Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2014

If you set around quietly waiting for someone you know to offer you money to fund a startup, you will probably have a long wait. Practice your “elevator pitch,” and end it by asking for the order. Be honest with naïve family members and friends about the inherent risks of a startup – at least 70% fail in the first five years.

Technical Review 266

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Startup 266

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

Based on my experience and data from the field, over seventy-five percent of new startups fail, even with venture backing. Unfortunately, I see good startups fail simply because they don’t have the resources or intellectual property to stay ahead of copycats or big players who see the potential as soon as you step into the marketplace.

Intellectual Property 235

Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Harvest Technical Review 235

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2018

The biggest challenge for every entrepreneur and every startup today is to get noticed and remembered in today’s information overload. Every one of these probably has a unique story, but in my years as a startup advisor I only remember hearing a few who capitalized on their story. Every story needs a main character.

Elevator Pitch 211

Elevator Pitch Technical Review Boston Sales 211

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2011

If you set around quietly waiting for someone you know to offer you money to fund a startup, you will probably have a long wait. Practice your “elevator pitch,” and end it by asking for the order. Be honest with naïve family members and friends about the inherent risks of a startup – at least 70% fail in the first five years.

Early Stage 247

Early Stage Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence 247

SoCal CTO

APRIL 25, 2017

Here is the most recent version of an all too common email inquiry from a startup founder. I'm working on a start up idea in the XXX market with my partner and we are currently looking for full stack developer to join us as a technical co-founder. Startup and Founder Backgrounds This is a cold email. Get me interested.

Email 150

Email Developer Elevator Pitch Cofounder 150

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 29, 2017

You’re in discussions with strategic partners and potential beta customers. Advisors agree your startup is on the right track. Think of your first B2B web site as one step beyond your elevator pitch. Call out strategic relationships with business partners, research institutions, or industry groups. Keep it simple.

Elevator Pitch 100

Elevator Pitch Web Portfolio B2B 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2013

If you set around quietly waiting for someone you know to offer you money to fund a startup, you will probably have a long wait. Practice your “elevator pitch,” and end it by asking for the order. Be honest with naïve family members and friends about the inherent risks of a startup – at least 70% fail in the first five years.

Technical Review 273

Technical Review Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Due Diligence 273

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Develop an “elevator pitch” as an initial path to your goal. An elevator pitch is a problem-solution summary that anyone can understand in a sixty-second ride up to their office in an elevator. Avoid fuzzy goals, like making big money or being a market leader. Building a business is not a solo operation.

Elevator Pitch 347

Elevator Pitch Incubator Matching Business Plan 347

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2023

That means they normally only invest in startups with a working product that has already been sold to at least one customer for full price (beta tests, giveaways and best friends don’t count). They are willing to cover marketing, inventory and scaling, but not product development. Make your focus and priorities clear.

Elevator Pitch 228

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 228

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2020

That means they normally only invest in startups with a working product that has already been sold to at least one customer for full price (beta tests, giveaways and best friends don’t count). They are willing to cover marketing, inventory and scaling, but not product development. Make your focus and priorities clear.

Elevator Pitch 336

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 336

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

I have to start with a major negative: if you have to ask if your startup can get venture capital, then it almost certainly can’t. Venture capital is a very rarified atmosphere of high-end startups and emerging businesses with experienced management teams, high potential growth, secret sauce, and so on. How to find venture funding?

Software Review 124

Software Review Due Diligence Venture Capital Elevator Pitch 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2010

If you set around quietly waiting for someone you know to offer you money to fund a startup, you will probably have a long wait. Practice your “elevator pitch,” and end it by asking for the order. Be honest with naïve family members and friends about the inherent risks of a startup – at least 70% fail in the first five years.

Technical Review 233

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor 233

Steve Blank

MARCH 8, 2011

It was designed to bring together many of the new approaches to building a successful startup – customer development, agile development, business model generation and pivots. Even if they did, what if the assumption – that we had developed a better approach to teaching entrepreneurship – was simply mistaken?

