Comments on: Open Angel Forum San Fran – Team Calacanis Raises the Bar http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/ Entrepreneur turned VC Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Philip Hotchkiss http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-4749 Philip Hotchkiss Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:41:02 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-4749 I was reflecting more on this post last night - and the "blinders on" brought back some memories. I think it's important for startup entrepreneurs to keep those blinders on and execute with the focus of Tomahawk cruise missile.<br><br>The distractions now are exponentially greater than they were just 5 years ago. With social media, way more startup focused conferences & events, etc. founders risk getting lost in a sea of distractions-don't!<br><br>Focus on the problem you're solving, iterating your product, delighting your customers and locking in distribution-oh yeah, and then monetize the hell out of it.<br><br>And when it comes to conferences - certainly go if you're presenting your company to potential investors, media and customers and/or if you're asked to be on a panel. Otherwise, keep your head down and execute! I was reflecting more on this post last night – and the “blinders on” brought back some memories. I think it's important for startup entrepreneurs to keep those blinders on and execute with the focus of Tomahawk cruise missile.

The distractions now are exponentially greater than they were just 5 years ago. With social media, way more startup focused conferences & events, etc. founders risk getting lost in a sea of distractions-don't!

Focus on the problem you're solving, iterating your product, delighting your customers and locking in distribution-oh yeah, and then monetize the hell out of it.

And when it comes to conferences – certainly go if you're presenting your company to potential investors, media and customers and/or if you're asked to be on a panel. Otherwise, keep your head down and execute!

]]> By: Philip Hotchkiss http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9451 Philip Hotchkiss Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:41:02 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-9451 I was reflecting more on this post last night - and the "blinders on" brought back some memories. I think it's important for startup entrepreneurs to keep those blinders on and execute with the focus of Tomahawk cruise missile.<br><br>The distractions now are exponentially greater than they were just 5 years ago. With social media, way more startup focused conferences & events, etc. founders risk getting lost in a sea of distractions-don't!<br><br>Focus on the problem you're solving, iterating your product, delighting your customers and locking in distribution-oh yeah, and then monetize the hell out of it.<br><br>And when it comes to conferences - certainly go if you're presenting your company to potential investors, media and customers and/or if you're asked to be on a panel. Otherwise, keep your head down and execute! I was reflecting more on this post last night – and the “blinders on” brought back some memories. I think it's important for startup entrepreneurs to keep those blinders on and execute with the focus of Tomahawk cruise missile.

The distractions now are exponentially greater than they were just 5 years ago. With social media, way more startup focused conferences & events, etc. founders risk getting lost in a sea of distractions-don't!

Focus on the problem you're solving, iterating your product, delighting your customers and locking in distribution-oh yeah, and then monetize the hell out of it.

And when it comes to conferences – certainly go if you're presenting your company to potential investors, media and customers and/or if you're asked to be on a panel. Otherwise, keep your head down and execute!

]]> By: Philip Hotchkiss http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-4748 Philip Hotchkiss Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:41:02 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-4748 I was reflecting more on this post last night - and the "blinders on" brought back some memories. I think it's important for startup entrepreneurs to keep those blinders on and execute with the focus of Tomahawk cruise missile.<br><br>The distractions now are exponentially greater than they were just 5 years ago. With social media, way more startup focused conferences & events, etc. founders risk getting lost in a sea of distractions-don't!<br><br>Focus on the problem you're solving, iterating your product, delighting your customers and locking in distribution-oh yeah, and then monetize the hell out of it.<br><br>And when it comes to conferences - certainly go if you're presenting your company to potential investors, media and customers and/or if you're asked to be on a panel. Otherwise, keep your head down and execute! I was reflecting more on this post last night – and the “blinders on” brought back some memories. I think it's important for startup entrepreneurs to keep those blinders on and execute with the focus of Tomahawk cruise missile.

The distractions now are exponentially greater than they were just 5 years ago. With social media, way more startup focused conferences & events, etc. founders risk getting lost in a sea of distractions-don't!

Focus on the problem you're solving, iterating your product, delighting your customers and locking in distribution-oh yeah, and then monetize the hell out of it.

And when it comes to conferences – certainly go if you're presenting your company to potential investors, media and customers and/or if you're asked to be on a panel. Otherwise, keep your head down and execute!

