Gust

DECEMBER 8, 2013

If the company was incorporated five years ago, and is still in early stages, with the same founding team, chances are slim that it will suddenly get back on track with you as an employee, or you as an investor. They should be asking to speak to you if you are a potential investor or a superstar hire. Now you know.

Due Diligence 174

Due Diligence Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Burn Rate 174

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2015

Early stage burn rates over $50K per month, or a runway of less than six months may indicate an inefficient or desperate startup. The allocation of shares among the founders, and the number and size of outside investments, will tells volumes about the health, stability, and management of the business. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate 120

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 26, 2010

I’ve been having discussions with several people recently about the role of the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) in very early stage companies. However, I’ve now begun questioning how and what an early-stage / startup CTO should be. That’s why Roger Smith puts the focus of the CTO on programming for the earliest stage.

CTO 225

CTO Fractional CTO CTO Hire Technical Review 225

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

For early-stage startups, the goodwill component can easily exceed the size of all the financial elements together, or can just as easily mark a company with good financials as not investable. Good performance management is more about rewarding desirable behavior than penalizing bad performance. People relationship focus.

Leadership 120

Leadership Technical Review Due Diligence Valuation 120

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2010

I’m doing due diligence on a company of another entrepreneur in LA whose company was apparently doing very well. It meant that the management teams hadn’t figured out a product / market fit for their own businesses. They often involve big hugs on stage. &# My friend’s company was pre-revenue.

Merger 276

Merger Technical Review Early Stage Dilution 276

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2016

Early stage burn rates over $50K per month, or a runway of less than six months may indicate an inefficient or desperate startup. The allocation of shares among the founders, and the number and size of outside investments, will tells volumes about the health, stability, and management of the business.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Burn Rate Technical Review Intellectual Property 120

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

In venture capital in particular, early-stage companies are often operating in frontier industries, where the rules are unpredictable and conventional analytic frameworks may be misleading. A major angel group used Influitive , an advocate management tool, to track, activate and motivate their members. 4) Manage deal flow.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Technical Review 60

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

I think you have to listen to the queue’s.” “…if you look at a lot of the early stage investors, whether it be Union Square Ventures or First Round or Jeff Clavier at Softtech or Dave McClure – we want to try the product, we want to experience the product, we want to get a sense of how the entrepreneur is thinking about it.

Technical Review 288

Technical Review Venture Capital Silicon Valley Software Review 288

David Teten

MARCH 14, 2018

Managers of VC funds typically want to grow their business aggressively, just like the founders we back. This is a model used in at least one case by China’s third-largest private equity firm, China Science & Merchants Investment Management Group ($12 billion+ AUM), which funded in 2015 CSC Upshot, a $400m seed fund through AngelList.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Cofounder 60

Gust

DECEMBER 22, 2011

Most of our early-stage startup clients fit this description. For now, focusing on the early stages of getting a startup off the ground, it’s worth understanding the basics of the IP assets that are dumped into the empty receptacle of a newly incorporated business entity.

Intellectual Property 149

Intellectual Property Technical Review Software Review IP 149

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

I’ll explain this more later, but assume that only a very few high-growth companies with high-power management teams are venture opportunities. The rare exception is a special case, in which investors know an entrepreneur well and are ready to invest in them at an early stage. Actually, venture capital financing is very rare.

SBA 161

SBA Venture Capital Angel Investor Technical Review 161

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

This is relevant for any job offer, but I’m particularly focused on offers to C-level executives and board members: Due Diligence as a Team Member. Ready to join a new management team? Here’s how to do your due diligence first. Due Diligence as an Investor. Due Diligence as a Board Member.

Due Diligence 60

Due Diligence Stock Options Covenant Private Equity 60

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2010

When I was running startups I felt like a horse with blinders on because I was super focused on the content management market and ignored many other markets. My job doesn’t involve the daily grind of customer complaints, product outages, business partner / channel problems, hiring / firing, etc.

