Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2021

Professional venture capitalists will tell you the same thing. Even David Rose, who has invested in over 100 startups, and proclaims real success, reminds everyone that there are too many exogenous factors affecting business outcomes for anyone to be able to pick only winners. Investing in startups is a numbers game.

Angel Investor 361

Angel Investor Accredited Investor IRR Angel Groups 361

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2022

Valuing a business based on assets and financial performance is a well-understood process, but every investor knows the real value goes well beyond these parameters, either higher or lower.

Technical Review 323

Technical Review Due Diligence Valuation Leadership 323

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2020

Today we’re announcing that my partner Kara Nortman is becoming Co-Managing Partner at Upfront Ventures and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to welcome her to her new role. She worked for 5 years as a VC at Battery Ventures and co-headed M&A at IAC working with Barry Diller. She had all of the skills and traits we sought?

Partner 361

Partner Management Cofounder San Francisco 361

The Startup Magazine

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

Many companies need venture capital funding, including startups. The process of getting venture capital funding may be difficult, but it pays off in a cash infusion for your business which may be able to make the difference between failure and success. What is Venture Capital Funding? What is Venture Capital Funding?

Venture Capital 144

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review Security 144

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2022

Marketing is everything these days. You can have the best technology, but if customers don’t know you exist, or they don’t know how your technology solves a real problem for them, your startup will fail. Yet I see many technology entrepreneurs that focus on the basics of marketing too little and too late.

Marketing 353

Marketing Technical Review Social Media Technology 353

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2023

If you aren’t willing to take some risk as an entrepreneur, then don’t expect any gain. Yet everyone has limits, and every investor implicitly has similar limits on what makes a startup investable, or one to avoid at all costs.

New York City 246

New York City Silicon Valley Bootstrapping Technical Review 246

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 12, 2022

In this world of constant change, new technologies, and a thousand cultures, it’s evident and somehow comforting to me that the basic rules for business prosperity really haven’t changed in the last hundred years. Business success is still more about the people than the technology or idea involved.

Technical Review 297

Technical Review Angel Investor Differentiation Business Model 297

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2019

Don’t expect any entrepreneurship venture to be comfortable. More than a product or service, you are founding a brand when you start a new venture, large or small. High-tech ventures in Silicon Valley know they have to constantly innovate, but small town coffee shops can easily forget. All businesses require collaboration.

Silicon Valley 269

Silicon Valley Missouri Technical Review Boston 269

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2020

Every aspiring entrepreneur I know is talking about the fact that there are over 2,000 billionaires in the world today, and how their innovative idea could make them one of the next ones. Most of you prefer to ignore the feedback from analysts that your chances of creating the next unicorn startup may be as low as one in five million.

Merger 386

Merger Software Review Acquisition Social Media 386

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2020

Hiring in any new venture needs to be a structured and high priority task, not the ad hoc informal process I see in many startups that are struggling to grow: Crisis mode hiring rather than planned team growth. In reality, motivation and passion are necessary but not sufficient to build a business.

Hiring 339

Hiring Matching Cost Internet 339

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2021

Many professionals in business, from startups to multi-nationals, assume that team leader or executive is an appointed position, and the skills come with the title. In reality, leadership is best demonstrated while not in a position of authority, and is a skill that must be sharpened every day of your life.

Leadership 342

Leadership Management Cost Startup 342

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

And the loosening of federal monetary policies, particularly in the US, has pushed more dollars into the venture ecosystems at every stage of financing. how on Earth could the venture capital market stand still? Society is reorienting to a new post-pandemic norm?—?even even before the pandemic itself has been fully tamed.

Pre-Money Valuation 471

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Venture Capital Early Stage 471

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

The venture capital system promises both founder and investor that they can be successful while getting what they want. The post Venture Capital: A System Built On Trust appeared first on Young Upstarts. It does this by making money the medium: Investors have money, founders need money.

