Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

I challenge any entrepreneur, for example, to define the difference between "seed-stage" and "early-stage" financing. Asking for early-stage money before you have customers and revenue will likely kill your credibility with real investors. A seed-stage “super angel.”

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VC Cafe

APRIL 4, 2024

As Andrew Chen points out in this tweet: WHY INVESTORS DON'T FUND AI STARTUPS you might know A16Z is running a seed-stage startup accelerator called SPEEDRUN where we're funding 40+ companies in the next 2 months with $750k per company. apply here: [link] ).

Generative AI 78

Generative AI Artificial Inteligence Technical Review ChatGPT 78

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 7, 2016

The rub is that a startup likely has the ideas to take it straight to the top, but it’s also likely that the company lacks the business skills to make it truly successful. A Startup Lab invests guidance, strategy, and takes equity in a carefully selected collection of early and seed stage startups.

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Seed Stage Silicon Valley Incubator Asia 100

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Let’s face it, the rules for getting a startup funded at the seed stage aren’t very clear. Note: When I say “seed stage startup,” I’m specifically referring to software/app startups that are eitherpre-product or early product. TVR: The traditional way of raising seed funding. The New Way , called Traction.

Seed Stage 100

Seed Stage Silicon Valley Startup Venture Capital 100

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 10, 2017

by Mark Gilbert, founder and CEO of MBS Accounting Technology & Advisory. Roughly 27 percent of startups can’t get the funding they need to take their business to the next level, according to the National Association of Small Businesses. In today’s investment climate, it’s getting even harder to raise money from investors.

Software Review 124

Software Review Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 124

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

In the seed round you have an early product and by the end you’ve found product/market fit and understand the scale of what you’re building and the levers that you can pull to accelerate growth. Series B is about proving your net revenue model (can you be profitable?). Team, Product, Traction, Business Model and Market.

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Cofounder Seed Stage Valuation Metrics 429

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2023

According to most definitions, an entrepreneur is one who envisions a new and different business, meaning one that is not a copy of an existing business model. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business. Here is a summary of the key stages along the way: Idea and seed stage.

Matching 270

Matching Entrepreneur Startup Seed Stage 270

The Next Web

OCTOBER 23, 2013

There aren’t a tonne of funds focused on seed-stage funding worldwide, but we can add a new one to the list today. SparkLabs , the company behind the accelerator program in Korea , is expanding its scope with its first seed-stage fund that will “help great startups go global.”. Asia Entrepreneur Insider News sparklabs'

Seed Stage 139

Seed Stage Asia Silicon Valley 139

View from Seed

APRIL 20, 2020

Starting today, we will begin accepting our first cohort of startups into the program: WHO : Pre-Seed & Seed stage startups located anywhere focused on the U.S. Consumer and SaaS B2B companies that use technology drive a brighter collective future for mass market end users, per our investment approach thesis.

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B2B Seed Stage B2C Programming 436

David Teten

MARCH 18, 2021

Data from OpenVC shows that VCs typically focus on 2 technology classes. Out of 125 funds in the database, 33 state they invest in 1 type of technology (e.g. software”); 43 invest in 2 types of technology (e.g., 2) Business model-defined funds. software”); 43 invest in 2 types of technology (e.g.,

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Cofounder Venture Capital Deal Flow 78

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2020

According to most definitions, an entrepreneur is one who envisions a new and different business, meaning one that is not a copy of an existing business model. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business. Here is a summary of the key stages along the way: Idea and seed stage.

Matching 317

Matching Seed Stage Angel Investor Business Model 317

Austin Startup

MAY 11, 2017

We make a majority of our investments in those sectors and prioritize proven business models. We make a minority of our investments in new technology areas where deep technical innovation is occurring and where we believe there is will be a large future market opportunity. That drives every decision we make.

Private Equity 48

Private Equity Venture Capital Technical Review Seed Stage 48

Mucker Lab

AUGUST 27, 2014

At the time, LA and Santa Clara were both the epicenter of the technology industry due to the significant overlap between the aerospace/military industry (Los Angeles) and the computing business (Silicon Valley). Given our backgrounds, we often get asked about what makes the tech scene in Los Angeles different from that in the Valley.

