Gust

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Gust Blog - Thoughts on startups by investors that fund them

Gust

And in January I saw that digital music overtook physical media for the first time in 2011, something I expected since 1998. Tim Berry , Founder, Palo Alto Software. Tim Berry , Founder, Palo Alto Software. Like the problem solver I had been trained as in my software development days, I parsed his issue. June 19th, 2012.

Startup 180
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Mark Suster’s “Never Negotiate Piecemeal”

Gust

He tells the story of his baptism by fire in startup-dom, a series of negotiations including office rent, sublet, getting people on board, getting the media to care, dealing with recruiters, dealing with the tech prima donnas, and (a favorite of many) “dealing with pesky VCs.” He openend with his first issue. I talked too much.

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Nuts & Bolts of Intellectual Property for New Startups

Gust

It’s possible to have a company with literally millions of customers (users) that employs only a handful of people, working in a small rented office, with hardware and software costing in the tens of thousands rather than millions of dollars. (Instagram is a textbook example.) Most of our early-stage startup clients fit this description.

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Forget Presidential Politics: Here’s How We Create Jobs — And How You Can Help

Gust

As a business lawyer working with startups in technology and digital media every day, I’m fortunate to have a front-row seat as entrepreneurs create value out of thin air. Patent reform is high on the list of priorities for most of the tech industry, particularly in the areas of software, Internet and mobile technology.

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Investors: Avoid These Investment Event Problems

Gust

Local media cover it. I suspect it’s almost like the way everybody agrees to software terms every time they install, and nobody reads them. Many local angel investment groups work with a local event that creates the illusion of a business pitch contest, awarding investment to the winner. The event generates local buzz.

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Entrepreneurship Is All About Taking Smart Risks

Gust

Software as a service (SaaS) has now pretty much replaced the old licensing model, but offering it was a strategic risk for SalesForce.com. Of course there is work involved to find the right media, and balance the investment against the return. Every new product you add stretches your ability to deliver winning function and quality.

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