Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

When you have invented a new technology, you need expensive models and testing, including samples for potential customers. Investors are not interested in covering overhead, unless they are convinced that you have already put all your “skin in the game” (not just sweat equity), and have real contributions from friends and family.

Sweat Equity 255

Sweat Equity Technical Review Entrepreneur Bootstrapping 255

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2013

When you have invented a new technology, you need expensive models and testing, including samples for potential customers. Investors are not interested in covering overhead, unless they are convinced that you have already put all your “skin in the game” (not just sweat equity), and have real contributions from friends and family.

Bootstrapping 252

Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Technical Review 252

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

When you have invented a new technology, you need expensive models and testing, including samples for potential customers. Investors are not interested in covering overhead, unless they are convinced that you have already put all your “skin in the game” (not just sweat equity), and have real contributions from friends and family.

Sweat Equity 239

Sweat Equity Technical Review Bootstrapping Equity 239

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

Most founders like to talk about their many months or years of sweat-equity , but cash invested is a stronger commitment. Is there a real customer willing to give a testimonial? Don’t be sidetracked by potential customers in the middle of a free trial, or friends of the founder.

Sweat Equity 207

Sweat Equity Burn Rate Technical Review Intellectual Property 207

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

Investors all know that the startup road is long and hard, so they look for people who have put and will continue to put “skin in the game” -- time, sweat equity, and money. Fundable entrepreneurs have to feel comfortable talking and listening to engineers, financial people, marketing and especially customers.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Startup 152

Gust

DECEMBER 15, 2013

When you have invented a new technology, you need expensive models and testing, including samples for potential customers. Investors are not interested in covering overhead, unless they are convinced that you have already put all your “skin in the game” (not just sweat equity), and have real contributions from friends and family.

Bootstrapping 183

Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Technical Review 183

ReadWriteStart

DECEMBER 29, 2010

We received better customer service from Taco Bell and the police department than from Stockmann, the top tier department store in Finland! It seems they are more comfortable with small talk with the customer. Cultural Edge. One time, a bus driver was more comfortable at speaking than most startups I’ve heard pitching.

Silicon Valley 156

Silicon Valley Finland Sweat Equity Entrepreneur 156

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2016

Most founders like to talk about their many months or years of sweat-equity , but cash invested is a stronger commitment. Is there a real customer willing to give a testimonial? Don’t be sidetracked by potential customers in the middle of a free trial, or friends of the founder.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Burn Rate Technical Review Intellectual Property 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2015

Most founders like to talk about their many months or years of sweat-equity , but cash invested is a stronger commitment. Is there a real customer willing to give a testimonial? Don’t be sidetracked by potential customers in the middle of a free trial, or friends of the founder.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate 120

ConversionXL

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

Then we ship it to customers way before it’s ready. We didn’t spend any real cash prior to getting our first paying customer,” recounts Arsenault. “I’ll Doctor says the company had its first customer on the Monday after their MVP was released. They landed their first customer the following March. Qualified.io

Sweat Equity 78

Sweat Equity Software Review Vesting Cofounder 78

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer.

Sweat Equity 435

Sweat Equity Salary Viral Leadership 435

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2021

Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat. Truly satisfied customers are a joy to every business person. Starting a business may be fun, but it’s not easy. Your own learning should be the biggest inspiration of all.

Sweat Equity 400

Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Startup Viral 400

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2020

With one of the many new tools , and a dose of sweat equity, you can create a website for almost nothing -- and you are on your way to success with ecommerce, your latest invention or personal services. Keep expenses down, but keep customer visibility and sensitivity as a top priority. Practice living on a shoestring budget.

Hockey Stick 423

Hockey Stick Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 423

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

In this manner, you’ll be sharing the workload and dividing up the sweat equity, which comes with bootstrapping, whilst maintaining better control over your strategic direction. Also, marketing things that might send out the wrong message, would simply confuse your customers.

Cofounder 124

Cofounder Sweat Equity Equity Dilution 124

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

With one of the many new tools , and a dose of sweat equity, you can create a website for almost nothing -- and you are on your way to success with ecommerce, your latest invention or personal services. Keep expenses down, but keep customer visibility and sensitivity as a top priority. Practice living on a shoestring budget.

Equity 349

Equity Hockey Stick Bootstrapping Sweat Equity 349

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer.

Sweat Equity 296

Sweat Equity Startup Salary Viral 296

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2021

The average amount per startup has been $23,000, usually in the form of a convertible loan, rather than an equity investment. Show them that you have done your homework with industry experts and potential customers, and convince them you are not asking for charity or a donation. Build a prototype first on your own time and money.

Sweat Equity 346

Sweat Equity Elevator Pitch Equity Venture Capital 346

ConversionXL

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

Then we ship it to customers way before it’s ready. We didn’t spend any real cash prior to getting our first paying customer,” recounts Arsenault. “I’ll Doctor says the company had its first customer on the Monday after their MVP was released. They landed their first customer the following March. Qualified.io

Sweat Equity 50

Sweat Equity Software Review Vesting Cofounder 50

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2012

Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat. Truly satisfied customers are a joy to every business person. Starting a business may be fun, but it’s not easy. Your own learning should be the biggest inspiration of all.

