Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2023

Merrin is a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Liquidnet, who faced the challenge of major change to some of the most complex stock trading systems in the world. Highly saturated domains (more than 10 existing players), such as niche social media sites, are highly risky. Make it ready to play in all media.

Intellectual Property 240

Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Algorithm Social Media 240

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2011

Usually a small company can sell about 20 percent of its stock in an IPO. The timing of an IPO is driven heavily by the state of the economy in general and the stock market in particular, in concert with your profitability. Of course, you’re going to have to perform well to make that stock useful in the acquisitions process.

IPO 223

IPO Social Media Media Exit Strategy 223

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Merrin is a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Liquidnet, who faced the challenge of major change to some of the most complex stock trading systems in the world. Highly saturated domains (more than 10 existing players), such as niche social media sites, are highly risky. Make it ready to play in all media.

Intellectual Property 416

Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Startup Algorithm 416

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2021

Social media darling Twitter is an example of these bubbles. Angels are becoming more aggressive as their stock market and real estate assets recover, and institutions again have earnings to risk in venture capital funds. All too often, that leads to a bust for startups who have not adequately prepared or executed.

Demand 362

Demand Government Venture Capital Valuation 362

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2016

Overvalued stocks have been called "frothy’" for some time, but now the term is being tossed around in lieu of the word "bubble" in the new world of perceived overvalued startups. This term is used to describe non-traditional ways to incent growth such as social-media and viral marketing. Frothy startup valuations.

Software Review 120

Software Review Sweat Equity Accredited Investor Angel Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2022

Their reward is more free time for leisure, or more time for bonus objectives and stock options. Use of collaborative and other social media platforms. People who get paid by results have every incentive to think up smarter ways of getting work done. It does not mean the culture is soft or lacks discipline.

Cost 313

Cost Stock Options Cloud Differentiation 313

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2016

Enthusiastic startup founders may try to deflect or minimize these questions in true media-training style, so you need to be patient, calm, and persistent to get the whole story. Calculate employee stock option values and vesting times, as well as salary.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Burn Rate Technical Review Intellectual Property 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 23, 2022

Even in today’s remote environments, you can use video sessions, social media, and email to keep up with team efforts informally and share updates, both positive and negative. As I talk to early business investors, I find they put more stock in the team leadership connection than the market for the initial solution.

Agile 270

Agile Leadership Social Media Stock 270

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2015

A C-corporation is more complex and expensive, and is recommended only if you expect to pitch to professional investors who demand preferred stock, or to more than 100 potential shareholders. Even before you build a product, you should be interacting with potential customers in person, and through social media.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Preferred Stock Stealth 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

Make sure everyone accurately posts their role with your startup on social media profiles, resumes, and references. During that period, it is very difficult for either party to get out of the deal, since there is no public market for the stock, and business divorces normally mean bankruptcy.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Startup Term Sheet 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2010

Young people naively enter their pictures and personal data for fun on social networking sites, ignoring constant feedback from the media that these are bad practices. Last year, Heartland Payment Systems may have compromised tens of millions of credit and debit card transactions, causing a big run on its stock.

Technical Review 212

Technical Review Entrepreneur Internet Social Network 212

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2015

Enthusiastic startup founders may try to deflect or minimize these questions in true media-training style, so you need to be patient, calm, and persistent to get the whole story. Calculate employee stock option values and vesting times, as well as salary.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2019

Their reward is more free time for leisure, or more time for bonus objectives and stock options. Use of collaborative and other social media platforms. People who get paid by results have every incentive to think up smarter ways of getting work done. It does not mean the culture is soft or lacks discipline.

Stock Options 319

Stock Options Cloud Differentiation Social Media 319

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2019

In fact, you can get far beyond that number if you take advantage of the tools, process, and technology out there today, such as social media, text messaging, email, customer relationship systems (CRM), and discipline yourself to prioritize relationship building. That’s more than enough to put you ahead of your competition.

Social Media 242

Social Media Networking Stock Portfolio 242

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2019

Use social media channels, as well as conferences, to develop and maintain relationships. Remember that in business, sometimes who you know is more important than what you know. You can always use more social connections, but to be effective, think through your networking objectives first, and categorize the contacts you already have.

Product 233

Product Reputation Leadership Social Media 233

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

Make sure everyone accurately posts their role with your startup on social media profiles, resumes, and references. Set up an interview room, stocked with current docs. Startup equity investments imply a long-term business relationship, lasting five years or longer.

Due Diligence 148

Due Diligence Bankruptcy Angel Investor Stock 148

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2014

Their reward is more free time for leisure, or more time for bonus objectives and stock options. Use of collaborative and other social media platforms. In startups, and even corporate environments, I see the spread of collaborative social media platforms such as Yammer. It does not mean the culture is soft or lacks discipline.

Entrepreneur 261

Entrepreneur Startup Stock Options Social Media 261

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

This is a whole new world for small businesses seeking enterprise application opportunities, as well social media trend challenges. The challenge is to increase response rates and propagate a single view of the customer, by integrating customer data from multiple Web and social media interactions. Predictive advertisement targeting.

