Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Solo entrepreneurs, with a team of helpers, will be assumed to be a hobby rather than a business. Team building status and plan.

Entrepreneur 328

Entrepreneur Exit Strategy Metrics Operations 328

NZ Entrepreneur

NOVEMBER 14, 2019

One of the main (and early) steps is to make a considered decision about what IP means to your business and what IP tools will be used to support your business model. Not doing so can cause big problems later for your business. Make IP decisions and do so early. Anton Blijlevens is a Partner at AJ Park.

Intellectual Property 45

Intellectual Property IP Software Review New Zealand 45

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 18, 2024

As a former business exit advisor, she crafts exit strategies, adding up to five figures to clients’ net profit monthly so they can focus on growth. So you hire these people now you're like, okay, wow, we've got this big payroll, we've got to be able to make some more sales. We need to go make more sales.

Framework 62

Framework Sales Cycle Sales Hiring 62

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

In very few specific cases, depending on the nature of the business, the business model might demand a considerable gestation period or extensive research and development. For these businesses, it is imperative to get funding from the start without which the company cannot be set up. Royalty based investment.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Reid Hoffman

JULY 23, 2020

This week, I’d like to turn to the question of how current market conditions affect the approach entrepreneurs should take towards their exit strategy. The larger company has to decide, “What you do is key to one of my strategies, so I’ll buy you.” Those traditional investors ask, “What’s your business model?”

IPO 36

IPO Exit Strategy Acquisition Technical Review 36

Up and Running

JUNE 16, 2014

Make no mistake, you will need to have a business model or a business plan that shows just where you sit in relation to your competitors. To demonstrate traction you might recruit a good management team, start making sales, build an advisory board or secure strategic partnerships. What makes you a game-changer?

Exit Strategy 91

Exit Strategy Advisory Board Business Plan Portfolio 91

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

Business model. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe marketing strategy, sales plan, licensing, and partnership plans. Exit strategy. What is the planned exit strategy (IPO, merger, sale, including likely candidates)? What is the timeframe for the exit?

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

Up and Running

MAY 17, 2017

Even if you aren’t planning to sell, building your business thoughtfully and with an eye toward making it highly acquirable is an effective way to build a healthy business. Plus, you’ll always be prepared in case an opportunity or desire to sell arises in the future—it’s a smart idea to have an exit strategy.

Acquisition 92

Acquisition Technical Review Revenue Exit Strategy 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

This implies high odds of a scalable business, simply needing an investment to lead to success. Business model showing costs, pricing, and margins. Potential investors love to see gross margins in the fifty percent range or greater, with recurring revenue through subscriptions, follow-on sales, or services.

Product 145

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Exit Strategy 145

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Having a business plan shows that you’ve done the homework of thinking through how your business will work and what goals you’re trying to achieve. A business plan provides the structure for thinking through these things and documents your answers so you’re prepared for the inevitable questions investors will ask about your business.

Business Plan 138

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Exit Strategy 138

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

Business model. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe marketing strategy, sales plan, licensing, and partnership plans. Exit strategy. What is the planned exit strategy (IPO, merger, sale, including likely candidates)? What is the timeframe for the exit?

Elevator Pitch 234

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 234

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Explain the business model. Many people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it assumes at least 100M users and $50M investment. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Exit strategy.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2016

Validate your business model on real customers. Giving free beta copies of your solution to customers to elicit testimonials does not validate a business model. Investors look for sales at full price, to people you don’t know, to validate demand, price, and margin. Show an aggressive marketing and sales plan.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

How the solution and business model work to fund the business. Investors will impatiently expect a winning business model, customer segment definitions and volume projections. Investors will impatiently expect a winning business model, customer segment definitions and volume projections.

Product 120

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Burn Rate 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2016

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Solo entrepreneurs, with a team of helpers, will be assumed to be a hobby rather than a business. Team building status and plan.

Exit Strategy 155

Exit Strategy Metrics Operations Cost 155

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

Business model. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe marketing strategy, sales plan, licensing, and partnership plans. Exit strategy. What is the planned exit strategy (IPO, merger, sale, including likely candidates)? What is the timeframe for the exit?

Elevator Pitch 235

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 235

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Explain the business model. Many people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it assumes at least 100M users and $50M investment. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Exit strategy.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

How does your business model make money? Good causes such as feeding the world’s hungry may help your marketing but may not sustain a business. The business model has to clearly define who is your customer, market penetration expected, how much customers pay versus total costs and the investment required to sustain cash flow.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Advisory Board Liquidity Event Startup 120

Gust

AUGUST 19, 2012

Business model. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe marketing strategy, sales plan, licensing, and partnership plans. Exit strategy. What is the planned exit strategy (IPO, merger, sale, including likely candidates)? What is the timeframe for the exit?

