Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2016

Despite a valiant effort, we only briefly succeeded in putting IBM in the personal computer business, but our efforts changed my view of entrepreneurs forever. No consideration can be given to experience running a startup, breadth of skills, or even thinking like an entrepreneur. Every such deal was an exception.

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IBM IBM Entrepreneur Technical Review 85

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

In my experience as an advisor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I often encounter the myth that an initial startup requires investors. The media tends to highlight experienced entrepreneurs who succeed with early new venture funding, like Uber’s Garrett Camp , but fail to point out the more common bootstrapping successes.

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Entrepreneur Startup Equity Outsource Development 67

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2023

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. That’s not as high as the failure rate with professional investors, but it should convince entrepreneurs that crowdfunding is still no panacea for funding.

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Equity Platform Entrepreneur Statistics 80

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2016

I’m a practical guy, so I recognize that expecting the real world to be fair is a dream that every entrepreneur needs to put aside as they reach the age of majority. Demand for safety and usage regulations. It takes more than a single entrepreneur with an innovative idea to build a business. Let’s keep it that way.

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Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Training 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2016

Bold entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk now routinely attack undefined markets, like privatized space travel with SpaceX, and high performance electric cars with Tesla Motors. Bold entrepreneurs put more effort into communicating the new market ecosystem value, and their natural product fit.

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Entrepreneur Marketing Design SpaceX 61

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2016

As a startup advisor and investor, I find that more and more entrepreneurs avoid using the term “profit” in pitching their new venture. Thus I was pleased and a bit surprised to see a new book, “ The Purpose Is Profit ,” by Ed “Skip” McLaughlin, an entrepreneur who has both succeeded and failed in starting multiple businesses.

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Entrepreneur Ideas Pricing Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2020

As a long-time business executive and adviser to entrepreneurs, I see a definitive shift away from customer trust in traditional business messages, and the executives who deliver them. I believe that the sooner every entrepreneur and brand builder adapts to this emerging trend, the sooner they will find success.

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Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 173

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 29, 2023

While the market isn't short of spritely, innovative entrepreneurs, harsh economic headwinds combined with a pullback in investor spending have made it harder than ever for budding businesses to break through. 2023 hasn't been an easy year to be a startup. Calendly calendar screenshot.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2017

With the Identity Theft Resource Center® reporting a 40 percent increase in data breaches in 2016, there seems to be a growing population out there worried about all the people intent on hurting them. My plea to entrepreneurs is to recognize these concerns as an opportunity, to make people’s life better, rather than stoke the fires.

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Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Symantec 54

TechCrunch LA

MAY 19, 2020

After wrestling with recalcitrant homeowners, husbanding their parcels of land to keep their property values high, the state’s leadership passed a law that increased the availability of new rental units and put more money into homeowners’ pockets in 2016. When you can match that latent supply with latent demand.

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Los Angeles Startup Culver City .Net 191

Tech.Co

JUNE 22, 2018

Entrepreneurs preparing to launch a startup in 2019 should be aware of the latest trends that will guide their successes or failures. In 2017, on-demand or “gig” workers grew nearly a quarter — 23 percent — over the previous year. Internet users rose seven percent that year, down versus the 12 percent rise seen in 2016.

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Startup Guide Demand Google 129

Xconomy

NOVEMBER 17, 2017

Like many tech entrepreneurs, Sean Behr had a young business that was popular with consumers, but was also losing money. So in February of 2016, he decided to refocus his San Francisco startup on the small, but unexpectedly profitable aspect of his service that could operate in the black.

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Services Entrepreneur Startup San Diego 69

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

I’d like to explain as best I can my opinion on what is going on because most of what I hear from entrepreneurs is not only wrong but is reminiscent of what I heard in 1997-2000. ” “This will be great for VCs and bad for entrepreneurs.” What is the True Sentiment of VCs? ” “Sure, prices are dropping.

