Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 29, 2020

Maintaining your team’s passion and freedom to focus first on innovating for customers are only a couple of the reasons for thinking hard before you seek money from crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital organizations, or attempt to qualify for a public stock offering. Investors want board seats and a vote on key decisions.

Bootstrapping 310

Bootstrapping Advisory Board Venture Capital Startup 310

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2017

Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. By definition, Advisory Boards are voluntary and have no fiduciary responsibility. As an alternative, every CEO needs an Advisory Board to help them grow, which they can ignore or fire at their pleasure.

Advisory Board 174

Advisory Board IPO Angel Investor Acquisition 174

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by the definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. By definition, Advisory Boards are voluntary and have no fiduciary responsibility. How much are you willing to spend on your board? Legally, Directors are accountable for corporate conduct.

Advisory Board 348

Advisory Board IPO Angel Investor Acquisition 348

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

In addition to being the startup entrepreneur, there are other key roles where Boomers can be a force in driving successful startups, in concert with leaders from Gen-X and Gen-Y: Early-stage Angel investors. Member of the Advisory Board.

Entrepreneur 266

Entrepreneur Advisory Board Dividend Angel Investor 266

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2011

A while back, I outlined “ Most Startups Get No Professional Investor Cash ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative #6. I still get a lot of questions on these mysterious and often invisible investors, so here is another attempt to bring them out of the ether. So how do you find those good angels?

Angel Investor 242

Angel Investor Advisory Board Startup Database 242

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

As an angel investor, I routinely toss business plans that focus too much on today, and don’t talk about tomorrow. I once served on the Advisory Board of a technical software executive who refused to believe that his product was no longer competitive, and insisted that sales and marketing were no longer doing their job.

Customer 144

Customer Advisory Board Technical Review Angel Investor 144

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2019

Image via Flickr by MDGovpics Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. By definition, Advisory Boards are voluntary and have no fiduciary responsibility. How much are you willing to spend on your board?

Advisory Board 247

Advisory Board IPO Angel Investor Startup 247

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2010

A while back, I outlined “ Ten Top Funding Sources for Startups ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative #6. I still get a lot of questions on these mysterious and often invisible investors, so here is another attempt to bring them out of the ether. If you need more, you need VCs or a flock of angels.

Angel Investor 227

Angel Investor Advisory Board Database Institutional Investors 227

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2019

A while back, I outlined “ The 10 Best Sources of Cash to Start Your Business ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative six. I still get a lot of questions on these mysterious and often invisible investors, so here is another attempt to bring them out of the ether. So how do you find those good angels?

Advisory Board 247

Advisory Board Angel Investor Database Institutional Investors 247

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

In addition to helping manage the board Chris also helps represent the interests of the angel investors / common stock holders. Oh, and did I mention: Roger – NYC, Rob/Rory – NorCal, Nick/Chris – London & me – Los Angeles. Between Board Meetings. Communicating Between Board Meetings.

Advisory Board 365

Advisory Board CTO Hire Fractional CTO Los Angeles 365

www.instigatorblog.com

MARCH 2, 2010

The Importance of Advisory Boards for Startup CEOs Tweet When a startup receives financing it will need to setup a Board of Directors. The Board probably existed beforehand, but was made up only of the founders. Once funding takes place, the angels or VCs will want a seat at the table. Why wouldn’t you?

Advisory Board 40

Advisory Board Startup Cofounder Equity 40

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

A team of friends and family that work for free on weekends is not likely to impress investors, unless they ARE your investors. Build qualified advisory board. If you can convince a couple of domain experts, or a couple of experienced executives to join your board and be your advocate, that’s traction.

Intellectual Property 281

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Sweat Equity CTO Hire 281

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2021

As an angel investor to startups, I’m still surprised to find entrepreneurs who expect investors to give them money, and assume no strings attached. Investors will expect at least one seat on the board, and expect a board report from you each month on key items. Would you do that if it was your money?

