Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2013

It is no secret that the world of venture capital (VCs) was turned upside down by the recent Recession, and many other changes in the marketplace. I would conclude that the genesis of this trend comes from several forces, including the following: Less investment capital available.

Angel Investor 231

Angel Investor Entrepreneur Early Stage Silicon Valley 231

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

You have to understand whether they’re likely to yield revenue growth in the near term OR whether you have access to cheap enough capital to fund your losses until your investments pay off. million in revenue three years later is, “So effing what?” Simplifying: Revenue -. ” Harsh, but reality.

Startup 418

Startup Revenue Technical Review Flash 418

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

The most common failures are solutions looking for a problem, lack of a defined market, or an inadequate revenue model. Revenue model. The key here is to explain to yourself and to investors how your pricing and revenue stream will cover all costs, including overhead and support, and still leave a good return. Cost structure.

Business Model 256

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2021

Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. Friends and family are quick to differentiate between a passionate hobby and a sincere effort to change the world.

Sweat Equity 346

Sweat Equity Elevator Pitch Equity Venture Capital 346

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 20, 2019

They want to see that you have some unique advantage that differentiates your company from others in your industry, and they’d prefer that you have some experience in that industry, which gives you legitimate insight into the problem you’re attempting to solve. You may be able to generate revenue, but VCs want exponential growth.

Technical Review 140

Technical Review Due Diligence Early Stage Differentiation 140

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

It is no secret that the world of venture capital (VCs) has been turned upside down by the recession, and the many other changes in the marketplace. I conclude that the genesis of this trend seems to come from several forces, including the following: Less investment capital available due to the recession.

Technical Review 215

Technical Review Early Stage Venture Capital Startup 215

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2021

In startups, it is the idea that “this solution is different,” without sufficient analysis of base anchoring features, differentiation features, or no new early adopters. The focus should always be on execution, revenue, and profits. In finance, “this time is different” is the beginning of a new bubble. Supply and demand ignored.

Demand 362

Demand Government Venture Capital Valuation 362

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

It turns out that to build a successful company you ultimately need this strange thing called “revenue” that people don’t just hand you: You need to earn it. And there’s this other thing called “gross margin,” which shows the quality of your revenue. How much ad revenue does TripAdvisor make?

Startup 150

Startup Seed Money DC Software Review 150

The Equity Kicker

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

Fortieth in a series of weekly posts by myself and Nicholas Lovell of Gamesbrief which answer the fifty questions you should ask before raising venture capital. VCs without experience (which can come from either investing or operating) often struggle to differentiate between a good product and a bad one. Related articles.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Product Venture Capital Valuation 123

Gust

NOVEMBER 2, 2011

We recently started a series of posts on establishing the pre-money valuation of pre-revenue startup companies for purposes of investment by seed and startup investors. He has invested in more than 70 startup ventures. Is the competitive environment important in the business sector of the target venture?

Valuation 79

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Intellectual Property Southern California 79

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

When you first start your company and raise initial venture capital your board probably consists of 1-3 founders and 1-2 VCs. I admit that I haven’t yet read it but I’ve had numerous discussions with Brad over the years about board structure & conduct and consider him a mentor on the topic. In the Early Days.

Technical Review 325

Technical Review Early Stage Software Review Los Angeles 325

Austin Startup

OCTOBER 15, 2017

What seems to be the best way to create customers and revenue may result in a business model that is out of vogue with the investment world and shortchanges you on enterprise valuation. If you bill for your technology services on a percentage of ad spend, you are guaranteed to look like an agency that deserves a revenue multiple of 1–2X.

Technical Review 48

Technical Review Software Review Nevada Silicon Valley 48

www.bothsidesofthetable.com

MAY 13, 2012

Raising Venture Capital. new features need to go into the sale people’s slides so that they know the latest and greatest about how to differentiate from the competition. Raising Venture Capital (12). This Week in Venture Capital (14). Start-up Advice. Angel Topics. Entrepreneur DNA. Random (1).

