December, 2018

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Nobody Announces Their Seed Round Anymore and That’s a Mistake

View from Seed

Five years ago, as the mania around seed fundings was accelerating, Founders were very eager to announce their seed round to the world. It marks the beginning of the journey with hard work & the real business success to be accomplished ahead, but a milestone nonetheless. And seed VCs, especially as new firms were being established, were eager to encourage their portfolio startups to plant that flag in the ground publicly.

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Reasons Not To Make Decisions Today On Gut Instincts

Startup Professionals Musings

I still know some entrepreneurs who boast of simply following their gut instincts, rather than listen to anyone or any data, to make strategic decisions. We’ve all worked with autocratic leaders in large companies who seem to thrive in this mode. They all forget or ignore the high-profile failures that have resulted from some single-handed business decisions.

Merger 276
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What Is Your 2019 Won’t Do List?

Feld Thoughts

In the world of entrepreneurship, there are endless things to do. Tasks, to do lists, new initiatives, new projects, and P1s. Leaders spend a lot of time planning, especially in the context of “we have to grow more, do more, and get bigger.” Lately, I’ve been suggesting to a few of the CEOs who I work with to make a “2019 Won’t Do List.” While this is a high-level list of things not to do, it can be on multiple dimensions.

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Money Moves: 10 eCommerce Business Ideas For Startups In 2019

YoungUpstarts

Thanks to the Internet, businesses have successfully learned to sell products and services online. Being connected through technology has brought about a new consumer market: a digital one. Still, there’s a lot to navigate when it comes to optimizing sales in a digital marketplace. Everyone has a website these days, and some online markets are overly saturated.

eCommerce 138
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Building Healthy Innovation Ecosystems for Your Projects

Speaker: Nick Noreña, Innovation Coach and Advisor, Kromatic

Every startup and innovation project exists within an ecosystem that either helps or hurts that project. As innovation managers, we need to keep a pulse of that ecosystem and make sure we're helping those innovation projects we're managing every step of the way. In this webinar, Nick Noreña will walk through an Innovation Ecosystem Model that he and his team at Kromatic have developed to help investors, heads of product, teachers, and executives understand how they can best support innovation in

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How to Come up with Hundreds of Business Ideas

Up and Running

This article is part of our Business Startup Guide —a curated list of our articles that will get you up and running in no time! It’s also part of our Bplans guide to coming up with a great idea. For some people, coming up with ideas is as easy as spotting chewing gum on the sidewalk. For others, it’s nearly impossible. For me, new idea generation isn’t just easy, it’s something I’m doing all the time and often without trying.

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Looking Back On Tech, Startups, And VC In 2018

Haystack

It’s that time of year, time to look back and reflect on the most significant storylines in the tech, startup, and VC world. A comprehensive post on this topic could be 5,000+ words, but we do not do such things here. We kept detailed notes month by month and today, I tried to organize them by key sections, what you’ll see below. There’s a good chance I’ve missed something — if you feel that way, by all means, please share your point of view on Twitter (or email) an

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Business Lessons Often Ignored In The Heat Of Passion

Startup Professionals Musings

Most aspiring entrepreneurs are convinced that their idea and passion are so great that failure is not a possibility. They relate quickly to one of the big successes out there today, including Facebook, Airbnb, or Snap, and can give you a dozen reasons that they are in the same category. It’s a good way to get some inspiration, but not an accurate representation of reality.

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How To Choose A WordPress Theme For Your Business Website

YFS Magazine

There are thousands of WordPress themes on the market today. Here are 6 quick and dirty tips that’ll help you pick the right one for your website.

Marketing 103
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Emotional Intelligence And Success At Work: What’s The Connection

YoungUpstarts

Emotional intelligence is one’s ability to recognize and understand their emotions and skills that they can use to manage and improve relationships with themselves and others. Emotional intelligence at the workplace, on the other hand, can be used to perform work duties but also exercise self-management, self-control, provide effective leadership and emotional support to co-workers.

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2018: Year in review and a look ahead

Version One Ventures

2018 was a big year for Version One, and it’s hard to believe another year is drawing to a close. We invested in seven new companies and participated in many follow-on rounds. Of the new investments, one is in encryption, one is in security, one is in consumer hardware, one is in bio/healthcare, and three are in crypto/blockchain. We spent a lot of time in bio/healthcare and crypto/blockchain in 2018 and will continue the trend in 2019….

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6 Ways to Profit From Your Patent

Up and Running

You had a great idea for an invention, and after spending months brainstorming, filing, (waiting) and discussing the details with your patent attorney, your patent is granted. Filing for a patent isn’t cheap, so it makes sense that if you went to the trouble of protecting your idea, the next step is to figure out how to profit from it. According to Forbes , in 2014, 95 percent of the 2.1 million active patents weren’t licensed or commercialized: they didn’t generate any money.

