Eric Ries likes to asks audiences who has seen a movie about a startup. Normally everyone has seen “The Social Network”. But, quoting a recent profile: “Perhaps Ries’ most important message was that the same democratization of entrepreneurship has been tied to a glorification of the profession. His description of the films “The Social Network”...
[Continue Reading]How to pitch an entrepreneur and persuade her to take your cash
With the rise of a trillion-dollar crowdfunding market, angel investors bundling their investment offerings, and family offices doing more direct investments, venture capitalists are no longer the only available source for entrepreneurs seeking funding. Now that anyone can benefit from the global growth of entrepreneurial activity, venture capitalists need to show their true added value...
[Continue Reading]How and why to be an angel investor
Dave Kerpen, founder and CEO of Likeable Local, just published an interview with me on Linkedin, which I’ve included below . (He’s the #1 LinkedIn Influencer of all time in page views, ahead of Bill Gates, Jack Welch, Mark Cuban, and President Barack Obama. Incidentally, this is a great example of why it’s helpful to move to...
[Continue Reading]How to get world class experts to support your company
As the former CEO of a professional expert network, I’m a firm believer in the value of speedy access to relevant experts. I was excited to see that GLG (formerly Gerson Lehrman Group), the industry leader, is now offering a professional network service geared to the needs of the startup community: GLG Share. When you’re...
[Continue Reading]The real reasons adults love to give kids sugar
The world rains sugar on my children. The bus driver offers my child bubble gum. The teachers offer a cupcake for every birthday party. The school vending machine is full of junk food; so is the one at the Y. At camp, the counselors offer candy and a freeze pop at the end of the...
[Continue Reading]You are leaving money on the table: the secrets of pricing
Oscar Wilde said that a cynic is a “a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” A startup CEO should know both. One of the most powerful levers a CEO has to impact profitability is pricing. Typically, a 1% price increase has more than twice the impact on profit of...
[Continue Reading]