Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. It won’t work, it costs time and money, and hurts your credibility when you need them later. They are not trying to make money, but simply to recoup their costs over time.

Incubator 429

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 429

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2022

One of the big questions that every entrepreneur struggles with is how much funding they should request from investors in the first round. Here is where projections of cost, pricing, volumes and cash flow are critical. If you have a good idea, but haven’t started yet, only friends, family and fools will likely be interested.

Preferred Stock 304

Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity Angel Investor 304

Gust

DECEMBER 16, 2012

ABC Shark Tank Angels via Elite Daily. Every new startup I know dreams of being funded early by one of the 318,000 active Angel investors in the USA alone. They must amplify your “elevator pitch” to investors, as well as key points from the business plan and the financial model. Build a prototype product.

Angel Investor 179

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Groups 179

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

You can’t underestimate the importance of selecting an attorney who “gets” your business model, your market opportunity, and most importantly, your fundraising and exit strategy. We developed a kick-ass investor pitch and we started pitching it to family, friends, angel investors, and even venture capitalists for feedback.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Up and Running

JANUARY 2, 2013

I know what it’s like to pitch to investors – both angels and venture capitalists. I’ve raised close to $1 million from angel investors for my previous technology start-ups. Sometimes you only get 10 minutes to pitch your business opportunity to the investors (or less in some cases).

Hockey Stick 164

Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Due Diligence 164

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2020

One of the big questions that every entrepreneur struggles with is how much funding they should request from investors in the first round. Here is where projections of cost, pricing, volumes and cash flow are critical. If you have a good idea, but haven’t started yet, only friends, family and fools will likely be interested.

Startup 337

Startup Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity 337

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 22, 2019

A traditional bank loan is one of the first sources most entrepreneurs turn to. Many entrepreneurs ask their friends and family to invest in their business venture. You can ask them to become equity investors in your business or you can ask them to extend a business loan. But this will cost you in terms of control.

Finance 194

Finance Small Business Angel Investor Exit Strategy 194

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2013

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. It won’t work, it costs time and money, and hurts your credibility when you need them later. They are not trying to make money, but simply to recoup their costs over time. Marty Zwilling.

Incubator 256

Incubator Entrepreneur Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 256

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2018

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. It won’t work, it costs time and money, and hurts your credibility when you need them later. They are not trying to make money, but simply to recoup their costs over time.

Incubator 236

Incubator Exit Strategy Institutional Investors Angel Investor 236

Up and Running

AUGUST 19, 2014

Got a question for one of the angel investors mentioned below? Today is Ask an Angel day! Tips from real angel investors about how to impress them and stand out from the crowd. Many angels are entrepreneurs themselves, or executives and business or community leaders. How Angels Invest.

Angel Investor 161

Angel Investor Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 161

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

As an occasional angel investor, I always ask for a business pitch to get me in the mood. I’m still amazed at how many technical entrepreneurs don’t have a business pitch, and offer me their product pitch or product spec instead. Business model showing costs, pricing, and margins. But it’s critical to have one.

Product 145

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Exit Strategy 145

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2014

Most entrepreneurs struggle with financial projections, not wanting to commit to numbers they can’t deliver, and having no clue what investors might consider reasonable. Here are some basic “rules of thumb” that every Angel or venture capital equity investor uses, to help you anticipate their reactions. Marty Zwilling.

Liquidity Event 249

Liquidity Event Equity Venture Capital Merger 249

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2016

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. It won’t work, it costs time and money, and hurts your credibility when you need them later. They are not trying to make money, but simply to recoup their costs over time.

Incubator 120

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2013

Most entrepreneurs struggle with financial projections, not wanting to commit to numbers they can’t deliver, and having no clue what investors might consider reasonable. Here are some basic “rules of thumb” that every Angel or venture capital equity investor uses, to help you anticipate their reactions. Marty Zwilling.

Liquidity Event 243

Liquidity Event Startup Equity Venture Capital 243

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2012

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. It won’t work, it costs time and money, and hurts your credibility for when you need them later. They are not trying to make money, but simply to recoup their costs over time.

Incubator 237

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 237

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Exit strategy. This section is only required when you expect outside investors.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2016

Most entrepreneurs I know are so passionate about their new idea that they are surprised when family and friends don’t line up to invest in their new venture. Yet they tend to ignore this problem, and move on quickly to professional investors. Demos and prototypes are key. Demonstrate your own financial commitment and progress.

Elevator Pitch 151

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Angel Investor Equity 151

The Next Web

DECEMBER 31, 2013

While entrepreneurship and startups have spread tremendously in Europe, a lot of aspiring young entrepreneurs leave Europe for the United States. Very little will stop a true entrepreneur from trying to reach his or her goals, including uprooting their entire life and moving it across the ocean to optimize their chances of success.

Europe 149

Europe Government Silicon Valley Entrepreneur 149

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2015

As an angel investor, I hear many entrepreneurs making negative comments about competitors or asserting they don’t have any competitors. Investors invest in people who take action rather than find the excuses that patents are not defensible, cost money or may be done later.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Exit Strategy Angel Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Exit strategy. This section is only required when you expect outside investors.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2011

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. It won’t work, it costs time and money, and hurts your credibility for when you need them later. They are not trying to make money, but simply to recoup their costs over time.

