Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2010

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. Some startups do nothing to prepare for the due diligence process, assuming the people and business plan documents will speak for themselves.

Technical Review 91

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 91

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2023

In my own experience with technical startup founders, I still find it hard to name one who was also good, or even interested in financials or business operations. You need a dedicated team, gleaned from your network of informal connections between family members, friends, and individual relationships with other professionals.

Technical Review 149

Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur Software Review 149

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2023

Unfortunately many founders I work with as a mentor are experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team. Being visible and engaged on a random part-time basis, due to other jobs, won’t do it. Have monthly reviews with each team member. Ask what you can do for them in every review. Marty Zwilling

Technical Review 127

Technical Review Development Team Review Startup Activity 127

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2022

In addition to goodwill justified by a great leader and an outstanding team, investors will use their due diligence process to assess the organizational structure and effectiveness as well. They look for the use of talent analytics, such as productivity per employee, as well as the practices and attitude toward employee satisfaction.

Technical Review 129

Technical Review Funding Organization Coach 129

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2022

Acknowledge every customer feedback and review. For those of you who are fearful of a spurious negative review, I recommend that you proactively ask every customer for a positive review, such that any negatives will be lost in a sea of positives. Don’t let that one negative stand out as the only review submitted.

Technical Review 142

Technical Review Social Media Conference Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2020

Unfortunately many founders I work with as a mentor are experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team. Being visible and engaged on a random part-time basis, due to other jobs, won’t do it. Have monthly reviews with each team member. Ask what you can do for them in every review. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 130

Technical Review Startup Development Team Review Activity 130

TechEmpower

MARCH 4, 2024

Focusing on generative AI applications in a select few corporate functions can contribute to a significant portion of the technology's overall impact. Key Functions with High Impact Generative AI is revolutionizing sales by enabling dynamic pricing and personalized customer interactions, boosting conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

Generative AI 295

Generative AI TechEmpower CTO Hire Outsource Development 295

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2022

With social media and smart phone apps, real product information spreads at astounding speeds. Today’s customers are much more proactive in going online for the latest information, rather than simply reacting to the “push” messages that businesses traditionally use to drive commerce. The real problem is inflexible people.

Technical Review 151

Technical Review Organization Social Media Entrepreneur 151

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 If we build it, they will come” doesn’t work in today’s worldwide information overload. It takes the right team to build a great business.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2020

In addition to goodwill justified by a great leader and an outstanding team, investors will use their due diligence process to assess the organizational structure and effectiveness as well. They look for the use of talent analytics, such as productivity per employee, as well as the practices and attitude toward employee satisfaction.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Organization Coach Invest 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2017

After some review of available resources, I’m convinced that problem solving is a learnable trait, rather than just a birthright. Good problem solving requires making informed decisions, relying on logic. Whether you are charting new territory for pricing models or technology, there is rarely a perfect solution.

Satisfaction 53

Satisfaction Marketing Mentor Entrepreneur 53

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

With social media and smart phone apps, real product information spreads at astounding speeds. Today’s customers are much more proactive in going online for the latest information, rather than simply reacting to the “push” messages that businesses traditionally use to drive commerce. The real problem is inflexible people.

Tips 126

Tips Technical Review Organization Social Media 126

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2020

All of us are struggling to keep up in this age of technological acceleration, where we learn every day that we can’t trust links in our email, marketing guarantees, or phone requests from people we don’t know. For trust, they look online to see how you handle real support and satisfaction issues.

Customer 173

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2015

Unfortunately many founders I work with as a mentor are experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team. Being visible and engaged on a random part-time basis, due to other jobs, won’t do it. Have monthly reviews with each team member. Ask what you can do for them in every review. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 99

Technical Review Tips Development Team Review Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2018

I recently was an advisor to a very strong technical executive who insisted on “being involved” in literally every decision in his startup. He ignored my advice and ultimately lost several key executives, and then his own health, due to stress and workload. Relay regular informal observations on progress and results.

Technical Review 51

Technical Review Startup Training Netflix 51

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2021

Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and highlight several videos, podcasts, or eBooks of you and your technology. Highlight interviews and reviews from recognized industry sources, and news sources. Be consistent is their application, and provide contact information for both phone and email access.

Web 117

Web Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising 117

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2015

Great technology leads to innovative solutions that are possible, but not necessarily great businesses. Yet, due largely to non-technology business considerations, including pricing, safety concerns and support infrastructure, there are none that most people can name. Develop written business plans as detailed as product plans.

Technical Review 54

Technical Review Product Activity Technology 54

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2022

After some review of available resources, I’m convinced that problem solving is a learnable trait, rather than just a birthright. Good problem solving requires making informed decisions, relying on logic. Whether you are charting new territory for pricing models or technology, there is rarely a perfect solution.

