Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2020

At some level of function, availability, and price performance, customers jump ship away from you. Bargaining power of customers. This is the degree to which customers can put your company under pressure, or leverage prices, delivery, features, and quality (market of outputs). These elements are referred to as “barriers to exit.”

Differentiation 378

Differentiation Framework Equity Business Plan 378

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2012

You can’t succeed in business without an operational model that delivers value to customers at a reasonable price, with an underlying cost that allows you to make a profit. I support her assertion that a business model consists of at least the first seven of the following ten basic elements: Value proposition.

Business Model 242

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 242

YoungUpstarts

MAY 13, 2014

by Joshua Conran , senior partner at Deksia . Niche businesses almost always originate from an identifiable need in the marketplace. No matter how underserved or neglected, focusing on a too narrowly defined customer base could hurt your business. Requests from your current customers. Poor customer retention.

Pennsylvania 224

Pennsylvania Retention Differentiation Reputation 224

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 13, 2024

Moreover, they must prioritize innovation and agility to differentiate themselves from many companies offering similar cybersecurity solutions. Equally important is establishing trust and credibility with customers, investors, and partners, as these relationships will be critical to their overall success and longevity in the industry.

Down Round 154

Down Round Marketing Artificial Inteligence Startup 154

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 20, 2017

by Amanda Setili, author of “ Fearless Growth: The New Rules to Stay Competitive, Foster Innovation, and Dominate Your Markets “ Growth has always been fundamental to business success, but it’s never been more critical than it is now. Do we develop new capabilities internally or partner?

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Malaysia Agile Employee 147

Duct Tape Marketing

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

With a focus on transforming raw data into actionable insights, Databox has carved out a niche for itself, offering unique solutions for businesses to visualize their metrics in a customized manner. 07:11] With so many tools claiming the same space, how does Databox differentiate itself? [08:43] What’s your take on that?

Metrics 75

Metrics Analytics Forecast Software Review 75

Hearpreneur

JANUARY 8, 2023

3- Customer experience focus. I believe that in 2023, businesses will be more focused on customer experience than ever before. As technology continues to evolve, customers are becoming more demanding and expecting more from businesses. My 2023 business forecast focuses on the importance of new technologies.

Artificial Inteligence 124

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Entrepreneur Forecast 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2011

You can’t succeed in business without an operational model that delivers value to customers at a reasonable price, with an underlying cost that allows you to make a profit. I support her assertion that a business model consists of at least the first seven of the following ten basic elements: Value proposition.

Business Model 246

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 246

View from Seed

AUGUST 17, 2021

It’s by far the longest time I’ve spent working on any one thing, and I feel very blessed to have been able to work with my partners, colleagues, founders, and collaborators. My partners will tell you that I am an incredibly impatient person. You want someone who will challenge you and be an intellectual sparring partner.

IRR 205

IRR Dilution Founder Portfolio 205

David Teten

APRIL 1, 2021

Dan Kozikowski, Partner and Head of Platform, First Mark Capital , said to me, “Firms should match services to the stage-specific needs of companies. Similarly, customer introductions are invaluable in the early days, but become less valuable once a company has a fully-formed go to market function.”. Customer Development.

Private Equity 78

Private Equity Venture Capital Portfolio Equity 78

View from Seed

AUGUST 17, 2021

It’s by far the longest time I’ve spent working on any one thing, and I feel very blessed to have been able to work with my partners, colleagues, founders, and collaborators. My partners will tell you that I am an incredibly impatient person. You want someone who will challenge you and be an intellectual sparring partner.

IRR 156

IRR Dilution Founder Portfolio 156

View from Seed

AUGUST 17, 2021

It’s by far the longest time I’ve spent working on any one thing, and I feel very blessed to have been able to work with my partners, colleagues, founders, and collaborators. My partners will tell you that I am an incredibly impatient person. You want someone who will challenge you and be an intellectual sparring partner.

