article thumbnail

7 Indications Your New Venture May Not Be Investable

Startup Professionals Musings

Here is my perspective on the highest risk elements, from my years of working with investors and watching startups come and go: All the co-founders are first-time entrepreneurs. On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site.

article thumbnail

7 Startup Proposals That May Raise Investor Red Flags

Startup Professionals Musings

Here is my perspective on the highest risk elements, from my years of working with investors and watching startups come and go: All the co-founders are first-time entrepreneurs. On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

See More than 120 Speakers and Mentors at The Lean Startup Conference

Startup Lessons Learned

For example: Mitch Kapor was a founder of Lotus. As the emeritus Chief Technology Officer of the United States, he still connects government and Silicon Valley. He’s a founder of Andreessen Horowitz, which has backed Facebook, Skype, Jawbone, and dozens of other companies whose products you use. He’ll bring us real-world advice.

Lean 165
article thumbnail

The Lean Startup SXSW 2013

Startup Lessons Learned

. + 1,000 startup founders, investors, and press! Vinod Khosla Founder Dave McClure Founding Partner Eric Ries Author Steve Blank Serial Entrepreneur & Professor Todd Park CTO Travis Kalanick CEO & Co-Founder Joe Zadeh Director of Product Sam Shank Co-Founder & CEO NEW!

Lean 165
article thumbnail

7 New Venture Scenarios That Rarely Attract Investors

Startup Professionals Musings

Here is my perspective on the highest risk elements, from my years of working with investors and watching startups come and go: All the co-founders are first-time entrepreneurs. On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site.

article thumbnail

Flexible VC, a New Model for Companies Targeting Profitability

David Teten

(co-written with Jamie Finney, Founding Partner at Greater Colorado Venture Fund. From RBI, Flexible VCs borrow the ability to reap meaningful returns without demanding founders build for an exit. By tying payments to actual revenues, founders and investors remain aligned around the company’s real-time performance, good or bad.

article thumbnail

The Secret History of Minnesota Part 1: Engineering Research Associates

Steve Blank

The story starts with a company you probably never heard of – Engineering Research Associates. While it seemed like a good idea and had the Navy’s backing, the founders got turned down for funding by companies, investment bankers and everyone, until they talked to John Parker. Why Minneapolis/St. Parker agreed to invest.

Minnesota 309