Growthink Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2017

Demonstrate your team’s unique unfair competitive advantage, whether it is technology, stellar management team, or key partnerships. Be prepared for due diligence. It’s critical that the data you present is verifiable, since any serious investor will conduct extensive due diligence. Define your customers precisely.

Venture Capital 129

Venture Capital Business Plan Technical Review Private Placement 129

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JUNE 20, 2011

I recently helped a friend broker the sale of his small, bootstrapped company. This is a smart guy with experience and a logical approach to such things, but the way he was initially trying to value his company was not only wrong, but the wrong way to think about the entire sale. To stoke an existing sales channel.

Sales 260

Sales Channel Cofounder Valuation 260

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

I’m a mom, a full-time sales manager, and recruiter. Angels invest in one out of every forty deals they review (2.5%) versus the one out of 400 by VC’s (0.25%). Entrepreneurs need to find a way to get traction (sales) without funding. Perhaps the library or a local tech company can host. I’m not your average angel.

Angel Investor 159

Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review Accredited Investor 159

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Here are three important reasons for the question: Good investment paybacks normally require an exit event. Investors know that the fun of a startup turns into managing production processes, sales processes, and personnel in a few years.

Equity 120

Equity Exit Strategy Private Equity Startup 120

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 10, 2018

You’ll find exceptions to this rule, like Snapchat, which was operating at a loss at its IPO, when it experienced high initial trading prices due to its huge popularity and untapped monetization capabilities. How could you position your company in the sales pitch to make the growth potential visible and appealing to prospective buyers?

Valuation 145

Valuation Technical Review Exit Strategy Metrics 145

mashable.com

MARCH 20, 2014

Proceed — if at all — with extreme due diligence and caution. Whats your exit strategy? Before accepting an offer with a startup, ask what their exit strategy is, and make sure youre on board. What is the sales strategy? Follow @mashable. see more > Search. Must Reads. Social Media.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Software Review Exit Strategy San Francisco 103

Up and Running

AUGUST 28, 2018

If you’ve never written a business plan before, Bplans also offers a library of sample medical business plans that you can review or even download to use as a model. Then you’ll think through your ideal customer , your competition , and your opportunities for growth. Components of this section include: Your marketing and sales plan.

Business Plan 72

Business Plan Technical Review Exit Strategy Oregon 72

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

VCs tout themselves as frontier technology investors, but most are using the same infrastructure tools they have used for the past 20+ years: Excel and recent college grads searching Google. According to Knowledge.VC , under 5% of US VCs have a full-time team member focused on technology. . But we’re doing it slowly.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Technical Review 60

Up and Running

AUGUST 20, 2018

In all cases, the most important element of business planning is the review schedule —set specific times to review your progress toward your goals. Specifically, it’s the time to review your progress on milestones and to compare your actuals against your financial projections. How often should you revise your business plan?

Business Plan 119

Business Plan Technical Review Lean Forecast 119

Up and Running

JANUARY 2, 2013

I’ve raised close to $1 million from angel investors for my previous technology start-ups. Impress the investors with what you and your team have accomplished to date (sales, contracts, key hires, product launches, etc.). How will you reach your customers? Take some time to share the relevant traction you’ve had.

Hockey Stick 164

Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Due Diligence 164

Berkonomics

JANUARY 16, 2014

All parties need to perform due diligence to ensure that the assumptions are correct, that neither partner has financial issues which could affect the partnership, and that the opposite partner has the skills to contribute to the partnership. Access to new technologies. Review financial statements – up to 3 years if available.

Technical Review 81

Technical Review Due Diligence Exit Strategy Partner 81

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Too many entrepreneurs look for that one magic bullet -- an exciting new technology, perhaps, or their own determination to make the world a better place -- to override any shortcomings in their startup model. A near-term customer value proposition. In all cases, you need customer support, formal processes and training in place.

Exit Strategy 120

Exit Strategy Technical Review Distribution Viral 120

Up and Running

AUGUST 19, 2014

I have pitched to hundreds of angel investors over the years as a result of co-founding two tech companies and raising just shy of $1M in angel capital. My favorite part of pitching to them was the due diligence process. I am impressed when the entrepreneur talks to me about solving a specific customer’s problem.

