10 Reasons to Favor Action vs. Overthinking
I've always said that startups are all about execution. Sometimes I encounter self-proclaimed entrepreneurs who have been “thinking” about a concept for many years, and haven't started yet. Some of…
10 Keys to a Competitive Business Model
Every startup and mature business needs to learn as much as possible from Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, who have set the standards for fast growth and success in today’s…
7 Tips for Fostering a Strong Work Ethic
Great entrepreneurs have long been the epitome of people with a great work ethic. But many complain to me that it is becoming harder and harder to find team members…
Investigate Your Investors Before Taking Their Money
Due diligence should always be a two-way street. A while back, I published an article on “Startup Due Diligence Is Not a Mysterious Black Art,” describing what investors do to…
What NOT to Say About Your Competition
One of the most important questions you will be asked by potential investors is how your solutions beat the competition, not just today, but over the three- to five-year life…
Ten Essential Tips for Strong Execution
After the idea, it’s all about execution. I often hear from investors that a great idea is necessary, but not sufficient. The most important thing is a proven team, meaning…
Success is Market Driven, not Technology Driven
Too many entrepreneurs develop a new product without regard to market demand, then build an entire strategy based on creating a need, rather than acting on an existing market need…
Look Past Early Adopters for Feedback
For most new high-tech products, the first customers are always “early adopters.” The conventional wisdom is that early adopters are the ideal target for new products, to get business rolling…
Entrepreneurs Need People Who Get Things Done
Go-to people get things done. As an entrepreneur, you need these people, and you need to be one, if you expect your startup to be successful. That may be easier…
What’s a clever video worth?
What's a clever video worth? In the case of startup Dollar Shave Club, it's worth a million dollar investment from prominent investors Kleiner Perkins and Andreesen Horowitz. …