Startup 135

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review 135

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

In addition to goodwill justified by a great leader and an outstanding team, investors will use their due diligence process to assess the organizational structure and effectiveness as well. They look for the use of talent analytics, such as productivity per employee, as well as the practices and attitude toward employee satisfaction.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Organization Coach Invest 100

InfoChachkie

MARCH 23, 2015

The concept was first introduced by Fred Reichheld in a 2003 Harvard Business Review article entitled "One Number You Need to Grow.". Such scores attempt to quantify a company’s overall customer satisfaction by asking customers, "How likely is it that you would recommend our company to a friend or colleague?"

.Net 100

.Net Startup Satisfaction Technical Review 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2016

Unfortunately many founders I work with as a mentor are experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team. Being visible and engaged on a random part-time basis, due to other jobs, won’t do it. Have monthly reviews with each team member. Ask what you can do for them in every review. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 54

Technical Review Development Team Review Startup Activity 54

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

I continue to collect great content that is the intersection of startups, products, online and technology. The United States is now a debtor nation to China and that the bill is about to come due. Want to know, for example, why Foursquare uses MongoDB to store check-in information? One out of ten of Americans are out of work.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2014

Some pundits argue that the E-Myth principle is now outdated, due to the instant access to information via the Internet, pervasive networking via social media, and courses on entrepreneurship at all levels of education. Hence most fail. Perhaps an innate business savvy is no longer a requirement for starting a successful business.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Technical Review 107

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2018

With social media and smart phone apps, real product information spreads at astounding speeds. Today’s customers are much more proactive in going online for the latest information, rather than simply reacting to the “push” messages that businesses traditionally use to drive commerce. The real problem is inflexible people.

Technical Review 68

Technical Review Organization Entrepreneur Social Media 68

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2015

With social media and smart phone conversations, real product information spreads at astounding speeds. Today’s customers are much more proactive in going online for the latest information, rather than simply reacting to the “push” messages that businesses traditionally use to drive commerce. The real problem is inflexible people.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Organization Entrepreneur Social Media 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2015

Gerber memorialized this concept many years ago in his classic book E-Myth , which postulates that most startups are initiated by entrepreneurs with technical skills, rather than business skills, resulting in a high failure rate. In fact, both customers and investors often avoid the perceived high risk of innovative technology pitches.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Startup Social Media Competition 60

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and highlight several videos, podcasts, or eBooks of you and your technology. Highlight interviews and reviews from recognized industry sources, and news sources. Be consistent is their application, and provide contact information for both phone and email access.

Search Engine Optimization 88

Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising SEO 88

Xconomy

OCTOBER 10, 2016

By popular acclaim, San Diego-based Echo Laboratories founder Eugene Cho claimed top honors, and a $15,000 check, for his two-minute presentation last week in the 10th annual “Quick Pitch” competition, hosted by San Diego’s Tech Coast Angels. Crowd Gathers for San Diego Tech Coast Angels “Quick Pitch” Competition.

Tech Coast Angels 40

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review San Diego Software Review 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2014

With social media and smart phone conversations, real product information spreads at astounding speeds. Today’s customers are much more proactive in going online for the latest information, rather than simply reacting to the “push” messages that businesses traditionally use to drive commerce. The real problem is inflexible people.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Entrepreneur Organization Social Media 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2013

Some pundits argue that the E-Myth principle is now out-dated, due to the instant access to information via the Internet, pervasive networking via social media, and courses on entrepreneurship at all levels of education. Hence most fail. Perhaps an innate business savvy is no longer a requirement for starting a successful business.

Startup 94

Startup Technical Review Social Media Satisfaction 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2017

Yet in this age of technology, many seem to favor tools and data to get the edge, or can’t find the time to talk to real people. Each time I mentor an entrepreneur, I learn new things about their technology, customers, and business domain. Meetings can be informal or structured. Expand your network on both sides (Networking).

Mentor 61

Mentor Technical Review LAMP Coach 61

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

After some review of available resources, I’m convinced that problem solving is a learnable trait, rather than just a birthright. Good problem solving requires making informed decisions, relying on logic. Whether you are charting new territory for pricing models or technology, there is rarely a perfect solution.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

For example, if your startup is building a high-tech software product, a dream team of advisors would be a former CEO or high-level exec in another software company, a former software marketing executive, and a former financial executive.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2011

For example, if your startup is building a high-tech software product, a dream team of advisors would be a former CEO or high-level exec in another software company, a former software marketing executive, and a former financial executive.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Eric Greenspan

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Even better, we resolved all of them to full satisfaction and refunded all monies requested. Our reporting system relies on an algorithm that takes into account a variety of business factors including complaint and other business information. Remember that incomplete or inaccurate information can affect your company’s rating.

Santa Barbara 265

Santa Barbara Technical Advisors Email Technical Review 265

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2013

Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. Highlight interviews and reviews from recognized industry sources, and news sources. Be consistent is their application, and provide contact information for both phone and email access.

Search Engine Optimization 105

Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising SEO 105

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2017

Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and highlight several videos, podcasts, or eBooks of you and your technology. Highlight interviews and reviews from recognized industry sources, and news sources. Be consistent is their application, and provide contact information for both phone and email access.

Search Engine Optimization 54

Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising SEO 54