Angel Investor 161

Angel Investor Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 161

Up and Running

OCTOBER 3, 2018

Set a specific time each month to review it , comparing forecasts to actuals and revising as necessary. Then you’ll think through your ideal customer, your competition, and your opportunities for growth. This section of your business plan describes what services you provide and how they benefit your customers. Key customers.

El Paso 61

El Paso Business Plan Technical Review Forecast 61

Up and Running

MAY 17, 2017

Plus, you’ll always be prepared in case an opportunity or desire to sell arises in the future—it’s a smart idea to have an exit strategy. In sales, it is a common practice to take the needs, wants, and desires of your potential customer and to present your product or service as a solution. Beyond ROI.

Acquisition 92

Acquisition Technical Review Revenue Exit Strategy 92

Up and Running

MAY 1, 2014

You’ve reviewed what a business plan is , and why you need one to start and grow your business. The company overview provides a quick review of the company’s legal structure and location, as well as some background on the company’s history if you’re writing the plan for an existing business. Marketing and Sales Plan.

Business Plan 163

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Distribution 163

Up and Running

MARCH 11, 2015

As the former co-founder and CEO of two technology companies, Caroline has experienced both start-up failures and successes, and has raised close to $1 million in investment capital. Make sure you’ve done the due diligence on all of these areas of your business. Pretend that you are the investor. Are you saving them time?

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Software Review Due Diligence Exit Strategy 60

www.virtuosimedia.com

MARCH 8, 2012

Custom Programming. Home ▶ Businesses ▶ Startup Business Advice ▶ Current Page How To Find A Technical Cofounder For Your Online Business Idea. This article should also serve as a starting guide for programmers who are approached about becoming technical co-founders. Business Services. Web Design.

Technical Cofounder 41

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Technical Review NDA 41

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

MARCH 10, 2011

This article picks up from that point onward, discussing the challenges we ran into once we went into operation mode, the invaluable lessons that only first-hand experience can teach, the exit strategy which was the $250,000 sale of the website, and finally my overall concluding thoughts on the entire experience.

Technical Review 71

Technical Review PPC Due Diligence Exit Strategy 71

Reid Hoffman

JULY 23, 2020

This week, I’d like to turn to the question of how current market conditions affect the approach entrepreneurs should take towards their exit strategy. The larger company has to decide, “What you do is key to one of my strategies, so I’ll buy you.” That gave us the power to choose our exit strategy.

IPO 36

IPO Exit Strategy Acquisition Technical Review 36

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Posted on September 14, 2009 by steveblank Over the last 30 years Wall Street’s appetite for technology stocks have changed radically – swinging between unbridled enthusiasm to believing they’re all toxic. In this time, building a successful business meant building a company that had paying customers quarter after quarter.

Silicon Valley 217

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 217

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

Lots of new box companies have trouble ironing out the kinks in their process: their customer can’t easily unsubscribe, their boxes just aren’t exciting or well-curated, and more. Target market (intended customers). Marketing and sales plan. You can see what your customer needs out of your subscription box, and why they need it.

Business Plan 63

Business Plan Curation Balance Sheet Intellectual Property 63

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 18, 2024

As a former business exit advisor, she crafts exit strategies, adding up to five figures to clients’ net profit monthly so they can focus on growth. Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please! It's no surprise that 94% of customers are likely to recommend Gusto 94. Does that sound too technical?

Framework 64

Framework Sales Cycle Sales Hiring 64

Up and Running

JULY 15, 2016

If on the other hand, your goal is to expand your customer base and tap into foreign markets, you will not want to miss out on China’s potential “one billion customers.” Whether you are a travel operator, real estate broker, or gourmet restaurant, you should strategize for attracting Chinese customers.

China 60

China Entrepreneur Technical Review Framework 60

Hearpreneur

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Increased productivity also leads to reduced lead-time and improved due date performance, both of which reduce chaos and foster a great work culture. You learn how to appear to be devoted to new products without actually committing financially until you receive feedback and orders from your customers. Photo Credit: James Parsons.