Technical Review 312

Technical Review Due Diligence Spain Warrant 312

David Teten

AUGUST 1, 2019

I compiled the best resources I found here: Due Diligence as a Team Member. Ready to join a new management team? Here’s how to do your due diligence first. Due Diligence as an Investor. Due Diligence as a Board Member. Diligent.com’s Due Diligence Checklist for a Board of Directors.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Equity Due Diligence Portfolio 60

Hunter Walker

AUGUST 7, 2021

My job as an early stage investor includes translation services, specifically helping startup founders take what they are hearing from potential investors and providing a read on whether that VC is actually ready to make an offer. Whether it’s a hiring manager holding some candidates at bay while they continue interviewing.

Term Sheet 151

Term Sheet Due Diligence Reputation Early Stage 151

VC Cafe

APRIL 8, 2011

Examples: insurance, health care, hosting, public relations, marketing materials, finding and hiring talent, etc… Buying power, negotiation power, economies of scale were all mentioned in different variations. Help with recruiting – Finding and helping interview candidates is invaluable, especially in the early stages.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Due Diligence Hosting Harvest 101

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2011

If the company was incorporated five years ago, and is still in early stages, with the same founding team, chances are slim that it will suddenly get back on track with you as an employee, or you as an investor. They should be asking to speak to you if you are a potential investor or a superstar hire. Now you know.

Due Diligence 237

Due Diligence Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Entrepreneur 237

David Teten

AUGUST 19, 2019

Since 2017 we’ve managed $3 million in revenue-based financing, which helps cash-strapped technology companies grow. The mode purpose for funding is (in order of frequency) Sales, Marketing, Market Expansion, Product Development, and Hiring Employees. Alternative Capital. “ You qualify if you have $5k+ MRR. Apply for funding.

Revenue 60

Revenue Technical Review Software Review Equity 60

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2010

If the company was incorporated five years ago, and is still in early stages, with the same founding team, chances are slim that it will suddenly get back on track with you as an employee, or you as an investor. They should be asking to speak to you if you are a potential investor or a superstar hire. Now you know.

Due Diligence 229

Due Diligence Sweat Equity Intellectual Property Startup 229

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

If the company was incorporated five years ago, and is still in early stages, with the same founding team, chances are slim that it will suddenly get back on track with you as an employee, or you as an investor. They should be asking to speak to you if you are a potential investor or a superstar hire. Now you know.

Due Diligence 244

Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate Intellectual Property 244

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

However, in private markets, there is more room to optimize across all 11 steps of the investing process: firm management , marketing, fundraising , origination , manage relationships, due diligence, negotiation, monitoring, portfolio acceleration , reporting, and. 1) Manage the firm .

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78

Austin Startup

AUGUST 20, 2017

Early stage startups have to survive one day at a time and are often presented with limited choices of the moment that enable them to continue. Hiring is a chapter unto itself, but it deserves to lead off any discussion of context. Compensation decisions obviously affect hiring and retention. Are the logistics manageable?

Technical Review 48

Technical Review Software Review Cap Table Securities and Exchange Commission 48

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 29, 2011

At the same time, I had lunch with someone yesterday who regularly ran into early stage entrepreneurs who was surprised to hear that I didn't mind if they made intros to me. It's the kind of thing that makes an office manager glad that the Principal who sits just a few feet away from her is a black belt in Tae Kwan Do.

Technical Review 114

Technical Review Early Stage Due Diligence Venture Capital 114

Altgate

OCTOBER 8, 2009

Tips: $75 HOT All-Hands Team Meeting Board Management Tips For Startup CEOs Customer Support 2.0 Tips: $75 HOT All-Hands Team Meeting Board Management Tips For Startup CEOs Customer Support 2.0

Term Sheet 39

Term Sheet Technical Review Michigan Liquidation Preference 39

rapidrollout.wordpress.com

JANUARY 15, 2011

He or she might call himself a “consulting CTO,&# “freelance CTO,&# “on-demand CTO,&# “CTO on call,&# “CTO for hire,&# or just a “technology strategy advisor.&# Investors use a consulting CTO for technical due diligence. And why would you hire a technology guy who launched a failed startup?

Fractional CTO 40

Fractional CTO CTO CTO Hire Fractional VPE 40

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 1, 2014

The second is that the retailers were constrained by their high costs of local real estate and service staff relative to the costs of centralized warehouses where goods could be stacked high, sorted by robots, managed by RFIDs and then shipped via overnight to eager, cost-conscious customers across the US.

