Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2013

I have long advised startup companies that if you don’t control your messaging somebody else will and your potential customers will form impressions of you shaped by somebody else or by nobody at all. For 1991 I was very technical and also had a lot of practical business implementation experience in technology. ” F**k.

Technical Advisors 385

Technical Advisors Marketing Startup Venture Capital 385

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The sales professional.

Technical Advisors 57

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 57

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 2, 2013

I've had several Startup CTO Consulting sessions recently where it became apparent that the Founder needed help with the business and product as much or more than the technology. Then we discussed how they could go about finding this startup business advisor. These are not mutually exclusive and good mentors and advisors get into both.

CTO Coach 259

CTO Coach Mentor Startup Technical Advisors 259

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Most of the entrepreneurs I advise today are ready to declare success when they get that first surge of traction with a real customer. This is a good sign, but they have no idea that the hard work of scaling the business is still ahead of them. Evolving from an initial solution to a product line for growth.

Technical Advisors 83

Technical Advisors Tool Software Product 83

socalTECH

OCTOBER 24, 2011

Accelerator programs--like YCombinator in Silicon Valley, and TechStars in Colorado--have come to the forefront of the minds of entrepreneurs as a way to boost their ideas quickly into the market, find funding, and into existence. We're providing seed funding, office space, and put them through a three month, structured program.

Technical Advisors 176

Technical Advisors Startup Southern California Los Angeles 176

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

You have to get past how great the product is to address clearly what your business rationale is, why it is different from the competition''s, and why it will succeed. Show focus and your understanding that your company is something more than just a good idea. A winning product or service. Be concise as well as complete.

Technical Advisors 75

Technical Advisors Entrepreneur Equity Ideas 75

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2011

Because market is such a broad topic, I’m restricting these lessons to PR marketing (as opposed SEO, SEM, product marketing, etc.). My general rule is that it’s good to be stealth in the early days while you’re building your product and testing your market. Most people totally advise against stealth.

Marketing 380

Marketing Startup Press Technical Advisors 380

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 28, 2012

From visualization to conception, and actually taking the product to market, a company usually takes about 1-2 years to create. People had one minute to “pitch” their idea to the group as a whole. I was #33 to go up and pitch my idea. I was only able to create a team with non-technical business people and a designer.

Startup 99

Startup Technical Advisors Ideas USC 99

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

I spent nearly a decade building software for large companies and then advising companies on the same. So we discussed his ideas several times. So over several months I went through a few iterations on his idea. He would have found somebody technical and inspired that individual to work for equity or deferred payment.

Entrepreneur 414

Entrepreneur Technical Review Slides CTO Coach 414

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

You have to get past how great the product is to address clearly what your business rationale is, why it is different from the competition's, and why it will succeed. Show focus and your understanding that your company is something more than just a good idea. A winning product or service. Be concise as well as complete.

Technical Advisors 80

Technical Advisors Startup Equity Ideas 80

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2018

I made the jump myself from IBM several years ago, and now have a satisfying startup advising small businesses and mentoring entrepreneurs. Here are some attributes I look for in you: Have a passion for a new idea or cause to change the world. Focus on customer value in every job.

Startup 52

Startup Technical Advisors Entrepreneur IBM 52

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I would argue that this mostly consists of consumer Internet companies (although not exclusively) and it is predominantly early-stage people who are product gurus and have a mildly technical bend to them. I’m a product geek more than a spreadsheet ninja. The product feedback will be invaluable.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 4, 2009

If you’re thinking about joining as the director of marketing, product management manager, senior architect, international business development lead, etc. I advised against the SF role because it was a bigger company and his role would be pushing paper from one side of his desk to the other. Let’s face it.

Startup 418

Startup Technical Advisors Venture Capital Santa Monica 418

Tech.Co

MAY 22, 2018

It’s validating that there is a market for their idea. Try to compile all the different types of questions you could be asked about your business, like technical details, financial assumptions and projections, marketing, IP, etc., I would advise trying not to get into an argument with an investor. Prepare for Q&A.

Tips 70

Tips Help Slides Technical Review 70

SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

I am looking for one or two startups that I can work with on their road to success as a virtual C-level officer, board member, advisor or other relationship. This is actually fairly common and I think it’s a bit challenging in that the technology roles (from technology advisor to CTO) in a startup vary widely.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Technical Advisors CTO Coach Startup 170

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 17, 2009

I often talk with entrepreneurs who are kicking around their next idea. Sometimes they’re working full time at a company or sometimes they’ve already left their employer and they’re bouncing around ideas with friends. Even if you keep it dormant for 2 years while you work on your idea. Not worth it.

Startup 365

Startup Technical Advisors IP Ideas 365

Xconomy

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Each company is investing untold billions of dollars in developing AI technologies, betting on a future defined by computer systems that can perceive, reason, advise, and decide. Microsoft, meanwhile, announced a new 5,000-person group Thursday dedicated to the development of AI technologies and products that use them.

Artificial Inteligence 40

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Technical Advisors Research 40

Frank Addante

JUNE 4, 2006

Under Process, Over Deliver So, you need to develop a product? ▼ 2006 (20) ► December (2) Just Say What it Is 12 Proven Guidelines for Rapid Product Development. I decided that I was going to consult/advise a few companies and relax for a bit. So, I put him in charge of our data centers and technical operations.

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Email CTO Hire 40

Frank Addante

MAY 15, 2006

Under Process, Over Deliver So, you need to develop a product? ▼ 2006 (20) ► December (2) Just Say What it Is 12 Proven Guidelines for Rapid Product Development. They had products that were already in the market, piles of cash, tons of customers and revenue, seemingly endless resources and lots of employees.

Advertising 40

Advertising Startup Chief Technology Officer Technical Review 40