socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Last week, the University of Southern California 's Viterbi School of Engineering announced that it had established a new, business plan competition, the Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition ([link] specifically aimed at students in the engineering school. Why a business plan competition, and why in engineering school?

Competition 154

Competition Southern California Mentor USC 154

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

As a member of the local angel group Selection Committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Every startup needs both a business plan and an investor presentation, completed before you formally approach any investors.

Slides 94

Slides Competition Sample Sales 94

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 29, 2014

It’s not hard to find people willing to write the narrative that “venture capital is not an asset class” or “venture capital has performed terribly.” I hope to publish that deck and a full write up in the next 10 days in partnership with Dan Primack at Fortune (if my write up doesn’t suck, I guess ;-)).

Venture Capital 362

Venture Capital Capital Startup Writing 362

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2011

It was a pleasure to write them myself. He presented the idea at the TED conference in the mid 90′s and was literally boo’d while he was on stage. Funny story, after Bill presented at TED (back when Amazon was still a small company) Jeff Bezos was in the audience. Summary notes, as always, provide below.

Competition 350

Competition Idealab Product CitySearch 350

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2023

I agree with Dr. Ardi’s writing, that most successful workplaces of the future need to adopt the following beta characteristics, and align themselves more with the beta leadership model: Do away with archaic command-and-control models. They should be aware of their own biases, and focus on the present as on the future.

Organization 113

Organization Competition Entrepreneur Writing 113

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Source: hibobbie.com The company also raised an impressive $70 million in funding in June to acquire the legacy pediatric nutrition brand Nature’s One, bringing its total kitty up to $142 million and helping to secure its competitive advantage in the industry going forward. Tome Tome is another AI startup that's been causing a stir in 2023.

Startup 196

Startup Generative AI Newsletter Tool 196

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2020

I agree with Dr. Ardi’s writing, that most successful workplaces of the future need to adopt the following beta characteristics, and align themselves more with the beta leadership model: Do away with archaic command-and-control models. They should be aware of their own biases, and focus on the present as on the future.

Organization 149

Organization Competition Entrepreneur Startup 149

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2011

The short answer is that by knowing the key members of the management team the VC firm can quickly identify strengths on your time and know whether you have some competitive advantage in your chose field relative to other people with whom you will compete. I know it’s incredibly important to me in my investment decisions. I hate this.

Slides 296

Slides GRP Partners Venture Capital Writing 296

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 14, 2018

Whenever you write your deck and send it out I think you should actually think to yourself, “my competitors are probably going to read this one day and this will be forwarded widely” and if your response isn’t “so what!” after all you aren’t presenting this at TED. Competition isn’t won or lost by your marketing decks?—?it’s

Funding 239

Funding Venture Capital IP Email 239

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 8, 2019

. “If big companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon are prevented from acquiring startups, that actually reduces competition,” Sirinivasan writes. If big companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon are prevented from acquiring startups, that actually reduces competition. — Balaji S. ”

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Startup Chief Technology Officer Social Media 144

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 25, 2016

Dropping that name will often immediately draw a response if the decision maker is curious or particularly competitive. Let me reinforce this: never reveal competitive information to gain access or advantage. It takes careful presentation, lack of ego, and a real focus on the implementation tactics to make this work.

Ideas 120

Ideas Sales Competition Venture Capital 120

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 15, 2010

Jason started the Open Angel Forum in response to his frustration that entrepreneurs were being charged by some angel organizations to present at their events. Asking young companies with limited capital to pay to present to a group of potential investors is insane. 5 companies presented for 7-8 minutes each followed by Q&A.

Angel 254

Angel Startup Tech Coast Angels MyShape 254

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2021

Board rules and governance policies should be articulated in writing and voted upon. The board should meet at a minimum of four times a year with a quorum present, or more often for critical issues. It’s a complex competitive world out there, and learning is a full-time role. Lack commitment and trust in board recommendations.

Startup 145

Startup Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 145

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

You can’t start and run a business these days with a working knowledge and access to online and standalone tools, including a word processor, spreadsheet editing, and presentation software. Write a business plan for your desired new business. Acquire and get familiar with required business tools.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2011

I have long wanted to write about FNAC (feature, not a company) because it’s part of my normal lexicon to push teams that present to me to think harder about where the economics in their industry is coming from. I then debate the topic in the comments section and hope that we all learn from the conversation.

Email 270

Email Writing Blogging Competition 270

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

The VC market has right-sized (returned back to mid 90′s levels & less competition). Note the full presentation deck with additional slides can be found on SlideShare here or you can simply scroll through it at the bottom of this post.]. We’re all socially connected (so great businesses spread faster). Why is this?

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

No board member will truly read and be thoughtful about the entire deck and no team can get through the entire presentation in the meeting. This can include: Fund raising, product development choices, sales, marketing effectiveness, competition, business development, M&A … whatever. There are too many pages.

Startup 226

Startup Slides Metrics News 226

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

A business plan is the outward facing definition of the business you hope to drive with your hardware solution, with a hardware overview in the intro to highlight customer value and competitiveness. Call out your top competitors, highlighting your sustainable competitive advantage, including patents, trade secrets. and trademarks.

Product 169

Product Summary Startup Examples 169

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 14, 2013

.” Here’s what I mean … Let’s start with what it takes for a journalist to want to write a story. Do I have an “angle” from which to write the story (first company to do X, company does biggest X, consumer behavior is doing X)? Do I have data or facts to present so the story has legs?

