Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2018

Implement a modern real business model. Find a strategic partner to accelerate growth. Too many entrepreneurs put all their resources in one big make-or-break effort they can’t measure, or they count on word-of-mouth and viral marketing, which are totally unpredictable.

Forecast 161

Forecast Stock Options Technical Review Metrics 161

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2011

I expect that should seem intuitive to all entrepreneurs, but every investor I know has many stories about startup funding requests with major business model elements missing. 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

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Your product is designed with natural tripwires to trigger other pricing ( Freemium model ), or not (business model left as an exercise to your future self). Requires venture funding because you have no income, and if you’re successful you’ll need lots of people and tech to run the business. . $1/mo

Bootstrapping 294

Bootstrapping Technical Review B2C Sales Cycle 294

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

I had really positive experiences such as working with Greg Gretsch at Sigma Partners where he championed us to a partners’ meeting where we sort of got crucified. We made changes and Greg was a gentleman throughout the process rather than berating us for our performance (it was our first partners’ meeting).

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Term Sheet San Diego Viral 274

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

If the elements of your business aren't expertly developed and aligned, even the best dream will be in jeopardy. Such failures ignore the essential business elements investors look for before committing to a startup. Website and smartphone solutions usually require referral partners and value-added resellers.

Exit Strategy 120

Exit Strategy Technical Review Distribution Viral 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2023

These days, even viral marketing requires real money, for events and promotions. The other alternative is to find a strategic partner who knows the space well and will benefit from your solution. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

Elevator Pitch 228

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 228

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Union Square Ventures The next morning I got to spend time with Brad Burnham , partner at Union Square Ventures talking about their investment strategy and insights about web-based businesses. Bill and his partner Fred Wilson have invested in ~30 or so companies with 27 still active. It is related to business model.

Customer Development 223

Customer Development Web Developer Customer 223

The Next Web

AUGUST 19, 2013

There is logic behind your thinking of how to determine which CAC is right for your business model. They are not looking to benefit by partnering with your company. They’re looking to benefit by partnering with companies like yours. Well, then you’ve got to go viral. Well, then you’ve got to go viral.

Belarus 137

Belarus Viral Channel Startup 137

venturedig.com

NOVEMBER 1, 2009

The business models within the social media realm are much different than traditional businesses. Reason : as soon as someone sits down to outline ways social networks can be monetized, another model emerges, and another model ceases. Display Ads: This is your bread and butter business model.

Social Network 55

Social Network Business Model Networking CPA 55

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

Implement a modern real business model. Find a strategic partner to accelerate growth. Too many entrepreneurs put all their resources in one big make-or-break effort they can’t measure, or they count on word-of-mouth and viral marketing, which are totally unpredictable.

Forecast 120

Forecast Startup Stock Options Technical Review 120

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

Luckily, I teach with two great VCs, Mar Hershenson of Pear Ventures and Jeff Epstein of Bessemer Venture Partners who both put together presentations unraveling the mysteries of how and why startups raise money. Series B is about proving your net revenue model (can you be profitable?). Business Model.

Cofounder 429

Cofounder Seed Stage Valuation Metrics 429

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2020

These days, even viral marketing requires real money, for events and promotions. The other alternative is to find a strategic partner who knows the space well and will benefit from your solution. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

Elevator Pitch 336

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 336

Startup Lessons Learned

DECEMBER 14, 2009

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Monday, December 14, 2009 Business ecology and the four customer currencies Lately, I’ve been rethinking the concept of “business model&# for startups, in favor of something I call “business ecology.&# Constructing a working business model is a form of ecosystem design.

Customer 156

Customer San Francisco Viral Lean 156

www.forentrepreneurs.com

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Business Model I would like to propose that in addition to team, product, and market, there is actually a fourth, equally important, core element of startups, which is the need for a viable business model. For more on the topic of Viral Growth, refer to my blog post on that topic here.)

Acquisition 103

Acquisition Cost Customer Entrepreneur 103

reidhoffman.org

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

× At Greylock , my partners and I are driven by one guiding mission: always help entrepreneurs. In a single year, the classic general partner in a venture firm is exposed to around 5,000 pitches; decides to look more closely at 600 to 800 of them; and ends up doing between 0 and 2 deals. Reid Hoffman. we had no revenue.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Revenue Viral Networking 111

Steve Blank

DECEMBER 7, 2010

Business schools teach aspiring executives a variety of courses around the execution of known business models, (accounting, organizational behavior, managerial skills, marketing, operations, etc.). In contrast, startups search for a business model. (Or to optimize this search. to optimize this search.

Wiki 312

Wiki Lean Management Business Model 312

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

But in business, you want a lot of partners. In the private equity universe, most Partners have primary training as deal-makers, not as managers. See Bessemer Venture Partners’ A comprehensive guide to security for startups. Cobalt for General Partners helps GPs to optimize their fundraising strategy. 2) Market .

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78

ConversionXL

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Neither would have achieved virality had customers not received something tangible for their efforts. Like Slack, Canva launched with two things in its favor: it was different from anything around at the time (a design platform for non-designers), and it had a freemium business model. Webinars are cheap to run. Image source.

Retention 113

Retention Marketing Acquisition Channel 113

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

The discipline of writing down a plan is the best way to make sure you actually understand how to transform your idea into a business. Business model doesn’t make money. They look for people with real experience in the business domain of the startup, and people with real experience running a startup.

