Up and Running

JULY 6, 2016

Often, a business plan introduces a new technology that requires some explaining. On one hand, as a reader of business plans for investors, I see way too many business plans that ask a reader to wade neck-deep through technology to get to the business. It’s a business plan, not a term paper or thesis.

Technical Review 72

Technical Review Software Review Business Plan Development Team Review 72

Up and Running

MAY 28, 2015

We recently had Tim Berry, Palo Alto Software founder and business planning expert, present our Bplans audience with his latest advice on lean business planning. It’s all about making your business life easier, doing what works best, getting the best results by tracking what works and always improving.

Lean 60

Lean Business Plan Video Software Review 60

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2017

If you project a sense of desperation, or ignorance of the options and implications, no potential investor will give you the credibility to be your partner in a business. Generally, as a new business advisor, I recommend advance preparation of an executive summary, a pitch deck, short business plan, and lots of practice and passion.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 220

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

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. Formalize the business structure before asking for funding.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Groups 120

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Angel investors come from a variety of ages, backgrounds, and professions. I’m not your average angel. I’m not active in an angel group. I live in a small town surrounded by farms and I made my first angel investment at 29 because my dad said it was a good idea. So, who are these unlikely angels?

Angel Investor 159

Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review Accredited Investor 159

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2011

It boasts 595 member-managed groups and VCs, 30,203 investors, and 2,900 new company applications a month. As an entrepreneur, simply enter your location online, and it will list the angel and VC organizations near you. Angel Capital Association (ACA). New England Investment Network.

Angel Investor 255

Angel Investor North America South America Accredited Investor 255

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Over the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to see how the process works, several times from the startup side, and more recently from the angel perspective (as a member of an angel group selection committee). Prepare an investment-grade business plan. Build a prototype product. Finalize your financial model.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

Gust

SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

To begin with, it is important to understand some basic facts about the world of entrepreneurial finance: There are many more entrepreneurs than there are investors, with the result that only one company out of every 400 that seeks venture funding actually receives it.

Angel Groups 159

Angel Groups Elevator Pitch Software Review Deal Flow 159

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2016

Over 500,000 new businesses were created last year, or about one per minute of every day. Of course, that’s both the good news and the bad news for aspiring entrepreneurs, since it means more competition, and the business landscape is changing faster than ever. Angel groups, accelerators, and incubators are pervasive.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Groups Social Media 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

By Mahesh Raj Mohan Writing a business plan can be a difficult process. you still have to write the plan for a particular audience. A loan officer, angel investor, and venture capitalist are all looking for different things in a business plan. Always keep in mind that a business plan is a “living document.”

Audience 243

Audience Business Plan Angel Investor Widget 243

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Over the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to see how the process works, several times from the startup side, and more recently from the angel perspective (as a member of an angel group selection committee). Prepare an investment-grade business plan. Build a prototype product. Finalize your financial model.

Angel Investor 224

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

There was a lot of consumer internet activity again…resurgence of things, but it was still mysterious, venture capital was still kind of closed, 1st time entrepreneurs had a lot of questions that were unanswered, and there was still some sort of hand waiving around all the financing stuff and so we took it on….”. was starting.

Technical Review 288

Technical Review Venture Capital Silicon Valley Software Review 288

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 31, 2016

There’s a lot of focus these days on teaching entrepreneurs how to do startups right : Validate the market before you build a prototype. The truth is, there are “wrong” mistakes that entrepreneurs can make early in the game, mistakes that will impact a startup’s ability to attract capital investment later on. Conserve cash.

United Kingdom 100

United Kingdom Entrepreneur Oklahoma Ohio 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2012

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded early by one of the 318,000 active Angel investors in the USA alone. Most of these investors are members of Angel groups that have a rigorous filtering and screening process, to select the top 3% and most fundable proposals. Prepare an investment-grade business plan.

Angel Investor 260

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Groups 260

Gust

JULY 12, 2012

The goal was to share our experiences in the realm of angel investing with an array of global audiences, by participating in various lectures, discussions and workshops. In all four countries we met passionate entrepreneurs who were eager to discuss their exciting startups, as well as angel investors looking to support them.

Community 121

Community Estonia Ireland Finland 121

Tim Keane

DECEMBER 14, 2009

  Some angel groups charge you money to pitch your idea to them.    One of the dangers of taking investment from individual angels, rather than through an angel group or investment firm, is that they have less reputation to protect.    Good angel groups, too. 

Burn Rate 60

Burn Rate Angel Groups Seed Stage Startup 60

Gust

JANUARY 22, 2014

At the moment, Gust for individual angels is only available to Accredited Investors who either (a) belong to an official angel group, venture fund or other organization that provides verification of their investor status, or (b) have already invested in (or been invited by) a startup using Gust for its investor relations communications.

Angel Investor 150

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor Early Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2015

Most new entrepreneurs assume that great investors will find their startups based on the compelling solution the founders have created. As an angel investor, I believe this approach is a waste of time, since no honest investor is likely to seriously consider a request for money from a stranger. There are just too many scams.

Cost 120

Cost Angel Groups Due Diligence Silicon Valley 120

Gust

DECEMBER 16, 2012

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded early by one of the 318,000 active Angel investors in the USA alone. Most of these investors are members of Angel groups that have a rigorous filtering and screening process, to select the top 3% and most fundable proposals. Prepare an investment-grade business plan.

