Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows.

Intellectual Property 134

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 134

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

Once the order is fulfilled and paid for, the funds can be paid back. ? Research and development. In very few specific cases, depending on the nature of the business, the business model might demand a considerable gestation period or extensive research and development. Bootstrapping. Equity investors. Seed stage.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

The event presenter, FUND, is a national connector of entrepreneurs, VCs, angel investors, and industry experts with a focus on deal flow and making connections. The FUND Conference brings together over 100 startups to present their early-stage products and pitches in front of hundreds of investors and industry leaders.

Technical Review 153

Technical Review Software Review Illinois Due Diligence 153

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2012

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping your growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Following is my prioritized larger list of sources, with some “rules of thumb” which may save you a lot of time and energy: Bootstrapping. Angel investors.

Technical Review 257

Technical Review Bootstrapping Venture Capital Incubator 257

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

With the advent and popularity of crowdfunding platforms, including Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , as a winning alternative for funding your new venture, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs are confused about the need to ever seek a professional angel investor. Investors are very wary of unknown owners and valuation.

Non-disclosure Agreement 299

Non-disclosure Agreement Angel Investor Bootstrapping SEC 299

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

While exploring all these alternatives, don’t forget that the right investor in a majority of cases may be you, through bootstrapping and personal credit. The right investor also changes as you move through the different startup stages. It works best for solutions that have social value and mass appeal.

Angel Investor 246

Angel Investor Stealth Bootstrapping Early Stage 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2023

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Separately at this stage, you may look for small funding amounts from angel investors , called seed investments. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

Incubator 305

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 305

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Although angel investment is a lot like venture capital (and is often confused with it), there are important distinctions. First, angel investors are groups or individuals who invest their own money. Like venture capitalists, angel investors normally focus on high-growth companies at early stages of development.

SBA 161

SBA Venture Capital Angel Investor Technical Review 161

Gust

APRIL 27, 2014

Software Development Process via Wikipedia. Even when your startup is a one-man show and lots of fun, a “business” needs some discipline and controls to keep it from being defined as a hobby by investors, and assure some financial return. Develop your business plan. Product development process. Funding process.

Startup 187

Startup Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping 187

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2011

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping your growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Following is my prioritized larger list of sources, with some “rules of thumb” which may save you a lot of time and energy: Bootstrapping. Angel investors.

Technical Review 233

Technical Review Bootstrapping Startup Venture Capital 233

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 29, 2024

Develop a marketing strategy that leverages both digital and traditional channels. Whether it’s through bootstrapping, seeking angel investors, or applying for grants, explore all options available to you. Your branding should resonate with your target audience, conveying your values and what you stand for.

Intellectual Property 132

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Business Model Bootstrapping 132

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2016

This term refers to an initial venture-capital investment, often wrongly sought to seed early product development. In fact, most often, it is limited to seeding a startup business rollout or scale-up after development is completed from friends and family. Super-angel investors (micro-VCs).

Software Review 120

Software Review Sweat Equity Accredited Investor Angel Investor 120

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

While you may be enamored with becoming an entrepreneur and bootstrapping your business, don’t quit your day job. Most entrepreneurs are not looking to launch a startup, pitch to angel investors or financial institutions, and land multiple rounds of capital. There’s actually a lot of value in bootstrapping your business.

Forecast 154

Forecast Software Review Bootstrapping Finance 154

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2022

Angel investors will perk up if you have a prototype or a few real customers, while venture capitalists will likely choose to wait until you have achieved several million in revenue or customer count. Can you justify your use of funds to this investor? What business milestones have you met?

Preferred Stock 304

Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity Angel Investor 304

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2010

This usually involves some level of CEO advising/mentoring, business plan development, market definition, money raising, team building, etc. I chair the Selection Committee of the Arizona Angels, and have been an active Angel investor as General Partner of Lobodos Ventures over the last thirteen years.

Angel Investor 211

Angel Investor Arizona Entrepreneur Phoenix 211

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Separately at this stage, you may look for small funding amounts from angel investors , called seed investments. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

Incubator 429

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 429

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2023

Find a major customer, or a complimentary business, who sees such value in your idea that they are willing to give you an advance on royalty payments to complete your development. Apply to local angel investor groups. Variations on this theme include early licensing or white-labeling agreements. Fund your startup yourself.

Equity 266

Equity Startup Small Business Administration SBA 266

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

While exploring all these alternatives, don’t forget that the right investor in a majority of cases may be you, through bootstrapping and personal credit. The right investor also changes as you move through the different startup stages. It works best for solutions that have social value and mass appeal.

Stealth 434

Stealth Startup Angel Investor Bootstrapping 434

Gust

JUNE 17, 2012

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping your growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Following is my prioritized larger list of sources, with some “rules of thumb” which may save you a lot of time and energy: Bootstrapping. Angel investors.

Technical Review 164

Technical Review Bootstrapping Venture Capital Incubator 164

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2020

As an angel investor, I often hear from young entrepreneurs who have invented a shiny solution, without really focusing first on the need or the opportunity. Time to think about and develop your purpose and “why.” Use your ability to bootstrap and set a sustainable base.

