Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2017

Generally, as a new business advisor, I recommend advance preparation of an executive summary, a pitch deck, short business plan, and lots of practice and passion. This includes investor pitching preparation, how to ask for investor meetings, what to say in the meetings, and follow-up.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 220

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2016

If you really want to start a business your way without a boss or professional investor hovering over you, then just fund it yourself or through friends and family, and grow it organically. It’s more possible to bootstrap today than a few years ago, as the cost of entry continues to go down.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Hockey Stick Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 120

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

You should avoid spending your time here and instead focus on finding a way to generate revenue or to attract investors so that you can afford to hire someone. What sweat equity is not good for is for people who you don’t know at all. How To Get There

Technical Cofounder 241

Technical Cofounder CTO Hire Equity Sweat Equity 241

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy).

Incubator 429

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 429

Gust

APRIL 27, 2014

I’m continually amazed at the number of entrepreneurs who go for months into a new business without really keeping a formal record of money spent or assets acquired. Use a simple accounting tool like QuickBooks, get away from co-mingled funds, and you have the first business process you need. Develop your business plan.

Startup 187

Startup Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping 187

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 24, 2015

Espousing that borrowing money and debt are optional, the book proposed that entrepreneurs starting such businesses were more interested in the lifestyle it offered rather than making oodles of cash. 3 One-page business plan. Develop a one-page business plan. Partnerships such as affiliate programmes may also work.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Software Review South Carolina Startup 100

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 21, 2012

In fact, he points out that conventional term loans are a far less common way to finance a business, and in some countries, credit cards are actually a more popular source of startup capital. Bootstrap, bootstrap, bootstrap. Don’t get hung up on the business plan. His advice?

Technical Review 184

Technical Review Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Acquisition 184

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2023

It never hurts to start networking personally with all levels of investors early, but sending out teasers and business plans to every name you can find on the Internet is a waste of your time and theirs. You are now entering the rollout stage , with money required for marketing, hiring a full-time team, and a production process.

Angel Investor 313

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 313

YoungUpstarts

MAY 6, 2019

According to Lee M Von Kraus, PHD and a mentor at Clarity.fm, “Early stage startups are usually pre-money startup that are bootstrapping the early development of a product.”. Business plan. What is your business going to be? Finally, you have a product, a business plan, and a marketing strategy.

Startup 113

Startup Technical Cofounder Merger Early Stage 113

www.inc.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

500|5000 Conference Honorees Resources Press Apply 2011 ); Topics > Leadership and Managing > Human Resources > Job Descriptions > How to Hire a CTO When its time to add a technologist to your slate of executives, what are the best practices to follow? Create an Inc.com account: Home Magazine Blogs Ask Inc. 500|5000 The 2010 Inc.

Fractional CTO 42

Fractional CTO CTO CTO Hire Hiring 42

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

While you are working away on your business plan, looking for ways to raise capital, finding the right people to hire, etc., Also, it’s made so many things, like hiring and other decisions, significantly simpler for us, because we can always look to our mission for help.”. Hire great people… then get out of their way.

Cofounder 164

Cofounder Founder Startup Bootstrapping 164

Up and Running

AUGUST 11, 2015

How ironic that it seems like more than 90 percent of the online information on startups is about getting financed—but more than 90 percent of startups are bootstrapped. What does bootstrapping mean? ” See Also Should I Borrow Money, Seek Investment, or Bootstrap My Business? How many startups are bootstrapped?

Bootstrapping 60

Bootstrapping Startup Angel Investor Small Business Administration 60

Up and Running

MARCH 8, 2016

The people that hire you are taking you into their trust. If you do hire employees, they will also need these characteristics: Trustworthiness. Will you do everything yourself or hire employees? If you’re not quite sure how to answer the above questions, you could take a look at the cleaning businesses in your area.

SBA 60

SBA Technical Review Software Review Business Plan 60

Up and Running

OCTOBER 21, 2014

Are you going to be hiring employees? Day 5: Start ‘business planning’ not the ‘business plan’. Coming from someone who works for a company that makes business planning software , that may sound odd. Remember that your business plan isn’t set in stone.

Elevator Pitch 166

Elevator Pitch Software Review SBA Business Plan 166

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

It never hurts to start networking personally with all levels of investors early, but sending out teasers and business plans to every name you can find on the Internet is a waste of your time and theirs. You are now entering the rollout stage , with money required for marketing, hiring a full-time team, and a production process.

Angel Investor 370

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 370

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

Innovative products and business models are the foundations of a promising startup. Funding is crucial for improving technology, hiring the right people, and launching a comprehensive marketing strategy to get a foothold in the market. Write a business plan. Bootstrapping or self-funding. Angel investors.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Actually, banks don’t finance business startups. Banks aren’t supposed to invest depositors’ money in new businesses. Myth #3: Business plans sell investors. A well-written and convincing business plan (and pitch ) presents your business to investors in detail; but they are investing in your business, not just a plan.

SBA 161

SBA Venture Capital Angel Investor Technical Review 161

Austin Startup

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Advertising was one of those extensions that we visioned in the first business plan for Bazaarvoice. Now at Bazaarvoice we have acquired Longboard Media, which in a way concludes our original vision in our first business plan. Sales people take awhile to payback, even in the best of business models.

