Last week, I posted “20-20 hindsight-insight into a Unicorn” which discussed the process of seeing the forward path (insight) to building a Unicorn tech startup by first envisioning the startup from the future – as if one is actually there, reminiscing (20-20 hindsight) about the path one took to get … Continue reading →
Many may consider my approach to intellectual property development as unorthodox – it probably is. It reflects an “invent-to-patent” approach that I believe creates substantially more commercial IP value than the traditional “patent-an-invention” process found in your average corporate environment. In this article, partially excerpted from my full length article … Continue reading →
Frankly, I hate using the so overused “disruption” word. Every wannabe startup feels compelled to call itself “disruptive”, contrary to the facts, and every venture capitalist subconsciously (consciously?), assumes that every startup calling itself a “disruptor” is naive and not investment worthy. Oddly, disruptors are precisely what VCs want, but … Continue reading →
Properly nourished pets live longer, and can save their owners over $4,000 over the pet’s life. From puppy and kitten, to senior adult, your pet’s nutritional requirements are ALWAYS changing. Even an adult pet’s nutritional needs change immediately after neutering. Caloric needs increase when a pet is pregnant, decrease a … Continue reading →
Seriously. Monitoring pet water consumption is important. It can tell you EVERYTHING about your pet’s health. OK, so maybe not “everything”, but water is your pet’s #1 nutrient, and drinking habits can tell you and your veterinarian a LOT about your pet’s health. Water is your pet’s most essential nutrient. … Continue reading →
I no longer build startups using a linear approach – that’s the process inherently integrated into canned startup business plan software, and taught by MBA programs for nascent entrepreneurs. My startup process is highly iterative. Product concept. Competitive / market research. Revisit product concept for differentiation. Patent research. Revisit product … Continue reading →
Investors like to see a “Mission Statement” for startup companies – something short and sweet, something that checks all of the politically correct boxes, and incorporates the trendiest business phrase of the month. A perfect, digestible, double-digit IQ blurb. Unicorn doesn’t have that. Disruption is complicated, and our mission is … Continue reading →
Insanity knows no bounds. Last week, investors pulled the plug on a Silicon Valley startup “Juicero” that sold a ridiculous $699 “smart” kitchen appliance that squeezed juice from a bag of fruits and vegetables. The company received $134 million in venture capital. $134,000,000.00! A ridiculously insane figure that that exceeded … Continue reading →
In the early Silicon Valley days, I bought a truckload of wood from a San Jose building supply company, and built a wall in a second floor warehouse loft on North First Street in San Jose. My two co-founders, one of whom I met while working on some cool products at … Continue reading →
Startups are friggin’ hard. Some win despite incredible ineptitude. Some lose despite extreme effort and planetary alignment. A few startups are really big winners, and some are incredibly huge losers. I learn from each of my startups, and try to identify useful fundamentals of the big winners and losers. Making … Continue reading →
