Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2018

The cost of rolling out a business has never been lower – it only takes a few hundred dollars to incorporate a Limited Liability Corp (LLC) online, create your own website, use social media to get attention, and you are in business. Build a following and start a brand through social media.

Technical Cofounder 184

Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property Silicon Valley LLC 184

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2023

Should they focus on increasing revenues and profitability, or entice more and more users with “free” services, to increase their valuation. Traditionally, it was simple. A business only achieved critical mass by becoming cash-flow positive.

Valuation 235

Valuation Revenue Viral Retention 235

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science. That should equate to an adequate valuation for a $2 million follow-on Series-A round, without giving away all the equity. Tackling most of the support tasks yourself. The timing of cashflow is everything.

Burn Rate 262

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Entrepreneur Salary 262

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

It’s equally easy to go online and incorporate your new entity, register some intellectual property and have some fun with social media for marketing and interacting with customers. Use multiple social-media channels, blogging, email and voicemail to build the same image and responsiveness as larger competitors.

Equity 349

Equity Hockey Stick Bootstrapping Sweat Equity 349

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2020

Should they focus on increasing revenues and profitability, or entice more and more users with “free” services, to increase their valuation. Traditionally, it was simple. A business only achieved critical mass by becoming cash-flow positive.

Revenue 434

Revenue Valuation Retention Viral 434

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2016

This term is currently applied to recent startups who profess a current valuation which exceeds $1 billion. Frothy startup valuations. This term is used to describe non-traditional ways to incent growth such as social-media and viral marketing. Prime examples include Uber, Airbnb and Snapchat. Could your startup be the next one?

Software Review 120

Software Review Sweat Equity Accredited Investor Angel Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science. That should equate to an adequate valuation for a $2 million follow-on Series-A round, without giving away all the equity. Tackling most of the support tasks yourself. The timing of cash flow is everything.

Burn Rate 120

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Startup Salary 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2023

With the success of Facebook and Twitter, I still see new social media startups almost every day, with most destined to fail. Perhaps the most famous bubble for startups was the dot.com craze that crashed 20 years ago, where the highest valuations were given to companies with massive user growth, but minimal revenue or profit.

Intellectual Property 314

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Bankruptcy Viral 314

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

The business plan should address all key questions, including valuation, funding needed, use of funds and exit strategy. Highlight existing presence on the Internet and social media. In addition, your company and social media names are key intellectual property. Formalize the business structure before asking for funding.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Groups 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

The first step is to set your criteria, including a match for your sector type and stage, and then proactively seek out and contact the best candidates: Review profiles on professional social media sites. Friends and family are key at the idea and early development stages, when you have minimal business valuation.

Angel Investor 246

Angel Investor Stealth Bootstrapping Early Stage 246

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2020

It’s equally easy to go online and incorporate your new entity, register some intellectual property and have some fun with social media for marketing and interacting with customers. Use multiple social-media channels, blogging, email and voicemail to build the same image and responsiveness as larger competitors.

Hockey Stick 423

Hockey Stick Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 423

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2016

Who would not want to joint the unicorns (recent startups with a current valuation of over $1 billion)? Establishing your brand with interactive social media. The cost of social media done well is low. But for founders who do their homework, the cost of entry is lower and the opportunity is higher than ever.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Groups Social Media 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2021

High valuation, low profit. Social media darling Twitter is an example of these bubbles. All too often, that leads to a bust for startups who have not adequately prepared or executed. A sure sign of a bubble is when assets are artificially valued high, without a corresponding intrinsic value or cash flow.

Demand 362

Demand Government Venture Capital Valuation 362

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2021

When you see startups like SpaceX and Pinterest grow from a low valuation to a billion dollars in just a few years, it’s easy to assume that if you just keep doing what you are doing, you can get there as well. Working with the media is required, both social as well as the press, through public relations and internal channels.

Merger 379

Merger Due Diligence SEC IPO 379

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

The first step is to set your criteria, including a match for your sector type and stage, and then proactively seek out and contact the best candidates: Review profiles on professional social media sites. Friends and family are key at the idea and early development stages, when you have minimal business valuation.

Stealth 434

Stealth Startup Angel Investor Bootstrapping 434

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2021

Until I read the classic book “ The Business of Sharing, ” by Alex Stephany, who founded JustPark (current valuation estimated at £80M), I too had no idea of the scope of opportunities, and the 300 or more players already out there. Assets need to move in a community of engaged users. Community means more than supply and demand.

Cuba 316

Cuba Venture Capital Community Valuation 316

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

In today’s world of information overload, everyone relies on marketing and social media to find solutions to match their needs. Patents can raise startup valuation by investors by as much as a million dollars, and will attract acquisitions rather than copycats. Marketing is a necessary evil to mask poor technology.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Intellectual Property Cofounder Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2020

With the success of Facebook and Twitter, I still see new social media startups almost every day, with most destined to fail. Perhaps the most famous bubble for startups was the dot.com craze that crashed 15 years ago, where the highest valuations were given to companies with massive user growth, but minimal revenue or profit.