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Startup Companies Company Venture Capital 150

LATechDigest

MAY 16, 2016

CORNERSTONE ON DEMAND Launches New Products ( link ). Rhubarb Hosted Entrepreneur Journeys. Calvin Lee (@mayhemstudios) May 12, 2016. . Calvin Lee (@mayhemstudios) May 12, 2016. Scott Perry (@scottperry) May 12, 2016. LATech Digest (@LATechDigest) May 13, 2016. LATech Digest (@LATechDigest) May 13, 2016.

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Santa Monica Snapchat Pasadena News 45

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 28, 2016

Steve Jobs was a one-in-a-million entrepreneur who seemed to violate many conventional rules of starting a business and dealing with people, yet undeniably achieved great success. As a result, I don’t recommend to aspiring entrepreneurs that they try to emulate his style as a model for their first startup.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2016

A single visionary entrepreneur almost always is the initial implementer of an innovative new venture, but that lone entrepreneur doesn’t have the bandwidth to grow the business alone. That’s a big transition, and many entrepreneurs never make it. People who demand perfection from themselves are rarely good leaders.

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Mentor Entrepreneur Demand Coach 59

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2017

We also saw a few of our portfolio companies grow steadily, notably one that made a risky/painful pivot in 2016 that is just starting to show exciting results. I continue to be surprised by some clever SoCal entrepreneurs who are creating out-of-the box companies that are opportunistic and reflect our markets ingenuity.

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Capital Southern California SaaS SoCal 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2016

Good entrepreneurs are all about managing change, but too many forget that they have to change themselves as their dream evolves from a startup to a scalable business. You can’t demand total loyalty from all, so you have to learn to accept criticism without being defensive. Not every entrepreneur needs to scale.

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Social Network Startup Demand Entrepreneur 59

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 7, 2015

Who makes more money, entrepreneurs or venture capitalists? Jason’s comments caused me to compare my career as an entrepreneur and a VC with Rincon Venture Partners. This analysis is particularly timely, given the recent tidal wave of successful entrepreneurs who have become Angel and venture investors. The Answer: “Yes and No”.

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Venture Capital Capital .Net Entrepreneur 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

One of the things I’ve learned in working with aspiring entrepreneurs is that managing and leading a team is a scary venture into the unknown for many people, even if they have worked as a business professional for years. As an entrepreneur, executive, or team member, you are most impacted by the people you gather around you.

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Training Startup Entrepreneur Summary 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2016

I find that this type offers the most value to new entrepreneurs or startups in the early idea stage. Here are some of the key parameters that will help you decide where you fit in this spectrum: Your commitment to the entrepreneur lifestyle. Your future as an entrepreneur depends on it.

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Incubator Startup Seed Funding Equity 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2016

Moonshots are simply efforts that demand breakthroughs that are not possible within business-as-usual practices. In reality, that’s the definition of a successful startup these days, so every aspiring entrepreneur should take note, as well as every existing corporate executive. Marty Zwilling First published on Forbes on 07/15/2016.

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Startup Metrics Entrepreneur Resource 56

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2016

In addition to funding, the good news is that all of these provide aspiring entrepreneurs with an opportunity to perfect their marketing pitch, get some valuable target customer feedback and improve visibility to other funding sources. While all this is definitely a boon to entrepreneurs, it does come with its own set of challenges.

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Technical Review Platform Entrepreneur Funding 58

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2016

Most entrepreneurs I know are so passionate about their new idea that they are surprised when family and friends don’t line up to invest in their new venture. The reality is that investors, including myself, believe that the entrepreneur is more key to business success than the idea. Talking loudly is not enough.

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Funding Startup Ideas Slides 60

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2016

If you want to explore the world of an entrepreneur, without jumping ship, this would be the way to do it. Entrepreneurs working inside big companies are called “intrapreneurs.” Your challenge as a corporate entrepreneur, or intrapreneur, is thus actually tougher than starting your own business on the outside.

