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. Things cost more than you expect, and cash-flow problems often are not recoverable.

Cost 180

Cost Advisory Board Entrepreneur Angel Investor 180

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2012

Make sure your plan answers every relevant question that you could possibly imagine from your business partners, spouse, and potential 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

David Teten

JANUARY 19, 2021

(co-written with Jamie Finney, Founding Partner at Greater Colorado Venture Fund. Similar to the explosion of seed funds in the past decade, we (and some limited partners too ) believe these Flexible VCs are on the forefront of what will become a major segment of the venture ecosystem. That said, nothing is cost-free.

Cofounder 78

Cofounder Technical Review Equity Dividend 78

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2011

Make sure your plan answers every relevant question that you could possibly imagine from your business partners, spouse, and potential 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

BeyondVC

JANUARY 3, 2019

We had another solid year filled with learning, growth, laughter, and new projects and partners. Thanks to all of the amazing founders, advisors, co-investors, corporate partners, and others that helped make 2018 an amazing year. Welcome to our annual boldstart recap and enterprise predictions letter. First check to Series B?—?congrats

Stealth 79

Stealth Advisory Board Cloud Virginia 79

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2010

Make sure your plan answers every relevant question that you could possibly imagine from your business partners, spouse, and potential 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

Up and Running

AUGUST 30, 2017

This description should basically be an elevator pitch for potential partners and business investors to get excited about what you’re offering and your unique location, philosophy, and approach. Another thing to watch out for with monthly rent is all the added costs. so keep these all in mind when calculating the costs.

Business Plan 93

Business Plan SBA Software Review Advisory Board 93

thebarefootvc

AUGUST 13, 2013

The larger companies claimed that the cost of replacement and integration was not worth any savings that the enterprise could potentially realize, and that the risk of deploying with a startup was too high for mission critical functions. Or at least get some of them on your advisory board. – PEOPLE.

Advisory Board 70

Advisory Board Cloud Venture Capital Vertical 70

crowdSPRING Blog

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Find partners or investors. If you plan to seek funding, you should describe your advisory board here, as well. Limited Liability Company (LLC) – a structure that permits owners, partners or shareholders to limit personal liability, but still includes tax and flexibility benefits associated with a partnership.

Angel Investor 85

Angel Investor Small Business Business Plan Intellectual Property 85

Hearpreneur

DECEMBER 12, 2021

We have a handful of trusted mentors we utilize sort of like an advisory board. Likewise, our mentor introduced us to key individuals who served as senior decision makers, such as partners, directors and managers. I find that, even as the mentor, I learn a lot from those I am mentoring, turning me into a better professional. .

Entrepreneur 125

Entrepreneur Technical Review Advisory Board Leadership 125

BeyondVC

JANUARY 6, 2018

2017 was another year of growing, learning, investing and partnering with amazing founders. Our partners include IBM and one unannounced Fortune 50. Corporate America is pressured to decrease costs and improve customer interactions and every Fortune 500 is a technology company. 2017 Recap.

Cloud 60

Cloud Cofounder Portfolio Advisory Board 60

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

We’re backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Silver Lake Partners, and individual investors like Ron Conway, among others. Prabhdeep Singh: We become their learning partner and they become part of a special and vast community of professionals. In most cases our teaching members are happy to offer their advice at no cost.

New York 114

New York Technical Review Networking Advisory Board 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2015

In her new book “ Corporate Concinnity in the Boardroom ,” board expert Nancy Falls outlines the most common mistakes with boards, and I believe several of these apply to startups as well as to more mature companies as follows: Having too many or too few board members. Less than three is not a board. Size does matter.

Advisory Board 120

Advisory Board Startup IPO Government 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2016

In her recent book “ Corporate Concinnity in the Boardroom ,” board expert Nancy Falls outlines the most common mistakes with boards, and I believe several of these apply to startups as well as to more mature companies as follows: Having too many or too few board members. Less than three is not a board. Size does matter.

Advisory Board 145

Advisory Board Entrepreneur IPO Government 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2014

While the Internet makes the world seem like a small place, it still costs money to travel, and there are still many valid business requirements to hit the road. Through the Internet, it costs no more to deliver your message around the world, versus your local geography. Business development and strategic partners.

Small Business 251

Small Business Advisory Board Silicon Valley Boston 251

Austin Startup

MARCH 31, 2019

I reminded them that it is all about which partner you get at the reputable firms he was targeting. they are ultimately service firms and the partner that sponsors you and joins your Board really matters. And to make sure you are picking the right partner for your business?—?and and dangerous.

Advisory Board 48

Advisory Board Cofounder Hiring Partner 48

ReadWriteStart

JULY 14, 2011

Advisory boards: "Many people create an advisory boards and some companies never have an advisory board meeting. My belief is that a rock star advisor can be useful but doesn't belong on the advisory board. That board should be people who have the time to be focused on you.

Advisory Board 135

Advisory Board Balance Sheet Silicon Valley Cofounder 135

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

But having been in the middle of this conversation when I served on one of the Defense Department’s advisory boards, I understand why the Pentagon can’t count. With audit costs approaching a billion dollars a year the Pentagon had an opportunity to lead in modernizing auditing. Let’s Invent the Future of Audit. initiative.

Advisory Board 368

Advisory Board Artificial Inteligence SBIR Government 368

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Marketing, sales, and partners. Convince investors that you have lined up sales channels, strategic partners, and a viable marketing strategy. Include Advisory Board members and key industry people connections.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Steve Blank

AUGUST 27, 2012

I offered that at Epiphany, my partner Ben’s office was the first place I would go when I thought I had new “insights.” He should make sure that there aren’t other parts of the business model (revenue model, pricing, partners, channel, etc.) Better, during that time brainstorm them with someone you trust.

