-
Search this blog
Archives
-
Recent Posts
Categories
Author Archives: Dave Berkus
Don’t rest until you test!
So, you have a great new product or service that you and your associates love. Early adopters should climb all over each other for a look. But what have you done to test the concept against the realities of the … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Positioning
1 Comment
Boy! If I had only learned this before spending a million!
Know your market and competition, or don’t spend a dime on anything else. I love absolutes – statements with no wiggle room for gray-area responses. Well, here is one of those, and it deals with market research first and foremost. … Continue reading
Where is the best source of early stage investment?
If you have been following our recent insights, you’ll be up to speed knowing that professional investors negotiate tough terms, from provisions of control over asset acquisition, eventual sale of the company, future investments, forced co-sale when others attempt to … Continue reading
Posted in General, Raising money
7 Comments
Will tech kill your job?
[wdm_image_effects effect=”effectc1″ animation=”slideInLeft” shape=”square” color=”#ffffff” social=”” title=”” description=”” id=”2988″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”large”/] Stop me if you’ve heard this story before. “My job as a (newspaper publisher telephone installer, stockbroker, travel agent, retail store manager) is safe as this economy continues … Continue reading
What do you give up when taking outside investors?
Taking in angel or venture money requires a setting of an entrepreneur’s expectations that may come as a shock at least at first. From the moment such an investor looks seriously at your company, the investor or VC partner is … Continue reading
Posted in Depending upon others, Raising money
1 Comment
Does your business need money? Read this!
The subject of raising money is critical to many businesses and a passing option to others, depending upon the capital efficiency of the enterprise. Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Raising money
1 Comment
Is your budget a forecast? When do you change mid-course?
Hold it! These are confusing terms. When does a budget become obsolete? Do we rely upon constant changes and call it a forecast? So, let’s spend a few moments defining this sometimes-confusing set of terms. A budget should be created … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Protecting the business
1 Comment
Here’s the test: Can you create 5 strategies and 5 tactics to achieve your goal?
In past weeks, we explored the need for a tangible goal and strategies that are measurable as steps toward achievement of your goal. Today, we explore how to create tactics to accompany each strategy, and even suggest a number of … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Positioning
Leave a comment
Think like a general! Create strategies and tactics now.
If you have been following the last several weeks of these postings, then now we’re getting organized. There are many ways to express the road map for your enterprise. One of the most popular was used by the U.S. Army … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Positioning
Leave a comment
Please map your goal and USE that map!
It’s time to speak of some sort of business plan. As a professional investor in early stage companies, I have long discounted long, detailed business plans in favor of a concise “executive summary” followed by a believable spreadsheet-based financial forecast … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Positioning
1 Comment
