Berkonomics

JULY 6, 2017

Know your market and competition, or don’t spend a dime on anything else. Well, here is one of those, and it deals with market research first and foremost. Here’s where some intelligent market research might have saved the company and my investment. There is no competition.” Fast forward just a few years to 1996.

Competition 266

Competition Research Summary Pricing 266

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2020

As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition. Every business area has competition and every customer has alternatives, so a smart entrepreneur needs to acknowledge these as a positive in defining a big market, and position the features of a new solution in this context.

Competition 125

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Customer 125

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2020

Traditional marketing may be adequate for linear growth, but it likely won’t catapult you to Amazon’s unicorn status , or make waves in the business world. For example, I usually hear about an aggressive marketing budget, with a plan to penetrate a few big retail chains, and some videos to catch your attention on YouTube.

Marketing 170

Marketing Startup Examples Customer 170

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2023

As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition. Every business area has competition and every customer has alternatives, so a smart entrepreneur needs to acknowledge these as a positive in defining a big market, and position the features of a new solution in this context.

Competition 111

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Customer 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2011

One of the toughest and yet most important questions you will be asked by savvy potential startup investors is “What is your sustainable competitive advantage?” Yet many entrepreneurs, maybe in their passion for their new product, gloss over this one, or even announce that they have no competition. Lock on the market or customer base.

Competition 102

Competition Patents Startup Social Network 102

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2010

One of the most important questions you will be asked by potential investors is how your solutions beats the competition, not just today, but over the three to five year life of their investment. The concept is called “sustainable competitive advantage.” That implies competitive now, and the potential to stay in the lead.

Competition 89

Competition Patents IBM IBM 89

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition. Every business area has competition and every customer has alternatives, so a smart entrepreneur needs to acknowledge these as a positive in defining a big market, and position the features of a new solution in this context.

Competition 107

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Customer 107

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2012

One of the toughest and yet most important questions you will be asked by savvy potential startup investors is “What is your sustainable competitive advantage?” Yet many entrepreneurs, maybe in their passion for their new product, gloss over this one, or even announce that they have no competition. Lock on the market or customer base.

Competition 97

Competition Patents Startup Social Network 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2014

This raises a big red flag with potential investors, who conclude that no competitors means no market, or you haven’t looked, and the new startup is likely not investable. First to market, for example, is not normally a sustainable advantage for startups. Here are some of the key ones: Patent protection in place as a barrier to entry.

Competition 93

Competition Startup Patents Slides 93

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

I think this is a combination of being realists as venture capitalists that outsized returns in our funds must come from taking on bigger, more impactful projects that can move markets. Did anybody hold patents that would prevent us from using this technology? Did anybody hold patents that would prevent us from using this technology?

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

This raises a big red flag with potential investors, who conclude that no competitors means no market, or you haven’t looked, and the new startup is likely not investable. First to market, for example, is not normally a sustainable advantage for startups. Here are some of the key ones: Patent protection in place as a barrier to entry.

Competition 166

Competition Funding Startup Patents 166

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2019

Most entrepreneurs are quick to assert to potential investors that their product or solution will kill the competition, but unfortunately your opinion alone is not enough to convince most experienced investors. First of all, you need some convincing market research that your solution addresses a real and growing problem.

Competition 86

Competition Patents Startup Customer 86

Berkonomics

AUGUST 23, 2012

Every business has an intellectual foundation where the CEO’s knowledge and vision create a barrier to entry that deflects some or much of the potential competition. Email readers, continue here.] Sometimes we protect our core with effective branding and marketing.

Patents 159

Patents Training Advertising Resource 159

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2012

This approach, popularly known as “glocalization,” means you have to design and deliver global solutions that have total relevance to every local market in which you operate. Remember when the Chevy Nova required a rename, once Chevrolet realized that Nova meant "no go" in the Spanish market (not a great name for a car).

Marketing 104

Marketing Startup Patents Offshore 104

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Intellectual property is required for a competitive edge. You may think that patents and copyrights are not required, since your products are so innovative, but you will find that competitors are quick to copy your idea if you don’t protect it. Even the best solutions require marketing to survive.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2021

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. Your solution fills a real market need. Love that sustainable competitive advantage. Marketing is top priority.

Startup 160

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 160

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2013

I decided we''d patent a sliding mechanism on our Bluetooth, and use 3D printers to take pictures that people send to us, and my company will design a Bluetooth based on their picture, on our 3D printer. This is a crowded market. What''s your competitive advantage against others in the headset/accessories market?

Startup 241

Startup Slides Orange County Design 241

Berkonomics

MARCH 15, 2012

One way to mitigate this is by using early money to create a prototype, to perform market research, to complete the first generation of the product, or to deliver the service to a satisfied customer. Second: Market risk. Are you ahead or behind the market with your product or service? And fifth: Competitive risk.

