Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2012

Neither breakthrough technology nor maximum features will assure that “if we build it, they will come.” In fact, NISI recommends starting with the minimum focused set of features and technology that will drive a customer purchase. Nail the business model. Nail the solution.

Startup 296

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 296

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2021

As a logical and data-driven business advisor, I have long focused on facts, technology, and quantifiable pain in guiding entrepreneurs. Other startups use technology to provide personalized products to all customers. The objective of every business must be to do both for all to win.

Customer 432

Customer Social Media Dividend Technical Review 432

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

For example, “We just patented a new battery technology that will cut your smartphone charge time and cost in half.” Be sure to include this in your “elevator pitch,” which you must always deliver as a prelude to your technology features. Description of the business entity you plan to form. Budget time and dollars for each.

Business Plan 423

Business Plan Product Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 423

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

In an over-funding environment companies are encouraged to eschew revenues in a land grab to acquire eyeballs, clicks, page views or whatever other vanity metrics give VCs the false comfort that they’re sitting on a gold mine. The opportunity to transact at the point of purchase increases the sheer number of revenue opportunities.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Technical Review LP Mobile 347

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2014

Neither breakthrough technology nor maximum features will assure that “if we build it, they will come.” In fact, NISI recommends starting with the minimum focused set of features and technology that will drive a customer purchase. Nail the business model. Nail the solution.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Startup Angel Investor Technical Review 283

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2020

But there is no magic formula on how to bring these together a second time, but I did see some good insights on the parameters in a classic startup business parable, “ Endless Encores ,” by Ken Goldstein, who advises startups and has built companies in technology, entertainment, media, and e-commerce.

Technical Review 324

Technical Review Entrepreneur Due Diligence Business Model 324

Steve Blank

AUGUST 21, 2013

What we found is that during the class almost all of them pivoted - making substantive changes to one or more of their business model canvas components. For example when one team found the right customer, they changed the core technology (the basis of their original idea!) Some of these teams made even more radical changes.

SBIR 321

SBIR Technical Review Lean Startup 321

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

After helping build the first Ethernet switch startup, I was attracted by Asynchronous Transfer Mode 25Mbit/sec technology, (ATM25) which was 2.5x The result: great success of my third startup, a load balancing technology for web servers back in the late 1990’s. Maysee now enjoys hockey stick revenue growth.

Japan 305

Japan Customer Development Developer Customer 305

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2020

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Investors hate technology solutions looking for a problem, due to the high risk of no customers. Implement a modern real business model.

Management 322

Management Entrepreneur Forecast Stock Options 322

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2019

Neither breakthrough technology nor maximum features will assure that “if we build it, they will come.” In fact, NISI recommends starting with the minimum focused set of features and technology that will drive a customer purchase. Nail the business model. Nail the solution.

Startup 245

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 245

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 27, 2019

To keep up with all the upcoming innovations coming our way, let’s dive into the top 5 technologies to look forward to in 2020. IoT Technology. These devices shall be embedded with a kind of sensor, software, or technology to connect and exchange data. How is IoT Technology changing the World? What is IoT?

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Technology Artificial Inteligence Search 147

Steve Blank

MAY 9, 2017

We’re standing 15 air miles away from the epicenter of technology innovation. I’ve been asked to talk today about the future of Innovation – typically that involves giving you a list of hot technologies to pay attention to – technologies like machine learning. In fact, it’s not about any specific new technologies.

Restful 249

Restful Silicon Valley San Jose Puerto Rico 249

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Consider the consequences of these monthly pricing possibilities: $0/mo means your goal is to maximize growth (trust and usage) instead of revenue. Your product is designed with natural tripwires to trigger other pricing ( Freemium model ), or not (business model left as an exercise to your future self).

Bootstrapping 294

Bootstrapping Technical Review B2C Sales Cycle 294

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Investors hate technology solutions looking for a problem, due to the high risk of no customers. Implement a modern real business model.

Forecast 304

Forecast Stock Options Technical Review Metrics 304

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

There are currently 488 businesses in the IV therapy industry in the United States, indicating a thriving market. To stand out, new entrants must focus on creating a robust business model that prioritizes patient safety and adheres to healthcare regulations.

Mobile 94

Mobile United States Technical Review Business Model 94

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 19, 2021

There are few technologies in the world today that can make a Trillion-dollar impact on the global economy. Also, it can open up numerous business models and revenue channels that were earlier inaccessible for want of a suitable hardware and software solution. IoT (Internet of Things) is one of them. Source: Mckinsey.

Technical Review 215

Technical Review Software Review Cloud Vertical 215

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2013

Unfocused entrepreneurs boast that their new technology will generate multiple disruptive products for consumers as well as enterprises around the world. Other elements of startup focus are a bit fuzzier, so let me zoom-in on some key ones here: Type of business model. Solve one problem really well. Segment the opportunity.

Startup 257

Startup Technical Review Angel Investor China 257

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2014

Unfocused entrepreneurs boast that their new technology will generate multiple disruptive products for consumers as well as enterprises around the world. Other elements of startup focus are a bit fuzzier, so let me zoom-in on some key ones here: Type of business model. Solve one problem really well. Segment the opportunity.

