Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2022

Take full advantage of every mentoring and coaching opportunity, and network with peers both inside and outside the company. With today’s pervasive Internet and social networks, people can see how you act outside of work, as well as inside. Use ongoing networking as a way to improve connections.

Leadership 304

Leadership Technical Review Social Media Global 304

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2022

Make your company visible, reachable and responsive through social networks. 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. Market your solution and user benefits, not the mysterious technology behind it.

Technical Review 342

Technical Review Customer Social Network Software Review 342

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2022

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or angel investors in Arizona, where I live. Entrepreneurs cite family roots, a sense of neighborhood responsibility, existing professional networks, and more.

Las Vegas 309

Las Vegas Silicon Valley Arizona Montana 309

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

In fact, the cost may be minimal, if you do your networking and build a relationship with an experienced business executive or two in your domain who are willing to share and give back for a nominal retainer, perhaps one percent of your new startup equity. Key board members multiply your networking efforts.

Advisory Board 356

Advisory Board Bandwidth Cofounder Technical Review 356

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2022

Don’t waste your time networking with strangers. Start networking smarter and smaller. Learn to speak a new customer-specific dialect based on current research and homework. Go directly to the source – your real live customers, and get their priorities, issues, pressures, and challenges.

Marketing 353

Marketing Technical Review Social Media Technology 353

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

Of course, previous successes provide more direct evidence of a network of the right people. My advice is to start your networking early with potential investors, to establish a relationship before they see you as an entrepreneur asking for money. Exudes integrity, humility, and stability.

Intellectual Property 278

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 278

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2012

I often recommend business networking as the most effective way for a startup founder to find investors, advisors, and even key executive candidates. I have learned over the years that there is an etiquette to this process, just like there is for social networking. Join and actively participate in local business organizations.

Networking 242

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur 242

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

While these investors, and early customers, will always argue that they found you, I’m convinced that there is no substitute for aggressive networking on your part. Here is my list of key drivers that I find critical to thriving in big businesses, as well as startups: Networking to build and maintain key relationships.

Silicon Valley 284

Silicon Valley Technical Review Leadership Metrics 284

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2012

Every startup needs to understand that the customer paradigm has dramatically shifted over the past two years with pervasive social networks and smartphones. To compete, startups must find ways to provide customers an easier, faster, more pervasive connection to digital networks, via mobile as well as the Internet.

Networking 234

Networking Customer Entrepreneur Social Network 234

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2022

Constantly strengthening your network of relationships. Your network of connections needs to grow with you and your business. You have to lead by example, setting a personal standard for competence for all to follow if you intend to lead your competitors and customers. No entrepreneur can build a business alone.

Leadership 317

Leadership Founder Startup Networking 317

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2016

I often recommend business networking as the most effective way for a startup founder to find investors, advisors, and even key executive candidates. The answer is still the same, but I have learned over the years that there is an etiquette to this process, just like there is for social networking.

Networking 120

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch SEC 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

As an introvert myself, I remember worrying that I could never be comfortable giving a sales pitch, or networking to find clients. Actively expand your business networking activities. Each of these allies will also bring their own network, growing yours, and multiplying your power and growth.

Elevator Pitch 261

Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur Angel Investor Incubator 261

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2022

Actively broaden your business network to new domains. Take the initiative to meet new leaders in your domain and related ones, at business conferences and networking events. Soon they find themselves more confident in building and leading a team in their own business or career.

Leadership 285

Leadership Startup Networking Engineer 285

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2010

Social networking is indeed the new business networking. Since I’ve been lurking around the various social networks for the last year or so, I’ve learned a few things, so I thought it would be helpful to clue you in on current networking cultures, and how they map into the business networking scene. All the rest.

Social Network 255

Social Network Networking Entrepreneur Asia 255

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2016

There is no skill more vital to an entrepreneur than effective networking. You can’t build your business alone, and networking is the best way to open doors, professionally and personally. In business networking settings, it’s not very memorable to talk only about business. Networking and relationship building should be fun.

Networking 120

Networking Hosting Restful Entrepreneur 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Invest your time in networking online, as well as offline. Every future entrepreneur should start by networking. I recognize that preparation for and execution a product launch can be all consuming, causing you to back away from your normal networking and online communication activities.

Product 319

Product Technical Review Entrepreneur Reputation 319

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2011

Social networking can help, but a large list of online friends and followers is no substitute for a smaller list of personal and ongoing business relationships. Many of my younger friends use various social networks on a daily basis and think that they will thereby avoid this problem.

Social Network 226

Social Network Networking Dividend Global 226

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2022

Survey results show that more than 80% of consumers now receive advice through social networking sites prior to a product purchase. In today’s social networks, the social economy is defined by how people earn and spend social capital. When uncertain of what to do next, social proof kicks in to see what others are doing, or have done.

Customer 306

Customer Technical Review Social Media Social Network 306

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

Successful entrepreneurs like Tony Hsieh of Zappos and Chris McCormick of L.L.Bean have long realized that networking is no longer something that you do to get what you want, but requires listening and relationship building to do what the other party wants, with a win-win outcome. Network by getting out of the way.