Angel Investor 179

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Groups 179

Tim Keane

OCTOBER 8, 2008

By Tim Keane, Angel Investor, Golden Angels Investors, LLC. « The Whitehorse Daily Star - good advice for entrepreneurs | Main. Last week, our angel group reviewed a business with an online lie detector technology.     What does that mean for entrepreneurs? 

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Due Diligence Wisconsin Angel Groups 60

Up and Running

MAY 12, 2015

Have you considered asking a child what they think of your business pitch? If you’re an entrepreneur looking for funding, you know how important—and involved—the pitching process can be. I’ve also included advice from a few entrepreneurs, who shared what resources worked best for them. No, really. Check out #9.

Angel Investor 60

Angel Investor Software Review Technical Cofounder Due Diligence 60

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

of our company in exchange for the $300K, and my business partner and I each diluted from 50% ownership down to 33.3% Now, if you’re a savvy investor or entrepreneur, I’m sure your jaw just dropped as you read that. Now, if you’re a savvy investor or entrepreneur, I’m sure your jaw just dropped as you read that.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2017

As a long-time business advisor, and occasional investor, I have seen many successful businesses lead by college dropouts and people with average intelligence. Investors don’t look at CEOs for advanced degrees, but they do look for experience and emotional intelligence, often before they even evaluate the business plan.

Agile 141

Agile Non-Compete Angel Groups Venture Capital 141

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Every startup needs both a business plan and an investor presentation, completed before you formally approach any investors.

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

As a member of the local angel group Selection Committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Every startup needs both a business plan and an investor presentation, completed before you formally approach any investors.

Elevator Pitch 235

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Every startup needs both a business plan and an investor presentation, completed before you formally approach any investors.

Elevator Pitch 234

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 234

Gust

JANUARY 22, 2014

At the moment, Gust for individual angels is only available to Accredited Investors who either (a) belong to an official angel group, venture fund or other organization that provides verification of their investor status, or (b) have already invested in (or been invited by) a startup using Gust for its investor relations communications.

Angel Investor 89

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor Early Stage 89

Up and Running

JUNE 20, 2013

I know a lot of other entrepreneurs who use or have used Gust to seek funds, but their profiles don’t always get attention from investors. Don’t repeat what the investors can read in your Gust account or in your business plan. A lot of entrepreneurs make this mistake. Let angels know about Gust.

Angel Investor 68

Angel Investor Angel Groups Video Business Plan 68

Business Plan Blog

JULY 30, 2013

Statics show that investor receive thousands of plans a year and will only proceed to the next round with 10% of those at best. Regardless of the type of investor you are targeting (sophisticated individuals, angel groups or VC firms), it is important to be fully prepared to answer every question that they may come up with.

Intellectual Property 45

Intellectual Property Exit Strategy Angel Groups Valuation 45

Gust

AUGUST 19, 2012

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short – maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Every startup needs both a business plan and an investor presentation, completed before you formally approach any investors.

Elevator Pitch 146

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 146

Professor VC

MAY 29, 2008

However, that is not always the case as there is no qualification to set out your shingle as an angel investor or form an angel group. I often wonder if saying you are an angel investor is the 21st century version of being a consultant in the early 1990s after the corporate layoffs, a euphemism for someone without a real job.

Angel Investor 28

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor San Jose 28

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Please see later version of this post on May 16, 2010 Entrepreneurs are often not experts in the area of term-sheet negotiations and all of the surrounding issues.   Investors sometimes “present” the terms they’d like and expect the entrepreneurs to react. Term-sheets and Valuations: Thinking about Negotiations.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Up and Running

MARCH 30, 2015

Here’s how I sort through these different terms, in the context of angel investment, business planning, and business plan competitions. The business pitch. When I say pitch or business pitch I mean the short presentation startup founders make for angel investors or venture capitalists.

Elevator Pitch 60

Elevator Pitch Lean Oregon Angel Groups 60

Business Plan Blog

NOVEMBER 13, 2013

Individual investors who provide financial funding to startups are called ‘Angel Investors.’ Angel investors may invest individually or as part of an angel group, which are usually local organizations made up of Accredited Investors*. Per SEC rules “accredited investors” need to meet one of the following criteria: 1. *The

Finance 93

Finance Accredited Investor Angel Investor Seed Capital 93

Growthink Blog

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Within the past week I have learned about two new programs to help entrepreneurs raise funding from individual or angel investors. Will entrepreneurs successfully raise money with them? It is every entrepreneur's dream to submit a business plan online and have investors magically appear and write them big funding checks.

Angel Investor 94

Angel Investor United States Angel Groups Early Stage 94

Growthink Blog

MARCH 12, 2013

Whether you need $1,000 or $1 million to start or expand your business, if you can't raise this money, you can't build the business you want. Before You Look For Funding Before you look for funding, you need to create your business plan. Friends & Family A big source of funding for entrepreneurs is friends and family.

Angel Investor 114

Angel Investor United States Angel Groups Finance 114

Tim Keane

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

I'm in Dublin this week and was at the Halo Business Angel Network meeting on Monday evening. They're an impressive group, kind of an association of all of the angel groups in Ireland who work together to achieve results. Build strong teams focused on the business and have the ability to achieve success.

Ireland 60

Ireland Wisconsin Angel Groups Bootstrapping 60