VC Cafe

MARCH 1, 2024

Most startups equate the process of fundraising to dating – founders have to typically kiss a lot of frogs until the find the right fit. Climate tech – We have a fair chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change if startups offer commercial solutions to decarbonize society or remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Artificial Inteligence 176

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Software Review Generative AI 176

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

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. Use crowd funding. Apply for contests and business grants. Get a loan or line-of-credit.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator Bootstrapping 261

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

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. Use crowd funding. Apply for contests and business grants. Get a loan or line-of-credit.

Intellectual Property 219

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 219

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2022

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Angel Investor 327

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 327

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2013

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals.

Bootstrapping 252

Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Technical Review 252

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2023

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. This question gets to the heart of what bank financing is and isn't supposed to accomplish. Money from other sources.

Equity 303

Equity Silicon Valley Finance Early Stage 303

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

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. Use crowd funding. Apply for contests and business grants. Get a loan or line-of-credit.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 283

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. Solo entrepreneurs rarely find an investor. Investors talk to each other and they love warm introductions to up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Software Review 152

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

Something happened in the past 7 years in the startup and venture capital world that I hadn’t experienced since the late 90’s — we all began praying to the God of Valuation. How might our next phase of the journey seem brighter, even with more uncertain days for startups and capital markets? What happened? There was no money train.

Valuation 466

Valuation San Francisco Ratchet Liquidation Preference 466

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

When I first read Paul Graham’s blog post on “High Resolution&# Financing I read it as a treatise arguing that convertible notes are better than equity. This leads to the problem of “herding cats&# for entrepreneurs raising angel money. Photo credit: D. Blanchard/O’Reilly Media. rings true to me.

Finance 286

Finance Term Sheet Technical Review Warrant 286

Gust

DECEMBER 15, 2013

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals.

Bootstrapping 183

Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Technical Review 183

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. Use crowd funding. Apply for contests and business grants. Get a loan or line-of-credit.

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. Join a startup incubator.

Intellectual Property 134

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 134

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Individual and institutional donations.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

A while back I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ For a Startup, Two Heads are Always Better Than One.” The feedback was good, but some readers asked me to be a bit more specific on attributes that might indicate an ideal startup partner. Most entrepreneurs work long hours and weekends to get the job done.

Partner 258

Partner Software Review CTO Hire Equity 258

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 11, 2023

These investments are a tremendous help to your startup because they will serve as a stepping stone to reach your target eventually. The following is a condensed explanation of seed funding: Seed money is a form of early-stage financing that new businesses receive from investors in exchange for a share of ownership in the company.

Seed Stage 123

Seed Stage Technical Review Early Stage Due Diligence 123

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 7, 2018

One of the biggest challenges facing startup businesses is getting adequate financing – without hobbling future performance. It’s not just an issue of knowing where to start and what options fit best with the entrepreneur’s personal and business circumstances, cash needs and credit rating. Of course not.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Incubator Finance Canada 124

David Teten

APRIL 1, 2021

I’ve recently advised a number of emerging private equity and VC funds who are wrestling with the question: What are the highest impact steps they can take to support their portfolio companies? . Almost every private equity and venture capital investor now advertises that they have a platform to support their portfolio companies.

Private Equity 78

Private Equity Venture Capital Portfolio Equity 78

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 7, 2016

With countless roadblocks along the way, it’s not uncommon for a startup to falter to the point of folding before it has ever reached even the simplest of business goals. The rub is that a startup likely has the ideas to take it straight to the top, but it’s also likely that the company lacks the business skills to make it truly successful.

Seed Stage 100

Seed Stage Silicon Valley Incubator Asia 100

Up and Running

AUGUST 30, 2021

The outdoor industry wasn’t helping itself, so he did what all entrepreneurs do: start a business to solve the problem. It’s difficult to be an entrepreneur — whether you’re a recent college graduate or have managed multiple companies. It’s why the average age of an entrepreneur is 42 years old. Your startup becomes irrelevant.

Entrepreneur 132

Entrepreneur Lean Colorado Engineer 132

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 20, 2020

Unfortunately, however, our love affair with startups is unfounded, especially as it relates to those who may be looking to provide, market to or target their product/service to the startup segment. Why We Are In Love With Startups? The most commonly-referenced startup story is fun to tell: Founded by 20-somethings.