Lean 300

Lean Business Model Customer Development Guinea 300

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 25, 2019

You might have an elevator pitch prepared for your business. But do you know what your startup’s vision is? However, they can be critical for establishing the groundwork for your company’s values, and may serve to help you attract more investors, clients, and general public interest—if you develop them properly. .

Elevator Pitch 154

Elevator Pitch PR Forecast Advertising 154

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 18, 2017

A panel representing savvy Investors/Venture Capitalists and seasoned African Fintech Pioneers will evaluate the business model of each chosen start‐up or trail‐blazer in a high-stress 10 minute “ elevator pitch ” to the “ Wolves ” who will ask the tough questions and provide the illuminating insights.

Africa 62

Africa Ethiopia Elevator Pitch Technical Review 62

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 19, 2022

That’s why it would make sense to partner with a conversion rate optimization agency and maximize your chances of achieving a solid conversion rate. An agency that you should partner with needs to be able to nail down the problems that stop you from converting more visitors into buyers. The bottom line.

B2B 141

B2B Sales Elevator Pitch Lead Generation 141

www.vccafe.com

MARCH 11, 2013

Startup Resources (Updated Mar 2013). Venture Capital Cafe > Startup Resources (Updated Mar 2013). VC & Startup Resources. Seed Startups. VC Cafe covers early stage Israeli and European tech & mobile startups. Hundreds of startups featured since 2005, will yours be next? About VC Cafe.

Software Review 53

Software Review Technical Review Startup 53

Austin Startup

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

With the recent influx of startups, there is a lot of competition for venture capital funding. Partner up. Latinos in particular are more likely to be organized as sole proprietorships, but by getting a partner you will have a whole new network to work with and have help in getting your startup off the ground.

Venture Capital 48

Venture Capital Oakland Elevator Pitch Technical Review 48

Up and Running

OCTOBER 21, 2014

If you’re working from home and not seeing clients, you may find your startup costs are limited to marketing, stationery and legal. When you create a worksheet to record your startup costs, keep expenses and assets separate. Startup costs. Day 8: Write a one page pitch. You should not mix expenses and assets.

Elevator Pitch 166

Elevator Pitch Software Review SBA Business Plan 166

Up and Running

JULY 13, 2022

One of the most common goals among startups is to acquire funding. While the company website may not be the first place you think of using to accomplish this goal—it can play a central role in attracting more investors and partners. Many startups start off with a simple site that expands as they grow their business.

Elevator Pitch 140

Elevator Pitch Web Design Affiliate 140

mashable.com

MARCH 24, 2011

Mashable | The Social Media Guide Viral Topics Twitter YouTube Facebook iPhone Google Video About Mashable Company About Us Advertise Submit News Contact Us Announcements Resources Guidebooks Lists How To Trending Mashable Awards Subscriptions Partners W3 EDGE Rackspace Concentric Sky Dynect DNS Intridea Welcome to Mashable! Have an account?

Programming 86

Programming Startup Technical Review Software Review 86

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Money seems to disappear at a startup once it hits the bank. Cash flow issues, the type where a company is bringing in plenty of revenue but is struggling to meet expenses can be really challenging for startups. Running a lean startup takes major budgeting skills. Market research. What changed?

Elevator Pitch 242

Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Networking Venture Capital 242

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2014

That means they normally only invest in startups with a working product that has already been sold to at least one customer for full price (beta tests, giveaways and best friends don’t count). They are willing to cover marketing, inventory and scaling, but not product development. business entrepreneur funding investor startup'

Elevator Pitch 285

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 285

Austin Startup

OCTOBER 12, 2010

On October 14th Tech Ranch will be hosting a Venture Pitch event, where 10 entrepreneurs will be pitching their idea to a panel including a potential customer, a proven entrepreneur, and a seasoned investor. We asked him to tell about the Venture Forth program and his preparation for pitching. Boy was I wrong.

Flash 77

Flash Elevator Pitch Bootstrapping Cofounder 77

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2018

That means they normally only invest in startups with a working product that has already been sold to at least one customer for full price (beta tests, giveaways and best friends don’t count). They are willing to cover marketing, inventory and scaling, but not product development. Make your focus and priorities clear.

