Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2022

Don’t try to talk and demo your way up the hill. Don’t insist on a product demo – he is buying the business, not the product. If the investor thinks you are coming to ask for domain advice, and you ask for money, your success probabilities are shot. Fully prepare for the assault. Talk bounces off and won’t stop any bullets.

Elevator Pitch 316

Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Venture Capital Business Plan 316

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2012

Prototypes and demos attached. Remember that early prototypes and demos usually break or don’t work for unfamiliar users, and we can’t see all the work and love you have already put into them. I see lots of statements about poor usability, poor quality, fat and slow, all without even anecdotal data.

Elevator Pitch 244

Elevator Pitch Technical Review Business Plan .Net 244

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2011

Prototypes and demos attached. Remember that early prototypes and demos usually break or don’t work for unfamiliar users, and we can’t see all the work and love you have already put into them. I see lots of statements about poor usability, poor quality, fat and slow, all without even anecdotal data.

Business Plan 242

Business Plan Elevator Pitch Technical Review .Net 242

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

As evidence that it does work, CrunchBase reported that more than 200 companies in YCombinator’s Winter 2023 cohort were funded, and many were scooped up by VCs even before the Demo Days. However, if you are looking to find an incubator like YCombinator for easy money and free services to hatch your startup, it probably won’t work.

Incubator 231

Incubator Silicon Valley North America Small Business Administration 231

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

As evidence that it does work, TechCrunch reported a new high of more than 200 companies in YCombinator’s Winter 2019 cohort, and many were scooped up by VCs even before the Demo Days. However, if you are looking to find an incubator like YCombinator for easy money and free services to hatch your startup, it probably won’t work.

Incubator 398

Incubator Silicon Valley North America Startup 398

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2019

Don’t try to talk and demo your way up the hill. Don’t insist on a product demo – he is buying the business, not the product. If the investor thinks you are coming to ask for domain advice, and you ask for money, your success probabilities are shot. Fully prepare for the assault. Talk bounces off and won’t stop any bullets.

Elevator Pitch 214

Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Venture Capital Business Plan 214

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2020

Be sure to involve real people and real customers, such as GoPro cameras , with user generated demos and amazing aspirational videos. New products being used in unusual ways attract attention, buzz, and followers. These can easily start new trends, or capitalize on existing ones. Build relationships and partnerships to expand your influence.

Marketing 425

Marketing Angel Investor China New York 425

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

The Founder needs to remember that meetings up to this point have been primarily off-site, with staged demos, and managed personally by the CEO or a small team. Others schedule exhaustive training sessions for everyone on the team, including showcase customers, to make sure that everyone paints a consistent picture.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Startup Term Sheet 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2020

For customers, a sample, demo device, or at least a brochure will solidify the message and your readiness to deliver. For reinforcement and later questions, you should always be prepared to provide physical takeaways. For investors, an executive summary of your plan is appropriate.

Elevator Pitch 317

Elevator Pitch Intellectual Property Cost Technology 317

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2017

Don’t try to talk and demo your way up the hill. Don’t insist on a product demo – he is buying the business, not the product. If the investor thinks you are coming to ask for domain advice, and you ask for money, your success probabilities are shot. Fully prepare for the assault. Talk bounces off and won’t stop any bullets.

Elevator Pitch 151

Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Venture Capital Business Plan 151

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2014

Don’t try to talk and demo your way up the hill. Don’t insist on a product demo – he is buying the business, not the product. If the investor thinks you are coming to ask for domain advice, and you ask for money, your success probabilities are shot. Fully prepare for the assault. Talk bounces off and won’t stop any bullets.

Elevator Pitch 268

Elevator Pitch Venture Capital Startup Angel Investor 268

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2012

Don’t try to talk and demo your way up the hill. Don’t insist on a product demo – he is buying the business, not the product. If the investor thinks you are coming to ask for domain advice, and you ask for money, your success probabilities are shot. Fully prepare for the assault. Talk bounces off and won’t stop any bullets.

Elevator Pitch 236

Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur Angel Investor Venture Capital 236

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Don’t try to talk and demo your way up the hill. Don’t insist on a product demo – he is buying the business, not the product. If the investor thinks you are coming to ask for domain advice, and you ask for money, your success probabilities are shot. Fully prepare for the assault. Talk bounces off and won’t stop any bullets.