Intellectual Property 251

Intellectual Property Startup Viral Early Stage 251

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 22, 2010

Startups that are searching for a business model need to keep score differently than large companies that are executing a known business model. Yet most entrepreneurs and their VC’s make startups use financial models and spreadsheets that actually hinder their success. Managing the Business. Here’s why.

Balance Sheet 300

Balance Sheet Startup Burn Rate Metrics 300

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2012

Implement a new business model. Software as a service (SaaS) has now pretty much replaced the old licensing model, but offering it was a strategic risk for SalesForce.com. Partner with a competitor. Plan to spend money on marketing. These days, you have to spend money to make money.

Forecast 257

Forecast Viral Social Network Business Model 257

mashable.com

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Clearly Define Your Business Model While this may sound like a trivial task, young startups often have an exciting and innovative product, but no real plan for monetizing it. It’s critical to establish this component of your business before thinking seriously about growth. in place before you expand. All Rights Reserved.

France 77

France Marketing Social Media Startup 77

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2012

The discipline of writing down a plan is the best way to make sure you actually understand how to transform your idea into a business. Business model doesn’t make money. They look for people with real experience in the business domain of the startup, and people with real experience running a startup.

Intellectual Property 274

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Viral Early Stage 274

Hippoland

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

2) What is the business model and the potential unit economics? Certain investors tend to gravitate towards certain business models. I know nothing about viral marketing. I’ll pass on those companies, because I don’t understand these types of businesses well enough to get involved.

Seed Stage 48

Seed Stage Business Model B2B Email 48

Hippoland

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

2) What is the business model and the potential unit economics? Certain investors tend to gravitate towards certain business models. I know nothing about viral marketing. I’ll pass on those companies, because I don’t understand these types of businesses well enough to get involved.

Seed Stage 48

Seed Stage Business Model B2B Email 48

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2014

These days, even viral marketing requires real money, for events and promotions. The other alternative is to find a strategic partner who knows the space well and will benefit from your solution. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

Elevator Pitch 285

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 285

Reid Hoffman

JANUARY 19, 2021

They might both be accomplished writers or editors, but for a particular project, each partner focuses on a single role, and their different foci make the partnership stronger. As investors, we are active partners to the founders and CEO. We should focus on this as an advertising business.” Everything else is a waste of time.

Startup 36

Startup Cofounder Advertising Hiring 36

View from Seed

JUNE 11, 2019

Building relationships with multiple partners at the firm. Having the lead partner agree to monthly “check-in” meetings post investment. I’d make a list of your most important priorities and risks for the business in the next 12 months and shape your syndicate around those skills.

Syndicate 202

Syndicate Syndication Seed Stage Lead Investor 202

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2018

These days, even viral marketing requires real money, for events and promotions. The other alternative is to find a strategic partner who knows the space well and will benefit from your solution. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

Elevator Pitch 139

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 139

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 11, 2018

We created virality in small pockets, such as Venice Beach, California, and the virality spilled over to the next pocket, Santa Monica. It’s important to create a sustainable business model with profitable unit economics, regardless of how much you raise.

Los Angeles 133

Los Angeles Investment Bankers Cofounder Viral 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2011

Implement a new business model. Software as a service (SaaS) has now pretty much replaced the old licensing model, but offering it was a strategic risk for SalesForce.com. Partner with a competitor. Plan to spend money on marketing. These days, you have to spend money to make money.

Founder 245

Founder Forecast Startup Viral 245

Austin Startup

JUNE 23, 2010

Furthermore, because the unique “spreading&# technology creates a powerful viral and virtual word of mouth effect, it has driven significant increases in both online traffic and physical traffic to the featured businesses’ websites and locations.

Dallas 75

Dallas Partner Austin Viral 75

View from Seed

APRIL 23, 2015

I believe this to be 100% true, and I know every partner at NextView feels the same way. Their business models are, in many cases, focused on outlier exits within the portfolio. This is doing right by both your company and your customers. This is important partly because of the very nature of pitching VCs.

Founder 120

Founder Distribution Viral Seed Stage 120

Austin Startup

AUGUST 22, 2018

Design Typecasting IRL A very talented friend who designs brands took on a restaurant project that went a little viral. In-House Int’l At Unimark, Vignelli and his (all-male panel of) partners created legendary design systems; including the signage for the New York City Subway. But Unimark was a failed business.

Design 48

Design New York City Cofounder Bankruptcy 48

Gust

NOVEMBER 3, 2013

The discipline of writing down a plan is the best way to make sure you actually understand how to transform your idea into a business. Business model doesn’t make money. They look for people with real experience in the business domain of the startup, and people with real experience running a startup.

Intellectual Property 183

Intellectual Property Startup Viral Early Stage 183

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

APRIL 9, 2013

We have to go into the world and convince others of the same thing–customers, investors, partners, employees and so on. Most consumer apps get around the high acquisition costs with some sort of virality, but backup isn’t viral. So we had to pivot [from consumer sales] to go after businesses.”

Lean 284

Lean Analytics Metrics Viral 284

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2016

These days, even viral marketing requires real money, for events and promotions. The other alternative is to find a strategic partner who knows the space well and will benefit from your solution. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

Elevator Pitch 120

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 120