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). Thus I was pleased to see this subject, and related strategy decisions, covered well in a recent book, “ Brand Vision ,” by Jim Everhart. Are you making the proper investment, and is it paying off?

Acquisition 250

Acquisition Cost Customer Sales Cycle 250

YoungUpstarts

JULY 15, 2020

The vacation rental industry is lucrative, but it’s also demanding, and this has prompted the popularity of vacation rental software , such as iGMS. Pros of iGMS Vacation Rental Software. You can manage routine tasks, and oversee booking calendars. . Cons of iGMS Vacation Rental Software. Smart Guest Communication.

Software Review 234

Software Review Software Hosting Portfolio 234

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 4, 2018

Generally, that adds up to a win for customers: they get personalized, efficient service for a fraction of the price. However, encouraging reviews offers a chance to grow your following and foment your brand identity , while addressing individual complaints. In fact, a steady hand here can win back dissatisfied customers.

Software Review 168

Software Review Customer Curation Texas 168

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2017

Amazon took a consumer value proposition (buying books, then all retail products) and made the consumer experience significantly better, faster & cheaper. They didn’t do this by selling better books or electronics, they did it by building a logistics & warehouse powerhouse. years of software development.

Technical Review 268

Technical Review Los Angeles Software Review Artificial Inteligence 268

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2017

Not so long ago, every business assumed that the keys to success were the highest quality product, the best value for the buck, and the best customer service. Now all we hear about is providing the best “customer experience.” I like the insights outlined in a more recent book “ Summit ,” by F. Entrepreneur of the Year” finalist.

Customer 213

Customer Product Technical Review Marketing 213

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 6, 2020

Smart scheduling software for employees is a terrific example of modern tech that refines and upgrades a traditional workplace process – in this case, staff rostering. It doesn’t have to be this way: much of the hassle of organizing staff rotas can be eliminated by deploying dedicated software such as Deputy. Customized Pay Rates.

Software Review 179

Software Review Software Product Technical Review 179

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2022

One 11-year study of over 200 companies over a decade ago, detailed in the book “ Corporate Culture and Performance ,” found that those working on their culture improved revenue by 516%, and increased net income by 755%. I saw a good summary of these in the classic book, “ Ethical Leadership ,” by Andrew Leigh, an expert in this area.

Software Review 291

Software Review Offshore Entrepreneur Leadership 291

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2023

I found these challenges and opportunities outlined well in a classic book, “ Out-Innovate ,” by Alexandre Lazarow. Design the full stack, not just a new software element. The distributed model draws on a diverse pool, helps manage costs, and captures regional insights and focus necessary to win local customers.

Global 345

Global Silicon Valley Marketing Indonesia 345

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 6, 2020

Along with lack of oversight, outdated software or hardware, inadequate cybersecurity, or one bad tech investment could seal the demise of a small enterprise. In his new book, “Tech Debt 2.0 : How to Future Proof Your Small Business and Improve Your Tech Bottom Line” , senior global business and technology executive Michael C.

Technical Review 246

Technical Review Small Business Software Review Security 246

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2021

There are also many other good sources of guidance, including the classic book “ Click Millionaires ” by Scott Fox. Take advantage of software tools to automate routine business functions, like taking and delivering orders. Provide website forums to help customers solve their own problems. Automate to the max.

Technical Review 312

Technical Review Software Review Internet Revenue 312

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

If you had huge customer growth but just didn’t focus on revenue that’s a different story. And when you’re looking at even earlier-stage companies (as VCs do) you might be even more focused on customer growth than revenue growth. Your revenue is the $75 million you got paid in booking fees. Not necessarily.

Startup 418

Startup Revenue Technical Review Flash 418

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2020

I found these challenges and opportunities outlined well in a new book, “ Out-Innovate ,” by Alexandre Lazarow. Design the full stack, not just a new software element. The distributed model draws on a diverse pool, helps manage costs, and captures regional insights and focus necessary to win local customers.

