Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Here are the key considerations from my perspective: Dealing with known or trusted investors and advisors. If you are approaching a recognized venture capital group, or even an accredited angel investor, a non-disclosure agreement is counter-productive. Discussions with potential strategic partners. Build trust first.

Non-disclosure Agreement 399

Non-disclosure Agreement Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor 399

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

Cofounder 221

Cofounder Software Review CTO Hire Founder 221

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

In addition to being the startup entrepreneur, there are other key roles where Boomers can be a force in driving successful startups, in concert with leaders from Gen-X and Gen-Y: Early-stage angel investors. Supportive co-founder and executive positions. Labor-intensive roles, including warehousing and construction.

Advisory Board 312

Advisory Board Startup Dividend Angel Investor 312

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2019

As an advisor to business owners, and an occasional angel investor, my job is to separate the actual challenges from the common misconceptions that distract many promising entrepreneurs while building the leadership team required for your solution, marketing, and finance success. Partner with experts who share the risk.

Bandwidth 246

Bandwidth Software Review Salary Angel Investor 246

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 14, 2022

A business plan is drawn up to attract investors and partners. There are various crowdfunding platforms through which investors can participate in funding rounds for deserving companies. Promoters try to raise this funding majorly from Angel Investors. 2) Laying out the genesis of the company. 3) Company formation.

Technical Review 167

Technical Review Due Diligence India Startup 167

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2018

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.

Technical Cofounder 184

Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property Silicon Valley LLC 184

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Understanding where your VC partner sits in their respective fund and where their fund is in the cycle of its investment lifecycle will help you understand your VCs behavior. In addition to helping manage the board Chris also helps represent the interests of the angel investors / common stock holders.

Advisory Board 365

Advisory Board CTO Hire Fractional CTO Los Angeles 365

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

In addition to being the startup entrepreneur, there are other key roles where Boomers can be a force in driving successful startups, in concert with leaders from Gen-X and Gen-Y: Early-stage Angel investors. Supportive co-founder and executive positions. Labor-intensive roles, including warehousing and construction.

Entrepreneur 266

Entrepreneur Advisory Board Dividend Angel Investor 266

Up and Running

DECEMBER 1, 2015

If you’re thinking about extending equity to an employee or a vendor (as in the example above), you should know that the topic is multi-faceted. If however you are giving a “normal employee” an incentive stock option plan (more on that later), that’s entirely different. Finding great employees first. What is equity compensation?

Equity 60

Equity Employee Stock Options Vesting 60

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2023

To get the visibility and distribution you need will likely require one or two levels of partner relationships and a real model for marketing, events and promotions. A detailed process, with empowered employees and adequate budget, are mandatory to any viable business model. Customer support is more than handling exceptions.

Business Model 273

Business Model Customer Angel Investor Bootstrapping 273

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2017

Yet I recommend to every entrepreneur that there are still situations where an NDA (sometimes called Confidential Disclosure Agreement) makes sense compared to normal situations, where your risk of losing an investor or advisor is greater than the risk of your idea being compromised. Don’t ask for an NDA from trusted investors and advisors.

Non-disclosure Agreement 153

Non-disclosure Agreement NDA Technical Review Due Diligence 153

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

Picking the right attorney in your startup is as important as picking the right business partner. 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. My business partner and I were elated. We set off to raise our money.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Up and Running

AUGUST 30, 2021

It can be a small and nimble startup like Origin, or a company with 50 employees and hiring more every quarter. Angel investors, venture capital firms, accelerators, and (maybe) the newer equity crowdfunding will look to see if you have previous experience in startups. The same goes for recruiting employees.

Entrepreneur 132

Entrepreneur Lean Colorado Engineer 132

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 15, 2017

Unless you’re starting out as a sole trader/freelancer you may have already provisionally signed up a contact or two, but it’s important to remember that unless they’re business partners, they’ll be employees – and should be treated as such. Selling your vision is as important to candidates as it is to investors.

Software Review 124

Software Review Angel Investor Cofounder Early Stage 124

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

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.

Venture Capital 236

Venture Capital Startup Angel Investor Silicon Valley 236

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

Find the right partners. So, you need to find mentors, partners, and employees who are. Now, not every business can immediately hire more employees, and you may not have someone you want to bring on as an official partner. Recommended Reading: How to Write a Business Plan in 7 Steps. Consider financing early.

Forecast 154

Forecast Software Review Bootstrapping Finance 154

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 3, 2020

Vancouver executive Christopher Kape is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who founded JAMCO Capital Partners , an early-stage investment and strategic advisory firm that focuses on a number of industries, including gaming, high-tech, food and wellness. The next group I would look to are angel investors.

Partner 147

Partner Uganda Angel Investor Bulgaria 147

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.