Startup 230

Startup Incubator Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 230

Gust

AUGUST 10, 2014

Most entrepreneurs struggle with financial projections, not wanting to commit to numbers they cant deliver, and having no clue what investors might consider reasonable. Here are some basic rules of thumb that every Angel or venture capital equity investor uses, to help you anticipate their reactions.

Liquidity Event 176

Liquidity Event Equity Venture Capital Merger 176

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2015

One of the big questions that every entrepreneur struggles with is how much funding they should request from investors in the first round. Here is where projections of cost, pricing, volumes and cash flow are critical. entrepreneur funding request investors startup stage'

Preferred Stock 120

Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity Angel Investor 120

Gust

AUGUST 5, 2012

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Exit strategy. This section is only required when you expect outside investors.

Business Plan 182

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 182

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Exit strategy. This section is only required when you expect outside investors.

Business Plan 186

Business Plan Exit Strategy Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 186

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2013

is already well above the dot.com bubble of 15 years ago, although we have slipped a bit this year from the high point of 320 new entrepreneurs out of 100,000 adults in 2011. Thus a record number of entrepreneurs (and employees) are getting rich. Initial Public Offerings (IPO) are back as an exit strategy.

IPO 273

IPO Entrepreneur Social Media Startup 273

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

The approach I recommend is to build the investor presentation first, by iterating on the bullets with your team, and then fleshing out the points into a full-blown text-based business plan document. Explain in analogies your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Exit strategy.

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2013

How do you as an entrepreneur with a new idea get to be one of those choices? Initially, you may be able to rely on friends and family to put you on the top of their list, but eventually you will probably need real professional investors (Angels and VCs). Angel investors look for prior domain and startup experience.

Angel Investor 269

Angel Investor Cram Down Intellectual Property Venture Capital 269

www.inc.com

JULY 9, 2010

Related Tools "At Will" Policy Employment Application Required and Recommended Posters and Handouts Suggested Links Twitters Capital City is New York, Report Finds JetBlues Terminal Five: Overrated The High Cost of Cyber Attacks Employees are valuable. 500|5000 The 2010 Inc. 500|5000 List The 2010 Top Lists Inc. So are referrals.

Intellectual Property 55

Intellectual Property Los Angeles San Francisco New York 55

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

As an entrepreneur, you will face several challenges while seeking the funds, in part because you’ll have to convince others that your idea is a solid investment. This means being able to increase profits without increasing costs at an equal (or higher) rate. However, sourcing enough money to start your new venture can be difficult.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

According to the latest Kaufman Startup Activity Index , entrepreneurs are making an unprecedented comeback in America, with data showing the largest year-over-year increase in two decades. Thus a record number of entrepreneurs (and employees) are getting rich. Initial Public Offerings (IPO) are back as an exit strategy.

IPO 120

IPO Angel Investor Startup Incubator 120

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

Small investment firms often have interns and entrepreneurs in residence passing through, each of which is a security risk. Chris Dixon, Partner, A16Z, observes , “Success in VC is probably 10% about picking, and 90% about sourcing the right deals and having entrepreneurs choose your firm as a partner”. 2) Market .

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78

Gust

DECEMBER 23, 2011

Similarly, start calling VCs if your customer acquisition costs can only be recaptured over a substantial period of time. Get those pitchbooks ready if your idea is not genuinely defensible except by being the first kid in the pool and creating a network effect, or dominant brand, before others do.

Intellectual Property 127

Intellectual Property Balance Sheet Dilution Bootstrapping 127

Up and Running

MARCH 11, 2015

I’ve pitched in taxi cabs, I’ve pitched on street corners, in board rooms, on stage in front of 400 angel investors. The opportunity when I got to pitch on stage in front of 400 angel investors was for the largest angel investor conference in the Pacific northwest called Angel Oregon, and we competed with 60 other companies.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Software Review Due Diligence Exit Strategy 60

Up and Running

MAY 22, 2018

The show has been around for a while; entrepreneur contestants pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of investors—the “sharks”—in hopes that one of them will want to invest in their idea. However, for those entrepreneurs, a whole new struggle begins after the show ends. Remember, a shorter span impresses the investors.

Exit Strategy 90

Exit Strategy Angel Investor Search Elevator Pitch 90

Small Business Force

OCTOBER 22, 2017

As an entrepreneur with multiple startups I founded; as CEO or senior executive of several small companies that either were public or went public; as an investment banker for dozens of small business clients; as an angel investor in various startups and small business opportunities. Less dilution! Not using professional help.

Entrepreneur 25

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Valuation Investment Bankers 25

Up and Running

AUGUST 16, 2017

In order to ensure that a business idea is sound, entrepreneurs should search for product validation by reaching out to their target consumers before sinking huge amounts of time and money into the project. No exit strategy for firing lazy co-founders. Anyone who has started a company knows that team conflicts are inevitable.

Business Plan 127

Business Plan Hockey Stick Cofounder Salary 127