Outside of dreams, there is no real business opportunity without risk. Serious entrepreneurs know that, but too many “wannabes” still fall for that elusive get-rich-quick scheme with no risk. As an active angel investor, I still hear entrepreneurs asserting large opportunities with minimal risk and no competition. My conclusion, either way, is that they have […]
6 Key Ideas For Moving Your Business Up Another Level
A theme I often hear from the entrepreneurs and startups I advise is that once they see that first surge of traction from customers, they can relax and enjoy life for a change. The reality could not be further from the truth. In today’s world of growing competition and customer evolution, holding your own, and growing […]
Strike While It’s Hot: It Doesn’t Matter if a Platform is Around in a Year
Read this article if you are thinking about what social media platforms that you need to be a part of…
Office Relationships are Key, But Affairs are Trouble
To office romance, or not to…
Startup Equity as Compensation is a Long-Term Bet
Here are some “rules of thumb” guidelines on what might be a reasonable offer for startup equity by position based on discussions I hear rattling around the investor community
Will Investors Want to Run My Company?
If I take on investors, will they push me aside and run the company?
We Need Entrepreneurs Who Think Like Revolutionaries
The realm of an entrepreneur is all about change, but in my experience as a mentor to business founders, I hear too much about incremental change and not enough about revolutionary change. Adding a couple of new features to Facebook, and calling it something new, may seem less risky, but creating a whole new industry, such […]
Where Are We Investing Now: Consumer Goods
Both of our fund families focus on consumer products. Social Starts takes the angle of commerce and focuses on Digitally Native Brands based purely on their market characteristics. Joyance focuses on consumer goods derived from deep science with high emotional content. Social Starts focuses on Digitally Native Brands with the potential to deliver a generational […]
10 Symptoms Of An Entrepreneur Who Is Nearly Broken
Here are ten key indications from my experience that you as an entrepreneur may be nearly broken, and it’s time to look for some help
The Future Of Humans, Taxes and Work
Technology has become so ingrained into people’s lives that Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” requires an update. The toxicity of politics and declining civility of the electorate is rooted in the addiction of 120 character news cycles and idolized selfie-promoted social networks.