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. So what are you waiting for?

Silicon Valley 293

Silicon Valley Technical Review Southern California Angel Investor 293

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

“My startup business was acquired and I worked for the company that bought us; which was a public company called Ameridata that bought about 40 companies in about three years. So I was an Angel investor from 1994 to 1996. Product Management – Brad and Mark discuss the role of Product Managers in Startups.

Technical Review 288

Technical Review Venture Capital Silicon Valley Software Review 288

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2014

This is important for nearly every institutional investor because once you have 25-50 investments being able to “follow” the investments that are working well is critical to making money. Fundraising / Negotiations Startup Lessons VC Industry' I have to race to the airport so I can’t edit until later.

Technical Review 336

Technical Review Later Stage Early Stage LP 336

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2010

The dinner parties now are filled with self-righteous angel investors bragging about how many deals they are in on. The best angels will do very well just at the best real estate investors did well in good times and bad. And so Buzzkill Suster continues. It is the new cocktail party conversation.

Florida 299

Florida Technical Review San Antonio Los Angeles 299

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

In addition to helping manage the board Chris also helps represent the interests of the angel investors / common stock holders. Oh, and did I mention: Roger – NYC, Rob/Rory – NorCal, Nick/Chris – London & me – Los Angeles. Startup Advice' That in itself is quite a challenge.

Advisory Board 365

Advisory Board CTO Hire Fractional CTO Los Angeles 365

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2012

And that person has almost certainly chosen specifically to be a startup lawyer over serving other types of customers because he or she enjoys working with entrepreneurs. She was lamenting that some startups simply see their PR company as merely somebody who corrals the press when you want to get some inches.

Startup 363

Startup PR Venture Capital Angel Investor 363

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2011

Babak Nivi is one of the most understated, helpful & important people on the entrepreneur / startup scene in NorCal. What he (along with Naval) started with AngelList is also a very important transformation to the communications between first-time entrepreneurs & angels. What about “angel&# investors?

Southern California 267

Southern California Angel Investor Early Stage Silicon Valley 267

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2021

The Denominator Effect I recently wrote a post about funding for investors to think about having a diversified portfolio , which I called “shots on goal.” The thesis is that before investing in an early-stage startup it is close to impossible to know which of the deals you did will break out to the upside. This is Venture Capital.

Angel Investor 301

Angel Investor Deal Flow Portfolio Forecast 301

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 8, 2009

Traction can simply mean showing that you’re making progress with customers, product development, channel partners, initial revenue as a proof point, attracting well-known angel investors, winning industry awards / recognition. And I know many stories of Benchmark or similar investors writing term sheets after the first meeting.

Technical Review 309

Technical Review Term Sheet Venture Capital Revenue 309

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2010

Often when startups who have raised venture capital need another round of financing they will turn to their existing investors to give them money before raising from outsiders. So startup CEO’s in this position make compromises that don’t necessarily benefit the long-term potential of the company. And it adds up.

Startup 290

Startup Burn Rate Warrant Bankruptcy 290

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 12, 2010

In the technology world there are a few websites that most startups track to keep up with the latest financings, acquisitions, product announcements and gossip: BusinessInsider, TechCrunch, Mashable, GigaOm, etc. Too many people have been burned in past and if angels get burned that will kill a lot of needed early investors.

Seed Stage 232

Seed Stage Valuation Private Equity Venture Capital 232

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

The funny thing about a startup is that if you keep it together for several years life happens along the way. It is such an under-discussed issue as we spend our time in startups mostly talking about products, marketing and fund raising. Tags: Startup Advice. I *think* he found the conversation relieving and confirming.

Ireland 319

Ireland Sales Bankruptcy Germany 319

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2021

Shots on Goal Being great as a startup technology investor of course requires a lot of things to come together: You need to have strong insights into where technology markets are heading and where value in the future will be created and sustained You need be perfect with your market timing. On Funding?—?Shots

Bankruptcy 294

Bankruptcy Bridge Financing Portfolio Angel Investor 294

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2011

As a courtesy if you enjoyed his write-up please check out his startup company, ChannelStack. Howard states the most successful angel investors are the ones who can place many small bets, increasing the possibility of hitting a home run. Howard Morgan earned a PhD in Operations Research/Computer Science in 1968.

Pre-Money Valuation 284

Pre-Money Valuation Technical Review Cofounder Cram Down 284

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2010

This is the third article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). Paul Kedrosky made the case for “naive optimism&# being an important part of startup success. And he argues that you need to have some “comparative advantage&# as an investor.

Angel Investor 284

Angel Investor Early Stage Cap Table Deal Flow 284

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

Mike Stern (wasn’t sure which one so leave a comment if it’s you): Q: “is it possible to sell your startup without venture investment if the company has big traction and a large user base?&# If you are thinking about angel investors please read this piece I did on Angel Funding Advice.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Term Sheet Valuation Stock Options 282

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

We then spoke about startups. Again, Seth: “One of the things I noticed when I looked around at startups is that often the founding teams hired people just like themselves. Startups shouldn’t be like this. And I’d recommend them to any talented startup founders out there.&#. And there you have it.

Connecticut 286

Connecticut Cofounder Silicon Valley Web 286

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 4, 2016

Nowhere is this more apparent than working in a startup where you are definitionally under-resourced and trying to make big accomplishments in compressed periods of time. I try to steer entrepreneurs away from over-introducers and I often find myself wanting to be careful about them becoming an investor in companies I back.

Angel Investor 255

Angel Investor Founder Global Conversion 255

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2010

We want to give our brightest new startups the connections and interactions they need to help streamline success. The team has experience in building startups (Doug Ludlow was formerly a founder in a TechStars company) and have all worked at local Los Angeles based startups. Watch this space.