Networking 120

Networking Entrepreneur Reputation Social Media 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Network to build investor relationships before you ask for money. Having a real project, rather than just an idea, is a strong positive when networking for Angels or VCs. In high technology, this is called “release early and iterate,” which allows you to make corrections as you go, as well as adjust for the market changes.

Technical Review 338

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor 338

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2011

With the advent of social networking sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, Internet usage has totally morphed, from a serious business medium, to a social and fun medium that still means business. Here are the current big three in social networking for business: Facebook is biggest, moving from social to business.

Social Network 239

Social Network Networking Naming California 239

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Through networking with other entrepreneurs, you should find one or more to visit that have relationships with this investor. If your investor is unknown, or peers offer no positive attributes, take it as a red flag. A sample of three views is adequate. Personally visit another startup funded by this investor.

Technical Review 345

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 345

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

I often recommend business networking as the most effective way for a startup founder to find investors, advisors, and even key executive candidates. I have learned over the years that there is an etiquette to this process, just like there is for social networking. Join and actively participate in local business organizations.

Networking 242

Networking Elevator Pitch Accredited Investor SEC 242

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

Of course, previous successes provide more direct evidence of a network of the right people. My advice is to start your networking early with potential investors, to establish a relationship before they see you as an entrepreneur asking for money. Exudes integrity, humility, and stability.

Intellectual Property 316

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 316

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2021

Social networking penetration by Boomers is now catching up with the other age groups, reaching nearly 90 percent across the board. One new incentive is the falling transaction costs and barriers to entry for entrepreneurs of every age. 83 percent of online users aged 50-64 use social media now, and the growth rate continues to increase.

Technical Review 315

Technical Review Founder United States Technical Support 315

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2023

The same is true for people who may approach you at networking events or industry conferences. If you receive an email requesting details on your plan from someone you don’t know, you should respond with a CDA, as well as begin a more serious cross-check with reliable sources. Build trust first. Discussions with potential strategic partners.

Non-disclosure Agreement 254

Non-disclosure Agreement Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor 254

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

Those of you who viewed the movie The Social Network , saw an example of new entrepreneurs dealing with conflict poorly, almost leading to the demise of Facebook. Master conflict – engage dissidents, and avoid needless power struggles. Some entrepreneurs go to great lengths to avoid interpersonal friction, or engage the wrong way.

Technical Review 269

Technical Review Kentucky Due Diligence Japan 269

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

The focus must be on five discovery skills of associating, questioning, observing, networking, and experimenting. Research published by Harvard many years ago in a book, “ The Innovator’s DNA ,” concludes that innovation is about 30 percent individual genes and 70 percent learnable and driven by motivation.

Technical Review 235

Technical Review Leadership Operations Networking 235

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

Networking no longer is primarily a face-to-face serial activity. Early customer feedback will position your solution, and help you make pivots before critical time and money are lost. The cost of social media done well is low. Using new tools for recruiting key players and advisors.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Angel Groups Social Media 261

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2023

There is no skill more vital to an entrepreneur than effective networking. You can’t build your business alone, and networking is the best way to open doors, professionally and personally. In business networking settings, it’s not very memorable to talk only about business. Networking and relationship building should be fun.

Entrepreneur 225

Entrepreneur Networking Hosting Restful 225

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2020

Constantly strengthening your network of relationships. Your network of connections needs to grow with you and your business. You have to lead by example, setting a personal standard for competence for all to follow if you intend to lead your competitors and customers. No entrepreneur can build a business alone.

Entrepreneur 314

Entrepreneur Leadership Partner Networking 314

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 23, 2022

In today’s marketplace, junior staffers are often the most intimately connected to the market, technology, and the customer network. This is the platitude of an obsolete corporate culture where you had to “pay your dues” in menial jobs before adding creativity or making decisions. Employees will lose focus on their work.”

Startup 337

Startup Technical Review Employee Hiring 337

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2021

The focus must be on five discovery skills of associating, questioning, observing, networking, and experimenting. Research published by Harvard many years ago in a book, “ The Innovator’s DNA ,” concludes that innovation is about 30 percent individual genes and 70 percent learnable and driven by motivation.

Technical Review 431

Technical Review Leadership Operations Networking 431

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2019

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or Angel investors in Arizona, where I live. Entrepreneurs cite family roots, a sense of neighborhood responsibility, existing professional networks, and more.

Las Vegas 243

Las Vegas Silicon Valley Arizona Montana 243

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2021

I often recommend business networking as the most effective way for a startup founder to find investors, advisors, and even key executive candidates. The answer is still the same, but I have learned over the years that there is an etiquette to this process, just like there is for social networking.

Elevator Pitch 357

Elevator Pitch Accredited Investor Entrepreneur SEC 357

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2013

Here are a few: Business networking. For entrepreneurs, effective networking is required to find investors, partners, and customers. It doesn’t work if you don’t follow up on networking opportunities, networking referrals, and ongoing networking relationships. Investor negotiations.

Entrepreneur 275

Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review Retention 275

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2022

Status: network, connections, and personal brand. In any career, an advanced degree, such as an MBA or PhD, will at least give you entrée into more opportunities. From that point forward, results and creativity are the drivers. In my view, going back to school midway in your career will likely make you a better leader.

Silicon Valley 325

Silicon Valley Angel Investor Technical Review Boston 325