Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2010

The reality is that angel investors are humans, and personal traits often make or break the relationship, even before the investment is considered. On the top line, angel investors look to invest in entrepreneurs that have an almost unwavering passion and sense of urgency. Values intellectual property. Marty Zwilling.

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Angel Investor Technical Review Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 241

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

I see now emerging a new wave of investors, popularly known as “super angels,” micro-VCs, or “super-seed” investors. I conclude that the genesis of this trend seems to come from several forces, including the following: Less investment capital available due to the recession. Being “lifecycle investment partners” has a downside.

Technical Review 215

Technical Review Early Stage Venture Capital Startup 215

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 25, 2010

“Yes&# was given to me by one of my favorite angel investor / seed VC’s to work with – John Greathouse of Rincon Venture Partners and author of the blog InfoChachkie that you should check out because it is filled with great info from a guy who has been a very successful operator. . It is how angel rounds come together.&#.

Silicon Valley 293

Silicon Valley Technical Review Southern California Angel Investor 293

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 15, 2010

In normal times investors will look for “traction&# before investing. I spoke about this more in depth in these two posts: 4 things I look for in an investment & how to manage VC relationships. I didn’t invest in Orgoo but by the time he launched Ad.ly This is happening with both angels and VCs.

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Technical Review Due Diligence Ireland New York 411

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 24, 2010

While those firms are still there (and getting larger), the pool of money that invests risk capital in startups has expanded, and a new class of investors has emerged. These angels make lots of early bets and double-down when early results appear. Finally, venture capital and angel investing is no longer a U.S.

Silicon Valley 335

Silicon Valley United States Venture Capital Software Review 335

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

I recently wrote a post on angel financing covering the topic of convertible notes but I realized I was thinking about the issue more from investor perspective and a very narrow topic of how to price the round. This post is for those who want to raise angel money. At an angel round you can get away with no market validation.

Silicon Valley 291

Silicon Valley Ireland Technical Review Valuation 291

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2010

The dinner parties now are filled with self-righteous angel investors bragging about how many deals they are in on. They have marked-up paper gains propped up by an over excited venture capital market that has validated their investments. Logic tells me the following: It is hard to make money angel investing.

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Florida Technical Review San Antonio Los Angeles 299

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. Over the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to see how the process works, several times from the startup side, and more recently from the angel perspective (as a member of an angel group selection committee). Prepare an investment-grade business plan.

Angel Investor 224

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

There’s a guy in Los Angeles that I met at several tech networking events. He wanted to know how to get started and “Could I intro him to a couple of local angels?&# One night after a DealMaker Media event we got 20 minutes together after the event ended. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Startup Advice. “Why?&#

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Entrepreneur Fractional CTO Technical Review CTO Hire 414

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2010

Bockerstette, Main Street Venture Fund As I outlined last week, trophy angel investors are always looking for trophy entrepreneurs. The result is that the Main Street Venture Fund consistently has more money available than good opportunities for investment. Main Street has a desired investment term of three to five years.

Intellectual Property 265

Intellectual Property Balance Sheet Phoenix Arizona 265

YoungUpstarts

MAY 25, 2018

As the years went on, Pat Mackaronis continued to grow his network and partners in a second restaurant as well as a nightclub, he also invested in several small businesses and worked with teams to grow their projections. You need to have a vision,” he advises others similarly on the entrepreneurial path.

Developer 159

Developer Investment Bankers eCommerce Social Media 159

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

Based on my own experience as a mentor and angel investor, I find that as many as ninety percent of startups fail in the first five years, despite their best efforts. Make sure the name and trademarks you want are available, as well as web site address, social media tags, and any other intellectual property.

Intellectual Property 245

Intellectual Property Social Media Angel Investor Metrics 245

Hearpreneur

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Photo Credit: James Angel. Thanks to James Angel, DYL ! #3- 3- Apple air tags. Apple Air Tags have transformed my travel experience. Apple Air Tags have transformed my travel experience. Air tags for me have actually been pretty life-changing. Thanks to William Loopesko, Aclymate ! #2- 2- Neural mapping.