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Los Angeles Southern California Silicon Valley Technical Review 138

View from Seed

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

Have a jaw dropping customer value proposition with a competition crushing business model. In other words, something that is 10X better, faster, or more convenient , and a business with accumulating returns to scale. We invest at the seed stage, and so product/market fit is always a significant risk.

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Seed Stage Early Stage Founder Portfolio 254

Hippoland

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Etc… At the pre-seed stage, a big way to stand out is if you have a V3 statement (as opposed to a V1 statement). The way you get to a V3 statement is to start running the business and charging customers. Although this post is about what I look for, every investor (incl pre-seed investors) looks for this.

Seed Stage 48

Seed Stage Business Model B2B Email 48

Hippoland

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Etc… At the pre-seed stage, a big way to stand out is if you have a V3 statement (as opposed to a V1 statement). The way you get to a V3 statement is to start running the business and charging customers. Although this post is about what I look for, every investor (incl pre-seed investors) looks for this.

Seed Stage 48

Seed Stage Business Model B2B Email 48

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 6, 2014

Here are a few of my “rules” for young investors and inventors on the new VC paradigm path for starting new businesses: Remove the costs. Traditional VCs used to just write checks for new ideas, but then ran away from seed-stage risk after the last tech bubble burst. It’s fun, because we spend very little, and make a lot.

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San Francisco Business Model Silicon Valley Coder 154

David Teten

JANUARY 19, 2021

Seed-stage compatible: Like traditional equity VC investors, Flexible VCs accomodate early-stage investment risk within their portfolios better than a traditional RBI funder. Eligible for favorable treatment under Qualified Small Business Stock exemption, if structured as equity. Typical business stage.

Cofounder 78

Cofounder Technical Review Equity Dividend 78

K9 Ventures

JULY 19, 2012

– A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund. which was a $6.25M fund designed to be deployed over 3-4 years, making initial investments between $100K – $250K in concept and seed stage technology companies located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not interested in me-too businesses.

Technology 132

Technology Seed Stage San Francisco Limited Partner 132

K9 Ventures

JULY 19, 2012

– A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund. which was a $6.25M fund designed to be deployed over 3-4 years, making initial investments between $100K – $250K in concept and seed stage technology companies located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not interested in me-too businesses.

Technology 132

Technology Seed Stage San Francisco Limited Partner 132

K9 Ventures

APRIL 28, 2010

– a seed-stage fund. is a $6.25M fund that is designed to do concept and seed-stage investments in technology companies. Direct Revenue : The company must have a direct revenue model. I’m pleased to announce the formation of K9 Ventures, L.P. K9 Ventures, L.P.

Seed Stage 61

Seed Stage San Francisco IP Portfolio 61

thebarefootvc

JANUARY 27, 2014

I think that later stage valuations are frothy (for reasons I explain below) while earlier stage valuations are starting to stabilize from previous highs (with the exception of the superstar serial entrepreneur) - turns out scaling in a sea of competition (both startup and entrenched) is not so easy. Technology ubiquity.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Valuation Venture Capital Investment Bankers 63

Up and Running

JUNE 14, 2010

And the beneath-the-surface rumblings were about how it was screwing up the venture capital business model. He cites Seed Deals Account for 26% of Early-stage Web Investments in which Giga Om points out the rise of a relatively new class of angel investors, which they call super angels.

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Disintermediation Venture Capital Angel Investor Seed Stage 66

View from Seed

AUGUST 2, 2017

Some conclude that certain sectors or technologies — like AI, blockchain, VR — will define the next decade. Others take bets on certain verticals or business models, such as marketplaces, SaaS, or enterprise technology. The impact of civilization-shaping technologies unfolds over many decades.

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Seed Stage Portfolio Cofounder B2B 273

Up and Running

MARCH 11, 2015

And, there’s a good reason why; it includes back-to-back essays on mobile, high-growth startups and technology. As president of Y Combinator, the hugely successful seed-stage investor/accelerator, Sam Altman has a lot of knowledge to share. It’s one of my favorites on this list. Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrewchen. Sam Altman.

