Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

I have been close to the tech & startup sectors for more than 20 years and I can’t think of a period in which I felt more optimistic about the innovation and value creation I see in front of us. This world of local meets retail meets digital advertising portends to technology disruption and with it VC opportunities.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Technical Review LP Mobile 347

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

The main thrust of the post is that with YouTube taking a 45% of revenue and talent taking 70% of the remaining revenue, YouTube Networks didn’t have sustainable businesses unless they invested heavily in technology as a tool to increase margin and provide defensibility. That is the definition of Disruptive Technology.

Video 339

Video Technical Review Distribution Aggregator 339

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most have the technical challenges well understood, but many are a bit short on some basic street smarts , or basic business realities. With information overload due to the Internet, you need to find your customers, rather than assume they will find you.

Intellectual Property 432

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Technical Review Angel Investor 432

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 25, 2011

Which essentially means that if you’re looking to build a community, or encourage virality of a message through your intended audiences, you’ll need to apply different strategies to attract and retain them.

Mobile 172

Mobile Technical Review Software Review Web 172

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 11, 2014

There’s an article making the rounds in tech circles titled “ Growth Hacking is Bull ” written by Muhammad Saleem. We spend a lot of time trying to get people focused on building products that have viral components and why that has to be measured and constantly tested. I’d strongly encourage you to read it.

Technical Review 384

Technical Review Hockey Stick SEM Channel 384

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

Viral marketing. Viral marketing costs real money, but is often worth it. Wikipedia started this, but it is also used for technical support, software, and product reviews. No SEM plan means you are missing a huge marketing opportunity. " Examples include give-aways, contests, and celebrity stunts that grab attention.

Internet 239

Internet SEM Wiki Viral 239

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

If you’re a technology startup you need to excel at product, of course. While many tech startups do this intuitively (say, SnapChat thinking it would be much better if our photos out partying disappeared) it still happens. It’s worth a quick read. My argument is pretty simple. Look at Viddy & SocialCast.

SEM 379

SEM Viral Marketing Widget 379

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

“ Loveworks ” builds on that premise, and looks at how various marketing concepts – some of which, like virality, have become the epitome of hype – are exemplified through these marketing examples as executed by Saatchi & Saatchi across the world in various categories for different clients.

Technical Review 159

Technical Review Afghanistan Iraq Brazil 159

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 21, 2013

Pivots can take the form of changes to singular product features, customer segments, platforms, business architecture, growth engines, technology and more. Books & Reviews business strategy entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Eric Ries lean lean manufacturing productivity small businesses SMEs startups The Lean Startup'

Lean 193

Lean Technical Review North America Startup 193

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2010

Viral marketing. Viral marketing costs real money, but is often worth it. Wikipedia started this, but it is also used for technical support, software, and product reviews. Rates per click are very low, so don’t try to live on ad revenues until visit rates are very high. Crowdsourcing. You can use it for your business.

Internet 224

Internet SEM Wiki Entrepreneur 224

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Most technical entrepreneurs focus hard on building an innovative product, but forget that an elegant solution doesn’t automatically translate into a successful business. Defining the right business model requires the same diligence as designing the right product, but the approach and skills required are different.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Advisory Board Software Review Business Model 220

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

According to a recent Harvard Business Review article , only 60% of companies today use social media for marketing, and only 12% of those feel that they are using it effectively. Read everything you can about viral marketing. So print it off and deliver it to a friend who is not so high-tech. What’s the problem?

Social Media 289

Social Media Small Business Media Technical Review 289

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 5, 2012

They include introducing new products, including social proof in traditional marketing campaigns, building advocates outside one’s traditional fan base (eg a high-tech car like Audi A8 and technology influencers), fundraising for nonprofits, coupons for high score influencers, prioritizing customer service responses and more.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Singapore Algorithm Social Media 160

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JANUARY 10, 2011

Pet owners who like the cards will look on the back to see how to order some of their own, and suddenly you have a viral marketing campaign that cost you lots of initial legwork calling vets but not a lot of money. Let’s do another example, this time in technical business software sales instead of fuzzy consumer sales.

Software Review 232

Software Review Technical Review .Net Design 232

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.

Management 322

Management Entrepreneur Forecast Stock Options 322

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 4, 2015

Nor to achieve the greatest “virality” in our digital campaigns. Social CRM is a philosophy and a business strategy that uses technology, work flow, business rules, and social information to talk with (not at) the customer in a transparent way, to make value for both parties.” . 5 Integrate with social advertising and technologies.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Software Review Customer Social Media 100

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.

Forecast 304

Forecast Stock Options Technical Review Metrics 304

TechEmpower

JULY 31, 2023

Proving your Business Model Works - Build, Define, and Review But how do you prove your numbers? Finally, review the numbers with your partners. channels (search, social, viral, new media), cost-efficient distribution We often reference Dave’s work when talking to innovators. Don’t worry about scaling just yet.

Metrics 260

Metrics Startup Retention Acquisition 260

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2021

I’m a very logical guy, so I still fondly remember when new solutions and technologies started trends on the basis of their logical strengths. Today consumers reveal themselves online, with pictures, opinions, ratings and reviews, interests and locations, and expect businesses to adapt to them, and honor the implied relationship contract.

Marketing 317

Marketing Social Media Affiliate Viral 317

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.

Startup 283

Startup Forecast Stock Options Technical Review 283

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2016

As an angel investor, I’ve learned to believe in this approach, since I have seen great ideas go astray, due to poor execution and I have seen apparently marginal ideas make millions, managed by a savvy entrepreneur. Similarly, mentioning viral marketing without specifics won’t assure fundability.

