Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

When pitching to investors, entrepreneurs always seem to start with a customer pitch, then add a slide or two about the business. In reality, they need a separate pitch about the business, carrying over only a slide or two about the solution. Remember, investors are buying into the business, not the product.

Product 120

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Burn Rate 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2015

Too many entrepreneurs tackle starting a business as a random walk into a business minefield, and they count on their street smarts, thick skin and pure determination to get them to their destinations alive. Some entrepreneurs run with passion into the minefield, only to find it’s harder to recover than to plan ahead.

Elevator Pitch 120

Elevator Pitch Burn Rate Startup Metrics 120

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 11, 2018

As an entrepreneur, you are going to have to take risks. When entrepreneurs are selling widely from the start and showing us vanity metrics, it’s clear that they haven’t found PMF and it’s a quick pass for us. It’s important to create a sustainable business model with profitable unit economics, regardless of how much you raise.

Los Angeles 133

Los Angeles Investment Bankers Cofounder Viral 133

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 13, 2011

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. The process, which Blank detailed in his book, "The Four Steps to the Epiphany," uses customer feedback to refine and improve a product before scaling a business.

Silicon Valley 117

Silicon Valley Balance Sheet Metrics Early Stage 117

Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 13, 2009

Figuring this out takes time, and few entrepreneurs have the patience to wait it out, because the business plan does such a good job of explaining what customers are going to think. The problem is that customers dont read your business plan. You have to know your business model. Most startups arent so fortunate.

San Francisco 168

San Francisco PR Lean Early Stage 168

Up and Running

MAY 22, 2018

The show has been around for a while; entrepreneur contestants pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of investors—the “sharks”—in hopes that one of them will want to invest in their idea. However, for those entrepreneurs, a whole new struggle begins after the show ends. Nerdy term: Burn rate.

Exit Strategy 90

Exit Strategy Angel Investor Search Elevator Pitch 90

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. Im going to continue to follow the paths of entrepreneurs turned VCs turned entrepreneurs again and see how it evolves.

San Jose 28

San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor Venture Capital 28

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 26, 2008

Do you have the right make-up to be an entrepreneur? You need to be true to yourself and many people arent cut out to take the personal and professional risk associated with being an entrepreneur. I was glad to see he didnt try and upstage Mr. Hogan by adding another one. Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? ► October. (1).

Technical Review 28

Technical Review San Jose Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Professor VC

AUGUST 26, 2011

I have to build a financial model? I get asked this question a lot by entrepreneurs (and students). What are the key drivers and metrics? Is the model consistent with the business plan? Does the business model make sense? Do you understand the business and market? ProfessorVC. How do you think?

Silicon Valley 35

Silicon Valley San Jose Hockey Stick Venture Capital 35