Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2021

If the entrepreneur wants total control of their own venture, with no one looking over their shoulder, they should work within the limits of their own resources, a process called bootstrapping. Every funding term sheet is followed by a set of milestone commitments, which should not be considered optional suggestions.

Term Sheet 433

Term Sheet Advisory Board Liquidation Preference Startup 433

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

If all this checking sounds a bit paranoid and unnecessary, it may be time to take another look at some questionable investor practices and onerous term sheet requests. To get the terms you want, it’s better to start with your own term sheet. It’s no fun for either side.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2023

A few, like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), despite recent failures, actually do provide management services to startups, invest in startups, or provide early-stage venture capital, but that is not called an investment service and is part of a function called Emerging Technologies, or sometimes Private Equity.

Early Stage 182

Early Stage Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering 182

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2020

A few, like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), actually do provide management services to startups, invest in startups, or provide early-stage venture capital, but that is not called an investment service and is part of a function called Emerging Technologies, or sometimes Private Equity.

Silicon Valley 362

Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering Term Sheet 362

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

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. This is the dreaded “due diligence” process.

Technical Review 237

Technical Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property Private Equity 237

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 13, 2020

Too many entrepreneurs tell me they are looking for an investor, and can’t differentiate between venture capital (VC) investors versus accredited angel investors. The amounts from angels start as low as $25K, while minimum venture capital amounts usually start in the $2M range. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite.

Angel Investor 314

Angel Investor Entrepreneur IRR Valuation 314

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2017

No real investor or venture capital firm asks for money from the company they are intending to invest in. Deposit required to hold your terms. In this scam, you are offered a very attractive term sheet due to close in 90 days or so, with a deposit required to hold your position while due diligence is being conducted.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Non-disclosure Agreement Due Diligence Entrepreneur 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

No real investor or venture capital firm asks for money from the company they are intending to invest in. Deposit required to hold your terms. In this scam, you are offered a very attractive term sheet due to close in 90 days or so, with a deposit required to hold your position while due diligence is being conducted.

Technical Review 202

Technical Review Non-disclosure Agreement Due Diligence Entrepreneur 202

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. This is the dreaded “due diligence” process.

Technical Review 225

Technical Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property Private Equity 225

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2014

Too many entrepreneurs tell me they are looking for an investor, and can’t differentiate between venture capital (VC) investors versus accredited Angel investors. The amounts from Angels start as low as $25K, while minimum venture capital amounts usually start in the $2M range. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite.

Angel Investor 266

Angel Investor Entrepreneur Venture Capital IRR 266

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2021

On the other hand, when negotiating a financing for your company, you should never present your term sheet first. Do your homework on the Internet and through contacts to find out their strengths, weaknesses, biases, curiosities, and insecurities, Knowledge is power, and that can be used for leverage.

Term Sheet 328

Term Sheet Bootstrapping Finance Startup 328

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2018

If the entrepreneur wants total control of their own venture, with no one looking over their shoulder, they should work within the limits of their own resources, a process called bootstrapping. Every funding term sheet is followed by a set of milestone commitments, which should not be considered optional suggestions.

Term Sheet 140

Term Sheet Advisory Board Liquidation Preference Portfolio 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2014

If the entrepreneur wants total control of their own venture, with no one looking over their shoulder, they should work within the limits of their own resources, a process called bootstrapping. Angel and venture capital money always comes with strings attached, starting with the obvious ones outlined in the term sheet for the deal.

Term Sheet 237

Term Sheet Advisory Board Liquidation Preference Startup 237

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2015

Investors are human and subject to human tendencies, whether they are your rich uncle, an angel investor with personal funds or a venture capital investor with institutional money. Negotiating terms is normal before the investment, but once the check is cashed, you don’t want to be second-guessed on every action.

Due Diligence 120

Due Diligence Term Sheet Entrepreneur Angel Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

A few, like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), actually do provide management services to startups, invest in startups, or provide early-stage venture capital, but that is not called an investment service and is part of a function called Emerging Technologies, or sometimes Private Equity.

IPO 205

IPO Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering 205

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2016

Too many entrepreneurs tell me they are looking for an investor, and can’t differentiate between venture capital (VC) investors versus accredited Angel investors. The amounts from Angels start as low as $25K, while minimum venture capital amounts usually start in the $2M range. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor IRR Valuation Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2015

If the entrepreneur wants total control of their own venture, with no one looking over their shoulder, they should work within the limits of their own resources, a process called bootstrapping. Every funding term sheet is followed by a set of milestone commitments, which should not be considered optional suggestions.

Term Sheet 120

Term Sheet Advisory Board Liquidation Preference Angel Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2011

A few, like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), actually do provide management services to startups, invest in startups, or provide early-stage venture capital, but that is not called an investment service and is part of a function called Emerging Technologies, or sometimes Private Equity.

Silicon Valley 211

Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering Startup 211

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2015

As they say, you only get one chance to make a great first impression, so don’t pitch to a key angel group or venture capital team for practice. I would recommend a budget of at least $10,000 to prepare documents for pitching, legal fees for term sheets and contracts, travel expenses and assistance fees.

Cost 120

Cost Angel Groups Due Diligence Silicon Valley 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2010

A few, like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), actually do provide management services to startups, invest in startups, or provide early-stage venture capital, but that is not called an investment service and is part of a function called Emerging Technologies, or sometimes Private Equity.

Silicon Valley 120

Silicon Valley Private Equity Startup Initial Public Offering 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2012

On the other hand, when negotiating a financing for your company, you should never present your term sheet first. Do your homework on the Internet and through contacts to find out their strengths, weaknesses, biases, curiosities, and insecurities, Knowledge is power, and that can be used for leverage.

Entrepreneur 248

Entrepreneur Term Sheet Finance Bootstrapping 248

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2011

On the other hand, when negotiating a financing for your company, you should never present your term sheet first. Do your homework on the Internet and through contacts to find out their strengths, weaknesses, biases, curiosities, and insecurities, Knowledge is power, and that can be used for leverage.

Term Sheet 232

Term Sheet Bootstrapping Finance Startup 232