Marketing 389

Marketing Press Blogging Startup 389

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2016

There are a lot of other competition shows and reality show, which are much more predatory and cut-throat, and it's nice for our entrepreneurs to not only get a real investment, but get great feedback. Whereas, in a meeting with someone, you can spent a lot more time on your presentation, and allow panelists and investors to speak more.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Invest Competition 100

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

The idea that the course asks students to write public blog posts is a testament to its more modern teaching style. My list of excuses includes: product, pricing, competition and lack of sales support. This includes presentations, ROI calculators, competitive analyses and so forth.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 16, 2010

We talked with Noah about how the company grew out of a business plan competition at the University of Southern California, his recent funding from the Maverick Angels, as well as how the firm hopes to stand out among a crowded list of comparison shopping sites. Noah Auerhahn: We just had too much free time at USC.

USC 207

USC CPC Sites Startup 207

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Most sophisticated investors ignore them, focusing their attention on an entrepreneur's pitch and presentation materials, financial forecast and executive summary. Competition. Who do I write the check to and where do I send it? Business Plans are dead. Patents and Trademarks. Management Team.

Venture Capital 211

Venture Capital Summary Technical Review Template 211

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

By Mahesh Raj Mohan Writing a business plan can be a difficult process. Even if you know your product/service suite down cold, understand the strengths/weaknesses of the competition, and have built pro forma financials that are sane. you still have to write the plan for a particular audience. Hi, I’m writing this plan because.”

Writing 97

Writing Summary Ideas Research 97

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 9, 2012

My pal Dave occasionally presents “headline risks” for investors. I told him only 2 weeks ago when we were in London together that I wanted to write a blog post that has been in my head for 2 years. When he writes them online his Tourette’s comes out and sometimes the substance gets lost in the style. I’ve been told so.

Startup 309

Startup Venture Capital Email Writing 309

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 24, 2016

These exchanges are designed to promote competition between major health insurance companies in those states which, in theory, should lead to more generous health insurance plans that are offered at competitive costs for all Americans. The Future of Medical Benefits is Highly Competitive.

Startup 49

Startup Competition Study Writing 49

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

After you have successfully attracted angels or venture capital with your business case, your million dollar product idea, and you have a signed term sheet, there is still one more hurdle to overcome before investors write the check. Sustainable competitive advantage. Use the feedback to strengthen your presentation and your company.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Startup Writing Competition 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2018

I agree with Dr. Ardi’s writing, that most successful workplaces of the future need to adopt the following beta characteristics, and align themselves more with the beta leadership model: Do away with archaic command-and-control models. They should be aware of their own biases, and focus on the present as on the future.

Organization 51

Organization Competition Entrepreneur Writing 51

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2016

I agree with Dr. Ardi’s writing, that most successful workplaces of the future need to adopt the following beta characteristics, and align themselves more with the beta leadership model: Do away with archaic command-and-control models. They should be aware of their own biases, and focus on the present as on the future.

Startup 66

Startup Organization Competition Entrepreneur 66

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

I agree with Dr. Ardi’s writing, that most successful workplaces of the future need to adopt the following beta characteristics, and align themselves more with the beta leadership model: Do away with archaic command-and-control models. They should be aware of their own biases, and focus on the present as on the future.

Organization 99

Organization Competition Entrepreneur Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2010

After you have successfully attracted angels or venture capital with your business case, your million dollar product idea, and you have a signed term sheet, there is still one more hurdle to overcome before investors write the check. Sustainable competitive advantage. Use the feedback to strengthen your presentation and your company.

Technical Review 90

Technical Review Writing Competition Tips 90

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 1, 2016

This strangely may come even more quickly in the more successful funds, because any funds (ours included) who still hold some public stock from a recent IPO will likely be seeing write-downs sooner due to the immediacy and transparency of public stocks being repriced. The full presentation can be downloaded on SlideShare or viewed below.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Capital Marketing Seed Funding 150

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2010

there may be major competitive changes in the market that makes your next funding round hard (e.g. And how do you think the next person who’s thinking about writing you a check going to feel about that sort of cavalier attitude with their money? you may hit unexpected bumps in the road yourself making the next round tough.

Startup 319

Startup Venture Capital Capital Competition 319

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 12, 2017

And when it’s time to apply to an accelerator, making sure your company is presented in the best way on the application can significantly improve your chances. Admittedly, that last part is an exaggeration but they were bad enough that I am writing this essay in the hopes that you will read it and not make these mistakes.

Tips 70

Tips Startup Statistics Metrics 70

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2015

Board rules and governance policies should be articulated in writing and voted upon. The board should meet at a minimum of four times a year with a quorum present, or more often for critical issues. It’s a complex competitive world out there, and learning is a full-time role. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 103

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2009

I am someone who likes to interact with my Representatives and Senators, by way of writing letters, emailing, and what not. When I was listening, I made a point to try to do that, but when I did, I found I had to go to twenty sites to find the information I needed--whether that was to write a letter, send an email, or whatever.

Startup 100

Startup Writing Southern California Email 100

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

On myfab5, people rank their favorite places instead of giving them star ratings and write bite-sized reviews instead of writing long reviews. This information is presented in the search results so you don’t have to waste time looking into restaurants you’re not interested in. Any competition?

Software Review 79

Software Review Technical Review Writing Startup 79