Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

You need an investor, and want a document to mass-mail to everyone. Most VCs and Angel investors don’t read unsolicited proposals, unless they have met you first, or have a glowing recommendation from another investor or acquaintance. You need an investor, and want to solicit professionals online.

Business Plan 274

Business Plan Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence 274

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. The rest is history.

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. The rest is history.

Technical Review 278

Technical Review Entrepreneur Kentucky Due Diligence 278

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2013

You need an investor, and want a document to mass-mail to everyone. Most VCs and Angel investors don’t read unsolicited proposals, unless they have met you first, or have a glowing recommendation from another investor or acquaintance. You find an interested investor, and need to close the deal.

Business Plan 250

Business Plan Technical Review Entrepreneur Angel Investor 250

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2020

After many years of working with angel investors seriously trying to find new ventures worthy of their hard-earned money, I find their frustration often exceeds that of entrepreneurs sincerely looking for financial help. Investors invest in people, often more so than in the product. Surprises during due diligence.

Due Diligence 308

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Preferred Stock Seed Stage 308

NZ Entrepreneur

DECEMBER 10, 2020

“He got us in front of the Ice Angels and a number of them invested,” Sutton says. “I I was then able to say to the rest of the angel groups that the others invested.”. The snowball effect meant one person’s confidence inspired the next which Sutton says reduced the due diligence workload for him.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Software Review Due Diligence Startup 103

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

So before you read these tips, first understand the difference between venture capital and angel investment and then you can add in 5 essentials for angel investment. And keep in mind, as you read that, that venture capital demands everything that angel investors do, and more. Are you still with me?

Software Review 124

Software Review Due Diligence Venture Capital Elevator Pitch 124

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

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2023

According to more recent statistics , fewer than a third of all crowdfunding operations end up being successful, and the rest have to return anything they do collect. That’s not as high as the failure rate with professional investors, but it should convince entrepreneurs that crowdfunding is still no panacea for funding.

Angel Groups 201

Angel Groups Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 201

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

According to more recent statistics , fewer than a quarter of all crowdfunding operations end up being successful, and the rest have to return anything they do collect. That’s not as high as the failure rate with professional investors, but it should convince entrepreneurs that crowdfunding is still no panacea for funding.

Equity 411

Equity Angel Groups Accredited Investor Due Diligence 411

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. The rest is history.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Kentucky Due Diligence Japan 120

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

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. Although angel investment is a lot like venture capital (and is often confused with it), there are important distinctions.

SBA 161

SBA Venture Capital Angel Investor Technical Review 161

Up and Running

JULY 6, 2016

I’ll join in the due diligence for my angel group, test for myself, and develop my informed opinion. The detailed look at the technology comes during due diligence, not in the plan or during the pitch. Even in the case of a show-off business plan for angel investors, keep to the business side of it.

Technical Review 72

Technical Review Software Review Business Plan Development Team Review 72

Feld Thoughts

JUNE 2, 2010

I wasn’t able to make it to Boston yesterday for the Angel Boot Camp as I was running around NYC with the CEO of a company I invested in last week introducing him to a bunch of potential customers and partners. It sounds like Angel Boot Camp rocked. I generally made about one investment a month when I was active as an angel.

Angel Investor 167

Angel Investor Boston Due Diligence Cofounder 167

Up and Running

JULY 23, 2014

The exit strategy isn’t about you, it’s about your investors. Startups looking for angel investors or venture capital (VC) absolutely need an exit strategy because investors require it. The company brings in money and the investors get money out. The exit is what gives them a return.

Exit Strategy 131

Exit Strategy Software Review Angel Investor Startup 131

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

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.” You should seek to get people who are respected by others in your field and who will therefore make it easier to raise the rest of your angel round.&#.

Finance 286

Finance Term Sheet Technical Review Warrant 286

Austin Startup

JANUARY 3, 2019

Feedback to investors about what helps and doesn’t help founders when fundraising. I originally asked this question to several founders with the intent of addressing angel investors but I’ve found it doesn’t exclude other institutional investors either. Even fewer realize that fundraising etiquette runs both ways.

Founder 48

Founder Angel Investor Technical Review Due Diligence 48

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 25, 2010

“Yes&# was given to me by one of my favorite angel investor / seed VC’s to work with – John Greathouse of Rincon Venture Partners and author of the blog InfoChachkie that you should check out because it is filled with great info from a guy who has been a very successful operator.

Silicon Valley 293

Silicon Valley Technical Review Southern California Angel Investor 293

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

So I was on the front line of this very aggressive rollup and I got involved in helping with the technical due diligence…”. “As So I was an Angel investor from 1994 to 1996. As a result I got to see some deals and get involved with some deals and I made some investments with my own money.

