Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2013

What I’m talking about here is a level of discipline and skill necessary to collect and analyze the relevant business data, known as metrics. As the end of the year approaches, it’s a good time for every startup to assess the metrics, technology, and platforms they’re using to manage the business. Cost of customer acquisition.

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Metrics Technical Review Sales Customer 100

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 26, 2010

I’ve been having discussions with several people recently about the role of the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) in very early stage companies. 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?

Fractional CTO 225

Fractional CTO CTO CTO Hire CTO Coach 225

Berkonomics

JANUARY 16, 2014

All parties need to perform due diligence to ensure that the assumptions are correct, that neither partner has financial issues which could affect the partnership, and that the opposite partner has the skills to contribute to the partnership. Access to new technologies. Review financial statements – up to 3 years if available.

Technical Review 204

Technical Review Startup Examples Metrics 204

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 166

Metrics Software Review Research Startup 166

socalTECH

MARCH 25, 2020

Los Angeles-based Triton Digital , which provides technology to help the digital audio and podcasting industry with streaming and advertising, says that news and talk format streaming is growing as a result of the ongoing disruption due to COVID-19. READ MORE>>.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review News Report Metrics 124

SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

What are the biggest areas of technical risk? What technology research is required? What technologies will we use? What do we need to do to make sure we can survive technical due diligence by investors and partners? What specific technical innovations might make sense? How can we address this risk?

CTO Coach 231

CTO Coach CTO Hire Outsource Development Develop 231

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2013

It is what is commonly referred to as “vanity metrics” as in, “Look at how many more followers I got us! But until recently we had not made these tools available to non-technical people – namely marketers who want to control their campaigns without necessarily wanting to call in the IT team to implement tools.

Marketing 307

Marketing Technical Review Startup Tool 307

TechEmpower

JULY 24, 2023

At TechEmpower, we frequently talk to startup founders, CEOs, product leaders, and other innovators about their next big tech initiative. After all, that’s what tech innovation is all about. What are your key Startup Metrics ? Do you have a custom algorithm or other technology? Is anyone working with you on this?

Develop 520

Develop Development Technical Review SEO 520

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. I’m guessing much of this was 101 to many readers.

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

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

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

And then in the late 90’s money crept in, swept in to town by public markets, instant wealth and an absurd sky-rocketing of valuations based on no reasonable metrics. Almost no financings, many VCs and tech startups cratered for the second time in less than a decade following the dot com bursting.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

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

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

I have been close to the tech & startup sectors for more than 20 years and I can’t think of a period in which I felt more optimistic about the innovation and value creation I see in front of us. This world of local meets retail meets digital advertising portends to technology disruption and with it VC opportunities.

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Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Startup 347

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. Provide training, tools, and required decision authority.

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Customer Custom Technical Review Metrics 147

socalTECH

DECEMBER 20, 2017

link] A year in review: productboard’s top 10 posts from 2017 was originally published in The Age of Product Discovery on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story. some way of being able to see and experience the future of an idea [where doing so in words would fall short].”

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Technical Review Metrics Ideas Product 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

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

The Port of Los Angeles reported late Friday that it has received a preliminary award of $41M, from the California Air Resource Board (CARB), for a high tech hydrogen fuel cell freight project. According to the Port, the project will help reduce 465 metric tons of greenhouse gas and 0.72 READ MORE>>.

Los Angeles 138

Los Angeles Angel Riverside Technical Review 138

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.

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Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2021

Most of the entrepreneurs I meet as an investor and advisor have no shortage of right-brain thinking, showing vision and creativity, but often don’t realize that their potential is being limited by a balancing focus on results, metrics, and customer specifics. Every balanced leader does marketing early.

Technical Review 133

Technical Review Satisfaction Metrics Startup 133

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 4, 2013

But when you create a product for a large segment of users who previously couldn’t afford products due to price or complexity and if that product can work at “Internet scale” you have the chance to do something truly amazing. The team has stated it and has built metrics around key goals for future success.

Startup 401

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 401

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

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

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. Earliest warning metrics: What good is information if you can’t act upon it in a timely manner?

Metrics 184

Metrics Software Review Technical Review Statistics 184

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 17, 2018

You get to have interesting conversations with founders and review business plans and then see how these businesses evolve over the years. " Revenue doesn't pay your bills, GM does  —  @msuster 2/ Founders obsess with revenue as a vanity metric. Some even grow "bad" revenue just to show growth.

Software Review 242

Software Review Technical Review Pricing Metrics 242

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. He called me 15 months later excited to show me his metrics and wanted to talk about his A round. He’s an incredibly smart investor and somebody that I actually consider to be a mentor to myself. Fair enough.

Venture Capital 333

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Email 333

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

They’re easily impressed when you’re selected for TechCrunch50 but not easily engaged in a detailed discussion about your conversion metrics. He also had experience in setting up tech development centers in India. I personally ruled out Pakistan due to the perception that our staff would feel less safe there.

Venture Capital 297

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur 297

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. That most of our ideas will not work, but we need to review why each one failed and what we can learn from them in order to progress.

Metrics 87

Metrics Email Startup Technical Review 87

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 Bill Gates was the technical genius, but Steve Ballmer, from Procter & Gamble, ran the business side of the equation.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

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. So it makes me laugh to this day when I talk with a journalist or potential investor in the company and they ask flippantly, “How is MakeSpace a technology company?”

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

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. Find metrics that will be “leading indicators” of trouble to come. Managers need real time information.

Metrics 156

Metrics Software Review Technical Review Statistics 156

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 25, 2015

The law of large numbers, platforms that can make your company blow up unexpectedly and the trendy nature of tech markets can be deceiving. Or app companies that went viral due to spammy friend requests to download in an app store only to have a community backlash and subsequent crash. Not vanity metrics.

Product 150

Product Startup Metrics Technical Review 150

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.

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Startup Resource Metrics Technical Review 155

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 18, 2022

Unlike other alternative protein companies that are developing new technology, the company is tapping into existing technology used to make foods like pasta and cereal to make whole cuts of its product that is then formed into nuggets for now, and in the future, tenders and cutlets.

Software Review 187

Software Review Metrics Startup Technical Review 187

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2019

Unit costs are important, but don’t forget about the cash flow hit, extra storage costs, and the probability of obsolete inventory due to necessary updates or pivots. It’s no secret that some people are more productive than others, due to skills, training, or commitment. Use multiple small orders at first.

Outsource Development 122

Outsource Development Outsource Metrics Technical Review 122

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. But we do it anyway, because we believe that the short-term metrics probably aren’t indicative of the long term.”. Don’t Chase The Quick Buck.

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Tips Startup Framework Customer 279