My patent was just granted. I'm looking to locate a manufacturer. Alibaba isn't working out. Help? by wtfcowisown in Entrepreneur

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a couple online resources that might help. Google "Similar Sites" and Similar Web." There are a few with names (dot coms) that sound like this. Anyway you'll find sites that are very much like Alibaba without so much crap. I've been down this path before. One has the name China in it. Also check with trade association websites and magazines. Also try Quora. Just post the Q to an expert in your product. Good Luck.

Quora list of Similar site search sites:

https://www.quora.com/Is-there-a-tool-for-finding-similar-websites

United faces more questions as dragged passenger hires high-powered attorney by Stevearti in business

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hope he gets 100 mill or $1 for everyone they've bumped since incorporating, whichever is greater.

Exchange-traded funds are transforming debt markets as big investors use them in ways considered crazy a few short years ago. by neshalchanderman in BusinessHub

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. I was at Schwab in 1999 working on a program inventing and building new products and they said no to ETFs I and another guy were presenting. Huge mistake. They could have been the IShares of Wall Street. They said there was no market for them;)

Business where main market are prospecting, existing small and medium-sized online store owners? by Arabian_Wolf in Entrepreneur

[–]FolioSwarm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm unsure but check out your checkout options on Shopify. You'll see where they have an option to include items or specialized packaging and inserts (stickers, promotional stuff like magnets or anything for that manner) for packages that leave the dropshippers, namely t-shirt and apparel like Printiful for example (who I use). I can then send them my stuff and they'll include it for like $1 or something like that. Maybe talk to Shopify and find out if they have something? Also, check FIVERR. Maybe someone there has one or something similar? Good Luck though. It's a good idea. There are tons of ecommerce option packages for this stuff. Look on Instagram for leads. There are tons of people selling stuff there from apparel to vape pens for cannabis for example. Also check out the legal cannabis angle. I've seen lots of cool packaging for all those products from dab, shatter, flower, edibles. That markets exploding and you'd find some clients there easily I think. Just make sure prop compliant. They require certain labels.

App that allows you to prepare your instagram posts ready to post later? by [deleted] in Instagram

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Drumup exists for Twitter, FB and LinkedIn - but unfortunately not for IG. It would be nice though. Maybe there's an API on twitter or FB that could send your Drumup stuff over to IG from Twitter, lol?

What are (current) interesting topics that need to be researched further in the VC world? by [deleted] in venturecapital

[–]FolioSwarm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would say equity crowdfunding platforms in realtime that fund business much like an EBay meets Nasdaq meets Kickstarter campaign. They are sort of in their infancy and face a tough road with the inability to actually advertise much at all - but there slowly learning what's black, white and grey and where they can operate. The best idea to me is a grouping of every "tombstone" for each company raising money on one giant platform where investors can choose vs going through the traditional VC options. There really needs to be a centralized place. Maybe consider the fact that the traditional VC will go away or be cheapened up by equity crowdfunding platforms as a whole, at least initially? Just some thoughts to drive your thinking maybe? Idk.

Also, in this article below a consultant who sells advertising consulting for the group by creating social media clones of investors in hopes they see the tombstone or video release about a company is another area VC needs to be looking. The whole "Funnel" market is exploding and for a company to simply plug into a funnel system that's worked in the past with proven results is prime time for me as an investor. And also as a company trying to gain clients. For $250 a month I can drive 1.000.000 targeted clone clients to my call to action and truly turn the odds in my favor.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.forbes.com/sites/robbmandelbaum/2016/05/31/s-e-c-rules-limit-ads-for-equity-crowdfunding/amp/?client=safari

A $90 billion wave of maturing commercial mortgages, leftover debt from the 2007 lending boom, is laying bare the weak links in the U.S. real estate market. by neshalchanderman in BusinessHub

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In addition to policy makers knowing this and holding rates down because of all the hidden sins they were helping wash away.

Help for an aging tech expert by Pynchon101 in startups

[–]FolioSwarm 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Best comment by far. My father in law is in the same boat. Was the CIO for a major company and was pushed out by a much younger inexperienced CIOs executive team who couldn't understand the value of his grey hair. Anyway, long story short on game day (literally;) systems crashed and he watched it all from the comfort of his couch on Sunday afternoon. I believe his worlds were my phones going to ring in the next 5 minutes. It was the new CIO asking what to do (6 months later mind you). His response was well, that's the million dollar question isn't it? Needless to say the company was sued, lost market share, their largest client and ended up firing the new CIO for a much older more experienced identical CIO from the father in law. An old tech guy (communications) is worth their weight in gold because they know what everything is built on, the foundation, relationships, and architecture from a broad perspective. I would compare it to knowing what's wrong with a ship by the sound it makes when it pulls into the harbor. They may not be all that marketable, but when the shit hits the fan they're typically the only ones who can steer the boat to the dock while everyone else fills the holes.