Founder 321

Founder Cofounder Advisory Board Burn Rate 321

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Marketing, sales, and partners. Convince investors that you have lined up sales channels, strategic partners, and a viable marketing strategy. Include Advisory Board members and key industry people connections.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

The business model has to clearly define who is your customer, market penetration expected, how much customers pay versus total costs and the investment required to sustain cash flow. You need to identify pricing details, sales channels, strategic partners and a customized marketing plan consistent with your industry and target segment.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Advisory Board Liquidity Event Startup 120

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Union Square Ventures The next morning I got to spend time with Brad Burnham , partner at Union Square Ventures talking about their investment strategy and insights about web-based businesses. Bill and his partner Fred Wilson have invested in ~30 or so companies with 27 still active. End of theory.&# As for #3. I agree completely.

Customer Development 228

Customer Development Web Developer Customer 228

crowdSPRING Blog

FEBRUARY 28, 2019

If you plan to seek funding, you should describe your advisory board here, as well. Limited Liability Company (LLC) – a structure that permits owners, partners or shareholders to limit personal liability, but still includes tax and flexibility benefits associated with a partnership. marketing and advertising costs.

Business Plan 64

Business Plan Small Business Administration Hiring Social Media 64

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2018

Unfortunately, your personal assessment that you have traction probably won’t be convincing to potential investors and partners, so it’s important that you create and track your progress against some metrics. Assemble a credible inside advisory board and partners. Show validation data for business model key elements.

Advisory Board 199

Advisory Board Technical Review Metrics Business Model 199

Gust

AUGUST 5, 2012

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Marketing, sales, and partners. Convince investors that you have lined up sales channels, strategic partners, and a viable marketing strategy. Include Advisory Board members and key industry people connections.

Business Plan 182

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 182

OnlyOnce

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

We are building a platform to make instant, tailored, vetted matches between talent and companies without the randomness of a job board and without the theater, long lead times, and cost, of a full service agency. Service marketplaces like ours work best when they help their stakeholders solve other meaningful, related problems.In

Advisory Board 71

Advisory Board Leadership Portfolio Matching 71

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Marketing, sales, and partners. Convince investors that you have lined up sales channels, strategic partners, and a viable marketing strategy. Include Advisory Board members and key industry people connections.

Business Plan 186

Business Plan Exit Strategy Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 186

OnlyOnce

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

We are building a platform to make instant, tailored, vetted matches between talent and companies without the randomness of a job board and without the theater, long lead times, and cost, of a full service agency. Service marketplaces like ours work best when they help their stakeholders solve other meaningful, related problems.In

Advisory Board 62

Advisory Board Leadership Portfolio Matching 62

Steve Blank

AUGUST 17, 2009

All branches of the military (the Air Force and Army would fund the program as well) wanted Stanford to build prototypes of electronic intelligence and electronic warfare systems that could be put into production by partners in industry. The Navy informs Terman that, “money was not a problem but time was.”

Silicon Valley 155

Silicon Valley RSS California Government 155

David Teten

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

It’s very powerful to have a model that you can email to everyone in the firm, because then everyone sees clearly that you’re communicating the exact same message to the whole team (including outside consultants and the advisory board, if any). Vinicius Vacanti and Jim Moran of Yipit had the same experience.

Employee 155

Employee IRR Startup Mexico 155

Life Beyond Code

JULY 16, 2013

If there is a problem in real life, the pain of going through that problem has to be quantifiable else the switching costs will be super high. Your solution to that problem is priced such that cost of suffering is much much higher than cost of implementing your solution. Verify now and often. Tweet This.

Startup 151

Startup Advisory Board Audience Framework 151

Hearpreneur

MARCH 15, 2016

If I was to give advice I would say that keeping cost as low as possible, self fund when possible (we are totally self funded), and look around for what help for small businesses are out there. Sometimes a great advisory board can be just as useful. We were in the black already after 2 years!

Advisory Board 48

Advisory Board Michigan SBIR Revenue 48

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 11, 2016

They didn’t always keep their angel investors informed about the changes they were making and it nearly cost them: We followed every test and experimental process from the get-go but we didn’t tell our investors we were doing that. Ultimately, it didn’t work and we decided we had enough time to maybe do one last iteration.

Columbus 248

Columbus Entrepreneur Ohio Cofounder 248

SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

important planning meetings or partner meetings). Other labels: Consultant – Take bits and pieces, possibly coach Advisor / Advisory Board Member – Often a periodic responsibility and some ad hoc activities. So, you can easily get sold that there’s little to no Gap. But it generally works out well in the end.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Fractional CTO Technology CTO Hire 170

Pascal's View

APRIL 5, 2016

I recently joined the Advisory Board to Gerhard Blechinger , the Rector of the FachHochschule Salzburg, (the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences) and became a guest lecturer on Entrepreneurship at the University. Why is this the case?

Austria 28

Austria Global Silicon Valley Advisory Board 28

David Teten

JANUARY 10, 2012

With a unique vision for starting and successfully managing innovative companies, he is the Managing Partner of Social Leverage, a holding company that invests in early stage web businesses. Mr. Parekh serves on various advisory boards of start-up internet companies. and Tweetdeck (purchased by Twitter in June 2011).

Technical Review 128

Technical Review Technology North Carolina Switzerland 128