Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2014

If the customer need is obvious and large, the calculated risk is in the quality of your solution, your team, and marketing. Find a strategic partner to accelerate growth. Use metrics to measure results of marketing initiatives. Opportunity and revenue projections based on deep market and customer analysis are a smarter risk.

Startup 283

Startup Forecast Stock Options Technical Review 283

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Understanding where your VC partner sits in their respective fund and where their fund is in the cycle of its investment lifecycle will help you understand your VCs behavior. And you can often throw in a separate action like approving stock-option grants, getting approval for CAPEX spend, discussing fund raising timing – whatever.

Advisory Board 365

Advisory Board CTO Hire Fractional CTO Los Angeles 365

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2018

If the customer need is obvious and large, the calculated risk is in the quality of your solution, your team, and marketing. Find a strategic partner to accelerate growth. Use metrics to measure results of marketing initiatives. Opportunity and revenue projections based on deep market and customer analysis are a smarter risk.

Forecast 161

Forecast Stock Options Technical Review Metrics 161

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

He gives a wealth of practical advice on building a successful technical startup, including some specifics that I like on what constitutes a dream team of partners: The technical guru. The combination of technical insight, founder authority, and sales experience is a hard-to-beat advantage in a competitive market. The financial suit.

Technical Cofounder 144

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Startup 144

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2014

The combination of technical insight, founder authority, and sales experience is a hard-to-beat advantage in a competitive market. Outside professionals are always available, but they may have their own agenda, such as building a career, making money quickly, or managing up the stock price for a quick exit. The financial suit.

Technical Cofounder 245

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Startup 245

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

We like to talk about logo design , web design , startups, entrepreneurship, small business, leadership, social media, marketing, and various random stuff! Small Business and Startups: Customer Service Marketing Manifesto – crowdspring.co/1wYokDi. Startup Equity and Stock Options: What’s It Worth to You?

Social Media 99

Social Media Small Business Design Media 99

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

Forget to get around to setting up that Employee Stock Option Plan and want to be able to give the early guys their options at a low strike price? Consider it a sales & marketing expense for them. They usually ask for warrants (basically like a stock option) in exchange for taking a deferred fee.

Southern California 318

Southern California Silicon Valley IP Stock Options 318

Steve Blank

MARCH 16, 2016

VC’s raise money from their investors (limited partners like pension funds) and then spread their risk by investing in a number of startups (called a portfolio). BTW, Angel investors do not have limited partners, and often invest for reasons other than just for financial gain (e.g., The Deal With the Devil. Timing is everything.

Liquidity Event 120

Liquidity Event Founder Liquidation Preference Private Equity 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

If the customer need is obvious and large, the calculated risk is in the quality of your solution, your team, and marketing. Find a strategic partner to accelerate growth. Use metrics to measure results of marketing initiatives. Opportunity and revenue projections based on deep market and customer analysis are a smarter risk.

Forecast 120

Forecast Startup Stock Options Technical Review 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2022

The right time to jump is a function of favorable career, personal, and market circumstances. Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. Offer low cash early, with bonuses or stock options for milestones, to people in your personal network. The right time to start dilemma.

Founder 325

Founder Hockey Stick Cofounder Liquidity Event 325

Up and Running

DECEMBER 1, 2015

If you’re giving a large percentage of your company to someone (and yes, two percent is large), you’re entering into a contract that’s really a whole lot like marriage in that it creates a long-term relationship between you and the employee or partner. Make sure you understand all of your options before making any decisions.

Equity 60

Equity Employee Stock Options Vesting 60

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

The combination of technical insight, founder authority, and sales experience is a hard-to-beat advantage in a competitive market. Outside professionals are always available, but they may have their own agenda, such as building a career, making money quickly, or managing up the stock price for a quick exit. The financial suit.

