Blog: DC Startup Scene

Often snarky, sometimes funny, thoughts and musings on Leadership, Startups, Washington DC Business and more.
April 4, 2020
In Musing
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Mr Cranky’s Advice for Covid Health, Life and a Preparing for a Post Covid World

It's not fair for the world that when every human who ever sucked a thumb is opining on how to live in a COVID and what will happen in a post-COVID world while Mr. Cranky remains silent. So for this exclusive engagement, right here, right now, I'm coming out of retirement for a one-time performance to join the ranks of unqualified know-nothings and add my just as valuable advice as the next guy who has never had a real job, in less you call being a futurist a real job. After all, what's a futurist, but a guy who tells his...

December 11, 2019
In DCTech
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An Apology to My Fan and My Haters

Hey folks, I've been very busy working on a contract. Unfortunately, this has left me little mind-space or time to entertain, elucidate, inform and scrutinize business events and trends.  I expect to be back to blogging on a regular basis at the conclusion of my current contracted project. To my fan, and you know who you are...

December 6, 2019
In Musing
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Okay Boomer – Mr Cranky Edition

Born smack in the middle of the boomer generation, this cranky old fart embraces the Okay Boomer responses I get from my kids, my mentees, and my business associations. For all you Boomers, Xrs, Millennials, Zrs and if there are any of you readers from "The Greatest Generation." what follows are my proud, "Okay Boomer," inducing pronouncements. For the uninitiated, I recommend you do a little, Okay Boomer, research. Start here with this Vox Media article, “OK boomer” isn’t just about the past. It’s about our apocalyptic future. It’s not really about age — and it’s more complicated than just memes. Okay, you all with...

November 18, 2019
In Startup
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Is My Idea Worthy of a Startup

Today I had the privilege of discussing with a group of researchers, students, professors, and technology commercialization professionals a subject titled, "Can My Innovation Become a Startup?"  As a conversation starter, I put together the following slides. Product vs Feature - Is the innovation a product or a feature? A Product has a shorter less complicated path to monetization since it had fewer interdependencies than a feature. Product - A product provides sufficient value on its own to be used by an end-user. It stands-alone on its own merits. Feature - A feature enhances a product and can't stand on...

November 3, 2019
In Musing
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No Offense But…

I just noticed for like the 8th time in the last few weeks some guy who is famous for accomplishing nothing with the exception or receiving numerous trivial awards has humbly bragged about these awards by expressing, "I'm humbled." No, Douchenozzle. You're not humbled. You're humble bragging. So I thought I'd just review some of the simple lines that signal the deliverer of said lines is a tool...

Startup Business Plan
October 27, 2019
In Raising Capital, Startup
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Corporate Governance Requirements For Angel Investors

Angel Investing is inherently risky. Startups, in general, aren't for the weak at heart. It is even more perilous when investing with minimal leverage that comes with a small investment of $25 - $50 thousand. Over a 10 year period, I made 7 investments that returned 180 percent. Over the same period of time, the S&P returned 250 percent. Yes, I took 50 times the risk to get a fraction of the return. How could I have improved the returns? I should have insisted that companies followed certain corporate governance norms. And if I didn't have the leverage to dictate good...

October 20, 2019
In Execution
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Dan Snyder is Proof That Luck Can Be a Cruel Mistress

In Business, luck can be a cruel mistress. Too often, good luck can be mistaken for brilliance. Take the case of Daniel Snyder. He sold a schlock telesales operation and made hundreds of millions of dollars. Since then he's demonstrated his brillance in multiple ventures: In 2005, he began accumulated stock in Six Flags until he gained control of the board. He installed a buddy as CEO and named himself Chairman. In 2009 the company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Under the reorganization plan, Snyder was removed and lost his entire investment. A real businessman, named Bill Gates, owned 10,210,600...

October 16, 2019
In DCTech, Startup
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Marcus Bullock – A Real Startup Founder and Ex-Con

Marcus Bullock is the real deal. The deck is stacked against him from achieving anything of note. Yes, this man, conquered the odds and has built a life of value. I often write about the phony startup founders and future convicts. The conman and clowns of DCTech. Today I'd like to go the other way, with a real man, the real deal who has sinned and paid for his sins and today is working to change the world. Marcus Bullock is an activist for criminal justice reform. He's a man who spends his time giving back to the community by teaching...

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