Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

We received so much positive feedback from our This Week in Venture Capital show walking through valuation calculations & term sheets that we decided to do a Q&A show this week to address topics that entrepreneurs want to learn about. In fact, far better if you haven’t raised venture capital.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Term Sheet Valuation Stock Options 282

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

As there was no venture capital, these early startups were funded by early sales to weapon systems prime contractors and subcontractors. One of the unintended consequences was that many of the academics went off to found a wave of startups selling their technology to the military. America’s adversaries understand this.

Government 313

Government Artificial Inteligence Silicon Valley North Korea 313

ReadWriteStart

APRIL 5, 2023

Tightening of monetary policies has led to skyrocketing interest rates as central banks try to manage rampant running inflation, supply chain issues persist despite the fact that the pandemic is now in the rearview — and venture capital funding has looked to dry up almost overnight. Do Not Fear! This is an Opportunity!

South Africa 136

South Africa New York City San Francisco Technical Review 136

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

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 18, 2019

Venturing out into the startup world can be a big task for anyone, but women have to face a myriad of acceptance issues not just from society but also the business community. Below are a few challenges you should be ready to face if you are an aspiring female leader looking to build a start-up, especially a tech-based one: 1.

Technical Review 113

Technical Review Founder United States Cofounder 113

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. .

Technical Review 60

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. .

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Private Equity Management Cap Table 60

Up and Running

MARCH 11, 2015

And, there’s a good reason why; it includes back-to-back essays on mobile, high-growth startups and technology. Probably the grand-daddy of VC blogs, Union Square Ventures’ Fred Wilson has been posting every day since 2003. From life advice and commentary, to practical know-how for growing a tech startup, AVC is a must-read blog.

Venture Capital 60

Venture Capital Technical Review Silicon Valley Cofounder 60

ReadWriteStart

APRIL 8, 2023

It becomes even more interesting in the world of emerging technologies and the IoT. In fact, the small brand is likely to become a rising industry star due to the established trust, convenient delivery times, and various payment options available in the marketplace. These new technologies will become an integral part of most e-shops.

eCommerce 185

eCommerce Technical Review Software Review Analytics 185

Haystack

DECEMBER 29, 2018

It’s that time of year, time to look back and reflect on the most significant storylines in the tech, startup, and VC world. 6/ Venture Capital In Expansion Phase. Technology is, like water, flowing and seeping into nearly every sector and eventually into most of the global economy. 3/ Crypto Hibernation.

Technical Review 165

Technical Review Venture Capital Russia China 165

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.

Venture Capital 60

Venture Capital Balance Sheet Technical Review Portfolio 60

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

A critical stage for most first-time entrepreneurs is getting their idea developed into at least a prototype to validate their technology. Specifically, I often point to the NSF or the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for high-tech startups. Investors want potential for a large and timely return, with reduced risk.

Early Stage 225

Early Stage SBIR Technical Review Seed Stage 225

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. Our little business grew from four employees to over 30.

Software Review 188

Software Review Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 188

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Personal loans from individuals, employees and board members. As in any company, they can lead to employee problems, or messy legal issues. Personal loans are certainly an option, but should be avoided if possible.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

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.

Non-disclosure Agreement 153

Non-disclosure Agreement NDA Technical Review Due Diligence 153

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

Growth will slow, partly due to internal limits and partly because the company is starting to bump up against the limits of the markets it serves.” He also nails the reason why venture capital is still necessary to grow large businesses quickly in a world where the costs of running startups have fallen dramatically.

Silicon Valley 390

Silicon Valley Venture Capital Startup Technical Review 390

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

According to the Angel Capital Association: Angels (private money) invest in 55,000 startups each year versus 1,500 companies by VC (venture capital) funding. Angels invest in one out of every forty deals they review (2.5%) versus the one out of 400 by VC’s (0.25%). Perhaps the library or a local tech company can host.

Angel Investor 159

Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review Accredited Investor 159

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

A version of this article first appeared in the Harvard Business Review. With fewer than 10 employees but almost $2-billion dollars in the bank, they plan on jumping right in. Almost overnight the floodgates opened, and risk capital was available at scale from venture capital investors who rushed their startups toward public offerings.

Lean 335

Lean Burn Rate Startup IPO 335

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.

Venture Capital 333

Venture Capital Early Stage Technical Review Startup 333

David Teten

JANUARY 11, 2020

What tech stack should a microinfluencer use? Many investors including me spend most of our day doing the same things people have always done in our job: in my case, due diligence, deal execution, etc. In the venture capital/private equity business, investors are B2B microinfluencers. Tech stack.