Fractional VPE 89

Fractional VPE Part-Time VPE Fractional CTO CTO Hire 89

Steve Blank

MAY 28, 2009

I’ve heard investors ask about sustainable technical differentiation for companies that you put on the customer/market risk end of the scale. are much more differentiating than technology. What is your perspective on ‘sustainable technical differentiation’ for customer/market risk companies?

Vertical 144

Vertical Silicon Valley Marketing Customer 144

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

You really have to be able to differentiate yourself when you’re sitting across the table selling someone an insurance policy. Will : Yes, and that was my first brutal intro into the difficulties of raising venture capital where I lived. . Steve : There is probably is no venture capital for 50 miles, if not 500 miles.

Silicon Valley 120

Silicon Valley Ohio Columbus Entrepreneur 120

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

Instead of a Sales team and organized to sell with a consistent and successful sales roadmap generating revenue, it is a disorganized and unhappy organization burning lots of cash. Because the company based its headcount and expenses on the expectation that the Sales organization will bring in revenue according to plan.

Customer Development 224

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 224

Up and Running

MAY 30, 2022

Finding answers to these questions helps you solidify a strategic market position and identify ways to differentiate yourself. Determines financial needs and revenue models. A vital part of starting a business is understanding what your expenses will be and how you will generate revenue to cover those expenses.

Business Plan 150

Business Plan Balance Sheet Revenue Metrics 150

David Teten

AUGUST 6, 2015

My colleague Paul Bianco serves as interim CFO for a number of ff Venture Capital ’s portfolio companies, and has built and reviewed hundreds of financial models. This allows readers to differentiate your file from all of the other files they receive, and also easily track the evolution of your document as it changes.

Balance Sheet 60

Balance Sheet Software Review Forecast Acquisition 60

The Startup Magazine

SEPTEMBER 12, 2019

Most startups view venture capital funding as a blessing from above — eager to take it as soon as they can get it. Tempted by large sums of money and the perceived validation that comes along with being funded, founders turn to venture capitalists to accelerate their company’s growth. Focus on Product Development First.

Early Stage 85

Early Stage Venture Capital Bootstrapping Pre-Money Valuation 85

abovethecrowd.com

OCTOBER 17, 2013

A new pricing or packaging model does not by itself represent a meaningful core differentiation, and the rising abundance of “subscription” or “flash sales” companies heightened our concern with regard to barriers to entry. ecommerce Internet retailing Uncategorized Venture Capital Web/Tech Ecommerce Retailing Stitch Fix'

eCommerce 62

eCommerce Technical Review North America San Francisco 62

David Teten

JANUARY 28, 2019

My former Partner John Frankel of ff Venture Capital observes that 20 years ago, the defining movie of the generation was “Wall Street”. “CEO is the new Analyst.”. Everyone wanted to work in finance. But now, the defining movie of today’s twentysomethings is “The Social Network”. Everyone wants to work in tech startups.

Affiliate 60

Affiliate Connecticut Programming Community 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2015

Image via Flickr by Jupiter Labs Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. Friends and family are quick to differentiate between a passionate hobby and a sincere effort to change the world.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Equity 120

Steve Blank

JANUARY 4, 2010

Now with customers and early revenue, it was out raising its first round of venture money. Lets take venture capital and grow this thing into a real business.”. Typically the size of their opportunity and company doesn’t lend itself to attracting venture capital. The Scalable Startup. It’s simply a choice.

Hockey Stick 276

Hockey Stick Venture Capital Startup Cofounder 276

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2012

There are dozens of sources to help you construct your business model, and a good example is a recent book by venture capital investor Elizabeth Edwards, simply named “ Startup ,” which is really designed as a handbook for launching a company for less. Revenue model. How will you differentiate your product or service?

Business Model 242

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 242

Steve Blank

APRIL 10, 2019

As Venture Capital emerged as an industry in the mid 1970’s, investors in venture-funded startups began to give stock options to all their employees. And Mark Suster of Upfront Capital has a great post that summarizes these changes. It’s called Growth capital. Lessons Learned.

