people.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Beyond these believers, you need to match your credentials and interests with the multitude of public, academic and government organizations that proclaim to foster research and early development, to satisfy the long-term needs of the people or organizations they support. They believe in you above all else. Technology pilots.

Angel Investor 256

Angel Investor Early Stage Incubator Government 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2023

Government matters. Government policies, initiatives, and leadership set the stage for economic growth, and provide resources for improving living standards, and enabling technological advantage.

Entrepreneur 253

Entrepreneur United States Business Model Government 253

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

This source is a major focus these days, due to government initiatives to incent research and development on alternative energy and other technologies. If your offering is exciting enough, you may get millions in small amounts from other people on the Internet to help you fly high over the valley of death.

Intellectual Property 219

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 219

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2019

Due to qualms of customers and governments, he sold less than 30,000 of the devices over the next five years. For example, I still remember when Dean Kamen launched the Segway Human Transporter in 2002, predicting a transportation paradigm shift, and geared up to sell 10,000 per week for the next five years.

Technical Review 226

Technical Review Leadership Portfolio Matching 226

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2018

Despite the technology, the fears of pedestrians and government regulations strangled the business. For example, the personal motorized scooter Segway was announced as disruptive technology way back in 2002, but is still not a successful business. If there is no competition, there is likely not a market.

Angel Investor 249

Angel Investor Cofounder Finance Operations 249

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2020

Many of the current opportunities in alternative energy are the result of these forces, as well as the lack of effective government coalitions to conserve other resources. Many of the biggest and most obvious ones have non-business and non-technical hurdles, including the following: Government regulations.

Customer 417

Customer Startup China California 417

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 24, 2023

Typically, these companies are relishing prior successes, as did Blockbuster and Kodak in their heyday, or are totally risk-averse, as is the case with many mature businesses and government entities. I’m convinced these won’t change until the pain level gets high enough, and that may be too late. Sustained executive sponsorship with funding.

Silicon Valley 277

Silicon Valley Government Early Stage Valuation 277

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

The most common support organization at this level is called a startup incubator or accelerator , and these exist in most countries, usually sponsored by a university, local government organization, or even local individuals. The incubator organization can help you find them, or show you how to apply for a government grant.

Incubator 429

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 429

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

Government matters. Government policies, initiatives, and leadership set the stage for economic growth, and provide resources for improving living standards, and enabling technological advantage.

United States 429

United States Business Model Government Differentiation 429

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2023

Investors cannot verify accountability or governance. Board seats can’t be negotiated, and even informal mentoring in decision and governance processes is unlikely. Unreasonably high early valuations hurt the entrepreneurs, as well as professional investors, later when a second round becomes a down round or can’t be negotiated.

Angel Groups 201

Angel Groups Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 201

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2021

Government actions sometimes meddle with normal supply and demand equilibriums, or money allocations. In startups these days, governments are incenting health and alternative energy solutions, to intentionally create a bubble. Experts argue that a higher percentage of startups fail with too much money, rather than too little.

Demand 362

Demand Government Venture Capital Valuation 362

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2021

Beyond these believers, you need to match your credentials and interests with the multitude of public, academic and government organizations that proclaim to foster research and early development, to satisfy the long-term needs of the people or organizations they support. They believe in you above all else. Technology pilots.

Early Stage 412

Early Stage Angel Investor Incubator Government 412

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

Investors cannot verify accountability or governance. Board seats can’t be negotiated, and even informal mentoring in decision and governance processes is unlikely. Unreasonably high early valuations hurt the entrepreneurs, as well as professional investors, later when a second round becomes a down round or can’t be negotiated.

Equity 411

Equity Angel Groups Accredited Investor Due Diligence 411

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

Sometimes your solution is impressive, but mass acceptance requires a big culture change, a large support system, or government legislation. Unless you have a rich uncle, it’s probably not smart to challenge Intel for the next computer chip, which would require several million dollars in investment. Minimize infrastructure dependencies.

Technical Review 208

Technical Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property Internet 208

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2021

In fact, the primary function of the board is to be the boss for the CEO, setting clear goals, measuring performance, and providing business governance. Board rules and governance policies should be articulated in writing and voted upon. Have the wrong management representation. Fail to establish adequate structure.

Advisory Board 362

Advisory Board IPO Government Acquisition 362

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2019

I continue to be amazed that some government agency reportedly still gets 100 calls per day from victims of the Nigerian unclaimed cash scam alone. For more details, see this recent article from the The Penny Hoarder outlining the most common pitches to avoid. Cash transfer assistance funding.

Technical Review 228

Technical Review Non-disclosure Agreement Due Diligence Term Sheet 228

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2017

Many aspiring entrepreneurs try to raise capital, without first understanding and complying with government and state rules for disclosure, securities registration, private offerings, and accredited investors. Complete and heed fund-raising legal compliance requirements. The rules for crowdfunding and non-profits are even more specific.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 220