Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 11, 2018

As we put the final touches on Lean Startup Conference 2018 , I wanted to take a moment to share more about some of the panels, workshops, and events. Kabam, the mobile gaming company, hit a major stumbling block in its early days when its financing was lost due to the 2008 financial collapse.

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Lean Las Vegas Cofounder Startup 103

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

When you think about the trends of faster-growing startups due to social networking, credit card enable and mobile first consumers – the reality is that many startups are becoming very large financially before needing to go public. The “big boom” in startup financing started around March 2009?—?more

Technical Review 398

Technical Review Venture Capital Valuation Pre-Money Valuation 398

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. That’s the deal you get when you’re raising in a good market for startup financing.

Pre-Money Valuation 336

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Silicon Valley Stock 336

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

I said, “It’s much easier now than it was in 2008/09.&# For others it feels like a two-speed economy, where rules apply to hot tech startups that don’t apply elsewhere. And time is the enemy of all deals so start sooner rather than later, as anybody who was planning to raise in October 2008 will tell you.

Saudi Arabia 309

Saudi Arabia Valuation IPO Technical Review 309

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2022

An effective tool I see used more and more, as a prelude to a more detailed business plan, is the Business Model Canvas , first introduced by Alexander Osterwalder back in 2008. Channels have to be identified through which a startup creates awareness, induces evaluation, enables purchase, and executes the delivery of the value proposition.

Business Model 334

Business Model Intellectual Property Angel Investor Channel 334

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 17, 2020

New business applications are the highest since 2008, reports the Wall Street Journal. LJ Suzuki is a fractional CFO with CFOshare, an outsourced finance and accounting department for small businesses. The post How Successful Entrepreneurs Launch A Startup In A Recession appeared first on Young Upstarts.

Entrepreneur 259

Entrepreneur Cofounder Startup SEO 259

Up and Running

MAY 10, 2017

We didn’t know anything about small business accounting or finance. See Also: How Traveling Helped Me Prepare for Startup Life. Neither of us had ever lived in a big city, and in 2008 we felt ready to cash in and try something new. We’d never hired anyone. We’d never had anyone pay us for a product or a service.

Startup 119

Startup SEO Montana Argentina 119

Feld Thoughts

NOVEMBER 2, 2018

I have a chapter in Startup Communities that uses CU Boulder – and specifically Silicon Flatirons – as an example of a much better way than the traditional approach (circa 2012) for a university to engage with the startup community. He continually strives to connect the university and surrounding startup community.

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Community Colorado Venture Capital Startup 238

Startup Company Lawyer

MARCH 14, 2010

After the recent announcement of the Series Seed Financing documents by Marc Andreesen, Brad Feld points out that there are now four sets of “open source&# equity seed financing documents: TechStars Model Seed Funding Documents (by Cooley). Y Combinator Series AA Equity Financing Documents (by WSGR). under $500K).

Finance 70

Finance Software Review Term Sheet Liquidation Preference 70

Altgate

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

We tried to provide a framework for startups to think about what activities should be outsourced and why. What kind of startup outsources everything? Well, you’re right, most don’t, but one example of a startup that does is PlentyOfFish. Also, most startup attorneys will do deferred payment plans.

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Software Review Offshore Startup Boston 65

View from Seed

DECEMBER 4, 2019

Over the last 10 years, we’ve been in a bull market with considerable froth in late stage financing activity and valuations. So far in this post, I’ve honed in mostly on the top-quartile threshold, which masks the power-law that is exhibited in both startups and the VC industry. This would suggest that TVPI would be performing well.

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LP IRR Distribution Portfolio 256

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

How would they know unless they surveyed a critical mass of startups all at the same stage now and then three years ago or so to compare? David's firm most recently participated in the $77 million second round financing of SoFi, a one year old startup focusing on student loans. Needless to say, he's having some trouble raising.

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Venture Capital Marketing Term Sheet Software Review 114

Feld Thoughts

MAY 28, 2015

For example, from a post in 2008 about Rally’s $16.85m financing , I riffed on the origins of the company. About a year after he got started, he was ready to raise a venture financing. Ryan was encouraged to team up with Tim and shortly after that happened we co-led the first round VC financing with Boulder Ventures.

