Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

The part of the movement that resonates the most with me (in my words) is that entrepreneurs should keep their capital expenditures really low while they’re experimenting with their product and determining whether there is a large market for what they do. This benefits you, the entrepreneur. It takes options off of the table.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Startup Resource 374

socalTECH

AUGUST 7, 2014

The two of us really wanted to be entrepreneurs. With globalization, and the rise of technology, we believed that you were going to see more and more individuals looking to outsource tasks. We were really stubborn entrepreneurs, and worked at it for three years, because we were really determined to make it work. READ MORE>>.

Startup 231

Startup Technology Outsource Santa Monica 231

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

If you can’t quantify or document your service for repeatability and new employee training, you will kill yourself trying to grow the business. You don’t have enough hours in a day, or trained people, to succeed with lower margins in a services startup. Capture your “secret sauce.” Be a visible and available expert in your domain.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 13, 2010

During the down market they were able to double down on recruiting, sales, outsourcing, new market entries and marketing (yes, with Tiger ads ). Investment in training, adherence to process, global knowledge sharing systems, quality control / partner reviews and campus recruitment programs that attracted the right talent. I love that.

Technical Review 302

Technical Review Marketing IP Outsource Development 302

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2012

Others hire consultants, or outsource much of the real work. A diligent entrepreneur should certainly work the important details for his or her startup, especially when it comes to assessing any negative fluctuations in the business. These executives won’t survive long in a startup environment.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Template Mentor 94

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 19, 2013

This often means getting the product to talk with other existing products, implementing the product to match the specific needs of a customer’s internal processes, training, monitoring usage and encouraging adoption. You need to implement them. Just have third-party VARs & SI’s do the implementations.”

Startup 403

Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2019

In the interests of helping you work smarter and last longer, I would like to offer my top ten list of key resource drains to avoid in early businesses and startups, based on my years of advising entrepreneurs and my own business experience: Expanding your product line too quickly for scaling. People with the wrong tools or no training.

Outsource Development 122

Outsource Development Outsource Metrics Technical Review 122

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2014

If you have a software development background like mine, Im sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. Outsourcing is defined as contracting the work to another company, usually located in a developing country, like India, China, or Eastern Europe. Factor in all the cost elements.

Outsource Development 95

Outsource Development Outsource Offshore Software Review 95

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Back in 2003 and 2004, we were focused on the international market, and started outsourcing to India and the Philippines for call center services. Many entrepreneurs think about starting your own thing, did you ever think about that compared to turning around a company? I think the model is a little bit on its head.

Outsource Development 190

Outsource Development Startup Outsource Altadena 190

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2020

Every aspiring entrepreneur I know is talking about the fact that there are over 2,000 billionaires in the world today, and how their innovative idea could make them one of the next ones. Becoming an entrepreneur is actually a commitment to a new lifestyle, certainly very exciting, but also facing many unknowns and risks.

Outsource Development 154

Outsource Development Social Media Software Review Custom 154

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2020

Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own. Document processes and build online training videos so new people can come online quickly and consistently. Attract and relish investor funding.

Startup 154

Startup Outsource Ideas Research 154

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

I recognize that entrepreneurs tend to substitute vision and passion for formal processes, but using no discipline or process in building something new is a sure way to spend money, rather than see any return and build a self-sustaining business. Show that you have a process to hire, fire, and train others as required.

Outsource Development 115

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 115

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

If you can’t quantify or document your service for repeatability and new employee training, you will kill yourself trying to grow the business. You don’t have enough hours in a day, or trained people, to succeed with lower margins in a services startup. business critical success factors entrepreneur services startup'

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2023

Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own. Document processes and build online training videos so new people can come online quickly and consistently. Attract and relish investor funding.

Tips 135

Tips Invest Startup Outsource 135

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

If you can’t quantify or document your service for repeatability and new employee training, you will kill yourself trying to grow the business. You don’t have enough hours in a day, or trained people, to succeed with lower margins in a services startup. Capture your “secret sauce.” Be a visible and available expert in your domain.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2013

Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own. Document processes and build online training videos so new people can come online quickly and consistently. Attract and relish investor funding.

Tips 111

Tips Startup Outsource Ideas 111

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Thus I was happily surprised when I found the classic book, “ The Tech Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide ,” by Bernd Schoner, PhD, and cofounder of ThingMagic, which leans heavily on the people side of the equation. The financial suit.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 123

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2014

I’m continually amazed at the number of entrepreneurs who go for months into a new business without really keeping a formal record of money spent or assets acquired. If you are contracting or outsourcing, this is even more important. Here you will likely need to train others to help you, so more detail may be required in this process.

Startup 107

Startup Outsource Development Training Outsource 107

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

He blogs to 10,000 web entrepreneurs at Software by Rob and co-hosts the podcast Startups for the Rest of Us. They are: Fred Wilson: Lead Investors, Dipshit Companies, and Funding Every Entrepreneur. Often board members give entrepreneurs two bits of advice regarding scale: Get a mentor. Dec 26, 2009). twenty in your wallet?

