Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2015

I see too many executive summaries that are simply heavy-duty customer pitches, or lightweight visions of the future. As an angel investor, what I’m looking for is key data from your business plan, including financial projections, how much money you are looking for and a quantification of my potential return.

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Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Technical Review 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2021

Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. Their only recourse is that first tier of investors, fondly called Friends, Family and Fools. Tie re-payments to revenue growth in the startup.

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Sweat Equity Elevator Pitch Equity Venture Capital 346

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2023

You may think this question is just an artifact of good television, but let me assure you that in my experience as an angel investor, it’s a standard “make or break” inquiry posed to every entrepreneur. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

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Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 228

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. Build an investor presentation and summary. Remember to aim the content of both of these at investors, not customers. Build a prototype product.

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Angel Investor Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Groups 179

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2020

You may think this question is just an artifact of good television, but let me assure you that in my experience as an angel investor, it’s a standard “make or break” inquiry posed to every entrepreneur. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

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Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 336

Up and Running

APRIL 11, 2012

He defines the elevator pitch, video pitch, executive summary, PowerPoint presentation, and business plan as different forms. Wait until you have attracted investors and they ask for a copy of your business plan. Do not estimate revenues as a percentage of the market. Do a bottom’s up analysis.

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Business Plan Elevator Pitch Technical Review Due Diligence 85

Up and Running

MARCH 14, 2018

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 startups. Sometimes you only get 10 minutes to pitch your business opportunity to the investors (or less in some cases).

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Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Angel Investor 164

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Don’t believe that Silicon Valley myth that all you have to do is sketch your idea on the back of a napkin, and investors will line up to give you money. Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist.

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Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Silicon Valley Revenue 163

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

A Progress Graph on the right visually shows how far you’ve come (in whatever units of goodness you’re tracking – revenue, units, users, etc.) Good if you have your own money, better if the cash comes from investors, but best if it’s revenues from customers. Get back up and running. is quite good.

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Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 266

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2018

Here is my outline of key deliverables that could convince me that you are a cut above the “average” entrepreneur that approaches me with nothing but a dream and a prayer: Personal video introduction with elevator pitch. Investors will expect it for due diligence.

Elevator Pitch 164

Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor Business Plan 164

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2014

You may think this question is just an artifact of good television, but let me assure you that in my experience as an angel investor, it’s a standard “make or break” inquiry posed to every entrepreneur. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

Elevator Pitch 285

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 285

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2018

You may think this question is just an artifact of good television, but let me assure you that in my experience as an angel investor, it’s a standard “make or break” inquiry posed to every entrepreneur. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

Elevator Pitch 139

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 139

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2014

Here is my outline of some key activities that could convince me you are a cut above the “average” entrepreneur that approaches me with nothing but a dream and a prayer: Personal video introduction with elevator pitch. Investors will expect it for due diligence.

Entrepreneur 270

Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor 270

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2015

Image via Flickr by Jupiter Labs Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. Their only recourse is that first tier of investors, fondly called Friends, Family and Fools.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Equity 120

OnlyOnce

JULY 9, 2013

Chapter 2: Defining and Testing the Story…Start Out By Admitting You’re Wrong, A Lean Business Plan Template, Problem, Solution, Key Metrics, Unique Value Proposition and Unfair Advantages, Channels, Customer Segments, Cost Structure and Revenue Streams. Chapter 3: Telling the Story to Your Investors…The Business Plan is Dead.

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Startup Advisory Board Elevator Pitch Forecast 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2016

You may think this question is just an artifact of good television, but let me assure you that in my experience as an angel investor, it’s a standard “make or break” inquiry posed to every entrepreneur. Professional investors always look for a proven business model and an existing revenue stream to minimize the risk.

Elevator Pitch 120

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 120

discuss.joelonsoftware.com

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

Refine your elevator pitch. Im interested in sweat equity parterns, rather than raising capital and just hiring key employees, because sweat equity partners will be even more motivated to help than, say, an angel investor who invested 1/4 of 1% of his assets in my business. You simply need to network. Go to user groups.

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Sweat Equity Equity Angel Investor Affiliate 40

Gust

OCTOBER 11, 2011

An “ elevator pitch ” is a concise, well-practiced description of your startup and your plan, delivered with conviction and enthusiasm, that your mother should be able to understand in the time it would take to ride up an elevator. A good elevator pitch is not just for an elevator discussion.

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Elevator Pitch Startup Differentiation Distribution 174

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Over the past 20+ years, as an angel investor, former venture capitalist and private equity investor, and serial entrepreneur, I have seen and written, a wide variety of pitch decks and business plans. This is where your elevator pitch needs to be embedded. I want to know how you built your projections up.

Business Plan 124

Business Plan Elevator Pitch Equity Private Equity 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2015

Here is my outline of key deliverables that could convince me that you are a cut above the “average” entrepreneur that approaches me with nothing but a dream and a prayer: Personal video introduction with elevator pitch. Investors will expect it for due diligence.

Elevator Pitch 120

Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Startup Angel Investor 120

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 12, 2019

I’ve seen hundreds of startups pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists, and most of them—at best— are just okay. There have been plenty of pretty good ones that hit all the key components of a pitch , but only a handful of those took it a step further and were truly great. 160 is average revenue per user (ARPU).

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Sweat Equity Churn Rate Elevator Pitch Forecast 122

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. Give the “elevator pitch” for your startup. Project both revenues and expense totals for next five years, and past three years.

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Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

Up and Running

JULY 26, 2013

A: The best moment for a Pitch is anytime you have someone that wants to know more about your business. You never know who will end up being an investor, partner, or referral to the right person. Q: When and how should you discuss investor incentives (perks, % of revenue, etc)? Did we miss your question?

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Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Term Sheet Business Model 79

Up and Running

APRIL 5, 2017

Sources for funding in the seed round can include angel investors, crowdfunding sites, micro-venture capital firms, a business accelerator, an incubator, or a corporate seed fund. According to venture capital firm Funders Club, it’s best to avoid first-time angels. After the friends and family round comes the seed round.

Green 84

Green Angel Investor Startup Alabama 84

Up and Running

MAY 22, 2018

After carefully noting their responses (and not asking leading questions), give them your elevator pitch—the short and sweet version of your idea. You’ll have to actually demonstrate that you’re generating revenue and increasing your client base. Your MVP’s success will be a key component of your investor pitch deck.

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Exit Strategy Angel Investor Search Elevator Pitch 90

www.quicksprout.com

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

Home About Answers Contact Quick Sprout What I Learned About Entrepreneurship Through 15 Angel Investments by Neil Patel on October 28, 2010 Share Share Over the last 2.5 years I made 15 angel investments with my own cash. People respect that and in the long run you’ll gain the trust of your team members, customers, and even investors.

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Elevator Pitch Revenue Entrepreneur SEO 60

techcrunch.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

Tech Gadgets Mobile Enterprise GreenTech CrunchBase TechCrunch TV Disrupt SF More TechCrunch TV Beta Invites Crunchies Elevator Pitches Gillmor Gang Podcasts TechCrunch Europe TechCrunch Trends TechCrunch France TechCrunch Japan Whats Hot: Android Apple Facebook Google Microsoft Twitter Yahoo Zynga Subscribe: From Nothing To Something.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Cofounder Technical Cofounder Software Review 84