Software 70

Software Technology Agile SCRUM 70

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2010

And so it happened that between 2000-2008 I was the biggest buzz kill at dinner parties. It costs less money to start companies so the world should have way more startups.&# I’ve heard the “world is different&# argument in every bubble I’ve ever seen. But all of this increased company creation has to go somewhere.

Florida 299

Florida Technical Review San Antonio Los Angeles 299

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 16, 2011

During today's roundtable, we had four Microsoft BizSpark Startup India Challenge grant finalists present. Zendesk is heavily financed by Benchmark and Charles River and has 10,000 customers. 10Screens is currently also a finalist in the Microsoft BizSpark India Startup Challenge.

India 123

India Bootstrapping Non-Compete Entrepreneur 123

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2015

I’ve seen friends (and family members) lose much of their savings that way over the years because “Black Swans” happen and in 1987, 2001, 2003 & 2008 (just to name a few from my memory) huge market gyrations caused much financial distress to people seeking short-term gains. Watch the market closely.

Stock 150

Stock Finance Marketing Valuation 150

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2012

I had been looking around at several deals in late 2008 as the markets were tanking. But it was early 2009 and not many companies were getting new financings at all so I thought they should take the deal. But my other VC partner had a smaller fund and raising price would have a big impact on his ability to finance the company.

Term Sheet 356

Term Sheet Silicon Valley Reputation Partner 356

Steve Blank

MARCH 31, 2014

Just look at the disruptive challenges that businesses face today– globalization, China as a manufacturer, China as a consumer, the Internet, and a steady stream of new startups. Perhaps that’s because where established companies might see risks or threats, startups see opportunity.

Private Equity 325

Private Equity Metrics China Intellectual Property 325

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Even though the Initial Public Offering (IPO) alternative for a successful startup seems to be coming back, it is relatively rare. IPOs in 2008, the market was up to a still trivial 128 in 2012 (compared to 675 in 1996). business entrepreneur exit founder IPO startup' After a record low of 39 U.S. Marty Zwilling.

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IPO Founder Exit Strategy Investment Bankers 224

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 5, 2018

by Walker Deibel , Managing Director of Centra and author of “ Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game “ If I asked you to name a business success story, what would you think of? Lately, we’ve seen startups able to reach a billion-dollar valuation, so-called “unicorn” companies, in the limelight.

Startup 182

Startup Acquisition Portfolio Venture Capital 182

David Teten

JULY 25, 2011

Each of the startups made a solid case for the unique value proposition their technology would provide to the financial sector. This was a demonstration of the level of quality that some NY startups are achieving. Congratulations to the organizers and the newly-graduating startups of FinTech Innovation Lab on a job well done!

Software Review 114

Software Review New York City Technical Review Due Diligence 114

rapidrollout.wordpress.com

JANUARY 15, 2011

Web Startup Lessons Advice from a CTO and Entrepreneur Home About Startup Advice: When to Use a Consulting CTO There are not many to be found. Most likely, this is a person who is a serial entrepreneur and was the chief technology officer for two or more web startups. .&# I’ll list other consultants I know about, as well.

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Fractional CTO CTO CTO Hire Fractional VPE 40

Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 20, 2008

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Monday, October 20, 2008 The engineering managers lament I was inspired to write The product managers lament while meeting with a startup struggling to figure out what had gone wrong with their product development process. After all, our startup is on a fixed budget. But, it is so worth it.

Software Review 164

Software Review Engineer Management Technical Review 164

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 3, 2015

The Internet has also transformed banking for small business owners, particularly when it comes time to apply for business loans and other financing products. The Harvard Business School reported that small business loans have decreased 21% from their pre-recession peak in 2008. Small Business Loan Overview.

