Steve Blank

JANUARY 5, 2023

We just wrapped up the second year of our Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition class – now part of our Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. government agencies, our federal research labs, and government contractors no longer have exclusive access to these advanced technologies.

Technical Review 376

Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Technology China 376

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

This is the mysterious and dreaded due diligence process, which can kill the whole deal. Some entrepreneurs do very little to prepare for due diligence, assuming all the talking has already been done, and the business plan and results to-date tell the right story. My best advice is to stick to the middle ground.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Startup Term Sheet 120

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

The market was down considerably with public valuations down 53–79% across the four sectors we were reviewing (it is since down even further). ==> Aside, we also have a NEW LA-based partner I’m thrilled to announce: Nick Kim. First in late-stage tech companies and then it will filter back to Growth and then A and ultimately Seed Rounds.

Technical Review 416

Technical Review Pre-Money Valuation San Francisco Valuation 416

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2022

The same goes for business deals that fail during acquisitions or when it is time for you to retire. Quality of your technical and business teams. Back in the early days of the personal computer, Bill Gates and Microsoft were widely recognized and having the strongest technical culture, as well as a commanding marketing presence.

Valuation 368

Valuation Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor 368

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. In most companies, maintaining momentum requires the right strategic partners and acquisitions, in lieu of short-term price adjustments and special sales.

Technical Review 400

Technical Review Technical Cofounder Advisory Board Cofounder 400

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 15, 2020

We just held our fifth session of our new national security class Technology, Innovation and Modern War. Joe Felter , Raj Shah and I designed a class to examine the new military systems, operational concepts and doctrines that will emerge from 21st century technologies – Space, Cyber, AI & Machine Learning and Autonomy.

Technical Review 399

Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Technology United States 399

Steve Blank

JANUARY 11, 2022

We just had our final session of our Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition class. 20+ guest speakers on technology and its impact on national power – prior secretaries of defense and state, current and prior National Security council members, four-star generals who lead service branches. Lectures/Class discussion.

Technical Review 330

Technical Review Technology Taiwan Venture Capital 330

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2022

As a business consultant and angel investor, I often ask for your own assessment of marketing ROI , or customer acquisition cost (CAC). If you think it’s hard to get the technical systems to talk to each other, I have found that it’s even harder to bridge the gulf between the various professionals who interpret them. Don’t forget it.

Acquisition 250

Acquisition Cost Customer Sales Cycle 250

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. Needed help can be your biggest burden.

Technical Review 329

Technical Review Merger Software Review Acquisition 329

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2022

The key elements of leadership in a company, both individual and organizational, are less tangible, but very critical in setting a market value for investment, acquisition, or going public. Organizations are assigned value by how well they take advantage of the best technology, and turn information into action.

Technical Review 323

Technical Review Due Diligence Valuation Leadership 323

ConversionXL

JULY 22, 2021

The technical elements of your website’s SEO are crucial to search performance. In this article, you’ll learn how to conduct a technical SEO audit to find and fix issues in your website’s structure. Using a technical SEO audit to improve your SEO performance. Think of a technical SEO audit as a website health check.

Technical Review 162

Technical Review SEO Software Review XML 162

VC Cafe

MARCH 16, 2025

Mention that you do “Consumer tech” as a startup founder and you’d be limiting your funding options to one third of the venture capital funds (in Israel that figure is probably closer to 10%). Until now, consumer tech was perceived as a risky binary investment.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review B2C Generative AI IPO 78

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2020

The key elements of leadership in a company, both individual and organizational, are less tangible, but very critical in setting a market value for investment, acquisition, or going public. Organizations are assigned value by how well they take advantage of the best technology, and turn information into action.

Valuation 311

Valuation Technical Review Due Diligence Leadership 311

The Startup Magazine

JANUARY 21, 2025

The Shift to Sustainable Transport Transportation is changing quickly due to growing concerns about the environment. Entrepreneurs entering this field should consider adopting environmentally friendly technologies to stay competitive. The initial purchase price of electric and hybrid cars tends to be higher.

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Government Operations Demand 144

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.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Technical Review LP Mobile 347

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

In 2007, I graduated United States Air Force Academy as a computer engineer and entered the Air Force’s acquisition corps , excited and confident about my ability to bring technology to bear for our airmen. And I couldn’t have been put in a better place: testing the Air Force’s newest network security acquisitions.

Lean 271

Lean Technical Review Acquisition Software Review 271

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 24, 2017

A version of this article is in the Harvard Business Review. Technology cycles have become a treadmill, and for startups to survive they need to be on a continuous innovation cycle. 20th Century Tech Liquidity = Initial Public Offering. Technology Cycles Measured in Years. This seems to be occurring more and more.

Founder 281

Founder Technical Review CTO Hire IPO 281

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2012

This has value now, and is critical for maximum value in a merger or acquisition. Allows sufficient time to find capital, including due diligence time for investors. The technology or product may be at an embryonic stage. Not in a heated rush. Calm and self-assured, rather than desperate.

Technical Review 294

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 294

SiliconHills

MAY 22, 2023

Austin-based Setpoint has acquired Resolute Diligence Solutions, which provides asset-level reviews for real estate loans. Setpoint’s capital and technology platform enables real-estate, auto, consumer, and other asset-backed borrowers to offer next-generation credit options to […]

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Acquisition Austin Technology 124

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

The “span of control” for a growing tech startup is probably 6-9 people. You help them prioritize their objectives and review the results. They review competitors offerings and analyst reports. The “doers” in your organization. You set direction. You hire great people. You course correct.