IRR 136

IRR Dilution Founder Portfolio 136

Austin Startup

MAY 11, 2017

645 Ventures 645 Ventures makes deeply-researched investments in institutional Seed to Series A rounds for exceptional companies who demonstrate stellar early results in the areas of market validation, product differentiation, team strength, and brand narrative. These sectors generally leverage the Internet or software in a fundamental way.

Private Equity 48

Private Equity Venture Capital Technical Review Seed Stage 48

View from Seed

JULY 19, 2019

And additionally, my partners and I use other, more differentiated, lenses like asking if a startup has an “ unfair distribution advantage.” JDCC stands for “Jaw-Dropping customer value through a Competition-Crushing business model.”. Asking “Is it JDCC?” Go (re)read that post.

Boston 149

Boston B2B Early Stage Portfolio 149

Growthink Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2017

Customer Analysis Goal of customer analysis section: Convey the needs of your customers and show how your company’s products/services satisfy those needs. Define your customers precisely. For example, it’s not adequate to say your company is targeting small businesses, since there are several million of these.

Venture Capital 129

Venture Capital Business Plan Technical Review Private Placement 129

The Startup Magazine

APRIL 30, 2024

By integrating sustainability into their business models, companies can attract eco-conscious consumers and investors who prioritize environmental responsibility in their purchasing and investment decisions. This type of culture promotes employee satisfaction, loyalty, and productivity, which are crucial for organizational success.

Reputation 120

Reputation Leadership Non-Compete Government 120

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 25, 2009

Team – higher requirements for caliber of team members Product – focus on truly differentiated and not me-too Market – is it really big enough to provide investor returns** Traction – need more users, partners, patents, etc Timing – are you building for yesterday or 2 yrs from now?

Business Model 150

Business Model SEM IP Syndicate 150

Steve Blank

APRIL 10, 2009

Since every situation is unique, there is no perfect solution to any engineering, customer or competitor problem, and you shouldn’t agonize over trying to find one. An example of a reversible decision could be adding a product feature, a new algorithm in the code, targeting a specific set of customers, etc.

Silicon Valley 302

Silicon Valley RSS Startup Agile 302

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 2, 2024

More critically, this model positions your services as a commodity, where the only differentiator becomes your hourly rate. This approach doesn’t just elevate your services; it makes you an indispensable partner in your client’s success. Aim to always bring your A-game and knock customer service out of the park.

Differentiation 71

Differentiation Partner Product Marketing 71

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 6, 2022

Steve is the CEO of Founders Space, one of the world’s leading startup accelerators with over 50 partners in 22 countries. Steve is also the author of Surviving a Startup: Practical Strategies for Starting a Business, Overcoming Obstacles, and Coming Out on Top. You know, could you look at my business plan?

San Francisco 97

San Francisco Technical Review Incubator Silicon Valley 97

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 11, 2020

It’s your company’s entire identity, inclusive of many components those outside your business might not consider: your voice, positioning and messaging, target audience, visual design, logo, and website content, just to name a few. Your business model, target audience, or goals have changed. Your takes a reputation hit.

Developer 182

Developer PR Differentiation Retention 182

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 31, 2019

Instead of being vague, you need to have a clear business objective and thoroughly define the products and services you’ll be offering in your chosen industry. Apart from your offerings, you also need to determine your business model. To identify your target market , you need to do some research to define your ideal customer.

Business Plan 121

Business Plan Startup Differentiation Balance Sheet 121

Steve Blank

MARCH 5, 2012

One of the confusing things to entrepreneurs, investors and educators is the relationship between customer development and business model design and business planning and execution. When does a new venture focus on customer development and business models ? is known , you will be executing it.

Search 322

Search Business Model Customer Development Agile 322

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2013

Startups are usually so focused on selling more of their branded product or service to their own customer base (organic growth) that they don’t consider the more indirect methods (non-organic growth) of increasing revenue and market share. Fresh customer base. Even mergers and acquisitions (M&A) came quickly.

Merger 243

Merger Acquisition Startup Bandwidth 243

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2014

For success these days, the purpose better focus on people, and solve a real problem for customers. Building successful businesses still requires the ability to find and inspire the best people who “have what you haven''t,” whether that be skills, knowledge, connections, or funding. Master-mind alliance. Applied faith. Imagination.

