Category Archives: Growth!

Plan for your R&D Tax.

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Dave Berkus

There is a life cycle for any product, and it is much shorter on average today than five years ago, especially in the technology world. Companies that are successful with their first product must begin thinking about the costs of … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, The fight for quality | 1 Comment

Organize globally.

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Dave Berkus

Even the smallest business can now reach throughout the globe to find resources for design, development, support and consultation.  There are people and companies everywhere willing to work by the hour, providing great skill sets as needed, able to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Positioning | Leave a comment

Protect and grow your core competency.

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Dave Berkus

It is a rule that early stage managers should find, protect and grow the core business, finding resources wherever possible to service that core in the form of variable expense, to be added to or shed at will as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Growth!, Positioning, Protecting the business | Leave a comment

The four “P’s” of Building a Great Business.

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Dave Berkus

Some of us remember things better when given a catchy phrase or rhyme.  Here’s one to help you with squeezing the most out of your available resources.  It reflects the new reality in our business world, one with little room … Continue reading →

Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Growth! | 6 Comments

The last money has the first say.

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Dave Berkus

This important variation on “money talks” is an important consideration for entrepreneurs when seeking an investment from professionals such as VC’s.   Something like a marriage (and often lasting just as long statistically), your investment partner can be a great cheerleader, … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Raising money | Leave a comment

Beware the “dirty cap table.”

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Dave Berkus

When you seek professional investors, whether organized angels or venture capitalists, one of the early questions you are asked is “How have you financed the business so far?”  Investors love to see entrepreneurs who have used their own money to … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Raising money | 6 Comments

Personal Guarantees are a fact of life for many entrepreneurs.

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Dave Berkus

Starting and running a small or growing business can be a challenge to the most confident and optimistic entrepreneur.  And the process of borrowing money or financing asset purchases can be an eye-opener for those who are not used to … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Protecting the business | 4 Comments

Be approximately right rather than exactly wrong.

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Dave Berkus

I love this statement from John Tukey, coiner of the word ‘bit’ to describe a single switch of digital micro-data.  Tukey was a statistician, one you would expect to describe events in terms reeking with precision. Instead, Tukey implored us … Continue reading →

Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Growth!, Positioning | 1 Comment

Entrepreneurs: Do it your way.

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Dave Berkus

Yes, this is a takeoff from Frank Sinatra’s song, where he did it his way and got away with it.  You’re building a company from your vision and a passion, and lots of people are going to tell you that … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Finding your ideal niche, Growth!, Ignition! Starting up | Leave a comment

The Eighty Percent Acquisition Rule

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Dave Berkus

Eighty percent of all businesses purchased by another company or by a new investor-operator fail to meet the stated expectations of the buyer after one year. As with the fifty percent rule, this rule is hard to find an author … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Protecting the business | Leave a comment