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. In fact, I would broaden the definition of partner from co-founder to “business partner.” The challenge is to recognize and recruit that ideal partner match early with minimal cost and risk.

Partner 385

Partner Software Review CTO Hire Cofounder 385

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 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

NOVEMBER 12, 2022

As an angel investor and a mentor to entrepreneurs I still see this every day. Since language and implication have changed a bit since then, I’ll restate Carnegie and Hill’s original principles here, with my own current-day commentary and recommendations added: Definiteness of purpose.

Technical Review 297

Technical Review Angel Investor Differentiation Business Model 297

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

Business Plan Blog

DECEMBER 12, 2013

Angel Investors vs. Angel Groups. What is an angel investor? Angels are often former or current entrepreneurs themselves, as well as business professionals and corporate leaders. About 225,000 people have made an angel investment in the last two years. Investments commonly run around $600,000.

Angel Groups 51

Angel Groups Angel Investor Software Review Accredited Investor 51

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

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

Business Plan Blog

DECEMBER 12, 2013

Angel Investors vs. Angel Groups. What is an angel investor? Angels are often former or current entrepreneurs themselves, as well as business professionals and corporate leaders. About 225,000 people have made an angel investment in the last two years. Investments commonly run around $600,000.

Angel Groups 40

Angel Groups Angel Investor Software Review Accredited Investor 40

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 22, 2019

The question of venture capitalist versus angel investor often arises. Venture capital and angel investments offer excellent options to startup businesses. Investor Involvement. They are less likely than angel investors to provide capital to companies that don’t have at least some proven success in their markets.

Angel Investor 123

Angel Investor Venture Capital Accredited Investor Equity 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

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 316

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 316

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

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2020

As an angel investor and a mentor to entrepreneurs I still see this every day. Since language and implication have changed a bit since then, I’ll restate Carnegie and Hill’s original principles here, with my own current-day commentary and recommendations added: Definiteness of purpose.

Technical Review 315

Technical Review Angel Investor Differentiation Business Model 315

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2019

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. In fact, I would broaden the definition of partner from co-founder to “business partner.” The challenge is to recognize and recruit that ideal partner match early with minimal cost and risk.

Cofounder 221

Cofounder Software Review CTO Hire Founder 221

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

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

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

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 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

In fact, there are a few key sites to help you find angels, including AngelList and Gust , but these don’t tell you very much about how Angels work, and how to find the right ones for your startup. Here are eight key insights that will help you find a productive match: Angels want equity ownership, not causes.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Accredited Investor Venture Capital Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. The first is to be more precise in your definition and understanding of where you are, and how the money will be spent. Product verification and clinical trials.

Angel Investor 256

Angel Investor Early Stage Incubator Government 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

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.

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

Gust

OCTOBER 17, 2012

I began studying angel investing returns about 10 years ago as a result of a problem I couldn’t resolve: The investing world seemed certain that angel investors were rubes. And whenever they might come close to succeeding, savvy “professional” investors would just swoop in, cram them down, and win the real returns.

Angel Investor 152

Angel Investor Venture Capital Seed Stage Silicon Valley 152

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 13, 2013

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.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2017

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. In fact, I would broaden the definition of partner from co-founder to “business partner.” The challenge is to recognize and recruit that ideal partner match early with minimal cost and risk.

Partner 140

Partner Software Review CTO Hire Cofounder 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2021

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. The first is to be more precise in your definition and understanding of where you are, and how the money will be spent. Product verification and clinical trials.

Early Stage 412

Early Stage Angel Investor Incubator Government 412

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

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.

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 4, 2020

Think you might fit this definition of entrepreneurial success? What others may see as the end of a business or an opportunity, Necessity Entrepreneurs see as chal­lenges or setbacks to overcome. With people counting on them—their families and their employees’ families—they have to carry on. Just ask yourself these seven questions: 1.

Entrepreneur 205

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Silicon Valley Bandwidth 205

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2014

It’s your startup, so you can give early partners any title you want, but be aware of potential investor and peer implications. VCs and Angel investors like to see a startup that is running lean and mean, with no more than three or four of the conventional C-level or VP titles. Chief Diversity Officer. Chief Information Officer.

CTO Hire 252

CTO Hire Fractional CTO Angel Investor Public Relations 252

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2019

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?

Advisory Board 247

Advisory Board Angel Investor Database Institutional Investors 247

Growthink Blog

APRIL 15, 2014

While this might depict an "angel," it certainly is a far cry from the definition of an "angel investor." Below I define exactly what an "angel investor" is along with answers to the other most common angel investor questions. What is An Angel Investor? Who do you know?

Angel Investor 96

Angel Investor New Hampshire Angel Financing Stock 96

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

In fact, there are a few key sites to help you find angels, including AngelList and Gust , but these don’t tell you very much about how angels work, and how to find the right ones for your startup. Here are eight key insights that will help you find a productive match: Angels want equity ownership, not causes.

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Accredited Investor Syndicate Syndication 265

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2021

These resources are definitely not limited to students, since every university seeks out and needs the real world exposure and experience of entrepreneurs who already are active in the real world marketplace. I do volunteer work at both of these schools, and I’m not even an alumnus from either one.

Arizona 432

Arizona Phoenix Intellectual Property Incubator 432

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by the definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. By definition, Advisory Boards are voluntary and have no fiduciary responsibility. I suggest a few simple considerations will clarify the alternatives.

Advisory Board 348

Advisory Board IPO Angel Investor Acquisition 348

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

It’s your startup, so you can give early partners any title you want, but be aware of potential investor and peer implications. VCs and Angel investors like to see a startup that is running lean and mean, with no more than three or four of the conventional C-level or VP titles. Chief Diversity Officer. Chief Information Officer.

CTO Hire 244

CTO Hire Fractional CTO Startup Angel Investor 244

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 4, 2021

Not a new definition for the nonprofit sector. Not an investment opportunity for business investors. I still get inquiries about how to find angel investors and venture capitalist to kick-start a social enterprise. Business investors are looking for a high financial return, not social capital.

Entrepreneur 345

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Government Bootstrapping 345

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2021

In fact, there are a few key sites to help you find angels, including AngelList and Gust , but these don’t tell you very much about how angels work, and how to find the right ones for your startup. Here are eight key insights that will help you find a productive match: Angels want equity ownership, not causes.

Search 317

Search Accredited Investor Angel Investor Venture Capital 317

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

As an angel investor and a mentor to entrepreneurs I still see this every day. Since language and implication have changed a bit since then, I’ll restate Carnegie and Hill’s original rules here, with my own current-day commentary and recommendations added: Definiteness of purpose.

Technical Review 134

Technical Review Angel Investor Differentiation Business Model 134