VC Cafe

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

One question that keeps coming up when speaking with early stage entrepreneurs when it comes to funding, is what metrics the company needs to hit to raise seed/series A/B etc: What’s a good conversion rate? Benchmarks are typically specific to stage/business model/geo. What should our MRR growth be?

B2C 141

B2C Technical Review Startup Retention 141

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 13, 2011

Board meetings that guide startups haven't changed since the early 1900's. Reinventing the board meeting may offer venture-backed startups a more efficient, productive way to direct and measure their search for a profitable business model. That's simply a failure of a startup board’s fiduciary responsibility.

Silicon Valley 117

Silicon Valley Balance Sheet Metrics Early Stage 117

Professor VC

MARCH 10, 2009

Kennet has a white paper on that summarizes why bootstrapped businesses are the best. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). ► September. (1).

Bootstrapping 28

Bootstrapping San Jose Silicon Valley Software Review 28

Professor VC

APRIL 1, 2010

It had a good mix of viewpoints with east ( James Geshwiler, Common Angels ) and west coast (yours truly) angels, early stage venture capitalist ( Jason Mendelson, Foundry Group ), and a couple of attorneys ( Dan Hansen and Mario Rosati ). It is obviously too late to dial-in to the call, but you can still order a CD of the session.

Term Sheet 32

Term Sheet Angel Investor San Jose Venture Capital 32

Professor VC

MAY 29, 2008

To the SEC, it means that you are an accredited investor and To the man (or woman) on the street, a minimum qualification would seem to be an interest and ability to invest in early stage ventures. However, that is not always the case as there is no qualification to set out your shingle as an angel investor or form an angel group.

Angel Investor 28

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor San Jose 28

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

Technical Review 38

Technical Review San Jose Angel Investor Silicon Valley 38

Professor VC

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

This got me thinking about the business model that Mike Keiser has built at the resort and a lecture began to form in my head. cant wait to go back, which is clearly goal #1 in the list of critical success factors if anyone is still following the business model tangent. Labels: Bandon Dunes , business models , golf.

Oregon 28

Oregon San Jose Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Professor VC

APRIL 7, 2011

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

San Jose 36

San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor Valuation 36

Professor VC

JUNE 6, 2008

The 6-year firm survival rate was 60% for dead founders and 61% for live founders, while the average Operating Return on Assets was 6% for dead founders vs. 8% for live founders, but neither are statistically significant (Hvilde 15). Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1).

San Jose 28

San Jose Technical Review Norway Angel Investor 28

Professor VC

DECEMBER 18, 2008

Many entrepreneurial programs feature a business plan competition, which is a great exercise. At SJSU, we also have a business plan competition in the spring, which ideally allows the students to build a viable business model around their NIF projects. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). ► July. (1).

San Jose 28

San Jose Silicon Valley Technical Review Angel Investor 28

Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2008

In addition to the case study analysis, the students also have the opportunity to develop a business model and financial model for a new concept, which always proves a lot more challenging. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). ► July. (1).

San Jose 28

San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor Venture Capital 28

Professor VC

JULY 31, 2008

This whole process got me thinking about the textbook business model. Labels: business models , Grateful Dead , textbook. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Steve Bennet.

San Jose 28

San Jose Software Review Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Professor VC

APRIL 11, 2008

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

San Jose 28

San Jose Angel Investor Venture Capital Balance Sheet 28

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 12, 2008

As early stage investors, our goal is to eliminate as much risk as possible with the least amount of cash spent. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught?

San Jose 31

San Jose Technical Review Venture Capital Angel Investor 31

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 26, 2008

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

Technical Review 28

Technical Review San Jose Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Professor VC

JANUARY 17, 2008

While currently free to angel groups, their business model revolves around aggregating the angel investment data. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught?

Pre-Money Valuation 28

Pre-Money Valuation Angel Investor Angel Groups Valuation 28

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

San Jose 28

San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Professor VC

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

San Jose 43

San Jose Silicon Valley Las Vegas Venture Capital 43

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

The Customer Development Model Customer Development is designed to solve the problems of the Product Development model I described in the four previous posts. Its strength is its rigor and flexibility.

