Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

These elements of the business model– revenue (pricing, pricing strategy), distribution channel, How to Get/Keep/Grow customers, Key Activities, Resources and Costs – are other, critical parts your start up needs to understand and have in place. What are your unique insights about technology, economics, change in market, etc.

Cofounder 429

Cofounder Seed Stage Valuation Metrics 429

Genuine VC

SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

Just like beer drinkers in the 90’s, the best entrepreneurs will have an increasing amount of real choice for their seed-stage funding options. Firms which are solely focused on an underserved geography or specialize in a specific type of technology application are also utilizing a segmentation approach.

Seed Stage 191

Seed Stage Belgium Differentiation LP 191

View from Seed

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

That’s a bit of a cautionary tale to VC investors today who might think it’s inevitable that the private value they are enjoying in their portfolios will certainly translate to distributions in the near future. Both early- and late-stage startup valuations are currently elevated. The answer is likely a mix of both.

Valuation 319

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Distribution Early Stage 319

David Teten

MARCH 18, 2021

Foundry Group, investing primarily in “ Software and Internet ”, follows six major themes, e.g., Human Computer Interaction (HCI) or Distribution. Data from OpenVC shows that VCs typically focus on 2 technology classes. Out of 125 funds in the database, 33 state they invest in 1 type of technology (e.g.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Cofounder Venture Capital Deal Flow 78

Haystack

JULY 20, 2018

Will the next company to raise $100M in financing just poach from decent seed-stage companies and pay triple the amount to lock up talent? The CEO writes “Silicon Valley is going to leave Silicon Valley… the technology companies… they’re chasing talent, and talent is chasing affordable housing.”

San Francisco 116

San Francisco Silicon Valley Seattle Venture Capital 116

View from Seed

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

That’s a bit of a cautionary tale to VC investors today who might think it’s inevitable that the private value they are enjoying in their portfolios will certainly translate to distributions in the near future. Both early- and late-stage startup valuations are currently elevated. The answer is likely a mix of both.

Valuation 295

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Distribution Early Stage 295

Rob Go

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

It occurred to me that although we mentioned our new thematic approach when we raised our last fund in 2017, we haven’t really shared a broader manifesto about how we are approaching the early stage market. It’s been an interesting several years in the early stage venture eco-system, and the sands have shifted considerably.

North America 36

North America Seed Stage Early Stage Lead Investor 36

K9 Ventures

JULY 19, 2012

– A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund. which was a $6.25M fund designed to be deployed over 3-4 years, making initial investments between $100K – $250K in concept and seed stage technology companies located in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am pleased to announce the formation of K9 Ventures II, L.P.

Technology 132

Technology Seed Stage San Francisco Limited Partner 132

K9 Ventures

JULY 19, 2012

– A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund. which was a $6.25M fund designed to be deployed over 3-4 years, making initial investments between $100K – $250K in concept and seed stage technology companies located in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am pleased to announce the formation of K9 Ventures II, L.P.

Technology 132

Technology Seed Stage San Francisco Limited Partner 132

K9 Ventures

APRIL 28, 2010

– a seed-stage fund. is a $6.25M fund that is designed to do concept and seed-stage investments in technology companies. Capital Efficient : Companies that need a Seed round, probably a Series A, but potentially may not need a Series B or Series C. K9 Ventures, L.P.

Seed Stage 61

Seed Stage San Francisco IP Portfolio 61

Hunter Walker

NOVEMBER 20, 2020

tldr: instead of choosing between in-person or remote, your seed stage company (or team) should be more hybrid, tied to the type/phase of project going on. While we all agree that ‘apart’ is best right now for reasons of safety, the discussion around what a post-COVID world seems to be largely bifurcated into Office vs WFH/Distributed.

Early Stage 146

Early Stage Seed Stage Startup Software 146

View from Seed

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

That’s a bit of a cautionary tale to VC investors today who might think it’s inevitable that the private value they are enjoying in their portfolios will certainly translate to distributions in the near future. Both early- and late-stage startup valuations are currently elevated. The answer is likely a mix of both.

Valuation 156

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Distribution Early Stage 156

David Teten

JANUARY 19, 2021

Seed-stage compatible: Like traditional equity VC investors, Flexible VCs accomodate early-stage investment risk within their portfolios better than a traditional RBI funder. Flexible VC creates early liquidity which can be either reinvested or distributed to LPs. Technology-centric businesses. Early liquidity.

