The Joy Killers - A business murder Mystery.

In S14 E11, we'll be exploring an essential topic for businesses in today's digital age: "Grow through Social Media." 🔑 Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Effective email marketing is the backbone of any successful marketing approach. Building a strong email list, creating valuable content, and segmenting your emails are vital steps. 2️⃣ Relying solely on social media platforms for marketing can be risky. They c...

In today's fast-paced business environment, it's crucial to find practical strategies to tackle difficult issues, and pricing is no exception. Join us as we uncover the pitfalls of hasty price adjustments and explore alternative solutions that can help you thrive in the long run. Key Takeaways from this episode: 1️⃣ Focus on Creating Efficiencies: Instead of reducing prices, concentrate on interna...

I am thrilled to share the latest episode of "Practical Solutions to Difficult Problems" where we dive deep into understanding the reasons behind a drop in sales revenue. 📉 In this episode, we discuss the importance of market share analysis, total addressable market (TAM), and the impact of market conditions. Here are three key takeaways for our listeners: 1️⃣ Comparing market share: Assessing yo...

In this episode of Practical Solutions to Difficult Problems, we dive into the art of presenting your pitch deck to venture capitalists and angel investors. Join us as we share practical tips and strategies to help you make a lasting impression and secure the funding you need for your startup. Key takeaways from this episode include: - Visual cues matter: VCs make snap judgments based on visual cu...

In this episode of "Practical Solutions to Difficult Problems," i dive deep into the art of storytelling in pitch decks and how to make your pitch tell a captivating story. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: 1️⃣ Paint a vivid picture of the future and sell the dream: The key to effective storytelling and fundraising is to not only present data but also use artistry to convey your vision....

In this episode of Practical Solutions to Difficult Problems, we dive deep into the world of pitch decks and reveal the dos and don'ts to help entrepreneurs secure funding. Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Standalone Strength: A pitch deck must shine even in the absence of a presenter. We'll share tips on how to make your deck compelling and grab investors' attention. 2️⃣ Simplicity is Key: Keep it simple and u...

Are you struggling to decide whether to use a pitch deck or a traditional business plan to pitch your ideas. Don't worry, L've got you covered on this episode of Practical Solutions to Difficult Problems! Tune in as we dive deep into the pros and cons of both approaches and discuss their suitability for different types of investors. Here are 3 key takeaways for our listeners: 1️⃣ Pitch decks are i...

Are you looking to secure funding for your business? In our latest episode of "Practical Solutions to Difficult Problems," we explore the art of writing a business plan to convince lenders and investors. Join us for valuable insights and actionable tips to ace your funding pitch! 📝 Here are three key takeaways from this episode: 1️⃣ Craft an Engaging Executive Summary: The executive summary is a...

Join us on this episode as we navigate the world of contingency planning and provide practical solutions to challenging problems. Listen now Get ready to gain valuable insights that can make a significant difference in your business! Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: 🔹 Simplify the process: Make contingency planning easier by using templates or software, seeking guidance from consultant...

In week's episode of "Practical Solutions to Difficult Problems," our speaker, Jeremy Gray, dives into the important topic of preparing a financial forecast. Here are 3 key takeaways from this informative episode: 1️⃣ Importance of the Financial Forecast: A financial forecast plays a crucial role in the success of your business. Lenders use the forecast to assess your business's financial health a...

In this episode of Practical Solutions to Difficult Problems, we dive into the world of business plans and how to structure them effectively to secure funding for your venture. Join us as we explore the key components and strategies that will help you convince lenders to provide the funds you need to start or expand your business. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: 1️⃣ Identify and fulfil...

Becoming an entrepreneur is an exciting journey, but it comes with a lot of risks. You must be aware of the challenges that come with it, especially when it comes to achieving sustainable growth. Many businesses fail in the early stages, while others stagnate because entrepreneurs don't know what it takes to achieve sustainable growth. In this episode, I will share tips that can help you achieve s...

No Market Need CB Insights a market intelligence platform analyzed why 110 Tech Companies failed.  The second most common cause of failure was that there was no demand for the product or service.   I cannot imagine anything more soul-destroying than finding there is no demand for your beloved product or service. How can you avoid spending hours and money developing your business only to find that...

A colleague I used to work with used to say in action you take or any plan you devise, the competition gets a vote. And if they are more powerful with you and have deeper pockets sometimes that vote is for you to go out of business. Learn how you avoid getting outcompeted and how you get a vote in your competitor's strategy.

CB Insights lists having a flawed business model as the fourth most common cause of failures for Tech start-ups. Nineteen percent of CEOs of failed companies attribute a flawed business model as a cause of their lack of success. What does a flawed business model look like? Simply put, a flawed business plan does not allow you to make enough revenue to cover your costs and deliver a decent return o...

Triangulate, an online dating business fell victim to a false start that eventually led to its demise. Listen to learn more about the false start trap and how you can avoid falling into that trap.

Hear what Sunil Nagaraj feels were the main causes of the failure of his start-up Triangulate. Looking back Sunil could point to several reasons why Triangulate failed. His top two were choosing the wrong market and not talking to the right people. The choice of dating for Triangulate’s first target market, Sunil says was his biggest mistake. “I chose dating because I like pinpointing what makes p...

Why Triangulate failed Part 2 By now the metrics for the site were mixed. The user base was growing at over 40% month on month but user engagement was low, with only 27% of new users in California, the site’s target market, returning in the second week after they signed up. Also, there were no signs of the viral growth Sunil had predicted. He had anticipated that each new user would bring another...

1️⃣ The Power of Virality: Triangulate's struggle to acquire enough users speaks to the importance of virality in the online dating industry. Just like messaging apps or social media platforms, dating sites require critical mass to thrive. Discover how Triangulate tackled this challenge and why virality could be the solution for your own business. 2️⃣ Numbers Tell the Story: Understanding your fin...

Regulatory issues normally do not determine the success or failure of a start-up. Providing you conform to the rules laid down in your country regarding accounts, compliance, taxes, employment law, data protection etc. But there are times when a start-up is breaking new ground and the regulators are playing catch up to the new realities. And this can, in extreme cases, destroy an entire marketplac...

Businesses run on a simple formula, revenues or price minus costs equals profit. Get either your pricing or costs wrong and you lose money; no start-up can lose money for long. Learn about the common pricing mistakes that start-ups make and how to control your burn rate.

CB Insights lists not having the right team as number 7 on its list of twelve reasons Tech Companies fail. 14% of founders included this as the reason why their company did not succeed Building the right team requires correctly identifying the skill sets you need in-house, and understanding which can be outsourced. Then you must find and hire them. All while working within your start-up’s budget....

Launch now or wait for perfection? Does the first mover always have the advantage? Learn how to time your product launch to perfection.

Quincy Apparel had the makings to be a successful business. The MVP tested using trunk shows demonstrated that the business concept resonated with potential customers. Trunk shows are events, often by invitation only, where garment manufacturers exhibit their creations to an audience of potential buyers. The founders responded to the feedback from early customers to refine their products. A solid...

By now Quincy had raised $950,000. $250,000 from friends, family and angels investors. The balance had been obtained from two venture capital investors. One of the VCs had previously invested in Warby Parker, a provider on-line eyewear, Bonobos, an online seller of men’s pants, and Modcloth, another woman’s fashion retailer that allows women to buy fashion styles from earlier decades. As this VC h...