Technical Review 104

Technical Review Technology Artificial Inteligence Entrepreneur 104

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 8, 2009

You’ve pitched several angels and VC’s. Most of them are telling you that they just need to see a bit of traction before they’d be prepared to invest. Investors are giving you a version of the “soft no,&# which basically means that they’re not prepared to invest now. Neither is the norm.

Technical Review 309

Technical Review Term Sheet Venture Capital Revenue 309

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 29, 2010

GRP Partners is looking to hire two analysts (maybe even three) to join our practice in Los Angeles. The chosen candidate will probably have worked for a very reputable firm that is either in technology, consulting, investment banking, media or a startup. Often these jobs aren’t even publicized.&#. Are you merging?

Los Angeles 290

Los Angeles Technical Review Due Diligence Venture Capital 290

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2009

But they do small, seed like investments when they like the entrepreneurs. Are there inherent risks in taking angel money? Many angels were forced to fold given their tremendous losses in real estate and the stock market. I’m a big fan of having angel investors, don’t get me wrong. I told Sean Rad at Ad.ly

Software Review 283

Software Review Term Sheet Due Diligence Southern California 283

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2010

Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than angel investors or professional investors (VCs). In fact, most investors “require” that you already have some investment from friends and family before they will even step up to the plate. Don’t be one.

Technical Review 233

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor 233

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. One of the most common questions I get is “How do I find angel investors?” Here are three of the largest flocks: Angel Capital Association (ACA).

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Angel Investor North America South America Accredited Investor 120

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2010

My original thinking from Oct ’09 was, while I didn’t (and still don’t) have a crystal ball I worried that: consumers were over-stretched with debt (and make up 77% of the economy), unemployment would continue to rise, which in turn would drive the stock market south and cut the rate of M&A activity and VC investment even further.

Entrepreneur 298

Entrepreneur Technical Review Balance Sheet Government 298

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

So before you read these tips, first understand the difference between venture capital and angel investment and then you can add in 5 essentials for angel investment. And keep in mind, as you read that, that venture capital demands everything that angel investors do, and more. Are you still with me?

Software Review 124

Software Review Due Diligence Venture Capital Elevator Pitch 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2010

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t invest in non-profits. 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. Tags: entrepreneur startup angel investors business.

Angel Investor 143

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 143

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 12, 2010

Is there a bubble going on in seed investing? I actually think there is a small bubble going on in seed/angel rounds. Prices are creeping up and angels are feeling bullish. Too many people have been burned in past and if angels get burned that will kill a lot of needed early investors. Minutes 23 – 26. o Tuenti.

Seed Stage 232

Seed Stage Valuation Private Equity Venture Capital 232

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

Anyone can be an entrepreneur today, without a huge investment, bank loans, venture capitalists, or angels. Facebook is barely making money today, after $150 million investment so far. Tags: e-commerce entrepreneur startup website. The cost of entry has never been lower. Life is more fun that way. Marty Zwilling.

Cost 220

Cost Startup Hosting Bootstrapping 220

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JULY 11, 2010

These are problems with the business concept or the founder's attitude, not specific to raising angel money. Tags: How-To advice capitalfactory competition customers investment marketing positioning starting strategy. Interesting patterns emerged: Everyone makes the same classes of error. Not that I blame you! Stay tuned!

Elevator Pitch 325

Elevator Pitch RSS Startup Software Review 325

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

A number of investment rounds and acquisitions took place in recent weeks and it’s worth taking note. Below is a recap of some of September’s Israeli tech headlines: Investment rounds. The founder of SimpliTV is Doron Kempel, who founded and sold Diligent to IBM with his partner (and now angel), Moshe Yanai.

