Gust

FEBRUARY 22, 2014

Setting up a clean, effective web site that lists companies seeking funding and provides accounts for investors to interact with them is not rocket science. There are literally hundreds of platforms currently operating that connect investors and startups, and there have been at least a hundred others that have come and gone.

Belarus 107

Belarus Kazakhstan Portugal Accredited Investor 107

Gust

JANUARY 4, 2012

(It’s often possible to “ design around ” a patent to operate a business that achieves similar results in different ways.) Most investors will assume that if the business plan is solid and a large market opportunity exists, there will be vigorous competition from other players. Creating product mock-ups , wireframes, etc.

Intellectual Property 143

Intellectual Property IP Startup United States 143

Gust

DECEMBER 6, 2012

Those names and faces and backgrounds that turn up in pitches and business plans might be deep and important relationships, somebody with options or equity who is going to be helping for the long term; or meaningless fluff, somebody who agreed once to have his or her name appear, but really does nothing. . Everybody’s busy.

Startup 165

Startup Equity Capitalization Table Naming 165

Gust

DECEMBER 16, 2012

If the founders are not experienced, find a couple of advisors from the business sector to fill the gap. In today’s world, if you don’t have a web site up and running, you will not be perceived as a real company. They must amplify your “elevator pitch” to investors, as well as key points from the business plan and the financial model.

Angel Investor 179

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Groups 179

Gust

OCTOBER 7, 2012

Don’t talk directly to potential investors until you have the business plan and other basics complete. Most startups need funding before shipping, and investors expect to see your website to validate your business plan. Prime the investor world. With stealth mode, you can’t learn early enough to pivot gracefully.

Stealth 131

Stealth Entrepreneur Incubator Engineer 131

Gust

OCTOBER 11, 2011

Use it in every networking situation and business conference introduction. The elevator pitch should be the first few paragraphs of your business plan, your executive summary, your investor presentation , and the first page of your web site. A different message everywhere is no message.

Elevator Pitch 174

Elevator Pitch Startup Differentiation Distribution 174

Gust

AUGUST 7, 2012

I really like Martin Zwilling’s post here yesterday, 10 things that make a business plan fundable. That made me think about this list, the opposite, things that make a plan not fundable. These are my 10 things that make business plans not fundable, in my assumed order of importance. Tops-down projections.

Business Plan 172

Business Plan Sweat Equity Salary Founder 172