Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

Avoid email templates like the plague. Don’t think for a minute that any serious investor would ever read a summary memo, or watch a pitch, much less read a business plan, when it looks like it’s being sent in bulk to multiple investors. Forget the businesses that prey on hopeful entrepreneurs by selling databases and leads and such.

Software Review 124

Software Review Due Diligence Venture Capital Elevator Pitch 124

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 27, 2016

Some of these businesses are founded by people who are passionate about a cause, like Saha Global ’s mission to help with the world water crisis, others are entrepreneurs seeking to fill an underserved niche, as these 12 business owners did. Don’t waste those precious hours on cleaning out your email or reworking your schedule.

Elevator Pitch 100

Elevator Pitch Technical Review Affiliate Global 100

Gust

JULY 23, 2014

So even if my own mother asked me to meet with you, and you were pitching me a biotech opportunity for a $10 million investment at a $90 million valuation, I might take the meeting, but it wouldn’t be particularly useful for either of us. In this case, it’s not a lack of interest, just a lack of time and efficiency.

Angel Investor 153

Angel Investor Elevator Pitch Pre-Money Valuation Technical Review 153

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2019

There are other social networks in the list of 200 “major sites” recognized by Wikipedia that entrepreneurs use for networking, depending on where you are in the world, like Orkut, Viadeo, and Sina Weibo, but talking to friends on Facebook probably won’t help you. Volunteer to help out with entrepreneur activities at your local university.

Networking 227

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur 227

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2012

After struggling to create your business plan for months, every entrepreneur likes to think that their document is inspirational and will reach someone who is smart enough to see the brilliance of the idea, intuitive enough to recognize their business acumen, and enthusiastic enough to offer the money required to make it happen.

Elevator Pitch 244

Elevator Pitch Technical Review Business Plan .Net 244

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 28, 2018

There’s a quick litmus-test conversation any early-stage VC will have with the founder and it’s one that you should be as prepared for as your elevator pitch. One entrepreneur refrain I sometimes hear is “We want to raise some extra money for M&A activities.” It goes something like this … VC: “How much money are you raising?”

Burn Rate 247

Burn Rate Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Dilution 247

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2014

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. Craft and hone your elevator pitch early. This early in the game, any coverage and peer review is better than just being another unknown entrepreneur. Proactively seek out thought leaders and journalists.

Elevator Pitch 257

Elevator Pitch Public Relations Entrepreneur Social Media 257

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2011

After struggling to create your business plan for months, every entrepreneur likes to think that their document is inspirational and will reach someone who is smart enough to see the brilliance of the idea, intuitive enough to recognize their business acumen, and enthusiastic enough to offer the money required to make it happen.

Business Plan 242

Business Plan Elevator Pitch Technical Review .Net 242

Hearpreneur

JANUARY 31, 2024

We asked entrepreneurs what their best networking tips and advice are and here are the responses; #1- To give before you receive Photo Credit:: Eric Eng I've connected with professionals since I was a young entrepreneur, and what my mentors taught me still rings true today: “You have to give before you can receive.”

Networking 119

Networking Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Community 119

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2013

There are other social networks of the 200 or so now recognized by Wikipedia that entrepreneurs use for networking, depending on where you are in the world, like Orkut, Netlog, and Sina Weibo, but talking to friends on Facebook probably won’t help you. Volunteer to help out with entrepreneur activities at your local university.

Networking 250

Networking Entrepreneur Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch 250

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2013

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. I hope all this seems obvious to you, but I still get a good number of notes from “entrepreneurs” who have been busy inventing things all their life, but can’t find a partner to start their first business, and others trying to find an executive, an investor, or a lawyer.

Elevator Pitch 270

Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur Social Network Networking 270

Gust

SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

To begin with, it is important to understand some basic facts about the world of entrepreneurial finance: There are many more entrepreneurs than there are investors, with the result that only one company out of every 400 that seeks venture funding actually receives it. Remember that you will have total control over who can see this material.

Angel Groups 159

Angel Groups Elevator Pitch Software Review Deal Flow 159

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2012

Business groups like TiE-The Indus Entrepreneurs and EO-Entrepreneurs Organization are places to meet people you can help, as well as people who can help you. Volunteer to help out with entrepreneur activities at your local university. Don’t do cold calls or email blasts of your resume and business plan to potential investors.

Networking 242

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur 242

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

If you are one of the thousands of entrepreneurs who need equity funding to get your startup going (no loans to repay), you are probably overwhelmed at the prospect of finding, contacting and pitching to the huge number of qualified angels and investment groups around the country. Recruit a team with complementary skills.

Equity 236

Equity Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Social Media 236

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. I hope all this seems obvious to you, but I still get a good number of notes from “entrepreneurs” who have been busy inventing things all their life, but can’t find a partner to start their first business, and others trying to find an executive, an investor, or a lawyer.

Elevator Pitch 241

Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur Social Network Networking 241

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2012

As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. I’m talking about doing some real networking to test your elevator pitch, and get to know some potential investors before you ask them for money. How about talking to some real customers to see if they are as excited about your idea as you are?

Elevator Pitch 240

Elevator Pitch Public Relations Startup IP 240

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. I hope all this seems obvious to you, but I still get a good number of notes from “entrepreneurs” who have been busy inventing things all their life, but can’t find a partner to start their first business, and others trying to find an executive, an investor, or a lawyer.

Elevator Pitch 188

Elevator Pitch Social Network Networking Channel 188

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 30, 2019

Every month of the year, approximately 540,000 people start new businesses and become self-employed entrepreneurs. Think of this as your elevator pitch but instead of a short pitch to give someone in an elevator, it’s a short pitch to stop them from clicking on the next link.