Analytics 248

Analytics Retention Social Media Startup 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

I would expect to see specific plans for distribution, partnerships, and sales channels, as well as the use of social media and conventional marketing, with budgets for the major elements. “If we build it, they will come” and “word of mouth” are not credible marketing strategies these days.

Product 145

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Exit Strategy 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2018

Their reward is more free time for leisure, or more time for bonus objectives and stock options. Use of collaborative and other social media platforms. People who get paid by results have every incentive to think up smarter ways of getting work done. It does not mean the culture is soft or lacks discipline.

Startup 154

Startup Stock Options Cloud Differentiation 154

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

An LLC will work just fine for this, but if you know enough to anticipate more than 100 investors or special classes of stock, I recommend incorporating as a Delaware or Nevada C-Corp or S-Corp. Founder’s stock may be taxed at time of incorporation. Tax status can be assigned separately to match your preferences.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property LLC Limited Liability Company Nevada 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2017

Merrin is a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Liquidnet, who faced the challenge of major change to some of the most complex stock trading systems in the world. Highly saturated domains (more than 10 existing players), such as niche social media sites, are highly risky. Make it ready to play in all media.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Algorithm Social Media 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2015

Are you reviewed positively by online media and industry analysts? It’s never too early to build relationships with industry analysts, influential blogs and the media. In the final evaluation, traction is the key driver for your business valuation, and is needed to attract investors, partners or a public stock offering.

Acquisition 120

Acquisition Valuation Angel Investor Stock 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2013

Social media darling Twitter is the most fragile of these bubbles. Angels are becoming more liquid as their stock market and real estate assets recover, and institutions again have earnings to put into venture capital funds. All too often, that leads to a bust for startups who have not adequately prepared or executed.

Demand 224

Demand Green Finance Government 224

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

Investors are showing an increased appetite for new stocks, with a good percentage of deals pricing above the marketed share price range. Social media is a boon for entrepreneurs and startups. Statistica reports that almost 20 percent more companies went public in 2018 versus 2017. The median deal size is back over $100 million.

North America 320

North America Incubator Initial Public Offering Exit Strategy 320

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2015

As a public company executive, your management style, and even your personal life, is subject to extensive scrutiny by stock analysts and stockholders. Private companies typically have an internal board of friendly owners, unlikely to be pressured by the media to consider an unfriendly tender offer from another major player in the market.

IPO 120

IPO Initial Public Offering Entrepreneur Private Equity 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2011

Social media darling Twitter is the most fragile of these bubbles. Angels are becoming more liquid as their stock market and real estate assets recover, and institutions again have earnings to put into venture capital funds. All too often, that leads to a bust for startups who have not adequately prepared or executed.

Startup 225

Startup Demand Green Government 225

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

If your goal is a large national corporation with more than 100 investors, and multiple classes of stock, you might prefer a C-Corp or S-Corp. Set specific targets on the sales channels and marketing initiatives you need, including the use of social media, brand building, franchising, trade shows, affiliates, and distributors.

Business Plan 423

Business Plan Product Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 423

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2015

Their reward is more free time for leisure, or more time for bonus objectives and stock options. Use of collaborative and other social media platforms. People who get paid by results have every incentive to think up smarter ways of getting work done. It does not mean the culture is soft or lacks discipline.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Stock Options Cloud Differentiation 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2019

This is a whole new world for small businesses seeking enterprise application opportunities, as well social media trend challenges. The challenge is to increase response rates and propagate a single view of the customer, by integrating customer data from multiple Web and social media interactions. Predictive advertisement targeting.

Analytics 177

Analytics Retention Social Media Campaign 177

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2014

This is a whole new world for startups seeking enterprise application opportunities, as well social media trend challenges. The challenge is to increase response rates and propagate a single view of the customer, by integrating customer data from multiple Web and social media interactions. Predictive advertisement targeting.

Analytics 257

Analytics Entrepreneur Retention Social Media 257

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2018

Investors showed an increased appetite for new stocks, with 18 percent of deals pricing above the marketed share price range. Social media is a boon for entrepreneurs and startups. Bloomberg reports that forty-nine percent more companies went public in 2017 versus 2016. The average amount raised also increased to $175 million.

Entrepreneur 166

Entrepreneur Valuation Incubator Initial Public Offering 166

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2013

This is a whole new world for startups seeking enterprise application opportunities, as well social media trend challenges. The challenge is to increase response rates and propagate a single view of the customer, by integrating customer data from multiple Web and social media interactions. Predictive advertisement targeting.

Analytics 246

Analytics Retention Startup Social Media 246

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

This is a whole new world for small businesses seeking enterprise application opportunities, as well social media trend challenges. The challenge is to increase response rates and propagate a single view of the customer, by integrating customer data from multiple Web and social media interactions. Predictive advertisement targeting.

Analytics 120

Analytics Retention Social Media Campaign 120