Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 16, 2017

I predict that angel investors, who are generally early adopters, will actually be quick to adapt to the new requirements and online systems, and will operate side by side with the new influx of non-accredited investors.

Angel Investor 190

Angel Investor Accredited Investor Angel Groups IRR 190

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. A better approach is to first understand who these people are, why and how they invest, and then focus on the ones who are the best match for your particular startup stage, location and industry.

Accredited Investor 265

Accredited Investor Venture Capital Syndicate Syndication 265

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

These also get used for guest lectures in business classes, judges for business plan competition, and introductions to accredited investors. Most schools have a rich pipeline of real-world executive volunteers available for mentoring. They can also connect you to area businesses.

Arizona 276

Arizona Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Entrepreneur 276

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2014

I predict that angel investors, who are generally early adopters, will actually be quick to adapt to the new requirements and online systems, and will operate side by side with the new influx of non-accredited investors.

Angel Investor 278

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor IRR 278

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2011

As a member of one of these local organizations, I use Angelsoft on the investor side to review business plans, deal flow, and help orchestrate presenters at monthly meetings of the local organization. Keiretsu Forum.

Angel Investor 255

Angel Investor North America South America Accredited Investor 255

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2021

These events are swarming with potential investors, and this is the forum where they are actively soliciting new opportunities, so don’t be shy about handing out your business card at breaks, lunch, mixers, or scheduled activities. Join a local investment group.

Accredited Investor 357

Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur SEC 357

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

These are all accredited investors who risk their own money. As an active angel investor myself, I understand how the process works, and I see the disappointment in the eyes of entrepreneurs who approach angel groups for funding and often get turned away for not being timely or prepared in the minds of potential investors.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Groups 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2023

Now there are dozens of online equity portals, including WeFunder and Microventures , already geared up to help regular people buy equity in a startup, without qualifying as an accredited investor. Have you ever wondered what professional startup investors think about all this?

Angel Groups 201

Angel Groups Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 201

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

Now there are dozens of online equity portals, including WeFunder and Microventures , already geared up to help regular people buy equity in a startup, without qualifying as an accredited investor. Have you ever wondered what professional startup investors think about all this?

Equity 411

Equity Angel Groups Accredited Investor Due Diligence 411

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2016

These questions are the key ones in every due diligence effort, always done by accredited investors, but almost never done by key employees and new partners. Ironically, startup investors are normally in less personal jeopardy than early startup employees.

Burn Rate 120

Burn Rate Technical Review Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2021

This works to protect you from unscrupulous investors, as well as non-professional investors who may later say that your business plan was misleading. The best advice is to only take investment funds from people who can financially afford to lose, and who qualify as accredited investors.

Cost 363

Cost Non-Compete Accredited Investor Cofounder 363

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2021

By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. A better approach is to first understand who these people are, why and how they invest, and then focus on the ones who are the best match for your particular startup stage, location and industry.

Search 317

Search Accredited Investor Angel Investor Venture Capital 317

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2015

These questions are the key ones in every due diligence effort, always done by accredited investors, but almost never done by key employees and new partners. Ironically, startup investors are normally in less personal jeopardy than early startup employees.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Burn Rate Sweat Equity 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

These also get used for guest lectures in business classes, judges for business plan competition, and introductions to accredited investors. Most schools have a rich pipeline of real-world executive volunteers available for mentoring. They can also connect you to area businesses.

Arizona 310

Arizona Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Dividend 310

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2016

But recent changes in the law, associated with the JOBS Act of 2012 , have made it possible to sell small chunks of ownership or equity to non-accredited investors -- regular people on the Internet. When a startup proclaims that it is cash-flow positive but pays no salary yet to the founders, investors call this Ramen-profitable.

Software Review 120

Software Review Sweat Equity Accredited Investor Angel Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2015

I predict that angel investors, who are generally early adopters, will actually be quick to adapt to the new requirements and online systems, and will operate side by side with the new influx of non-accredited investors.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor IRR 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2019

These events are swarming with potential investors, and this is the forum where they are actively soliciting new opportunities, so don’t be shy about handing out your business card at breaks, lunch, mixers, or scheduled activities. Join a local investment group.

Networking 227

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur 227

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

As a member of the selection committee on one of these local organizations, I use Angelsoft on the investor side to review business plans, deal flow, and help orchestrate presenters at monthly meetings of the local organization. Keiretsu Forum.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor South America North America Accredited Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2014

Many entrepreneurs seems to be convinced that the “crowd” of regular people using the Internet will somehow solve their startup funding needs, when they sense a lack of interest from accredited investors.

Non-disclosure Agreement 254

Non-disclosure Agreement Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Equity 254

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2013

These events are swarming with potential investors, and this is the forum where they are actively soliciting new opportunities, so don’t be shy about handing out your business card at breaks, lunch, mixers, or scheduled activities. Join a local investment group.

