Gust

DECEMBER 25, 2013

To start with, a pre-revenue mobile company cannot expect to raise anything from “the VCs” Venture capital funds invest in only one out of every 400 companies seeking funding, so the odds of your particular startup getting funded are astronomically against you.

Revenue 136

Revenue Angel Investor Mobile Venture Capital 136

Gust

OCTOBER 12, 2014

Obviously, a key factor is always the state of the economy and the mood of the venture capital community. 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.

Silicon Valley 182

Silicon Valley Venture Capital Massachusetts California 182

Gust

DECEMBER 22, 2011

The gulf has widened with the proliferation of social Internet / user-generated content and mobile application startups. In the Internet era, trademarks and domain names are closely interrelated, and both can be or become extremely valuable. Tech startups are at the other extreme. Instagram is a textbook example.)

Intellectual Property 149

Intellectual Property Technical Review Software Review IP 149

Gust

NOVEMBER 28, 2011

You may have great credentials as a public servant in your home town, but that won’t get you money to build a social network on the Internet, or start a software company. You can learn a lot about a new technology from Wikipedia and scouring the Internet, but probably not enough to qualify you as CEO of a new company in that area.

Startup 147

Startup Bootstrapping Social Network Internet 147

Gust

NOVEMBER 23, 2011

As I write this, Congress is teetering on the brink of passing the most disastrously ill-conceived law in the 18-year history of the commercial Internet, SOPA. SOPA would disproportionately alter the risk profile for new startups, which are thinly capitalized compared to the giants like Google and Facebook.

IPO 110

IPO Prospectus SEC Intellectual Property 110

Gust

DECEMBER 5, 2011

I’m sure that some of you are thinking by now that if all entrepreneurs followed these guidelines, the world would have missed many great leaps in technology, like the laser, television, and the Internet. These are usually called ‘disruptive’ technologies.

Technology 167

Technology Angel Investor Early Stage Viral 167

Gust

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Check track record on the Internet and social networks. Ask the investor for “references,” meaning contacts at companies where previous investments were made. Don’t just call, but personally visit these contacts. Do a simple Google search like you would on any company or individual before signing a contract.

Due Diligence 119

Due Diligence Entrepreneur Offshore Angel Groups 119