Business | Matt Merriam

Next Generation Web Video

The next generational advancement in web-video has to be the “remote control” or the way users interact with the video distribution to pick videos or sequences of videos. Logically this mean it has to be an advancement of a search and categorization – an area locked up by Google, the owner of YouTube. [...]

How do VCs Manage Investments?

If you take your business to a VC you have a 75% chance of handing over majority ownership to someone who will unload it. [...]

Managing Expectations in the VC Process

Capital can always wait for you. A key measure for building up value is whether can you can actually build excitement. Most VC deals go down, in a well orchestrated feeding frenzy with a bunch of VCs all validating each other and trying to pile on their money at once. [...]

When is VC Necessary?

VC’s stick to investments limited to the markets they understand. At the same time, they exist to venture the risk of new markets. They will do their homework, so you better do yours and present them with a real opportunity. [...]

How does VC work?

A venture capitalist’s main problem is that they have few methods to understand the future performance of an investment. Therefore they rely exclusively on the resumes of the management. It’s not realistic think you can join this same club; and more important to understand you won’t get a good deal as an outsider — so go find an insider [...]

Do You Want or Need Venture Capital?

Not only is VC not for everyone, the odds are there are much better ways to get your business funded and profitable. [...]

Your Identity: Part Three, Domain Names

You will FIRST need to consider a domain name for your business before you pick a name. You need to buy domains names and try to secure as many domains as it requires to promote and protect your business. [...]

Your Identity Part Two, Logos

Take a random survey of major brands you know and see how few of them actually use symbolic representation, but they all use typography and color. [...]

Your Identity: Part One, Start-up Naming

Your identity is important. Three key ingredients are

Your name
Your domain name
Your logo.

Serviceable, adequate names are not that hard to come by. The distraction of trying to be too creative a can be a problem, simply avoid that and keep it simple . Great marketing creates great names. The world is full [...]

But I Need Capital to Startup

If you are serious about your business, you should be ready willing and able to step up to taking on debt. Credit is an important thing to build and managing your debt is important [...]