The Startup Magazine

MARCH 29, 2024

This isn’t just about having a eureka moment; it’s about understanding the problem you’re solving and why it matters to your potential customers. Designing Your Business Model Crafting a business model is like building a blueprint for your venture.

Intellectual Property 158

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Business Model Bootstrapping 158

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2018

Most of you new venture founders I meet as an angel investor seem convinced that starting the business is the hardest part. You look forward to the day when your business becomes self-sustaining, and settles into a long-term growth curve, ensuring financial success. Focus on selling more to your existing customer base.

Angel Investor 167

Angel Investor Dilution Software Review Distribution 167

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 12, 2014

Having a good job afforded me the luxury of giving the customer a heavily discounted rate in exchange for the rights to the software. The product was a great success, and I decided to build a business around it. Our customers were willing to serve as advisors, so we were getting plenty of useful feedback.

Angel Investor 275

Angel Investor Security Cofounder Salary 275

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. Yet I still get too many business plans that clearly are looking for money to do research and development (R&D) on a new and unproven technology. Expanding the product line.

Angel Investor 256

Angel Investor Early Stage Incubator Government 256

Up and Running

MAY 23, 2016

Since the term “cloud computing” was coined in 1996—at least as we have come to understand its meaning—the software as a service industry has exploded. The one-page pitch format is also more suitable for SaaS businesses that are constantly testing new ideas. I started UpKeep after seeing and using traditional enterprise software.

Software Review 74

Software Review Software Delaware Forecast 74

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Commit to a major customer. The good news is that the cost for new startups is at an all-time low.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 283

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Commit to a major customer. The good news is that the cost for new startups is at an all-time low.

Product Development 177

Product Development Cost Developer Product 177

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Commit to a major customer. The good news is that the cost for new startups is at an all-time low.

Intellectual Property 309

Intellectual Property Technical Review Venture Capital Startup 309

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Commit to a major customer. Only one-third make it past their tenth anniversary.

Intellectual Property 134

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 134

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2013

Many entrepreneurs work hard on the proof of concept (technical), but skip any proof of the business model (revenue flow). In other words, once they are convinced that the product works, they assume their price, sales channel, and marketing will bring in the customers. So how do you go about proving the business model?

Business Model 235

Business Model Product Advisory Board Angel Investor 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2021

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. Yet I still get too many business plans that clearly are looking for money to do research and development (R&D) on a new and unproven technology. Expanding the product line.

Early Stage 412

Early Stage Angel Investor Incubator Government 412

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2012

Many entrepreneurs work hard on the proof of concept (technical), but skip any proof of the business model (revenue flow). In other words, once they are convinced that the product works, they assume their price, sales channel, and marketing will bring in the customers. So how do you go about proving the business model?

Business Model 248

Business Model Advisory Board Entrepreneur Angel Investor 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

Thus the top priority of every entrepreneur who wants funding should be to build and highlight their “dream team” of co-founders, executives and advisers, to attract the biggest and best investors. Solo entrepreneurs rarely find an investor. Business credentials and functional coverage. Focus on prior results, not titles.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Software Review 152

ReadWriteStart

FEBRUARY 21, 2021

Even if you have an angel investor or a venture capital (VC) firm backing you, you’ll have an abundance of expenses, limited income, and a finite amount of time before the money completely runs out. Oftentimes, new startups are inclined to cut costs that seem superfluous or unnecessary for the core business model to function.

Startup 106

Startup Software Review Open Source Technical Review 106

Gust

APRIL 27, 2014

Software Development Process via Wikipedia. Even when your startup is a one-man show and lots of fun, a “business” needs some discipline and controls to keep it from being defined as a hobby by investors, and assure some financial return. Customer service and support. Product development process. Funding process.

Startup 187

Startup Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping 187

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

You (think) you have product-market fit with real customers and real revenue and need money to grow and expand. For a Series A round you want to prove you have built a repeatable and scalable sales/revenue model and understand all parts of the business model. Team, Product, Traction, Business Model and Market.

Cofounder 431

Cofounder Seed Stage Valuation Metrics 431

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2011

Many entrepreneurs work hard on the proof of concept (technical), but skip any proof of the business model (revenue flow). In other words, once they are convinced that the product works, they assume their price, sales channel, and marketing will bring in the customers. So how do you go about proving the business model?

Business Model 234

Business Model Advisory Board Startup Angel Investor 234

Hearpreneur

AUGUST 5, 2020

Carbon farming is coming upon us rapidly it’s progress is already under the transforming influence of technological innovation, and rapidly gaining widespread attention among Venture Capitalists and angel investors. 9- Online management and accountability software. I think the writing is on the wall: go digital or die.

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur China 157

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

Funding might be a need in some cases — but it’s not an absolute necessity. ? The business should be self-sustainable. The primary source of your funds should be your paying customers, i.e., your business should generate enough revenues and profits to fund the growth and expansion. Equity investors.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Commit to a major customer. The good news is that the cost for new startups is at an all-time low.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 120

The Next Web

DECEMBER 30, 2012

How to Build a Startup (EP245) by Steve Blank: You’ll learn the key steps of the Customer Development process. How to identify and engage the first customers for your product, and how to gather, evaluate and use their feedback to make your product, marketing and business model far stronger. Skillshare.

Artificial Inteligence 156

Artificial Inteligence Founder Private Equity Ruby 156

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 11, 2016

And not keep investors informed about changes to your business model can have serious consequences. Brian Zuercher , founder of Seen marketing platform software. Filed under: Customer Development , SiriusXM Radio Show. When they found out, they questioned my decision-making and me as an entrepreneur.