Los Angeles 276

Los Angeles Stealth Securities and Exchange Commission Southern California 276

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

This is the second article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). And we all know that Ron Conway is considered the savviest of angel investors and yet by definition not all of his investments succeed. I don’t believe these times will last.

Angel Investor 288

Angel Investor Deal Flow Viral Algorithm 288

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

This is the third article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). Paul Kedrosky made the case for “naive optimism&# being an important part of startup success. Paul Kedrosky made the case for “naive optimism&# being an important part of startup success.

Angel Investor 152

Angel Investor Cap Table Early Stage Deal Flow 152

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 15, 2010

If you want some tips on getting access I wrote a post on how to access VCs but the same logic applies to angels. The event last night in Los Angeles was great. Also present were NorCal angels including Ron Conway , Chris Sacca and Shervin Pishevar. I look forward to tracking the progress. They deserve more credit.

Southern California 254

Southern California Los Angeles Angel Investor Early Stage 254

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 30, 2015

I’m so tired of seeing young entrepreneurs get screwed by their angel investors on convertible notes and I know I can’t convince you not to do it so I’d like to offer one simple bit of advice to help you avoid getting screwed (at least on one part of your note). If you do I will amend this blog post.

Liquidation Preference 150

Liquidation Preference Ratchet Angel Investor Entrepreneur 150

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 10, 2014

For those in the know, Jarl has been a savvy angel investor and a mentor to many young tech founders (and a few of us VCs as well). Startup Lessons' , EVP of MTV, President of Liberty Digital and on the boards of CNET, Scripps, comScore, Riot Games and Rubicon Project to name a few.

Los Angeles 299

Los Angeles Angel Investor Hosting Media 299

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

When convertible debt first started being introduced as a “faster, cheaper way to get startups funded” they didn’t have pricing built into them. In fact, most early investor work hard to help their startups get to the next level so it makes no sense for the angel investor and founders to be at odds.

Ratchet 354

Ratchet Liquidation Preference Equity Stock 354

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2013

I work with a lot of startups. Nobody is offering to put you on their scout program and pay you to be an angel investor. Startup Advice' I start to notice when bad behavior creeps into the system as a whole. I have seen much of that behavior over the past 2 years get worse. Nobody seems to want to make money any more.

Burn Rate 412

Burn Rate Dilution Revenue Valuation 412

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2010

YCombinator might determine that it is best for them but they’re not the typical angel investor. That’s not the typical angel investor. What about “super angel&# funds? Tags: Raising Venture Capital Startup Advice.

Equity 319

Equity Early Stage Angel Investor Valuation 319

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

It was what has now become more common – a social startup – and this one was a non-profit. Founded a few startups. Angel investor. That move would define Shervin in much the way that Uber is defining an entire era of startups. Startup Lessons' I loved the idea. Has he got stones. Philanthropist.

Las Vegas 150

Las Vegas Los Angeles Ireland Term Sheet 150

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 4, 2010

And there is no such thing as a startup decision with complete information. Building a startup might be a game of inches but you don’t get timeouts to pause and analyze all of your decisions. Building a startup might be a game of inches but you don’t get timeouts to pause and analyze all of your decisions.

Entrepreneur 297

Entrepreneur Silicon Valley Java Ruby 297

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). Most people think that being a successful investor is about finding the right deals and nurturing the teams through the difficult times to come out with a great company. This is the fifth & final (I promise!)

Silicon Valley 280

Silicon Valley Early Stage Portfolio Chad 280

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2010

In addition to the P2P deals covered below, on the show we also talked about some of my favorite financing startups ( Wonga in the UK run by Errol Damelin , who is a superstar) and Affordit.com run by serial (and I mean serial!) entrepreneur Wil Schroter (I am an angel investor in Affordit). 2.2mm in Series A. Enter Xobni.

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Social Network Angel Investor Chad 265

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

I told my friend that I felt that in 2014 too many new VCs feel the pressure to chase deals, to be a part of syndicates with other brand names and to pounce on top of every startup whose numbers are trending up quickly. If your favorite angel investor is sending you what looks like a form email it likely is. I don’t.

Cofounder 374

Cofounder Syndicate Syndication Early Stage 374

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 1, 2014

It’s the company that evokes fear into more startups and venture capitalists looking to fund eCommerce businesses than any other potential competitor. Every pitch I’ve ever seen has led to the, “Would Amazon eventually do this? And could we then compete?” ” type questions. I’m long NY.

Technical Review 380

Technical Review Software Review Cofounder CTO Hire 380

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 22, 2010

This is part of my startup advice series. It’s still important advice for startup founders and something that I’m passionate about. Yes, if you were a startup CEO I would probably cut you some slack. If they are Google, Facebook and then a startup – you’re fine. You’re a startup founder.

Hiring 392

Hiring Employee Vesting Silicon Valley 392

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 14, 2010

Liquidation preference is the amount of money that an investor gets paid before the common stock (e.g. management, founders, angel investors) get any money. Your existing investors tell you, “Don’t worry. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Raising Venture Capital Start-up Advice Startup Advice. Brain damage.

Venture Capital 289

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Common Stock Dividend 289

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 29, 2012

23:00 Question from the audience: Do VCs have a preference for startups that choose to work with incubators? 30:30 Mike Jones is one of the five most prolific angel investors in southern California. I saw a study out of the Kauffman foundation that said the rate of startups in LA is higher than anywhere else in the country.

Southern California 279

Southern California Detroit Los Angeles California 279

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 1, 2011

Think of Scooter as Justin’s angel investor. Let me say this – whether you believe in marketing at startups or not, I think we’d all agree that you can’t have a great marketing program around a mediocre product. Justin then had a meeting with Usher where he sang him a song he himself had recorded.

Entrepreneur 398

Entrepreneur Atlanta Audience SEM 398