Networking 250

Networking Accredited Investor Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch 250

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2012

These events are swarming with potential investors, and this is the forum where they are actively soliciting new opportunities, so don’t be shy about handing out your business card at breaks, lunch, mixers, or scheduled activities. Join a local investment group.

Networking 242

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur 242

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2016

These events are swarming with potential investors, and this is the forum where they are actively soliciting new opportunities, so don’t be shy about handing out your business card at breaks, lunch, mixers, or scheduled activities. Join a local investment group.

Networking 120

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch SEC 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2013

Many entrepreneurs seems to be convinced that the “crowd” of regular people using the Internet will somehow solve their startup funding needs, when they sense a lack of interest from accredited investors.

Non-disclosure Agreement 266

Non-disclosure Agreement Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Equity 266

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2013

This works to protect you from unscrupulous investors, as well as non-professional investors who may later say that your business plan was misleading. The best advice is to only take investment funds from people who can financially afford to lose, and who qualify as accredited investors.

Non-Compete 235

Non-Compete Accredited Investor Startup Cofounder 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2013

Sites like KickStarter have for years offered rewards and pre-sales for crowd investments, but real equity won’t be legalized until sometime this year for people other than accredited investors. Super-angels.

Entrepreneur 274

Entrepreneur Accredited Investor Silicon Valley Angel Investor 274

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

These also get used for guest lectures in business classes, judges for business plan competition, and introductions to accredited investors. Most schools have a rich pipeline of real-world executive volunteers available for mentoring. They can also connect you to area businesses.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Entrepreneur Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 10, 2012

This works to protect you from unscrupulous investors, as well as non-professional investors who may later say that your business plan was misleading. The best advice is to only take investment funds from people who can financially afford to lose, and who qualify as accredited investors.

Non-Compete 249

Non-Compete Accredited Investor Startup Cofounder 249

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2016

At least ten online portals are already gearing up to help regular people buy startup equity, without abiding by accredited investor rules. Have you ever wondered what professional startup investors think about all this? As an accredited angel investor, I claim to be one of those professionals, and I’ve talked to many more.

Angel Groups 136

Angel Groups Accredited Investor Equity Due Diligence 136

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2016

My advice to non-fundable startup entrepreneurs is to look past individual investors for partnerships with potential acquirers, grants from related institutions and support from your rich uncle. If all else fails, I recommend bootstrapping your own efforts, at least until you get enough traction to relieve the qualms of accredited investors.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Investor Reputation 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2011

This works to protect you from unscrupulous investors, as well as non-professional investors who may later say that your business plan was misleading. The best advice is to only take investment funds from people who can financially afford to lose, and who qualify as accredited investors.

Non-Compete 246

Non-Compete Accredited Investor Entrepreneur Cofounder 246

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

These events are swarming with potential investors, and this is the forum where they are actively soliciting new opportunities, so don’t be shy about handing out your business card at breaks, lunch, mixers, or scheduled activities. Join a local investment group.

Networking 242

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch SEC 242

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2012

The recently passed JOBS bill now allows even non-accredited investors to contribute small amounts to new startups through “crowd-sourcing” sites, like Kickstarter and Crowdtilt. A popular phrase heard in this environment is “rinse and repeat.” Today, if you do well in this mode, you will get funded if and when you need it.

Early Stage 253

Early Stage Finance Seed Stage Entrepreneur 253

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. A better approach is to first understand who these people are, why and how they invest, and then focus on the ones who are the best match for your particular startup stage, location and industry.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Accredited Investor Venture Capital Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2022

This one claims to be the world’s largest single angel investor network, with 3000 accredited investor members throughout 52 chapters on 3 continents. In addition, they serve as a jobs available site for 24,000 startups. Keiretsu Forum.

North America 337

North America Accredited Investor Angel Investor Angel Groups 337

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2010

This works to protect you from unscrupulous investors, as well as non-professional investors who may later say that your business plan was misleading. The best advice is to only take investment funds from people who can financially afford to lose, and who qualify as accredited investors.

Non-Compete 125

Non-Compete Accredited Investor Startup Cofounder 125

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2019

This one claims to be the world’s largest single angel investor network, with 3000 accredited investor members throughout 53 chapters on 3 continents. In addition, they serve as a jobs available site for 24,000 startups. Keiretsu Forum.

Angel Investor 241

Angel Investor North America Accredited Investor Angel Groups 241

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2022

Today most startup investors still register with the SEC as “ accredited ” investors before they buy any startup equity in the U.S. Finally, it’s an opportunity to “give back” what you have learned in your own career for the next generation.

Liquidity Event 300

Liquidity Event Angel Investor SEC Accredited Investor 300