Venture Capital 278

Venture Capital Founder Silicon Valley Startup 278

Hearpreneur

AUGUST 20, 2023

When embarking on any new venture, we often seek advice from those who have walked the path before us, looking for valuable insights and lessons learned. Some enigmatic pieces of advice are the complete opposites of what we have been taught and yet hold the potential to unleash creativity and innovation in our ventures.

Entrepreneur 77

Entrepreneur Cap Table Dividend Cofounder 77

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

After many years in business, working in large companies as well as startups, I’m no longer surprised at why mature and successful companies struggle with introducing innovative new ventures as the market and environment changes. A documented business plan for the new venture is critical here.

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Advisory Board Incubator Dilution Agile 359

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2023

If you are one of the new age of entrepreneurs who hates the thought of doing a business plan as a first step in starting your new venture you will love this message. Market research techniques for trying to predict the market’s response to a new venture can be costly and are often unreliable. Get started and get some momentum.

Business Plan 357

Business Plan Lean Matching Cost 357

David Teten

APRIL 1, 2021

Almost every private equity and venture capital investor now advertises that they have a platform to support their portfolio companies. Relationships with Venture Partners, Entrepreneurs in Residence , and other non-salaried personnel who can help your companies. All content is developed and delivered by the Real Ventures partners.

Private Equity 78

Private Equity Venture Capital Portfolio Equity 78

This is going to be BIG.

FEBRUARY 18, 2019

Brooklyn Bridge Ventures , the pre-seed and seed stage VC fund I run in NYC, has invested in 64 companies in the last six and a half years. The diversity is the direct result of our mission—to build the most accessible venture capital fund in NY. Twenty-five of them have at least one female co-founder. Fifteen had co-founders over 40.

Venture Capital 164

Venture Capital Portfolio Cofounder Seed Stage 164

VC Cafe

MARCH 6, 2024

At Remagine Ventures , we’re always on the lookout for visionary founders building the future of interactive entertainment and gaming. The post Remagine Ventures call for startups appeared first on VC Cafe. Are you building in this space? You may have noticed that the fundraising market for startups has slowed down. Not for us.

Artificial Inteligence 141

Artificial Inteligence Generative AI Startup Vertical 141

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 10, 2023

The post An Entrepreneur’s Guide To Thriving With Multiple Ventures appeared first on Young Upstarts. Juggling multiple businesses as an entrepreneur requires careful planning and strategic team management to ensure success and avoid burnout.

Entrepreneur 243

Entrepreneur Management 243

Feld Thoughts

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

The post Venture Deals Spring 2023 Course appeared first on Brad Feld. that was co-created with Techstars and Kauffman Fellows. If interested, sign up now. I hope to see you there in one of the AMAs we will host for anyone who takes the course.

Hosting 250

Hosting Venture Capital 250

Growthink Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2017

Are you looking to raise venture capital ? Business planning and raising venture capital go hand-in-hand. A business plan is required for attracting venture capital. And the desire to raise capital (whether from an individual “angel” investor or a venture capital firm) is often the key motivator in the business planning process.

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Venture Capital Business Plan Technical Review Private Placement 129

Feld Thoughts

AUGUST 24, 2022

Registration for the Venture Deals Fall 2022 course is open. The post Venture Deals Fall 2022 appeared first on Brad Feld. The course is free and starts on September 20, 2022. This is the second time we are running the new version of the course (v2!) that was co-created with Techstars and Kauffman Fellows. If interested, sign up now.

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Hosting Venture Capital 230

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over twice as many companies, according to a classic Crunchbase article. Individual angel investors and crowdfunding have been adding to the momentum, some say exceeding VCs in total amount invested.

Angel Investor 342

Angel Investor Venture Capital Silicon Valley Portfolio 342

VC Adventure

FEBRUARY 7, 2019

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is “how do I get a job in venture?” Below is an updated overview of the venture job landscape as well as some current thoughts on how to break into the industry. So the venture landscape has changed quite a bit since my first post on breaking into venture almost 15 years ago.

