Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2022

Most business advisors I know will say that writing a business plan is the first step to starting your own business, but I believe that a better first step is to do a self-analysis of your real drivers, strengths, and assumptions before committing to this lifestyle. Every business is a work in progress.

Founder 262

Founder Intellectual Property Social Media Business Plan 262

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

In that spirit, I offer my perspective on ten common startup failure sources that rarely get admitted by entrepreneurs: Choose to skip the written business plan. A business plan is for you first, not investors. I believe the old adage that you don’t know what you don’t know until you try to write it down.

Intellectual Property 436

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Viral Distribution 436

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

Others will work hard on a business plan, and then mail it indiscriminately to every potential investor they can find on the Internet. Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.”

Technical Review 310

Technical Review Angel Investor Business Plan Social Media 310

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2020

He nails the current key startup parameters, including the following: Crafting a lean business plan as your road map. The days of lengthy, text-heavy, business plan documents prepared by expensive experts are behind us.

Intellectual Property 404

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Groups Social Media 404

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

In fact, I often have to tell aspiring entrepreneurs that their inventions have zero value, at least not until they are put in the context of a business plan, with qualified people committed to executing the plan. Early-stage ideas fall in the same category. Don’t get me wrong.

Technical Review 391

Technical Review Intellectual Property Early Stage Global 391

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2020

They don’t realize that business projections with no third-party validation have no credibility with investors, and smart potential investors will walk away. Every good business plan needs an early section which sizes the total market opportunity, and then breaks down that total into the most relevant segments for your focus.

Business Plan 393

Business Plan Marketing SBA Venture Capital 393

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

Some startups do nothing to prepare for the due diligence process, assuming the people and business plan documents will speak for themselves. Even if you feel that all is well, here are some thoughts and actions I would strongly recommend: Whole team must know the plan. The right answer is somewhere in between.

Technical Review 380

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Angel Investor 380

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2020

Building a new business is quite different from an executive role in a mature company, so people from these backgrounds are often a liability. Value is embodied in previous success with investors, proven problem solving ability, and having built and executed a business plan with minimal resources.

Cofounder 435

Cofounder Technical Cofounder Equity Intellectual Property 435

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. Money allows entrepreneurs to execute a flawed business plan far too long, rather than stay focused on the market and adapt.

Angel Investor 359

Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator Business Model 359

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2023

In reality, it is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of the business and the team. 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.

Technical Review 296

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Bankruptcy 296

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2021

Every time I challenge a business plan with little or no budget for marketing, I get the answer that they will be using “viral” marketing, which costs nothing. In a business plan these are only one of the many marketing campaigns which continue to rise in cost.

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Viral Marketing SEM Campaign 348

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2021

Your business model can be a better sustainable competitive advantage than your product features, or it can be your biggest risk exposure. Too many of the business plans I see are heavy on competitive product features, but light on business model details and innovations.

Technical Review 399

Technical Review Product Advisory Board Business Model 399

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

Early in the relationship, every investor instinctively looks for some key indicators of the ability to get results, like the following: Communicates well in every business medium. Others send investors email and business plans in all uppercase or no punctuation. Message delivery must be customized for each investor.

Intellectual Property 316

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 316

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2020

When the team is at odds or confused, they need this steady force to keep them on track with the business plan. Visionaries typically don’t like running the day-to-day of the business on a long-term basis, and aren’t good at following through. Good integrators are fanatical about problem resolution and making decisions.

Founder 329

Founder Cofounder Bandwidth Matching 329

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2020

Many of the business plans I have seen as an investor, like trying to integrate all the social media features of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn into a new platform, don’t do it. Focus is the art of limiting your scope to the key function that really matters for the majority of customers.

Startup 424

Startup Bandwidth Distribution Agile 424

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2023

In that spirit, I offer my perspective on ten common startup failure sources that rarely get admitted by entrepreneurs: Choose to skip the written business plan. A business plan is for you first, not investors. I believe the old adage that you don’t know what you don’t know until you try to write it down.

Intellectual Property 312

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor Viral 312

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

Serious investors, on the other hand, look for a professional business plan or summary first, and hardly ever look at the product plan. Just for clarification, I characterize a product plan as a formal description of your product or service, with a quick business description at the end for effect.

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Business Plan Product Architecture Business Model 280

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

A business plan is a document that describes your business goals, strategies, market analysis, financial projections, and operational details. The post Crafting A Solid Construction Business Plan: Key Elements And Tips appeared first on Young Upstarts.

Business Plan 278

Business Plan Operations Marketing 278

YoungUpstarts

JULY 23, 2021

There are many people who create very good business plans, have some brilliant ideas and have high work ethics, but don’t live out their business ideas. The post Reasons To Live Out Your Business Plans appeared first on Young Upstarts.

