Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

Thus the top priority of every entrepreneur who wants funding should be to build and highlight their “dream team” of co-founders, executives and advisers, to attract the biggest and best investors. On the other hand, having failed in an earlier startup may be an advantage, if positioned properly, and some learning is evident.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Software Review 152

SoCal CTO

MARCH 12, 2012

I've recently received several emails from people looking for a technical cofounder for their startup. Make sure you go through the 32 Questions Developers May Have Forgot to Ask a Startup Founder. You should definitely hit up the Startup Weekend events as well. Refine your elevator pitch. Go to user groups.

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Technical Cofounder Cofounder CTO Hire Los Angeles 211

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2013

Based on the final report for 2012 from Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), it may appear that IPOs are back as a viable startup exit strategy. Angels are also moving up-stage, leaving a bigger and bigger black hole for new startups. Both operating executives and top advisors count. Timing is critical.

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Venture Capital IPO Elevator Pitch Initial Public Offering 252

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Every startup and every new business needs a unique selling proposition (USP) to get people’s attention these days, and make it stand out in the information overload we all see. Startups that try to do many things end up confusing customers, and doing all things poorly, since they have highly constrained resources.

Intellectual Property 416

Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Startup Algorithm 416

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 17, 2018

by Felix Winstone, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Talkative. As a startup co-founder with a growing team, here are the recruiting tips I’ve learnt over the last couple of years. Robert Metcalfe, co-founder and CEO of 3Com, says you need to think about it as “recruiting, not hiring”. Hiring = Sales. Be Specific.

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Cofounder Elevator Pitch Hiring Dividend 164

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2016

The average length of a funding pitch to Angel investors is ten minutes. The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Startup Angel Investor 120

Austin Startup

JANUARY 2, 2018

Whether it’s a thirty-page business plan, a ten-page pitch deck, a five-minute presentation, a one-page executive summary or a twenty-second elevator pitch, your primary goal is to answer the question, “What does your company do?” If you liked this, please consider recommending it so that others can find it by clicking the ??

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Elevator Pitch Startup Technical Review Cofounder 54

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2013

The average length of a funding pitch to Angel investors is ten minutes. The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 256

Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch Matching 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2023

Every startup and every new business needs a unique selling proposition (USP) to get people’s attention these days, and make it stand out in the information overload we all see. Startups that try to do many things end up confusing customers, and doing all things poorly, since they have highly constrained resources.

Intellectual Property 240

Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Algorithm Social Media 240

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. Founder: “$8–10 million” VC: “What’s your current burn rate?” Founder: “$250k / month.” Founder: “Um. Why are you raising so much?”

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Burn Rate Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Dilution 247

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 29, 2017

Advisors agree your startup is on the right track. Think of your first B2B web site as one step beyond your elevator pitch. Profiles of founders and advisors add credibility. You’re in discussions with strategic partners and potential beta customers. Now is the time to get your web site up. Plan to iterate. Just be clear.

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Elevator Pitch Web Portfolio B2B 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 8, 2020

I’m not proposing that anyone promise things that they don’t intend to deliver, but it’s time that founders switch to start selling their product before they build it, rather than believing the old adage of “if we build it, they will come.” Craft and hone your elevator pitch early.

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Elevator Pitch Public Relations Marketing Social Media 312

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2021

I often recommend business networking as the most effective way for a startup founder to find investors, advisors, and even key executive candidates. Here are a few of the “do’s”: Post your profile on LinkedIn and Twitter, and join in startup discussions. Don’t forget your enthusiasm, and have fun, but remember your manners!

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Accredited Investor Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur SEC 357

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

I had a recent email dialog with the founder of a company looking for a CTO for their startup. And I tried to evaluate the idea and figure out: What did the founder really need here? Was it a Startup Founder Developer Gap ? Did they really need a Startup CTO or Developer or both?

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Technical Cofounder CTO Hire Equity Sweat Equity 241

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2012

The average length of a funding pitch to angel investors is ten minutes. The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point.

Technical Review 243

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Matching 243

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2010

Can concisely explain the unique, compelling value of the proposed venture in written terms and in oral presentations (elevator pitch), recognizing that some investors rely more on one than the other. Tags: startup founder entrepreneur skills investors business. Here are some key ones they look for: Talks and writes well.

Angel Investor 241

Angel Investor Technical Review Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 241

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2023

That means they normally only invest in startups with a working product that has already been sold to at least one customer for full price (beta tests, giveaways and best friends don’t count). Funding for founder salaries at this stage is a red flag. Have backup charts for investors wanting more detail.

Elevator Pitch 228

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 228

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 12, 2017

If you look at some of the most successful websites, from industry leaders to savvy startups, one thing you’ll notice about all of them is an emphasis on simplicity in design. Kristy Campbell, COO of Rev1 Ventures, describes your first website as a “step beyond your elevator pitch.” Step Back From Social. No Need For Novelty.

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Web Design Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2021

Work on your elevator pitch. This is a concise, well-practiced description of your idea or your startup, delivered with conviction to start a relationship in the time it takes to ride up an elevator. If you are active in helping others with what you know, they will be much more open to help you when you need it.

