Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2023

Many entrepreneurs have a passion and an idea, or even invent a new product, but are never able to execute to the point of creating a startup. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business. Startup and development stage. Market research and a business plan should be the focus at this stage.

Matching 270

Matching Entrepreneur Startup Seed Stage 270

The Startup Magazine

JANUARY 27, 2023

Will such a tool benefit my startup? Assigning tasks based on technicians’ expertise Field techs have raised the issue of the technician’s expertise level needing to match the task’s criteria. As you engage a field management software in your startup business, pay heed to these considerations to meet your needs.

Software Review 151

Software Review Software Technical Review Startup 151

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2021

This perspective looks at the business as the product, competing for the customer’s attention against a whole shelf of competitors. In this view the product features, cost, and support are the key to success. As startups grow, they quickly realize that they need a third personality, called the Manager, to build systems and processes.

Technical Review 341

Technical Review Social Media Startup Internet 341

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Burn Rate 258

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Management Salary 258

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2020

The biggest complaint I hear from fellow investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. Here are some tips on the right approach and the right points to hit: Match your material to the time allotted. Then match your pace to cover all the material.

Technical Review 295

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Startup 295

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

I just finished a new book for entrepreneurs, “ Secrets to a Successful Startup ,” by Trevor Blake, which makes the same points, based on his own real-life experience with three successful startups. Outsourcing can give your startup a more mature image. Startups all need that flexibility.

Technical Review 308

Technical Review Due Diligence Startup Employee 308

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2023

The biggest complaint I hear from fellow investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. Here are some tips on the right approach and the right points to hit: Match your material to the time allotted. Then match your pace to cover all the material.

Technical Review 369

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Matching 369

ReadWriteStart

MARCH 11, 2020

Here are the facts about AI startups needing data , and how that helps governments. And startups in a number of industries are poised to capitalize on this wealth of data to optimize services and solve the issues most important to customers. For startups building the next generation of AI tools, this situation presents challenges.

Government 152

Government Technical Review Software Review Artificial Inteligence 152

Steve Blank

JANUARY 17, 2023

Three types of organizations – Incubators, Accelerators and Venture Studios – have emerged to reduce the risk of early-stage startup failure by helping teams find product/market fit and raise initial capital. They do the most to de-risk the early stages of a startup. Reducing Startup Risk.

Technical Cofounder 353

Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 353

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Burn Rate 223

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Startup Salary 223

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2022

That challenge is a major business opportunity, as well as a risk, for startups. There seems to be an insatiable demand from consumers for a better shopping experience, meaning they will pay a premium to a company that can present them a better match in products to their interests, without jeopardizing their good name.

Technical Review 342

Technical Review Customer Social Network Software Review 342

VC Cafe

APRIL 4, 2024

This creates a challenge, but also an opportunity for startups in the generative AI space. 70% of the startups in the current batch (170 out of 243) are AI companies. How can startups even compete against big tech, scale ups and other startups? Case in point: this week was Ycombinator’s W24 demo day.

Generative AI 78

Generative AI Artificial Inteligence Technical Review ChatGPT 78

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2014

Most technology startups seem to be funded by product people or business people. My first startup was no different. They like a solid product, well defined pricing, good references to sell against, a clear quota and well defined competitors. Here’s what I learned in running my first startup.

Sales 382

Sales Startup Technical Review Matching 382

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

These approaches allow your startup to grow more rapidly, save costs, but costly mistakes can lead to business failure. Labor rates are lower in some countries, but culture and language match are the real keys to productivity. Hire and train your own managers for internal and external work projects.

Cost 346

Cost Philippines Bandwidth Cofounder 346

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 2, 2014

Green ketchup, bottled water for pets, airport security “action figures”, yogurt shampoo – there have been some pretty epic product failures over the years. However the reality is that a significant majority of products don’t succeed. An estimated 75 to 95 percent of new products fail in the marketplace. Google Chromebook.

Product 222

Product Technical Review Software Review Green 222

View from Seed

DECEMBER 8, 2015

Editor’s note: At a recent team meeting at NextView, we looked at the high number of startups we invested in which were pre-product at the time. The question arose: What is a seed VC’s process like when a company is pre-product? A big chunk of our investments at NextView have been made pre-product.

Product 120

Product Startup Early Stage Seed Capital 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

I strongly recommend a dramatic departure from this model, called “planned iteration” or Lean Startup methodology, where you assume you won’t get it right the first time, so you launch with a minimum viable product (MVP). With a minimum viable product, your startup remains much more agile. Marty Zwilling.

Agile 253

Agile Startup Social Network Software Developers 253

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Burn Rate 310

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Salary Angel Investor 310

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2022

Startup investors tell me they invest in a new venture with a higher caliber of people, rather than the product or service, and I agree. In my role as a business advisor, I see successful businesses most often emerging from great teams rather than great products.

Hiring 337

Hiring Technical Cofounder Cofounder Retention 337

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 14, 2024

Business owners who are on the ball are always looking for ways to improve their productivity, efficiency, and overall functionality. Luckily, we have five easily actionable business productivity tips to help ensure that you’re functioning at your full capacity no matter where you’re at.

Artificial Inteligence 88

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Software Review Texas 88

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

These things outside your control do happen, but based on my years of experience as a startup advisor and angel investor, I still see too many strategies leading to failure that are inside the entrepreneur decision realm. There is no substitute for market research to confirm that your passion matches a real need in the market.