Business Plan 246

Business Plan 246

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

Early in the relationship, every investor instinctively looks for some key indicators of the ability to get results, like the following: Communicates well in every business medium. Others send investors email and business plans in all uppercase or no punctuation. Message delivery must be customized for each investor.

Intellectual Property 278

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 278

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

If you're interested in starting a nonprofit, creating a business plan will help clarify things and lay out the steps needed to reach your objectives. Here’s What To Include In Your Business Plan appeared first on Young Upstarts. The post Launching A Nonprofit?

Business Plan 246

Business Plan 246

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 6, 2021

A budget is the financial plan and road map to get you from your business plan to profitability. But administrative people rarely see the big picture, which you need for profitability and survival. It’s well worthwhile to learn the basics and use financial reports. Not having a budget.

Technical Review 379

Technical Review Finance Startup Salary 379

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

He nails the current key startup parameters, including the following: Crafting a lean business plan as your road map. The days of lengthy, text-heavy, business plan documents prepared by expensive experts are behind us.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Angel Groups Social Media 261

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

Here are some key reasons why I believe every entrepreneur should create a formal Advisory Board or Board of Directors before they ask for funding, or even build their business plan: We all need a bit of reality to balance our passion.

Advisory Board 356

Advisory Board Bandwidth Cofounder Technical Review 356

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2022

Before you get in that position, I recommend you integrate into your pitch and business plan as many of the items outlined here as you can before investors have already opted out. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 2/25/2022.

Valuation 368

Valuation Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor 368

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 30, 2024

Building a Robust Business Plan A comprehensive business plan serves as the blueprint for your international expansion. A well-crafted business plan attracts investors and aligns internal teams towards common goals. Include detailed financial forecasts and potential challenges along with mitigation plans.

Technical Review 159

Technical Review Intellectual Property Due Diligence Global 159

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2022

You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. Some nonprofit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy.

Angel Investor 327

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 327

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2021

After a good elevator pitch or initial presentation, investors will ask for your formal business plan and financial projections. You don’t need surprises or disappointments either. Being unprepared for the next steps. Don’t derail their enthusiasm or risk your professional image by not having these materials immediately available.

Software Review 307

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Early Stage 307

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2021

A compelling story is best used as a “grabber” to get people’s attention and make your venture and brand memorable, but it doesn’t replace any of the new venture basics, such as the business plan, investor deck, or financial model. It can be your competitive advantage over peers and existing players, and it is fun to do.

Elevator Pitch 313

Elevator Pitch Technical Review Boston Sales 313

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 26, 2024

Managing Finances Effectively Creating a detailed business plan is essential for the success of your roofing company. A comprehensive plan outlines your business goals, target market, and financial projections.

Limited Liability Company 157

Limited Liability Company Technical Review Software Review Angel Investor 157

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 7, 2024

Develop a Solid Business Plan A detailed business plan is crucial for any startup. Outline your business goals, target market, competition analysis, marketing strategy, and financial projections. This plan will serve as a roadmap for your business and help you secure funding if needed.

Software Review 158

Software Review United States Social Media Advertising 158

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2023

Building a new business is quite different from an executive role in a mature company, so people from these backgrounds are often a liability. Value is embodied in previous success with investors, proven problem-solving ability, and having built and executed a business plan with minimal resources.

Technical Cofounder 247

Technical Cofounder Equity Distribution Cofounder 247

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

No entrepreneur should consider any of these challenges as hard barriers, but they do need to be aware of higher risk perception, and include their mitigation strategy in their business plan for all to see. I encourage you to be proactive on these issues, rather than saying nothing unless questioned.

New York City 315

New York City Silicon Valley Startup Bootstrapping 315

The Startup Magazine

JANUARY 30, 2025

In thesestartup acceleratorprograms, founders are put through their paces to refine and build their business plans. Its not for everyone, but having gone through an accelerated business development process can help founders seize key opportunities when they arise.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Due Diligence Silicon Valley Startup 78

Women Entrepreneurs Can

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

Developing a Solid Business Plan A well-crafted business plan serves as a roadmap for your digital venture. Begin by outlining your business model, including your revenue streams, pricing strategy, and growth projections.

Intellectual Property 52

Intellectual Property Social Media Software Review Audience 52

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2020

The key here is to plan ahead, nurture a relationship with your favorite venture capitalists, and leverage the growth and assets you already have with other lending and funding organizations. Of course this means taking some smart risks, not resting on your laurels, and continuously updating your business plan and strategy.

Entrepreneur 306

Entrepreneur Due Diligence Startup Acquisition 306

The Startup Magazine

JULY 11, 2024

Develop a Business Plan A well-structured business plan is crucial for the success of your nonprofit startup. Programs and Services: Detailed descriptions of the programs and services you plan to offer. This plan should align with your overall nonprofit startup business plan and mission.

Social Media 148

Social Media Public Relations Programming Business Plan 148