Outsource Development 200

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 200

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 25, 2009

Fantastic post by Christian Gammill - Startup Delta Force… From a competitive perspective (e.g. all the other folks out there that will try to enter the same market) the barriers have been dropping over the last few years. How’s that for duality. Business - how are you actually going to make money? many more (please comment below)

Startup 150

Startup SEM IP SEO 150

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

International Trade Commission has taken up a complaint, filed by Santa Barbara-based Sonos , that Google has been importing and selling goods which Sonos says infringe upon its patents. The move is the latest in a big battle between Sonos and Google. READ MORE>>.

Google 113

Google Santa Barbara Patents Competition 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2015

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. They are also seeking to find out how you handle one of the many tough questions that a new founder will get in today’s market.

Startup 118

Startup Competition Patents Resource 118

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2019

This approach, popularly known as “ glocalization ,” means you have to design and deliver global solutions that have total relevance to every local market in which you operate. Remember when the Chevy Nova required a rename, once Chevrolet realized that Nova meant "no go" in the Spanish market (not a great name for a car).

Marketing 94

Marketing Patents Offshore Startup 94

Berkonomics

JULY 18, 2019

Every business has an intellectual foundation where the CEO’s knowledge and vision create a barrier to entry that deflects some or much of the potential competition. Patents, branding, marketing and more. Email readers, continue here…] Sometimes we protect our core with effective branding and marketing.

Patents 120

Patents Resource Training Advertising 120

Berkonomics

AUGUST 31, 2023

Know your market and competition, or don’t spend a dime on anything else. Well, here is one of those, and it deals with market research first and foremost. But wait for the mic drop… [Email readers, continue here…] Here’s where some intelligent market research might have saved the company and my investment.

Competition 156

Competition Research Summary Pricing 156

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2021

A large portion of your competitive advantage and your potential value to investors is the size of your intellectual property portfolio. When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least eight items that should be in your IP portfolio. Copyrights.

Startup 145

Startup Patents IP Social Media 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2014

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. They are also seeking to find out how you handle one of the many tough questions that a new founder will get in today’s market.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Competition Patents Resource 110

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

Bill’s advice reflects Microsoft’s hardnosed culture, which encourages internal competition and a ruthless pursuit of the truth. Unless your venture is focused on researching potential scientific breakthroughs, it is likely that your technology can be easily copied and your patents circumvented. " [Tweet this quote]. Treasure it.

Tips 275

Tips Startup IP Santa Barbara 275

socalTECH

OCTOBER 12, 2017

In the order the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission cited information received from more than 20 domestic and foreign mobile phone manufacturers, saying Qualcomm used its dominant market position and ownership of patents involved in standards unfairly. READ MORE>>.

Patents 138

Patents San Diego Mobile Marketing 138

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

Watch that patent provide a real barrier to competitive entry. Re-live that moment of inspiration that resulted in an innovative design and implementation for your product, and is now providing you with a sustainable competitive advantage. Even with the perfect product, your customers won’t even know you exist without marketing.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2018

New technology markets and paradigm shifts have traditionally been bad bets when seeking investors, since these were known to take decades to develop, and cost lots of money. For example, consider how many years it took for the market to move from radio to television, or fully accept personal computers on every desktop.

Marketing 92

Marketing Demand Examples Social Media 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2021

Experienced entrepreneurs will tell you that the initial idea is the easy part, and it’s the later implementation, and the competitive business marketing that are the real creative challenges. If you study the Amazon 1-click patent long enough, you’ll likely find something of your own worth patenting.

Ideas 171

Ideas Patents Training Entrepreneur 171

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2012

One of the most important questions you will be asked by potential investors is how your solutions beats the competition, not just today, but over the three to five year life of their investment. The concept is called “sustainable competitive advantage.” Our patent will protect us.” We all recognize that there are no guarantees.

Patents 90

Patents Competition IBM IBM 90

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2012

For example, “I just patented a new cell-phone technology that will double battery life for half the cost. I need your help in getting it to market.” Unlike [competition], we [differentiation].” Quantify the market. Present a sustainable competitive advantage. About 150-225 words.

Startup 113

Startup Patents Template Competition 113

Berkonomics

MARCH 5, 2020

One way to mitigate this is by using early money to create a prototype, to perform market research, to complete the first generation of the product, or to deliver the service to a satisfied customer. Second: Market risk. . Are you ahead or behind the market with your product or service? And fifth: Competitive risk. .

Outsource Development 156

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 156

socalTECH

JUNE 19, 2014

Anyone who is into action sports know that GoPro has absolutely changed how the market since its debut, where it''s more odd to see action sports athletes not using a GoPro than using one. It seems like there''s quite an accessory market for the GoPro. So, we moved into that market, and also launched a macro lens. READ MORE>>.

Startup 196

Startup Van Nuys Patents Santa Barbara 196

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

Viral marketing costs real money, and your support staff and hosting systems cost even more. There is no substitute for market research to confirm that your passion matches a real need in the market. Patents and trademarks are very valuable in attracting investors for scaling, as well as future premium buyouts.

Startup 174

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2021

You have done everything to register your brand legally , including domains, copyrights, patents, and trademarks. Evaluate the brand impact of proposed market moves. The push is always on to grow your market with new geographies, new products, and new market segments. Always check language nuances and translation issues.

Examples 170

Examples Customer Custom Social Media 170