Customer Development 242

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 242

Professor VC

AUGUST 26, 2011

Is the model consistent with the business plan? Does the business model make sense? Do you understand the business and market? The process of building the model forces you to answer the difficult questions related to the business model and give a complete picture of the opportunity.

Silicon Valley 35

Silicon Valley San Jose Hockey Stick Venture Capital 35

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 26, 2008

It is certainly true that we can pick apart the financial projections or pour through contracts, legal and financial diligence, but none of those areas tend to be the most important areas in deciding whether to make an early stage investment. How passionate are the entrepreneurs about their business? Steve Bennet. at 3:48 PM.

Angel Groups 28

Angel Groups San Jose Early Stage Angel Investor 28

Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 13, 2009

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Friday, March 13, 2009 Dont launch Heres a common question I get from startups, especially in the early stages: when should we launch? This is the usual reason given for a marketing launch, but for most early stage startups, its a failure. You have to know your business model.

San Francisco 168

San Francisco PR Lean Early Stage 168

Professor VC

JUNE 20, 2011

I took a look back at our original financial model we presented to VCs in 2004. The business model (OEM through broadband and home security companies for mass distribution) if not specific product functionality has remained largely the same. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine.

San Jose 28

San Jose Angel Investor Term Sheet Venture Capital 28

Professor VC

OCTOBER 26, 2010

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

San Jose 28

San Jose San Francisco Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Professor VC

JULY 2, 2010

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

San Jose 28

San Jose Silicon Valley Venture Capital Angel Investor 28

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

Whether you buy this or not for public equities, the market for early stage private companies has always been wildly inefficient. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. ► October. (1).

Angel Investor 28

Angel Investor Angel Groups San Jose Venture Capital 28

philipsmith.typepad.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

While there have been times in the last dozen or so years, usually during times of venture capital excess, that cash to founders, early-stage executives and other key employees has matched regular market compensation (still with the upside of the equity), this is not true in the vast majority in the start-up game. New Business Models.

Silicon Valley 40

Silicon Valley Equity Technical Review Recapitalization 40

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

always focus on the business model and assumptions, but there are too many unknowns to put much faith in the future cash flow projections. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. ► July.

San Jose 33

San Jose Angel Investor Venture Capital Mezzanine 33

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 18, 2011

In this case, LinkedIn was the only logical one that came to mind and didn’t see a viable business model short of that result. I assumed they werent able to raise funding and early exits often work out great for the founders, although not necessarily investors. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1).

Acquisition 31

Acquisition San Jose Angel Investor IPO 31

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 26, 2010

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

San Jose 28

San Jose Silicon Valley Venture Capital Angel Investor 28

Professor VC

JANUARY 17, 2008

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

Silicon Valley 31

Silicon Valley San Jose Angel Investor Venture Capital 31

Professor VC

MAY 6, 2008

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

San Jose 28

San Jose Angel Investor Silicon Valley Burn Rate 28

Professor VC

MAY 30, 2009

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ▼ May.

San Jose 28

San Jose Angel Investor Silicon Valley Bootstrapping 28

abovethecrowd.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

As these late-stage private companies digest these large fund raises, they are pushing profitability further and further into the future, as well as the proof that their business model actually works. If you want to know if the business model truly hunts, you must pay careful attention. We are in a risk bubble.

IPO 40

IPO Liquidation Preference Valuation Technical Review 40

Professor VC

NOVEMBER 14, 2011

Are you refering to the various early stage platforms that are popping up? I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. April 12, 2012 3:16 PM. Daniel Sisson. Like earlyshares.com or cfofferings.com?

SEC 54

SEC San Jose Angel Investor Accredited Investor 54

Professor VC

JANUARY 20, 2009

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

Venture Capital 28

Venture Capital Silicon Valley San Jose Bootstrapping 28

Professor VC

OCTOBER 11, 2010

I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1). Watch Out for the Red W(h)ine. ► September. (1). Survey says VC's invest on Gut Instinct. ► May.

Social Network 28

Social Network Networking Software Review San Jose 28