Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2022

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. The simple reason is that it’s impossible to make money for investors when the goal of the company is to not make money. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor.

Angel Investor 327

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 327

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2021

The many crowd funding platforms on the Internet, led still by Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , were expected by many to put regular people in charge of funding new opportunities, and kill the need for angel groups. Rose, according to his classic book, “ Angel Investing.” Angel groups fear the loss of members for the same reason.

Angel Investor 361

Angel Investor Accredited Investor IRR Angel Groups 361

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2010

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t invest in non-profits. The simple reason is that it’s impossible to make money for investors when the goal of the company is to not make money. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 143

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 143

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2022

In addition to being the startup entrepreneur, there are other key roles where Boomers can be a force in driving successful startups, in concert with leaders from Gen-X and Gen-Y: Early-stage angel investors.

Advisory Board 368

Advisory Board Dividend Angel Investor Cofounder 368

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2022

As a long-time business advisor and angel investor, I’m a believer that “two heads are better than one” in building a new business. Very few entrepreneurs have the range of skills and experience to be the solution creator as well as business creator, or operational as well as sales leader.

Partner 385

Partner Software Review CTO Hire Cofounder 385

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

You need an investor, and want a document to mass-mail to everyone. Most VCs and Angel investors don’t read unsolicited proposals, unless they have met you first, or have a glowing recommendation from another investor or acquaintance. You need an investor, and want to solicit professionals online.

Business Plan 316

Business Plan Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence 316

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2014

I just finished a new book, “ Angel Investing ,” by a friend and one of the most active angel investors in New York, David S. David is also the CEO of Gust , which is an online platform for startup financing used by over 50,000 accredited angel investors, 1000 angel groups and venture capital funds, and 250,000 entrepreneurs.

Angel Investor 278

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor IRR 278

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

For example, a software development startup raising $250,000 from angel investors better be able to operate on $25,000 per month. As a rule of thumb, your monthly burn rate should be less than 10 percent of your last funding raise or starting cash in the bank.

Burn Rate 258

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Management Salary 258

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2023

Here are the key considerations from my perspective: Dealing with known or trusted investors and advisors. If you are approaching a recognized venture capital group, or even an accredited angel investor, a non-disclosure agreement is counter-productive.

Non-disclosure Agreement 254

Non-disclosure Agreement Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor 254

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. Build an investor presentation and summary.

Angel Investor 260

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Groups 260

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. The simple reason is that it’s impossible to make money for investors when the goal of the company is to not make money. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

As an angel investor, I quickly learned that luck has very little to do with it, and I now look for some personal characteristics and leadership styles that separate the potential winners from the losers. These differences are the reason that investors say that they invest in people, rather than ideas.

Technical Review 269

Technical Review Kentucky Due Diligence Japan 269

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2023

The average length of a funding pitch to angel investors is ten minutes. The biggest complaint I hear from fellow investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. Even if you have booked an hour with a VC, you should plan to talk only for the first fifteen minutes.

Technical Review 369

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Matching 369

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

The bad news is that the valley’s depth before real revenue, considering the high costs of marketing, manufacturing, and sales, can still add up to $500K, on up to $1 million or more, before you will be attractive to angel investors or venture capital. It’s the time when you create tremendous value out of nothing.

Intellectual Property 341

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 341

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2023

Based on my own career as a business owner and angel investor, in this age of change, I still see key successes and growth from the same team member work qualities.

Flash 303

Flash Technical Review Angel Investor Social Media 303

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

At the same time, more entrepreneurs are jumping into the fray, and less money is available from investors. In my view, savvy “super angel” investors such as Mike Maples, Jr. , It’s time for a new startup model. and leading incubators such as Y Combinator , are already on this one. How far behind is your startup?

Angel Investor 359

Angel Investor Technical Review Incubator Business Model 359

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2022

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. get the attention of the market they choose.

Las Vegas 309

Las Vegas Silicon Valley Arizona Montana 309

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2022

Quite a while back, I outlined “ The 10 Best Sources of Cash to Start Your Business ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative six. I still get a lot of questions on these mysterious and often invisible investors, so here is another attempt to bring them out of the ether. So how do you find those good angels?

Angel Investor 384

Angel Investor Advisory Board Database Institutional Investors 384

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 26, 2021

I know from experience that my friends who are angel investors are looking for the same indications, although none of us has a scorecard , or even know exactly what we are looking for. As an entrepreneur mentor, my mission is to foster the attributes in you as a startup founder that I believe will lead to success.

Entrepreneur 341

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Partner Software Developers 341

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2023

Every entrepreneur I know has their favorite excuse for a previous failure – an investor backed out, the economy took a downturn, or a supplier delivered bad quality. I certainly agree that starting a business is fraught with risk, and none of us get it all right the first time.

