Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

There has been a lot of public debate over the past several weeks about whether it’s a good thing to be “gross margin positive” or not and commentary always reminds me that some people at startups don’t quite understand financial metrics or even how to think about which ones are healthy. When I publicly Tweeted that all companies should be gross margin positive many people pointed out that Amazon wasn’t profitable for many years.

Metrics 236

Metrics Cost Acquisition Startup 236

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 19, 2016

By Dan Bochichio, co-founder of Bocain Designs. It’s 2016, and just about everyone either does business online or uses the internet as a tool to discover, rate and engage with businesses they rely upon. With so much demand and opportunity, now seems like a great time to tap into the market for quality freelance web designers, but what can you expect?

Web 100

Web Design Technical Review Cofounder 100

Steve Blank

APRIL 13, 2016

We just held our second week of the Hacking for Defense class. This week the 8 teams spoke to 106 beneficiaries (users, program mangers, etc.), we held a DOD/IC 101 workshop, our advanced lecture was on the Value Proposition Canvas , and we watched as the students ran into common customer discovery obstacles and found new ones. (This post is a continuation of the series.

Social Media 133

Social Media Customer Programming Video 133

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2016

Every entrepreneur and business executive knows that continuous innovation is required to survive, but most struggle with this more than any other challenge they face. They know they need to act proactively, but still are often blindsided by a new competitor coming out of the blue with a future they never imagined. Innovation driven by the next crisis is not leadership.

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Leadership Framework Engineer Revenue 138

Speaker: Nick Noreña, Innovation Coach and Advisor, Kromatic

Every startup and innovation project exists within an ecosystem that either helps or hurts that project. As innovation managers, we need to keep a pulse of that ecosystem and make sure we're helping those innovation projects we're managing every step of the way. In this webinar, Nick Noreña will walk through an Innovation Ecosystem Model that he and his team at Kromatic have developed to help investors, heads of product, teachers, and executives understand how they can best support innovation in

Startup

Brandanew

APRIL 25, 2016

As you’re aware, we have a fully online content marketing workshop available at Brandanew. Now, the course allows everyone to send in their questions on a special email address after they have gone through the material and soaked in the information. Content marketing with limited resources seems to be a common paint point for many. This is the top question most workshop attendees have been asking us.

Marketing 122

Marketing Curation Channel Small Business 122

Lightspeed Venture Partners

APRIL 19, 2016

Over the past few years, there has been an incredible revolution in the way that software applications are built and run. The Cloud has simplified and accelerated time to development, Big Data has made applications smarter and more predictive, and Microservices are changing the way we think about our application architecture. Needless to say, it’s a fun time to be a software developer.

Architecture 60

Architecture Cofounder Cloud Distribution 60

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 22, 2016

By Kurt Bilafer, Global Vice President Sales & Success at WePay. What’s the hottest trend in business right now? Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter? Sharing economy apps such as Uber and Airbnb? Apple, and its line of personal computing devices? Or Software as a Service for the enterprise, such as Salesforce? You could probably make a case for any one of these, but here’s the thing: Although on the surface these companies appear to have completely different business models, they al

Japan 109

Japan Global Asia API 109

Steve Blank

APRIL 25, 2016

We just held our fourth week of the Hacking for Defense class. This week the teams turned the corner on understanding beneficiaries and finding product/market fit. The 8 teams spoke to 115 beneficiaries (users, program managers, etc.); we sent each team a critique of their mission model canvas; we started streaming the class live to DOD/IC sponsors and other educators; our advanced lecture explained how to go from concept to deployment in the DOD/IC; and we watched as the students got closer to

Afghanistan 130

Afghanistan Iraq Technical Review Social Media 130

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

The last thing a new entrepreneur wants to think about for a new startup is how it will end. Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. The answer you give can make or break your ability to get an investment, so you need to have the right answer ready before anyone asks. Here are three important reasons for the question: Good investment paybacks normally require an exit event.

Equity 131

Equity Exit Strategy Private Equity Startup 131

Brandanew

APRIL 22, 2016

Any Digital Marketer living in today’s age will tell you that Content Marketing is a must, for not only promoting your brand to new prospects, but also to maintain a relationship with your existing customers. While we’ve often talked about organic Content Marketing, today we have guest blogger and entrepreneur, Garett Gan sharing his views on Content Marketing with paid advertising.

Advertising 116

Advertising Distribution Marketing New York City 116

YFS Magazine

APRIL 25, 2016

If
 you are a small business owner, it is pertinent that you build an online presence - starting with a company website, a proven channel that is valuable for business.

Channel 61

Channel Small Business Web Development Design 61

ConversionXL

APRIL 25, 2016

If you’re launching a mobile app, you’ve likely considered the differences between optimizing a simple site and a mobile app or game. But have you considered how the measurement and data analysis process will be different? Without a definitive plan and deep understanding of the fundamentals, your mobile app data will get complicated quickly.