Sweat Equity 107

Sweat Equity Non-Compete Startup Azure 107

The Next Web

NOVEMBER 20, 2013

George Deeb is the Managing Partner at Chicago-based Red Rocket Ventures , a startup consulting and financial advisory firm based in Chicago. There are a lot of variables to go into calculating a fair equity split a startup team. To me, that is no different than financing the business.

Cofounder 136

Cofounder Equity Founder Seed Stage 136

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals.

Sweat Equity 255

Sweat Equity Technical Review Entrepreneur Bootstrapping 255

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. Join a startup incubator.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 120

YoungUpstarts

JULY 16, 2019

There are few words that strike as much fear – into the minds of entrepreneurs and business owners – as the idea of debt. Many business people, including Millennial entrepreneurs, are scared of the idea of getting into debts, and their worries are not unfounded. by Uday Tank. Stay in charge. Appears cheaper than other options.

Software Review 113

Software Review Startup Equity Bootstrapping 113

ReadWriteStart

MARCH 31, 2020

Venture capital investment is one of the top places startups look out for when seeking funding for their business alongside other popular options like angel investing and crowdfunding. Therefore, startups can expect investors to make significant adjustments based on lessons learned last year, which are rather harsh.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Startup Term Sheet 175

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

Billionaire entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" co-host Mark Cuban is an outspoken proponent of the all-in early approach in a video interview, and made it clear that he gives no credibility and low odds to founders seeking funding who have not fully committed their time and efforts to their cause. The early entrepreneur lifestyle is not much fun.

Entrepreneur 321

Entrepreneur Private Equity Startup Salary 321

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

TEC is one of Canada’s largest and most experienced private credit firms, specializing in providing asset-based capital solutions to companies that are underserved or overlooked by traditional sources of financing, primarily banks. The firm has made more than $4.5 The firm has made more than $4.5

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Due Diligence Bankruptcy Intellectual Property 131

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 20, 2020

Unfortunately, however, our love affair with startups is unfounded, especially as it relates to those who may be looking to provide, market to or target their product/service to the startup segment. Why We Are In Love With Startups? Most Startups Lack Budgets The Pareto Principle is at work when it comes to startups.

Sweat Equity 78

Sweat Equity Non-Compete Startup Azure 78

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 29, 2019

Startup funding is undeniably an essential part of any new business launch, which is typically a hard nut to crack. However, here, we have attempted to shortlist a few easier ways for funding a startup. Usually, banks are the first go-to place for entrepreneurs when looking for a loan. Photo by Caleb Lucas on Unsplash.

Startup 95

Startup Government Valuation Technical Review 95

David Teten

MARCH 14, 2018

– Build out low-cost force multipliers such as scouts , Advisors, Entrepreneurs in Residence, Venture Partners, and so on. Sophisticated VC and private equity funds have a wide array of options for leveraging outside operating executives. I’ve listed a few more below which require meaningful startup and ongoing costs.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Cofounder 60

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2017

As an advisor to startups, and a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m still surprised at the number who are determined to go it alone. Thus top entrepreneurs spend as much time getting the right team in place to run the business as building the product or service. That’s a win-win for both partners.

Startup 165

Startup Technical Review Partner Finance 165

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2020

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. This question gets to the heart of what bank financing is and isn't supposed to accomplish. Money from other sources.

Silicon Valley 406

Silicon Valley Equity Startup Finance 406

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in non-profits. Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 120

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 28, 2019

When it comes to raising money for your startup, there are several ways of doing it. However, out of all startup funding options, the two most popular methods are Loan and Equity. The post Business Loan vs Equity Financing: How to Fund Your Startup appeared first on ReadWrite.

Equity 113

Equity Finance Startup Entrepreneur 113

The Startup Magazine

JULY 13, 2021

But finding startup capital or a startup investor continues to challenge most entrepreneurs. Using that home equity for a startup certainly looks enticing right now, doesn’t it? Keep in mind, as a startup, you may not make a profit right out of the gate. The Amount of Equity. Amount in Savings.

Equity 156

Equity Startup Stock Business Plan 156

ReadWriteStart

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

The Latin American startup scene is attracting more and more attention and investments. Here’s a look at what’s fueling startup investments in Colombia. Colombia is not new to the startup scene , but it is beginning to garner increased attention from foreign VCs. The government creates programs to help entrepreneurs.

Colombia 146

Colombia America Technical Review Startup 146