Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Angel investors come from a variety of ages, backgrounds, and professions. I’m not your average angel. I’m not active in an angel group. I live in a small town surrounded by farms and I made my first angel investment at 29 because my dad said it was a good idea. million people qualify as accredited investors.

Angel Investor 159

Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review Accredited Investor 159

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2020

As an angel investor, I quickly learned that luck has very little to do with it, and I now look for some personal characteristics and leadership styles that separate the potential winners from the losers. These differences are the reason that investors say that they invest in people, rather than ideas. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 308

Technical Review Kentucky Due Diligence Japan 308

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than angel investors or professional investors (VCs). In fact, most investors “require” that you already have some investment from friends and family before they will even step up to the plate.

Technical Review 338

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor 338

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 11, 2023

It is necessary to cover the early stages of product development, thorough market research, and other processes during the initial step. The concept of “seed funding” originates from the metaphor of growing a tree, in which the seed represents the initial component required to move forward with developing a business.

Seed Stage 124

Seed Stage Technical Review Early Stage Due Diligence 124

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

Private equity and venture capital investors are copying our sisters in the hedge fund world: we’re trying to automate more of our job. . When I met my now-wife, I realized that any technology that can find me a spouse is a killer app. This provides us more time to develop meaningful relationships with prospects and customers.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78

Up and Running

JULY 6, 2016

Often, a business plan introduces a new technology that requires some explaining. On one hand, as a reader of business plans for investors, I see way too many business plans that ask a reader to wade neck-deep through technology to get to the business. Establish technology as a differentiator, when it is.

Technical Review 72

Technical Review Software Review Business Plan Development Team Review 72

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 152

Technical Review Software Review Illinois Due Diligence 152

Up and Running

DECEMBER 22, 2015

Angel investors can teach you a lot about money, whether or not you’re seeking funding from them. I’ve seen this over and over in my dealings as a member of a local angel investment group. What we do at the Willamette Angel Conference is the rule, not the exception. We don’t just reject startups; we explain why.

Angel Investor 60

Angel Investor IRR Software Review Startup 60

Gust

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

So how do angel investors fall on this question? My bias, as an angel investor: other things being equal, yes. For example, it’s good to see medical degrees for the biomed businesses and pharmaceuticals, and physics for the clean tech. Angel investors are all individuals. Why waste your time studying?

Angel Investor 101

Angel Investor Software Review Technical Review Engineer 101

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2012

As an Angel investor, I quickly learned that luck has very little to do with it, and I now look for some personal characteristics and leadership styles that separate the potential winners from the losers. These differences are the reason that investors say that they invest in people, rather than ideas. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 332

Technical Review Entrepreneur Kentucky Due Diligence 332

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2013

As an Angel investor, I quickly learned that luck has very little to do with it, and I now look for some personal characteristics and leadership styles that separate the potential winners from the losers. These differences are the reason that investors say that they invest in people, rather than ideas. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 278

Technical Review Entrepreneur Kentucky Due Diligence 278

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

My business partner and I made many mistakes in our first tech startup, and so many of them were the result of choosing a lawyer who was a terrible fit. 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

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 24, 2013

“The reality is that there has not been a reliable, simple, or cost-effective way to calculate an early stage company’s valuation – which is why so many entrepreneurs and angel investors get it wrong,” says Alan Lobock, co-founder of Worthworm. ” Ideaspotting investment pre-money valuation valuation Worthworm'

Pre-Money Valuation 150

Pre-Money Valuation Web Technical Review Angel Investor 150

Growthink Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2017

And the desire to raise capital (whether from an individual “angel” investor or a venture capital firm) is often the key motivator in the business planning process. But how exactly will your business plan persuade investors to sign a check? Such analysis will relieve investor concern and enhance the plan’s credibility.

Venture Capital 129

Venture Capital Business Plan Technical Review Private Placement 129

The Equity Kicker

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Two developments have changed the face of startup investing in the UK in recent years. The first development is increased capital efficiency. The second development is SEIS and EIS. I wrote the post below for Crowdcube , one of the UK’s leading equity crowdfuding sites. It went up on their blog yesterday. _.

Early Stage 119

Early Stage Development Team Review Technical Review Software Review 119

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2014

Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than Angel investors or professional investors (VCs). In fact, most investors “require” that you already have some investment from friends and family before they will even step up to the plate.

Technical Review 266

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Startup 266

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

This post describes how companies using the Customer Development model can increase their credibility, valuation and probability of getting a first round of funding by presenting their results in a “Lesson Learned&# venture pitch. Knowing this venture firms have come up with a canonical checklist of what they would like to see.

Customer Development 262

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 262

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2013

Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than Angel investors or professional investors (VCs). In fact, most investors “require” that you already have some investment from friends and family before they will even step up to the plate.

Technical Review 273

Technical Review Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Due Diligence 273

Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2011

How Much Diligence is Due.Or 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. Not exactly extensive diligence. Labels: angel investing , Black Swan.

Technical Review 31

Technical Review Due Diligence Silicon Valley San Jose 31

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

As an angel investor, I quickly learned that luck has very little to do with it, and I now look for some personal characteristics and leadership styles that separate the potential winners from the losers. These differences are the reason that investors say that they invest in people, rather than ideas. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Kentucky Due Diligence Japan 120

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Also, high-tech high-growth startups have access to investment funding that would not be available to stable, established businesses that show only slow growth. Investors will look first to a summary , and then a pitch ; but if you get through that screening, they’ll want to see a business plan for the process of due diligence.

