Steve Blank

OCTOBER 31, 2014

The trap most of them fell into (common almost everywhere): they were reading the blog posts and advice of Silicon Valley-based companies and believing that it uniformly applied to them. But other critical hypotheses such as activities, resources, partners, channels needed testing offshore. It doesn’t. Born Global or Die Local.

Global 335

Global Australia Silicon Valley China 335

Steve Blank

JANUARY 20, 2014

When Customer Development and the Lean Startup were just a sketch on the napkin, Dino Vendetti, a VC at Bay Partners, was one of the first venture capitalists I shared my ideas with. The differences between the Bend, Oregon region and Silicon Valley are obvious. Job creation in Bend is everyone’s business.

Silicon Valley 312

Silicon Valley Oregon Lean Venture Capital 312

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 6, 2022

Steve is the CEO of Founders Space, one of the world’s leading startup accelerators with over 50 partners in 22 countries. Steve is also the author of Surviving a Startup: Practical Strategies for Starting a Business, Overcoming Obstacles, and Coming Out on Top. How do you put together an investor deck? You put it out there.

San Francisco 97

San Francisco Technical Review Incubator Silicon Valley 97

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2014

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over 60 times as many companies, according the Center for Venture Research. Individual angel investors have been filling the gap, and now match VCs in total amount invested.

Angel Investor 260

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Startup Portfolio 260

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Unless you are a serial entrepreneur with a string of successes behind you, you need a business plan to convince investors that you can build a business out of the dream that has been driving your passion to change the world. Provide details on the business model and cash flow. Skip the acronyms and jargon.

Elevator Pitch 163

Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Silicon Valley Revenue 163

Steve Blank

JUNE 1, 2011

Reinventing the board meeting may offer venture-backed startups a more efficient, productive way to direct and measure their search for a profitable business model. Silicon Valley, New York). Yet boards of large companies exist to monitor efficient strategy and execution of a known business model.

Silicon Valley 290

Silicon Valley Business Model Venture Capital Balance Sheet 290

Steve Blank

JUNE 1, 2011

Reinventing the board meeting may offer venture-backed startups a more efficient, productive way to direct and measure their search for a profitable business model. Silicon Valley, New York). Yet boards of large companies exist to monitor efficient strategy and execution of a known business model.

Silicon Valley 258

Silicon Valley Business Model Venture Capital Balance Sheet 258

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2016

Based on my years of experience in both startups and large companies, trusted relationships are more the key to success than a great business model, how smart you are, or how much money you have. Don’t wait for the right people in business to find you – developers, investors, partners, or key customers.

Silicon Valley 120

Silicon Valley Bandwidth Angel Investor Equity 120

Steve Blank

AUGUST 5, 2010

When I first came to Silicon Valley the world of Venture Capital looked pretty simple. VC’s invested in things that ran on electrons: hardware, software and silicon. The VC business took off with the rapid growth of the semiconductor business. Lean Angels. Here’s why. Electron-based Venture Capital.

Lean 258

Lean Internet Silicon Valley Venture Capital 258

The Next Web

OCTOBER 15, 2012

The main observation of differences between Silicon Valley and emerging tech hubs in the rest of the world is access to early stage seed funding and international press. Many startups are Silicon Valley clones. Startups are up to Silicon Valley standards.

Silicon Valley 148

Silicon Valley Tanzania Chile Rwanda 148

Professor VC

MARCH 10, 2009

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. 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. Kennet has a white paper on that summarizes why bootstrapped businesses are the best.

Bootstrapping 28

Bootstrapping San Jose Silicon Valley Software Review 28

Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2011

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. are investors better just rolling the dice. Ive addressed the due diligence question in previous posts, but this came up again in a debate we were having at a recent meeting of the Sand Hill Angels. What does it take to be an Angel Investor? ProfessorVC. work at home.

