Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. Some startups do nothing to prepare for the due diligence process, assuming the people and business plan documents will speak for themselves.

Technical Review 380

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Angel Investor 380

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2010

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. Some startups do nothing to prepare for the due diligence process, assuming the people and business plan documents will speak for themselves.

Technical Review 229

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Angel Investor 229

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2013

On a regular basis, I am approached by entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like a recent BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this NY Times article. With bootstrapping, no business plan is expected by anyone.

Business Plan 250

Business Plan Technical Review Entrepreneur Angel Investor 250

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2021

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Failure to prepare for due diligence. Not doing due diligence on the funding source.

Software Review 307

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Early Stage 307

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like the BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this Forbes article. You need money, and plan to do crowdfunding.

Business Plan 274

Business Plan Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence 274

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2020

Every entrepreneur I know finds it a challenge to balance the joys of entrepreneurship against a set of frustrations they never anticipated. The norm for entrepreneurs is to be optimistic on revenue projections, and miserly on funding needs. Cheaper in the beginning can be more costly in the long run.

Due Diligence 306

Due Diligence Entrepreneur Startup Acquisition 306

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2022

In my experience as an angel investor to startups, goodwill disagreements are perhaps the most common reason that you will fail to close interested investors as an entrepreneur. The same goes for business deals that fail during acquisitions or when it is time for you to retire. Quality of your technical and business teams.

Valuation 368

Valuation Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor 368

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

In my activities as an angel investor, and my work with new ventures seeking investment, I find the “due diligence” stage to be fraught with the most risk. My best advice is to put some structure and discipline into your due diligence preparation, including the following steps: Schedule a team meeting to bring everyone up to date.

Due Diligence 148

Due Diligence Bankruptcy Angel Investor Stock 148

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 14, 2022

India has always been renowned as the land of entrepreneurs. Profitably managing and owning businesses with all the inherent risks have always defined the Indian entrepreneurial spirit. It is here that the groundwork is laid and the business model developed. A business plan is drawn up to attract investors and partners.

Technical Review 145

Technical Review Due Diligence India Startup 145

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Startups with a solid business plan and great pitch deck have a far greater chance of gaining investment. In this essay by one of Mercia’s Fund Principals, Ian Wilson, Ian talks about the sorts of things he and the team are looking for when plans come to them for review. Writing a plan does not need to be a daunting task.

Business Plan 93

Business Plan Technical Review Initial Public Offering Due Diligence 93

Up and Running

JULY 6, 2016

Often, a business plan introduces a new technology that requires some explaining. On one hand, as a reader of business plans for investors, I see way too many business plans that ask a reader to wade neck-deep through technology to get to the business. It’s a business plan, not a term paper or thesis.

Technical Review 72

Technical Review Software Review Business Plan Development Team Review 72

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2012

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Failure to prepare for due diligence. Not doing due diligence on the funding source.

Software Review 250

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur 250

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 11, 2023

Pre-Seed New businesses, often known as startups, have just entered the very first stage of the investment process. During the pre-seed fundraising stage, investors need a viable business plan to base their investments on. Individuals engage in direct investment when they find and finance investment opportunities themselves.

Seed Stage 126

Seed Stage Technical Review Early Stage Due Diligence 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. There is no crowd of successful entrepreneurs. Written business plan. Investors will expect it for due diligence.

Elevator Pitch 390

Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur Due Diligence Angel Investor 390

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

I have often been asked about Startup Funding by entrepreneurs. Here is Startup Funding, a Comprehensive Guide for Entrepreneurs. To secure your funding, you must establish the feasibility of your idea through proper planning and implementation. You can get a personal loan without a business plan.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2013

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Failure to prepare for due diligence. Not doing due diligence on the funding source.

Software Review 265

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Startup 265

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 15, 2023

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. Yet the process is eerily realistic, and every entrepreneur can glean some important lessons. There is no substitute for knowing your business.

Entrepreneur 279

Entrepreneur Due Diligence Angel Investor Silicon Valley 279

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2012

I’ve noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to have no trouble attracting investors, while others with a great business plan struggle with it. On the top line, angel investors look to invest in entrepreneurs that have an almost unwavering passion and sense of urgency. Listens before answering questions.

Technical Review 294

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 294

Up and Running

MAY 9, 2018

That’s the moment when many entrepreneurs realize that getting the help of a professional business plan writer can take their business concept from daydream to day job. Another vital question to consider at this stage is, what makes your business idea or model unique ? How do you even know where to begin ?

Business Plan 71

Business Plan SBA Software Review Small Business Administration 71

Up and Running

APRIL 11, 2012

Bill Payne had a nice post on gust.com late last month titled Using your business plan , in which he lists the different forms or outputs people confuse with a business plan and sets each one into the proper use context. Do not hand investors your business plan when you first meet them.