Sweat Equity 256

Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Viral 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2014

A successful business has to satisfy customers with a strong team, by helping them solve problems, save money, or experience more pleasure. Many entrepreneurs are able to come up with a vision, but far fewer are able to hold on to it through thick and thin, and communicate it effectively and continuously to their team and their customers.

Leadership 258

Leadership Sweat Equity Bootstrapping Early Stage 258

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

A successful business has to satisfy customers with a strong team, by helping them solve problems, save money, or experience more pleasure. Many entrepreneurs are able to come up with a vision, but far fewer are able to hold on to it through thick and thin, and communicate it effectively and continuously to their team and their customers.

Sweat Equity 256

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Leadership 256

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2013

Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat. Truly satisfied customers are a joy to every business person. Starting a business may be fun, but it’s not easy. Your own learning should be the biggest inspiration of all.

Sweat Equity 251

Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Startup Viral 251

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

A successful business has to satisfy customers with a strong team, by helping them solve problems, save money, or experience more pleasure. Many entrepreneurs are able to come up with a vision, but far fewer are able to hold on to it through thick and thin, and communicate it effectively and continuously to their team and their customers.

Sweat Equity 244

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Early Stage 244

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Terms like “every customer needs this” and “next generation platform” are far too soft, and should be avoided. This is not the place for a detailed product specification, but an explanation of how and why it works, including a customer-centric quantification of the benefits. Solution and benefits. Focus is the keyword here.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

The average amount per startup has been $23,000, usually in the form of a convertible loan, rather than an equity investment. Show them that you have done your homework with industry experts and potential customers, and convince them you are not asking for charity or a donation. Build a prototype first on your own time and money.

Sweat Equity 274

Sweat Equity Elevator Pitch Startup Equity 274

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 16, 2013

The intent of this question is to determine the level of commitment of founders, both cash and “sweat equity,” and how much others have already invested into this plan. Who is a real customer that I can talk to? If there are no customers yet, when will the product ship, and how many times has the date been set?

Due Diligence 253

Due Diligence Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Burn Rate 253

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Terms like “every customer needs this” and “next generation platform” are far too soft, and should be avoided. This is not the place for a detailed product specification, but an explanation of how and why it works, including a customer-centric quantification of the benefits. Solution and benefits. Focus is the keyword here.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

The intent of this question is to determine the level of commitment of founders, both cash and “sweat equity,” and how much others have already invested into this plan. Who is a real customer that I can talk to? If there are no customers yet, when will the product ship, and how many times has the date been set?

Due Diligence 244

Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate Intellectual Property 244

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 12, 2010

Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat. Truly satisfied customers are a joy to every business person. Starting a business may be fun, but it’s not easy. Your own learning should be the biggest inspiration of all.

Sweat Equity 222

Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Viral Salary 222

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2011

The intent of this question is to determine the level of commitment of founders, both cash and “sweat equity,” and how much others have already invested into this plan. Who is a real customer that I can talk to? If there are no customers yet, when will the product ship, and how many times has the date been set?

Due Diligence 237

Due Diligence Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Entrepreneur 237

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2010

The intent of this question is to determine the level of commitment of founders, both cash and "sweat equity,” and how much others have already invested into this plan. Who is a real customer that I can talk to? If there are no customers yet, when will the product ship, and how many times has the date been set?

Due Diligence 229

Due Diligence Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Startup 229

Gust

DECEMBER 8, 2013

The intent of this question is to determine the level of commitment of founders, both cash and “sweat equity,” and how much others have already invested into this plan. Who is a real customer that I can talk to? If there are no customers yet, when will the product ship, and how many times has the date been set?

Due Diligence 174

Due Diligence Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Burn Rate 174

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Terms like “every customer needs this” and “next generation platform” are far too soft, and should be avoided. This is not the place for a detailed product specification, but an explanation of how and why it works, including a customer-centric quantification of the benefits. Solution and benefits. Focus is the keyword here.

Business Plan 186

Business Plan Exit Strategy Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 186

grasshopperherder.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Piercing the Corporate Veil – Sweat Equity Consulting. But much like becoming a co-founder, getting paid sweat equity is essentially becoming an investor in the company. If you did, why would you be consulting for sweat equity instead of investing as a VC or for yourself? GrasshopperHerder.com.

Sweat Equity 41

Sweat Equity Equity Cofounder Non-Compete 41

Gust

AUGUST 5, 2012

Terms like “every customer needs this” and “next generation platform” are far too soft, and should be avoided. This is not the place for a detailed product specification, but an explanation of how and why it works, including a customer-centric quantification of the benefits. Solution and benefits. Focus is the keyword here.

Business Plan 182

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 182

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

After all, sweat equity can make up for a trim marketing budget, but it would be hard to make up for cuts in product development and customer service without sacrificing customer experience. Current and new customers care a lot more about product or service quality, and the value of your item.

Sweat Equity 60

Sweat Equity Equity Sales PR 60

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2016

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Salary Startup Viral 120