Angel Investor 260

Angel Investor Differentiation Business Model Entrepreneur 260

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2017

I’m certainly not a fan of customer rip-offs, but even non-profits have to be cash-flow positive, or have deep pockets, to help anyone for long. Every business needs to develop a revenue model even before a product. It’s naïve to think you can sell below costs, and make it up by attracting more customers.

Revenue 166

Revenue Affiliate Advertising Retention 166

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2012

Startups are usually so focused on selling more of their branded product or service to their own customer base (organic growth) that they don’t consider the more indirect methods (non-organic growth) of increasing revenue and market share. Fresh customer base. Even mergers and acquisitions (M&A) came early.

Entrepreneur 249

Entrepreneur Merger Bandwidth Acquisition 249

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 12, 2019

Tell a real customer story. When possible, open your pitch by telling a real customer story that addresses the problem your product or service solves in the marketplace. Instead, use real names and real customer challenges. Outline your business model. Customers pay by the hour or by the day. Serves U.S.,

Sweat Equity 122

Sweat Equity Churn Rate Elevator Pitch Forecast 122

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 29, 2016

I believe that the resourcefulness to turn constraints into competitive differentiators and new opportunities is a trait that separates the great entrepreneurs from the “wannabes.” Find partners to complement your strengths. If you have a great product and need customers, find a partner with many customers who needs a new product.

Startup 120

Startup Venture Capital Differentiation Business Model 120

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 3, 2015

These new entrants disrupted their food categories by offering high quality proprietary recipes, outsourcing their manufacturing, and using their cash and resources on sales and marketing to build distribution and a differentiated brand. They ran 10 in-store demos, which got them talking to 100s of more customers.

North America 120

North America Lean Customer Development Distribution 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2013

At some level of function, availability, and price performance, customers jump ship away from you. Bargaining power of customers. This is the degree to which customers can put your company under pressure, or leverage prices, delivery, features, and quality (market of outputs). These elements are referred to as “barriers to exit.”

Framework 200

Framework Startup Differentiation Equity 200

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2012

At some level of function, availability, and price performance, customers jump ship away from you. Bargaining power of customers. This is the degree to which customers can put your company under pressure, or leverage prices, delivery, features, and quality (market of outputs). These elements are referred to as “barriers to exit.”

Differentiation 235

Differentiation Framework Equity Business Plan 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

For example, a while back a passionate entrepreneur approached me with an innovative solution for reducing world hunger, but hadn’t focused on the fact that hungry people often don’t have any money, and governments are not easy customers. Solutions and inventions alone do not make a business.

Technical Review 201

Technical Review Government Agile Differentiation 201

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Startups are usually so focused on selling more of their branded product or service to their own customer base (organic growth) that they don’t consider the more indirect methods (non-organic growth) of increasing revenue and market share. Fresh customer base. Even mergers and acquisitions (M&A) came early.

Startup 232

Startup Merger Bandwidth Acquisition 232

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2015

Image via Pixabay.com Startups are usually so focused on selling more of their branded product or service to their own customer base (organic growth) that they don’t consider the more indirect methods (non-organic growth) of increasing revenue and market share. Fresh customer base. Even mergers and acquisitions (M&A) came quickly.

Merger 120

Merger Acquisition Differentiation Channel 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2013

This suggests you have lost your passion for the current business model, probably because someone suggested you change from your original concept to make it easier, or to make more money. Otherwise, look for advances from distributors, vendors, and even future customers. So you made some bad hiring or partner decisions.

Turkey 252

Turkey Startup Bootstrapping Differentiation 252

Up and Running

MAY 30, 2022

What key business areas can you outcompete them one that gives you an edge? Finding answers to these questions helps you solidify a strategic market position and identify ways to differentiate yourself. Determines financial needs and revenue models. A business plan is essential for any entrepreneur or small business.

Business Plan 150

Business Plan Balance Sheet Revenue Metrics 150