Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Professional investors and advisors, on the other hand, usually refuse to sign these agreements today due to the risk of litigation and administrative workload, and will walk away. If you are approaching a recognized venture capital group, or even an accredited angel investor, a non-disclosure agreement is counter-productive.

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Non-disclosure Agreement Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor 399

Up and Running

JULY 6, 2016

Often, a business plan introduces a new technology that requires some explaining. On one hand, as a reader of business plans for investors, I see way too many business plans that ask a reader to wade neck-deep through technology to get to the business. Establish technology as a differentiator, when it is.

Technical Review 72

Technical Review Software Review Business Plan Development Team Review 72

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 11, 2022

On the other side of the spectrum, the idea of finding a unicorn has attracted many investors toward the much riskier venture capital and emerging technologies.

Private Equity 165

Private Equity Equity Technical Review Software Review 165

Growthink Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2017

Are you looking to raise venture capital ? Business planning and raising venture capital go hand-in-hand. A business plan is required for attracting venture capital. These tips draw on Growthink’s decades of experience consulting to start-ups in the business planning and capital raising process.

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Venture Capital Business Plan Technical Review Private Placement 129

Feld Thoughts

AUGUST 25, 2020

HBCUvc is seeking to expand its VC Lab and Fund program that invests in Black, Indigenous, and Latinx entrepreneurs building technology companies. Fellows originate and execute startup investments under the supervision of HBCUvc’s investment committee, a team of experienced venture capital investors.

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Technical Review Due Diligence Syndicate Syndication 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 24, 2018

Usually after a Monday partner meeting you get a pretty strong: Yes, term sheet coming No, sorry we’re passing Maybe, we need to do more due diligence / analysis / work I always counsel founders that “good news comes early” so if you haven’t heard by Tuesday at noon chances are it wasn’t likely a clean “yes.”

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Technical Review Due Diligence Partner Term Sheet 314

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 30, 2022

Of course this is why a lot of investors choose to hedge their bets and avoid having to make the tricky decisions regarding which startups to back themselves by putting their money into angel investment or venture capital (VC) funds. A degree of diversification can go a long way to protecting you from startup failures.

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Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor Startup 166

David Teten

JUNE 10, 2020

SOP’s founder is David Teten , previously a Partner with HOF Capital and ff Venture Capital and a serial fintech entrepreneur with 2 exits. As the firm grows, we will need support in origination, financial modeling, due diligence, etc. . The firm particularly has interest in fintech, edtech, and salestech.

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New York Venture Capital Technical Review Due Diligence 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2019

But people are still begging for more technology or laws, often to protect them from themselves. No real investor or venture capital firm asks for money from the company they are intending to invest in. Don’t count on ever passing due diligence, or even getting that deposit back. Loan offer in lieu of investment.

Technical Review 228

Technical Review Non-disclosure Agreement Due Diligence Term Sheet 228

Feld Thoughts

AUGUST 25, 2015

In January, Jerry Neumann wrote a long and detailed analysis of his view of the VC industry in the 1980’s titled Heat Death: Venture Capital in the 1980’s. So contrary to the piece, it wasn’t VC were good at early stage technology, it was that they had newfound capital and a big exit window. This isn’t true.

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Venture Capital SBIC Technical Review Silicon Valley 70

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

Private equity and venture capital investors are copying our sisters in the hedge fund and mutual fund world: we’re trying to automate more of our job. According to Knowledge.VC , under 5% of US VCs have a full-time team member focused on technology. . Why is it now more feasible to use technology in the VC investing process?

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Technical Review 60

David Teten

MARCH 14, 2018

Another example is Correlation Ventures ($300M+ AUM), a VC firm which co-invests in financings with at least one other new outside VC. The firm attracts deal flow by promising a decision (positive or negative) in under 2 weeks, with minimal paperwork and without repeating due diligence. For more, see the Startup Studio Playbook.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Cofounder 60

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Just as with any company, the most important issue is the team; see “ How to Negotiate a Partner Role at a Venture Capital or Private Equity Firm “ . Another critical design consideration is your tech stack. See How Private Equity and Venture Capital Investors Are Eating Their Own Dogfood. .

