Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2010

If you are just plain tired of working so hard, or your startup is not getting the traction you expected, should you shut down cleanly, or just file for bankruptcy and walk away? For those who think that bankruptcy is the easy way out, think again. Bankruptcy should always be the absolutely last resort. Marty Zwilling.

Bankruptcy 128

Bankruptcy Salary Operations Employee 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2023

As I was contemplating a classic book “ Dead Companies Walking ,” by Scott Fearon, who runs a hedge fund that profits from businesses headed toward bankruptcy, I realized that his insights on the common ways that mature companies often doom themselves apply equally well to startups.

Intellectual Property 314

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Bankruptcy Viral 314

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2017

If you are just plain tired of working so hard, or your startup is not getting the traction you expected, should you shut down cleanly, or just file for bankruptcy and walk away? For those who think that bankruptcy is the easy way out, think again. Bankruptcy should always be the absolutely last resort.

Bankruptcy 136

Bankruptcy Startup Salary Operations 136

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

Founders with bad credit, active lawsuits, or recent bankruptcies dramatically increase the risk. Investors will validate pre-existing investments and stock ownership to create an accurate market capitalization sheet for your company. As you go through the due diligence process, there are some practical tips to keep in mind.

Technical Review 237

Technical Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property Private Equity 237

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2021

Especially if people hear rumors of your interest in selling, they will assume that you are fighting bankruptcy, being pushed out, or your personal life has fallen apart. Refrain from telling associates that you are selling. It’s amazing to me how people always assume the worst. Decide to do it yourself, without professional help.

Due Diligence 410

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Bankruptcy Exit Strategy 410

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

During that period, it is very difficult for either party to get out of the deal, since there is no public market for the stock, and business divorces normally mean bankruptcy. Startup equity investments imply a long-term business relationship, lasting an average of five years. Marty Zwilling First published on Entrepreneur.com on 1/9/2015.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Startup Term Sheet 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2016

Any unusual financial risks, including contingencies, large contracts, recent bankruptcies or credit denials on the part of any owners must be disclosed. Be prepared to present a detailed cap table, identifying by percentage all owners, investors and debtors. The business structure should be clear and simple.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Cap Table Intellectual Property 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2010

Founders with bad credit, active lawsuits, or recent bankruptcies dramatically increase the risk. Investors will validate pre-existing investments and stock ownership to create an accurate market capitalization sheet for your company. As you go through the due diligence process, there are some practical tips to keep in mind.

Technical Review 225

Technical Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property Private Equity 225

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2020

As I was contemplating a classic book “ Dead Companies Walking ,” by Scott Fearon, who runs a hedge fund that profits from businesses headed toward bankruptcy, I realized that his insights on the common ways that mature companies often doom themselves apply equally well to startups.

Intellectual Property 310

Intellectual Property Startup Bankruptcy Viral 310

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2019

Unfortunately, in my experience as an angel investor and business consultant, I see leaders at all levels of large companies as well as small, who skip some of the critical steps of this model, leading them to slow growth or even bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy 317

Bankruptcy Angel Investor Matching Finance 317

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2019

Yet the image of leadership in business is at an all-time low, according to national leadership experts, considering the political debacles, record business bankruptcies, and executive fraud cases.

Leadership 235

Leadership Founder Bankruptcy Developer 235

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2019

For example, one of the first home grocery delivery companies, Webvan, was so enamored with early traction in Silicon Valley, it raised and spent nearly a billion dollars and went public, before filing for bankruptcy three years later.

Silicon Valley 215

Silicon Valley Bankruptcy Metrics Valuation 215

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

During that period, it is very difficult for either party to get out of the deal, since there is no public market for the stock, and business divorces normally mean bankruptcy. Startup equity investments imply a long-term business relationship, lasting five years or longer.

Due Diligence 148

Due Diligence Bankruptcy Angel Investor Stock 148

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2013

Yet the image of leadership in business is at an all-time low, according to national leadership experts, considering the political debacles, record business bankruptcies, and executive fraud cases.

Entrepreneur 239

Entrepreneur Bankruptcy Leadership Developer 239

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2017

Yet the image of leadership in business is at an all-time low, according to national leadership experts, considering the political debacles, record business bankruptcies, and executive fraud cases.

Leadership 120

Leadership Entrepreneur Bankruptcy Developer 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2016

As I was reading a recent book “ Dead Companies Walking ,” by Scott Fearon, who runs a hedge fund that profits from businesses headed toward bankruptcy, I realized that his insights on the common ways that mature companies often doom themselves apply equally well to startups.

Business Model 120

Business Model Intellectual Property Startup Bankruptcy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2011

Yet the image of leadership in business is at an all-time low, according to national leadership experts, considering the political debacles, record business bankruptcies, and executive fraud cases.

Entrepreneur 246

Entrepreneur Leadership Bankruptcy Developer 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2015

As I was reading a new book “ Dead Companies Walking ,” by Scott Fearon, who runs a hedge fund that profits from businesses headed toward bankruptcy, I realized that his insights on the common ways that mature companies often doom themselves apply equally well to startups.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Startup Bankruptcy Viral 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Yet the image of leadership in business is at an all-time low, according to national leadership experts, considering the political debacles, record business bankruptcies, and executive fraud cases.

Leadership 178

Leadership Bankruptcy Entrepreneur Developer 178

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2011

If these challenges can’t be resolved by the existing team with “course corrections” or “pivots,” an investor will often bring in an experienced CEO to tackle the turnaround before or after bankruptcy. All this led to a staff level exceeding 700 employees, contributed to lack of control and eventual bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy 221

Bankruptcy Silicon Valley Private Equity Software Review 221

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2010

Yet the image of leadership in business is at an all-time low, according to national leadership experts, considering the Wall Street collapse, record business bankruptcies, and executive fraud cases.

Entrepreneur 125

Entrepreneur Leadership Bankruptcy Developer 125

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2010

If these challenges can’t be resolved by the existing team with “course corrections”, an investor will often bring in an experienced CEO to tackle the “turnaround” before or after bankruptcy. All this led to a staff level exceeding 700 employees, contributed to lack of control and eventual bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy 120

Bankruptcy Silicon Valley Private Equity Software Review 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2017

Even Travis Kalanick, founder and CEO of Uber, filed for bankruptcy in his first startup, but obviously never gave up. In today’s culture, most investors are forgiving of failure, or actually see failure as an advantage the second time around, if you are humble and willing to share a few lessons learned.

Valuation 164

Valuation Bankruptcy Cofounder Social Media 164