TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

Hello and welcome back to Startups Weekly, a weekend newsletter that dives into the week’s noteworthy news pertaining to startups and venture capital. Before I jump into today’s topic, let’s catch up a bit. Last week, I profiled an e-commerce startup Part & Parcel. Startup Spotlight: Landline. IPO Update.

Services 207

Services Startup Venture Capital Redpoint 207

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

One of the most stressful and unanticipated challenges that comes with starting a new business is hiring and managing employees. While this approach appears to cost more on the surface, it often actually costs you less, when you consider the hidden costs of rework, poor customer satisfaction, employee management, and training required.

Outsource 123

Outsource Startup Technical Review Training 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2022

In my view, too many businesses fail, simply because founders give up too early. Starting many initiatives, and hoping that one will stick, is not a formula for success. You should be ready with your personal anecdotes on achieving success through persistence, from non-business efforts as well as business.

Startup 143

Startup Competition Coach Satisfaction 143

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2021

At some stage of your education, you realize that you can learn faster, and get more satisfaction, in the real world than in a academic environment. Thus you drop out of school to start the business of your dreams, like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Advanced degrees won’t help you run your startup.

Entrepreneur 171

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Demand Customer 171

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2022

Most entrepreneurs struggle with many startup founders quandaries in building their business, and these key dilemmas are probably the biggest source of pain and failure for the entrepreneur lifestyle. People may jump into the lifestyle to be their own boss, achieve great wealth, start a new trend, or all the above.

Startup 130

Startup USC Entrepreneur Statistics 130

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2022

After many years working in business and investing in startups, I’m convinced that the primary reason for new business and career failures is NOT a lack of skill or money, but people giving up too quickly on their dreams and goals. He went on to start many successful companies, including General Electric.

Startup 122

Startup Satisfaction Summary Coach 122

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

Young entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, often remain naively unfocused, despite their passion, of what it takes to provide the high-quality service expected. It’s a tough job, and inexperienced entrepreneurs just don’t know where to start, and how to do it. Yet the average perception of customer experience has not improved.

Competition 99

Competition Services Startup Training 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2012

In any case, it is good form to offer compensation, such as a small monthly stipend, plus expenses, and perhaps a 1% ownership in your startup, to show your commitment. Book follow-up sessions, with an agenda, rather than fill time with random discussions. That’s the ultimate satisfaction. Marty Zwilling.

Mentor 105

Mentor Satisfaction Entrepreneur Startup 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 30, 2020

As an advisor to many startups, I’m convinced it’s an expensive and painful approach, but I do see it used all too often. In the rush of a startup, it’s tempting to start spending the money you expect any day from a rich uncle or a major new customer. I suspect that most of these have failed their way to this top satisfaction.

Startup 125

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 125

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Having the best solution is a good start these days, but a solution alone is no longer enough to keep customer attention and loyalty. Start with feedback from real customers, set measurable objectives, and make sure rewards and incentives are tempered by customer experiences, rather than only internal thresholds.

Customer 106

Customer Custom Startup Competition 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2021

Young entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, often remain naively unfocused, despite their passion, of what it takes to provide the high-quality service expected. It’s a tough job, and inexperienced entrepreneurs just don’t know where to start, and how to do it. Yet the average perception of customer experience has not improved.

Startup 154

Startup Training Customer Custom 154

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

Over time, I have collected a list of new business attributes that go beyond the initial idea or solution, which often are more critical to long-term success and satisfaction. Here are some key ones that I find often overlooked in the passion of the moment or the rush to get started: Aim your innovations at real customer problems.

Tips 80

Tips Startup Satisfaction Ideas 80

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

Ongoing momentum requires a move to mainstream, or even late adopters, who demand simplicity in your base function. Your long-term success and satisfaction depends on it. Thus you should never be complacent in your business about the growth you have achieved, or your loyal customer base.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2020

What you don’t expect is to feel out of control , or to always be fighting the many demands for your time. There are just not enough hours in a day, and knowledge available, to keep up with it all. The startup world is all about causing change and reacting to unknowns, so set your expectations early to deal with it.

Entrepreneur 122

Entrepreneur Startup Course Examples 122

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Always use multiple methods, including verbal and written, for defining an assignment, including accountability, with checkpoints and follow-up from you along the way. Make sure that metrics and goals are set up front, and not modified as the project progresses. Provide assessments based wholly on facts.

Startup 132

Startup Training Metrics Examples 132

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2020

Having the best solution is a good start these days, but a solution alone is no longer enough to keep customer attention and loyalty. Start with feedback from real customers, set measurable objectives, and make sure rewards and incentives are tempered by customer experiences, rather than only internal thresholds.

Customer 168

Customer Custom Services Startup 168

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

Great leaders learn to listen actively to conversations, so people don’t hold up progress just to be understood. Disruptive office politics start to show. Startups with weak directives, poor communication, and ineffective cultures are breeding grounds for negative interpersonal dynamics.

Training 142

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 142

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2014

Great leaders learn to listen actively to conversations, so people don’t hold up progress just to be understood. Disruptive office politics start to show. Startups with weak directives, poor communication, and ineffective cultures are breeding grounds for negative interpersonal dynamics. entrepreneur startup'

Demand 92

Demand Entrepreneur Startup Training 92

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2023

I’ve found that you can best start by asking for another perspective, whether of yourself or a team member. Start by getting people comfortable with what they don’t know, showing them you are open to new ideas, and don’t demand perfection in all deliverables. You need both to create better outcomes and increase job satisfaction.