Entrepreneur 257

Entrepreneur Technical Review Angel Investor China 257

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2013

The market and venture capitalists are looking for business, but with a continuing focus on proven business models. Your friends and family are really the only answer until you have a significant revenue stream. Follow with a killer executive summary, investor presentation, and financial model.

Venture Capital 252

Venture Capital IPO Elevator Pitch Initial Public Offering 252

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2014

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Investors hate technology solutions looking for a problem, due to the high risk of no customers. Implement a modern real business model.

Startup 283

Startup Forecast Stock Options Technical Review 283

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service.

Entrepreneur 299

Entrepreneur Technical Review Business Plan Angel Investor 299

YoungUpstarts

JULY 17, 2013

I grew the business that I currently lead as CEO from a start-up to more than 60 million dollars in revenue in less than six years. My simple process has worked to spur growth and revenue for every business I have headed. Build a business model that scales. Always take the long view.

Georgia 238

Georgia Atlanta Sales Cycle Business Model 238

Steve Blank

DECEMBER 10, 2014

Over 44 classes have embedded the business model canvas and/or Customer Discovery including a year-long course taken by every single one of its bioengineering majors. The DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region represents the most fertile science and technology region in the country with about $30 billion in federally-funded R&D.

Maryland 280

Maryland Lean DC Virginia 280

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 4, 2013

The UCSF Office of Innovation and Technology ( Erik Lium and Stephanie Marrus) is the reason the program exists. We’ve recorded these panels for each part of the business model canvas. It turns out that for commercialization, the business model (Customers, Channel, Revenue Model, etc.)

Lean 266

Lean Customer Business Model Customer Development 266

VC Cafe

MARCH 16, 2025

The integration of AI and generative AI is radically transforming how consumers interact with technology, potentially leading to a wave of innovative products and services. These costs represent an ongoing tax on revenue, requiring careful consideration in business model design. But don’t just take it from me.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review B2C Generative AI IPO 78

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2018

But there is no magic formula on how to bring these together a second time, but I did see some good insights on the parameters in a classic startup business parable, “ Endless Encores ,” by Ken Goldstein, who advises startups and has built corporations in technology, entertainment, media, and e-commerce.

Technical Review 233

Technical Review Due Diligence Business Model Demand 233

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 24, 2017

Subscription business models have been around for a pretty long time, but thanks to modern technology, this model has evolved from milk or newspapers delivery to a versatile eCommerce experience. As a starting entrepreneur, you might wonder: why on earth would I want to start a subscription (box) business?

Churn Rate 149

Churn Rate eCommerce Business Model Bootstrapping 149

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2023

But there is no magic formula on how to bring these together a second time, but I did see some good insights on the parameters in a classic startup business parable, “ Endless Encores ,” by Ken Goldstein, who advises startups and has built companies in technology, entertainment, media, and e-commerce.

Technical Review 229

Technical Review Due Diligence Business Model Demand 229

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service.

Technical Review 310

Technical Review Angel Investor Business Plan Social Media 310

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

OCTOBER 7, 2013

This is the fifth article in a series on novel ideas for SaaS metrics, which started with The unprofitable SaaS business model trap , COC: a new metric for cancellations , The mistake of 1/c in LTV , and SSEBITDA: Steady-state profit metric. Metrics summarize tons of processes, causes, and effects into a single number.

Metrics 244

Metrics Technical Review Revenue Cost 244

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

For the rest of us, here is my prioritized list of key strategies that I believe every business leader can benefit from as a starting point in making the current inflation economy less of a negative impact on their business, or maybe even a pleasantly surprising positive: Solicit follow-on revenue from existing customers.

Technical Review 239

Technical Review Revenue Social Media Cost 239

VC Cafe

MARCH 1, 2024

In addition, founders thinking about starting a company can be overwhelmed by choice, as there are so many problems to tackle with technology, but it could be comforting to know that investors are interested in those areas in the first place.

Artificial Inteligence 176

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Software Review Generative AI 176

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 17, 2019

Highlight your competitive value, not your technology. This may sound obvious, but I still see too many companies with a strategy of highlighting technology improvements and features, rather than their value compared to competitors. A strategy of empowering people will produce near-term as well as lasting results for your business.

Technical Review 218

Technical Review Revenue Analytics Metrics 218

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2013

Within the venture community, the first rule to remember is that opportunities abound these days, due to the increasing pace of technology evolution, and the scope and creativity of the global community. This requires a visible focus on the company’s revenue model, the costs to get there, and cash on hand. Funding risk.

Angel Investor 269

Angel Investor Cram Down Intellectual Property Venture Capital 269

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service.

Business Plan 273

Business Plan Technical Review Angel Investor Social Media 273

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2022

An effective tool I see used more and more, as a prelude to a more detailed business plan, is the Business Model Canvas , first introduced by Alexander Osterwalder back in 2008. In my experience as a new business advisor, a business is nothing until people are aligned and work in sync. Key activities. Try this one.

Business Model 334

Business Model Intellectual Property Angel Investor Channel 334

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2017

Neither breakthrough technology nor maximum features will assure that “if we build it, they will come.” In fact, NISI recommends starting with the minimum focused set of features and technology that will drive a customer purchase. Nail the business model. Nail the solution.

Startup 161

Startup Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator 161