CTO Hire 385

CTO Hire Entrepreneur Technical Review Leadership 385

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In my experience, even in startups, longer-term strategy often gets pushed off the agenda due to current challenges. Get outside the company regularly to get feedback on future customer needs, emerging technologies, and the views of influencers and experts in the field. Connect operations today with long-term goals.

Technical Review 312

Technical Review Due Diligence Merger Social Media 312

The Startup Magazine

JANUARY 19, 2025

Yet, most small businesses fail due to poor cash flow management. A strong customer base provides a reliable revenue stream, reducing the uncertainty that often accompanies customer acquisition efforts. For startups, cash flow isnt just a financial metricits the lifeline of the business.

Management 143

Management Startup Forecast Finance 143

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2022

On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Arizona or a similar location. Maxwell Wessel, in a classic article in the Harvard Business Review on this subject, points out the exception successes of Zappos in Las Vegas, Sendgrid’s massive growth in Colorado, and RightNow’s $1.5

Las Vegas 309

Las Vegas Silicon Valley Arizona Montana 309

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 11, 2022

On the other side of the spectrum, the idea of finding a unicorn has attracted many investors toward the much riskier venture capital and emerging technologies. Over the past decade, advancing technologies and social consciousness have been causing unprecedented and exciting shifts in every sector of the economy, not just the tertiary.

Private Equity 165

Private Equity Equity Technical Review Software Review 165

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2014

The good news is that a patent can scare off or at least delay competitors, and as a “rule of thumb” patents can add up to $1M to your startup valuation for investors or M&A exits (merger and acquisition). Even after your application is accepted, the issuing process takes a lifetime in today’s technology (4-5 years).

Software Review 250

Software Review Software Technical Review Intellectual Property 250

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 11, 2014

There’s an article making the rounds in tech circles titled “ Growth Hacking is Bull ” written by Muhammad Saleem. they’ll flock to your channel with marketing budgets and tech prowess. It’s why some companies are testing whether building applications on KIK might lead to better customers acquisition.

Technical Review 384

Technical Review Hockey Stick SEM Channel 384

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2013

This has value now, and is critical for maximum value in a merger or acquisition. Allows sufficient time to find capital, including due diligence time for investors. The technology or product may be at an embryonic stage. Not in a heated rush. Calm and self-assured, rather than desperate.

Technical Review 273

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 273

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

One of the unintended consequences was that many of the academics went off to found a wave of startups selling their technology to the military. Yet the development of these advanced technologies is now being driven by commercial interests, not the Defense Department. Some of the speed is simply due to development methodologies.

Government 316

Government Artificial Inteligence Silicon Valley North Korea 316

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. How long does it take me to pay back my original customer acquisition costs? How profitable is my product or service? Seriously, this happens.

Operations 286

Operations New York City Technical Review Startup 286

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2016

For IBM, the Personal Computer was a paradigm shift from their big business legacy, built with new technologies for totally new markets, and battleships turn very slowly. The culture of a large technology company is to rely on internal development or large, stable, and proven external vendors.

Technical Review 214

Technical Review Entrepreneur Silicon Valley Burn Rate 214

The Startup Magazine

MAY 1, 2023

Modern technology has made it possible for fleet managers to optimize operations, streamline vehicle acquisition, and leverage telematics innovations to their advantage. By adopting advanced technologies and data-driven strategies, companies can optimize their fleet operations and stay ahead of the competition.

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Management Software Review 157

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 4, 2011

Only one guy in the room knew – their tech lead. Once you churn a user due to stability or performance problems it can be hard to get them back. Customer Acquisition. Those two things together would lower your acquisition costs nearly in half to $6.11. The biggest limitation we tech consumers have is our time.

Metrics 346

Metrics Startup Acquisition SEM 346

VC Cafe

JANUARY 22, 2021

A few months ago, VC Cafe launched a series on startup engagement and outreach programs of large tech companies. Amazon Corporate Development – Notable acquisitions include Whole Foods ($13.7B), smart doorbell system Ring ($1.2B, 2018) and autonomous mobility technology Zoox ($1.2bn). AI startups in the Alexa Fund portfolio.

Technical Review 174

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital Incubator 174

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

NOVEMBER 29, 2014

This is due to the very definition of “average” — you’ll spend half your time before the half-way point, and half after. The general rule is called the Lindy Effect : For certain non-perishable things (like technology, companies, and ideas), the expected lifespan increases according to the length of its current age.

Software Review 300

Software Review Technical Review Startup Channel 300

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2020

Of course, if you are able to bootstrap your startup, and don’t anticipate the need for outside investors, you can technically ignore the first two points. This should be perceived as a win-win event, where your startup is bought or merged into a larger peer or competitor, allowing both you and investors to cash out.

Exit Strategy 376

Exit Strategy Startup Private Equity Equity 376

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Exec Summary: Most companies (98+%) in the world (even tech startups) should be very profit focused. When they look at buying your company they often think in terms of “how long will it take until I earn back the profits to pay for my acquisition price?” You may have leverage when you DO need to fund raise.

Startup 418

Startup Revenue Technical Review Flash 418

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2013

On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Phoenix or a similar location. Maxwell Wessel, in a recent article in the Harvard Business Review on this subject, points out the exception successes of Zappos in Las Vegas, Sendgrid’s massive growth in Colorado, and RightNow’s $1.5

Silicon Valley 256

Silicon Valley Las Vegas Phoenix Montana 256