We hosted a roundtable on SaaS sales issues today at Plug and Play in Sunnyvale over lunch. Here are some quotes I pulled off of our feedback cards: Good Discussion, interesting models discussed. Further info separating metrics from models would be helpful in fueling discussion. Great Roundtable. Lengthen the time. Well moderated, very on point. […]
Feedback From Today’s SaaS Roundtable Read More »
It’s starting to become clear that beyond just storm clouds, we are in for a recession in Silicon Valley. Which I suppose means that the next bubble will be delayed a few more years. We started our business in mid-2003, helping several small consulting and software firms who were struggling to recover from Silicon Valley’s
Recession Requires A Focus on Revenue Read More »
I first met Debra Willrett, founder of Expert Software Consulting, at the IEEE Consultants Network for Silicon Valley (CNSV) when she gave a great talk on the new CNSV website in February of 2006. When Francis and I learned that she was the inventor of the Macintosh application MacProject, an application that has defined a
Founder Story: Debra Willrett on Inventing MacProject Read More »
I got Bernard Golden‘s April Navica Open Source Newsletter today, provocatively titled “Everything I Said Last Month was Wrong, and I’m a Lousy Prophet, Too” which contains some good advice for startups as they work with industry analysts (emphasis added): I had my eyes opened about analyst firms this month. Even though I had a
Bernard Golden: Some Industry Analysts Offer Anecdote Dressed Up as Science Read More »
Act like a doctor not a traditional high-pressure salesperson. Diagnose before you prescribe and always act with integrity.
You are a Doctor not a Salesperson Read More »
Adapted from a presentation on “Now What? Your Post Launch Growth Plan” at the KASE Entrepreneur Seminar on October 16, 2007.
“Now What? Your Post Launch Growth Plan” Podcast and Transcript Read More »
Spent the day at Microsoft’s Silicon Valley campus attending Dealmaker Media‘s Under the Radar Conference on “The Business of Web Apps: Where the Web Goes to Work.” A company that would seem to have a lot to lose from the success of web-based applications with an Office 2.0 focus has taken Michael Corleone’s advice to
Under the Radar: The Business of Web Apps Recap Read More »
David Packard suggested 7 objectives for HP managers at the “Sonoma Meeting” in his book, “The HP Way” that also apply to startups.
HP Way: Seven Objectives For Your Startup Read More »
Here is a short collection of quotes on courage that I think are especially useful for entrepreneurs, who need the “courage to continue” to succeed.
If you missed us at SDWest last week, here are pointers to firms and organizations we had in the Startup Resource Center. Brighter Naming name your company, product, or service Fortis General Counsel is a law firm comfortable with bootstrappers Action Patents Pete Tormey registered patent agent (see interview) Boitano Sargent, and Lilly accounting firm
SKMurphy’s Startup Resource Center at SDWest 2008 Read More »
Thank you for attending the Great Demo workshop. Here is a full copy of the presentation: GreatDemoFull080308.zip [Zipped PowerPoint]
SKMurphy will host Peter Cohan’s Great Demo workshop on Saturday March 8 in San Jose. “SKMurphy’s partnership with the Second Derivative has allowed entrepreneurs at smaller firms access to the same world class sales training normally only available to Fortune 1000 companies. In the class my team developed a presentation that allowed us to explain
SKMurphy Hosts Great Demo! Seminar for Entrepreneurs Read More »
Looks like we will be in good company. Whether you are considering leaving you day job for a startup, you are consulting while you develop a product, you are open for business and looking for early customers, looking for smarter customers, or you’ve found your niche and you are looking to scale up, drop by.
We’ll be at SDWest Booth 318 Read More »
Jotspot Emerges From The Bowels of Google Rob Hof notes–hat tip to Ross Mayfield–tonight in “Jotspot Returns as Google Sites: Wiki Style Collaboration” (emphasis added): Ever since Google bought the wiki-based online application startup Jotspot in late 2006, people have been wondering if it had disappeared forever inside the bowels of the search giant. Tonight,
Jotspot Emerges From The Bowels of Google Read More »
Peter Cohan makes the following points in his Great Demo! Seminar C level execs think in terms of dollars (budget) Managers think in terms of people and full time equivalents (FTE). Individual contributors think in terms of time spent vs. time saved So it pays to express the benefits of your application accordingly. There may
Express ROI In Terms Your Prospect Will Understand Read More »
Don Reinertsen, co-author (with Preston Smith) of “Developing Products in Half the Time” and “Managing the Design Factory: The Product Developers Toolkit” has a great article about managing products “Priorities: Last Refuge of the Innumerate” Don Reinertsen: Priorities Are The Last Refuge of the Innumerate Priorities: Last Refuge of the Innumerate What is our highest product
Don Reinertsen: Priorities Are The Last Refuge of the Innumerate Read More »
As entrepreneurs we pursue our dreams of improving the world. Sometimes I think our dreams can pursue us, that a vision of a better world can have the same effect as what the Scots call a geas. An obligation to use our talents in certain ways that unlocks their power if obeyed and punishes if
While We Pursue Our Dreams, They Can Pursue Us Read More »
I was invited to take part in the Mission College Business Department Advisory Committee for 2008 last Tuesday; it was a very interesting experience. There was a cross section of folks from education and business, both large and small. I was impressed by the diversity of perspectives and everyone’s commitment to assisting the college. Community
Mission College Business Department Advisory Committee Read More »
Here are 10 common reasons to issue a press release. Announce a strategic partnership or alliance Issuing a statement on a hot issue New client acquisition Holding a seminar or workshop Availability of white paper or article Company revenue, sales, or profit Announce new member of board of directors or board of advisors invitation for
10 Reasons to Write a Press Release Read More »
First Office: Arwen Funk, Real Estate Broker In earlier interviews, Frank Bailey and Ed Correia each recommended using a broker as the most effective approach to finding an office. So I called Arwen Funk, a commercial and residential broker, to get some background. Arwen pointed out several potential land mines in leasing contracts such as
First Office: Arwen Funk, Real Estate Broker Read More »