Venture Capital 103

Venture Capital Seed Stage Angel Groups Portfolio 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2023

McGinnis, a well-known venture capitalist and private equity investor. When you are starting a new venture, raising capital, and landing those initial customers, the obstacles keep coming, so you need all the flexibility and resilience you can muster.

Private Equity 255

Private Equity Salary Cofounder Equity 255

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2021

Don’t look for formal venture capital levels of funding, but certainly early-stage Kaufmann grants, incubators, and entrepreneurship incentives are available from endowments and state funds. Collaborative efforts with local companies, like Siemens Venture Capital, are available for certain technology and focus areas.

Arizona 432

Arizona Phoenix Intellectual Property Incubator 432

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 29, 2024

Starting a new venture can often feel like navigating through uncharted waters. Going Paperless Gains Efficiency Identifying Your Core Idea Every great venture begins with a core idea. This initial clarity will be the foundation of your venture’s success. Defining your value proposition early on is crucial.

Intellectual Property 130

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Business Model Bootstrapping 130

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

If you don’t need these common resources, but need specialized technology services, you should look for technology parks and research facilities, often sponsored by leading companies in specific technologies, like Intel Capital and Google Ventures (GV).

Incubator 231

Incubator Silicon Valley North America Small Business Administration 231

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 31, 2023

Raising venture capital? Fundraising has been significantly harder last year is that venture capitalists have become more risk-averse. The post How To Secure Venture Capital Funding Even If You’re A New Entrepreneur appeared first on Young Upstarts.

Venture Capital 245

Venture Capital Security Entrepreneur Startup 245

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2022

On the other hand, venture capital organizations typically look for needs that exceed $2 million. Angel investors will perk up if you have a prototype or a few real customers, while venture capitalists will likely choose to wait until you have achieved several million in revenue or customer count.

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Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity Angel Investor 304

VC Cafe

JULY 4, 2022

What’s happening in the venture capital world? The WSJ confirmed what we already know: Q2 venture capital investments declined both in size and in valuation. Venture Capital Feels the Stock Market’s Pain, Wall Street Journal. Venture capital’s reckoning , The Economist. Declining investment: U.S. How bad can it get?

Venture Capital 167

Venture Capital Valuation Private Equity LP 167

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2023

Venture capital firms look for the most mature companies they can find, Angel investors typically deal a tier lower, while friends and family are most likely to help you get started. Thus your startup maturity and growth stage is the primary key to success with potential funding sources.

Angel Investor 313

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 313

deal architect

APRIL 25, 2021

This time it is Jason Corsello who presents on his fund Acadian Ventures, an early-stage venture firm. As we have moved to virtual briefings, I have increasingly been excerpting short segments (with permission), as part of my Analyst Cam series.

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Early Stage 221

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

That leaves only about fifteen percent that actually get their funding from investors, through crowdfunding, banks, angels, and venture capitalists. Angel investors typically provide early-stage rollout funding, while venture capital firms won’t be interested until you have real traction and revenue during scaling.

Angel Investor 246

Angel Investor Stealth Bootstrapping Early Stage 246

Feld Thoughts

JUNE 1, 2023

The Venture Deals course is free and starts on June 20, 2023. The post Venture Deals Summer 2023 Course appeared first on Brad Feld. This is the fourth time we are running the new version of the course (v2!) that was co-created with Techstars and Kauffman Fellows. If interested, sign up now.

Hosting 135

Hosting Venture Capital 135

NZ Entrepreneur

DECEMBER 18, 2022

Pierre is Head of Operations and Acting CEO at Wellington UniVentures , the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington subsidiary tasked with launching new ventures from university research. At the end of the day, most commercialisation offices are in the business of supporting new ventures – not making money.

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Cap Table Technical Cofounder Artificial Inteligence Marketing 52