Intellectual Property 436

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Viral Distribution 436

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

Young entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, often remain naively unfocused, despite their passion, of what it takes to provide the high-quality service expected. Then make sure that everyone on the team does the same, and are motivated to improve the match with your startup. Set the tone and lead the way.

Technical Review 249

Technical Review Salary Metrics Matching 249

ConversionXL

JANUARY 18, 2022

In 2018, after two short years and $3 million raised in startup funds, recruitment AI company Ansaro shut down due to bad market fit. To succeed in today’s crowded market, you need to harmonize product marketing and brand marketing. Brand vs product marketing: Friends or foe? They rely on each other for success.

Marketing 110

Marketing Product Audience Equity 110

Steve Blank

MARCH 15, 2017

I was having a second coffee with an ex student, now the head of a marketing inside a rapidly growing startup. But he was getting uneasy that as his headcount was growing the productivity of his marketing department seemed to be rapidly declining. Titles in a startup are not the same as what your job is. All good news.

Startup 316

Startup PR Public Relations Channel 316

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

I see entrepreneurs every day who are trying to change the world with a new idea, and startups that are trying to survive their hyper-growth phase by changing processes to meet demand. Here are ten of the key questions that apply equally well to the world of startups and entrepreneurs, as they do to large organizations.

Metrics 387

Metrics Technical Review Leadership Framework 387

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2020

Attracting the right customers is the key to success in business, whether you have a new startup or a mature enterprise. These days, branding is less about products or solutions, and more about the overall customer experience and expectations. Lowest-cost solution with minimal customization. Examples would include ADT as well as IBM.

Customer 308

Customer Technical Review Matching Business Model 308

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 9, 2013

I strongly recommend a dramatic departure from this model, called “planned iteration” or Lean Startup methodology, where you assume you won’t get it right the first time, so you launch with a minimum viable product (MVP). With a minimum viable product, your startup remains much more agile. Marty Zwilling.

Agile 263

Agile Startup Social Network Software Developers 263

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2023

The most valuable assets of a new startup are the people on the team, and the most challenging task of the entrepreneur and team leaders is to spend their leadership time and energy productively. Most new startup founders start out by assuming they need to spread their leadership efforts evenly across all team members.

Employee 267

Employee Leadership Cofounder Matching 267

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 16, 2019

Ordering a product made in the UK, only to note that the starting point is China, it is likely you are dealing with fake merchandise. As it stands, counterfeit products, mainly in fashion and accessories, bring an annual amount of$500 billion globally. Since counterfeit products are a global problem, it is unlikely to end.

Product 92

Product Technical Review Capital Gains China 92

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 18, 2020

All you have to do is promote products or services of well-established brands, in various categories and niches, for commissions. The products and services that you promote by running CPL ad campaigns are for CPL One’s advertising partners. Next, in the fourth and final step, choose a compelling headline for your ad.

Affiliate 90

Affiliate Software Review Product Marketing 90

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2021

If you can’t state clearly why your startup is the only choice, then it’s time to regroup before spending your hard-fought funding. You will likely be amazed at the kind of requests you get, and what you can learn, which could lead to new opportunities, new products, and new customers.

Las Vegas 385

Las Vegas Matching Marketing Social Media 385

The Startup Magazine

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

It’s hard to say if there’s a primary reason why a startup can fail. The reasons for startup failure tend to be a combination of things. Here are five common ways your startup can fail before the end of the first year. Many people don’t realize the tremendous amount of money it takes to get a startup off the ground.

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Startup Demand Business Model Founder 133

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 20, 2020

Unfortunately, however, our love affair with startups is unfounded, especially as it relates to those who may be looking to provide, market to or target their product/service to the startup segment. Why We Are In Love With Startups? The most commonly-referenced startup story is fun to tell: Founded by 20-somethings.

Sweat Equity 107

Sweat Equity Non-Compete Startup Azure 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2020

It seems like every entrepreneur I meet these days is quick to proclaim themselves a visionary, expecting that will give more credibility to their startup idea, and improve their odds with investors. In reality, I’m one of the majority of investors who believe that startup success is more about the execution than the idea.

Founder 329

Founder Cofounder Bandwidth Matching 329

Steve Blank

APRIL 23, 2014

For decades large companies have gone shopping in Silicon Valley for startups. What can companies learn from others’ failed efforts to integrate startups into large companies? The answer - there are two types of integration strategies, and they depend on where the startup is in its lifecycle. The Innovation Portfolio.

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Acquisition Intellectual Property Silicon Valley Startup 332

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2023

Startups succeed most often when the founding partners know how to build and run a business, rather than how to build and run technology. Look for a match in culture and values, as well as technical strength. A business startup is not an academic environment, or a big company research organization.

Technical Cofounder 260

Technical Cofounder Technology Management Entrepreneur 260

Hunter Walker

DECEMBER 13, 2020

Especially since VC pattern matching may inappropriately label people this way (can’t sell) who are merely nervous or new to their environment. It doesn’t matter what industry, what product, what revenue model, what stage of development. Photo by Jan Koetsier on Pexels.com. And I want you to be CEO for a really really long time.

Technical Cofounder 145

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Startup Matching 145