Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

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 152

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 152

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2010

This is the dreaded “due diligence” process. In my view, understanding due diligence can only improve information flow, and leads to a better long-term partnership with your investor. Technical due diligence typically starts with a full one or two day review with the engineering and product marketing staff.

Technical Review 90

Technical Review Writing Competition Tips 90

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2012

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 98

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Training 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Funding Innocal Offshore 124

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

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 30, 2018

NASA has a big message for Elon Musk , the technology mogul behind Los Angeles-based rocket firm SpaceX : smoke marijuana on a podcast again, and SpaceX will lose its opportunity to launch astronauts into space. READ MORE>>.

Technical Review 157

Technical Review SpaceX Organization Examples 157

TechEmpower

JULY 31, 2023

Proving your Business Model Works - Build, Define, and Review But how do you prove your numbers? Finally, review the numbers with your partners. channels (search, social, viral, new media), cost-efficient distribution We often reference Dave’s work when talking to innovators. Don’t worry about scaling just yet.

Metrics 260

Metrics Startup Slides Technical Review 260

SoCal CTO

MARCH 9, 2010

In my post, Technology Roles in Startups , I described some of the different ways I engage with startup companies such as CTO Founder , CTO , Part-Time CTO , Acting CTO , Consultant, Advisor and Advisory Board Member. Now, most often technical advisors are part of a broader advisory board. In Why assemble an advisory board?

CTO Coach 150

CTO Coach Technical Review Technology CTO Hire 150

TechEmpower

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Are specific technologies or platforms involved in your project? Do they have experience with the technologies involved in your project? What are the review periods and your responsibility in the process? References: The company should willingly provide references. Or is your project a clean slate?

Software Development 295

Software Development Software Review Develop Development 295

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

The practical uses for uBeam technology is limitless. Did anybody hold patents that would prevent us from using this technology? I seldom hire patent attorneys during due diligence but this was too important. We hired IP specialists to review prior art. Did the physics actually work? Was it safe? It was impressive.

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 24, 2018

Usually after a Monday partner meeting you get a pretty strong: Yes, term sheet coming No, sorry we’re passing Maybe, we need to do more due diligence / analysis / work I always counsel founders that “good news comes early” so if you haven’t heard by Tuesday at noon chances are it wasn’t likely a clean “yes.”

Venture Capital 314

Venture Capital Technical Review Invest Slides 314

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2022

From an entrepreneur perspective, here are the key barrier-to-understanding elements: Unclear frame of reference. Whenever you discuss any startup matter, the receivers will view it from their particular frame of reference, including their values, their priorities, and their background. Technical semantics and jargon.

Technical Review 137

Technical Review Entrepreneur Guide Mentor 137

Tech.Co

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Verifying Get the latest tech news, straight to your inbox Don't miss out on the top business tech news with Tech.co's weekly highlights reel Please fill in your name Please fill in your email Subscribe By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Deadline: October 31 Learn more and apply here 2.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Design News 160

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Most technical entrepreneurs focus hard on building an innovative product, but forget that an elegant solution doesn’t automatically translate into a successful business. Defining the right business model requires the same diligence as designing the right product, but the approach and skills required are different.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Pricing Software Review Customer 88

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2022

He found that the return was far greater than the cost of donated shoes, and his team became intensely loyal, due to the opportunity to travel and deliver shoes in other countries. These authors reference real cases and real business leaders, based on their decades of experience in building companies and executive coaching.

Technical Review 143

Technical Review Coach Mentor Customer 143

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2021

Most technical entrepreneurs focus hard on building an innovative product, but forget that an elegant solution doesn’t automatically translate into a successful business. Defining the right business model requires the same diligence as designing the right product, but the approach and skills required are different.

Product 159

Product Technical Review Pricing Software Review 159

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2014

We did a full-court press led by Steven because once we decided this was the team we wanted to work with and this opportunity mapped to our belief system that content + tech will build a generation of great Internet companies. Tech Market Analysis Upfront Ventures' Clear path to execution. Ability to build without a massive budget.

Funding 373

Funding Technical Review Startup Screening 373

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2013

The most likely outcome if you manage to interest the senior exec (for the sake of this post let me call her the CEO) is that she will refer you down the organization to somebody who would be involved in the decision. We will have to build (or buy) technology in this area.” The benefits of this are clear: 1.

