SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

For example it includes the following kinds of things that a CTO should be addressing, but that may not be part of the expectation, time allocation, etc. What are the biggest areas of technical risk? What technology research is required? What technologies will we use? What specific technical innovations might make sense?

CTO Coach 231

CTO Coach CTO Hire Outsource Development Develop 231

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

There has been a lot of public debate over the past several weeks about whether it’s a good thing to be “gross margin positive” or not and commentary always reminds me that some people at startups don’t quite understand financial metrics or even how to think about which ones are healthy. So you actually lost $50 acquiring that customer.

Metrics 150

Metrics Startup SaaS Course 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 6, 2021

A closer analysis often indicates the cause to be a lack of diligence in handling common business finances. A required metric is average days to payment compared to expectations. If you fail to pay a cash obligation when it is due, the business is technically insolvent. This difference will kill your profit margin.

Technical Review 151

Technical Review Startup Summary Pricing 151

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Exec Summary: Most companies (98+%) in the world (even tech startups) should be very profit focused. If you spent the 3 years perfecting some hugely differentiated technology IP that may also be different. Fast early growth in a market is often eroded when competition gets fierce and prices are forced down due to competition.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 23, 2021

For example, I commonly see metrics to keep track of revenue per employee, overtime, and absenteeism, but I don’t often see measures of overall customer satisfaction with individual employees. Incentives should be a combination of metrics and recognition to highlight results. Incent and reward employees who delight customers.

Customer 147

Customer Custom Technical Review Metrics 147

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

In a move to convert that huge pile of data into something much more meaningful, Los Angeles-based Ninja Metrics (www.ninjametrics.com) launched a new predictive analytics product for the industry. The company announced a first round of funding Monday for its technology. Explain what Ninja Metrics is doing? READ MORE>>.

Metrics 113

Metrics Software Review Research Startup 113

Berkonomics

AUGUST 15, 2013

And with the rise of modern technology-driven businesses, the same is true of management in the business world. You should consider creating such a dashboard, or reviewing the one you use if already driving with one at hand. An example would be a real time display of the value of the dollar against the yen.

Metrics 184

Metrics Software Review Statistics Technical Review 184

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

For example, a recent phone call I had with a young entrepreneur straight out of one of the most prestigious engineering schools in America he asked, “I have an offer for $400,000 in seed money but the VC wants me to agree now to bring in a new CEO.&# This company is doing its SEED round and they already want to bring someone new in.

Venture Capital 297

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur 297

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

New entrepreneurs, especially technical ones, are excited by early adopters, and tend to focus on their feedback, which will always suggest more product features and options. It’s important to define your growth strategy, document it, communicate it to your team, and align metrics and employee rewards to target goals.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2014

I reviewed a deal for a friend of mine tonight. He wanted to know what I thought of his technology deal. I always ask when somebody sends me a deal, for example, are you already a shareholder in the company? He called me 15 months later excited to show me his metrics and wanted to talk about his A round. Fair enough.

Venture Capital 333

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Email 333

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

In a move to convert that huge pile of data into something much more meaningful, Los Angeles-based Ninja Metrics (www.ninjametrics.com) launched a new predictive analytics product for the industry. The company announced a first round of funding Monday for its technology. Explain what Ninja Metrics is doing? READ MORE>>.

Metrics 100

Metrics Software Review Research Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2012

A closer analysis often indicates the cause to be a lack of diligence in handling common business finances. A required metric is average days to payment compared to expected. If you fail to pay a cash obligation when it is due, the business is technically insolvent. This difference will kill your profit margin.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur Summary 109

Berkonomics

JULY 9, 2020

And with the rise of modern technology-driven businesses, the same is true of management in the business world. You should consider creating such a dashboard or reviewing the one you use if already driving with one at hand. An example would be a real time display of the value of the dollar against the yen.

Metrics 156

Metrics Software Review Statistics Technical Review 156

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2013

A closer analysis often indicates the cause to be a lack of diligence in handling common business finances. A required metric is average days to payment compared to expectations. If you fail to pay a cash obligation when it is due, the business is technically insolvent. This difference will kill your profit margin.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Entrepreneur Summary Pricing 100

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. Another firm we saw tried to raise $15 million at a $60 million pre-money with similar metrics.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

If you are the hot-shot technical innovator that invented your solution, make sure you have an equally adept business and marketing expert to complement your skills. “If For example, I believe Bill Gates would have failed without his partners Steve Ballmer and Paul Allen. It takes the right team to build a great business.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2020

For example, if your idea is so new and different that it implies real social or technological change is necessary before widespread acceptance, investors will define your market as nascent or unproven, and be very reluctant to fund you, no matter how convincing your projections may be.

Marketing 174

Marketing Startup Artificial Inteligence Technical Review 174

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 18, 2022

Investment into alternative proteins, for example, plant-based meats and dairy substitutes was $5 billion in 2021, according to both the Good Food Institute and Crunchbase data. That is key to our differentiation because some other companies are limited by their technology to only be able to do one format.”.