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4 Electronic Data Tools Used By Global Companies

The Startup Magazine

High-tech electronic data tools have revolutionized the way businesses operate nowadays. It is now possible for companies to run effectively and become profitable. Startup businesses can benefit from the new tools in gaining root in the market. Considering the technology saves on time and money, it would be wise for startups to adopt it. Look for reputable firms such as Telstar Instruments in CA to help you get the best solutions for your business.

Global 95
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Why Team Management By Fear Is Bad For Any Business

Startup Professionals Musings

Despite the ease of communication through social media, new tools, the popularity of fearless independence and #MeToo, I still see many business organizations that are less than productive due to fear. Yet in my work as an advisor to senior executives, I find that many fail to see reality in their own organizations, and have no idea whether they are part of the problem or the solution.

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The Top Four Marketing Trends for 2019

Duct Tape Marketing

The Top Four Marketing Trends for 2019 written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing. Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch on 2019 Marketing Trends. ‘Tis the season for end of year lists and content that’s looking to trends in the New Year. Rather than run through all of the ins and outs of what I see coming up on the marketing horizon, I’ve decided to focus on what I see as the four most important marketing trends for 2019.

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10 Low-Cost Startup Ideas That Students Can Use

YoungUpstarts

Current college students belong to Generation Z and you can’t deny that they all in some way possess entrepreneurial sense. For millennials, stories of start-ups that began with two undergraduates having big dreams that they never knew could be achieved and then established a corporation worth millions of dollars is an awe of business life. Young people nowadays are seeking alternatives to the high education or consider that self-education is much better for achieving their future plans.

Cost 185
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Via Codigo lays down it’s growth plan: Key Alliance with Transformify to Empower the Social and Labour Reintegration of Vulnerable Youth

Transformify

Via Codigo , a nonprofit organisation teaching high skilled web development and soft skills program at juvenile detention centers is pleased to announce it’s goals for 2019. Thanks to key alliances with the Forge Foundation and the global recruitment platform Transformify , teenagers that go through their program, will broaden their job opportunities at an international level by applying to remote jobs.

Peru 64
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22 Entrepreneurs Explain How They Came Up With Their Business Names

Hearpreneur

The idea of exactly what your business is going to usually come first. Secondly, most often, is giving a title to your idea. What exactly is going to be the name of your business? Some people turn to their childhood for inspiration or a beloved family pet. It could be a made up word you dream of one night and feel it has the right ring to it. Even still there are some people who study foreign words for the perfect meaning behind their chosen business.

Naming 82
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Three Ways to Pump Up Your Digital Marketing Efforts

The Startup Magazine

No matter what type of business you have, it is always a good idea to have a website that promotes your products and services online. After all, many people now spend a lot of time interacting and searching for new information on the web. Nowadays, websites are easy to build. There are a lot of tools and even firms that can help you with your web development and maintenance needs.

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SAP's evolving partner economy

deal architect

Ask about who has had a successful platform strategy, and most people will point to Salesforce. I beg to disagree – compared to revenues Apple has generated for its partners and itself from its iOS store and Amazon with its.

Partner 268
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Why It’s Time to Embrace a Real CRM Tool for Your Business

Duct Tape Marketing

Why It’s Time to Embrace a Real CRM Tool for Your Business written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing. Using a spreadsheet or index cards to manage your clients may make sense when you’re first starting out: there aren’t that many to keep track of, and the clients you do have don’t have a long history with your business. However, as time goes on, your client list grows, your track record with existing clients becomes longer and more complex, and you need a better way to manage thes

Seattle 63
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How To Stay Safe If Your Company Gets Sued

YoungUpstarts

No one plans to get sued. But sometimes, the unexpected happens. There are a lot of reasons for this and the response to a lawsuit is going to depend upon the nature of the claim made against your business. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to do everything within your means to limit your risks. In order to keep the business running smoothly and have a legal contact, business owner should interview attorneys.

Portland 168
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How Startups Can Earn Customers’ Trust Early On

Transformify

Trust is crucial for the success of your startup, perhaps even more powerful than marketing or sales. With no track record of success, many startup entrepreneurs find it challenging to compete with established companies. Even if you started your endeavor with noble intentions, prospective clients and customers will most likely have some doubt to overcome before doing business with you.

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10 Questions To Test Your Aptitude As An Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

Currently there is no professional certification, or standardized testing, as there is for accountants and lawyers, to see if you are ready to tackle the rigors of starting a new business. In fact, some pundits argue that the best entrepreneurs, including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, actually dropped out of school early to start their businesses, implying a negative relationship to training.

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Benefits of Using VoIP Technology in a Startup Business

The Startup Magazine

Today, there are few things so challenging and exciting as running your own business. But, with a great idea, it also come a great responsibility. Today, markets are very competitive and there are thousands of experienced business players who can overcome you by using their knowledge and work experience. You’ve managed to run your startup business, and now you’re wondering: How To Start A Business And Be Competitive?

