Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2010

I’ve noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to have no trouble attracting investors, while others with a great business plan struggle with it. The reality is that angel investors are humans, and personal traits often make or break the relationship, even before the investment is considered. Listens before answering questions.

Angel Investor 241

Angel Investor Technical Review Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 241

VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

A founder asked me what makes a $2M round “pre-seed”? What’s the difference between an angel round and pre-seed round and why do I believe we’ll see more pre-seed rounds taking place in 2024? especially if the startup already has a product and revenue? who’s talking to customers?)

Valuation 186

Valuation Software Review Generative AI Technical Review 186

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 26, 2021

As an entrepreneur mentor, my mission is to foster the attributes in you as a startup founder that I believe will lead to success. I know from experience that my friends who are angel investors are looking for the same indications, although none of us has a scorecard , or even know exactly what we are looking for.

Entrepreneur 341

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Partner Software Developers 341

Steve Blank

JANUARY 17, 2023

But these look for founders who have a technical or business model insight and a team. Accelerators provide these teams with technical and business expertise and connect them to a network of other founders and advisors. Venture studios create startups by incubating their own ideas or ideas from their partners.

Technical Cofounder 346

Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 346

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

Dave Kerpen, founder and CEO of Likeable Local , just published an interview with me on Linkedin, which I’ve included below. Enter Dave: Angel investing is a great way to make a lot of money. Source: Center for Venture Research – Angel Market Analysis Report. Q: What is the typical profile of angel investors?

Angel Investor 114

Angel Investor Technical Review Venture Capital Pre-Money Valuation 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2020

As an angel investor, you can bet I wasn’t convinced he would ever start his next proposal. Based on my experience, most startup failures occur simply because the founder gives up too soon, without exploring creative alternatives. Spend more time nurturing partners and outside influencers.

Entrepreneur 329

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Stealth Angel Investor 329

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

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. Supportive co-founder and executive positions. Supportive co-founder and executive positions.

Advisory Board 312

Advisory Board Startup Dividend Angel Investor 312

Hunter Walker

AUGUST 23, 2023

Our participation in Anchor ( later acquired by Spotify ) generated both a return and a friendship between us and the founders. Specifically I’ve had the chance to spend meaningful time over the years with Michael Mignano as he went from startup CEO to Executive/Angel Investor and now VC Partner at Lightspeed.

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Founder Angel Investor Cap Table Distribution 87

View from Seed

MAY 11, 2016

Investors love the idea of backing second-time founders, especially if they have had success in their last company. etc… In addition, first-time founders I speak to often talk about how much they have learned and how they resolve to do things differently and better the next time. Is there a sophomore slump to avoid?

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Founder Cofounder CTO Hire Early Stage 159

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2019

As an advisor to business owners, and an occasional angel investor, my job is to separate the actual challenges from the common misconceptions that distract many promising entrepreneurs while building the leadership team required for your solution, marketing, and finance success. Partner with experts who share the risk.

Bandwidth 246

Bandwidth Software Review Salary Angel Investor 246

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2020

As an angel investor and a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always disappointed to see founders who seem stressed out most of the time, and more annoyed than energized by the abundance of challenges they see in building their startup. Investors and strategic partners look for entrepreneurs who can execute.

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Founder Startup Angel Investor Demand 429

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2022

Most entrepreneurs struggle with many startup founders quandaries in building their business, and these key dilemmas are probably the biggest source of pain and failure for the entrepreneur lifestyle. Should you start a company solo or find co-founders to help you? The co-founder relationship dilemma.

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Founder Hockey Stick Cofounder Liquidity Event 325

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 22, 2019

The question of venture capitalist versus angel investor often arises. Venture capital and angel investments offer excellent options to startup businesses. Investment firms are staffed with analysts, partners, and others to ensure deals are soundly vetted. Investor Involvement. Angel Investors.

Angel Investor 122

Angel Investor Venture Capital Accredited Investor Equity 122

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 23, 2011

Otherwise, I suggest that founders be up-front with their employers, with an honest commitment that the “side” work on the potential startup will not jeopardize committed results. In a part-time effort, a co-founder is essential to keeping you on-track and working. Pick a day and time per week where you always work together.

Founder 233

Founder Startup Cofounder Angel Investor 233

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 5, 2023

Now: my story of investor-product-market misfit: I have one story that remains as vivid in my mind as when it happened several years ago. And we were able to secure that investment along with a partner from that firm joining our board.

Silicon Valley 118

Silicon Valley Burn Rate Angel Investor Down Round 118

The Next Web

DECEMBER 30, 2012

These are with no doubt worthwhile goals, but I’d like to pose an important challenge for founders: Make learning and development your key resolution in 2013. Learn how to raise capital from angel investors and venture capitalists (and how to decide who you should target).

Artificial Inteligence 156

Artificial Inteligence Founder Private Equity Ruby 156

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

As an advisor to many early-stage entrepreneurs, I caution them to always be prepared for that chance meeting with a famous investor, a potential partner or an industry guru. If you are presenting to a group of angel investors, assume business attire or match the norm of members.

