Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2015

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer.

Satisfaction 101

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Customer Custom 101

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2020

That leads to switching costs, sunk costs, brand equity, and a host of other considerations, commonly called “barriers to entry.” You are never the only alternative, hopefully just the best, in price, utility, and satisfaction. At some level of function, availability, and price performance, customers jump ship away from you.

Competition 151

Competition Startup Framework Pricing 151

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2020

Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market. Most equity investors tend to avoid truly disruptive technology startups, since they take longer and more money to scale. Timing is critical, as well as focus on marketing and customer satisfaction. Martin Zwilling.

Startup 157

Startup Social Media Study Research 157

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2022

They want to share your satisfaction in success, maybe as a reward for their own mistakes and learning earlier in life in their own businesses. Often the Boomer is more willing to work for equity, and easily convinced to step aside when revenues reach that next threshold. Manage customer service. Member of the Advisory Board.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur Report 147

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2023

Others schedule exhaustive training sessions for everyone on the team, including showcase customers, to make sure that everyone paints a consistent picture. Due diligence always involves on-site visits, informal discussions with any or all members of the team, vendors, and good customers as well as bad. Traction in the marketplace.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Invest 118

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2013

Jim Sterne, who has written many books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in his book titled " Social Media Metrics." Social media is the realm of public opinion and customer conversations. Measure customer response and action.

Social Media 102

Social Media Media Entrepreneur Metrics 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2022

Too many customers have long felt distanced from many successful brands, seeing them as closed and mysterious environments, focused only on profits and killing competitors. In the idea stage, get customers involved with an engaging contest. Offer equity in future projects to people outside your business. Shared goodwill (trust).

Organization 126

Organization Social Media Examples Customer 126

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2019

Jim Sterne, who has written many books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in a classic book titled simply " Social Media Metrics." Social media is the realm of public opinion and customer conversations. Measure customer response and action.

Social Media 98

Social Media Media Metrics Satisfaction 98

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2012

Jim Sterne, who has written six books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in his book titled " Social Media Metrics." Social media is the realm of public opinion and customer conversations. Measure customer response and action.

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Startup 98

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

McGinnis, a well-known venture capitalist and private equity investor. I see no reason not to balance these frustrations with the satisfaction of more conventional work accomplishments and the people relationships we all need to thrive. Startups cost money but don’t pay a salary before revenue.

Startup 128

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction News 128

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 29, 2020

Maintaining your team’s passion and freedom to focus first on innovating for customers are only a couple of the reasons for thinking hard before you seek money from crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital organizations, or attempt to qualify for a public stock offering. Investors want board seats and a vote on key decisions.

Startup 124

Startup Satisfaction Venture Capital Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

Others schedule exhaustive training sessions for everyone on the team, including showcase customers, to make sure that everyone paints a consistent picture. Due diligence always involves on-site visits, informal discussions with any or all members of the team, vendors, and good customers as well as bad. Traction in the marketplace.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2022

In every case, a partner can be an asset, bringing new skills and perspectives to the business; or a burden, making every decision more difficult, and taxing your lifestyle satisfaction. You need to do the due diligence to make that decision before you sign away your equity. Always make sure you can enjoy some fun together.

Technical Review 125

Technical Review Satisfaction Summary Startup 125

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2014

Even a small investor in the early days will take a large equity percentage, due to that pesky valuation challenge. At least wait until later, when you ready to scale, and have some “leverage” based on a proven business model, some real customers, and real revenue. Don’t give up a chunk of your company and control before you start.

Startup 110

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction Legalzoom 110

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2021

Customers are looking for a differentiator today. Make sure your hiring practices include diversity, inclusion, and equity. Skip the shortcuts you may be taking to get an edge on your competitors at the expense of quality or customer service. Some of these companies no longer exist. Practice your agility.

Examples 128

Examples Social Media Summary Satisfaction 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

They want to share your satisfaction in success, maybe as a reward for their own mistakes and learning earlier in life in their own businesses. Often the Boomer is more willing to work for equity, and easily convinced to step aside when revenues reach that next threshold. Manage customer service. Member of the Advisory Board.

Startup 124

Startup Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2013

Even a small investor in the early days will take a large equity percentage, due to that pesky valuation challenge. At least wait until later, when you ready to scale, and have some “leverage” based on a proven business model, some real customers, and real revenue. Don’t give up a chunk of your company and control before you start.

Startup 105

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Legalzoom 105

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Jim Sterne, who has written six books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in his recent book titled " Social Media Metrics." Social media is the realm of public opinion and customer conversations. Measure customer response and action.

Social Media 84

Social Media Metrics Media Satisfaction 84

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2022

You have very little money, and you don’t want to give away your equity. Giving equity is realistic, but base it on contribution and role, with vesting after time and milestones. You can’t have it all, just like your startup can’t be all things to all customers. Recognize that the best people don’t work for free.