Technical Cofounder 120

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Stock Options 120

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

Called Tim Spicer (c-companies partner) and he told him matt, they only want one thing, more warrant coverage!!! Mark: 10% warrant coverage is like stock options. Icing is the warrant for banks – stock they can buy in future but don’t have to buy so they make their $$ later in the future. And he said ok got it.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Warrant Customer Term Sheet 304

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2017

It was a stock option incentive related “expense” but I bet you didn’t know that because in an era where we only read the headlines — they must be a train wreck losing billions. Is the revenue dependent on a concentrated set of distribution partners or platforms that put future revenue at risk? Two-f **g-billion!

Stock Options 227

Stock Options Startup Dilution Venture Capital 227

Berkonomics

JANUARY 25, 2024

And some will willingly work for stock options, an amount to be negotiated based upon time spent and stage of corporate development. The one warning: avoid those looking to become partners, asking for larger portions of equity than, say, 5% when they contribute no cash to the enterprise.

SBA 62

SBA Warrant Stock Options Vesting 62

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

What I love about my job is getting to see teams of super-early-stage companies develop ideas that while raw have potential to make an impact on the market. This happens because many CEOs are passionate, market-driven people who are constantly trying to launch new products, win contracts, get press, hire staff and woo VCs.

Operations 150

Operations Metrics Early Stage Non-Compete 150

YoungUpstarts

JULY 17, 2020

Evaluate and redirect the flow of your marketing dollars — an ad on the subway may have been a good idea three months ago, but it’s not doing you any good now. If possible, offering stock options in lieu of raises or to counteract pay cuts is another way to build security.

Startup 287

Startup Wisconsin Stock Options Dividend 287

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

Picking the right attorney in your startup is as important as picking the right business partner. You can’t underestimate the importance of selecting an attorney who “gets” your business model, your market opportunity, and most importantly, your fundraising and exit strategy. My business partner and I were elated.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2019

The right time to jump is a function of favorable career, personal, and market circumstances. Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. Offer low cash early, with bonuses or stock options for milestones, to people in your personal network. The right time to start dilemma.

Hockey Stick 243

Hockey Stick Cofounder Liquidity Event Startup 243

Reid Hoffman

DECEMBER 10, 2020

If I’m going to find out that a set of founders lack integrity, don’t behave like partners, take on unacceptable risks that might harm their customers or society, or simply aren’t the kinds of people I want to spend a decade with, I want to know those facts before I start down the path of evaluating that investment. I think David’s wrong.”.

Hosting 69

Hosting Hockey Stick IPO Silicon Valley 69

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 1, 2023

Be honest with yourself VCs are now going to be looking closer at margins, cost structures and true sales, and product market fit. After all, you’ve likely given your employees stock options which make them part-time business owners as well. As CRO, Lester is responsible for sales, client success and marketing at WARP.

Early Stage 135

Early Stage Los Angeles Silicon Valley Cofounder 135

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

"Authentic" is dead - A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks , May 3, 2010 It's time to retire the following phrases. He’d wasted a year of his life and had a pile of stock options that weren’t very interesting. If you can just be friendly enough and get your users to party with you, the rest is really easy.

Fractional CTO 248

Fractional CTO Startup Venture Capital Cofounder 248

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 25, 2019

this requires a strong knowledge of market data, employee performance, company performance relative to market and available resources?—?cash cash & unallocated stock options) Should we raise capital, from whom, how much and at what price? I practice what I preach. kind of like a board for a VC firm).

LP 269

LP Startup Burn Rate Stock Options 269

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Taking a campaign online and encouraging non-accredited investors to use a crowdfunding platform is a great way to show their support, manage the volume, and market your business. Stock Option. I’m saying be realistic about what can be raised. So, who are these unlikely angels? Management Resumes and Organizational Chart.

Angel Investor 159

Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review Accredited Investor 159

Austin Startup

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

For startup founders, it’s never too early to start thinking about putting together a target market advisory board. The target market advisory board should consist of 2–4 industry veterans who have connections to C-level execs and VPs in your target market. In other cases, they may come from your channel partners or elsewhere.