Case Study 112

Case Study Study Startup Examples 112

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2022

We are living in a new generation of business, where customers drive the experience, and highly engaged employees are required to keep up with customer expectations. True leaders are tenacious, determined, and self-starting. Traditional business leadership practices, including autocratic, reactive, and narcissistic, aren’t good enough.

Customer 152

Customer Custom Coach Satisfaction 152

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2019

Most entrepreneurs struggle with many startup founders quandaries in building their business, and these key dilemmas are probably the biggest source of pain and failure for the entrepreneur lifestyle. People may jump into the lifestyle to be their own boss, achieve great wealth, start a new trend, or all the above.

Startup 97

Startup USC Entrepreneur Statistics 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2015

Great leaders learn to listen actively to conversations, so people don’t hold up progress just to be understood. Disruptive office politics start to show. Startups with weak directives, poor communication, and ineffective cultures are breeding grounds for negative interpersonal dynamics.

Startup 103

Startup Training Coach Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2021

In some cases it may be fear of retribution by the boss, but more often they just hate to disappoint others, and end up instead with high stress and low credibility in a crisis to deliver. Be sure to follow-up as promised, to maintain your credibility. Clearly decline without using the word no. Skip the “maybes” or “I’ll try.”

Startup 172

Startup Tool Coach Satisfaction 172

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2020

It seems that most of you entrepreneurs I meet in my role as business advisor are convinced that starting a new business requires equity investors, exponential growth, and a plan to go public via IPO. This can be a key source of personal satisfaction, as well as the ultimate success factor and legacy.

Statistics 124

Statistics Equity Satisfaction Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2022

In any case, it is good form to offer compensation, such as a small monthly stipend, plus expenses, and perhaps a 1% ownership in your startup, to show your commitment. Book follow-up sessions, with an agenda, rather than fill time with random discussions. That’s the ultimate satisfaction. Marty Zwilling.

Mentor 101

Mentor Develop Development Startup 101

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2018

Most entrepreneurs see their new venture as a fun adventure, until the pressures of a cash flow crisis, or a manufacturing quality problem, or a major customer satisfaction problem hits. New competitors can steal your market, or they can open up new markets. True entrepreneurs love change – that’s why they are starting a new venture.

Startup 82

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Mentor 82

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2021

Every one of you business leaders I know struggles with the competing demands of finding and keeping employees motivated and satisfied, versus building and enforcing a set of repeatable processes that work. That takes less time and gives everyone greater satisfaction. For all the reasons outlined above, don’t let that be your downfall.

Satisfaction 154

Satisfaction Demand Resource Competition 154

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2023

In either case, you need to understand the dynamics to maximize team performance, and for your own sanity and satisfaction. Team members may forget you are now the boss, or anyone can make inappropriate comments or demands. Share the timetable at the start of a discussion and stick to it. Show consistency in all interactions.

Satisfaction 88

Satisfaction Product News Startup 88

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2023

As an angel investor and a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always disappointed to see founders who seem stressed out most of the time, and more annoyed than energized by the abundance of challenges they see in building their startup. Don’t demand or expect immediate gratification. Viewed by others as a successful problem solver.

Entrepreneur 70

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Ideas 70

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2015

In any case, it is good form to offer compensation, such as a small monthly stipend, plus expenses, and perhaps a 1% ownership in your startup, to show your commitment. Book follow-up sessions, with an agenda, rather than fill time with random discussions. That’s the ultimate satisfaction. Marty Zwilling.

Mentor 105

Mentor Startup Summary Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2019

Great leaders learn to listen actively to conversations, so people don’t hold up progress just to be understood. Disruptive office politics start to show. Startups with weak directives, poor communication, and ineffective cultures are breeding grounds for negative interpersonal dynamics.

Training 123

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2013

Young entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, often remain naively unfocused, despite their passion, of what it takes to provide the high-quality service expected. It’s a tough job, and inexperienced entrepreneurs just don’t know where to start, and how to do it. Know your customers intimately. Involve, empower, and inspire.

Customer 92

Customer Custom Startup Services 92

socalTECH

JULY 17, 2013

It looks like the battle between Los Angeles e-commerce startup Beachmint and technology blog PandoDaily is flaring up into a major firestorm, over the accuracy of a story posted a couple of weeks ago by the tech blog.

Blogging 153

Blogging Satisfaction News Commerce 153

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2020

In either case, you need to understand the dynamics to maximize team performance, and for your own sanity and satisfaction. Team members may forget you are now the boss, or anyone can make inappropriate comments or demands. Share the timetable at the start of a discussion and stick to it. Show consistency in all interactions.

Satisfaction 150

Satisfaction Product News Startup 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2022

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Technology 133

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 133

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2021

Most of you aspiring entrepreneurs probably have long searched for that special idea that will catapult you and your startup to success. You can learn to be an entrepreneur by working in a startup, talking to peers, and mentoring. With innovative startups, every new one is a new challenge.

Entrepreneur 171

Entrepreneur Ideas Examples Satisfaction 171

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2023

Leading change is even harder, trying to balance the demands of the customers against the needs and expectations of employees. Building belief is a never-ending effort, both in jump-starting a change journey, and in sustaining a long-term commitment. But you have to change to survive and thrive.

Satisfaction 130

Satisfaction IBM IBM Summary 130