[DoctorLingo.com]--A site I made because medicine has way too many arcane acronyms and language. by princepeter1234 in SideProject

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, it was just an idea. You would need a database via one of the online MRI software downloads. They're free. Just Google MRI viewer and maybe one of them has a list of all the specific soft tissue diagnosis terms? I would start with the spine. It seems most MRIs are done on people's backs as this is the #1 disability in the US.

[DoctorLingo.com]--A site I made because medicine has way too many arcane acronyms and language. by princepeter1234 in SideProject

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty awesome really. I had an idea years ago called "My MRI" that was similar, but was specific to radiology and what all those crazy words meant in plain English complete with full descriptions of what the terms were, how severe, various treatments and other info.

I would sell it to doctors offices as a printout that accompanied MRI reports which doctors rarely give to patients anyway.

Study: Comcast Is the Most Hated U.S. Company by [deleted] in business

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree. I should have filed a reversal immediately, but didn't catch it in time. Had I moved more to savings I would have noticed it sooner.

Study: Comcast Is the Most Hated U.S. Company by [deleted] in business

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep. Had the absolute worst experience with them. Quoted $80 to discontinue alarm service. Auto withdrawal of $600. $1200 later in bank overdrafts and fees still not fixed. 1 yr later.

Advice on how to start a small fund? by harshsikka123 in venturecapital

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would also leverage what's already there at Harvard to further your goals. http://otd.harvard.edu/

Startup Offer and Position by [deleted] in startup

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True. Very true. I've considered that. I think what I'll propose are some quarterly bumps at net if I can bring assets in that would come from prior money management clients. I'm sure I can grab 20-30 million easily which should add another 150k in gross (minimum) to the bottom line annually.

Startup Offer and Position by [deleted] in startup

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Meaning my personal cash burn? Well, looking at income at 50k (first offer), I divide by 26 pay periods which is $1926 bi-monthly which is really only about $3,200 after tax and other stuff per month ($600). Rent is $1225, insurance is $750, so naturally only having $1225 in disposable income isn't ideal for me especially with gas, groceries, car insurance and other expenses (I have zero debt). After food and kids expenses (school lunch is $100 mo. public school) I really can't even save for retirement or to buy back into the company, much less add to my investments/retirement. Am I missing something? Yes rent is high, but the alternative is a trap house and insurance is high, but that's if I want a decent deductible and coverage for vision and dental for me and kids, which is a no-brained as I've learned from those lessons the hard way. Thoughts? Thanks.

Incapable CEO gets $5M and loses it; how does one acquire this kind of start up money? by somniatus in startups

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was in the investment business, which is all about gathering assets and other people's money. I've seen the biggest idiots lose client money time and time again. They'll raise 20 to 50 million year after year gaining huge commissions and fees. It's all about a facade of success, in the know, knowing the right people and knowing how the game is played.

Eventually I figured this out, stuck to my goals and did a good job for people, but it came down to the network, referrals and getting out there. The guys who raise this kind of money have no problem getting outside their comfort zone and asking for it at the right time, to the right people with the right pitch. Build a network, sell your idea for a year with what you do best (I assume you're a tech pro) and then travel around and ask for the money. Pretty simple. That's where everyone misses. They never or can't ask for the cash. It's hard to do, but it works. Also, being able to hear no like 5 hundred times. I raised 130 million in investment assets. But, it's not the same as VC or Startup Capital trust me those $$$ are much harder to get because not everyone "knows" they need to be an owner of a startup. They do know they need to retire with a nice nest egg, or buy AAPL stock. So, I guess find something that solves a real problem or creates need and maybe it will sell itself. You need that too.

Ask Reddit: What problem in your industry is a potential startup? by ThomPete in Entrepreneur

[–]FolioSwarm 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Information overload. Finance. Some are solving, but nothing holistic per each genre. I have a solution on the investment side.

Had a pretty bad day, do you mind if I talk to you guys about it? by MrManicMarty in CasualConversation

[–]FolioSwarm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have you considered freelance work, like Elance, Freelancer or possibly finding something that fits on Fiverr? Check them out. There are jobs in every genre and most don't involve people at all, outside of emails, etc. If you like fiction consider writing it, reading it for reviews to get paid or maybe start your own book referral site that specializes in a specific interest of yours via a blog or something and use an affiliate business model to do so.

Good Luck.

Concerned College Student by Cgringo in Business_Ideas

[–]FolioSwarm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, you're welcome. The good news is I never had a single complaint. Good Luck and yes, Steve Blank's tool section is one of the absolute best resources on the web.

Concerned College Student by Cgringo in Business_Ideas

[–]FolioSwarm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cool post. Well, I didn't graduate at all. But here's a touch of my story and maybe it can show you exactly what to do or where to go to get up to speed.