Analytics 75

Analytics Mobile Metrics Acquisition 75

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 28, 2016

If your eCommerce business hasn’t got off to the best of starts , then you’re probably wondering how to fix things. Fear not. We’ve compiled a list of great tips that you should try – all of which may save your bacon! So, here is everything you should be giving a shot in order to drive your eCommerce business to success. Incentives. Who doesn’t love an incentive to go and do something?

eCommerce 100

eCommerce Software Review Social Media SEO 100

Steve Blank

APRIL 25, 2016

We just held our fourth week of the Hacking for Defense class. This week the teams turned the corner on understanding beneficiaries and finding product/market fit. The 8 teams spoke to 115 beneficiaries (users, program managers, etc.); we sent each team a critique of their mission model canvas; we started streaming the class live to DOD/IC sponsors and other educators; our advanced lecture explained how to go from concept to deployment in the DOD/IC; and we watched as the students got closer to

Afghanistan 130

Afghanistan Iraq Technical Review Social Media 130

Transformify

APRIL 15, 2016

Despite Kenya has been named as the fasted growing payments market in Africa, there is still a lot to be done to develop the local business angel community. The founding of M-Pesa in 2007 inspired many young people to undertake entrepreneurial risks. The capital of Kenya, Nairobi, is a vibrant city offering various resources for young start – ups, including accelerator 88MPH and incubator i-Hub.

Kenya 45

Kenya Africa Incubator Cofounder 45

The Next Web

APRIL 26, 2016

After announcing its presence in over 130 new markets early this year, Netflix has truly become a global content company. That is not to say it’s been easy for Netflix to adjust its services to meet the needs of developing markets with varying maturities, while still maintaining success in more developed areas. Balancing efforts in markets with differing needs is something that not many tech companies have been able to achieve due to three main challenges – lack of financing, straggling te

Technical Review 65

Technical Review Global Finance Startup 65

VC Cafe

APRIL 23, 2016

Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has shared a circular (a regulatory document, in Vietnam speak) for improving the legal environment for venture capital investing in the Socialist state. The circular is now – since 16 th April – open for public comment. The aim of the circular is to improve the ease of setting up and running VC funds in Vietnam, and importantly for the MPI Agency for Enterprise Development (the AED) , make it easier and more attractive for angels and VCs to in

Vietnam 81

Vietnam Venture Capital Silicon Valley Early Stage 81

Mike Michalowicz

APRIL 20, 2016

Also Available On. Show Summary. Today, Kathryn Kerby talks about profitability from the aspect of a farmer. If there’s one business that is difficult to make a profit, it’s farming. Kathryn’s farm was struggling to survive and hit rock bottom; when Kathryn found Profit First she implemented it immediately, and now her farm has quadrupled in revenue and slashed costs in the process.

Bahamas 65

Bahamas Montana Pennsylvania Colorado 65

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 23, 2016

Not all mobile app designers are created equal. Some app designers are difficult to work with or fail to deliver on their promises. Even worse, some don’t know what they are doing. This is not the case with companies like Magora , who understand why high quality business app design is essential. These are the main reasons why proper mobile app design is so important: User Acceptance.

Mobile 116

Mobile Design Developer Employee 116

Up and Running

APRIL 20, 2016

The business plan for strategic growth is one of my favorites because it’s about core business decisions, steps, metrics, and making things happen. It matches my vision of business planning as ongoing management and steering a business. It’s not about explaining or defending a business for outsiders. It’s about what’s supposed to happen. Key components of the business plan for strategic growth: Strategy.

Business Plan 81

Business Plan Developer Metrics Matching 81

Version One Ventures

APRIL 19, 2016

In the past, we typically wait until the end of the year to recap what’s happened here at V1. But with a group of incredible startups doing great things, we’re determined to provide more frequent updates. If you’re not already familiar with the startups and founders making up the V1 portfolio, here’s a summary of some of this quarter’s news clippings.

Portfolio 90

Portfolio San Francisco API Software Review 90

ConversionXL

APRIL 28, 2016

Web personalization is all the rage, but are you trying to run before you’ve learned how to walk? Don’t trip and stumble in your drive to master shiny, new techniques – instead, learn what you need to get accomplished first, and what the pitfalls are if you don’t. The State of Personalization Today. Personalization is a buzzword that you hear mentioned in all of those articles predicting next year’s marketing trends.

Algorithm 62

Algorithm Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Cost 62

crowdSPRING Blog

APRIL 28, 2016

Many young entrepreneurs and business owners think that innovation, marketing and financial know-how are the keys to the success of a business. Those are all important factors, but there is a single, more important factor. Entrepreneurs and business owners spend a majority of their time talking to people: explaining ideas, directing others, helping, listening, speaking , networking , and taking advice.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Conversion Viral Small Business 75

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2016

My partner Greg Bettinelli (worth following on Twitter) was recently named by The LA Business Journal as the “Top deal maker in Los Angeles… Continue reading on Medium »

Los Angeles 152

Los Angeles Naming Partner 152

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 21, 2016

by Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker, co-authors of “ Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA “. Money management is one of those topics many virtual assistants and small business owners routinely put off and hope for the best. It’s front and center on the mind on April 1 st in anticipation of the April 15 th tax deadline, but then it goes straight to the back burner for the rest of the year.