Term Sheet 433

Term Sheet Advisory Board Liquidation Preference Startup 433

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 8, 2016

Maintaining your team’s passion and freedom to focus first on innovating for customers are only a couple of the reasons for thinking hard before you seek money from crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital organizations, or attempt to qualify for a public stock offering. Investors want board seats and a vote on key decisions.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Advisory Board Startup Venture Capital 120

Board Effect

NOVEMBER 18, 2020

Your founders and board members won’t always have the necessary expertise you need in every area to be competitive and sustainable. An advisory board can be of great assistance to your startup by filling crucial gaps in your leadership talent. Let’s begin with the definition of the role of a startup advisory board member.

Advisory Board 84

Advisory Board Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2012

A team of friends and family that work for free on weekends is not likely to impress investors, unless they ARE your investors. Build qualified advisory board. If you can convince a couple of domain experts, or a couple of experienced executives to join your board and be your advocate, that’s traction.

Intellectual Property 260

Intellectual Property Sweat Equity CTO Hire Fractional CTO 260

Steve Blank

JULY 9, 2013

I had a group of ex-students out to the ranch who were puzzling over a dilemma – they’ve been working hard on their startup, were close at finding product/market fit and had been approached by Oren, a potential angel investor. Roles for Financial Investors. Advisory Board. “Do The team wasn’t sure what to do.

Advisory Board 319

Advisory Board Venture Capital Angel Investor Limited Partner 319

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2016

In my role as an angel investor to startups, I’m struck by the broad variety of advisor strategies I see in investor presentations and business plans that cross my desk. That’s the function of a good advisory board. Keep the advisory board to a manageable size.

Advisory Board 151

Advisory Board Angel Investor Later Stage Stock 151

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2011

A team of friends and family that work for free on weekends is not likely to impress investors, unless they ARE your investors. Build qualified advisory board. If you can convince a couple of domain experts, or a couple of experienced executives to join your board and be your advocate, that’s traction.

Intellectual Property 253

Intellectual Property Sweat Equity CTO Hire Fractional CTO 253

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2013

A while back, I outlined “ The 10 Best Sources of Cash to Start Your Business ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative #6. I still get a lot of questions on these mysterious and often invisible investors, so here is another attempt to bring them out of the ether. If you need more, you need VCs or a flock of angels.

Matching 253

Matching Advisory Board Angel Investor Database 253

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2010

Many startups have an advisory board of sympathetic people with industry expertise, or people who enjoy mentoring, or people who donate a few services on the come. Once you take investment, you will also have a fiduciary board, with the responsibility of making the company successful. All problems will go away.

Advisory Board 233

Advisory Board Cofounder Phoenix Arizona 233

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

A while back, I outlined “ The 10 Best Sources of Cash to Start Your Business ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative #6. I still get a lot of questions on these mysterious and often invisible investors, so here is another attempt to bring them out of the ether. If you need more, you need VCs or a flock of angels.

Angel Investor 245

Angel Investor Advisory Board Database Institutional Investors 245

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2017

A while back, I outlined “ 10 Tried-And-True Strategies For Funding New Ventures ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative six. I still get a lot of questions on these mysterious and often invisible investors, so here is another attempt to bring them out of the ether. So how do you find those good angels?

Advisory Board 120

Advisory Board Angel Investor Database Institutional Investors 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2010

A team of friends and family that work for free on weekends is not likely to impress investors, unless they are your investors. Build qualified advisory board. If you can convince a couple of domain experts, or a couple of experienced executives to join your board and be your advocate, that’s traction.

Intellectual Property 222

Intellectual Property Sweat Equity CTO Hire Fractional CTO 222

Business Plan Blog

DECEMBER 10, 2013

The Milestones Angel Investors Care About. When raising pre-seed capital from friends, family, and founders (FFF) you’ll want to consider the milestones that Angel investors care about and be sure to raise enough capital to reach those milestones. Founding Team, Key Hires, Advisory Board.