Small Business 100

Small Business Technical Review Technology United States 100

Austin Startup

AUGUST 10, 2017

Although we were studying finance, we were always more interested in tech. Take a look at some of the emails between us from 2010: We were attending NYU from 2008–2012. But we never lost the finance bug. During that time, we watched the first wave of mobile apps take off — Foursquare, GroupOn, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

Technical Review 48

Technical Review Cofounder Technical Cofounder Austin 48

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2017

An effective tool I see used more and more, as a prelude to a more detailed business plan, is the Business Model Canvas , first introduced by Alexander Osterwalder back in 2008. Channels have to be identified through which a startup creates awareness, induces evaluation, enables purchase, and executes the delivery of the value proposition.

Business Model 143

Business Model Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor 143

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2019

An effective tool I see used more and more, as a prelude to a more detailed business plan, is the Business Model Canvas , first introduced by Alexander Osterwalder back in 2008. Channels have to be identified through which a startup creates awareness, induces evaluation, enables purchase, and executes the delivery of the value proposition.

Intellectual Property 250

Intellectual Property Business Model Angel Investor Channel 250

bizthoughts.mikelee.org

MARCH 8, 2012

Although most aren’t in a place to be startup cofounders for financial reasons, I now have access to a large talent pool once I can offer a salary. With all the funded startups that are unable to hire, that’s a huge ace up my sleeve. And for the engineers that did want to become startup cofounders – we all did.

Technical Cofounder 40

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Technical Review Software Review 40

K9 Ventures

APRIL 27, 2011

In April 2008, I was introduced to Ugmode, Inc. In August/September 2009, the founders and I agreed to work together to raise a round of financing for the company. We pulled together about $600K of commitments and interest, for a $500K-target financing round. The lawsuit completely killed the financing prospects for Ugmode.

Software Review 134

Software Review Technical Review IP Finance 134

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

I call it drip-financing. Most entrepreneurs have no choice but to avail of this sort of financing along with the mentoring and the contacts that could come with it (doesn't always come along, though). In 1M/1M, our preferred financing strategy is customers. Because customer financing equals revenue, not equity.

Cloud 115

Cloud Silicon Valley Incubator Finance 115

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2021

Shots on Goal Being great as a startup technology investor of course requires a lot of things to come together: You need to have strong insights into where technology markets are heading and where value in the future will be created and sustained You need be perfect with your market timing. On Funding?—?Shots

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Bankruptcy Bridge Financing Portfolio Angel Investor 294

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 22, 2014

“The six venture capital funds and fund managers selected have an excellent reputation of helping build the companies that they fund, and their successes will further strengthen our tech-startup ecosystem.” “In 2010 I traveled Asia, meeting over 80 startups from a dozen countries.

Singapore 167

Singapore Asia Early Stage Venture Capital 167

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 5, 2010

A caller dialed in to ask us questions about his startup. He was from South America but living in Switzerland and had launched a startup while holding down a day job at a consulting firm (McKinsey if memory serves). I was recently on TWiST with Jason Calacanis. He wanted to raise angel money. I told him to quit his job first.

Entrepreneur 293

Entrepreneur CTO Hire South America Salary 293

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 14, 2019

A good broker is precise and can stand doing a ton of research, as you would for any startup business. Mortgage brokers need to know how to read and calculate finances. The 2008 SAFE Act introduced federal requirements, but there are separate state requirements, too. Keep branching out your professional network.

Intellectual Property 86

Intellectual Property Startup Social Media Finance 86

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Five Quarters of Profitability During the 1980’s and through the mid 1990’s startups going public had to do something that most companies today never heard of – they had to show a track record of increasing revenue and consistent profitability. The world of building profitable startups as the primary goal of Venture Capital would end in 1995.

Silicon Valley 217

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 217

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 18, 2018

Crowdfunding is a form of alternative startup finance that entails funding your venture or project by raising relatively small amounts of money from a large group of individuals, typically via online crowdfunding platforms. Looking to experts may help in your search for startup capital. Source: Pixabay.

Los Angeles 87

Los Angeles Startup Campaign PR 87

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

I was excited to see that GLG (formerly Gerson Lehrman Group), the industry leader, is now offering a professional network service geared to the needs of the startup community: GLG Share. Like many established finance & media companies, GLG knows that the tech startup sector is a growing part of the economy.

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New York Technical Review Networking Advisory Board 114