Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

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). Like the business plan, a financial model is required as much for your own use as to impress angel investors.

Angel Investor 224

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2012

If you are new to the startup space and Angel investing, you probably don’t realize that some groups of Angel investors charge entrepreneurs a fee to pitch to their groups. He calls these a scam, and “Angel group” payola. Others , including noted Angel David S. Find and fix that first.

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Angel Groups Angel Investor Due Diligence Seed Stage 237

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 31, 2016

There’s a lot of focus these days on teaching entrepreneurs how to do startups right : Validate the market before you build a prototype. The truth is, there are “wrong” mistakes that entrepreneurs can make early in the game, mistakes that will impact a startup’s ability to attract capital investment later on. Conserve cash.

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United Kingdom Entrepreneur Oklahoma Ohio 100

David Teten

JANUARY 21, 2021

This essay is part of a series on alternative VC: I: Revenue-Based Investing: a new option for founders who care about control. II: Who are the major Revenue-Based Investing VCs? III: Why are Revenue-Based VCs investing in so many women and underrepresented founders? IV: Should your new VC fund use Revenue-Based Investing?

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Equity Revenue Cofounder Colorado 78

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2012

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded early by one of the 318,000 active Angel investors in the USA alone. Most of these investors are members of Angel groups that have a rigorous filtering and screening process, to select the top 3% and most fundable proposals. Build a prototype product.

Angel Investor 260

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Groups 260

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2015

Most new entrepreneurs assume that great investors will find their startups based on the compelling solution the founders have created. As an angel investor, I believe this approach is a waste of time, since no honest investor is likely to seriously consider a request for money from a stranger. There are just too many scams.

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Cost Angel Groups Due Diligence Silicon Valley 120

ReadWriteStart

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

For this week's One Million by One Million roundtable, we discussed an important topic that many entrepreneurs are facing. Also, Kimbra Orr with Kimbra Studios presented an interesting business selling photo jewelry that is already at $750k revenue. Kimbra Studios. Kimbra has just started some OEM relationships.

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PPC Entrepreneur Silicon Valley Incubator 114

View from Seed

MARCH 16, 2016

There’s Semantic Machines , one of the best collections of AI and ML minds in the world, led by serial entrepreneur Dan Roth. Look out for bootstrapped CarGurus , one of the leading used-car properties, targeting over $150M in revenue this year. Want the next TripAdvisor or Wayfair?

Boston 215

Boston Early Stage Artificial Inteligence Semantic 215

Gust

DECEMBER 16, 2012

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded early by one of the 318,000 active Angel investors in the USA alone. Most of these investors are members of Angel groups that have a rigorous filtering and screening process, to select the top 3% and most fundable proposals. Build a prototype product.

Angel Investor 179

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Angel Groups 179

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Business model.

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

A major angel group used Influitive , an advocate management tool, to track, activate and motivate their members. Chris Dixon, Partner, A16Z, observes , “ Success in VC is probably 10% about picking, and 90% about sourcing the right deals and having entrepreneurs choose your firm as a partner”. 3) Originate investments.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Technical Review 60

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

As a member of the local angel group Selection Committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Business model.

Elevator Pitch 235

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 235

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

Angel Investor: Writing a business plan for angel investors can be tricky. If you’re pitching to a member of an organized angel group, then a business-like tone is in order. For many angel investors, letting them know “What’s In It For Me” (WIIFM) is critical. Focus on your designated market area instead.

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Audience Business Plan Angel Investor Widget 243

ReadWriteStart

MAY 6, 2011

What a great product - truly an excellent value for entrepreneurs. In fact, I think it is a great curriculum for certain angel investors too, especially those who are starting out, including angel groups that are just formed. As an entrepreneur CEO, she ran three companies: DAIS, Intarka, and Uuma.

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India Vertical Entrepreneur Connecticut 115

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Please see later version of this post on May 16, 2010 Entrepreneurs are often not experts in the area of term-sheet negotiations and all of the surrounding issues.   Investors sometimes “present” the terms they’d like and expect the entrepreneurs to react. Term-sheets and Valuations: Thinking about Negotiations.

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Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Business model.

Elevator Pitch 234

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 234

Berkonomics

APRIL 4, 2019

On the other side, entrepreneurs and CEO’s usually have a natural fear of giving too much information to us investors after the initial investment is received. Every investor wants regular information from companies taking their money. Requirements created by investment documents.

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Stock Options Balance Sheet Stock Common Stock 48

ReadWriteStart

APRIL 13, 2012

What entrepreneur hasn't dreamed that our startup will experience the same magical beginnings as Google ? In 1998, before they even incorporated, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page were trying to present their concept to early-stage, or "angel" investors, with limited success. How realistic are your projections?

Angel Investor 128

Angel Investor Syndicate Syndication Exit Strategy 128

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 17, 2020

Each has a process in place to accept applications or recommendations for investment into new companies, and to review these and make decisions based upon their exploration, previous experience in the field, knowledge of the company or industry, or about individual entrepreneurs. Some can supply more when syndicating with other such groups.

Equity 62

Equity Finance Liquidity Event Angel Groups 62

David Teten

JANUARY 28, 2019

For instance, Columbia has launched a variety of explicitly interdisciplinary centers in recent years, including the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute , Columbia Data Science Institute ; the Brown Institute for Media Innovation ; or cross-school courses such as Columbia Business and Engineering’s Research to Revenue course.

