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7 Startup Costs That You Assume With Outside Funding

Startup Professionals Musings

One of the myths I often hear as an advisor to many entrepreneurs is that their lifestyle would somehow be better if they could more easily find other people’s money to build their startup. Most entrepreneurs never forget for a moment that having investors means owing money, even if they can legally argue that equity is not debt.

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Entrepreneurs Court New Super-Angel Investors

Startup Professionals Musings

Due to the struggling economy as well, traditional individual Angel investors haven’t been able to fill the gap. It’s higher risk, but higher return, to pick the big winners early, before Angels have set unreasonable valuations and restrictive terms. Technology costs are plummeting, meaning you can do more with less.

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10 Strategies To Cover New Product Development Costs

Startup Professionals Musings

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capitalists) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. That includes estimating the money required to get to the revenue stage, and saving money to cover costs before you jump off the cliff.

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10 Keys To Surviving Startup Cash Flow Requirements

Startup Professionals Musings

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. That includes estimating the money required to get to the revenue stage, and saving money to cover costs before you jump off the cliff.

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How Much Should You Personally Cover for Startup Costs?

Up and Running

Securing investment dollars is often the number one priority for entrepreneurs when starting a business. Many will seek outside support—angel investors, personal investors, venture capitalists, and peer-to-peer lenders generally top the list. Pros and cons of using your own money for startup costs.

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10 Attributes Of The Perfect Partner For Your Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

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. Believe in similar values and goals.

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10 Common Startup Mistakes That Are Rarely Admitted

Startup Professionals Musings

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. It’s important to learn from your own mistakes, but it’s even smarter to learn from someone else’s mistakes, without paying their high price in time lost, cost, and pain.