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Startup Resource Entrepreneur Marketing 53

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2016

I’m not suggesting that any startup needs to demand perfection, but I do recommend that all learn and follow common business practices from the beginning. Too many entrepreneurs assume they can save money or time by shortcutting these early, and catching up later after the business has more traction.

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Startup Patents Entrepreneur Writing 62

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2016

The bar is being raised, so every entrepreneur needs new initiatives just to stay in the ballgame. Some entrepreneurs are so focused on their technology, they assume their customers think the same way. Marty Zwilling First published on Entrepreneur.com on 01/14/2016. Every job on your team drives your customer experience.

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Customer Custom Startup Coach 55

socalTECH

MARCH 4, 2021

This was in mid-2016, and the decreasing costs of robotics and computer vision made me think that the process of making a burger could be fully automated. The demand is there. They love Flippy, and it allows them to keep up with demand despite social distancing, making what would otherwise be impossible.

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Startup Venture Capital Capital Customer 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2016

Almost every entrepreneur looking for outside investors has heard the annoying rejection, “You are just too early – come back when you have more traction.” Show evidence of growing and unsatisfied customer demand. Marty Zwilling First published on Forbes on 06/14/2016. Traction and growth are not about emotion.

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Metrics Funding Startup Customer 57

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 2, 2017

Anne Fulton: I've always been an organizational psychologist crossed with a serial entrepreneur. I can't help myself in being an entrepreneur. I think we're seeing our growth finally is starting to be exponential, while back in 2015 and 2016 we found we needed to have some patience. This is like my fifth business.

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Help Southern California Startup Technical Review 100

Eric Greenspan

MAY 19, 2016

I was overwhelmed with that choice, but as I scanned the article published in the Star Tribune, APRIL 11, 2016 — 11:07AM., We started with Citrix again, but this time, it became obvious to us that the demand was coming from the residential sector. We had a heck of a run, but it ended 11 years later. They were fresh, hip and fun.

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IBM IBM Writing Networking 136

Tech.Co

MAY 24, 2017

Three and a half years later, my company has 130 employees and is closing in on $20M in revenue in 2016. My spouse’s work is demanding, but he is an extremely present dad, covers for me during work dinners, and still spends the time to talk to me about how to handle work matters.

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Class Journal Writing Demand 89

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2016

Customers now expect services to be more technology-enabled, such as online banking, parcel tracking, transportation on demand, and smart home security. Marty Zwilling First published on Forbes on 07/04/2016. Infusing technology within the customer experience. New media shapes and reflects the customer experience.

Services 54

Services Social Media Technical Review Media 54

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

In our industry we applaud the efforts for entrepreneurs to have tried and we know that today’s failure can bring the experience for tomorrow’s success. But that’s harder to build in 2016 than it was in say 2005. Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. How much ad revenue does TripAdvisor make?

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Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

socalTECH

AUGUST 18, 2017

Judges, juries, defense, and prosecuters are now expecting and demanding video be produced in the courtroom. Marcus Filipovich: I joined as Chief Executive Officer in January of 2016, however, our founders are really the pioneers in the area of using eye signs for drug enforcement. How did the company and its technology come about?

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Pasadena Angels Pasadena Technical Review Southern California 100

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 26, 2016

6 Entrepreneurs share their predictions for this year’s evolution of online industries, which will be key for small businesses across the globe in 2016. For the VPN industry specifically, we will see a lot of new providers as the barrier to entry is extremely low, and demand is high. Wireless Global Connections.

Commerce 40

Commerce Mobile Technical Review Google 40

Xconomy

NOVEMBER 2, 2016

Tech entrepreneurs are likely considering how hospitable the new leadership might be to their specific industry sectors. All this newly generated demand could possibly create niches for online learning apps and other edtech alternatives to traditional classroom instruction for both teachers and students. schools don’t do now.

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Education Platform Company Companies 40