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5 Key Success Attributes For An Aspiring Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

I know from experience that my friends who are angel investors are looking for the same indications, although none of us has a scorecard , or even know exactly what we are looking for. As an example, I worked with Bill Gates early on, but I fear he may have failed without partners Steve Ballmer and Paul Allen.

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7 Scenarios Where A Business Plan Is Still An Asset

Startup Professionals Musings

The size of the document should be based on your style, but 10-20 pages or slides are usually more than adequate to outline even a complex business. Most of these scenarios involve attracting outside investors, strategic partners, or key team members: You are the team and you don’t need outside funding.

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A Perspective On When A Business Plan Adds Value

Startup Professionals Musings

The size of the document should be based on your style, but 10-20 pages or slides are usually more than adequate to outline even a complex business. Most of these scenarios involve attracting outside investors, strategic partners, or key team members: You are the team and you don’t need outside funding.

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8 Steps To Starting A New Venture With Limited Funds

Startup Professionals Musings

Even the homework is easier, with free and mobile access through the Internet to more business assistance sources, opportunity data, investors, and competitor details around the world. Yet, as an angel investor myself, I can attest that many potential entrepreneurs try to take shortcuts, or ignore the realities of business.

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6 Guidelines On How And When To Use Non-Disclosures

Startup Professionals Musings

Stick with people you meet through warm introductions, or count on the integrity of professionals who have a visible reputation and references, instead of a legal document. Here are my guidelines for when a signed agreement is required, versus other alternatives: Insist on a two-way NDA for partner negotiations.

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10 C-Level Positions That Are Red Flags For Funding

Startup Professionals Musings

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.

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Who Should be on Your Startup Board?

Both Sides of the Table

If angel investors are pressuring you to set up a board and if you don’t have the leverage to push back a little then I might suggest a 3-person board in which all 3 seats are appointed by the common stock and you agree to appoint one of these seats to the angel investor but perhaps make it either time based or event based.