Social Media 60

Social Media Technical Review Media Private Equity 60

Gust

DECEMBER 22, 2011

Most traditional, bricks-and-mortar businesses have substantial, often enormous hard assets, such as raw materials and supplies, work-in-process, inventory, manufacturing equipment, real estate and more, as well as armies of employees. Tech startups are at the other extreme. Instagram is a textbook example.) Intellectual property.

Intellectual Property 149

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.

Revenue 60

Revenue Technical Review Software Review Equity 60

YoungUpstarts

MAY 24, 2018

In today’s business environment where innovation and technology converge and the modern day entrepreneur has more support and incentive than ever to begin their dream startup company, more often than not discussions about state and local business taxes have a similar tone: “The company is losing money; we don’t owe any taxes.”. “We

South Dakota 160

South Dakota North Dakota Wyoming United States 160

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Personal loans from individuals, employees and board members. As in any company, they can lead to employee problems, or messy legal issues. Personal loans are certainly an option, but should be avoided if possible.

Angel Investor 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Much of this success is due to the flexibility of startups and their ability to adapt. Venture capital firms have become more discerning where they put their limited funds to use, and banks have always been anti-startup in their business dealings. However, the biggest hurdle is yet to come.

Bankruptcy 165

Bankruptcy Startup Agile Technical Review 165

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 12, 2011

Chris Dixon is one of my favorite people in tech and writes one of the few blogs I read religiously. If you don’t read it and you care about tech & entrepreneurship, you should. If you like the quick summary notes, please check out Adam’s blog on tech, entrepreneurship & VC as a thank you.

Technical Review 281

Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Cofounder API 281

ReadWriteStart

FEBRUARY 21, 2021

Early in your startup’s development, you’ll likely be low on capital. Even if you have an angel investor or a venture capital (VC) firm backing you, you’ll have an abundance of expenses, limited income, and a finite amount of time before the money completely runs out. Employees are Your Largest Investment.

Startup 106

Startup Software Review Open Source Technical Review 106

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

My business partner and I made many mistakes in our first tech startup, and so many of them were the result of choosing a lawyer who was a terrible fit. After a couple of due diligence meetings with the investor and our attorneys, he gave us the check. We gladly handed it over to him as part of the due diligence process.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Austin Startup

OCTOBER 19, 2019

On Monday, September 23, Austin Startup Week had an impressive kick-off at Capital Factory where over 400 women and allies gathered at the 3rd Annual Women in Tech Summit! Inspired and taking notes in a packed house at the Women in #Tech Summit @CFWoman ! Women leaders from across the U.S. Collect Data 3.

Technical Review 49

Technical Review North America Cleveland Austin 49

Mucker Lab

AUGUST 27, 2014

At the time, LA and Santa Clara were both the epicenter of the technology industry due to the significant overlap between the aerospace/military industry (Los Angeles) and the computing business (Silicon Valley). Given our backgrounds, we often get asked about what makes the tech scene in Los Angeles different from that in the Valley.

Los Angeles 138

Los Angeles Southern California Silicon Valley Technical Review 138

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2015

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.

Non-disclosure Agreement 120

Non-disclosure Agreement Technical Review NDA Due Diligence 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Personal loans from individuals, employees and board members. As in any company, they can lead to employee problems, or messy legal issues. Personal loans are certainly an option, but should be avoided if possible.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

These days there are many lawyers that will do equity deals cheaply as long is it is a standardized, simplified term sheet, early stage, no serious investor / management debates, limited IP / customers / due diligence and as long as they perceive you as a “hot&# company that’s likely to need legal services for many years ahead. (if

Finance 286

Finance Term Sheet Technical Review Warrant 286

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

When you first start your company and raise initial venture capital your board probably consists of 1-3 founders and 1-2 VCs. Reviewing financial & operational performance. But as importantly Josh was also formerly a startup CEO of a tech business and thus had empathy for startup land. In the Early Days. Mentorship.

Technical Review 325

Technical Review Early Stage Software Review Los Angeles 325

David Teten

JULY 29, 2011

A bit belatedly (due to a backlog of blog postings), I wanted to announce ff Venture Capital ‘s summer intern class. Franklin Bi became passionate about venture capital and entrepreneurship after he spent a summer in Silicon Valley, working on an information services startup focused on innovation management.

Software Review 133

Software Review Venture Capital New Jersey Silicon Valley 133

thebarefootvc

MAY 8, 2012

So as an investor, I find myself passing on opportunities at the early stage that I know could become strong businesses, simply due to bandwidth constraints. My (very rudimentary) graph of the relationship between human capital and financial capital in a company’s evolution.

Venture Capital 78

Venture Capital Syndicate Syndication Bandwidth 78