Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2022

I’m convinced that the following personal strategies are required and practiced by every successful business leader, regardless of Silicon Valley myths to the contrary: Lead with business and technical acumen for people who count. Incent others to contribute to your success. Don’t back away from conflicts that can be constructive.

Silicon Valley 284

Silicon Valley Bandwidth Angel Investor Equity 284

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

In its effort to advocate and be a resource for the startup community, The Startup Magazine is sponsoring this leading venture capital gathering in the heart of tech hub Silicon Valley. Curtis Feeny | Silicon Valley Data Capital. Ann Gaddy | BioPacific Investors. Praveen Sahay | WAVE Equity Partners.

Silicon Valley 91

Silicon Valley Venture Capital Investment Bankers Angel Investor 91

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2023

A few, like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), despite recent failures, actually do provide management services to startups, invest in startups, or provide early-stage venture capital, but that is not called an investment service and is part of a function called Emerging Technologies, or sometimes Private Equity.

Early Stage 182

Early Stage Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering 182

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2020

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. The simple answer is that with all the staging of TV lights and billionaire investors, it’s nothing like Silicon Valley.

Due Diligence 317

Due Diligence Angel Investor Silicon Valley Green 317

Austin Startup

MARCH 4, 2019

For more information, visit atxstartupcrawl.com SXSW Pitch (formerly SXSW Accelerator) SXSW Pitch is the official SXSW platform to allow early stage technology startups to pitch their product and/or services to industry technology experts, high profiled media personnel, and Venture Capitalists / Angel Investors.

Silicon Valley 50

Silicon Valley Technical Review Texas Venture Capital 50

Version One Ventures

SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

This problem is relatively minor in large, vibrant ecosystems like Silicon Valley, but can be more pervasive in smaller locations that lack the depth and breadth of experienced start-up advisors and angel investors. CDL provides milestone-based coaching with the goal of maximizing equity-value creation.

Silicon Valley 60

Silicon Valley Technical Review Entrepreneur Angel Investor 60

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2020

A few, like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), actually do provide management services to startups, invest in startups, or provide early-stage venture capital, but that is not called an investment service and is part of a function called Emerging Technologies, or sometimes Private Equity.

Silicon Valley 362

Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering Term Sheet 362

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over twice as many companies, according the Crunchbase. Individual angel investors and crowdfunding have been adding to the momentum, some say exceeding VCs in total amount invested.

Angel Investor 314

Angel Investor Venture Capital Silicon Valley Startup 314

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2020

I’m convinced that the following personal strategies are required and practiced by every successful business leader, regardless of Silicon Valley myths to the contrary: Lead with business and technical acumen for people who count. Incent others to contribute to your success. Don’t back away from conflicts that can be constructive.

Silicon Valley 312

Silicon Valley Bandwidth Angel Investor Equity 312

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 10, 2018

Already, a Silicon Valley startup called Atrium has developed an app that hopes to automate nearly every task that forces startups to hire lawyers, which might include acquiring funding, merging, and being sued. This might not always be the case. Here are some situations that might prompt you to seek legal help: Company formation.

Software Review 70

Software Review Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Software 70

Gust

OCTOBER 17, 2012

I began studying angel investing returns about 10 years ago as a result of a problem I couldn’t resolve: The investing world seemed certain that angel investors were rubes. And whenever they might come close to succeeding, savvy “professional” investors would just swoop in, cram them down, and win the real returns.

Angel Investor 152

Angel Investor Venture Capital Seed Stage Silicon Valley 152

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

When you accept outside money, particularly a private equity (PE) investment, however, that changes. In this article, I’ll provide some personal stories of how investors have navigated the balance between raising private equity capital and not losing control of their startup. Rule 1: Bootstrap until you have a viable product.

Private Equity 94

Private Equity Pre-Money Valuation Equity Startup 94

Scalable Startup

OCTOBER 26, 2014

Imagine if you’re in Silicon Valley right now with no equity in a tech startup, but associated with several people getting six figure “bonuses” because they somehow wound up with some stock in one. The free parties (or not free) and swag and great stories and boat rides in the bay are nice.

