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Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. It takes a community of supporters, connectors, mentors, and doers to make it happen. What was the biggest news for you/your company this year?
Even if you ignore all the hype around crowdfunding, there can be no doubt that it is a real alternative for entrepreneurs to achieve visibility and funding today. are not for crowdfunding, but actually are matchmaking sites between entrepreneurs and professional investors or banks, or incubators.
Are you an entrepreneur, looking to get a leg up on your startup efforts? Techstars LA , one of a number of programs across the globe run by startup accelerator operator Techstars, has opened up applications for its next program, its Q3 2019 program. The program starts in July, with an application deadline of April 7th, 2019.
As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I challenge them to think beyond what I call linear extensions to a current trend, such as another “easier-to-use” app for smartphones, a new dating site for pets, or another niche social network. Great social entrepreneurs are rare. Do you have the resources to build a business?
It really is possible for an introvert to succeed as an entrepreneur, even though you can’t expect to start and build a business alone. Every entrepreneur, especially an introvert, can benefit from the perspective of another business person, ideally one who has prior experience in the domain you are about to enter.
I was in it for the love of working with entrepreneurs on business problems and marveling at technology they had built. I had realized that I didn’t have it within me to be as good of a player as many of them did but I had the skills to help as mentor, coach, friend, sparing partner and patient capital provider. billion fund.
At M13, Barber will be working to recruit entrepreneurs to work collaboratively on developing startup consumer businesses that align with the strategic interests of M13’s corporate partners, like Procter & Gamble. Anna Barber, partner, M13. Image Credit: Raif Strathmann.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 -- Founder Meet Funder (Invite Only). Founder Meet Funder focus on supporting entrepreneur growth by connecting them with mentors, influencers, and investors within the community.
The realm of an entrepreneur is all about change, but in my experience as a mentor to business founders, I hear too much about incremental change, and not enough about revolutionary change. Great entrepreneurs cross industry boundaries to find synergies, and are constantly in learn mode on several fronts.
In reality, it takes a collaboration of many good people to build and run a business, even though the original idea probably did come from that innovative entrepreneur. Solo or autocratic entrepreneurs usually don’t survive, due to required skills and a workload far beyond the capacity of a single human.
During the holiday season, our tradition over the last few years has been to post reflections on the past year and some predictions for 2019 from Southern California's technology industry. We continue to have a steady stream of industry and thought leaders raising their hands to be mentors for our upcoming cohorts.
Even if you ignore all the hype around crowdfunding, there can be no doubt that it is a real alternative for entrepreneurs to achieve visibility and funding today. m are not for crowdfunding, but actually are matchmaking sites between entrepreneurs and professional investors or banks, or incubators.
One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors.
In fact, I see more and more evidence that new entrepreneurs are coming from the older age groups (age 45-64), and success rates move up with age. We summarize the advantages of older entrepreneurs along the following lines: Think life-changing, not lifestyle entrepreneurship. Find and see the opportunities hidden in plain sight.
Every entrepreneur and business leader believes that he or she has the full trust of their team and their customers, and in fact most do in the beginning. Unfortunately, many aspiring leaders I mentor are not aware of the signals people are looking for, or are not attuned to the subtleties of their own actions.
During my many years in business, both as a professional and an entrepreneur, I always wished I knew the secret to success. In more recent years as a mentor and angel investor, I’ve been even more determined to pass this guidance to those now entering the workforce. So many problems would go away."
As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked for the magic that has made Amazon the world's most valuable brand , from a total unknown only twenty years ago. Most entrepreneurs who have built thriving companies settle into a protective and defensive mindset, clinging to core competencies of the past.
With the advent and popularity of crowdfunding platforms, including Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , as a winning alternative for funding your new venture, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs are confused about the need to ever seek a professional angel investor. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 11/21/2019.
Only a few of the entrepreneurs I have worked with in a decade of consulting are smart and humble enough to recognize that they don’t know what they don’t know, and have an effective process for shining a light on their blind spots. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 11/11/2019.
Image via Pixabay I’ve always been a bit confused about the difference in a business context between a coach and a mentor. According to many pundits , a mentor shows you the right way based on experience, while a coach brings out the best in you, then let’s you find your own way.
Based on my own experience in large and small businesses, as well as mentoringentrepreneurs, here is my list of behaviors which will keep you ahead of the pack: Focus on managing relationships more than tasks. That means a priority on coaching and mentoring, as well as training and tools, before focusing on results metrics.
As an advisor to technical entrepreneurs, the most common mistake I see is the “If we build it, they will come” approach with no sales plan, under the assumption that the technology is so spectacular that customers will buy the product. Even the most successful business executives have mentoring relationships with helpful peers.
Previously we had to bring companies from all around the world to our 8 week accelerator program in Santa Monica and we were restricted by having to use local investors, trainers and mentors to keep our startups occupied. Brian Mac Mahon is a serial entrepreneur and investor and has owned companies in over 35 countries.
Every entrepreneur and business person I know wishes he had more time for coaching all the members of his team. Every successful entrepreneur needs to spend more time developing people, as the business grows. People often ask me about the difference between coaching and mentoring. Expect it and plan for it.
In my role as a mentor to many business professionals, I still see some who have no idea how to adapt to the new realities. The simple answer is that we all have to start thinking like entrepreneurs, rather than entitled employees. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 06/21/2019.
Thus, I’m more impressed with entrepreneurs who ask me to review their implementation plan, rather than listen again to their idea. There are lots of resources available for the challenge of that activity, including the Internet and mentors like me. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/21/2019.
Image via Pixabay Everyone has heard about the big potential for using artificial intelligence (AI) to expand your business, but many of the small businesses I mentor are still wary of embracing it, because they don’t understand how it works, and fear losing control and unintended consequences.
In the entrepreneur world, it’s still a popular misconception that the “idea” is everything. Bill Gates , for example, shared a common curiosity and mentoring relationship with Warren Buffet, although their business domains were quite different. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 09/27/2019.
I often recommend to technical entrepreneurs (logical) that they team with a cofounder who has a business perspective (emotional customer appeal). Save the generalized discussions and feedback for scheduled mentoring and coaching sessions, rather than the daily impromptu strategy or problem solving meetings.
Offer one-minute mentoring up front, and stick to it. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 06/18/2019. After some thought, you may realize that you are already overloaded, and this new request is not so easy. Also there may be someone, or additional homework, that you can suggest quickly. Don’t do it.
They see top performers as employees who are the glue that makes this happen, by mentoring new employees, recommending improvements, and jumping in where help is needed. Thinking like an owner in your current job is especially valuable if you are contemplating a future as an entrepreneur.
It is a company with a mission to create better access and more funding for Black entrepreneurs and executives. And Black entrepreneurs wanted access to decision makers but didn’t always have the easy connections. We might have to fight for it after the votes go our way but let’s get ready for the fight. So let’s get it.
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