Intellectual Property 310

Intellectual Property Startup Bankruptcy Viral 310

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2021

Social media accounts. Immediately go to relevant social media sites and grab the same name, even if you never plan to use the accounts. Still, it is recommended that you add the familiar ©Copyright 2021 symbol at the beginning or end of each media and document segment. Trade secrets with employment agreement. Marty Zwilling.

Portfolio 363

Portfolio Intellectual Property Valuation Non-disclosure Agreement 363

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

Until I read the classic book “ The Business of Sharing, ” by Alex Stephany, who founded JustPark (current valuation estimated at £33M), I too had no idea of the scope of opportunities, and the 350 or more players already out there. Assets need to move in a community of engaged users. Community means more than supply and demand.

Cuba 246

Cuba Venture Capital Community Valuation 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2016

Should they focus on increasing revenues and profitability, or entice more and more users with “free” services, to increase their valuation. It’s only been in the last ten years that social media companies, like Facebook and Twitter, have achieved market valuations in billions of dollars, while clearly sacrificing revenue to gain users.

Revenue 145

Revenue Valuation Startup Viral 145

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2019

Even huge valuation increases will evaporate overnight when profitability is nowhere in sight, and you run out of money. It’s time to really focus on social media, videos, and email. Control costs and adjust prices to maintain your margin. Start working on the next generation of your own product.

Silicon Valley 215

Silicon Valley Bankruptcy Metrics Valuation 215

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 Valuation 145

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2014

Should they focus on increasing revenues and profitability, or entice more and more users with free services to increase their valuation. Traditionally, it was simple. A business only achieved critical mass by becoming cash-flow positive. Here are factors to consider: Some element of organic growth is a good thing.

Revenue 246

Revenue Entrepreneur Valuation Viral 246

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 6, 2017

In the entrepreneur world, most of the energy I see is focused on the current opportunity bubbles, now including anything mobile, the new sharing economy (Uber, Airbnb), or yet another social media app (Snapchat, WhatsApp). Beware of high valuations with low revenue and profit.

Valuation 139

Valuation Social Media Revenue Search 139

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

These are companies that not only have a familiar brand, but carry from five to 35 billion dollar valuations. As a result of social media and mobile platforms, consumers have created a sharing economy – sharing their opinions, and speaking out to companies as well as their peers, rather than listening to brand advertising.

IRR 143

IRR Marketing Startup Angel Investor 143

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

DECEMBER 20, 2019

There is additional encouraging news for aspiring entrepreneurs on many fronts, just in case you are thinking about joining the existing ranks: Valuations of successful startups have hit an all-time high. Social media is a boon for entrepreneurs and startups.

North America 320

North America Incubator Initial Public Offering Exit Strategy 320

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2016

Build outside relationships with media and analysts. It’s never too early to build relationships with industry analysts, influential bloggers and the media, and show how these have grown over time. Traction is the measure of how many of these have been validated, and their projection to your business valuation.

Metrics 143

Metrics Advisory Board Startup Lean 143

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

Intellectual property is also often the largest element of early-stage company valuations for professional investors. Viral marketing and word-of-mouth are not enough these days to make your product and brand visible in the relentless onslaught of new media out there today. Inexperienced team. Give up too easily or early.

Intellectual Property 251

Intellectual Property Startup Viral Early Stage 251

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2012

Intellectual property is also often the largest element of early-stage company valuations for professional investors. Viral marketing and word-of-mouth are not enough these days to make your product and brand visible in the relentless onslaught of new media out there today. Inexperienced team. Give up too easily or early.

Intellectual Property 274

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Viral Early Stage 274

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2013

At this stage you were expecting to be working on creating a good business valuation to attract future buyers, or at least funding college accounts for your kids. Take your reputation online, utilizing social media, your website, and a blog to connect to clients and make strategic alliances. Maximize cash flow.

Entrepreneur 234

Entrepreneur Vertical Reputation Valuation 234

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2016

It’s equally easy to go online and incorporate your new entity, register some intellectual property and have some fun with social media for marketing and interacting with customers. Use multiple social-media channels, blogging, email and voicemail to build the same image and responsiveness as larger competitors.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Hockey Stick Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2013

High valuation, low profit. Social media darling Twitter is the most fragile of these bubbles. All too often, that leads to a bust for startups who have not adequately prepared or executed. A sure sign of a bubble is when assets are artificially valued high, without a corresponding intrinsic value or cash flow.

Demand 224

Demand Finance Government Green 224

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2012

At this stage you were expecting to be working on creating a good business valuation to attract future buyers, or at least funding college accounts for your kids. Take your reputation online, utilizing social media, your website, and a blog to connect to clients and make strategic alliances. Maximize cash flow.

Startup 236

Startup Vertical Reputation Valuation 236

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2016

With the success of Facebook and Twitter, I still see new social media startups almost every day, with most destined to fail. Perhaps the most famous bubble for startups was the dot.com craze that crashed 15 years ago, where the highest valuations were given to companies with massive user growth, but minimal revenue or profit.

Business Model 120

Business Model Intellectual Property Startup Bankruptcy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2016

The first step is to set your criteria, including a match for your sector type and stage, and then proactively seek out and contact the best candidates: Review profiles on professional social media sites. Friends and family are key at the idea and early development stages, when you have minimal business valuation.

Stealth 120

Stealth Startup Angel Investor Bootstrapping 120