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Author Archives: Dave Berkus
Everything changes from concept to release! (And another story…)
You can take “everything changes” as a rule, not an exception. You’ll recognize the truism, “No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy” first stated by German Field Marshall von Moltke in the 19th century. This variant of … Continue reading
New idea or product? 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 … Continue reading
Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Positioning
1 Comment
What I learned from losing a million…Market knowledge comes FIRST.
Know your market and competition, or don’t spend a dime on anything else. I have stated previously that I love absolutes – statements with no wiggle room for gray-area responses. Well, here is one of those, and it deals … Continue reading
Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Growth!, Positioning
3 Comments
Money comes smart or dumb. Find smart.
This statement could be considered controversial. We have previously made the case that professional investors demand more in the form of restrictive covenants and lower valuations. Now we explore the other side of that coin. Professional investors usually bring “smart … Continue reading
Raise cash from trusted, close resources first.
This insight follows closely the conclusions from the previous declaration, 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 sell their shares and … Continue reading
Posted in Ignition! Starting up, Raising money
9 Comments
Outside investors want liquidity, not love.
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 Raising money
2 Comments
Raising money for your business: What are the options?
This post will be perhaps a bit longer than usual, but certainly of great interest for those with interest in or have need for more capital… This stage is critical to many businesses and a passing option to others, depending … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Raising money
4 Comments
Use metrics and a dashboard. ACT upon variances.
Have you ever driven a car that had no speedometer? I had that thrill when a student at the Richard Petty Stockcar School of Driving recently at a motor speedway in California. With a wide track, angled aggressively at … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Positioning
1 Comment
Your budget and forecast light your goal.
Let’s spend a few moments defining a sometimes confusing set of terms. A budget should be created each year as a result of a series of negotiations between departmental managers and their superiors through to the CEO, all in … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Ignition! Starting up
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Strategic planning: Strategies and tactics
In past insights, we explored the need for a tangible goal and strategies that are measurable as steps toward achievement of the goal. This insight calls to account tactics to accompany each strategy, and even suggests a number for … Continue reading
Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Positioning
2 Comments
