Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Set expectations accordingly. Solicit funds from friends and family.

Product Development 177

Product Development Cost Developer Product 177

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Set expectations accordingly. Solicit funds from friends and family.

Intellectual Property 309

Intellectual Property Technical Review Venture Capital Startup 309

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Solicit funds from friends and family.

Intellectual Property 134

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 134

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2018

Early-stage ideas fall in the same category. Many great technology solutions, like hydrogen engines for cars, look great on paper, but are extremely difficult to make a business. Don’t get me wrong. You may get that million dollars someday in future royalty payments, but don’t expect anything today.

Technical Review 215

Technical Review Intellectual Property Early Stage Global 215

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Solicit funds from friends and family.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2014

Early-stage ideas fall in the same category. Many great technology solutions, such as hydrogen engines for cars, look great on paper, but are extremely difficult to make into a business. Don’t get me wrong. You may get that million dollars someday in future royalty payments, but don’t expect anything today.

Technical Review 266

Technical Review Intellectual Property Early Stage Global 266

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 13, 2011

Modern digital curators for early-stage entrepreneurs are the expert bloggers who put “content into context.” Mark is a serial entrepreneur who is now active in the venture capital community for early-stage startups. and books for entrepreneurs like “Think and Grow Rich.” Both Sides of the Table , by Mark Suster.

Curation 230

Curation Technical Review Entrepreneur Cofounder 230

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2018

Funding for early-stage startups is more available than ever. Conglomerates, which were the engines of growth and vitality in the twentieth century, have proven themselves unable to innovate, and have a tarnished public image due to financial woes and poor management. The average amount raised also increased to $175 million.

Entrepreneur 166

Entrepreneur Valuation Incubator Initial Public Offering 166

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

Funding for early-stage startups is more available than ever. According to Statistic Brain , angel investors, numbering almost 300,000, contributed a record $25 billion to early-stage startups in the U.S. IPO proceeds also shattered 2013’s high-water mark of $55 billion, with an impressive $85 billion in proceeds.

IPO 120

IPO Angel Investor Startup Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2013

Funding for early-stage startups is more available than ever. Conglomerates, which were the engines of growth and vitality in the twentieth century, have proven themselves unable to innovate, and have a tarnished public image due to financial woes and poor management. Large corporations have lost their ability to innovate.

IPO 273

IPO Entrepreneur Social Media Startup 273

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2023

Stealth mode normally means no time for search engine optimization prior to product launch, not to mention relevant blogging activity, and link building. This means your whole startup effort will appear as very early stage for investors, and will likely not be adequately tuned for customers.

Stealth 263

Stealth Marketing Startup Early Stage 263

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2016

Early-stage ideas fall in the same category. Many great technology solutions, like hydrogen engines for cars, look great on paper, but are extremely difficult to make a business. Don’t get me wrong. You may get that million dollars someday in future royalty payments, but don’t expect anything today.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Intellectual Property Early Stage Global 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2012

After bootstrapping, friends and family are the most common funding sources for early-stage startups. Exchanging equity for services is worth negotiating with legal counsel, accountants, engineers, and even sales people. Just don’t quit your day job before your new company is producing revenue. Friends and family.

Technical Review 257

Technical Review Bootstrapping Venture Capital Incubator 257

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2020

Stealth mode normally means no time for search engine optimization prior to product launch, not to mention relevant blogging activity, and link building. This means your whole startup effort will appear as very early stage for investors, and will likely not be adequately tuned for customers.

Stealth 436

Stealth Early Stage Social Media Web 436

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2022

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business.

Marketing 283

Marketing Early Stage Lead Generation Hosting 283

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2011

After bootstrapping, friends and family are the most common funding sources for early-stage startups. Exchanging equity for services is worth negotiating with legal counsel, accountants, engineers, and even sales people. Just don’t quit your day job before your new company is producing revenue. Friends and family.

Technical Review 233

Technical Review Bootstrapping Startup Venture Capital 233

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 1, 2010

After bootstrapping, friends and family are the most common funding sources for early-stage startups. Exchanging equity for services is worth negotiating with legal counsel, accountants, engineers, and even sales people. Just don’t quit your day job before your new company is producing revenue. Friends and family.

Technical Review 149

Technical Review Bootstrapping Startup Venture Capital 149

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2019

Image via Wikipedia As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business.

Early Stage 218

Early Stage Lead Generation Hosting Entrepreneur 218

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2017

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business.

Early Stage 242

Early Stage Lead Generation Hosting Entrepreneur 242

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

So what magic can the founders use to justify a $4M valuation (or even the $1M valuation) at this early stage? Back in the “heyday of the dot.com startups,” it was not uncommon to see a valuation incremented by $1M or every paid full-time professional programmer, engineer, or designer. NewCo doesn’t have any of these yet.

Valuation 270

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation NPV Intellectual Property 270

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2014

Stealth mode normally means no time for search engine optimization prior to product launch, not to mention relevant blogging activity, and link building. This means your whole startup effort will appear as very early stage for investors, and will likely not be adequately tuned for customers.

Stealth 252

Stealth Startup Early Stage Social Media 252

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 24, 2012

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business.

Entrepreneur 315

Entrepreneur Early Stage Lead Generation Media 315

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2013

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business.

Startup 291

Startup Early Stage Lead Generation Hosting 291

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2010

Don’t look here for venture capital levels of funding, but certainly early-stage government grants, incubators, and entrepreneurship incentives are available from endowments and state funds. If you need part-time engineers to build a prototype, you can always find high-caliber grad students with the latest theory ready to work.

Phoenix 235

Phoenix Intellectual Property Arizona Incubator 235

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

So what magic can the founders use to justify a $4M valuation (or even the $1M valuation) at this early stage? Back in the “heyday of the dot.com startups,” it was not uncommon to see a valuation incremented by $1M or every paid full-time professional programmer, engineer, or designer. NewCo doesn’t have any of these yet.

Pre-Money Valuation 246

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation NPV Intellectual Property 246

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2016

Stealth mode normally means no time for search engine optimization prior to product launch, not to mention relevant blogging activity, and link building. This means your whole startup effort will appear as very early stage for investors, and will likely not be adequately tuned for customers.

Stealth 120

Stealth Startup Early Stage Social Media 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

So what magic can the founders use to justify a $4M valuation (or even the $1M valuation) at this early stage? Back in the “heyday of the dot.com startups,” it was not uncommon to see a valuation incremented by $1M or every paid full-time professional programmer, engineer, or designer. NewCo doesn’t have any of these yet.

Valuation 234

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation NPV Startup 234