Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 10, 2010

If I AM an investor, mentor, friend or advisor I accept the email being longer. Summary: Those the make it easier for others to help them will receive more help. Ask me something very narrow that I can answer without typing a whole blog post length response.

Help 332

Help Email Mentor Blogging 332

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

Or read the quick, informative summary below the image! Get connected to the right mentors and your business may catapult to the next level. I figured if Matt was on the verge of bankruptcy and one mentor changed his trajectory, what if we had a formalized, community-wide program? Here’s a summary of our interview.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Startup Customer Custom 304

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2017

Every entrepreneur can learn from a mentor, no matter how confident or successful they have been to date. Yet most entrepreneurs simply don’t know how to work with a mentor. Some of the best mentoring relationships don’t involve monetary compensation, but none are free. Agree on specific objectives and time frames.

Mentor 60

Mentor Startup Summary Satisfaction 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2022

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Startup 135

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review 135

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2021

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. An entrepreneur who can’t manage a plan, probably won’t be able to manage the new business.

Sample 137

Sample Writing Mentor Content 137

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. Executive summary glossy. Net out the problem and your solution in the first 30 seconds.

Entrepreneur 156

Entrepreneur Tips Funding Startup 156

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Or, as always, summary notes available below. But, in fact, I would rather have an executive summary than a pitch deck. And I would rather, even before the executive summary, have something to play with (a demo)…” It falls in the category of show don’t tell. Huge thank you to Steve De Long for the write up.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2022

You need to step out of your comfort zone to socialize, meet new people, and collaborate with peers, company leaders, and mentors. Internally, you may need a video summary report of monthly value. Seek expert mentors and always evaluate feedback. Career enhancing relationships still need real-time communication.

Social Media 125

Social Media Summary Startup Mentor 125

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

I saw a good summary of the most effective ways to source prospective investors in a classic book, “ The Art of Startup Fundraising ,” by Alejandro Cremades, who has been there and done that, both as an entrepreneur and an investor. Ask your business advisors for warm introductions.

Funding 173

Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2013

How to find a startup mentor. TapIt Media acquired for $23M by Phunware. In our features section: Interview with Blair Harrison of Frequency. 9 Ways socalTECH Can Help You With Your New Year's Resolutions. Southern California's Most Popular Tech Stories.

Southern California 168

Southern California Technical Review SoCal San Diego 168

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2021

But privately, as a mentor to many entrepreneurs, I see mindsets and attributes that may be equally critical to success, but are not readily admitted, for fear of being too wacky.

Entrepreneur 171

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Demand Customer 171

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2020

Workship - Mentor. Unlike the mentor, who is a coach and teacher, the advocate inspires you to be the best that you can be. This is a productive working relationship where one party, more knowledgeable and/or experienced, takes an active role in fostering the advance of the other. Workship - Advocate.

Mentor 135

Mentor Competition Summary Activity 135

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2022

I offer here their summary of purposes and inspirations that have motivated existing business leaders, with insights from my own mentoring and coaching experience. I urge you to assess yours, and listen to friends and mentors, to find and highlight a purpose that perhaps you didn’t even see in yourself.

Technical Review 143

Technical Review Coach Mentor Customer 143

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2020

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I often feel the frustration of someone trying to build a startup in the wrong place and time, and wrongly attributing their struggle to personal limitations. You need partners, mentors, and investors who can complement your own resources to make it a win-win for all involved.

Resource 131

Resource Startup Capital Mentor 131

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2020

I recall a good summary of how to motivate and train a team to accomplish this in the classic book, “ The Business of Creativity: How to Build the Right Team for Success ,” by Keith Granet. A single marketing coordinator can accelerate your efforts by being the coach and mentoring key members of the team on soft marketing.

Marketing 130

Marketing Develop Development Startup 130

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2014

Here is a summary of recommendations from both of us, based on my own business mentoring insights: Re-launch using your enhanced core competency. Find mentors who have the skills you lack. Proactively seek out mentors who will tell you what you need to hear, rather than what you want to hear.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor Summary 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2021

Based on my own years of experience helping new businesses grow, I’d like to offer my own summary of some key lower-level action items, which I believe every business professional and entrepreneur can learn and practice to their advantage: Show ambition and a sense of urgency in every role. Espouse a higher purpose than profit or recognition.

Coach 162

Coach Startup Resource Competition 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2015

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. An entrepreneur who can’t manage a plan, probably won’t be able to manage the new business.

Startup 109

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 109

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

YOU Selling – My wise old friend & mentor, Ameet Shah, once told me after a meeting we had with clients (when I worked at Accenture), “there are two ways to run a meeting: asking or telling. You’re a persuasive guy but be careful not to always be telling people the answer. Always “test your understanding.&#.