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2015

Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own. Document processes and build online training videos so new people can come online quickly and consistently. Attract and relish investor funding.

Startup 103

Startup Outsource Invest Ideas 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2015

I recognize that entrepreneurs tend to substitute vision and passion for formal processes, but no discipline or process in building something new is a sure way to spend money, rather than see any return and build a self-sustaining business. Typically some production and delivery is outsourced, requiring formal contracts and documentation.

Outsource Development 99

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 99

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Thus I was happily surprised when I found the classic book, “ The Tech Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide ,” by Bernd Schoner, PhD, and cofounder of ThingMagic, which leans heavily on the people side of the equation. The financial suit.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 123

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

Others hire consultants, or outsource much of the real work. A diligent entrepreneur should certainly work the important details for his or her startup, especially when it comes to assessing any negative fluctuations in the business. hands-on entrepreneur startup success business' Don’t be selfish and wash your hands clean.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Template Mentor 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2010

I’m continually amazed at the number of entrepreneurs who go for months into a new business without really keeping a formal record of money spent or assets acquired. If you are contracting or outsourcing, this is even more important. Here you will likely need to train others to help you, so more detail may be required in this process.

Startup 95

Startup Outsource Development Writing Training 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2014

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Thus I was happy to see a new book, “ The Tech Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide ,” by Bernd Schoner, PhD, and cofounder of ThingMagic, which leans heavily on the people side of the equation. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Advisors 98

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

I’m continually amazed at the number of entrepreneurs who go for months into a new business without really keeping a formal record of money spent or assets acquired. If you are contracting or outsourcing, this is even more important. Here you will likely need to train others to help you, so more detail may be required in this process.

Startup 102

Startup Outsource Development Writing Training 102

socalTECH

MARCH 1, 2018

Our customers tell us that, especially, compared to our legacy competitors, that's the different between hearing immediately from a live person who cares versus having to open a support ticket from someone they've outsourced customer support to overseas, and not hearing back for several days. His name is Quinton Myers.

Customer 113

Customer Custom Services Conference 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Thus I was happy to see a recent book, “ The Tech Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide ,” by Bernd Schoner, PhD, and cofounder of ThingMagic, which leans heavily on the people side of the equation. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Advisors 105

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2011

I expect that should seem intuitive to all entrepreneurs, but every investor I know has many stories about startup funding requests with major business model elements missing. Common choices include manufacturing in-house, outsourcing, off-the-shelf parts. Think broadly here, like planes versus trains. Production. Distribution.

Sales 98

Sales Custom Customer Outsource 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2012

I expect that should seem intuitive to all entrepreneurs, but every investor I know has many stories about startup funding requests with major business model elements missing. Common choices include manufacturing in-house, outsourcing, off-the-shelf parts. Think broadly here, like planes versus trains. Production. Distribution.

Sales 97

Sales Custom Customer Outsource 97

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

I expect that should seem intuitive to all entrepreneurs, but every investor I know has many stories about startup funding requests with major business model elements missing. Common choices include manufacturing in-house, outsourcing, off-the-shelf parts. Think broadly here, like planes versus trains. Production. Distribution.

Sales 102

Sales Custom Customer Outsource 102

socalTECH

JUNE 9, 2014

And, even more, how to do you manage the jump on the viral video train again, and keep those viral hits coming? That''s relevant, because of our third piece, where we have been hired by traditional media companies, to basically provide them a turnkey, outsources content acquisition team. That''s how each of those pieces evolved.

Media 235

Media Content Startup IP 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2013

I’m continually amazed at the number of entrepreneurs who go for months into a new business without really keeping a formal record of money spent or assets acquired. If you are contracting or outsourcing, this is even more important. Here you will likely need to train others to help you, so more detail may be required in this process.

Outsource Development 92

Outsource Development Training Outsource Metrics 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Customers don’t like to see you learning on the job or outsourcing. Every partner and employee can kill your success potential in a heartbeat, so don’t take shortcuts on your hiring and training practices. Tags: entrepreneur startup services critical success factors products. Services people need to hit the ground running.

Product 91

Product Services Satisfaction Patents 91

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2017

In my role as an advisor to you as an entrepreneur, I always recommend that you move to a more proactive customer service strategy, to include interactive social media campaigns, self-service options on your website, and personalized handling of unique requests. Staff all customer interactions with experienced people.

Customer 95

Customer Custom Services Technical Review 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

If you can’t quantify or document your service for repeatability and new employee training, you will kill yourself trying to grow the business. You don’t have enough hours in a day, or trained people, to succeed with lower margins in a services startup. Capture your “secret sauce.” Be a visible and available expert in your domain.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2012

Customers don’t like to see you learning on the job or outsourcing. Every partner and employee can kill your success potential in a heartbeat, so don’t take shortcuts on your hiring and training practices. Attract and retain the highly skilled and motivated people. Services people need to hit the ground running.

Satisfaction 91

Satisfaction Patents Outsource Development Services 91