Technical Review 134

Technical Review Intellectual Property Due Diligence Angel Investor 134

ReadWriteStart

APRIL 8, 2023

It becomes even more interesting in the world of emerging technologies and the IoT. In fact, the small brand is likely to become a rising industry star due to the established trust, convenient delivery times, and various payment options available in the marketplace. These new technologies will become an integral part of most e-shops.

eCommerce 185

eCommerce Technical Review Software Review Analytics 185

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

When I met my now-wife, I realized that any technology that can find me a spouse is a killer app. I’d argue that the same type of technologies that have revolutionized dating can revolutionize our industry. . I walk through below how progressive investors are using technology and analytics throughout all of their operations.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78

VC Cafe

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

When you start with an honest and diligent effort to determine the truth of your situation, the right decisions often become self-evident.” — Jim Collins , author of Good to Great. In this post I’ll focus on benchmarking resources for seed and series A in the following three categories: SaaS B2C / Consumer apps Deep tech.

B2C 141

B2C Technical Review Startup Retention 141

Occam's Razor

JULY 12, 2010

Let's go look at some tools… Measuring "Invisible Virality": Tynt. Goes viral. I can measure the "invisible virality" / "spread" by this big huge non-commenting, non-tweeting audience. Invisible Virality. Reviews are important. Or for that matter how many tools. You matter.

Analytics 97

Analytics Viral Web Mobile 97

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Or seen a review of an iPhone app hung up on pricing trivialities: “It would be pretty good at $0.99, but it’s not worth $1.99.” Requires venture funding because you have no income, and if you’re successful you’ll need lots of people and tech to run the business. simple enough to be self-service). . $1/mo

Bootstrapping 294

Bootstrapping Technical Review B2C Sales Cycle 294

betashop.com

OCTOBER 8, 2012

90 Things I’ve Learned From Founding 4 Technology Companies. On October 27, 2010 I wrote a blog post about the “ 57 Things I Learned Founding 3 Tech Companies.”. 90 Things I’ve Learned Founding 4 Tech Companies: Find your company’s One Thing. ?? We do twice-yearly reviews of all Fab team members. So, here goes.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Technology Software Review Valuation 108

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 4, 2011

Only one guy in the room knew – their tech lead. Once you churn a user due to stability or performance problems it can be hard to get them back. Measuring viral adoption is obviously important. Most people under estimate the challenge of winning “share of mind” the least understood concept with tech entrepreneurs.

Metrics 346

Metrics Startup Acquisition SEM 346

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

But more spend = more viral opps = more revenue down the road. >50% of our revenue in now viral. year old boy and another one due in 1 months. Tags: Pitching VCs Start-up Advice VC Industry startup technology vc venture capital. I raised $500k in seed money to start the company. Many term sheets ensued.

Founder 329

Founder Liquidation Preference Term Sheet Participating Preferred 329

The Next Web

OCTOBER 28, 2012

One explanation is that “growth hacking” is just a catchy way to rebrand marketers, but this begs the question as to why “growth hacking” went viral in the first place. But this door quickly closed: Facebook changed the OpenGraph’s parameters due to, in its view, a bad user experience with over-optimized and aggressive video posting.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review San Francisco Software Review Distribution 150

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

People said this about Ring (which went from startup to selling to Amazon > $1 billion in around 5 years), Facebook, YouTube, Airbnb, Uber, Twitter, Instagram and many other great behemoths of the technology industry. There is nothing viral! Ah, but Bird doesn’t have network effects! Anybody can launch a scooter service!

San Francisco 256

San Francisco Valuation Los Angeles Technical Review 256

crowdSPRING Blog

OCTOBER 16, 2011

The Harvard Business Review is probably the leading publication for business and their an online journal contains thousands of articles nonbusiness theory, practice, and technique. 5 great viral marketing campaigns (and what small businesses can learn from them!). Two great resources are Salesforce and Zoho.com. Sweetness indeed.

Small Business 118

Small Business Technical Review Software Review Startup 118

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

AUGUST 1, 2011

Take Control Of Your Publicity (Or End Up Like Bill Clinton) Most companies employing this strategy to gain profile and publicity do so with the intention of creating a buzz and ideally having the resulting video going viral. This is the reasoning behind the concept.

Viral 84

Viral Campaign Social Media Technical Review 84

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 15, 2019

Usually, small business owners don’t think beyond their quarterly or annual plans and they forget their long-term goals due to everyday hurdles. Kodak is a classic example of a huge brand that collapsed when it failed to keep up with the evolving technology of the photography world. Embrace Technology.

Small Business 196

Small Business Software Review Technical Review Viral 196

ConversionXL

SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

Hundreds of user reviews of both platforms on G2 Crowd reveal the key benefits—and shortcomings—of each. G2 Crowd, a business technology review site, has almost 3,000 reviews of Google Analytics. The business problems that Google Analytics and Mixpanel solve. Image source ). Acquisition.

Analytics 119

Analytics Technical Review Acquisition Retention 119

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2015

Most technical entrepreneurs focus hard on building an innovative product, but forget that an elegant solution doesn’t automatically translate into a successful business. Defining the right business model requires the same diligence as designing the right product, but the approach and skills required are different.

Business Model 120

Business Model Technical Review Advisory Board Software Review 120

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2010

It’s always fun debating companies with Dana because she’s always so knowledgeable on deals – particularly those in the digital media, ad-tech and eCommerce spaces. million users making it considerably larger than some of its peers that have historically received more tech press inches. Greycroft is an early-stage VC.

Partner 240

Partner New York City Cofounder Syndicate 240