Silicon Valley 25

Silicon Valley Hawaii Angel Investor IPO 25

www.mattbartus.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Perspectives on issues affecting founders, startups and investors from a veteran startup lawyer in Silicon Valley. Equity for Consultants – Keep it Simple! posted Feb 3 in Equity , People issues. for every hour works, consultant accrues [hourly wage]in debt that will convert to equity in the next round).

Equity 40

Equity Vesting Silicon Valley Intellectual Property 40

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

According to the International Business Innovation Association ( InBIA ), there are over 2,200 of these locations worldwide, and new online versions springing up all over the place, like Founders Space in Silicon Valley. I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors.

Incubator 218

Incubator Silicon Valley North America Small Business Administration 218

ReadWriteStart

OCTOBER 7, 2010

Bottom line, early stage equity is very, very expensive. So at any point, if you are trying to raise money, and you are hearing from investors that you are too early and have too little validation, it may be a good thing. That is debt financing that converts into equity at the Series A valuation once the price for that is set. (I

Valuation 119

Valuation Silicon Valley Pre-Money Valuation Bootstrapping 119

Scalable Startup

OCTOBER 26, 2014

Imagine if you’re in Silicon Valley right now with no equity in a tech startup, but associated with several people getting six figure “bonuses” because they somehow wound up with some stock in one. The free parties (or not free) and swag and great stories and boat rides in the bay are nice.

Silicon Valley 20

Silicon Valley Hawaii Angel Investor IPO 20

Steve Blank

JANUARY 20, 2014

The differences between the Bend, Oregon region and Silicon Valley are obvious. The sheer density of talent, companies, capital and universities that exist in the Valley are second to none. Silicon Valley Transplants. But the real surprise was learning that for some Bend is a Silicon Valley bedroom community.

Silicon Valley 312

Silicon Valley Oregon Lean Venture Capital 312

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

They get together with a few buddies, bounce around ideas, build some code (sometimes internally, sometimes through contractors), start talking to potential angel investors and then register their company. You never got around to agreeing exact equity splits but you had many conversations about it.

Southern California 318

Southern California Silicon Valley IP Stock Options 318

www.drowningamerican.com

JUNE 22, 2012

Next → How to Hire for Sweat Equity…. That being said the following is available to the right candidate: • 3-5% equity in the company (based on experience). • $50,000/year salary once we obtain funding (target: January, 2010). And now I’m trying to get my own team, and have them work for equity. Post navigation.

Sweat Equity 40

Sweat Equity Equity Hiring Technical Review 40

Pascal's View

OCTOBER 11, 2013

But I am coming to the Museum to talk about the leading of edge of startup financing in the digital age and about real time investment risk management in the new Wild West– crowd-funded Silicon Valley post the lifting of the ban on General Solicitation.

New York 31

New York Technical Review Angel Investor Finance 31

techcrunch.com

OCTOBER 13, 2012

I began studying angel investing returns about 10 years ago as a result of a problem I couldn’t resolve: The investing world seemed certain that angel investors were rubes. And whenever they might come close to succeeding, savvy “professional” investors would just swoop in, cram them down, and win the real returns.

Angel Investor 103

Angel Investor Venture Capital Seed Stage Silicon Valley 103

Rob Go

NOVEMBER 12, 2014

These are financing docs that were pioneered by YC and is apparently starting to see some level of acceptance in Silicon Valley. Personally, I’m not a fan of notes and very much prefer equity financing. The best angel investors hunt. But the best angel investors hunt. SAFE docs are on the rise.

Angel Investor 71

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Cofounder Finance 71

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 6, 2022

Well, Steve Hoffman (02:34): First of all, I did three venture funded startups in Silicon valley and two bootstrap startups. We called them founder space, round tables, and we'd meet, I'd introduce 'em to angel investors and marketing experts and lawyers, and really try to help them get off the ground. We have demo days.

