2004, Cofounder, Customer and Early Stage

2004

Cofounder

Customer

Early Stage

Don’t get hung up on early stage valuation.

Berkonomics

JANUARY 28, 2021

Why fight about valuation, or disappoint the founder at the outset? The first is of a 2004 startup that I cofounded and led the investment group for several early rounds, then VC rounds. Email readers, continue here…] The second story involves the same founder. Lessons founders learned.

Early Stage

Early Stage Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Cofounder

Ted Rheingold Founded Dogster in 2004: Five Questions About Building a Startup, Selling a Startup and Whether SF Is Still a Good Place

Hunter Walker

JANUARY 15, 2016

Hunter Walk: I know you started Dogster, one of the seminal early online communities, but I don’t know Dogster’s founding story. Ted Rheingold: In 2003 I owned and ran a web service business called OneMatchFire , and made a number of image sharing products for customers (or as side projects). How did the site come about?

Technical Review

Technical Review Startup Cofounder SMS

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Trending Sources

LinkedIn: The Series A Fundraising Story ? AGILEVC

Agile VC

MAY 26, 2011

Many assume it was a cakewalk, based on the success LinkedIn has enjoyed over time and the current stature of our founder/CEO Reid Hoffman (now Chairman). I thought I’d revisit it and share the story… First, you have to rewind mentally to early 2003. Google is still a private company (their IPO was Aug 2004).

Term Sheet

Term Sheet Silicon Valley Technical Review Social Network

Congratulations to Upwork

A Crowded Space

OCTOBER 3, 2018

I remember when I made that first flight out to San Francisco from Boston to meet the team in 2004, the company was down to its last $20K in the bank. Very shortly after I joined, Greg Gretsch (now my partner at Jackson Square Ventures) co-led oDesk’s Series A along with Venky Ganesan (partner at Menlo Ventures and lead investor in Rev.com).

San Francisco

San Francisco Bangladesh Ukraine Philippines

How to listen to customers, and not just the loud people

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 14, 2008

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Sunday, September 14, 2008 How to listen to customers, and not just the loud people Frequency is more important than talking to the "right" customers, especially early on. Youll know when the person youre talking to is not a potential customer - they just wont understand what youre saying.

San Francisco

San Francisco Customer Lean Continuous Deployment

This Week in VC: Michael Montgomery (President, Montgomery & Co.)

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2010

This episode of This Week in Venture Capital featured Michael Montgomery, president of Montgomery & Co. If you don’t know Montgomery & Co it is one of the premier technology & media focused investment banks in the country (and as Michael corrected me they also have a strong Healthcare / Med tech practice).

IPO

IPO Venture Capital Private Placement Cofounder

The Right Time + The Right Team + The Right Technology

Eric Friedman

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

I have been working with a number of early stage teams going through various stages of fundraising and using this diagram to help explain my thoughts on some of the questions they will come up against. Well, for starters I don’t believe there was the ubiquity of broadband that existed in 2004-2005.

Technology

Technology Flash Early Stage Cofounder

LinkedIn's Series B Pitch to Greylock: Pitch Advice for Entrepreneurs

reidhoffman.org

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

What I’ve honorably been able to do, however, is share the deck I used to pitch LinkedIn to Greylock for a Series B investment back in 2004. the consumer internet landscape in 2004 vs. today. In 2004, the consumer internet was just beginning to rebound. In 2004, investors regained interest in the consumer internet again.

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur Revenue Viral Networking

What I Wish I Knew Before Pitching LinkedIn to VCs

Reid Hoffman

OCTOBER 15, 2013

What I’ve honorably been able to do, however, is share the deck I used to pitch LinkedIn to Greylock for a Series B investment back in 2004. the consumer internet landscape in 2004 vs. today. For example, great investors can significantly boost the strength of your network, which helps in recruiting employees and acquiring customers.

Finance

Finance Cofounder Early Stage Networking

Should Founders Be Allowed to Take Money off the Table?

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

If a company has reached a level of success, has been around for a few years and you believe the company has potential to break out into a much bigger company then you should let the founders take money off of the table. A friend of mine is a serial entrepreneur and is running a high-profile, early stage company in NorCal.

Founder

Founder Liquidation Preference Term Sheet Participating Preferred

Lessons Learned: The lean startup at UC Berkeley Haas School of.

Startup Lessons Learned

FEBRUARY 24, 2009

I liked the flattering Venture Hacks commentary so much Ill just quote it: Many founders believe that early stage startups are endeavors of execution. The customer is known, the product is known, and all we have to do is act. He believes that many early stage startups are labors of learning.

Lean

Lean San Francisco Continuous Deployment DC

16 Common Mistakes Young Startups Make

mashable.com

JUNE 11, 2013

In fact, recent research shows that 75% of startups fail (based on a study of 2,000 startups that received VC funding from 2004 to 2010). Or maybe the co-founders have a poisonous relationship that will hinder the companys growth. Check out the tips below from founders, CEOs and investors alike. Leave it in the comments.