Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Examples of some leaders in this space include Ron Conway in Silicon Valley and Jeff Bezos , CEO of Amazon, who each may have over 500 startups in their portfolio. This can cause early investor dilution, lower ultimate returns or leave the startup stranded.

Angel Investor 342

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Venture Capital Portfolio 342

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2014

So here is a rational hedge strategy I recommend, and see playing out every day in Silicon Valley and other startup hubs. The partner most obsessed with the startup lifestyle tests the water by going to work in an early-stage startup, similar to one they might hope to start someday.

Technical Review 250

Technical Review Stock Options Silicon Valley Due Diligence 250

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 24, 2023

There may be a lot of talk and activity, some initial workshops, boot camps, and visits to Silicon Valley, but there is no sustained support. Here we see the first early-stage corporate governance of innovation, with funding and processes for innovation as separate activities from business as usual.

Silicon Valley 277

Silicon Valley Government Early Stage Valuation 277

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

Here are a few of my favorites sampling techniques that I have seen work out well over the years: Take a job for a while with an early-stage startup. Adopt the Silicon Valley entrepreneur family model. In my view, entrepreneur roles need to be planned carefully rather than made on the spur of the moment.

Silicon Valley 315

Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Stock Options Flash 315

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2015

So here is a rational hedge strategy I recommend, and see playing out every day in Silicon Valley and other startup hubs. The partner most obsessed with the startup lifestyle tests the water by going to work in an early-stage startup, similar to one they might hope to start someday.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Entrepreneur Stock Options Due Diligence 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Examples of some leaders in this space include Ron Conway in Silicon Valley and Jeff Bezos , CEO of Amazon, who each may have over 500 startups in their portfolio. This can cause early investor dilution, lower ultimate returns or leave the startup stranded.

Angel Investor 314

Angel Investor Venture Capital Silicon Valley Startup 314

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2014

According to the Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist Confidence Index® for the First Quarter 2014, the Q1 increase marks seven consecutive quarters of positive sentiment among Silicon Valley venture capitalists. Obviously, a key factor is always the state of the economy and the mood of the venture capital community.

Silicon Valley 271

Silicon Valley Venture Capital Massachusetts California 271

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2013

According to the Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist Confidence Index® for the First Quarter 2013, the Q1 increase marks three consecutive quarters of positive sentiment among Silicon Valley venture capitalists. Obviously, a key factor is always the state of the economy and the mood of the venture capital community.

Venture Capital 238

Venture Capital Silicon Valley Massachusetts California 238

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

Many entrepreneurs are convinced that banks are not worth the effort for startups, especially early-stage ones that still don’t have a revenue stream, or collateral to back up their financing needs. Tags: early-stage startup entrepreneur bank loan business. Marty Zwilling.

Silicon Valley 201

Silicon Valley Early Stage Startup Equity 201

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2013

Seed investments” are early stage financings (typically less than $1.5 California (Silicon Valley), Massachusetts (Boston), NY, Washington, and Texas held as the top 5 states for venture capital in 2012, but overall, 38 states got in on the action. million) made by either Angels or venture capitalists, or both.

Massachusetts 249

Massachusetts Silicon Valley Venture Capital California 249

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

Many entrepreneurs are convinced that banks are not worth the effort for startups, especially early-stage ones that still don’t have a revenue stream, or collateral to back up their financing needs. A question I get all the time is “Can I ever expect any backing from my bank for a great opportunity?”

Silicon Valley 187

Silicon Valley Equity Entrepreneur Finance 187

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2014

Examples of some leaders in this space include Ron Conway in Silicon Valley and Brian Cohen , chairman of the New York Angels, who each may have over 500 startups in their portfolio. This can cause early investor dilution, lower ultimate returns or leave the startup stranded.

Angel Investor 260

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Startup Portfolio 260

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

None normally work for or provide funds for early-stage startups. Then I learned that these banks really negotiate investments and collect fees on the transactions, sort of like commercial banks do with loans to businesses. Many investment banks even call themselves “boutiques.”

IPO 205

IPO Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering 205

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2011

None normally work for or provide funds for early-stage startups. Then I learned that these banks really negotiate investments and collect fees on the transactions, sort of like commercial banks do with loans to businesses. Many investment banks even call themselves “boutiques.”

Silicon Valley 211

Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering Startup 211

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2010

A new study, just published by CB Insights, titled Venture Capital Human Capital Report , summarizes these three characteristics for private early-stage Internet ventures funded in the US during the first six months of 2010. The significant findings include the following: Founders need to live in the right place. No surprises here.

Venture Capital 221

Venture Capital Massachusetts California New York 221

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2010

None really provide funds for early-stage startups. A few, like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), actually do provide management services to startups, invest in startups, or provide early-stage venture capital, but that is not called an investment service and is part of a function called Emerging Technologies, or sometimes Private Equity.

Silicon Valley 120

Silicon Valley Private Equity Startup Initial Public Offering 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2011

I also spend close to half my time teaching, and in addition to serving on the entrepreneurship advisory boards at Columbia, Yale and NYU, I am Chair of the Finance, Entrepreneurship and Economics program at Singularity University in Silicon Valley. Marty: Were your own first investment ventures a positive and learning experience?

New York 221

New York Accredited Investor Advisory Board IRR 221

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2010

But disappointingly, dollars invested in early-stage deals fell nearly 21%. To me, this indicates that venture capitalists (VCs) are looking for business, but they are clearly moving away from early-stage (pre-revenue) deals. Angels are also moving up-stage, leaving a bigger and bigger black hole for new startups.

Venture Capital 123

Venture Capital Elevator Pitch Silicon Valley Massachusetts 123