Startup 130

Startup USC Entrepreneur Statistics 130

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2022

Maintaining your team’s passion and freedom to focus first on innovating for customers are only a couple of the reasons for thinking hard before you seek money from crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital organizations, or attempt to qualify for a public stock offering. Investors want board seats and a vote on key decisions.

Funding 107

Funding Startup Satisfaction Venture Capital 107

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2015

Too many customers have long felt distanced from many successful brands, seeing them as closed and mysterious environments, focused only on profits and killing competitors. In the idea stage, get customers involved with an engaging contest. Offer equity in future projects to people outside your business. Shared goodwill (trust).

Startup 99

Startup Organization Social Media Customer 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2014

Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market. Most equity investors tend to avoid truly disruptive technology startups, since they take longer and more money to scale. Timing is critical, as well as a focus on marketing and customer satisfaction.

Technology 103

Technology Entrepreneur Study Research 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2023

McGinnis, a well-known venture capitalist and private equity investor. I see no reason not to balance these frustrations with the satisfaction of more conventional work accomplishments and the people relationships we all need to thrive. Startups cost money but don’t pay a salary before revenue.

Startup 102

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur News 102

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2012

That leads to switching costs, sunk costs, brand equity, and a host of other considerations, commonly called “barriers to entry.” You are never the only alternative, hopefully just the best, in price, utility, and satisfaction. At some level of function, availability, and price performance, customers jump ship away from you.

Competition 94

Competition Startup Pricing Framework 94

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

They want to share your satisfaction in success, maybe as a reward for their own mistakes and learning earlier in life in their own businesses. Often the Boomer is more willing to work for equity, and easily convinced to step aside when revenues reach that next threshold. Manage customer service. Member of the Advisory Board.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review Report 106

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 7, 2013

CapLinked also netted in new customers such as Thomson Reuters, Sun Capital, and Equity Partners, NextView Ventures and crowd-funding service AI Verified which will take advantage of its iPad compatibility, bulk uploading, and reporting tools.

Mobile 91

Mobile Report Pricing Tool 91

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 13, 2014

Too many customers have long felt distanced from many successful brands, seeing them as closed and mysterious environments, focused only on profits and killing competitors. In the idea stage, get customers involved with an engaging contest. Offer equity in future projects to people outside your business. Shared goodwill (trust).

Organization 93

Organization Social Media Customer Custom 93

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2011

This is a hard and painful process for everyone, but it’s usually better than the alternative of liquidating or losing the assets and antagonizing many customers. In this case, a private equity firm engaged me to assist in the purchase of a German software supplier. Determine key customer satisfaction levels and requirements.

Course 88

Course Software Review Customer Custom 88

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

In our first year of selling, we brought on over 50 clients, and last year we had 170 customers, and we now have about 40 employees. He said, this is great, and said they were really interested in getting more enterprise customers. We would have been able to been more effective, and retained a greater percentage of equity.

Startup 124

Startup Cornerstone OnDemand Software Review Woodland Hills 124

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2016

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer.

Satisfaction 61

Satisfaction Startup Customer Custom 61

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

That leads to switching costs, sunk costs, brand equity, and a host of other considerations, commonly called “barriers to entry.” You are never the only alternative, hopefully just the best, in price, utility, and satisfaction. At some level of function, availability, and price performance, customers jump ship away from you.

Startup 86

Startup Competition Pricing Framework 86

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2013

In later-stage businesses, entitlement is evident when employees treat customers with indifference, or feel they are entitled to their job by merely “showing up for work.” " Employees don’t see a connection between how the experience a customer receives today influences their feelings about buying from the company in the future.

Startup 98

Startup Satisfaction Customer Custom 98

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2018

We have customers from so many different industries like software, financial services, healthcare, and media. We could also spend time talking with customers rather than updating investors. Within six months we launched with a minimum feature set that a few customers were willing to pay for.

Venture Capital 115

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Santa Barbara SaaS 115

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2011

In later-stage businesses, entitlement is evident when employees treat customers with indifference, or feel they are entitled to their job by merely “showing up for work.” " Employees don’t see a connection between how the experience a customer receives today influences their feelings about buying from the company in the future.

Funding 96

Funding Startup Satisfaction Customer 96

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2014

In later-stage businesses, entitlement is evident when employees treat customers with indifference, or feel they are entitled to their job by merely “showing up for work.” " Employees don’t see a connection between how the experience a customer receives today influences their feelings about buying from the company in the future.

Startup 96

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction Customer 96

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2023

That leads to switching costs, sunk costs, brand equity, and a host of other considerations, commonly called “barriers to entry.” You are never the only alternative, hopefully just the best, in price, utility, and satisfaction. At some level of function, availability, and price performance, customers jump ship away from you.

Competition 88

Competition Startup Framework Pricing 88

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2016

These are the endless stream of email, phone calls, and daily crises which prevent really important accomplishments, like closing customers. Incorporate your business today, register intellectual property, document partner equity agreements, and meet real customers. Tackle high value tasks first rather than the easiest.

Tips 100

Tips Activity Startup Product 100