Marketing 211

Marketing Elevator Pitch Social Network Startup 211

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

A great elevator speech will spark interest in your business and hopefully lead to a deeper conversation. Elevator speeches are a great opportunity for entrepreneurs. What’s the difference between an elevator pitch and an elevator speech? Elevator speech examples.

Elevator Pitch 118

Elevator Pitch Audience Matching Conversion 118

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

While we advise students and new entrepreneurs to do market research before they start, we’d like to clarify that you should not let ‘doing market research’ hold you up if you already know your market. Create an elevator pitch. Refine your elevator pitch for investors. List your management team.

Elevator Pitch 60

Elevator Pitch Startup Balance Sheet Forecast 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2016

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. I still hear too many excuses for not working early on the elevator pitch, like wanting to fly under the radar, don’t have the team together yet, or can’t afford an agency. Craft and hone your elevator pitch early.

Elevator Pitch 120

Elevator Pitch Customer Public Relations Social Media 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2011

As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. I’m talking about doing some real networking to test your elevator pitch, and get to know some potential investors before you ask them for money. How about talking to some real customers to see if they are as excited about your idea as you are?

PR 231

PR Elevator Pitch Public Relations Startup 231

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2010

As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. I’m talking about doing some real networking to test your elevator pitch, and get to know some potential investors before you ask them for money. How about talking to some real customers to see if they are as excited about your idea as you are?

Public Relations 226

Public Relations Elevator Pitch Startup IP 226

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. I hope all this seems obvious to you, but I still get a good number of notes from “entrepreneurs” who have been busy inventing things all their life, but can’t find a partner to start their first business, and others trying to find an executive, an investor, or a lawyer. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 145

Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Social Network Networking 145

Gust

JULY 22, 2012

As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. I’m talking about doing some real networking to test your elevator pitch, and get to know some potential investors before you ask them for money. How about talking to some real customers to see if they are as excited about your idea as you are?

Elevator Pitch 158

Elevator Pitch Startup IP Public Relations 158

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2016

There are other social networks in the list of over 200 now recognized by Wikipedia that entrepreneurs use for networking, depending on where you are in the world, like Orkut, Netlog, and Sina Weibo, but talking to friends on Facebook probably won’t help you. Volunteer to help out with entrepreneur activities at your local university.

Networking 120

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch SEC 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2012

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. I hope all this seems obvious to you, but I still get a good number of notes from “entrepreneurs” who have been busy inventing things all their life, but can’t find a partner to start their first business, and others trying to find an executive, an investor, or a lawyer.

Elevator Pitch 244

Elevator Pitch Social Network Startup Networking 244

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2016

Most entrepreneurs I know are so passionate about their new idea that they are surprised when family and friends don’t line up to invest in their new venture. The reality is that investors, including myself, believe that the entrepreneur is more key to business success than the idea. Talking loudly is not enough.

Elevator Pitch 151

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Angel Investor Equity 151

Austin Startup

AUGUST 3, 2017

I talk to at least a dozen new entrepreneurs each week and probably review two dozen email pitches. If you contact me cold then we’re probably going to exchange a few emails before I invite you to meet in person (however, it’s worth noting that I still do take a lot of meetings this way).

Technical Review 69

Technical Review Startup Texas Email 69

Hippoland

APRIL 16, 2017

When I was an entrepreneur, I don’t think I had any sense just how busy most investors are. Have you ever seen an investor on his/her phone emailing or texting people in the corner of a room? That is your opportunity to jump in and do an elevator pitch. Most elevator pitches are really weak.

Elevator Pitch 48

Elevator Pitch Email Portfolio Metrics 48

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

With that said though – nail your elevator pitch. I find Infusionsoft works a treat for me but even if you use your own email the key point here is make sure the contact doesn’t stop the minute you leave the hustle and bustle of the event. This is the time to give of yourself, not take what you can.

Networking 162

Networking Elevator Pitch Social Media Leadership 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2015

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. I hope all this seems obvious to you, but I still get a good number of notes from “entrepreneurs” who have been busy inventing things all their life, but can’t find a partner to start their first business, and others trying to find an executive, an investor, or a lawyer.

Elevator Pitch 120

Elevator Pitch Startup Social Network Networking 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

Business groups like TiE-The Indus Entrepreneurs and EO-Entrepreneurs Organization are places to meet people you can help, as well as people who can help you. Volunteer to help out with entrepreneur activities at your local university. Don’t do cold calls or email blasts of your resume and business plan to potential investors.

Networking 242

Networking Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch SEC 242

Austin Startup

APRIL 15, 2017

Your audience is broad including consumers, entrepreneurs, investors and press. It’s a good idea to preschedule a few practice sessions in-person and also encourage teams to record their pitch and send you the video to review. Are you evaluating their business or their pitch? Something else? Make sure everyone is clear.

Elevator Pitch 48

Elevator Pitch Video Audience Software Review 48

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

If you’re an entrepreneur planning to start a business outside of the United States, you might be looking for assistance and resources that are available in your specific country. There are plenty of local resources and services available to help entrepreneurs in their local areas around the globe. First, what’s your question?

Global 62

Global South Africa United Arab Emirates United Kingdom 62

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2012

Before you start, remember that the goal of the executive summary is to provide a printed version of your best elevator pitch, to provide a positive first impression to the reader. Take a look at my website for the Sample Executive Summary , which shows what can be done in one page (both sides).

Business Plan 244

Business Plan Elevator Pitch Viral Lead Generation 244

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 15, 2010

The life of an entrepreneur is filled with 20 second opportunities. I’ve written about the “elevator” pitch before. So 2 things reminded me of that story and got me thinking about writing this post: I was on a panel this week talking to a crowd of a couple of hundred aspiring entrepreneurs. Most are squandered.

Elevator Pitch 315

Elevator Pitch Southern California Media Hosting 315