]]> By: jamiequint http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9452 jamiequint Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:18:32 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-9452 What is your take on the differentiation between Thumbtack and their competition (ServiceMagic, Yext, etc)? It seems that the only company that has seen success in the "service directory" part of that market lately has been Yext (Redbeacon's traffic is flat after their TC50 win) and they've done it by picking off top yellow page categories one at a time, and generally avoiding ServiceMagic's space, whether intentionally or on purpose. It seems like Yext and ServiceMagic have a firm grip on their parts of the market in the top categories and have figured out how to drive traffic and monetize effectively.<br><br>Is offering small business software (online appointment calendar, accept online payments, etc) enough to give Thumbtack an advantage here? What is your take on the differentiation between Thumbtack and their competition (ServiceMagic, Yext, etc)? It seems that the only company that has seen success in the “service directory” part of that market lately has been Yext (Redbeacon's traffic is flat after their TC50 win) and they've done it by picking off top yellow page categories one at a time, and generally avoiding ServiceMagic's space, whether intentionally or on purpose. It seems like Yext and ServiceMagic have a firm grip on their parts of the market in the top categories and have figured out how to drive traffic and monetize effectively.

Is offering small business software (online appointment calendar, accept online payments, etc) enough to give Thumbtack an advantage here?

]]> By: jamiequint http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-4747 jamiequint Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:18:32 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-4747 What is your take on the differentiation between Thumbtack and their competition (ServiceMagic, Yext, etc)? It seems that the only company that has seen success in the "service directory" part of that market lately has been Yext (Redbeacon's traffic is flat after their TC50 win) and they've done it by picking off top yellow page categories one at a time, and generally avoiding ServiceMagic's space, whether intentionally or on purpose. It seems like Yext and ServiceMagic have a firm grip on their parts of the market in the top categories and have figured out how to drive traffic and monetize effectively.<br><br>Is offering small business software (online appointment calendar, accept online payments, etc) enough to give Thumbtack an advantage here? What is your take on the differentiation between Thumbtack and their competition (ServiceMagic, Yext, etc)? It seems that the only company that has seen success in the “service directory” part of that market lately has been Yext (Redbeacon's traffic is flat after their TC50 win) and they've done it by picking off top yellow page categories one at a time, and generally avoiding ServiceMagic's space, whether intentionally or on purpose. It seems like Yext and ServiceMagic have a firm grip on their parts of the market in the top categories and have figured out how to drive traffic and monetize effectively.

Is offering small business software (online appointment calendar, accept online payments, etc) enough to give Thumbtack an advantage here?

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9454 msuster Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:45:20 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-9454 Thanks, Syed. Yes, many people have asked. I'll try to get some time to compile it into a PDF or something some time over the next year. Thanks, Syed. Yes, many people have asked. I'll try to get some time to compile it into a PDF or something some time over the next year.

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9456 msuster Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:44:42 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-9456 Yes, sorry. Crazy trip! I'll ping you next time. Or if you're ever in LA ... Yes, sorry. Crazy trip! I'll ping you next time. Or if you're ever in LA …

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-4745 msuster Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:45:20 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-4745 Thanks, Syed. Yes, many people have asked. I'll try to get some time to compile it into a PDF or something some time over the next year. Thanks, Syed. Yes, many people have asked. I'll try to get some time to compile it into a PDF or something some time over the next year.

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-4746 msuster Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:44:42 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-4746 Yes, sorry. Crazy trip! I'll ping you next time. Or if you're ever in LA ... Yes, sorry. Crazy trip! I'll ping you next time. Or if you're ever in LA …

]]> By: Syed Shuttari http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/03/05/open-angel-forum-san-fran-team-calacanis-raises-the-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9453 Syed Shuttari Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:01:18 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2056#comment-9453 One after the another new blog posts are being written by you. I couldn't even finish all the previous articles, any chance of publishing a book of all the classic articles? so i can read it first at my convenience without getting distracted by the new current events articles. One after the another new blog posts are being written by you. I couldn't even finish all the previous articles, any chance of publishing a book of all the classic articles? so i can read it first at my convenience without getting distracted by the new current events articles.

]]>