View from Seed

MARCH 24, 2021

At NextView Ventures we have written many pieces about venture capital — how to raise it, build your business, engage with investors, iterate your product, navigate expanding industries, etc. Doing Reference Checks on VCs “Try to speak to at least one founder that the investor has worked with in a failed investment.

Seed Stage 177

Seed Stage Hiring IPO Analytics 177

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2010

They come in the form of personal references. My company had raised venture capital in April 2001 but we were told that there may never be any more coming. I learned how to better run a product management process. I learned how to integrate customers into our product development process.

Venture Capital 285

Venture Capital Hiring Software Review Stock Options 285

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 26, 2010

Social Proof in Action … Yesterday I wrote about the benefits of using social proof and authority in raising venture capital. So the early part of a technology company is about finding your hard core group of early adopters and making them passionate about your products. Sure, they need a little social proof.

Customer 294

Customer Marketing Technical Review Iowa 294

David Teten

MAY 1, 2013

However, they remain key to your email identity, and fundamental to your marketing and even capital-raising. The ff Venture Capital portfolio is evidence of how much we believe this, e.g., our companies Alerts.com , Gobbler.com , Identified.com , Patents.com , Phone.com , and Plated.com. I previously published this in Forbes.

Naming 114

Naming Semantic Venture Capital Startup 114

Up and Running

DECEMBER 22, 2015

See Also: 17 Venture Capital Blogs You Should Be Reading. Good investments need growth and growth requires what investors refer to as being “scalable.”. Investors use the term “body shop” to refer to the many service businesses that depend on people doing specific things for each unit of sales. Your Profits Are Too High.

Angel Investor 60

Angel Investor IRR Software Review Startup 60

The Startup Magazine

SEPTEMBER 12, 2019

Most startups view venture capital funding as a blessing from above — eager to take it as soon as they can get it. Tempted by large sums of money and the perceived validation that comes along with being funded, founders turn to venture capitalists to accelerate their company’s growth. Focus on Product Development First.

Early Stage 98

Early Stage Venture Capital Bootstrapping Pre-Money Valuation 98

Hearpreneur

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

As an entrepreneur, joining organizations or networking groups can allow you to connect with like-minded people who can provide you with information and support, and refer customers to you. The curriculum was comprehensive and covered a wide range of topics, from product development to fundraising.

Community 96

Community Architecture Entrepreneur Networking 96

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

Undoubtedly, there will be detractors who believe many products are simply features on top of foundational models. But builders who see AI as the driving force behind product development and GTM strategy will actually create new markets and experiences that never existed before.

Generative AI 78

Generative AI ChatGPT Artificial Inteligence Cofounder 78

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

So far it sounded like a fair deal, considering we didn’t yet have a product developed – only a pitch deck, a business plan, a fleshed-out idea, and some user interface (UI) designs of what we thought our online product would look like. Are they willing to share a few references of other startup companies they’ve helped?

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2012

You need to demonstrate innovative approaches, more knowledge, more productivity and superior results to get the references you need. In addition, the statistics show that over half of new startups, perhaps as high as 75%, provide services only (no product). Networking and relationships.

Angel Investor 227

Angel Investor Venture Capital Partner Networking 227

Hearpreneur

JULY 10, 2017

Prior to starting Ozmo both Ming and I worked in a design house creating new and better products. Throughout my five years of experience in product development, I realized that most of product launch failure could have been avoided by getting the product right earlier on, or understanding the limit of the maker.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Hungary Software Review Cofounder 102

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 15, 2022

Whether they were critical to product development, marketing, or a successful exit, each of these individuals can have a significant impact on the amount of money the business is worth. A complete business plan will also include financial projections, sometimes referred to as a pro-forma.

Merger 158

Merger Acquisition Due Diligence Valuation 158

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

You need to demonstrate innovative approaches, more knowledge, more productivity and superior results to get the references you need. In addition, the statistics show that over half of new startups, perhaps as high as 75%, provide services only (no product). Networking and relationships.

Product 228

Product Angel Investor Venture Capital Partner 228

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 3, 2009

This post describes how the traditional product development model distorts startup sales, marketing and business development. The Use of a Product Development Model to Measure Sales Using the product development diagram for startup sales activities is like using a clock to tell the temperature.

Customer Development 221

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 221

Gust

OCTOBER 31, 2011

You need to demonstrate innovative approaches, more knowledge, more productivity and superior results to get the references you need. In addition, the statistics show that over half of new startups, perhaps as high as 75%, provide services only (no product). Networking and relationships.

Angel Investor 143

Angel Investor Venture Capital Partner Networking 143

Growthink Blog

MAY 10, 2012

If it's not your plan to get venture capital down the road, then you'll probably stop in Stage 2-receiving enough funding to boost your marketing, sales, and infrastructure to grow organically from there to the point where you are satisfied or ready to sell. Series B is the round that follows series A in early stage financing.

Equity 88

Equity Mezzanine Later Stage Venture Capital 88

Startup Lessons Learned

APRIL 18, 2010

Lean Startups waste less money, because they use a disciplined approach to testing new products and ideas. Lean, when used in the context of lean startup, refers to a process of building companies and products using lean manufacturing principles applied to innovation. Myth: The Lean Startup methodology is only for Web 2.0/internet/consumer

Lean 167

Lean San Francisco Continuous Deployment Startup 167

steveblank.com

JULY 8, 2011

AgileZen – project management visually see and interact with your work Kanbanery – Simple online team or personal kanban board LeanKit Kanban – Great for visualizing work of product development Kanban Pad – “Nice and lean” and free online Kanban tool Banana Scrum – A tool simple as Scrum itself.

Software Review 110

Software Review Startup Silicon Valley Analytics 110

Tim Keane

JUNE 13, 2006

Growth involves, in many businesses, more customer service, product development, support, marketing and so forth – in addition to more R&D. By the time we were done, we proved the model and gained enough new business that we didn’t need venture capital for almost a decade. TrackBack URL for this entry: [link].

Wisconsin 60

Wisconsin Entrepreneur Startup Angel Investor 60

www.readwriteweb.com

OCTOBER 18, 2010

He should then bootstrap his product development by using the consulting fees. Again, referring back to the Finisar case study I often teach on this topic , bootstrapping using services is a very effective way to build companies. Yes, I am sure Davids venture is eminently fundable within a few months.

Marketing 52

Marketing Bootstrapping Incubator Angel Investor 52

www.readwriteweb.com

OCTOBER 18, 2010

He should then bootstrap his product development by using the consulting fees. Again, referring back to the Finisar case study I often teach on this topic , bootstrapping using services is a very effective way to build companies. Yes, I am sure Davids venture is eminently fundable within a few months.

Marketing 52

Marketing Bootstrapping Incubator Angel Investor 52

Tim Keane

APRIL 24, 2006

Last night, Bob Zieserl, Venture Capitalist, and general partner at Stratus Ventures, was the keynote speaker at the Marquette University Business Plan Competition. "Over the last twenty years, 11,000 companies have had Venture Capital investments. The product development cycle was excellent.

Wisconsin 60

Wisconsin Angel Investor Bootstrapping Venture Capital 60