Software Review 138

Software Review Venture Capital Technical Review SEM 138

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

If you don’t follow the image reference above or the tag line, “ You don’t need double talk; you need Bob Loblaw “ (try saying it out loud) , and if you care! Your contractor wrote a great V1 of the product and it helped you get angel funding. the link is here. Many people start companies arse backwards.

Southern California 318

Southern California Silicon Valley IP Stock Options 318

Up and Running

JUNE 14, 2010

conference at which a couple of professional venture capitalists and a couple of successful angel investors talked about trends. One thing that came up repeatedly, then, was the impact of steeply declining web development costs on professional investment. They also invest lower amounts of money than traditional VCs, between $25k-$250k.

Disintermediation 66

Disintermediation Venture Capital Angel Investor Seed Stage 66

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2010

Yesterday I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. I’ve asked this question many times of presenters in angel meetings, and often get a blank look. Use them and win.

Software Review 239

Software Review Due Diligence Elevator Pitch Startup 239

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 11, 2009

But if you have approached a senior member of your industry and if they’re on 4 advisory boards, have done 3 angel investments and probably have a full time gig themselves – it is hard to really get into the details of your company. At a minimum their angel investments will likely take precedence.

Advisory Board 306

Advisory Board Startup Equity Valuation 306

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2010

After you have successfully attracted angels or venture capital with your business case, your million dollar product idea, and you have a signed term sheet, there is still one more hurdle to overcome before investors write the check. A dysfunctional team, or even one naysayer in a critical position can stall your investment.

Technical Review 225

Technical Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property Private Equity 225

ReadWriteStart

OCTOBER 6, 2010

The free services utilizes data from CB Insights , whose investment research we often cite here at ReadWriteWeb as a gauge of industry and investment patterns. Tags: Tips. Interested in trying it out? The product is not yet publicly available, but the first 200 ReadWriteWeb readers can use RWWfunding as their invite code.

Software Review 120

Software Review Engineer Due Diligence Algorithm 120

VC Cafe

JULY 5, 2010

A s venture funds struggle to raise money in Israel, seed capital, one of the earliest and riskiest stages of investment, is becoming harder and harder to secure. based Angel capital with early stage technology companies in Israel, and do so in a way that substantially mitigates the risk of seed stage investing.

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Technical Review Software Review Seed Stage 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 1, 2010

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping you growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. These resources would likely include office space, consulting, and even a cash investment. Angel investors. Of course, there are pros and cons to each of these.

Technical Review 149

Technical Review Bootstrapping Startup Venture Capital 149

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

I n its first investment in Israel, Russian search engine Yandex is rumoured to invest $3.4 This is Face.com’s second round, after previously raising about $1 million from Rhodium and local angels Yaniv Golan (AOL, ex Yedda) and Yariv Gilat. Face.com has offices in Tel Aviv and New York and currently has a headcount of 8.

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Finder CTO Hire Widget 94

mashable.com

OCTOBER 16, 2010

Not only that, but the growing battle between venture capital firms and “super angels&# presents an amazing opportunity for entrepreneurs trying to build the next big thing. All of this is according to Paul Graham, co-founder of the early-stage investment fund Ycombinator. The answer is the rise of super angels, Graham said.

Angel Investor 84

Angel Investor Venture Capital Social Media Technical Review 84

Feld Thoughts

SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

I think I’ll avoid all the “ are super angels colluding “, “ no they aren’t “, “ go fuck yourself and stop talking horseshit “, and “ guys, quit being narcissistic and do something productive &# blog chatter today and focus on something that came up yesterday.

Software Engineering 136

Software Engineering Cloud Engineer Software 136

Feld Thoughts

SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

They were both incredibly patient with me since I knew nothing about M&A or investments, and when I started making angel investments a few months after my company was acquired, they followed on, invested with me, and invited me into some of the companies they were investing in.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Boston Internet Venture Capital 150