Intellectual Property 312

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor Viral 312

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2011

A while back, I outlined “ Most Startups Get No Professional Investor Cash ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative #6. I still get a lot of questions on these mysterious and often invisible investors, so here is another attempt to bring them out of the ether. So how do you find those good angels?

Angel Investor 242

Angel Investor Advisory Board Startup Database 242

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Finally I realized that venture capital and angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary.

Intellectual Property 278

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 278

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2021

If your business success so far is based on family and Angel investors, perhaps it’s time to start working with institutional investors and external business partners. With each new skill you acquire, your likelihood of long-term success is improved. Expand your investment alternatives.

Technical Review 417

Technical Review Entrepreneur Due Diligence Institutional Investors 417

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2022

You need to evaluate the tradeoffs of getting investment capital from angel investors and crowdsourcing. Effective scaling and growth often requires more investment than is available from early organic returns. These are both a source of new marketing strategies and feedback. Commit to and communicate a higher-level purpose.

Technical Review 355

Technical Review Social Media Channel Flash 355

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2022

As a business consultant and angel investor, I often ask for your own assessment of marketing ROI , or customer acquisition cost (CAC). While I realize that a high level of certainty in these numbers is an elusive goal, the value of doing the work, and benchmarking your business against competitors is well worth the effort.

Acquisition 250

Acquisition Cost Customer Sales Cycle 250

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2012

A few angel investors have slipped or fallen from their lofty perch, so entrepreneurs must take great care to validate the character and reputation of every prospective investor. Many entrepreneurs believe all money is created equal.

Angel Investor 281

Angel Investor Term Sheet Entrepreneur Due Diligence 281

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2022

In my experience as an angel investor to startups, goodwill disagreements are perhaps the most common reason that you will fail to close interested investors as an entrepreneur. The challenge is what and how to highlight these to your advantage.

Valuation 368

Valuation Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor 368

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2022

Maintaining your team’s passion and freedom to focus first on innovating for customers are only a couple of the reasons for thinking hard before you seek money from crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital organizations, or attempt to qualify for a public stock offering.

Cost 267

Cost Bootstrapping Advisory Board Startup 267

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 12, 2022

As an angel investor and a mentor to entrepreneurs I still see this every day. In this world of constant change, new technologies, and a thousand cultures, it’s evident and somehow comforting to me that the basic rules for business prosperity really haven’t changed in the last hundred years.

Technical Review 297

Technical Review Angel Investor Differentiation Business Model 297

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2022

In that environment, you need to look broadly and work effectively on all the available sources of capital, including friends and family, angel investors, and strategic partners. In the business world, your ability to raise money is often paramount to your success. Intelligence and insight: book and street smarts.

Silicon Valley 325

Silicon Valley Angel Investor Technical Review Boston 325

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Here are the key considerations from my perspective: Dealing with known or trusted investors and advisors. If you are approaching a recognized venture capital group, or even an accredited angel investor, a non-disclosure agreement is counter-productive.

Non-disclosure Agreement 399

Non-disclosure Agreement Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor 399

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. Some startups do nothing to prepare for the due diligence process, assuming the people and business plan documents will speak for themselves.

Technical Review 380

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Angel Investor 380

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Let me assure you that companies without marketing plans don’t get the attention of either investors or customers. As an angel investor myself, I’ve often heard the argument that your solution has no competition. Don’t under-estimate or ignore your competitors. Neither is good.

Intellectual Property 432

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Technical Review Angel Investor 432

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 16, 2017

The many crowd funding platforms on the Internet, led still by Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , and the latest stages of the Jobs Act , were expected by many to put regular people in charge of funding new opportunities, and kill the need for angel groups. Rose, according to his latest book, “ Angel Investing.” Neither does David S.

Angel Investor 190

Angel Investor Accredited Investor IRR Angel Groups 190

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

The bad news is that the valley’s depth before real revenue, considering the high costs of marketing, manufacturing, and sales, can still add up to $500K, on up to $1 million or more, before you will be attractive to angel investors or venture capital. It’s the time when you create tremendous value out of nothing.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator Bootstrapping 261

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2010

A while back, I outlined “ Ten Top Funding Sources for Startups ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative #6. I still get a lot of questions on these mysterious and often invisible investors, so here is another attempt to bring them out of the ether. If you need more, you need VCs or a flock of angels.

Angel Investor 227

Angel Investor Advisory Board Database Institutional Investors 227

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2014

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Finally I realized that Venture Capital and Angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary.

Angel Investor 268

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Early Stage 268