Bootstrapping 52

Bootstrapping IPO Business Model Software Review 52

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2018

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy).

Incubator 236

Incubator Exit Strategy Institutional Investors Angel Investor 236

Up and Running

OCTOBER 1, 2014

What about bootstrapping? When you’re starting a business to build your own luck, you don’t often have a lot of start up capital. Plan ahead. Business planning has been a big factor for Theme Dragon since the beginning, and in any smart business, you want to know where you’re headed.

Bootstrapping 107

Bootstrapping Cofounder Portland Burn Rate 107

The Next Web

AUGUST 26, 2013

Today, in steps 10-12 I want to discuss with you raising your first round of money, hiring to develop and maintain your company culture, as well as defining your role in the management of your startup. Raise your first round of money, or bootstrap. There are two ways to start a tech business.

Management 120

Management Cofounder Startup Bootstrapping 120

The Next Web

OCTOBER 10, 2013

He started his first business at age 15 and ran it until he went off to college at UC Berkeley. When Gleb was in business school at Berkeley he founded NetRelevance – his professors liked his business plan so much that they used it in the Haas School of Business as a teaching tool.

Cofounder 143

Cofounder Technical Cofounder Kenya Dilution 143

David Teten

JANUARY 21, 2021

Jonathan Bragdon , CEO, describes Capacity as “a team of founders-turned-funders making non-dilutive, founder-aligned investments of $50-$300k in post-startup, post-revenue businesses planning to 2X revenues in 12-24 months. —– Earnest Capital invests in bootstrapped companies to help them unlock more growth.

Equity 78

Equity Revenue Cofounder Colorado 78

crowdSPRING Blog

DECEMBER 7, 2012

Business Plans Are an Historic Artifact | WSJ – [link]. Micro VC’s and Super Angels Two Years Later – Looking Back and Some Predictions for the Future | Business Insider – [link]. The Series A Crunch: One More Reason to Bootstrap and Skip Venture Capital | Enterprise Irregulars - [link].

Social Media 104

Social Media Small Business Design Media 104

Tim Keane

MARCH 9, 2011

How to prepare a sales forecast for a business plan » March 09, 2011. Can you bootstrap your way to positive cash flow?   If the answer is relatively soon, then bootstrapping is a very serious consideration.  In other words, the need for acceleration isn’t in conflict with bootstrapping – it is step two. 

Finance 83

Finance Bootstrapping Startup Equity 83

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 28, 2020

Write a Business Plan. The first thing to do for any entrepreneur, will be to begin with a solid plan for business. This crucial component of your business campaign provides direction and rhythm to your efforts. What is your hiring plan? What is your marketing plan? Gather Your Tools.

LLC 164

LLC Finance Business Plan Hiring 164

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2013

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy).

Incubator 256

Incubator Entrepreneur Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 256

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2014

I’m continually amazed at the number of entrepreneurs who go for months into a new business without really keeping a formal record of money spent or assets acquired. Use a simple accounting tool like QuickBooks, get away from co-mingled funds, and you have the first business process you need. Develop your business plan.

Startup 268

Startup Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping 268

Up and Running

MAY 23, 2016

Step 1: Start with a lean plan. Instead of sitting down to write a 40-page business plan, start with a one-page pitch. It’s the fastest way to get your idea onto paper, and it’s the very first step in the lean planning process, which is much easier and more iterative than traditional business planning methods.

Software Review 74

Software Review Software Delaware Forecast 74

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2016

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy).

Incubator 120

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2018

It never hurts to start networking personally with all levels of investors early, but sending out teasers and business plans to every name you can find on the Internet is a waste of your time and theirs. You are now entering the rollout stage , with money required for marketing, hiring a full-time team, and a production process.

Angel Investor 184

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 184

Tim Keane

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Hiring the right folks with broad experience beyond what is immediately called for is a great idea - if you can find them and if they'll work well with the entrepreneurs.  Bootstrapping. Greg Gianforte: Bootstrapping Your Business: Start And Grow a Successful Company With Almost No Money. October 2010.

Technical Cofounder 68

Technical Cofounder Wisconsin Cofounder IP 68

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2012

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy).

Incubator 237

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 237

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.

Startup 95

Startup Advisory Board Elevator Pitch Forecast 95

Up and Running

DECEMBER 23, 2019

One of the most important decisions a new business owner can make is how they’re going to finance their venture. . Bootstrapping, saving funds over years, borrowing from friends and family, taking out a bank loan and pitching investors are all viable options, but some will work better than others for your specific business. .

Finance 92

Finance Sweat Equity Bootstrapping Entrepreneur 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2012

One of the biggest myths I still see in the community of new entrepreneurs is the assumption that “All I need is a good idea, and some investor will give me the big money I need to build the business.” In reality, investors fund good business plans, not big dreams. Don’t hire any employees. It’s all in the execution.

Bandwidth 236

Bandwidth Bootstrapping Equity Startup 236

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2013

I’m continually amazed at the number of entrepreneurs who go for months into a new business without really keeping a formal record of money spent or assets acquired. Use a simple accounting tool like QuickBooks, get away from co-mingled funds, and you have the first business process you need. Develop your business plan.

Institutional Investors 230

Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping Database 230