Venture Capital 60

Venture Capital Technical Review Silicon Valley Cofounder 60

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2016

According to most definitions, an entrepreneur is one who envisions a new and different business, meaning one that is not a copy of an existing business model. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business. Here is a summary of the key stages along the way: Idea and seed stage.

Seed Stage 120

Seed Stage Startup Angel Investor Business Model 120

Steve Blank

MAY 12, 2015

SBIR/STTR Program and Startup Seed Funding. The Small Business Innovative Research ( SBIR ) and Small Business Technology Transfer ( STTR ) programs are startup seed funds created by Congress to encourage U.S. small businesses to turn Government-funded research into commercial businesses. Eleven U.S.

SBIR 120

SBIR Maryland Lean Seed Stage 120

Hunter Walker

DECEMBER 25, 2016

In the spirit of clearing out some half-formed thoughts, I wanted to share my response to venture LPs who ask about the effect of “so much money” flowing into the seed space and how we think about its competitive impact upon our fund Homebrew. Well, when we see a company at this stage we assume their round is going to get done.

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Seed Stage Cofounder Engineer Reputation 73

Hunter Walker

DECEMBER 27, 2016

Satya and I take a concentrated approach to seed stage investing – playing a leadership role in financings and committing 50%+ of our time ongoing to working with current investments. Related: 2016 VC Half-Thoughts: Seed Companies Aren’t Being Overfunded, They’re Being Prematurely Funded.

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Seed Stage Management Founder Leadership 94

David Teten

DECEMBER 12, 2017

VCs are at the forefront of technological disruption, funding many of the latest cutting edge productivity tools. Clint Korver, Partner at Ulu Ventures , remarked: “I’d compare this technology transformation as akin to what happened in public company investing. But what tools are they using themselves to automate their own processes?

Early Stage 60

Early Stage Technical Review Software Review Venture Capital 60

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 13, 2015

According to most definitions, an entrepreneur is one who envisions a new and different business, meaning one that is not a copy of an existing business model. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business. Here is a summary of the key stages along the way: Idea and seed stage.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Seed Stage Angel Investor Business Model 120

K9 Ventures

JUNE 12, 2012

While it it may not feel that way, the data suggest that there is indeed too much capital in the system — especially so at the seed stage, with more and more individuals and larger funds trying to invest in companies at this stage.).

Venture Capital 117

Venture Capital Silicon Valley Founder Seed Stage 117

Tim Keane

OCTOBER 3, 2012

Technology versus market risk in angel investments.  In growth stage companies, for instance, we talk of execution risk.   Greg Gianforte at RightNow Technologies in Bozeman, Montana (recently sold to Oracle) is a famous proponent of bootstrapping for this exact reason.   You can think of this a couple of ways. 

Technology 74

Technology Marketing Intellectual Property Montana 74

Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2011

I strongly believe (at least for very early stage technology ventures) that you will get diminishing returns and arguably negative returns once you get past an initial threshold of team, product, market and financial diligence. Since it is extremely difficult to predict, this will give the best chance of hitting the winners.

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Technical Review Due Diligence Silicon Valley San Jose 31

View from Seed

APRIL 23, 2015

In the startup world, one POTAJ that’s easy and worthwhile to defend is the need to focus on building great products and innovative technology instead of trying to over-sell lousy solutions. Their business models are, in many cases, focused on outlier exits within the portfolio. Accidental VC'

Founder 120

Founder Distribution Viral Seed Stage 120

K9 Ventures

JUNE 12, 2012

While it it may not feel that way, the data suggest that there is indeed too much capital in the system — especially so at the seed stage, with more and more individuals and larger funds trying to invest in companies at this stage.).

Venture Capital 105

Venture Capital Silicon Valley Founder Seed Stage 105

www.informationarbitrage.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Home About Press IA Capital Partners Archives After 17 years in M&A, Derivatives and Trading, Im spending my time with young entrepreneurs in and around financial technology and digital media. Main February 23, 2010 Advice for CTO Founders: Dont Let Business Kill the Business Founding a technology company is an amazing thing.

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CTO Hire Founder Cap Table Vesting 40