Silicon Valley 312

Silicon Valley Indonesia Venture Capital Global 312

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

Thus I was pleased to see my own insights covered in a new book, “ Why Startups Fail ,” by Tom Eisenmann, a Harvard Business School professor, who has mentored many more entrepreneurs, and authored more than a hundred HBS case studies from real-world startups. Look for validation from your mainstream customers.

Technical Review 329

Technical Review Merger Software Review Acquisition 329

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

In the initial phases of any new market you’re developing a product (hopefully with a minimal set of features), getting feedback from customers, refining your product based on user feedback and then re-launching your product. If you’re a startup or product person and haven’t read his book Four Steps to Epiphany please do.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Bulgaria Lean 374

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 28, 2013

I saw a good summary of these in a new book, “ Ethical Leadership ,” by Andrew Leigh, an expert in this area. These can be as simple as how to handle customer over-payments, or more complex in how to handle the choices every employee may face between conflicting customer and company interests. Ethics can’t be managed.

Software Review 250

Software Review Offshore Leadership .Net 250

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Please watch the video, review the slides and blog posts]. Lowen, Creating the Cold War University [Great book if you want to learn more about Stanford’s military-industrial complex origins. Put yourself in the shoes of Mark Liu, chairman of TSMC: Do you view China as more of a competitor or customer – and why?

Technical Review 407

Technical Review Taiwan Technology Artificial Inteligence 407

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

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. The functions of an early-stage board are pretty obvious and well understood: Providing introductions to customers, biz dev partners, recruits, the press, other investors, etc. Mentorship.

Technical Review 325

Technical Review Early Stage Software Review Los Angeles 325

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

There is nothing more pure than building a product, putting it out in the world and seeing paying customers using your product and in some cases loving it. He came to work in our offices at Upfront Ventures as an EIR and immediately began building software to improve how storage was picked up, photographed, scanned and routed to a warehouse.

Operations 286

Operations New York City Technical Review Startup 286

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2019

I remember first seeing a good summary of these risk-reduction myths a while back in a classic book, “ How to Start a Business & Ignite Your Life ,” by Ernesto Sirolli, PhD. Their lack of trust and sharing will be noted by employees, vendors, and customers, and the business will suffer. Partner with experts who share the risk.

Bandwidth 246

Bandwidth Software Review Salary Angel Investor 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2019

There are also many other good sources of guidance, including the classic book “ Click Millionaires ” by Scott Fox. Take advantage of software tools to automate routine business functions, like taking and delivering orders. Provide website forums to help customers solve their own problems. Automate to the max.

Technical Review 243

Technical Review Software Review Internet Revenue 243

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 9, 2022

But once you have cracked the code, there will be no stopping you. The term ‘hostile-friendly’ fraud refers to fraud committed by legitimate customers. Fraud like this could come in the form of “ charge-backs ,” some customers may use this to get free products. Sportswear.

Product 145

Product Customer Software Review Design 145

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

Looking ahead at the next decade I am excited by what I believe will be viewed as one of the best and most rational investment periods for venture capital due to seven discrete factors: 1. If you want to understand the details of why this is, I covered it in detail in this post, Understanding Changes in the Software Industry.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Technical Review LP Mobile 347

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

The market is changing so fast these days, and if you are not planning a solution today for tomorrow’s customers, you may be setting yourself up for failure and don’t even realize it. Regularly follow reviews and influencers in your industry. Ask the right questions, and listen to your customers.

Customer 144

Customer Advisory Board Technical Review Angel Investor 144

VC Cafe

MARCH 1, 2024

New enterprise resource planning software (ERPs) – new startups that build software that helps businesses run. AI to build enterprise software – In the future, every enterprise could have their own custom ERP, CRM or HRIS that is continually updating itself as the company itself is changing.

Artificial Inteligence 176

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Software Review Generative AI 176

Steve Blank

APRIL 11, 2013

I just spent a few weeks in Japan and China on a book tour for the Japanese and Chinese versions of the Startup Owners Manual. The Torch program created Innovation Clusters by creating national Science and Technology Industrial Parks (STIPs), Software Parks, and Productivity Promotion Centers. All the usual caveats apply.