Elevator Pitch 139

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 139

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 6, 2014

As Transamerica’s youngest-ever partner, I’ve examined, modeled, and invested in several thousand companies. Focus on developing your idea. Investors like to see an entrepreneur that has developed expertise in one area, not competence in many. In keeping with research, make sure you’re pitching the right person/people.

Cofounder 154

Cofounder Elevator Pitch Early Stage Valuation 154

cdixon.org

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Why you shouldn’t keep your startup idea secret. I have a personal diligence rule that when speaking to people at large companies, the facts that they tell you are very useful but their opinions about startup ideas no more valuable than any other smart person’s opinions). Peter Coles. Jon Russell. Jonah Peretti. Lauren Leto.

Stealth 68

Stealth Startup NDA Cofounder 68

Up and Running

AUGUST 30, 2017

As someone who owns eight successful daycares in the Chicago area, I know the strategies and approaches that work when it comes to developing a sound business plan for a daycare center. What are the details of your ownership structure, board of directors, investor list, partners, and so on? What’s your curriculum based on?

Business Plan 93

Business Plan SBA Software Review Advisory Board 93

Up and Running

JUNE 30, 2014

It will come as no surprise to learn that the majority of startups fail. With three quarters of venture-funded startups failing to succeed, how can you make sure that your new business won’t be one of them? What need does your startup address? Here are 25 tips to help you land in the lucky 25 percent: 1. Know your purpose.

Elevator Pitch 154

Elevator Pitch Startup Social Media Networking 154

Up and Running

AUGUST 18, 2014

It can be hard to pitch your startup, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to naturally bring it up in social situations—without feeling pushy or rehearsed. You’ve worked hard to develop your ideas and build something worthy of faith and investment. Adapt your pitch to the platform. The Elevator Pitch .

Elevator Pitch 114

Elevator Pitch Private Placement Startup Conversion 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2016

That means they normally only invest in startups with a working product that has already been sold to at least one customer for full price (beta tests, giveaways and best friends don’t count). They are willing to cover marketing, inventory and scaling, but not product development. Make your focus and priorities clear.

Elevator Pitch 120

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 120

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 15, 2010

You bump into the person you’ve always wanted to chat with or your perfect business development partner who can “make” you. I’ve written about the “elevator” pitch before. My partner was in product management at Demand Media. All 10 startups that are part of Launchpad LA got the chance to stand up for 2 minutes.

Elevator Pitch 315

Elevator Pitch Southern California Media Hosting 315

Board Effect

MAY 10, 2019

Most people pursue funding for startups by looking for resources that are closest to them. Those who still need additional funds may turn next to angel investors , high-net-worth individuals who are willing to provide funding for small startups and entrepreneurs. The reality is that most startups fail.

Venture Capital 49

Venture Capital Startup Elevator Pitch Angel Investor 49

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

The biggest challenge for every entrepreneur and every startup today is to get noticed and remembered in today’s information overload. Every one of these probably has a unique story, but in my years as a startup advisor I only remember hearing a few who capitalized on their story. Every story needs a main character.

Elevator Pitch 120

Elevator Pitch Boston Entrepreneur Sales 120

Up and Running

MARCH 17, 2015

With detailed instructions for each section, you won’t need a business degree or special training to complete your pitch. Plus, you can use the pitch to get feedback from business partners, friends, and family. The business pitch is a great way to test and refine your concept to develop a solid business strategy.

Elevator Pitch 60

Elevator Pitch Business Model Business Plan Partner 60

ReadWriteStart

OCTOBER 27, 2011

When you talk to investors, partners, customers and most potential new team members one of the first thing all of them are going to do is get a sense for who you are and what you've done. If you don't believe me, think how many times have you described a startup to someone by first describing the background or people involved?

Elevator Pitch 144

Elevator Pitch Management Aggregator Curation 144

Up and Running

OCTOBER 17, 2018

Should you spend some time developing a plan for your business, or just dive in and start, figuring things out as you go? With the help of my friend Jeff, from the University of Oregon, I’ve been looking at academic research on business planning—the actual science around planning and how it impacts both startups and existing businesses.

Business Plan 263

Business Plan Oregon Lean Elevator Pitch 263