Technical Review 380

Technical Review Software Review Cofounder CTO Hire 380

genylabs.typepad.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Before you agree to take equity in lieu of cash, you need to understand that any individual early stage start-up company equity is most likely going to be worthless. They had a great managment team, A list VCs, great technology, excellent sales traction and market leadership in a very exciting space. management.

Equity 40

Equity Technical Review San Jose Stock 40

SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

I also recognize that while I am the first technologist on the team, I will not by any means be the last and I'm hoping that subsequent hires will be people I consider brighter and more talented than myself. I've previously addressed the role of a CTO in early-stages in my post Startup CTO or Developer. Who will do that?

CTO Hire 231

CTO Hire Technical Review Developer Software Review 231

infochachkie.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Beware The Consultant John Greathouse – Posted in: Cash Flow Management , Launching Venture , Strategic Planning. At the early stages of your company’s life, you cannot rely on disinterested, hired guns to define your company’s key tasks. Thanks for visiting! Their story, market positioning, products, etc.

Equity 40

Equity Silicon Valley Cofounder Technical Review 40

VC Adventure

OCTOBER 14, 2020

We’ve kept ourselves intentionally small as a firm so can keep our close connection with our portfolio founders from due diligence, to investment, and throughout the lifecycle of our investments. Foundry Group is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies and venture fund managers.

Networking 99

Networking Technical Review Hiring North America 99

BeyondVC

NOVEMBER 21, 2005

As an early stage VC, I spend a fair amount of time helping entrepreneurs build their management teams. I have written about what we look for (read the A-Player Domino Effect ), the hiring process , and other facets of recruiting talent in previous posts. A wrong hiring decision for an early stage company can be a killer!

Channel 60

Channel Due Diligence Early Stage Portfolio 60

Altgate

MARCH 17, 2009

Tips: $75 HOT All-Hands Team Meeting NEW Board Management Tips For Startup CEOs Customer Support 2.0 Tips: $75 HOT All-Hands Team Meeting NEW Board Management Tips For Startup CEOs Customer Support 2.0 Bookmark the permalink. ← Global Nuances of Startup Compensation Obama Shoots Down 90% Tax Bracket → Comments are closed.

Term Sheet 28

Term Sheet Due Diligence Liquidation Preference Dividend 28

reidhoffman.org

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

For early stage companies, it’s important to show that you’re on path, that you have prospects, and that you can get to your vision. In the financing process, the individual venture partner performs the due diligence on the substance behind a company’s pitch — e.g., the investment thesis, the competition, the people, etc.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Revenue Viral Networking 111

David Teten

FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Similarly, my research on venture capital portfolio operations found that Portfolio Operator VCs such as Andreesen Horowitz , First Round Capital , ff Venture Capital , and Google Ventures are hiring unusually large teams and structuring them in traditional pyramids. Detailed due diligence. Profiled initially. 10,000 [v].

Private Equity 114

Private Equity Venture Capital Technical Review Equity 114

www.paulgraham.com

APRIL 28, 2010

And if trouble withinvestors is one of the biggest threats to a startup, managing themis one of the most important skills founders need to learn. Angels and even VC firms occasionally do this, but they alsoinvest at later stages. The problems are different in the early stages. Apparently our situation was not unusual.

Technical Review 76

Technical Review Startup Software Review Angel Investor 76

www.women2.org

MARCH 8, 2012

Opportunity Management: Now that I had a few people of interest, the courtship began. Additionally, if you want to hire more engineers, how hard will it be to find people using this language. Need to hire others: This communicates they might not be as good as you want or just can’t hack it and solve the initial problem.

Cofounder 47

Cofounder Technical Review San Francisco Founder 47

www.reincubate.com

FEBRUARY 1, 2010

Java is a great language for enterprises and is commonly used by many big dotcoms, banks and airlines, but its relatively slow development pace and higher barrier to entry make it inappropriate for most early-stage businesses. First of all, PHP powers a number of content management systems (CMS) – such as Joomla!

Fractional CTO 40

Fractional CTO CTO Technical Review CTO Hire 40