Sales 375

Sales Technical Review Organization Case Study 375

SoCal CTO

APRIL 27, 2011

I'd suggest: Startup CTO or Developer , Startup Founder Developer Gap , Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , CTO Founder , Acting CTO. Interviewing them is also tough, especially if you are not yourself technical. Get a Technology Advisor that can help. This happens A LOT among technical people. This is a must.

CTO Hire 282

CTO Hire CTO Coach Technical Review Startup 282

SoCal CTO

APRIL 27, 2011

I'd suggest: Startup CTO or Developer , Startup Founder Developer Gap , Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , CTO Founder , Acting CTO. Interviewing them is also tough, especially if you are not yourself technical. Get a Technology Advisor that can help. This happens A LOT among technical people. This is a must.

CTO Hire 225

CTO Hire CTO Coach Technical Review Startup 225

socalTECH

OCTOBER 22, 2020

Krisztina Holly: We are an early stage fund, known for our ability to discovery and cultivate very complex science and technology deals. We just launched a third, $100M fund focused on seed to Series A investments in transformative science and technology companies. We do pre-Seed to Series A deals. That's where we add value.

Southern California 124

Southern California Capital Technical Review Startup 124

socalTECH

JANUARY 28, 2014

Los Angeles-based technology incubator and studio Science --headed by former MySpace CEO Mike Jones--has launched a new startup in the Internet marketplace area, called HomeHero this morning. The Santa Monica-based startup is initially targeting the Los Angeles region with its services. HomeHero''s founders are Kyle Hill and Mike Townsend.

Incubator 164

Incubator Santa Monica Technical Review Los Angeles 164

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2022

In fact, it’s all about the “focus” required to get early stage technology products across the deadly chasm from early adopters to mainstream customers. There are other chasms out there just as deadly as the technology one, such as the ones below: Market requirements chasm. Product development chasm. Marketing and sales chasm.

Startup 150

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2015

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more new business solutions than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. Define milestones for cost review and sign-off. Change requests must be visibly reviewed by executives frequently.

Technical Review 104

Technical Review Product Software Review High Tech 104

InfoChachkie

JULY 7, 2016

In contrast, we value entrepreneurs' time and thus our diligence generally includes introducing them to potential customers and partners. Entrepreneurs often suggest customer references that arose from a highly curated introduction or prior relationship. Customers Are All That Matter.

Venture Capital 176

Venture Capital Product Software Review Technical Review 176

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2022

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. The result is that over 60% of online shoppers are brand loyal due to other online satisfaction data.

Customer 122

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 122

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2019

From an entrepreneur perspective, here are the key barrier-to-understanding elements: Unclear frame of reference. Whenever you discuss any startup matter, the receivers will view it from their particular frame of reference, including their values, their priorities, and their background. Technical semantics and jargon.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Entrepreneur Guide Mentor 94

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2022

As a potential investor, I always think of the high rate of failure of disruptive technologies, due to the longer learning curve of customers, infrastructure change consistently required, and higher marketing costs. Technology is great, but high-tech major-step-forward solutions are not the answer to all our change challenges.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Metrics Resource Software Review 101

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2012

For the last week of the year, we're featuring the thoughts and reflections of some of the movers and shakers of Southern California's high tech community. We asked the same four questions of a variety of top technology entrepreneurs, investors, and others, to hear what they're thinking about, and are sharing it here over the next week.

Southern California 173

Southern California Technical Review High Tech San Diego 173

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2013

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. This term refers to the penchant to add just one more feature to the product or service before first delivery, just because you can.

Technical Review 110

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2017

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. The result is that over 60% of online shoppers are brand loyal due to other online satisfaction data.

Technical Review 55

Technical Review Technology Social Media Social Network 55

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

SoCal Tech Calendar

APRIL 6, 2012

The Road to Smart Vehicles: An Industry Review of Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications. The objective is the ability of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-roadside communications (in combination referred to as V2X), enabling a range of features to warn drivers of upcoming dangers.

Technical Review 113

Technical Review Technology Develop Development 113

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2022

Underestimate the importance of due diligence. No matter how good a supplier or investor story sounds, it is not smart to skip the reference and credit checks. Prioritize your tasks, take advantage of technology, and constantly optimize your processes. Quality works at a thousand times the pace of quantity.

Startup 100

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 100

SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

While I do fill that role at the moment, I'm a little hesitant to refer to myself as a CTO as we still haven't launched a product, acquired a single user, or turned or a penny in profit. What are the biggest areas of technical risk? What technology research is required? What technologies will we use?

CTO Coach 231

CTO Coach CTO Hire Outsource Development Develop 231