Elevator Pitch 351

Elevator Pitch Entrepreneur Social Network Networking 351

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2011

The average length of a funding pitch to angel investors is ten minutes. The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point.

Technical Review 237

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Matching 237

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. Now comes the really tricky part: getting me to review all that stuff you just neatly uploaded.

Angel Investor 153

Angel Investor Elevator Pitch Pre-Money Valuation Technical Review 153

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. Over the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to see how the process works, several times from the startup side, and more recently from the angel perspective (as a member of an angel group selection committee). Get your Internet domain name and website.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

A fter years of talking with many of you in the Israeli startup industry, investors and entrepreneurs alike, I was invited to present some tips for entrepreneurs at the Launch48 conference in London this weekend. Very cool concept and I want to thank the founder Adil Mohammed for inviting me to take part in it. Open the kimono.

Elevator Pitch 102

Elevator Pitch Incubator Technical Review Startup 102

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2021

Smart entrepreneurs develop quick elevator pitches for their ideas, good product and business stories, and are eager for the opportunity to communicate and learn from feedback. As an investor, I’m not attracted to startups where the founder sends in a marketing person to do the talking.

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Elevator Pitch Matching Business Model Technology 364

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2015

The average length of a funding pitch to Angel investors is ten minutes. The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Matching 120

The Next Web

MARCH 17, 2018

One of the most critical tasks startups face, is creating a killer elevator pitch — a short, verbal description of who they are, what they do, and how they are going to succeed as a business. This doesn’t mean that creating… This story continues at The Next Web.

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Elevator Pitch Web Founder Startup 166

Up and Running

MARCH 30, 2015

The business pitch. When I say pitch or business pitch I mean the short presentation startup founders make for angel investors or venture capitalists. That’s what Guy Kawasaki writes about in The Art of the Pitch, in his landmark book “The Art of the Start.” The LivePlan pitch page.

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Elevator Pitch Lean Oregon Angel Groups 60

SoCal CTO

APRIL 25, 2017

Here is the most recent version of an all too common email inquiry from a startup founder. I'm working on a start up idea in the XXX market with my partner and we are currently looking for full stack developer to join us as a technical co-founder. Homework I don't think that this founder has looked at my blog or my background.

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Email Developer Elevator Pitch Cofounder 150

VC Cafe

AUGUST 9, 2012

How to win an award in a startup competition: Research. For example, the ‘Visa Elevator Pitch’ will only accept video entries, whilst you have to be a country-based business to be eligible for the ‘House to Home’ competition. Researching start-up competitions is the first necessary step towards winning one.

Elevator Pitch 109

Elevator Pitch Startup Europe Reputation 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2020

That means they normally only invest in startups with a working product that has already been sold to at least one customer for full price (beta tests, giveaways and best friends don’t count). Funding for founder salaries at this stage is a red flag. Have backup charts for investors wanting more detail.

Elevator Pitch 336

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 336

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020

In most cases, a new startup idea and plan was driven by a specific personal incident that left you with the conviction that you still have for this opportunity. Unfortunately, most elevator pitches, product descriptions, and marketing messages are abstract, and include no characters at all.

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Elevator Pitch Restful Audience Technology 363

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2022

Offer to give your executive presentation, but he may want just the elevator pitch. Most VCs won’t volunteer to the Founder what they think, because that limits their options later. Keep your big guns, the business plan and financial model, in your holster but visible for backup. Put your ear to the ground before charging ahead.

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Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Venture Capital Business Plan 316

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. Over the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to see how the process works, several times from the startup side, and more recently from the angel perspective (as a member of an angel group selection committee). Get your Internet domain name and website.

Angel Investor 224

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

Yet there are clearly some positive steps I can recommend for getting you (and him) over the bridge: Find a co-founder who has been there and done that. Every startup I know, no matter how good their idea, has had to make one or more changes or pivots, as they adjust to the challenges of the real world.

Elevator Pitch 315

Elevator Pitch Cofounder Dividend Leadership 315

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 18, 2017

A panel representing savvy Investors/Venture Capitalists and seasoned African Fintech Pioneers will evaluate the business model of each chosen start‐up or trail‐blazer in a high-stress 10 minute “ elevator pitch ” to the “ Wolves ” who will ask the tough questions and provide the illuminating insights.

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Africa Ethiopia Elevator Pitch Technical Review 62

Austin Startup

FEBRUARY 23, 2020

Maria Colacurcio giving her winning pitch for Syndio in Seattle last fall. Last October, Colacurcio won season two of GeekWire’s Elevator Pitch (literally given in the 32-second elevator ride of Seattle’s Smith Tower); her pitch also won the Geek’s Choice award after live voting by the audience in the Summit app.

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Technical Review Seattle Elevator Pitch Equity 62

Up and Running

APRIL 11, 2011

They call it the elevator speech, or elevator pitch, and it’s a good exercise. I was there last Thursday to hear these two pitches , two of the best from 16 one-minute pitches at the University of Oregon’s New Venture Championship. Tweet Could you describe your company in 60 seconds? About the Author.

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Elevator Pitch Oregon Cofounder Business Plan 73