StartUp Advisor:
StartUp Advisor:
Hardware Founders: Overcoming Challenges in Bringing Tangible Products to Market
I’ve always been fascinated by hardware founders and the challenges they face. Unlike software founders, they have to create a physical product from scratch, which is no easy feat. I recently came across a comment on one of my posts from a person who had bought a flossing product from a hardware founder. While I’m […]
Finding Your Market in Any Industry
We can all take inspiration from craftsmen and their dedication to their craft. Recently, I had the chance to attend the low rider convention in Long Beach, and it was clear that if you’re truly skilled at something, there’s a market waiting for you. You just need to know how to find it. At the […]
The Risks of Being a StartUp Founder in Search of a Problem
I’ve seen it all: from founders who are passionate about solving a problem they’ve experienced firsthand, to those who are simply looking for a business idea. While the latter approach can certainly work, it’s important to understand the risks involved with being an entrepreneur in search of a problem. According to an article in Forbes, […]
Choosing the Right Type of Advisors for Your Startup
Advisors can play a critical role in the success of a startup. However, it’s important to understand that not all advisors are created equal. In fact, there are three types of advisors, each with their own unique value proposition. The first type of advisor is what I like to call the “credibility booster.” These are […]
StartUp Founders: Consider a Co-Founder with a Wealth of Experience as an Individual Contributor
Many people assume that startup founders are young, inexperienced and naive. While these attributes can make them great founders, there is another group of individuals that startup founders should consider for co-founders: high-performing individual contributors (ICs) who have a wealth of experience. These individuals have worked in big companies, have been pushed into management, and […]
The 4 Core Pillars Investors Look for in a Startup
It’s no secret that the fundraising process can be challenging, and one of the main reasons for this is that every investor is running your startup against their own criteria. So, as a founder, it’s crucial to understand what investors are looking for when they evaluate your pitch. Based on my experience having worked with […]
Early-Stage StartUps: Hold Back on Your Spending
One of the most common mistakes I see among first-time entrepreneurs and founders is starting to spend money too soon. It’s easy to get carried away with an idea and jump into hiring engineers, designers, creating a website, and more, but the trouble with spending money is that it compounds. You never spend less money, […]
Pre-Product StartUp Founders: Start Sales Motions Now, Don’t Wait For Your Product To Be Ready
One of the most common mistakes I see founders make is waiting until their product is ready before starting their sales motions. They assume that they need to wait until they have the perfect product or feature set before they can take it to the market. However, this is far from the truth. In fact, […]
StartUp Entrepreneurs: You Can Be An Introvert
Every now and then I’d meet aspiring entrepreneurs who express concern over their ability to lead a team and sell a vision. The truth is, not every founder is born with natural leadership qualities. While those skills may certainly help you build and grow your company, they are not necessarily a requirement for success. As […]