Columbus 248

Columbus Entrepreneur Ohio Cofounder 248

Gust

DECEMBER 27, 2012

You should know EVERYTHING about your business, product, customers and competition. You should know every metric regarding customer acquisition, conversion and retention. You should have a crystal clear understanding of your business model and your financials.

Software Review 164

Software Review Term Sheet Technical Review Angel Investor 164

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Note: When I say “seed stage startup,” I’m specifically referring to software/app startups that are eitherpre-product or early product. Startup X launches with XX millions of dollars of seed capital from a star-studded list of investors”. … Venture Capitalist have investors as well. It’s called traction.

Seed Stage 100

Seed Stage Silicon Valley Startup Venture Capital 100

SoCal CTO

JULY 13, 2010

How-to learn about angel/vc term sheets - Gabriel Weinberg , June 28, 2010 I think every startup entrepreneur (and angel investor) should have a good understanding of financing term sheets. It sounds like Angel Boot Camp rocked. Why you have to design products for how your customers are , and not how you want them to be.

Cofounder 175

Cofounder Technical Cofounder Term Sheet Startup 175

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JULY 19, 2010

What if someone copies your awesome business idea? About twenty people on Answers OnStartups have asked this question in one form or another: When I meet an angel investor, he may ask: "What if a big company copies your idea and develops the same website as yours after your website goes public?". How can I answer this question?

Software Review 325

Software Review Technical Review Development Team Review Bolivia 325

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

It says that selling an airplane ticket for $500 and getting paid a $5 fees by the airlines (1% gross margin) is not the same thing as selling $500 of software that you built (>90% gross margin). Sam did all this analysis before even deciding to build V1 of his software and before we put serious money behind him launching.

Startup 150

Startup Seed Money DC Software Review 150

Steve Blank

MARCH 16, 2016

Founders can now access the largest pool of risk capital that ever existed –in the form of Private Equity (Angel Investors, family offices , Venture Capitalists (VC’s) and Hedge Funds.). BTW, Angel investors do not have limited partners, and often invest for reasons other than just for financial gain (e.g., FDA approvals?

Liquidity Event 120

Liquidity Event Founder Liquidation Preference Private Equity 120

Up and Running

OCTOBER 21, 2014

‘Starting a business’ really only comes down to figuring out your business idea ; doing your paperwork; and sorting out the money. Given the number of funding resources available today, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem getting that initial start-up cash, especially if you focus on a lean business model or MVP route to market.

Elevator Pitch 166

Elevator Pitch Software Review SBA Business Plan 166

Up and Running

APRIL 27, 2020

There’s a great amount of uncertainty, people losing their jobs, and a direct hit on cash flows that can place businesses in dire straights. Current businesses are finding ways to pivot their business models, revisiting their budgets, and developing new forecasts to minimize their burn rate and maximize their available cash runway.

Software Review 113

Software Review Lean Forecast Business Plan 113

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2010

Many entrepreneurs work hard on the proof of concept (technical), but skip any proof of the business model (revenue flow). In other words, once they are convinced that the product works, they assume their price, sales channel, and marketing will bring in the customers. So how do you go about proving the business model?

Business Model 120

Business Model Advisory Board Angel Investor Channel 120

David Teten

AUGUST 15, 2013

This promotes the company’s core services to new customers, and hopefully locks them in as permanent customers. Microsoft BizSpark is a global program that helps software startups by giving them access to a range of Microsoft software at free or discounted prices. SAP also has a dedicated fund for startups using HANA.

Startup 114

Startup Technical Support Venture Capital Balance Sheet 114

Austin Startup

MAY 29, 2019

Yesterday I was having a discussion with one of our executives on the strength of network effects inherent in the data.world business model. This led to a far ranging strategic discussion that got us both really excited about the huge potential of our business. I really look forward to seeing the impact they have in the world.

Networking 48

Networking Fractional CTO CTO Hire B2C 48

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

Teams can prove their competence and validate their ideas by showing investors evidence that there’s a repeatable and scalable business model. And we can offer investors metrics to play Moneyball – with the Investment Readiness Level. We focus on evidence and trajectory across the business model. Here’s how.

Oakland 329

Oakland Incubator Lean Metrics 329

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 11, 2016

And not keep investors informed about changes to your business model can have serious consequences. Brian Zuercher , founder of Seen marketing platform software. Filed under: Customer Development , SiriusXM Radio Show. When they found out, they questioned my decision-making and me as an entrepreneur.

Columbus 120

Columbus Entrepreneur Ohio Cofounder 120

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

Five Reasons You Haven’t Launched - Software By Rob , November 10, 2010 Photo by stevendepolo. It’s Easy to Be Great…It’s Hard to Be Consistent - Software By Rob , November 4, 2010 No link from TechCrunch, write-up on Mashable, mention by Leo Laporte, or Tweet by Ashton Kucher is going to make your business. call to arms.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Technology Product CTO Hire 175

Steve Blank

JANUARY 20, 2014

When Customer Development and the Lean Startup were just a sketch on the napkin, Dino Vendetti, a VC at Bay Partners, was one of the first venture capitalists I shared my ideas with. There’s a concentration around several sectors: software, hardware, medical-technology, aviation, and a specialty of Oregon – craft beer brewing.

Silicon Valley 316

Silicon Valley Oregon Lean Venture Capital 316