Cofounder 78

Cofounder Technical Review Equity Dividend 78

View from Seed

DECEMBER 7, 2017

We’ve shared our thoughts on how the internet and associated digital technologies are creating massive shifts in home , apparel , and other categories. And to add more complexity to all of these matters, even our conceptions of money are changing with emerging technologies like the blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

Finance 185

Finance Distribution Seed Stage Government 185

This is going to be BIG.

AUGUST 22, 2012

It’s basically working with potential outside partners to reach your business goals--which could be revenue, distribution, financing, product development, awareness, etc. Plus, in such a connected world, at the seed stage, the "outside" bar is low--a good article, review, demo can be a difference maker and get you on the right radars.

PR 144

PR Technical Review Seed Stage Design 144

Gust

OCTOBER 20, 2011

million, indicating a somewhat normal distribution. We also have data points for VC investments in seed/startup companies (but not necessarily pre-revenue companies). We also have data points for VC investments in seed/startup companies (but not necessarily pre-revenue companies). Product/Technology. TARGETCOMPANY.

Valuation 146

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Intellectual Property Technical Review 146

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JULY 24, 2012

Dan: Well, you and I also just mentioned that we’re on the bleeding edge of technology. It’s quite simple, which is when you had systems where you had limitations on distribution or transportation of products, it enabled you to operate with a certain cost structure. or an MSN or an AOL in terms of portal distribution.

Silicon Valley 204

Silicon Valley Software Review Internet Technical Review 204

Mucker Lab

JANUARY 1, 2014

VC’s start investing in technology-enabled “offline” businesses (distribution, services etc) – most of whom would never have gotten venture money 3 years ago. Google finally fixes the problem with mobile (discovery, search, distribution, tracking, monetization, a/b testing) and races ahead while Apple waxes nostalgically for 2010.

Seed Stage 84

Seed Stage Early Stage Distribution Bootstrapping 84

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

In case you’re keeping score at home — that’s approximately the size of 65 US seed-stage funds managed by one company. Those two investments represent the equivalent of another 32 US seed-stage funds just in two deals. WeWork raised $690 million from Chinese investors, NextVR $80 million and Meta AR $50 million.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Saudi Arabia Kuwait Burn Rate 150

Agile VC

JULY 11, 2012

Technology Venture Investors [Silicon Valley] –> Claim to fame… sole VC investor in Microsoft, which turned out ok. How do you deal with a severely uneven distribution of investment success between individuals or groups of partners? I co-founded NextView Ventures , a seed-stage VC firm based in Boston, in 2010.

Silicon Valley 240

Silicon Valley Carried Interest Cofounder Boston 240

View from Seed

APRIL 23, 2015

In the startup world, one POTAJ that’s easy and worthwhile to defend is the need to focus on building great products and innovative technology instead of trying to over-sell lousy solutions. ” Founders must address distribution in their pitches both overtly and succinctly. You can find those here. ).

Founder 120

Founder Distribution Viral Seed Stage 120

Genuine VC

JANUARY 3, 2013

According to all of the blogosphere chatter over the past month, seed-funded internet startups are entering this year gearing up for the now-near-infamous Series A Crunch. But as the printing technology improved dramatically, the ability for publications which served smaller and smaller niches became increasingly viable.

Seed Stage 166

Seed Stage Venture Capital Audience New York 166

crowdSPRING Blog

FEBRUARY 16, 2011

Seed Stage Valuation Guide – [link]. Interesting to watch Google’s approach to its digital distribution model – compared to Apple’s – [link]. Startups in stealth mode need one piece of advice – [link]. Good summary of #EntUngpluggd event (by @yongshuling) – [link]. – [link].

Social Media 95

Social Media Small Business Design Media 95

Mucker Lab

JANUARY 1, 2014

VC’s accelerate investments in “internet of things” except sometime in Q4, wake up and realize it’s no different than “consumer electronics” – and that we still need to innovate around the manufacturing infrastructure, distribution economics, and consumer liability of the consumer goods business to really make this a venture fundable category.

Seed Stage 60

Seed Stage Early Stage Distribution Bootstrapping 60

K9 Ventures

JULY 21, 2016

And 2 seed stage companies that haven’t launched yet. If you do a launch it’s rare for the launch to take of organically, it must also be accompanied by a level of paid distribution (i.e. Distribution: Most startups tend to launch on either Kickstarter or on their own site.