San Francisco 97

San Francisco Technical Review Incubator Silicon Valley 97

Transformify

AUGUST 8, 2019

Our 2018 State of Diversity Survey was conducted in an attempt to understand the attitudes and behaviors of tech workers in Silicon Valley and the United States. Lilia Stoyanov is CEO and angel investor at Transformify. Instead, we talk about building balanced teams. About the author.

Silicon Valley 99

Silicon Valley Retention Salary United States 99

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2014

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over 60 times as many companies, according the Center for Venture Research. Individual angel investors have been filling the gap, and now match VCs in total amount invested.

Angel Investor 260

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Startup Portfolio 260

Austin Startup

NOVEMBER 6, 2017

C-Corp largely because (i) VCs have historically favored C-Corps for nuanced tax and other reasons, and (ii) virtually all of the standardized legal infrastructure around startup finance and equity compensation assumes a C-Corp. However, times are changing. If you are an LLC tech startup, you need tax counsel.

Delaware 48

Delaware LLC Startup Silicon Valley 48

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2021

Between peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding, and even so-called “angel investors,” a hungry entrepreneur no longer needs to suffer at the hands of greedy, unscrupulous lenders to finally be able to get funding. Angel Investors. Unlike venture capitalists, though, angel inventors use their own money to finance a startup.

Security 92

Security Finance Angel Investor Incubator 92

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Unless you are a serial entrepreneur with a string of successes behind you, you need a business plan to convince investors that you can build a business out of the dream that has been driving your passion to change the world. Outline the potential investor return, and payback process.

Elevator Pitch 163

Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Silicon Valley Revenue 163

Hippoland

JANUARY 4, 2017

Equity Traditionally, investors have invested in companies to receive equity, or shares in a company. Simplistically, if I’m an investor who is interested in buying a percentage of your company, I’ll offer you money, and you’ll send me a certificate indicating how many shares — how much of your company — I own.

Convertible Security 48

Convertible Security Equity Security Silicon Valley 48

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2016

According to the National Business Incubator Association ( NBIA ), there are over 7,000 of these locations worldwide, and new online versions springing up all over the place, like Founders Space in Silicon Valley. I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors.

Incubator 120

Incubator Silicon Valley Startup Small Business Administration 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2016

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. The simple answer is that with all the staging of TV lights and billionaire investors, it’s nothing like Silicon Valley.

Founder 120

Founder Due Diligence Angel Investor Silicon Valley 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2013

See how many you have personally experienced already, or are currently mentioned in your business plan: Crowd-sourcing equity. Sites like KickStarter have for years offered rewards and pre-sales for crowd investments, but real equity won’t be legalized until sometime this year for people other than accredited investors.

Entrepreneur 274

Entrepreneur Accredited Investor Silicon Valley Angel Investor 274

500hats.com

AUGUST 2, 2012

Or, as my friend Marc Andreessen might say, Software Eats the Private Equity World. note: apologies in advance for the west coast bias; i’m in silicon valley). Many of these now-trendy Micro-VC funds began as individual angel investors who gradually grew up and started small funds (myself included).

Silicon Valley 74

Silicon Valley Early Stage Venture Capital Valuation 74

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2015

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. The simple answer is that with all the staging of TV lights and billionaire investors, it’s nothing like Silicon Valley.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Due Diligence Angel Investor Silicon Valley 120

Steve Blank

JUNE 2, 2011

Reinventing the board meeting may offer angel-funded startups that don’t have formal boards or directors (because of geography or size of investment) to attract experienced advice and investment outside of technology clusters (i.e. Silicon Valley, New York). An angel investor or VC can multiply their reach and/or depth.

Silicon Valley 281

Silicon Valley Business Model Early Stage Venture Capital 281

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

A few, like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), actually do provide management services to startups, invest in startups, or provide early-stage venture capital, but that is not called an investment service and is part of a function called Emerging Technologies, or sometimes Private Equity.

IPO 205

IPO Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering 205