Software Review 187

Software Review Metrics Startup Technical Review 187

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

Words alone, like “improved efficiency”, “paradigm shift,” and “breakthrough technology” won’t convince people to follow you. For example, early adopters may be easily sold, but new technology product success really hinges on adoption by certain demographics, perhaps more influenced by celebrities or mommy bloggers.

Startup 155

Startup Resource Metrics Technical Review 155

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 28, 2011

To prove that point, tonight I had the privilege of hearing him speak at Lean LA , a Los Angeles group that helps high tech start-ups build great companies on a budget. And he showed us examples how implementing his team’s innovations directly sky rocketed company sales. Noah has what I believe he called “Thank You metrics”.

Metrics 87

Metrics Email Startup Technical Review 87

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Nearly every successful tech startup I’ve observed over the past 20 years has gone through a similar growth pattern: Innovate, systematize then scale operations. An example of the systems companies build are pricing & revenue management tools to best help to optimize yield. Seriously, this happens.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

I review these tenets with my entrepreneurial students at UC Santa Barbara at the beginning of each quarter to reinforce many of the key topics we will cover in the following weeks. Our third-party seller business is an example of that. He was not an expert in technology, inventory logistics or publishing.

Tips 279

Tips Startup Framework Customer 279

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

How Most Board Meeting Prep Works I’ve been sitting on tech boards for two decades so I have some experience with what goes wrong. Often board members themselves don’t do the work to say “what metrics would we like to see.” If you have some key metrics or financial figures that go with the pre-read even better.

Startup 226

Startup Slides Metrics News 226

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Pro tip: take on the mantle of book editor for a major tech publication, and the publishers will mail you books for free. Startups either get three dozen term sheets or none at all, since every firm is walking around with the same frameworks and metrics in their head. Quality tech news from around the web. What a boring mess.

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2018

Most great crowdfunding campaigns, for example, are the result of momentum built through social media. Unfortunately, your personal assessment that you have traction probably won’t be convincing to potential investors and partners, so it’s important that you create and track your progress against some metrics.

Tips 79

Tips Metrics Technical Review Customer 79

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2022

In my experience, the good news is that everyone is becoming more and more comfortable with relationships via the new media and technology. Maximize online referrals and positive service reviews. I still find too many service organizations that ignore or discount online reviews and satisfaction surveys.

Services 121

Services Technical Review Social Media Case Study 121

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2016

For example, Elon Musk is recognized as a visionary entrepreneur, but his fortune and his impact has come from the great companies he has built, including SpaceX, Tesla Motors, and PayPal. Sets goals and milestones, with metrics to track progress. They define metrics for each goal, and diligently track themselves against these metrics.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Metrics Ideas 106

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2022

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or angel investors in Arizona, where I live. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Arizona or a similar location.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Oracle Software Review Ideas 123

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

According to a recent Harvard Business Review article , only 60% of companies today use social media for marketing, and only 12% of those feel that they are using it effectively. Successful people don’t wait for their kids to teach them about new technologies, or wait to be the last one on the block to try new things.

Social Media 115

Social Media Media Startup Social Network 115

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2014

Words alone, like “improved efficiency”, “paradigm shift,” and “breakthrough technology” won’t convince people to follow you. For example, early adopters may be easily sold, but new technology product success really hinges on adoption by certain demographics, perhaps more influenced by celebrities or mommy bloggers.

Startup 108

Startup Resource Metrics Technical Review 108

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 13, 2013

The nuts and bolts of our tech company is that CMS in the middle, the connection engine. When I went full-time, I did not have the full-time support on the tech side I wanted. So, I have no tech support right now. Which I have shown to do, but anybody who invests in tech, invests in team. It’s a huge challenge for me.

Technical Review 87

Technical Review Mobile Startup Los Angeles 87

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

My simple answer is that they keep their focus on customers, rather than technology. They present a convincing story that every entrepreneur has the same potential, but most get sidetracked and bogged down by their technology, competitors, and internal organization. Incorporate AI-powered data and metrics systems.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Customer Custom 123

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 24, 2010

Someone must define the universe of ideas to be reviewed at the outset of the process, otherwise the task is impossibly inefficient. Every Friday, Motown personnel convened to review the songs chosen by Mr. Gordy from those recorded during the prior week. Evaluate each of the following metrics on a scale of 1 – 10.

Ideas 187

Ideas Resource Technical Review Startup 187

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

The Dashboard offers a bird's-eye view of projects, letting you see key metrics such as due dates, assigned cards, and cards-per-list so bottlenecks can be prevented before they begin. The Calendar displays start dates, due dates, and advanced checklist items at-a-glance so you can see exactly what needs doing and when.

Software Review 136

Software Review Guide Technical Review Class 136

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2013

Words alone, like “improved efficiency”, “paradigm shift,” and “breakthrough technology” won’t convince people to follow you. For example, early adopters may be easily sold, but new technology product success really hinges on adoption by certain demographics, perhaps more influenced by celebrities or mommy bloggers.

Startup 101

Startup Resource Metrics Technical Review 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2015

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or Angel investors in Phoenix, Arizona, where I live. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Phoenix or a similar location.

Startup 109

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 109

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2013

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or Angel investors in Phoenix, Arizona, where I live. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Phoenix or a similar location.

Startup 102

Startup Technical Review Oracle Entrepreneur 102