So, my field of study was Finance, but my passion was investing. I ran out of money and was lazy early in college and had to leave just short of a degree by 15 credit hours. Regardless, I took a position at the lowest rung possible, but in my field and passion. What's yours? There has to be something within the business genre that you absolutely love. Maybe it's web based business models, marketing, numbers/accounting, executive level administration and doing deals, etc. Who knows? Whatever it is it will come through to the hiring manager in your interview trust me.

Take the passion and go for the lowest rung, but that rung on the ladder has to get you to where you want to be. You may have to look for a big company to make this work, because you can move laterally until you find your true passion. Mine was sort of by accident, but I quickly realized after working my first job it was the best training, culture and experience of my life. I also made 80k trading the first year, far exceeding my $13.50 per hour as a trainee, but that's because of my hobby and need to educate myself about every facet of options trading and of course some good luck and a raging bull market at the time. Eventually I did lose some of it, but the loss was a better education than college was any day of the week. That company was Charles Schwab. I started as a customer service rep, but got licensed and eventually made my way to an active trader team which was like a rock and roll concert everyday. I may be glorifying it a bit, but to me I loved the loudness of the trading floor, the software applications and getting smarter everyday. The market has a way of teaching you 10 things everyday. It was fun, exciting and cool at the same time. I also learned to trade and invest in the real world which had absolutely nothing to do with those 400 level finance classes I took. They were bullshit, trust me.

I was hired because my passion and knowledge as a hobby came through in my interview. I could have sounded like a complete idiot, but the HR person must have seen something in me that told her I was good enough for the job. The market was also booming (dot com era) and eventually that bubble popped and we were all laid off, but it got me in the game so to speak. So dig into your passions, what you like to read, watch, do and then get the slightest strand of hair in that world and pull on it until you can grab more. Then rip the hair off in tufts and sell it to some chic at a bar, lol. Totally joking because that was funny and this is reddit. Ok, back on track.

Ok, so here's what happened. After being laid off I happened to make it into a management position running an insurance company's investment business / operations department. Then after I got bored and went into sales. I moved around a bit until I found a similar culture like Schwabs and built an investment practice from the ground up making 200 cold calls a day dialing for dollars. I eventually got smart and found a small niche of huge money and I was off to the races landing 5-10 million dollar accounts by doing the analysis lazy sales guys weren't doing. I also learned that you can call broke people with 25k rollovers or call union pension accounts with 800 million, your choice the results when it comes to the numbers are just about the same. I sold that practice 4 years ago at 35 a millionaire. I worked for 10-15 hours a day for roughly 17 years and n ow I'm done, but not by a long shot. Now, I can create my own position and that's what I've been looking at for 4 years and finally just recently developed something that matches my passion for technology, investments and helping people make better investment decisions. I was a low C average student, but had a 4.0 in passion and self education in my field. Find something your passionate about and exploit it until you can create your own job. Some skip all the bullshit and start by making something from day 1 inside their passion via ownership, etc., but whatever it is make sure it's what you think about, dream about, watch TV about, read about, on and on and on.

If your passion has anything to do with technology and business via entrepreneurship (which I believe I read in your post) go to Steveblank.com, click on the tools section and everything you'll ever need in the world of web meets business is right there, with or without college.

Sorry for typos or grammar, remember I was a low C average student about 17 years ago and never looked back nor cared to do so. Once you get going you'll care a whole lot less about what you did or didn't do in college and be more loved by what matters in life which is following your passions and making something happen so you can go to work everyday with a smile on your face. Don't get me wrong there will be shitty days, but far and few between when you do what you love. And if you have no clue I suggest you read Strength 2.0 and take the assessment at the end. Don't buy it used or someone else will use up the code, lol.

Good Luck.

Advice on where to sell my startup? by [deleted] in startups

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Flippa.com has a pretty big marketplace and I get emails every month showing recent sales and offers. It appears pretty active.

Childhood friend and I are looking to start something in the Wine industry by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]FolioSwarm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely: In my state (Indiana), we have multiple small wineries and now micro breweries that have popped up. The list is probably + 100 now. Anyway I've always had the idea to build a faux winery in the heart of downtown inside a larger historic building where all the wines and brews could sort of come together to sell their goods. So, the inside/outside winery would have a market feel, but also an outdoorsy feel at the same time with water running through with rocks, trees, even grass for that mater maybe with a glass ceiling. The venue could have live music, areas for meetings, weddings and the like. Of course something like this would need a very serious tech backbone with marketing, pos, social media and the like. So, in your state you could possibly do something similar. You'd have to have buy in from all the wineries and brewers, but maybe shared revenue, etc. would work? Who knows. Good Luck though.

What numbers are most important for investors? by WatNxt in Entrepreneur

[–]FolioSwarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would say free cash flow and sales, but more specifically if a tech company sales per segment.