Stock Options 333

Stock Options Stock Vesting Common Stock 333

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2010

This episode of This Week in Venture Capital featured Michael Montgomery, president of Montgomery & Co. You have to be selected to present and it is typically reserved for companies that have already raised early-stage capital and are well into revenue growth. Should you use investment banks to raise venture capital?

IPO 242

IPO Venture Capital Private Placement Cofounder 242

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2013

In startups, it is the idea that “this solution is different,” without sufficient analysis of base anchoring features, differentiation features, or no new early adopters. The focus should always be on execution, revenue, and profits. In finance, “this time is different” is the beginning of a new bubble. Supply and demand ignored.

Demand 224

Demand Green Finance Government 224

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

I’ve written on the expert network industry a fair amount in the past: see How to Earn More Consulting Revenue from Expert Networks and How Executives Can Work with Private Equity and Venture Capital Portfolio Companies. Again, our value can really be differentiated in its scale and depth.

New York 114

New York Technical Review Networking Advisory Board 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2011

There are dozens of sources to help you construct your business model, and a good example is a recent book by venture capital investor Elizabeth Edwards, simply named “ Startup ,” which is really designed as a handbook for launching a company for less. Revenue model. How will you differentiate your product or service?

Business Model 246

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 246

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

Be specific about key differentiating functionality. Or, this can be high-level projections about revenue and expenses. Your credibility rests on how accurately you describe the market and your opportunity. This will help demonstrate the depth of your insights. Make Your Ask – You have the reader’s attention.

Elevator Pitch 154

Elevator Pitch Early Stage Venture Capital IP 154

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 29, 2016

I believe that the resourcefulness to turn constraints into competitive differentiators and new opportunities is a trait that separates the great entrepreneurs from the “wannabes.” Startups funded by large venture-capital investments rarely think about productivity. Focus on a top productivity bottleneck each week.

Startup 120

Startup Venture Capital Differentiation Business Model 120

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2010

What a pleasure that I got to spend an hour talking with both Om Malik (whom I’ve always respected his views) and Paul Jozefak , a venture capital partner at Neuhaus Partners in Germany (and formerly the head of Europe for SAP Ventures). The strategy of GigaOm and where they differentiate in the market.

Venture Capital 225

Venture Capital Non-Compete Vertical Europe 225

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 17, 2016

One of the earliest and most critical decisions an entrepreneur must make is whether to self-fund a startup by bootstrapping, or raise outside funding through venture capital.” – Forbes. What differentiates you from the competition? Today, venture capital is a hot topic. by Brian Pontarelli, CEO of Inversoft.

Bootstrapping 100

Bootstrapping Venture Capital Salary Differentiation 100

Steve Blank

JUNE 15, 2010

For a founder there’s nothing worse than searching for a business model day after day and then sitting in a board meeting with a VC who asks about some detail of year 5 of your revenue plan. Filed under: Durant versus Sloan: Startups Verus Companies , Venture Capital.

Founder 231

Founder Vesting Later Stage Early Stage 231

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

The framework of his book has profoundly altered how I think about the technology market and affects how I thought about building my businesses and how I think about investing in venture capital. You can’t take a $5 billion revenue stream and say “Fuck it. There you have the innovator’s dilemma. Maybe I should.

Vesting 376

Vesting Framework Revenue Technology 376

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2011

In startups, it is the idea that “this solution is different,” without sufficient analysis of base anchoring features, differentiation features, or no new early adopters. The focus should always be on execution, revenue, and profits. In finance, “this time is different” is the beginning of a new bubble. Supply and demand ignored.

Startup 225

Startup Demand Green Government 225

Hunter Walker

MAY 20, 2018

The idea was to build a publishing-focused brand with events as a revenue base while we figured out our own differentiation in a crowded market — and then added business lines around advertising, custom content and now subscriptions. We’ve built Digiday without venture capital. So I find Cheddar interesting.).

PR 64

PR Media Differentiation Audience 64