Launching a startup is like flying a small turbocharged airplane … blindfolded.

Frankly, I am surprised that more founders have not ripped out their hair by the roots, which would be an unfortunate fashion choice for the growing set of female entrepreneurs. Starting a company, creating new markets, pushing viable yet brain-bending differentiations into the market can be perilous. Since marketing strategy is the topic most entrepreneurs understand the least, it is the one place they need the most help. This is why I wrote the Start-up CEO’s Marketing Manual, to provide entrepreneurs with a leg-up – to make them as smart on go-to-market strategy as they can rightfully be.

I was surprised by the personal feedback I received.

Though the book generated compliments, and the real-world examples in the book helped many, there is that disconnect that comes from monologue and not tying the lessons to the project at hand, namely the product an entrepreneur is attempting to take to market. Pair this reality with entrepreneurs over and over again telling me they wished they could hire Silicon Strategies Marketing, but believed our fees would be too high (and normally they would be). Atop all this, entrepreneurs are strapped for time and are under pressure to get their corporate act together ASAP.

Fast, affordable and product-focused. We can do that.

To further help entrepreneurs, Silicon Strategies Marketing is introducing a new mentored, one-day strategy development for startups. These events are structured to meet the goals entrepreneurs have for assembling their marketing strategy, namely:

FAST: By bringing in founders and other key people into a room for a day, they walk away with a collaboratively developed core go-to-market plan.

MENTORED: Instead of straight education in the abstracts of marketing strategy, we use the entrepreneur’s product and market as the case study throughout.

AFFORDABLE: At $950, the price is set to make expert marketing strategy development affordable to pre-funded startups.

As I look about Silicon Valley, and the slightly more interesting Santa Cruz tech scene, I see a lot of companies with promise and drive, and all heading down the same road that many failed companies have before. Our mentored, one-day strategy development for startups is our way of saving a few startups from disaster, and making tech even more relevant than before as a global force for change.