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Technical Review Private Equity Management Cap Table 60

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Just as with any company, the most important issue is the team; see “ How to Negotiate a Partner Role at a Venture Capital or Private Equity Firm “ . Another critical design consideration is your tech stack. See How Private Equity and Venture Capital Investors Are Eating Their Own Dogfood. .

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Technical Review Private Equity Management Cap Table 60

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2017

One of the most common complaints I hear from new business owners and startups is about the pain and difficulty raising capital. The “venture capital” model is the only option they know, where they feel they get no mercy, giving up equity and control. Block out sufficient time on your calendar for raising capital.

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Technical Review Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 220

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

Further down the financing path, VCs will ask for additional information, known as due diligence materials. If a VC offers you a term sheet, expect their lawyers to ask you for more information like capitalization tables, contracts, material agreements, employment agreements, and board meeting minutes.

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Venture Capital Term Sheet Technical Review Due Diligence 100

Version One Ventures

JULY 24, 2019

and also has the imagination to picture what the world *could* be with technology. In fact, I came into VC with little experience beyond academia but had a love for tech. – as long as s/he has a passion for technology and is aligned with our core beliefs and values. what can be better?)

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Technical Review Advisory Board Due Diligence LP 124

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 30, 2016

In a flash of brilliance, we took our dial-up filter technology and built a software product that would run on any computer regardless of its Internet connection type. The best part was that it was a blind review. We received a venture capital investment. We had to pivot if we were going to survive.

Software Review 188

Software Review Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 188

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

She had so much insight to share that we broke the interview into two parts, 1) Corporate Venture Capital and more broadly, 2) How the Fortune 500 Can Buy, Invest and Partner with the Innovation Economy (coming soon). . It can help develop applications for the startup’s technology in its early days.

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Venture Capital Balance Sheet Technical Review Portfolio 60

Rob Go

JUNE 23, 2015

When an investor “does work” on a potential investment, it usually means engaging in some form of due diligence. Especially in the early stages of investing, it’s super easy to do due diligence to the point where a “no” is obvious. There is a place for some due diligence.

Technical Review 28

Technical Review Due Diligence Early Stage Venture Capital 28

Rob Go

JUNE 23, 2015

When an investor “does work” on a potential investment, it usually means engaging in some form of due diligence. Especially in the early stages of investing, it’s super easy to do due diligence to the point where a “no” is obvious. There is a place for some due diligence.

Technical Review 28

Technical Review Due Diligence Early Stage Venture Capital 28

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2017

As an advisor to entrepreneurs, I often have to deal with people who are convinced that they must get me to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before they begin talks about their new venture. Potential investors don’t need this data, except perhaps as part of a final due diligence after an initial signed agreement.

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Non-disclosure Agreement NDA Technical Review Due Diligence 153

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2017

But people are still begging for more technology or laws, often to protect them from themselves. No real investor or venture capital firm asks for money from the company they are intending to invest in. Don’t count on ever passing due diligence, or even getting that deposit back. Loan offer in lieu of investment.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Non-disclosure Agreement Due Diligence Entrepreneur 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

But people are still begging for more technology or laws, often to protect them from themselves. No real investor or venture capital firm asks for money from the company they are intending to invest in. Don’t count on ever passing due diligence, or even getting that deposit back. Loan offer in lieu of investment.

Technical Review 202

Technical Review Non-disclosure Agreement Due Diligence Entrepreneur 202

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 20, 2019

Competition from other startups and established incumbents, constraints on time and capital, and limited access to talent and technology resources are just a few of the hurdles nearly every first-time founder faces while trying to build a business. In the startup world, opportunities are fleeting, and obstacles are ubiquitous.

