Gust

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10 C-Level Positions That Are Red Flags For Funding

Gust

A few other credible ones would include Chairman of the Board (COB), Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Chief Sales Officer (VP Sales). See this anecdote by Steve Blank on how a hotshot sales executive can sink your startup. The most common ones I see and salute are CEO, CFO, and CTO.

CTO Hire 171
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Intellectual Property for Startups in the Real World

Gust

It’s often possible to “ design around ” a patent to operate a business that achieves similar results in different ways.) Financial, technical and operational plans and forecasts of all kinds (trade secret). Large companies] win by locking competitors out of their sales channels. trade secret).

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As an investor, what are the most important items that a startup must have for you to invest?

Gust

Proven team (tech/product/design/mark eting/sales/domain/etc.). Operating skills. Reasonable valuation. But most important of all , it must have an entrepreneur on whom I’m willing to bet. And the attributes I look for in that entrepreneur are: Integrity. Startup experience. Personal domain expertise. Leadership ability.

Cap Table 119
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Bootstrapping Organic Growth Makes Startup Sense

Gust

As soon as you bring in investors, they force you to plan for an exit (merger or sale) in three to five years. Understanding your business totally will give you much better operational control. It’s critical to them, since that’s the only way they can realize a return on investment, but it limits your options for growth and change.

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Keep It Under Your Hat: Valuation Caps and the $650 Million Sale of MySpace for $125 Million

Gust

Intermix had acquired their previous online marketing startup, ResponseBase, and they remained a cohesive group.

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Entrepreneurs Must Not Confuse Action With Results

Gust

Build your business plan and day-to-day operations around real results that are quantifiable and measurable. For example, a result is not forty hours of work, but a prototype complete, partner contract signed, or first customer sale. Here are some key recommendations: Measure results, not work. Focus and prioritize.

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Do It Right The First Time, Part II: Visit the Doctor or House Call?

Gust

Form a legal entity to operate the business (we’ll use a Delaware corporation as an example for Newco). The next category is more promising for those who aspire to the corporate legal equivalent of the Homebrew Computer Club : Common Operating Documents. Sales contracts accounting for significant revenue.