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Affiliate Connecticut Programming Community 60

Gust

AUGUST 19, 2012

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short – maybe short on content, but not short on pages! In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Business model.

Elevator Pitch 146

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 146

ReadWriteStart

OCTOBER 28, 2010

Rick Holdren and Rohit Saxena then discussed Medi-Code , an integration solution for small hospitals (up to 150 beds) and small physician practice groups ($5 million to $20 million annual revenue) to connect with Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) as a requirement of the healthcare regulatory changes coming in 2012.

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Up and Running

MAY 28, 2015

He is the known guru in business planning, particularly for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs, although he’s worked with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies as well. ” and our first instinct as entrepreneurs and business owners is yes, let’s do drive-through. We want to do everything for everybody.

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Lean Business Plan Video Software Review 60

Gust

OCTOBER 20, 2011

These angel investors generally invest $25,000 to $100,000 in a round totaling $250,000 to $1,000,000. In 2011, the valuation of pre-revenue, start-up companies is typically in the range of $1.5–$2.5 million and is established by negotiations between the entrepreneur and the angel investors. million to a high of $3.4

Valuation 146

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Intellectual Property Technical Review 146

Up and Running

AUGUST 19, 2014

An angel investor is an affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. An angel investor is a high net worth individual who invests their own money into startup companies in the hopes of gaining a return on their money. Angel from Eugene, OR.

Angel Investor 161

Angel Investor Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 161

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

Small investment firms often have interns and entrepreneurs in residence passing through, each of which is a security risk. A major angel group uses Influitive , an advocate management tool, to track, activate and motivate their members. See Bessemer Venture Partners’ A comprehensive guide to security for startups. 2) Market .

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78

VC Adventure

FEBRUARY 22, 2010

There’s been an extremely lively debate online over the last few months about the practice of charging entrepreneurs to present to VCs. At issue is the question of whether it’s reasonable to charge entrepreneurs to get in front of potential investors.

Venture Capital 52

Venture Capital Angel Groups Angel Investor Reputation 52

VC Adventure

FEBRUARY 22, 2010

There’s been an extremely lively debate online over the last few months about the practice of charging entrepreneurs to present to VCs. At issue is the question of whether it’s reasonable to charge entrepreneurs to get in front of potential investors.

Venture Capital 52

Venture Capital Angel Groups Angel Investor Reputation 52

This is going to be BIG.

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

So why are so many diverse entrepreneurs shortchanging themselves? Right this very minute, I'm also working hard to secure my spot in an oversubscribed round for a pre-product company led by a female entrepreneur, while simultaneously wrapping up a seed round in a founder of color who didn't have a problem raising at all.

Founder 60

Founder Angel Groups Cofounder New York City 60

Berkonomics

APRIL 3, 2014

Each has a process in place to accept applications or recommendations for investment into new companies, and to review these and make decisions based upon their exploration, previous experience in the field, knowledge of the company or industry, or about individual entrepreneurs. Raising money'

Equity 92

Equity Finance Liquidity Event Angel Groups 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2012

We are talking about angel investors here, meaning people who invest their own money in early-stage startups for a share of the equity. Angel groups almost never supply financing for real estate purchases, or personal loans. First-time founders will find that most angels turn into mirages. Real estate. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Groups 237

Angel Groups Angel Investor Early Stage Startup 237

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2011

We are talking about angel investors here, meaning people who invest their own money in early-stage startups for a share of the equity. Angel groups almost never supply financing for real estate purchases, or personal loans. First-time founders will find that most angels turn into mirages. Real estate. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 217

Angel Investor Angel Groups Early Stage Startup 217

Austin Startup

JUNE 26, 2019

I recruited a top-flight engineer and serial entrepreneur to build our MVP, on equity?—?and You might notice what’s not on that list above: revenue, investors. No revenue isn’t always a problem for venture-style businesses; no investors + no revenue = challenges for most founders without tremendous self-funding.

Silicon Valley 54

Silicon Valley Startup B2C Sweat Equity 54

Gust

JULY 1, 2012

We are talking about angel investors here, meaning people who invest their own money in early-stage startups for a share of the equity. Angel groups almost never supply financing for real estate purchases, or personal loans. First-time founders will find that most angels turn into mirages. Real estate.

Angel Groups 143

Angel Groups Angel Investor Early Stage Startup 143

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 19, 2013

In the process of raising funds to create and develop a business, entrepreneurs make many statements to those they seek to attract as investors. In my years of investing, I’ve developed a set of tough questions that are sure to elicit both information and a vibrant dialog – questions not on the usual checklists of angel groups or investors.

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Pre-Money Valuation Liquidity Event Cofounder Valuation 105

Berkonomics

MARCH 20, 2014

Here’s more advice from professional investors for aspiring entrepreneurs. And often, these are the ones that will be bypassed by most organized angel groups when considering funding. Each of us has a list of things we look for early on when identifying whether we want to go to the next step in analyzing a plan.

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Angel Groups Naming Revenue Internet 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2010

We are talking about angel investors here, meaning people who invest their own money in early-stage startups for a share of the equity. Angel groups almost never supply financing for real estate purchases, or personal loans. First-time founders will find that most angels turn into mirages. Real estate. Marty Zwilling.

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Angel Groups Angel Investor Early Stage Later Stage 121