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How do you apply Lean to Digital Health and Life Sciences?

Steve Blank

Five years ago we brought evidence-based entrepreneurship to Life Sciences – teaching the first Lean Lean Launchpad class at UCSF, then the NIH and Imperial College. But it’s been awhile since I was in a room made up entirely of Life Science entrepreneurs. So I was excited to visit IndieBio, a life science accelerator in San Francisco. Think of IndieBio as “Y-Combinator for Life Sciences with a wet lab ” and you get what they are trying to do.

Lean 248
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Managing an Expanding Business, With Your Mission Guiding the Way

Duct Tape Marketing

Managing an Expanding Business, With Your Mission Guiding the Way written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing. Marketing Podcast with Matt Scanlon. Podcast Transcript. This week on the Duct Tape Marketing podcast, I sit down with Matt Scanlon, owner of The Hill KC in Kansas City. Formerly known as CrossFit Memorial Hill, the business began as a CrossFit gym.

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7 Strategies To Win An Online Auction

YoungUpstarts

Technology has made everything easier for anyone that wants to purchase anything online. You do not need to leave your chair to buy anything from clothes, property, or even heavy machinery for your business, etc. Nowadays everything is on sale online, and many people find it easier to buy from the comfort of their desks. Online auctions are popular because one can bid on any item within your price range.

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Mark Twain and Hasso Plattner

deal architect

As an analyst, I tend to be a bit dry and focus on product details and vendor economics. As an author, I become as Led Zeppelin says a “traveler in both time and space”. In writing SAP Nation 3.0, I.

Product 220
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5 Strategies For Business Growth Many People Forget

Startup Professionals Musings

In this age of constant market evolution and new technology, there is no such thing as a static business that is self-sustaining. The traditional approach of implementing stable and repeatable processes, so that your business can run itself, no longer works. Just ask former big brand companies, like Blockbuster, Kodak, Lehman Brothers, and Sears, what happened to them.

Merger 249
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How To Add Forex To Your Investments

The Startup Magazine

Foreign exchange, or forex, is a great investment instrument to consider today. The forex market is more volatile than the stock market, and the fact that you can bank profits on both long and short trades makes it appealing to many. Source: Pexels. Before you can start trading foreign currency pairs , however, the most important first step to take is choosing the right broker.

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Top CTO Challenges for 2019

SoCal CTO

The LA CTO Forum recently conducted a survey to find out what our Chief Technology Officer (CTO) members saw as their biggest challenges heading into 2019. We received over 250 responses that provides a pretty good insight into the top CTO challenges. The rating scale was 1-5 with: Not a challenge A small challenge Somewhat a challenge Definitely a challenge Keeps me up at night We provide both an Average and a Scaled Rating that gives much higher weight to 4s and 5s and discounts 1s and 2s.

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5 Small Business PR Ideas to Skyrocket Sales

Rembrandt Communications

Get Ready for a Great, Holiday Season! As we celebrate summer’s end and back-to-school, it’s time to dive into holiday marketing and think about small business PR ideas. That’s right! While online and print advertising, email campaigns, and more may be at the top of your list, don’t forget about all of the public relations tools that can give you a competitive edge.

PR 162
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Why You Need To Prepare For Chargeback This Christmas

YoungUpstarts

During the festive season, consumer spending habits vary wildly from their usual behaviour. This erratic change of credit card usage means that it becomes much harder for standard fraud protection software to detect and prevent fraudulent credit card activity. As a business owner, this can be detrimental for your company. If a credit card was used fraudulently to make purchases of your goods, you could be hit with chargebacks.

eCommerce 147
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Merry Enterprise Season!

deal architect

Mark Hurd reported yesterday, Oracle’s two cloud ERP businesses, Fusion ERP and NetSuite ERP, delivered a combined revenue growth rate of 32% in Q2. Workday similarly reported 30+% growth in its latest quarter, and Salesforce in the high 20%. In.

Cloud 207
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How The Best Entrepreneurs Do Better Than Anyone Else

Startup Professionals Musings

At some point in their life, hopefully everyone strives to be the best in their chosen profession. Most people think that being the best requires more intelligence, more training, and more experience. In reality, in business or even in sports, the evidence is conclusive that it is as much about how you think, as what you do. I saw this illustrated a while back in the classic sports book, “ Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else ”, by Jon Gordon.

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Google Maps Update: How Smart Recommendations Impact Your Business

The Startup Magazine

Google has always been a company that looks to enhance the user experience rather than just make changes that favour a business’ position on the platform; both within the actual search engine and the extensions that accompany it. Google Maps in particular has a long history of updates that have made locating a place a much easier and accessible process for online users.