Technical Review 288

Technical Review Venture Capital Silicon Valley Software Review 288

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2016

After many years of working with angel investors seriously trying to find new ventures worthy of their hard-earned money, I find their frustration often exceeds that of entrepreneurs sincerely looking for financial help. Investors invest in people, often more so than in the product. Surprises during due diligence.

Due Diligence 120

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Preferred Stock Seed Stage 120

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. 51 percent).

Angel Investor 161

Angel Investor Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 161

Berkonomics

AUGUST 3, 2023

When the need is high… For the rest of us, desiring to build large, valuable enterprises quickly, the need for outside capital is high on our list of requirements and even the source for some sleepless nights as we worry over the availability and cost of capital. Professional angels: This is the arena where I work and play.

Private Equity 118

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 118

Gust

JANUARY 15, 2013

It’s not that much about a rocky recent past; it’s more about money being too easy in the recent past, and now, as a natural result, things get tighter because “easy” money doesn’t always mean enough of the due diligence and thought to make good deals. This is what I hear from my own sources.

Due Diligence 119

Due Diligence Startup Angel Investor Early Stage 119

Berkonomics

JANUARY 10, 2019

Investors will invariably try to tell you that they know much more about the “how to” than you do, and that you should listen to them. I was chairman of an excellent company where I had led the deal, attracting angel investors through several rounds as the company grew to a breakeven with over four million dollars of gross revenues.

Due Diligence 54

Due Diligence Silicon Valley Angel Investor Restful 54

Berkonomics

JANUARY 10, 2019

Investors will invariably try to tell you that they know much more about the “how to” than you do, and that you should listen to them. I was chairman of an excellent company where I had led the deal, attracting angel investors through several rounds as the company grew to a breakeven with over four million dollars of gross revenues.

Due Diligence 48

Due Diligence Silicon Valley Angel Investor Restful 48

Seeing Both Sides

OCTOBER 28, 2010

Like many other businesspeople, VCs and angel investors (“investors” going forward) blink and judge entrepreneurs very quickly in the first few minutes of an interaction. That’s why the way an entrepreneur starts an investor pitch meeting is a key determinant of their success in that meeting. There’s no “I” in team.

Arkansas 40

Arkansas Due Diligence Cofounder Angel Investor 40

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

For the rest of us desiring to build large, valuable enterprises quickly, the need for outside capital is high on our list of requirements and even the source for some sleepless nights as we worry over the availability and cost of capital. Professional angels: This is the arena where I work and play.

Private Equity 106

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 106

Berkonomics

JANUARY 5, 2012

Investors will invariably try to tell you that they know much more about the “how to” than you do, and that you should listen to them. I was chairman of an excellent company where I had led the deal, attracting angel investors through several rounds as the company grew to a breakeven with over four million dollars of gross revenues.

Entrepreneur 54

Entrepreneur Due Diligence Silicon Valley Angel Investor 54

Duct Tape Marketing

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

Five Ways You’re Not Going To Get An Investor For Your Startup written by Guest Post read more at Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing Thursday is guest post day here at Duct Tape Marketing and today’s guest is Weston Bergmann – Enjoy! There are a lot of ways to attract an angel investor to your startup.

Kansas City 69

Kansas City Due Diligence Arizona Kansas 69

Up and Running

MAY 28, 2015

I’m in my seventh year now as a leader and an angel investment group where we just announced an investment last Thursday, and I’m very familiar with how this works for angel investors. Tell your angel investors a story about need. Depending on who the investors are, some want more, some want less.

Lean 60

Lean Business Plan Video Software Review 60

Rob Go

JULY 25, 2011

After raising this sort of round, it’s usually the first time an entrepreneur has to think about putting some structure of investor updates and communications. Do investor due diligence. Of our 13 portfolio companies, 10 had/have formal boards during the seed stage, and the rest had a more informal structure. .

Due Diligence 38

Due Diligence LP Seed Stage Portfolio 38

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2018

According to Yahoo Finance , less than a third of crowdfunding campaigns currently reach their goals, and the rest have to return anything they do collect. Professional investors normally negotiate board seats and communication protocols to minimize this risk. Crowdfunding bypasses the due diligence process.

Equity 180

Equity Due Diligence Angel Groups Liquidity Event 180

Berkonomics

JANUARY 20, 2010

For the rest of us desiring to build large, valuable enterprises quickly, the need for outside capital is high on our list of requirements and even the source for some sleepless nights as we worry over the availability and cost of capital. Professional angels: This is the arena where I work and play.

Private Equity 69

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 69

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

blog.expensify.com

APRIL 24, 2012

oz burgers as fast as possible, and commit the rest of your career to an endless series of McDonalds menus. The rest of us have some fine dining to enjoy. I doubt anything can beat it the rest of this year. The rest of the post is so ridiculously stereotyped nonsense that it’s not worth a response. Fred Bosick.

Java 107

Java PHP Software Review Coder 107