socalTECH

JANUARY 2, 2020

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. I predict SoCal will continue to grow, but in 2020 more companies nationwideand herewill not get the funding they need.

Capital 100

Capital Southern California SoCal SaaS 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

Based on my experience advising new entrepreneurs as well as more mature businesses, I recommend the following strategies for building business momentum, while still optimizing the limited resources of every small business: Find more customers that like what you do best. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 12/22/2020.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

In my own business career, many years as a business advisor, and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I have validated the following strategies to practice and guide you. Make sure that you implement a metric with each solution, to prevent the issue from recurring, and check for side effects and follow-on side effects.

Satisfaction 152

Satisfaction Mentor Study Startup 152

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2020

From my consulting with entrepreneurs in Europe and other countries, I’m convinced that we all could benefit from adapting to meet their environments. With a singular focus on building unicorns, very rapid growth has been a key metric. Marty Zwilling First published on LinkedIn on 04/14/2020.

Ideas 124

Ideas Venture Capital Software Review Technical Review 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

That’s why I caution my aspiring entrepreneur clients against proclaiming to investors that they are a great “idea” person. Create a written plan, with target milestones and metrics. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 02/17/2020. A full plan may be no more than 20 pages.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2020

As a frequent advisor to new entrepreneurs and startups, I often hear your frustration with being treated differently from other startups by investors, on expectations for valuation , traction, and market size. Established company process rules and metrics now characterize the leaders in this market stage.

Marketing 174

Marketing Startup Artificial Inteligence Technical Review 174

Berkonomics

APRIL 8, 2021

From its start in 2015, the number of registered users has “suddenly” climbed from 45 million in 2017 to a reported 300 million by the end of 2020. It was as much in reaction to my getting blank stares from entrepreneurs when I asked the above question as it was for me to better understand the problem itself. Here is my list.

Sites 156

Sites Product Social Network Press 156

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 28, 2020

In my years of advising business leaders, from entrepreneurs to enterprise executives, I often hear a passion for strategic change planning, but seldom see the same commitment to strategic execution. This must include metrics and tracking, with the necessary systems and resources to act, recalibrate, and iterate as required.

Coach 159

Coach Resource Summary Metrics 159

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2020

More importantly, I look for entrepreneurs and owners like you who are not afraid to hold themselves accountable for the success of the business. Every investor can recite examples of passionate entrepreneurs who seek funding for a worthy cause, like feeding the hungry, without a real business case for who will pay.

Startup 113

Startup Examples Coach Metrics 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

Although his focus is naturally on bigger companies, I contend that his recommended strategies apply equally well to entrepreneurs and startups: Demand a mindset of deep thinking for the long term. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 07/23/2020. Cote, former Chairman and CEO of Honeywell.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2020

As a mentor to entrepreneurs over the years, I see many of you who don’t communicate enough, others who seem to do all the talking, and some that are hesitant to be direct and open. You as the leader have a responsibility to define goals, strategy, and operational metrics. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 04/28/2020.

Startup 124

Startup Ideas Examples Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2020

Most entrepreneurs remember the sense of urgency they felt in startup mode, but don’t see it in their team today. In stable businesses, you get what you reward, so you must incent urgency with metrics for number of proactive projects, expected implementation guidelines, and no failure penalty.

Tips 94

Tips Ideas Metrics Help 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2021

As a business adviser, I often see entrepreneurs practicing what Tom Peters calls the “ ready-fire-aim ” go-to-market strategy to their detriment. The ready-fire-aim approach makes sense here, but it should be combined with metrics to learn from feedback, and make pivots as required.

Marketing 138

Marketing Demand IBM IBM 138