Angel Investor 55

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Seed Capital Advisory Board 55

Hunter Walker

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

Anyhow, fast-forward to 2021 and it almost feels like startup advisor roles have fallen a bit out of fashion as everyone scrambles to be an angel investor, a scout or solo capitalist. A sales and marketing tactic as much (or even more) than a customer development one, try setting up a Customer Council Advisory Board.

Advisory Board 150

Advisory Board Equity Vesting Startup 150

crowdSPRING Blog

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

If you plan to seek funding, you should describe your advisory board here, as well. Things used to be more straightforward: venture capitalists and angel investors were the most common options. Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists. This section outlines your legal and management structure. Operating plan.

Angel Investor 85

Angel Investor Small Business Business Plan Intellectual Property 85

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 28, 2012

Your startup is now part of someone’s portfolio, and here are a few of the ways in which you should expect to be monitored by your investors: One or more seats on the Board. Maybe you had an informal Advisory Board before, but now you have a formal Board of Directors. Personal visits from key investors.

Advisory Board 241

Advisory Board Entrepreneur Venture Capital Angel Investor 241

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2017

As a new business advisor and angel investor, I have assembled my own favorite list of shortcuts to avoid, in the hope of saving you from learning these lessons the hard way: Be satisfied with verbal or handshake partner agreements. Never taking the time to enlist and learn from advisors.

Cost 180

Cost Advisory Board Entrepreneur Angel Investor 180

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2013

Here is where your Advisory Board can help you in finding real people with deep experience in your product domain, and gather some unbiased feedback. Listen to potential angel investors, who have domain expertise, and aren’t afraid to ask the hard questions on pricing and channels. Talk to domain experts.

Business Model 235

Business Model Product Advisory Board Angel Investor 235

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2018

As an angel investor to startups, I’m still surprised to find entrepreneurs who expect investors to give them money, and assume no strings attached. Investors will expect at least one seat on the board, and expect a board report from you each month on key items. Would you do that if it was your money?

Term Sheet 140

Term Sheet Advisory Board Liquidation Preference Portfolio 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2012

Here is where your Advisory Board can help you in finding real people with deep experience in your product domain, and gather some unbiased feedback. Listen to potential angel investors, who have domain expertise, and aren’t afraid to ask the hard questions on pricing and channels. Talk to domain experts.

Business Model 248

Business Model Advisory Board Entrepreneur Angel Investor 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2014

As an Angel investor to startups, I’m still surprised to find entrepreneurs who expect investors to give them money, and then disappear into the sunset. Investors will expect at least one seat on the board, and expect a board report from you each month on key items. Would you do that if it was your money?

Term Sheet 237

Term Sheet Advisory Board Liquidation Preference Startup 237

The Startup Magazine

MAY 28, 2019

Definitely one of your steps towards expansion was your recently closed funding round, which attracted angel investors from all over Europe. Tell us about your advisory and investor teams? We have already plans to expand Embargo to other cities in the UK and the world. This and next year a lot will happen on this front.’.

Advisory Board 91

Advisory Board Angel Investor Startup Cofounder 91

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2010

Your startup is now part of someone’s portfolio, and here are a few of the ways in which you should expect to be monitored by your investors: One or more seats on the Board. Maybe you had an informal Advisory Board before, but now you have a formal Board of Directors. Personal visits from key investors.

Advisory Board 231

Advisory Board Entrepreneur Venture Capital Angel Investor 231

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2015

As an angel investor to startups, I’m still surprised to find entrepreneurs who expect investors to give them money, and assume no strings attached. Investors will expect at least one seat on the board, and expect a board report from you each month on key items. Would you do that if it was your money?

Term Sheet 120

Term Sheet Advisory Board Liquidation Preference Angel Investor 120

OnlyOnce

JULY 9, 2013

Chapter 20: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Financing…Equity Investors, Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Strategic Investors, Debt, Convertible Debt, Venture Debt, Bank Loans, Personal Debt, Bootstrapping, Customer Financing, Your Own Cash Flow.

Startup 95

Startup Advisory Board Elevator Pitch Forecast 95