Bootstrapping 324

Bootstrapping Angel Investor Entrepreneur Leadership 324

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

Character is a solid stepping stone to help you develop and work on new talents. It’s a practical collection of tips, suggestions, and myth-busting from a prolific and very well known and experienced angel investor, head of a group of New York angel investors,” Berry says. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.

Entrepreneur 65

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Virginia Oregon 65

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2020

Find a major customer, or a complimentary business, who sees such value in your idea that they are willing to give you an advance on royalty payments to complete your development. Apply to local angel investor groups. Variations on this theme include early licensing or white-labeling agreements. Fund your startup yourself.

Equity 436

Equity Small Business Administration SBA Syndicate 436

Professor VC

MARCH 10, 2009

Bootstrapping 101. I moderated a panel discussion last night on one of my favorite topics, bootstrapping, as part of our Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurship Eminent Speaker Series at San Jose State. They have a standard presentation on bootstrapping, which they present around the country. ProfessorVC. Steve Bennet.

Bootstrapping 28

Bootstrapping San Jose Silicon Valley Software Review 28

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 1, 2010

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping you growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Following is my prioritized larger list of sources, with some “rules of thumb” which may save you a lot of time and energy: Bootstrapping. Angel investors.

Technical Review 149

Technical Review Bootstrapping Startup Venture Capital 149

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2020

Angel investors will perk up if you have a prototype or a few real customers, while venture capitalists will likely choose to wait until you have achieved several million in revenue or customer count. Can you justify your use of funds to this investor? What business milestones have you met?

Startup 337

Startup Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity 337

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 5, 2019

Angel investors. An angel investor is an accredited investor who uses his or her own money to invest in a small business. Not just anyone can be an angel investor, though. I myself have served as an angel investor for some companies. Self-funding or “bootstrapping.”.

Angel Investor 104

Angel Investor Accredited Investor Bootstrapping Boston 104

Austin Startup

FEBRUARY 13, 2019

But every startup’s journey towards getting to the Series A point is certainly unique in its own way, and when I reflect on what it took to reach this goal, there were four key strategies, related to raising funds and seeking out investors, that really set us up for successes and helped us get there not just faster, but smarter.

Strategic Investors 49

Strategic Investors Austin Angel Investor Bootstrapping 49

crowdSPRING Blog

JANUARY 25, 2010

Nor was there a widely established network of Angels with a track record of supporting local companies. Our hurdle was to develop our own network of investors and we did this the old-fashioned way: one degree of separation at a time. Finally, recruiting talented workers has been an ongoing concern.

Chicago 81

Chicago Silicon Valley Bootstrapping Entrepreneur 81

Professor VC

MAY 29, 2008

What does it take to be an Angel Investor? To the SEC, it means that you are an accredited investor and To the man (or woman) on the street, a minimum qualification would seem to be an interest and ability to invest in early stage ventures. I think this sentiment has given angel groups a bad name. Bootstrapping 101.

Angel Investor 28

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor San Jose 28

Up and Running

JULY 1, 2015

Bootstrapping. Personally funding your startup doesn’t have to mean using your own money to pay for the initial startup costs and development of your business. Many entrepreneurs use bootstrapping, which means financing your company by scraping together funds in unconventional ways.

Bootstrapping 60

Bootstrapping Angel Investor Venture Capital Finder 60

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2018

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Separately at this stage, you may look for small funding amounts from angel investors , called seed investments. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

Incubator 236

Incubator Exit Strategy Institutional Investors Angel Investor 236

Gust

JUNE 19, 2012

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping your growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Now, with open source software components, and low-cost development tools, the same job can be done by one good hacker for a few thousand dollars. June 17th, 2012.

Startup 180

Startup Forecast Angel Investor Software 180

Version One Ventures

JULY 22, 2014

Additionally, we need to watch out for two developments on the horizon. And, we should expect angel activity to drop as new angels discover that returns from their seed investments aren’t so easy to come by. That’s okay: many great companies have been built by bootstrapping. Is your opportunity at least $100M?

Finance 167

Finance Seed Money Bootstrapping Angel Investor 167

Tim Keane

MARCH 9, 2011

Startups and angels: Along the way to success. By Tim Keane, Angel Investor, Golden Angels Investors, LLC.   And – they can be avoided if both parties – investors and entrepreneurs – are knowledgeable and well-informed about each others’ goals and interests. « Leaving a Trail | Main. |

Finance 83

Finance Bootstrapping Startup Equity 83

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2018

Find a major customer, or a complimentary business, who sees such value in your idea that they are willing to give you an advance on royalty payments to complete your development. Apply to local angel investor groups. Variations on this theme include early licensing or white-labeling agreements. Fund your startup yourself.

Entrepreneur 240

Entrepreneur Equity Small Business Administration SBA 240

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2010

When I get funded,” the entrepreneur thinks, “I can build a prototype, hire a development team, go to market, scale more quickly, and beat my competition.” She is a true angel investor, and has helped package and secure funding for many high-tech startup companies in the area. I always tell them to forget it.

Advisory Board 233

Advisory Board Cofounder Phoenix Arizona 233