Programming 287

Programming Technical Review SBIR China 287

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

it is also the title of a fabulous book from Internet 1.0 You are particularly vulnerable if: You have revenue concentration (few customers each providing a large total of percentage of your revenue). But software companies often take longer to scale top-line revenue than retailers so it takes a while to cover your nut.

Burn Rate 383

Burn Rate Balance Sheet .Net Valuation 383

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. Before you act, shut up and listen to employees, customers, and futurists.

Technical Review 252

Technical Review Silicon Valley Software Review Metrics 252

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2020

This point was highlighted well in the classic book, “ Disrupting Digital Business ,” by R “Ray” Wang, CEO and Principal Analyst of Silicon Valley-based Constellation Research. Communications that traditionally could only be broadcast to all can now be done on a customized person-to-person level, interactively.

Silicon Valley 312

Silicon Valley Flash Social Media Software Review 312

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 28, 2019

I saw a good summary of these in a classic book, “ Ethical Leadership ,” by Andrew Leigh, an expert in this area. These can be as simple as how to handle customer over-payments, or more complex in how to handle the choices every employee may face between conflicting customer and company interests. Ethics can’t be managed.

Software Review 192

Software Review Offshore Leadership .Net 192

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 21, 2022

Only then will you be able to nail every conference, dominate meetings, submit reports through email, and cultivate relationships with everyone involved in your organization, including customers. Everyone’s lives have become more accessible and faster due to technological advancements. Customer Service. Technical Know-How.

Software Review 167

Software Review Technical Review Cloud Management 167

The Startup Magazine

JULY 11, 2024

With all the fierce competition in the hospitality industry, running a restaurant or takeaway now requires more than just excellent food and customer service. By tracking sales data, hospitality businesses can quickly identify which food and drink items are selling well and which are less popular with their customers.

Software Review 158

Software Review Analytics Technical Review Software 158

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

We’re tired of hearing how small software companies usually fail. But what about the companies that die even though they did sell some copies of software, and where the early team isn’t dysfunctional? The initial marketing channel was sustainable for a while , but got wiped away due to external forces.

Software Review 294

Software Review Channel Revenue Non-Compete 294

Hearpreneur

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

We asked our entrepreneurs what changes do they expect due to technology shortly, and this is what they have to say. #1- Our team is already using AI to verify fake and real reviews. In today's competitive world, understanding your customers' needs requires more attention than ever, so business intelligence tools must be used.

Technical Review 111

Technical Review Software Review Artificial Inteligence Technology 111

Steve Blank

DECEMBER 9, 2020

leading a multi-billion dollar business with a broad range of products and services supporting defense, homeland security, aerospace, infrastructure protection, and customers around the world. The software acquisition pathway is the newest pathway in the adaptive acquisition framework. it’s all a continuum.

Acquisition 333

Acquisition Technical Review Technology Government 333

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2014

Traditional business intelligence (and data mining) software does a very good job of showing you where you’ve been. According to Eric Siegel in his recent book “ Predictive Analytics ,” it’s the power to predict who will click, buy, lie, or die. Online, everyone wants to know which ad each customer is most likely to click.

Analytics 257

Analytics Entrepreneur Retention Social Media 257

Duct Tape Marketing

JUNE 13, 2024

The Power of Verified Reviews: Why Agencies Thrive with Clutch written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interviewed Katie Hollar, the marketing lead at Clutch , a leading global marketplace for business service providers.

Technical Review 90

Technical Review Software Review B2B Demand 90

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Traditional business intelligence (and data mining) software does a very good job of showing you where you’ve been. According to Eric Siegel in the updated version of his classic book “ Predictive Analytics ,” it’s the power to predict who will click, buy, lie, or die. Customer retention with churn modeling.

Analytics 248

Analytics Retention Social Media Startup 248