Elevator Pitch 146

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 146

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2013

I’ll even send you a free sample of my own business plan via email, if you drop me a note.

Business Plan 230

Business Plan Exit Strategy Partner Business Model 230

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

Investors expect nothing less than a full-time commitment, even in the early stages when the business model has not yet been proven. Keep your exit strategy options open as you learn. Thus they will insist on a sale or public offering at every opportunity, which will likely force you out.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Exit Strategy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2015

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Solo entrepreneurs, with a team of helpers, will be assumed to be a hobby rather than a business. Team building status and plan.

Exit Strategy 120

Exit Strategy Metrics Operations Cost 120

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

by Christopher Wallace, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Amsterdam Printing. For years, the most desirable exit strategy for startup companies was to go public through an initial public offering. They devalued the company and sold 70% of the business to private investors in 2009. Questionable business model.

IPO 162

IPO Exit Strategy San Francisco Startup 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2015

There is no magic formula for a formal business plan format or sequence, but I would recommend the following ten sections, in this sequence, with relevant content: Executive summary Problem and solution Company description Market opportunity Business model Competition analysis Marketing and sales strategy Management team Financial projections Exit (..)

Business Plan 120

Business Plan Silicon Valley Startup Exit Strategy 120

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 12, 2022

So, if thinking about the future isn’t a waste of time, why are 5-year business plans a waste of time? They’re a waste of time because they typically follow the same format as a traditional business plan, where you are asked to project sales, expenses, and cash flow 5 and 10 years into the future. Let’s be real.

Business Plan 83

Business Plan Lean Forecast Exit Strategy 83

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2012

I’ll even send you a free sample of my own business plan via email, if you drop me a note.

Business Plan 240

Business Plan Exit Strategy Partner Business Model 240

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

If possible, quantify these in non-technical business terms, such as dollars saved or replacement costs over time. Provide specifics on the customer business model. Include marketing, sales, and customer rollout plans. Outline a viable exit strategy for you and investors.

Business Plan 423

Business Plan Product Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 423

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Explain the business model. Many people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it requires at least 100M users and $50M investment. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Exit strategy.

Business Plan 186

Business Plan Exit Strategy Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 186

Gust

AUGUST 5, 2012

Explain the business model. Many people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it assumes at least 100M users and $50M investment. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Exit strategy.

Business Plan 182

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 182

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2010

I’ll even send you a free sample of my own business plan via email, if you drop me a note.

Exit Strategy 227

Exit Strategy Startup Business Plan Partner 227

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

billion for a company with less than $50 million in sales. It may just be that the message of building companies that have predictable revenue and profit models hasn’t percolated through the VC business model. On its first day of trading, Netscape stock closed at $58/share, valuing the company at $2.7

Silicon Valley 217

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 217

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 3, 2015

Innovation – particularly anything that can be patented or protected – will separate your Company from the competition, increase demand for your products or services, and increase your equity when it comes to thinking about your exit strategy. There’s no place in any business for me-too products or services.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Advisory Board Equity Exit Strategy 100

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

The Goods: Your Business Toolbox | Thursdays. Todays Small Business News | Daily. Sales & Marketing | Wednesdays. Writing A Business Plan. Pricing Strategy. Financing A Small Business. Business Taxes. Selling A Business. Exit Strategies. Strategy and Planning. Newsletters.

Arizona 40

Arizona Equity Iowa Venture Capital 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2013

The single most important ingredient of success is not the idea, but having a team in place that has impeccable integrity, can iterate the product quickly, pivot the business model as necessary, and keep costs down in the process. Exit strategy. No exit strategy means no return to investors. Funding risk.

Cram Down 269

Cram Down Angel Investor Intellectual Property Venture Capital 269

Up and Running

MAY 1, 2014

If there are multiple market segments for your business, this is where you flesh out the details. Marketing and Sales Plan. What marketing and sales tactics will you be using? If you’ve accomplished some key milestones in the process of building your business, detail them here. If your business model (i.e., “how

Business Plan 163

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Distribution 163

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

Innovative products and business models are the foundations of a promising startup. Funding is crucial for improving technology, hiring the right people, and launching a comprehensive marketing strategy to get a foothold in the market. Creating a scalable business model. Determining how much money to ask for.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Up and Running

APRIL 28, 2015

Your business model has to truly be similar to the company you are referencing. If you aren’t solving some problem in the world, you are going to have a long uphill climb with your business. If you already have sales or early adopters using your product, talk about that here. Slide 7: Marketing and sales strategy.

Forecast 60

Forecast Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 60