Software Review 48

Software Review Forecast Portfolio Distribution 48

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 24, 2009

One is explaining the world as it used to work: the importance of gatekeepers, the scarcity implied by limited distribution, and the resulting quality bar that the industry is so proud of. Mostly it is the time and expense required to create the means of distribution for that industry. What accounts for the difference?

San Francisco 113

San Francisco Lean Technical Review Distribution 113

David Teten

DECEMBER 12, 2017

VCs are at the forefront of technological disruption, funding many of the latest cutting edge productivity tools. Clint Korver, Partner at Ulu Ventures , remarked: “I’d compare this technology transformation as akin to what happened in public company investing. But what tools are they using themselves to automate their own processes?

Early Stage 60

Early Stage Technical Review Software Review Venture Capital 60

Tim Keane

OCTOBER 3, 2012

Technology versus market risk in angel investments.  In growth stage companies, for instance, we talk of execution risk.   I talked to a company recently that had market risk in the educational business but also had a distribution agreement with a big player. Technology versus market risk in angel investments.

Technology 74

Technology Marketing Intellectual Property Montana 74

Hunter Walker

NOVEMBER 29, 2017

The notion that tremendous value is created by a very small percentage of startups, and the financiers behind this businesses are counting on a few of these companies to make up for all the nonperforming investments is called a power law distribution.

Seed Stage 101

Seed Stage Warrant Framework Vertical 101

rapidrollout.wordpress.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

Or you can find seed-stage investors who will give you the money to hire a developer. One partner takes on a business role and the other takes responsibility for technology. Looking for Experienced Developers Your next alternative is to find a technology partner who already has been in the workforce.

Technical Review 40

Technical Review Fractional CTO Partner CTO Hire 40

Seeing Both Sides

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

Decades ago, the thesis of Yossi Vardi , a prolific technology entrepreneur who has invested in 75 Israeli startups, was that Israeli entrepreneurs should seek quick exit opportunities through global corporations interested in buying a window into Israeli talent and technology. We think so. Today, this thesis is less relevant.

Cofounder 20

Cofounder Technical Review United States 20

View from Seed

MAY 27, 2015

Early stage founders end up doing many things that fall outside of any traditional blueprint or approach, and therefore it might not be repeatable again. Taking advantage of an emerging distribution channel or market inefficiency is an opportunity in a moment in time, not today.

Cofounder 120

Cofounder Early Stage Non-Compete Silicon Valley 120

Steve Blank

AUGUST 27, 2009

It was adopted by the consumer packaged goods industry in the 1950s and spread to the technology business in the last quarter of the twentieth century. We’ll look at the model stage-by-stage. After that there’s a discussion of how the product will reach the customer and the potential distribution channel.

Silicon Valley 260

Silicon Valley Product Startup Product Development 260

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 11, 2019

Ann Miura-Ko is a founding partner at Floodgate , a seed-stage VC firm. What I was interested in seeing was that a lot of these founders believe that they’re not just creating technology, they're creating change and culture. You hear about the epidemic of loneliness, and I think these ideas are all very much tied to one another.

Founder 68

Founder Lean Venture Capital Cofounder 68

mashable.com

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

Then we allocated the saved money into hiring the highest quality developers available — especially those who have experience working with a distributed team. In fact, it’s barely even the beginning for most companies in their seed stage financings. The availability of low-cost technology is just one piece of the puzzle.

Startup 79

Startup Social Media RSS Social Network 79

Gust

OCTOBER 16, 2012

Atlanta Technology Angels. The distribution of groups in the survey includes a relatively representative sampling of angel groups across the US and Canada. The Halo Report for the rolling median for the 12 months proceeding June 30, 2012 showed that the median pre-money valuation for Seed Stage deals as $2.7 Number: 30.

Angel Groups 169

Angel Groups Valuation Pre-Money Valuation North Dakota 169

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 29, 2011

If you don’t want to read that post, the summary is: Open source computing drove computing costs down 90%, which spurred innovation in technology. In addition it is much easier to get distribution than it was in the pre Facebook, pre iPhone world. This led to an explosion in startups.

Venture Capital 296

Venture Capital Software LP Early Stage 296