Advisory Board 48

Advisory Board Sweat Equity Marketing Vertical 48

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

When you raise money from investors you produce information that you are told they want and care about: A fund-raising deck that articulates your company strategy, plans, team, market, competitors and so forth. Some people find this elitist?—?I So is there any good reason to create a data room and allow access to select individuals?

Cap Table 336

Cap Table Due Diligence Forecast Churn Rate 336

www.joelonsoftware.com

MARCH 24, 2010

We will also compare our salaries within each level to the competitive norms to make sure we are paying market salaries, at which point people might receive a raise. These people sit around thinking "lofty thoughts about markets, products, the competition, and the like. These categories are quoted from Chapter 2 in OMalley.

Software Review 48

Software Review Stock Options Salary Technical Review 48

Scalable Startup

AUGUST 9, 2018

They need the money to rent offices, hire staff, and establish their initial presence (website, incorporation, marketing). They need too much capital to keep pace with the market and their competitors. As we prepare for our first funding we are assembling a value chain from partners and vendors to clients. high growth.

Technical Cofounder 20

Technical Cofounder Silicon Valley Early Stage Cofounder 20

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 21, 2010

As startup entrepreneurs we all want to work with them because having their name as reference clients makes it so much easier for marketing, PR, selling to other customers, fund raising and even recruiting. Think of it as similar to an employee stock option. Large companies can be strange sometimes.

Warrant 298

Warrant Dilution Startup Stock Options 298

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2014

The right time to jump is a function of favorable career, personal, and market circumstances. Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. Offer low cash early, with bonuses or stock options for milestones, to people in your personal network. The right time to start dilemma.

Hockey Stick 268

Hockey Stick Cofounder Entrepreneur Liquidity Event 268

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2017

The right time to jump is a function of favorable career, personal, and market circumstances. Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. Offer low cash early, with bonuses or stock options for milestones, to people in your personal network. The right time to start dilemma.

Hockey Stick 144

Hockey Stick Cofounder Entrepreneur Liquidity Event 144

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

The creator economy market map, Singalfire. Much like an Uber driver or a twenty-tens Instagram influencer, the creator is responsible for her own marketing, health care, and tax contributions. can help creators create engaging social media content or marketing campaigns to promote their digital products, etc.

Startup 207

Startup Social Media Venture Capital Audio 207

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 7, 2017

And some will willingly work for stock options, an amount to be negotiated based upon time spent and stage of corporate development. The one warning: avoid those looking to become partners, asking for larger portions of equity than, say, 5% when they contribute no cash to the enterprise.

Warrant 97

Warrant Stock Options Vesting Equity 97

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Sales & Marketing | Wednesdays. SALES & MARKETING. Online Marketing. Bringing Innovation to Market. a 50-employee provider of e-marketing solutions to small and midsize businesses, based in Needham, Mass. Durkin , managing partner with the Boston -based law firm Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove LLP. Newsletters.

Fractional CTO 40

Fractional CTO Equity Iowa Technical Cofounder 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2013

The right time to jump is a function of favorable career, personal, and market circumstances. Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. Offer low cash early, with bonuses or stock options for milestones, to people in your personal network. The right time to start dilemma.

Founder 245

Founder Hockey Stick Cofounder Liquidity Event 245

Agile VC

JUNE 5, 2011

Groupon’s become a juggernaut in the immense local marketing space. 3) Groupon’s Business is Like An ATM: Groupon is currently unprofitable on a GAAP basis thanks to acquisition related expenses in 2010 as well as ongoing marketing spend to acquire customers. But even in Boston & Chicago it remains above $20.

North America 100

North America Chicago Boston Silicon Valley 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 4, 2009

If you’re thinking about joining as the director of marketing, product management manager, senior architect, international business development lead, etc. Now … these are stock options and not restricted stock so you’ll likely be taxed at a long-term capital gains rate. Let’s face it.

Stock Options 418

Stock Options Stock Liquidation Preference Option Pool 418