Technical Review 31

Technical Review Due Diligence Silicon Valley San Jose 31

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 13, 2011

Reinventing the board meeting may offer venture-backed startups a more efficient, productive way to direct and measure their search for a profitable business model. Silicon Valley, New York). Yet boards of large companies exist to monitor efficient strategy and execution of a known business model.

Silicon Valley 117

Silicon Valley Balance Sheet Metrics Early Stage 117

Professor VC

APRIL 7, 2011

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. My partner in Menlo Incubator , Gary Kremen , and I had a recent debate on which one of us hates convertible debt more. What does it take to be an Angel Investor? I am an active angel investor and on the board of Sand Hill Angels. ProfessorVC. ► July.

San Jose 36

San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor Valuation 36

Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2008

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. In addition to the case study analysis, the students also have the opportunity to develop a business model and financial model for a new concept, which always proves a lot more challenging. I thought about the differences a lot when I spent several years as a venture partner.

San Jose 28

San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor Venture Capital 28

Professor VC

JANUARY 17, 2008

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. Touched by an Angel. I think the title of this post is a TV show, but fitting as there has been much debate in the venture community as to the whether angel investors are good or bad for entrepreneurs and VCs. What would the VC corollary to Touched by an Angel, be.

Pre-Money Valuation 28

Pre-Money Valuation Angel Investor Angel Groups Valuation 28

Professor VC

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. If you are not transparent with your investors, you won't raise money the second time around, regardless of whether you were successful or not successful the first time. While Silicon Valley covers a large amount of turf, it is very small. ProfessorVC. June 3, 2010 9:50 AM.

San Jose 43

San Jose Silicon Valley Las Vegas Venture Capital 43

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Chasing funding versus chasing customers and a repeatable and scalable business model, is one reason startups fail. Is there a profitable business model? The Traditional VC Pitch Entrepreneurs who pursue the traditional product development model don’t have customer data to answer these questions. Can it scale?”

Customer Development 262

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 262

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 12, 2008

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. Once the point is reached where you want to move ahead, we put the sales hat on and convince our partners about the incredible opportunity that we are lucky enough to be able to invest on the ground floor. What does it take to be an Angel Investor? ProfessorVC. Buyers Remorse.

San Jose 31

San Jose Technical Review Venture Capital Angel Investor 31

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2013

If your startup is looking for an Angel investor, does it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of Angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up? In reality, hitting large numbers of Angels in multiple locations with a generic pitch is one of the least productive approaches. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 252

Angel Investor Accredited Investor Silicon Valley Venture Capital 252

VC Cafe

JUNE 29, 2012

You’re in Silicon valley, competing against the best of the best. Kevin – consumer Internet plays, often times they don’t have a business model. Kevin – different angel investors put money in things that they are passionate about. Should I move to Silicon Valley? .

Developer 103

Developer Silicon Valley Software Review Mexico 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2012

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, does it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up? In reality, hitting large numbers of angels in multiple locations with a generic pitch is one of the least productive approaches.

Angel Investor 245

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Exit Strategy Boston 245

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

few years ago I also started following Alexander Osterwalder in his blog about his Business Model Generation -mantra. Naturally, a big part of the go-to-market includes partnering with other players in the market. Build Your Own Silicon Valley? Your First Iteration of an Idea Will Be Wrong. same as the old boss.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Technology Product CTO Hire 175

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2011

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, does it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up? In reality, hitting large numbers of angels in multiple locations with a generic pitch is one of the least productive approaches.

Angel Investor 244

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Exit Strategy 244

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

Luckily, I teach with two great VCs, Mar Hershenson of Pear Ventures and Jeff Epstein of Bessemer Venture Partners who both put together presentations unraveling the mysteries of how and why startups raise money. Series B is about proving your net revenue model (can you be profitable?). Business Model.

Cofounder 429

Cofounder Seed Stage Valuation Metrics 429

Professor VC

JANUARY 17, 2008

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. Ok, so I think Im the last guy in Silicon Valley to start a blog. I put up my Bodega Partners web site in 1995 and it served its purpose for a number of years, but I just didnt spend the energy to keep it current and finally just took it down last month. ProfessorVC. at 3:10 PM.

