Hello everyone,

Unfortunately, since many of the panelists are spending September abroad (either at events such as the TC50 or simply on business), I am forced to move the next panel towards the end of the month.

Come back for additional news…

Doron

This is a post that was written by a very good friend named Cameron Peron (check out the man and the blog). I took the liberty of copying his post and telling you a little more about the man.

I had first met Cameron through a mutual friend, Roi Carthy, who thought we should hook up, both being veterans of the online advertising industry. A few months and countless emails as well as meetings later, I am proud to call Cameron a friend. Not only is he a good friend, he is also a brilliant analyst with a deep understanding of how things work in the online world, on top of being extremely business savvy with an amazing insight into emerging markets. I hope you enjoy ;-)

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Recently both Google and Yahoo made steps to allow users to opt-out of personalized ad severing provided of cookies. As of a few days ago, Google implemented a procedure effectively allowing users to opt-out their from extended content network including affecting AdWords, Google Syndication as well as DoubleClick.  Yahoo is following suit with full opt-out implementation at the end of August.

This bold step by the two biggest names in search are not in response from market factors - but rather a hearing held by the Senate Commerce Committee. In short the hearing questions 1) the ability of large companies to be responsible for data they collect on behalf of their users and 2) the arbitrage between a user’s understanding and of what is being shared about them against actual data collection and interaction.

Do we really care? In the last 15+ years we’ve grown accustom to sharing highly personal information about ourselves over the internet.  Privacy has always been a significant issue since the first days of connecting online via BBS, prodigy’s internet service (remember them?!) and the like.  Granted, privacy highly valued in the minds of every American - which might explain why similar inquires haven’t been made to scale in other Western countries.  However, since those “early” days so much has happened:

• We subconsciously trust companies at an “evaluation” level. We’ve traded real personal information in return for free web-based internet accounts, social networks, shopping portals and many other services that make our lives easy, fun and exciting.
• That trust is tested in real time. The internet has made Adam Smith economics without the big “G” for government a real thing.  When an internet based business tests the limits of what it will do with its user information - the inherent nature of the internet both allows us to learn about it, and enables us to to act on it.  Case in point the 2006 AOL data scandal.  By in far in Western countries, such exploitations of a nurtured relationships haven’t happened on a doomsday level scale.
• Network effect of sharing information.  With more than 70% of American homes connecting online we’ve come to a near subconscious understanding that sharing information about oneself isn’t that bad given the fact that everyone else does it too.   This effect is highly scaled in all dimensions of American society - as well as other Western countries.

The real issues at hand should be protecting - not distracting people.

Seriously. With google and yahoo handling zillions of searches every day, that fact that non-identifiable information regarding our internet browsing behavior in exchange for convenient search and targeted ads hasn’t actually harmed anyone. I agree that unsolicited advertising via spam and other annoying less than scrupulous tactics are evil; and the government holds a much needed place in consumer protection.  However, targeted ad-serving enabled by cookies truly makes the experience of search more effective for the user (anyone) and ROI effective for a provider (google).

The implementation of cookies have made advertising more like marketing. Imagine a situation where the communication between a user and advetiser is completely market driven, placed with unparalleled targeting and actively searched by a targeted user base.  Yes this freaks out offline advertisers :).  If the model wasn’t appreciated  - the market would move in mass to other search providers without government based initiation.

I have to say. Working side by side with such industry experts is a true joy. Every time the validation panel gets together, ideas fly and the energy level in the room soars.

2 weeks ago the validation panel got together again (for the 2^nd time) to take a look at three start-up companies, each one in a different field of operation. From the first moment you could fee the energies flying around in the room. The presentations were very professional and the Q&A sessions were intense. No wonder that I had received thank you letters from the companies who participated in the event. The outcome, the personal opinions of each and every member of the panel, is priceless.

I will be hosting the 3^rd panel soon enough. If you have a start-up in need of help, feel free to drop me a line to doron@dhconsulting.info.

Gil Keret, the founder of Brooks-Keret just joined the validation panel. He brings with him immense know how, and is a fine addition to the team. Welcome Gil, and thank you for your support of the cause.

Gil Keret, CPA. Founder - Brooks-Keret group.