Entrepreneur 142

Entrepreneur Software Review LLC Web Development 142

Up and Running

JUNE 16, 2014

To demonstrate traction you might recruit a good management team, start making sales, build an advisory board or secure strategic partnerships. This is where the ‘exit strategy’ comes in. An exit strategy is not your plan for when the business fails, but rather, your strategy for returning money to investors.

Exit Strategy 91

Exit Strategy Advisory Board Business Plan Portfolio 91

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

JANUARY 21, 2011

I purchased an undervalued business which I knew I could turn around based on a review of the business operations, researching similar businesses in nearby areas, as well as digging deeper into the financials. Not to mention the quarter million dollar sale of the business as our exit. Yup, I did pay for on the job training.

Internet 80

Internet Technical Review Stock Due Diligence 80

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Technology | Thursdays. Sales & Marketing | Wednesdays. Exit Strategies. Strategy and Planning. SALES & MARKETING. TECHNOLOGY. Technology. Strategy and Planning >. Strategy and Planning >. Why Arizona Bay started taking stock from its customers instead of cash. Bookkeeping.

Arizona 40

Arizona Equity Iowa Venture Capital 40

www.quora.com

JANUARY 16, 2011

Developers have worn the crown for the last 30 or more years in the technology industry - rightly. But in the world following Jonathan Ive, designers are finally getting their due. It is also true that open source and the commoditization of many technologies has put much more emphasis on experience.

Technical Review 51

Technical Review Startup CTO Hire Cofounder 51

Hearpreneur

JULY 20, 2018

Four Mine is a play on words meant to convey both the scientific and technical aspects of crafting the perfect jewelry and the emotional components that are an integral part of purchasing jewelry. I was at a crossroads in my career and debating about starting my own sales and marketing consulting business. 4- Created a new word.

Naming 71

Naming OTC Entrepreneur PPC 71

www.paulgraham.com

APRIL 28, 2010

I wassurprised recently when I realized that all the worst problems wefaced in our startup were due not to competitors, but investors.Dealing with competitors was easy by comparison. Custom work doesnt scale. An advantage of consulting, as a way to develop a product, is thatyou know youre making something at least one customer wants.

Technical Review 76

Technical Review Startup Software Review Angel Investor 76

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

MARCH 25, 2011

If I need to drastically increase the amount of product I sell or customers I attract to make good money, and that requires more of my own time to achieve, or cannot be easily outsourced to others (it often increases your labor just to organize outsourcers, so don’t assume outsourcing is a magic solution), that’s not the method for me.

Affiliate 112

Affiliate Internet Software Review Advertising 112

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

FEBRUARY 11, 2011

One of those ventures was the creation, establishment, growth and sale of an e-commerce business. And rightfully so, who would cater to a small $3,000 order when there are customers that buy in the hundreds of thousands of dollars? My business concept was one based on volume (sales), and not product margin (profit per item sold).

SEO 86

SEO PPC America Design 86

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

JUNE 19, 2010

I have a few contractors to do the technical side of my work and a customer support person, but that’s it. I didn’t have that contractor doing customer support. I didn’t have a contractor doing technical things for me. The biggest deal I’ve ever done was a sale of a $100,000 website. I’m the content creator.

Technical Review 76

Technical Review Software Review Prospectus Audience 76

Software By Rob

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

For example, you are leaving technology factor out of consideration. With better (or new) technology one can outperform and outgrow competition, create new markets or re-segment existing ones. That’s the reason why technical founders are getting more credit from VCs nowadays.) 6 comments ↓ #1 Anton on 09.22.09

Marketing 50

Marketing Software Review Technical Review Startup 50

BeyondVC

SEPTEMBER 14, 2004

What I do not want is a litany of presentations and tech demos with no discussion. Listed below is a standard framework that I like to use in board meetings along with some sample reports that help guide the discussion and allow directors to review performance. By no means is this meant to be an exhaustive list.

Balance Sheet 99

Balance Sheet Technical Review Framework Stock Options 99