SBA 161

SBA Venture Capital Angel Investor Technical Review 161

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

I have a vivid memory of bombing a pitch that I was delivering to a group of angel investors in Seattle. Offend your investors by over using acronyms and technical terms. One investor told me that if his 80 year old grandmother couldn’t understand it in less than two minutes, he’s not interested. Make s**t up!

Hockey Stick 114

Hockey Stick Technical Review Due Diligence Seattle 114

The Startup Magazine

JULY 26, 2017

Waccal has officially launched its social community platform which startups and investors can use to compare ideas, seek funding and manage portfolios and due diligence processes. Waccal joins the ranks of companies like Angel List and Crunchbase, which aim to democratize and simplify startup investing.

Technical Review 62

Technical Review Community Due Diligence Angel Groups 62

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2011

Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than angel investors or professional investors (VCs). In fact, most investors “require” that you already have some investment from friends and family before they will even step up to the plate.

Early Stage 247

Early Stage Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence 247

VC Cafe

JULY 5, 2010

Janvest , a new seed fund of $5 million backed by American angel investors and chaired by the former head of the Mossad (Danny Yatom), saw an opportunity to fill the gap by making offering US-based angel investors the opportunity to tap into the Israeli startup industry. Our aim is to connect U.S.-based

Technical Review 106

Technical Review Software Review Seed Stage 106

This is going to be BIG.

NOVEMBER 22, 2013

Something isn''t going to go your way--product development, hiring, revenues. Angel investor Jeff Stewart once told me that either the product takes twice as long and costs three times as much to build as your plan, or takes three times as long to build and costs twice as much--you just don''t know which one. I wish they had.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor Venture Capital 118

Up and Running

MAY 10, 2013

Yesterday’s Willamette Angel Conference (WAC) 2013 event invested more than $465,000 in four Oregon startups, highlighted by more than $250,000 in Portland-based Sonivate , which has developed a fingertip-mounted ultrasound probe that enables imaging while leaving both hands free to do work with simultaneous tactile feedback. .

Software Review 69

Software Review Oregon Portland Technical Review 69

Gust

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Individual accredited investors in typical angel deals put personal capital at risk for an equity share of growth-oriented, start-up companies. These angel investors generally invest $25,000 to $100,000 in a round totaling $250,000 to $1,000,000. A local network of angels is critical to achieving a diversified portfolio.

Valuation 146

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Intellectual Property Technical Review 146

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2010

Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than angel investors or professional investors (VCs). In fact, most investors “require” that you already have some investment from friends and family before they will even step up to the plate.

Technical Review 233

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor 233

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

Investors who commit early deserve to have a lower price. I argued it in my post on how social proof helps fund raising with angel investors. “what you really need to get an angel round together are your “anchor tenants.” Tags: Raising Venture Capital Startup Advice Tech Market Analysis Term Sheets.

Finance 286

Finance Term Sheet Technical Review Warrant 286

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

However, being able to say, “I’m at $400,000 on a $500,000 raise, and we’ve got room for one or two more investors,” is a powerful statement to a prospective angel investor since most investors love to be part of an oversubscribed round. Additionally, be specific in your financial numbers.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Term Sheet Technical Review Due Diligence 100

Gust

JULY 12, 2012

The goal was to share our experiences in the realm of angel investing with an array of global audiences, by participating in various lectures, discussions and workshops. In all four countries we met passionate entrepreneurs who were eager to discuss their exciting startups, as well as angel investors looking to support them.

Community 121

Community Estonia Ireland Finland 121

The Next Web

MAY 4, 2013

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Stefano Bernardi, who is on the founding team of Betable , where he heads Customer Development. He is a part-time hacker, angel investor, and product advisor, and was selected from more than 300 people to “shadow” Dave McClure at 500 Startups. Reference Checks. Join an accelerator.

San Francisco 159

San Francisco Europe Technical Review Due Diligence 159

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

If you’re raising money for your company and you want to pitch to angel investors or venture capitalists , then there are a few important things to know that savvy investors care about. Investors want to know that you are aware of your industry, as well as where you go to find data to stay on top of industry trends.

Software Review 147

Software Review Technical Review Due Diligence Exit Strategy 147

VC Cafe

JULY 30, 2012

The good ones would tell you that they have developed a “pattern recognition” After a while, they are able to determine (at least in their own minds) what startups would succeed or fail. I’m writing today to share my recommendations with all who have enquired, and with the broader group of VC Cafe readers.

Technical Review 113

Technical Review Startup Equity Due Diligence 113

Up and Running

APRIL 23, 2012

The majority of investors are bombarded with business plans and PowerPoint presentations, yet most of the investments they actually make are via personal referrals or long standing relationships with an entrepreneur they know. Most investors are NOT backed by LP’s or institutional money. Presenting the formal plan comes later.

Non-disclosure Agreement 98

Non-disclosure Agreement Technical Review NDA Due Diligence 98

Up and Running

MARCH 11, 2015

” Our featured speaker was Caroline Cummings, the VP of Business Development at Palo Alto Software. As the former co-founder and CEO of two technology companies, Caroline has experienced both start-up failures and successes, and has raised close to $1 million in investment capital. Pretend that you are the investor.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Software Review Due Diligence Exit Strategy 60