Switching Costs
A short post today because this weekend, I finally changed over from a six year old IBM Thinkpad T43 laptop to a new Lenovo Thinkpad T410. No more Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003. Yep, now I'm...
View ArticleThe "Nitty Gritty" of Startup Formation
Part 1 in a series in Startup StagesI'm often asked by first time entrepreneurs what's involved with setting up a business. Do I need to incorporate? What do I need to know about hiring? Payroll?...
View ArticleIntellectual Property Creation and Startups
Part 2 in a series in Startup StagesThe underpinning of most technology based startups is the creation of intellectual property (“IP”) in the form of patents, trademarks, and trade secrets (including...
View ArticleStartup Stage: Buying Stuff and Independent Contractors
Part 3 in a series in Startup StagesSo you think the purchasing of products and services from is straight forward? While generally true of the former, the hiring of services, particularly that...
View ArticleThe BIG Risk Trigger: Hiring
Part 4 in a series in Startup StagesThe hiring of employees is probably the most significant compliance and risk trigger for a startup, (especially in the State of California). This includes the case...
View ArticleSpace (and) The Final Frontier
Part 5 in a series in Startup StagesIn this post, we deal with the last two pre-institutional funding risk triggers.Leasing SpaceOne mistake startups make is leasing dedicated space too soon. In some...
View ArticleDealing with the Nitty Gritty: Resources and Wrap Up
Part 6 and final post in a series in Startup StagesCo-founders. Suppliers. Employees. Customers. Government. So what are the compliance and risk management resources available to a...
View ArticlePerspective
March 10, 2011 around 11:45pm PST my wife was watching TV in the other room when she rushed out with a grim look on her face. "Ed, you need to see this."I slowly hauled myself up from my desk, tired...
View ArticleHow to Set Prices: Pricing Strategy
1st in a series on How to Set PricingI recently received the student feedback from BUS213: Monetizing Marketing Models, the course I taught for Stanford Continuing Studies during the Winter 2011...
View ArticleHow to Set Prices: Revenue Models and Pricing Mechanisms
2nd in a series on How to Set PricingIn setting prices, three major elements need to be considered:Pricing StrategyBusiness Revenue ModelPricing MechanismsLast post, we discussed Pricing Strategy....
View ArticleHow to Set Prices: Tangible Pricing Methods
3rd in a series on How to Set PricingIn order to set pricing, certain decisions need to be made with respect to:Pricing StrategyBusiness Revenue ModelPricing MechanismsAs discussed in the prior two...
View ArticleHow to Set Prices: Value Pricing Methods
4th in a series on How to Set PricingLast post we discussed tangible pricing methods. We now turn to value pricing methods. Simply put, value pricing methods seek to establish a price based on some...
View ArticleHow to Set Prices: Customer Value Analysis
5th and final post in a series on How to Set PricingI first learned about value pricing as a product manager at Metcal. At that time the company was a startup making high end hand soldering equipment...
View ArticleThe "A-Player" Myth
"DirtPud.Ding, a ground-breaking, mobile, digital media, clean-tech, social networking app developer seeks a world-class, ROCK STAR software developer. Must have a proven track record developing high...
View ArticleTask "Triage"
Lately its been so busy that I've had to move into "task triage" mode where it's no longer an issue of IF something is going to be left undone. Rather it's WHAT is going to be left undone. I first...
View ArticleEducation for the Small Business Entrepreneur
About six months ago, I wrote several posts (see below) about the differences between small business vs. scalable entprepreneurship and the implications for an educational curriculum. Silicon Valley,...
View ArticleThe Employee to Entrepreneur Transition
I work with a lot of startups and to me, one of the most fascinating journeys of personal growth to watch is the transition from corporate employee to entrepreneur. While there are many who believe...
View ArticleThe "Other Stuff"
This week has been a whirlwind of activities associated with my son Alex's graduation from middle school. We've had final performances, award ceremonies, and, of course, the graduation itself. Maybe...
View ArticleShameless Pitch II: Stanford Marketing Course, BUS213
I'm back (more on this next post) and it's back!What's "it"?Starting September 28, 2011 I'll once again be teaching a six week evening course called "Monetizing Business Models" (Course Code: BUS213)...
View ArticleVacation: A Management Tool
I'm finally back after a two month blogger's holiday. Three weeks of that was spent teaching high school students marketing and entrepreneurship. The last three weeks was spent on a family vacation...
View Article