Small Business 157

Small Business Management Software Review Affiliate 157

deal architect

APRIL 30, 2016

People ask me all the time if I have plans for volume 3 in the SAP Nation series. I tell them I am waiting for a turnaround in the SAP economy. A noticeable one. For reference, my models showed the.

Software 200

Software 200

View from Seed

APRIL 19, 2016

We’re thrilled today to roll out a bit of an experiment, but one we feel has staying power – an NYC Tech podcast. This show will be exclusively about, for, and even by New York City tech. Although we’ve written about NYC tech before and are active seed investors here, we’re hoping this podcast can fill a much-needed void, help strengthen the community, and shine a spotlight on an ecosystem that deserves more cheerleaders and local attention.

New York City 159

New York City Boston New York Community 159

Steve Blank

APRIL 15, 2016

If I had spent less time on the business and more time with the family, we’d have been better off as a business and as a family. Family must come first in a family business. And if others don’t get your startup idea, it won’t matter how hard your team works to try to achieve it. Balancing business and family, and ensuring demand for your product were key lessons shared by two veteran entrepreneurs on today’s Entrepreneurs are Everywhere radio show.

Silicon Valley 141

Silicon Valley California Entrepreneur Cofounder 141

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 18, 2016

Five Tips for Using Local Networking Groups to Grow Your Business written by Kevin Jordan read more at Duct Tape Marketing. photo credit: SDF2016 RUMBLE I via photopin (license). In today’s digital world, the hot topics in the small business marketing industry tend to be things like SEO, responsive web design, pay-per-click advertising, and of course whatever the latest fad in social media happens to be in any particular week.

Networking 44

Networking Jordan Software Review Limited Liability Company 44

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 28, 2016

Lead — It’s hard to be a real leader. Decisions are never black or white, so most people fudge. The straddle middle grounds to keep everybody happy. They make compromises to try and hold together constituencies. On business decisions they want to hedge their bets so they do a little bit of everything but nothing extremely well. As highlighted by Brad Garlinghouse years ago in the famous “ peanut butter manifesto ”— it’s like spreading peanut butter evenly over a piece of bread.

Leadership 252

Leadership PR Programming Conversion 252

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 18, 2016

If you are searching for a way to make a big impression for your business, then pull up banners are one of the most low-cost and portable marketing tools that you can use to drive more leads for your business. To ensure that pull up banners will work as a powerful marketing tool for your business, the team from Classic Colour offer the following tips on designing pull up banners that will attract more leads for your business.

Sales 100

Sales Design Search Email 100

deal architect

APRIL 29, 2016

I spent a few days at Plex’s user conference in Detroit this week. For me, the backdrop was the invigorated city as I describe here. That amplified the many upbeat conversations and presentations I witnessed at the event.

Detroit 239

Detroit Conversion 239

View from Seed

APRIL 21, 2016

How do you build your engineering/dev team from the ground up? There are a few different ways to do it, but unfortunately, none bring a guarantee of success. Let’s make a few assumptions: You are a founder, you have your idea, and you have your money. It is just you. You need to bring in the right people to build your product. What kind of engineers do you need?

Engineer 149

Engineer Hiring Non-Compete Dividend 149

Steve Blank

APRIL 19, 2016

We just held our third week of the Hacking for Defense class. This week the 8 teams spoke to 108 beneficiaries (users, program mangers, etc.), we held a Customer Discovery workshop, we started streaming the class live to DOD/IC sponsors and other educators, our advanced lecture was on Product/Market fit for the DOD/IC and we watched as the students solved their customer discovery obstacles and started getting closer to their customers.

Social Media 136

Social Media Networking Naming Aggregator 136

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 18, 2016

5 Small Business Marketing Tools for Building Authority Fast written by Guest Post read more at Duct Tape Marketing. Whether you are trying to get better rankings in Google, spreading your message on social media or working on making your website more persuasive, the power of being seen as an authority will help you streamline your digital marketing.

Small Business 37

Small Business Marketing Social Media Search 37

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2016

Why you do me like that? Over the year’s I’ve tried to offer some tangible, practical advice to help people communicate more effectively. I’ve weighed in on: Email 1 —  How to Get Busy People to Take Action Email 2 —  Etiquette to Email Introductions Email 3 —  Make it Easy for Me to Forward Your Email ! Phone Calls 1 —  Pick up the Damn Phone ! Phone Calls 2 —  How to Make Better Calls Presenting at Meetings —  Without Going Down a Rat Hole Presentations —  Where Should You Sit ??

Jordan 182

Jordan Email Hosting Networking 182