CTO Hire 252

CTO Hire Fractional CTO Angel Investor Public Relations 252

Gust

FEBRUARY 1, 2014

The ideal angel investor would spend a great deal of his/her time working on behalf of the company in support of the CEO, in every way other than being a full-time employee. In addition to doing the kinds of things that anyone (employee, friend, parent, founder, etc.)

Angel Investor 148

Angel Investor Startup IPO Early Stage 148

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

JANUARY 22, 2021

To get the visibility and distribution you need will likely require one or two levels of partner relationships and a real model for marketing, events and promotions. A detailed process, with empowered employees and adequate budget, are mandatory to any viable business model. Customer support is more than handling exceptions.

Business Model 414

Business Model Angel Investor Bootstrapping Revenue 414

crowdSPRING Blog

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

You should know that about two-thirds of businesses with employees survive 2 years and about half survive only five years. Find partners or investors. Your business location, facilities, equipment, and what kind of employees you’ll need are in this section. salaries or wages for any employees. Operating plan.

Angel Investor 85

Angel Investor Small Business Business Plan Intellectual Property 85

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

In a two-minute video clip, you can introduce yourself, show your passion and the engaging personality you need to win over customers, partners, and employees. For the more traditional investor, or for that chance meeting in a real elevator or meeting, you need a two-page brochure (two-sided page). Executive summary glossy.

Elevator Pitch 390

Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur Due Diligence Angel Investor 390

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.

CTO Hire 244

CTO Hire Fractional CTO Startup Angel Investor 244

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

Unfortunately, in my experience as an angel investor, about ninety percent of new business efforts fall short , leading me to believe that many of you may be better off staying where you are. Be ready to network for investors and team members.

Startup 237

Startup Angel Investor Matching Metrics 237

YoungUpstarts

MAY 25, 2018

Pat grew the business so successfully that by his senior year, he had moved the operations from his dorm room to an off-campus office, had a staff of 17 full- and part-time employees and over 100 business accounts. Mackaronis did earn his Bachelors Degree in Marketing and Public Relations during his time at Monmouth University.

Developer 159

Developer Investment Bankers eCommerce Social Media 159

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

Based on my own experience as a mentor and angel investor, I find that as many as ninety percent of startups fail in the first five years, despite their best efforts. Network extensively for partners, investors, and suppliers. These days, you can’t start and run a business alone.

Intellectual Property 245

Intellectual Property Social Media Angel Investor Metrics 245

YoungUpstarts

JULY 21, 2019

Make sure your employees and business still have the essentials. If your partner is your roommate, you don’t even have to find a space (yet). Collaboration programs make it easy to communicate with your employees and client online. Remember: be frugal, but don’t be cheap. Save on Space. Buy Used Furniture.

Software Review 191

Software Review Entrepreneur Cost Cofounder 191

Steve Blank

MARCH 16, 2016

Founders can now access the largest pool of risk capital that ever existed –in the form of Private Equity (Angel Investors, family offices , Venture Capitalists (VC’s) and Hedge Funds.). BTW, Angel investors do not have limited partners, and often invest for reasons other than just for financial gain (e.g.,

Liquidity Event 120

Liquidity Event Founder Liquidation Preference Private Equity 120

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

Gust

APRIL 20, 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. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

CTO Hire 171

CTO Hire Fractional CTO Angel Investor Public Relations 171

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2010

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.

CTO Hire 227

CTO Hire Fractional CTO Startup Angel Investor 227

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2015

Here are the key considerations from my perspective: Dealing with known or trusted investors and advisors. If you are approaching a recognized venture capital group, or even an accredited angel investor, a non-disclosure agreement is counter-productive. Discussions with potential strategic partners. Build trust first.

Non-disclosure Agreement 120

Non-disclosure Agreement Technical Review NDA Due Diligence 120

Austin Startup

MAY 7, 2017

Tuesday, May 9: VentureCrush ATX (FREE) VentureCrush is a series of unique events and networks created by the Tech Group at Lowenstein Sandler to bring together carefully selected groups of tech industry founders and senior executives, along with VC, growth equity, private equity and angel investors. At Galvanize at 6:00 pm.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Austin North America Software Review 75

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2022

Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. You don’t want to take money from friends and family, but it’s too early for angel investors and VCs. Bootstrap if you can, otherwise climb the pyramid of family, friends, angels, and VCs. The right motivated employees dilemma.

Founder 325

Founder Hockey Stick Cofounder Liquidity Event 325

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2022

In fact, most employee training courses recommend the distance if the work relationship crosses management levels, and most management policies strictly forbid fraternizing with the team. As an example, I find that most Angel investors still decline to fund startup founders that are romantically involved, citing the high risk of breakup.

Salary 298

Salary Angel Investor Social Media Demand 298