Silicon Valley 31

Silicon Valley San Jose Angel Investor Venture Capital 31

Up and Running

MARCH 21, 2016

But, what if your startup is a good candidate, but you’re having trouble getting meetings and convincing investors that your company is the next big thing? Here are 11 tips from the Young Entrepreneur Council that will help you attract the eye of an angel investor or a VC, and make your business a more appealing investment.

Cofounder 60

Cofounder Metrics Angel Investor Silicon Valley 60

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 26, 2010

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. My first reaction is incredulity that limited partners would buy into this idea. My colleague, Anu Basu , Director of the Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurship at San Jose State , recently completed a paper on this topic, "Does Experience Matter? ProfessorVC. ► July.

San Jose 28

San Jose Silicon Valley Venture Capital Angel Investor 28

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. Nope, the above quote isnt from Richard Dawson on Family Feud, but similar to a headline that caught my attention on the front page of the business section of the San Jose Mercury News this morning. I was a limited partner in Angel Investors, LP, Ron Conways fund in the late 1990s.

San Jose 33

San Jose Angel Investor Venture Capital Mezzanine 33

Professor VC

JANUARY 20, 2009

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. million from Lighthouse Capital Partners , which ultimately became critical to our balance sheet and they turned out to be a great partner as we worked through the equity financing process. Our lead investor, Triangle Peak Partners closed on a $170 million first fund in late 2008.

Venture Capital 28

Venture Capital Silicon Valley San Jose Bootstrapping 28

Up and Running

MAY 23, 2016

The one-page pitch format is also more suitable for SaaS businesses that are constantly testing new ideas. Your pitch is going to cover your strategy (what you’re going to do), your tactics (how you’re going to do it), your business model (how you will make money), and your schedule (who is doing what and when).

Software Review 74

Software Review Software Delaware Forecast 74

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 26, 2008

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. CFOs - More Guardian, Less Angel? The article, " More Guardian, Less Angel " discusses how CFOs add value to angel groups by helping to kill deals. The article, " More Guardian, Less Angel " discusses how CFOs add value to angel groups by helping to kill deals.

Angel Groups 28

Angel Groups San Jose Early Stage Angel Investor 28

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2017

Innovation doesn’t always make you a winner in business. In my role as an angel investor in startups, almost every pitch I see highlights some real innovation in technology, business model, or market opportunity. Billion-dollar businesses are seldom about a single transaction with any customer.

Silicon Valley 136

Silicon Valley Differentiation Angel Investor Incubator 136

maplebutter.com

JANUARY 8, 2013

What is the best advice you can give for finding a business partner? Don’t quickly choose any business partner. What is your advice for dealing with criticism when starting/launching a new business or coming up with an idea? Should the idea or business be kept secret? How should I approach an angel investor?

Technical Review 44

Technical Review Startup Cofounder Software Review 44

techcrunch.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

In Meebo’s case, for example, I was lucky enough to partner up with Elaine and Sandy. No looking for partnerships (who’s going to partner with you anyway?). Trust me, once you’ve launched and achieved traction, you’ll have your pick of mentors, VCs, partners and all the legal expenses you need. No phone system. No legal muck.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Cofounder Technical Cofounder Software Review 84

www.chubbybrain.com

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

At the end, I asked myself what are the most critical resources I need to be successful and the answer was partners and developers. For four years we have offered the synchronization service for no charge, predicated on the hypothesis that a business model would emerge to support the free service. Company : Untitled Partners.

Software Review 79

Software Review Startup Technical Review Vesting 79

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Many experienced partners are funds have 7-10 boards and most of these will need more capital. Can Investors Spook the Market into Falling? “10 angel investors walk into a bar …” Do you remember AngelGate at Bin38 ? This is how VCs feel. So when prices go down their first reaction is, “S**t.

Valuation 150

Valuation Down Round Startup Later Stage 150