Sales 314

Sales Startup Venture Capital Customer 314

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2023

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. An entrepreneur who can’t manage a plan, probably won’t be able to manage the new business.

Startup 102

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 102

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2022

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, crowdfunding still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. As a summary, crowdfunding today can mean any one of the following five quite different models: Rewards model.

Funding 141

Funding Startup Outsource Development Satisfaction 141

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2019

Unfortunately, many aspiring leaders I mentor are not aware of the signals people are looking for, or are not attuned to the subtleties of their own actions. Show humility while acting as a mentor and coach. High-trust leaders see themselves as stewards, rather than owners, guiding people, assets, and decision making.

Mentor 98

Mentor News Summary Coach 98

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

I admit that I haven’t yet read it but I’ve had numerous discussions with Brad over the years about board structure & conduct and consider him a mentor on the topic. I should note that my friend Brad Feld has written a new book on the subject that I would recommend if you want the bible on the topic. In the Early Days.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2014

The basic components are obvious: talented founders, great engineers, angel money, venture capital, access to larger corporates (for business, funding & talent), great education / research (for IP breakthroughs) and a sufficient ecosystem of mentors, advisors, executive coaches and mavens. It should play to its strengths.

Startup 390

Startup Venture Capital Capital Funding 390

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

An elevator pitch is a problem-solution summary that anyone can understand in a sixty-second ride up to their office in an elevator. There are many resources out there to help you make it happen, including incubators, accelerators, advisors, mentors, and even investors. Avoid fuzzy goals, like making big money or being a market leader.

Writing 139

Writing Startup Summary Activity 139

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

This is just a quick summary. They have aggregated talent into similar locations to learn from each other and made it easier for high-profile mentors to meet many companies at once. We have some plans in the work for Phase III of Launchpad. What have I learned? What does this say about accelerators in general?

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Here is a summary of indicative facts from the earlier study referenced, an update published last year, and others. With longer life expectancies and greater health in later life, older generations are moving to start new firms -- and mentor young entrepreneurs. percent to 23.4 percent last year.

Entrepreneur 118

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Technical Support 118

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2013

Workship - Mentor. Unlike the mentor, who is a coach and teacher, the advocate inspires you to be the best that you can be. This is a productive working relationship where one party, more knowledgeable and/or experienced, takes an active role in fostering the advance of the other. Workship - Advocate.

Startup 99

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Competition 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2020

But in my experience as a startup mentor, I find that the happiest and most successful entrepreneurs in the long-term are those that continually stretch themselves to get comfortable in the leadership role. Every entrepreneur already knows that building a startup is all about experimentation, new experiences, and problem solving.

Startup 124

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Summary 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 9, 2023

I always suggest that you offer a summary of your business and personal background as a level-set for finding common ground in a relationship, and setting a basis for future sharing. Effective networking can also lead you to great coaches and mentors, as well as business and customer connections.

Networking 104

Networking Mentor Conference Summary 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2022

Participate as a mentor in local startup incubators. Incubators are a great place to learn about potentially great startups, and participating as a mentor helps you learn which ones are a good fit for you. Liquidity events include merger or acquisition (M&A), or Initial Public Offering (IPO) when the stock goes public.

Startup 120

Startup Invest Equity Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2011

The authors observe that people who behave as mentors tend to have an uncanny ability to recognize and nurture people who have innate capabilities along these lines. Here is a summary of the characteristics they and you should look for: Thinkers and problem solvers. Innovators are naturally creative and love new challenges.

Startup 92

Startup Mentor Competition Ideas 92

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2019

With the current strong economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. In summary, a reverse merger, or going public through the “normal” IPO process should never be seen as just a way to fund your startup.

Summary 121

Summary Startup Entrepreneur Funding 121

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2023

I recall a good summary of how to motivate and train a team to accomplish this in the classic book, “ The Business of Creativity: How to Build the Right Team for Success ,” by Keith Granet. A single marketing coordinator can accelerate your efforts by being the coach and mentoring key members of the team on soft marketing.

Startup 95

Startup Coach Mentor Social Media 95

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2012

Here is a summary of indicative facts from the earlier study referenced, an update published last year, and others. With longer life expectancies and greater health in later life, older generations are moving to start new firms -- and mentor young entrepreneurs.

Startup 112

Startup Technical Review Technical Support Study 112

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2023

Many of you business professionals I meet in my business consulting and mentoring roles seem very determined to advance their career, or even start their own business. We all need help in achieving our objectives, whether it be mentoring, education, or resources. Don’t underestimate your own capability or potential.

Startup 100

Startup Mentor Education Summary 100