Pets have always been our best friends, but now more than ever they can also be our business partners. The power of pets in our economy is strong and taking advantage of opportunities in pet culture can help build business. In the U.S., more than two in three households has a pet. That’s nearly 393 […]
Creating a Plan
Why It Pays to Focus Your Business on a Narrow Niche
Everyone in the business world has heard of the old bestseller by Geoffrey A. Moore titled “Crossing the Chasm,” but most entrepreneurs have no idea how it relates to them. In fact, it’s all about the “focus” required to get early stage technology products across the deadly chasm from early adopters to mainstream customers. Most […]
10 Great Startup Business Ideas for Computer Experts
Having a great understanding of technology, computers in particular, opens doors to a lot of business opportunities. If you have been using computers for years, you should have quite a lot of knowledge to start something yourself. However, those who have never really considered it before might have no idea where to start. That is […]
7 Whirlwind New Venture Partner Marriages to Avoid
Most entrepreneurs who start a company alone soon come to the conclusion that two heads are better than one—someone to share the workload, the hard decisions, and the costs. In a moment of crisis, you may be tempted to take on the first person expressing interest as a co-founder. This would be a mistake, and […]
11 Essential Things to Consider Before Starting Your Own Tech Business
Technology is one of the fastest growing segments in business startups. If you think about starting a tech business, you may wonder how you’ll stand out amidst all the competition and what exactly it takes to run a tech-based biz. Around 58 percent of businesses in North America and Europe believe revenue will increase this […]
What Goes Up in a Down Economy?
When any economic bubble bursts, a recession is likely to follow. Economists have been monitoring economic factors and signaling a coming recession, and potential bubbles that will drive it include the student loan bubble and the resurged subprime lending bubble. Yet while some industries suffer or even collapse during economic downturns, others survive and even […]
The Advantages of Opening Your Own Dental Practice
Training to become a dentist is a long process that requires a lot of hard work. Once you become qualified, you need to find the right job for you. Which practice will you join? How will you prove that you are the right person for the job? These are all challenges that you’ll have to […]
Your Core Competency and Why Not to Stray
Consider your core. It is the one skill, process or advantage you have over your competition. Then think of all the things you do to surround that core with people and assets that complete your company and allow you to release your product or perform your service. Which of your IP assets is your core? […]
10 Business Plan Tips Too Many Entrepreneurs Forget
If you want people to invest in your idea, then my best advice is first write a business plan, and keep it simple. Don’t confuse your business plan with a doctoral thesis or the back of a napkin. Keep the wording and formatting straightforward, and keep the plan short. For minimum content, see my original […]
Here’s How NOT to Define Your Competition
We investors see this all the time. An entrepreneur pitches using a deck with no slide for competition. When asked (as we always do) the response is, “This is new. We have no competition.” Niet! No! Unh unh. Professional investors laugh when they hear an entrepreneur come out with that one. That statement has killed more […]