Business Plan 85

Business Plan Elevator Pitch Technical Review Due Diligence 85

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2010

I’ve noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to have no trouble attracting investors, while others with a great business plan struggle with it. On the top line, angel investors look to invest in entrepreneurs that have an almost unwavering passion and sense of urgency. Listens before answering questions. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 241

Angel Investor Technical Review Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 241

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2017

If you project a sense of desperation, or ignorance of the options and implications, no potential investor will give you the credibility to be your partner in a business. 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.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 220

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2011

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Failure to prepare for due diligence. Not doing due diligence on the funding source.

Software Review 246

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Early Stage 246

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 30, 2016

It seemed as though venture capitalists were throwing money at any Internet idea they could find – no business plan required. Our little business grew from four employees to over 30. After months of due diligence and reviewing hundreds of pages of contracts, McAfee acquired InternetSafety. We wanted in.

Software Review 188

Software Review Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 188

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 22, 2019

So you have a great business idea, you’ve done your research and due diligence, you know your market and you are good at what you do. Many small business owners and entrepreneurs begin their first foray into self employment neglecting some of the most crucial aspects of running a business.

Software Review 176

Software Review Due Diligence Startup Stock 176

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 20, 2019

I’ve been fortunate enough to be on both sides of the table, as an entrepreneur and a VC, and I’ve observed that most investors look for the same things I do when deciding whether to invest in a company. As an immigrant founder, I didn’t have the industry connections that entrepreneurs often rely on to be successful.

Technical Review 140

Technical Review Due Diligence Early Stage Differentiation 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2010

Yesterday I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Failure to prepare for due diligence. Not doing due diligence on the funding source.

Software Review 239

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Startup 239

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2013

I’ve noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to have no trouble attracting investors, while others with a great business plan struggle with it. On the top line, angel investors look to invest in entrepreneurs that have an almost unwavering passion and sense of urgency. Listens before answering questions. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 273

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 273

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

The fundraising stage is vital for any entrepreneur, but you can’t wing it through your meetings and expect to be taken seriously. As an entrepreneur, your goal when raising financing is to get several term sheets — the documents describing the terms and conditions of financing. Do or do not — there is no “try.”

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Term Sheet Technical Review Due Diligence 100

Up and Running

MAY 28, 2015

We recently had Tim Berry, Palo Alto Software founder and business planning expert, present our Bplans audience with his latest advice on lean business planning. It’s all about making your business life easier, doing what works best, getting the best results by tracking what works and always improving.

Lean 60

Lean Business Plan Video Software Review 60

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

Relationships are the key to survival and success for entrepreneurs, and first impressions usually turn into lasting impressions. As an advisor to many early-stage entrepreneurs, I caution them to always be prepared for that chance meeting with a famous investor, a potential partner or an industry guru.

Due Diligence 321

Due Diligence Founder Angel Investor Affiliate 321

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2020

After many years of working with angel investors seriously trying to find new ventures worthy of their hard-earned money, I find their frustration often exceeds that of entrepreneurs sincerely looking for financial help. For seed stage funding, entrepreneurs should be looking to friends and family, crowd funding, and relevant institutions.

Due Diligence 308

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Preferred Stock Seed Stage 308

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 6, 2019

That beautifully written, meticulously mapped-out business plan might be the problem. Ask any MBA instructor what you need to get an idea off the ground, and you’ll probably be told to create a business plan. Setting out without any kind of game plan can lead to chaos. No company’s growth follows a business plan.

Business Plan 113

Business Plan Due Diligence Finance Sales 113

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Entrepreneurs need to find a way to get traction (sales) without funding. If entrepreneurs are only pitching to angel groups, they’re only pitching to 6% of the active angels, and 0.4% However, entrepreneurs still need to approach angel investors offline for larger amounts of capital. Furthermore, according to the IRS, about 3.9

Angel Investor 159

Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review Accredited Investor 159

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

Don’t think for a minute that any serious investor would ever read a summary memo, or watch a pitch, much less read a business plan, when it looks like it’s being sent in bulk to multiple investors. That idea dates back to the 1980s when people imagined that VCs were looking at business plans coming in unsolicited.

Software Review 124

Software Review Due Diligence Venture Capital Elevator Pitch 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

are eliminated during due diligence. A conundrum for many frustrated entrepreneurs is that they need money from investors to design and build a prototype product, yet most angel investors expect to see at least a prototype before they invest. Prepare an investment-grade business plan. Build a prototype product.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 15, 2022

In many cases, your advisor will identify key employees and create a business plan to help you find a buyer and negotiate the best price possible. However, you should be aware that some potential buyers may back out of the deal during due diligence. Creating a business plan. Source: Pixabay.

Merger 130

Merger Acquisition Due Diligence Valuation 130