The closing slide in our Idea to Revenue Workshop says In The Beginning…The Founders Are The Business. To Keep The Business Viable, Learn Faster Than the Competition. Successful Entrepreneurship Is a Self-Improvement Project.
In the Beginning…the Founders are the Business Read More »
What follows are some real questions I have answered either face to face or in e-mail over the last 90 days in response to the current downturn in Silicon Valley. Customer Development for a Consultants in a Downturn Q: I just completed my first two years of consulting–which were spectacular–after 20+ years of full time
Customer Development for a Consulting Practice in a Downturn Read More »
After blogging about how “User Communities are Critical for Complex Products” two days ago I thought I would offer some quick tips on how to get started: Be clear on the benefits to the members. So many social networking groups are very clear on how members bring benefit to a user site, but not very
3 Tips for Developing User Community Sites Read More »
User communities are not just a low cost way to market and support your product, they are essential to complex technology products.
User Communities Are Critical For Complex Products Read More »
I had the pleasure of attending Steve Blank’s talk on “Customer Development for Startups” on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at TiE and I wanted to offer some pointers both to content he referenced and some related information on Customer Development.
Steve Blank on Customer Development at TiE Wed-Sep-17-2008 Read More »
I have followed Herb Reiter‘s consulting career over the last five years or so: there aren’t very many business development consultants who work with EDA firms, fewer who have the mix of semiconductor and design background that Herb accumulated on the way to honing his business development expertise. He is personable, methodical, and always interested
Herb Reiter Interview on Fostering Static Timing Analysis Adoption Read More »
One of the strategies we cover in our Getting More Customers workshops is blogging. Below is a 90-plan developed by a workshop attendee last year, anonymized and presented with permission. Actual implementation took more than 90 days but he has been blogging for a little less than a year and has 60 blog posts that
90-day Plan for Blogging from “Getting More Customers” Workshop Read More »
Better is the enemy of good enough–This phrase is attributed to Sergey Gorshkov, the commander in chief of the Soviet Navy from 1956 to 1985, who managed it’s dramatic expansion during the Cold War. Perfectionists get this wrong, siding with “Better.” Entrepreneurs who prosper, for the most part, side with “Good Enough” and keep improving.
“Better” is the Enemy of “Good Enough” Read More »
Be ready when a busy customer asks you to summarize your startup in five minute. This is the normal limit for a long intro. Please practice.
You Have Five Minutes: Practice 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 »
This article compares Paul Graham’s “Six Principles for Making New Things” with Bob Bemer’s “Do Something Small But Useful Now”, Gary Hamel’s Innovation Hacker, and Peter Drucker’s list of seven places to search systematically for opportunities.
Paul Graham’s Six Principles for Making New Things Read More »
Many entrepreneurs find themselves in the grip of an idea, captivated by it’s seeming brilliance. But success comes from understanding a prospect’s pain.
Focus On Your Prospect’s Pain Not The Brilliance of Your Product Idea Read More »
The founding team for a startup typically provides the basic intellectual capital, and frequently the initial seed capital. But a young team often has to rely on advisors for social capital–existing relationships based on mutual trust and prior shared success. These relationships act as points of departure for market exploration and social navigation to early
HP’s Early Customers Came From Fred Terman’s Social Network Read More »
I was an early fan of Steve Blank’s customer development model. This post was written when “Four Steps to the Epiphany” was only available on Cafe Press and documents the early set of principles he espoused.
Steve Blank on Customer Development Process for Startups Read More »
Software companies typically have to convince prospects to adopt new technologies based on their shared history, their service track record, and their ability to accurately predict and deliver real results that overcome the cost and friction of adopting new tools and methodologies. There are a number of lessons we draw on to help startups fostering
Fostering Technology Adoption: Early Customers & Early Revenue Read More »
The best feedback from early customers is a story: this post explores four kinds of stories you should listen for and how to take advantage of them.
The Best Feedback From Your Early Customers Is a Story Read More »
Resist the temptation to minimize the time you spend to get feedback from early customers. Focus on depth of insight. This can come only from conversation.
The Best Way To Get Feedback From Early Customers Is a Conversation Read More »
Steve Blank serial entrepreneur, author of “Four Steps to the Epiphany,” and a lecturer at the UC Berkeley Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation will be speaking at TiE on Wednesday August 15, 2007. The event starts at 6pm and ends by 10pm, it will be held at the TiE Conference Center, in Suite 108
Steve Blank Speaking at TiE on Wed Aug-15-07 Read More »
Getting early customer feedback is critical to fine tuning your product so that you can scale up. The temptation is to use a on-line survey tool to save your time, but I think for your early customers a questionnaire may only give you the answers that you are looking for, not the information that you need.
Getting Early Feedback Read More »