Mr. Keret has over 15 years of experience in management and finance within the Israeli high-tech industry. In his role as Co-founder of Brooks-Keret (http://www.brooks-keret.co.il) Mr. Keret is exposed to dozens of high tech and start-up companies, providing them with a full range of high level financial and managerial services. Mr. Keret offers a wide view together with rich experience in supporting business needs. In the past few years, Gil was involved with the Israeli activities of multi-national companies such as BAAN, AOL and British Telecomm. Now a days Brooks-Keret is serving over 250 start-up’s and VC’s as well as international companies provided by staff of 75 professional employees.

Any questions, drop me a line at doron@dhconsulting.info

Hi everyone,

The validation panel got some free PR at Globes today, I will post a copy of it soon.

In the meantime, here’s the link to article (Thank you Noa Pereg for your support of our cause)

http://globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000348263&fid=594

I also added a download link for a pdf file containing the article. Here it is.…

Doron

The success of the last validation panel proved to us that it’s a good idea.

Companies who wish to participate in the next session of the panel are welcome to contact me at doron@dhconsulting.info or call me on 054-5727999

In the last chapter we discussed the way the market of your choice behaves and who are the major players in it. Now it’s time for you to explain how you are going to penetrate that market, what your strategic goals are and how you intend on reaching them.

1.      Definition of Objectives and Strategic Goals – This is where the word “plan” in “business plan” comes into place. Explain to the reader where you intend on being over a period of time. Remember and follow the basic rules of differentiation between strategy and tactics. Strategy is where you intend on being; tactics is how you intend on getting there. If you don’t the reader to raise an eyebrow or have a laughing fit, try and avoid phrases such as “We intend to dominate a significant part of the market within one year of launch”. Do your best to put in reasonable goals and milestones that are feasible – they will be the basis for investment if one should arrive….

2.      Market Penetration and Competitive Edge – What is it that makes your business unique? If we take into account that you have competition (everyone has competition), what is it that makes you unique? Why would people choose you over the competition? How do you intend on penetrating and establishing a foothold in the market? Try and figure out where the soft spot is and attack it with full force.

Do you know where to attack? There is an old saying – “form a beach head”. Every penetration strategy must be combined with good tactics. The tactics should take into account the problems that might emerge during the penetration phase, and offer feasible solutions. Also, it’s better to have more that once scenario – think of it as a “plan B”.

3.      SWOT Analysis – The simplest and most common analysis of them all. A SWOT analysis is basically trying to put down on paper the four elements that comprise success. These elements are Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities.

Here are the things needed to be addressed in each category of a SWOT analysis:

Strengths: attributes of the organization that are helpful to achieving the objective.

Weaknesses: attributes of the organization that are harmful to achieving the objective.

Opportunities: external conditions that are helpful to achieving the objective.

Threats: external conditions that are harmful to achieving the objective.

4. Future Services / Products – Isn’t it obvious that investors are looking for companies that can show a clear vision of where they intend on going? Try and focus your attention in this paragraph on the derivatives that will emerge from your current product or service. Make sure that the reader fully understand the potential of your current offering, yet acknowledges that future services or products will result in new streams of revenue.

That’s it for today’s post.

If you missed out on previous ones, please check out the intro to this series.

Hello Everyone,

The validation panel took place yesterday at Yigal Arnon’s Law Office, and was a tremendous success.

I would like to personally thank all of the panelists for taking the time to review the companies that participated in the event. Their reviews were highly professional and provided valuable insight.

Here is a photograph taken at the end of the panel, it features (left to right):

Jonathan Griffit  - AngelsIP CEO
Ron Porat - Hacktics CEO
Doron Habshush - Myself, DHConsulting CEO
Joeri Kreisberg, Adv. - Yigal Arnon Law Office
Roi Carthy - L Capital Partners, TechCrunch
Tal Karmon - KarmonTax CEO
Shlmoy Gantz - BlueBrick CEO

So once again, my personal thanks to everyone. I will be hosting another validation panel in a month or so, if you wish to showcase your company drop me a line to doron@dhconsoulting.info

Hello Everyone,

Finally we were able to schedule a date for the up and coming validation panel.

It will be held on the 25th of May, at Yigal Arnon’s offices.

We are still looking for more and more interesting start-up’s that wish to showcase their idea to the panel and receive free advice from industry experts.

For any more information, please feel free to contact me at doron@dhconsulting.info and I will send you more details.

Mr. Jonathan Griffit, CEO of AngelsIP was kind enough to join the panelists in the upcoming meet-up.

Read more here.