Elevator Pitch 239

Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Venture Capital Business Plan 239

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2010

Don’t try to talk and demo your way up the hill. Don’t insist on a product demo – he is buying the business, not the product. If the investor thinks you are coming to ask for domain advice, and you ask for money, your success probabilities are shot. Fully prepare for the assault. Talk bounces off and won’t stop any bullets.

Elevator Pitch 217

Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur Angel Investor Venture Capital 217

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

The founder needs to remember that investor meetings up to this point have been primarily off-site, with staged demos, and managed personally by the CEO or one or two executives. It’s worth your time to do a little extra work here, and make the honeymoon phase a win-win one for both sides.

Due Diligence 148

Due Diligence Bankruptcy Angel Investor Stock 148

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2013

Make sure they are real customers, and that they get the whole story (not just a technical demo), including price and channel. If you use the big “Coming Soon!” sign correctly, people will stop by your booth for a look. Otherwise their feedback has no value in proving your business model.

Business Model 235

Business Model Product Advisory Board Angel Investor 235

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

Offer to do a demo later, but don’t try to squeeze it in the presentation. Hand out copies of the slides before the presentation for note taking, with proper cover sheet, with brochures, product samples, or other marketing material you may have. My last recommendation is practice, practice, practice.

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2012

Make sure they are real customers, and that they get the whole story (not just a technical demo), including price and channel. If you use the big “Coming Soon!” sign correctly, people will stop by your booth for a look. Otherwise their feedback has no value in proving your business model.

Business Model 248

Business Model Advisory Board Entrepreneur Angel Investor 248

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2016

Demos and prototypes are key. You need to convince family and friends, in terms they can relate to, that your idea makes logical business sense, and you have done your homework on real customers, competitors, and costs. Demonstrate your own financial commitment and progress.

Elevator Pitch 151

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Angel Investor Equity 151

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2016

Materialize your idea into a prototype or demo. Everyone is more prone to listen and believe new people brought to them by someone they know in common, especially if that connection has strong relevant experience or expertise. Even if it takes longer to arrange such a meeting, your credibility gain and impact may be well worth it.

Social Media 120

Social Media Analytics Partner Matching 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

Offer to do a demo later, but don’t try to squeeze it in the presentation. Hand out copies of the slides before the presentation for note taking, with proper cover sheet, with brochures, product samples, or other marketing material you may have. My last recommendation is practice, practice, practice.

Elevator Pitch 234

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 234

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2011

Make sure they are real customers, and that they get the whole story (not just a technical demo), including price and channel. If you use the big “Coming Soon!” sign correctly, people will stop by your booth for a look. Otherwise their feedback has no value in proving your business model.

Business Model 234

Business Model Advisory Board Startup Angel Investor 234

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

Offer to do a demo later, but don’t try to squeeze it in the presentation. What is the rate of return expected for the investor? Hand out copies of the slides before the presentation, with proper cover sheet, with brochures, product samples, or other marketing material you may have. My last recommendation is practice, practice, practice.

Elevator Pitch 235

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 235

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2010

Make sure they are real customers, and that they get the whole story (not just a technical demo), including price and channel. If you use the big “Coming Soon!” sign correctly, people will stop by your booth for a look. Otherwise their feedback has no value in proving your business model.

Business Model 120

Business Model Advisory Board Angel Investor Channel 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Don’t hesitate to get help from a colleague on a creative demo if you are analytical, or a good writer if you need a strong business plan. Get help from friends and experts. None of us is equally comfortable with, or skilled at all the possible approaches.

Analytics 251

Analytics Audience Conversion Business Plan 251

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2011

Don’t hesitate to get help from a colleague on a creative demo if you are analytical, or a good writer if you need a strong business plan. Get help from friends and experts. None of us is equally comfortable with, or skilled at all the possible approaches.

Entrepreneur 246

Entrepreneur Analytics Audience Conversion 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2010

Don’t hesitate to get help from a colleague on a creative demo if you are analytical, or a good writer if you need a strong business plan. Get help from friends and experts. None of us is equally comfortable with, or skilled at all the possible approaches.

Analytics 163

Analytics Audience Entrepreneur Conversion 163