Technical Review 140

Technical Review Due Diligence Early Stage Differentiation 140

Hearpreneur

FEBRUARY 1, 2019

Hillcrest Merchant Partners is a Toronto-based merchant bank that focuses on investing in a number of sectors, including industrials, technology, gaming, cannabis, electric metals, mining, and healthcare. When it comes to venture capital and choosing companies to invest in, what do you look for when you’re making a decision?

Cofounder 48

Cofounder Venture Capital Partner Leadership 48

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 18, 2018

It is defined as an online repository of information for storing and distributing shared documents, and can be used during business transactions such as mergers and acquisitions and private equity and venture capital funding. It is very important to do thorough comparisons while reviewing their proposals. Conclusion.

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Technical Review Due Diligence Merger Private Equity 94

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

Every potential early-stage Venture Capitalist should take a year and do it before he or she makes partner. Venture capital as a profession is less than half a century old. Market/technology acuity (patterns of success, domain expertise). venture/operating partners to get them into new industries. Here’s why.

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Venture Capital Early Stage Technical Review Startup 332

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 12, 2009

This is part of my series with Advice on Raising Venture Capital. They are issues, though, that your VC would certainly find out during due diligence or at a minimum you’d be ethically obliged to tell them. Your CTO and leading technology visionary has just announced he’s quitting.

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Technical Review Venture Capital Due Diligence Partner 311

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

My initial desire to blog came from something that’s always been my approach to investing – I’m a nerd and I love to play with the technology and part of my approach has really been to understand things both at a user level and at a reasonably deep tentacle level. Brad’s start in Venture Capital. Brad on blogging. was starting.

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Technical Review Venture Capital Silicon Valley Software Review 288

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 29, 2010

If this isn’t you, we’d probably still have a look if you did something truly exception – probably at startup or tech firm. The chosen candidate will probably have worked for a very reputable firm that is either in technology, consulting, investment banking, media or a startup. Assisting on company due diligence.

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Los Angeles Technical Review Due Diligence Venture Capital 290

David Teten

JANUARY 19, 2021

Every Flexible VC structure allows founders to access immediate risk capital while preserving exit, growth trajectory, and ownership optionality. . Our categorization is not a technical one. Additionally, Flexible VC can accommodate all types of companies, not just asset-lite, tech-enabled companies.”. Funder Category.

Cofounder 78

Cofounder Technical Review Equity Dividend 78

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Also, high-tech high-growth startups have access to investment funding that would not be available to stable, established businesses that show only slow growth. Myth #1: Venture capital is a growing opportunity for funding businesses. Actually, venture capital financing is very rare. Venture capital.

SBA 161

SBA Venture Capital Angel Investor Technical Review 161

Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2011

How Much Diligence is Due.Or Ive addressed the due diligence question in previous posts, but this came up again in a debate we were having at a recent meeting of the Sand Hill Angels. And in order to increase our groups returns, one of our goals should be to get more people and man hours involved in the diligence process.

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Technical Review Due Diligence Silicon Valley San Jose 31

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2009

It’s unlikely that you’ve even had time to do due diligence calls on this VC – you wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to do this pre term sheet. And if there are threats, implied consequences for taking time to think about it or do due diligence then I’d give that VC a really hard think.

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Term Sheet Technical Review Due Diligence Venture Capital 197

Gust

DECEMBER 22, 2011

Tech startups are at the other extreme. Second in importance only to talented people, IP in all its forms is the key asset comprising most of the value of any tech startup. One common mistake is to equate “IP” with “code” or other technical contributions. Instagram is a textbook example.) Intellectual property.

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Intellectual Property Technical Review Software Review IP 149

David Teten

AUGUST 19, 2019

I’ve been a traditional equity VC for 8 years, and I’m now researching new business models in venture capital. RBI normally requires founders to pay back their investors with a fixed percentage of revenue until they have finished providing the investor with a fixed return on capital, which they agree upon in advance.

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Revenue Technical Review Software Review Equity 60