VC Cafe

MAY 29, 2022

Building on my post on ‘ Advice for startups in a downturn (May 2022 edition) ‘, this week I continued to follow with interest the impact of the current correction on startups and venture capital, particularly in early stage. The key messages: “This is not a time to panic. Notable tech layoffs (source: Protocol ).

Venture Capital 183

Venture Capital Early Stage Valuation Startup 183

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 3, 2011

As we know, this space is a very competitive one; Fetch Plus differentiates itself from the rest by targeting companies with holdings, focusing on developing tools necessary for these companies’ holdings to efficiently and effectively build and scale their social media footprint through different networks for engaging fans.

Social Media 187

Social Media Media Management Application Development 187

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

As the former CEO of a professional expert network , I’m a firm believer in the value of speedy access to relevant experts. I was excited to see that GLG (formerly Gerson Lehrman Group), the industry leader, is now offering a professional network service geared to the needs of the startup community: GLG Share.

New York 114

New York Technical Review Networking Advisory Board 114

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 6, 2022

More About Duct Tape Marketing Consultant Network: Learn more here. John Jantsch (00:00): This episode of the duct tape marketing podcast is brought to you by the salesman podcast, hosted by Will Barron and brought to you by the HubSpot podcast network. Or are you happy to run just the local restaurant that is differentiator.

San Francisco 97

San Francisco Technical Review Incubator Silicon Valley 97

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2012

He’s focused on that sector (not exclusively but predominantly) and therefore has an amazing network at large financial services firms to help you with business development. Fred Wilson likes, “large networks of socially connected people” while Foundry lists its 5 key themes on its website. Meet early.

Developer 366

Developer Silicon Valley PR Las Vegas 366

reidhoffman.org

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

This gave me an idea: I could help many more entrepreneurs by making the deck available not just to the Greylock network of entrepreneurs, but to everyone. Friendster’s valuation set the tone for the entire social networking space. The graphic we chose emphasizes that it is a network of people. Why is it valuable?

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Revenue Viral Networking 111

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 29, 2011

At the same time, I had lunch with someone yesterday who regularly ran into early stage entrepreneurs who was surprised to hear that I didn't mind if they made intros to me. I don't mind cold intros at all--but it's hard when I can't figure out who you are in the context of my network. Would you invest in it.

Technical Review 114

Technical Review Early Stage Due Diligence Venture Capital 114

Reid Hoffman

MARCH 14, 2019

It’s a great quote, but saying that your company has a high-performance culture of “A” players doesn’t provide enough useful differentiation. We felt that we were seeing something that others didn’t (specifically, the value of a professional social network), and understood that it would take a long time for the world to come around.

Silicon Valley 28

Silicon Valley Early Stage Hiring Employee 28

Hippoland

AUGUST 16, 2018

And, your idea is 50th social networking site of the week. Unless you have a differentiated angle / approach to the problem AND/OR significant traction, an investor won’t be able to understand why you stand out and why to back your horse instead of someone else’s. Especially at the early stages.

Sales Cycle 54

Sales Cycle Differentiation Early Stage Bootstrapping 54

Hippoland

AUGUST 16, 2018

And, your idea is 50th social networking site of the week. Unless you have a differentiated angle / approach to the problem AND/OR significant traction, an investor won’t be able to understand why you stand out and why to back your horse instead of someone else’s. Especially at the early stages.

Sales Cycle 48

Sales Cycle Differentiation Early Stage Bootstrapping 48

mashable.com

OCTOBER 11, 2011

Not to mention, early-stage startups usually only employ a few people focused on product and development. ” Be sure to differentiate your company from ones that the journalist has already covered, however. Social Media Lists. Social Network Lists. Social Media. Social Networking.

PR 103

PR Startup Social Media Technical Review 103

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 17, 2016

We are in the midst of great change and many businesses of all shapes and sizes are figuring out how they can implement the right social customer service strategy to meet the ever changing expectations of this increasingly powerful generation. Old school customer service rules haven’t changed.

Customer 100

Customer Singapore Advisory Board Asia 100

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 18, 2011

Our firm invested at a very early stage in retail brands including CostCo, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ulta, Starbucks and many more. I said as much in my post about The Future of Social Networking. might have been a lot less differentiated. might have been a lot less differentiated.

Term Sheet 303

Term Sheet Mobile Cofounder Early Stage 303

Growthink Blog

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Professor Scott Shane , one of the world’s foremost researchers on angel investing returns, makes the simple but crucial point that when it comes to making quality early-stage private company investments, technology is king, queen, court and everything in between. How important is it to have one’s investing focus be tech?

Angel Investor 76

Angel Investor IPO Private Equity Early Stage 76

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

OCTOBER 24, 2011

How to differentiate yourself in a crowded market (and when perhaps you shouldn’t try). Well they’re already burning, so I would suggest as you move toward a paid model, at the same time, you start diligently building a network of alliances with people who already have a good reason to promote your service. Jason: Nice.

Cofounder 208

Cofounder Technical Review Software Review Differentiation 208

cdixon.org

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Quite early on, you will be able to differentiate yourself – and having competitors help you grow the market can actually be a good thing. Great points, though your bio does read “Personal investor in early-stage technology companies, including … a handful of other startups that are still in stealth mode!”

Stealth 68

Stealth Startup NDA Cofounder 68

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2011

We’re co-leading the $6 million investment with Roger Ehrenberg at IA Ventures in NY and one of the most respected early-stage investors in the country in “big data&# companies. Open – Twitter made a decision from inception that it was intending to be an “open network” – the information you post there is publicly available.

Viral 307

Viral Las Vegas Tunisia Syndicate 307

Hearpreneur

JULY 10, 2015

I add other differentiators by podcasting and creating expert-sourced ebooks or videos. Investors at the early stage should be looking for companies and technologies that are truly disruptive. You need something that leapfrogs the competition or is just so cool and new that you get that “aha” moment.

Entrepreneur 48

Entrepreneur Software Review Technical Review Small Business 48

Software By Rob

JULY 31, 2012

After I finished my talk, someone in the audience asked a fantastic question, a concern they had which I think many aspiring startup founders have too: when being open and vocal about your idea in the early stages, isn’t there a danger someone will take the idea and run with it, and kill your startup in the process?

Startup 78

Startup Social Network Cofounder Naming 78

techcrunch.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2010

Been there Done that This is very depressing for all future founders, or even currently early stage founders. link] Matt Merriam It’s been clear for sometime that the venture model, particularly early stage venture, is not the best approach for funding tech startups, but the hangover from the Internet days still lingers.

Venture Capital 62

Venture Capital Technical Review Sweat Equity Valuation 62

The Next Web

JANUARY 15, 2014

The “extremization” of the message or user experience has become sin qua non for achieving differentiation in the cacophony of publicity messages. Today, its tagline is social networking and micro blogging, but its first promise remains in our minds. Groupon, in its early stages, aimed at increasing consumer purchasing power.

Web 141

Web Tampa Non-Compete Search 141

Software By Rob

JULY 31, 2012

After I finished my talk, someone in the audience asked a fantastic question, a concern they had which I think many aspiring startup founders have too: when being open and vocal about your idea in the early stages, isn’t there a danger someone will take the idea and run with it, and kill your startup in the process?

Startup 27

Startup Social Network Cofounder Naming 27

Reid Hoffman

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

For example, if you’re an early-stage SaaS provider that is shifting from a horizontal solution to a vertical focus, your mission, culture, and competencies can stay the same and the pivot transition will probably go smoothly. It’s easier (but still hard) when you’re running a small, early-stage organization.

Startup 36

Startup Silicon Valley Business Model Mobile 36