Due Diligence 321

Due Diligence Founder Angel Investor Affiliate 321

Up and Running

AUGUST 12, 2014

A few weeks ago I spoke with Boris Wertz, founder of JustBooks, COO of AbeBooks and founding-partner of Version One Ventures. In In as much as a scheduled interview with an angel investor can be, talking with Boris about what it takes to spark the interest of a venture capital firm was a coincidence. Boris Wertz.

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Venture Capital Founder Angel Investor Portfolio 90

View from Seed

JANUARY 24, 2018

The concept our Guilds is simple: We want to bring together small groups of Product and Go-to-Market experts to lend their time to support our portfolio company founders and key operators. Pierre Valade, Co-Founder of Sunrise & Mobile Designer at Microsoft. Pierre Valade, Co-Founder of Sunrise & Mobile Designer at Microsoft.

Operations 176

Operations Cofounder Technical Review Angel Investor 176

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 14, 2022

A business plan is drawn up to attract investors and partners. At this stage, the founder mainly raises funding from their sources or family and friends. If you are one of the fortunate early-stage investors to be presented with such an opportunity, it could lead to rewarding returns. 3) Company formation.

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Due Diligence India Startup 144

Version One Ventures

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

We’re on our fourth fund and second opportunity fund , and we are looking to add a third partner over the course of the next year or so. We are comfortable betting on founders without (obvious) pedigree. We like to back mission-driven founders that are early in new areas. We like to invest at the edges, not in the mainstream.

Partner 60

Partner Early Stage Angel Investor Differentiation 60

VC Cafe

JANUARY 22, 2021

In addition, Amazon launched two dedicated funds: Alexa Startups – The Alexa Startups team engages founders and investors through startup programs, business development, and technical support. AWS Startups Blog – Head here for insights on startup related topics and guest posts from startup founders/leaders.

Technical Review 174

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital Incubator 174

Steve Blank

MARCH 16, 2016

To most founders a startup is not a job, but a calling. Founders can now access the largest pool of risk capital that ever existed –in the form of Private Equity (Angel Investors, family offices , Venture Capitalists (VC’s) and Hedge Funds.). What does this mean for startup founders? ——-.

Liquidity Event 120

Liquidity Event Founder Liquidation Preference Venture Capital 120

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

One of the things that founders have the most angst about is whom they should have on their board and at what stage of the business. If the angel board member is hugely valuable you can always keep them on the board at your discretion. just having a sparring partner with a vested interest in your success can be useful.

Venture Capital 236

Venture Capital Startup Angel Investor Silicon Valley 236

Austin Startup

JANUARY 3, 2019

Feedback to investors about what helps and doesn’t help founders when fundraising. I originally asked this question to several founders with the intent of addressing angel investors but I’ve found it doesn’t exclude other institutional investors either. It’s a better use of time for everyone.”

Founder 48

Founder Angel Investor Technical Review Due Diligence 48

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

The event presenter, FUND, is a national connector of entrepreneurs, VCs, angel investors, and industry experts with a focus on deal flow and making connections. The FUND Conference brings together over 100 startups to present their early-stage products and pitches in front of hundreds of investors and industry leaders.

Technical Review 153

Technical Review Software Review Illinois Due Diligence 153

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. Supportive co-founder and executive positions. Supportive co-founder and executive positions.

Entrepreneur 266

Entrepreneur Advisory Board Dividend Angel Investor 266

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 23, 2016

Kobie Fuller, Partner at Upfront Ventures We set out to build a venture capital firm that would not only be a beacon for the rapidly growing LA tech ecosystem but also one that would compete and collaborate nationally with the best firms in the country. He also was an angel investor in Oculus, who was bought by Facebook for $2 billion.

Partner 260

Partner Los Angeles San Francisco New York 260

View from Seed

OCTOBER 21, 2014

Sharing these pricing expectations early with potential lead investors fundamentally qualifies your conversations, but it also runs the risk of prematurely losing a potential financing partner, or else it can reduce options to maximize your fundraise outcome. And as my partner Rob Go likes to say, “Time kills all deals.”).

Valuation 336

Valuation Founder Seed Stage Angel Investor 336

View from Seed

MARCH 24, 2021

7 Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make in VC Pitches and How to Fix Them “Different partners in a VC firm are different. Doing Reference Checks on VCs “Try to speak to at least one founder that the investor has worked with in a failed investment. ” (Lee Hower). ” (David Beisel). ” (Rob Go).

Seed Stage 177

Seed Stage Hiring IPO Analytics 177

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. In fact, many angels investors are also philanthropists, but the process of finding them and working with them in this context is totally different from the angel investment process.

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Angel Investor Angel Groups Early Stage Startup 217

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2023

How do you convince investors that your business model will really work, before you have a revenue stream that exceeds your expenses? Even if you are bootstrapping your business, and you are the only investor, you should be asking yourself the same question. Customer support is more than handling exceptions.

Business Model 273

Business Model Customer Angel Investor Bootstrapping 273

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

Picking the right attorney in your startup is as important as picking the right business partner. My business partner and I made many mistakes in our first tech startup, and so many of them were the result of choosing a lawyer who was a terrible fit. My business partner and I were elated. We set off to raise our money.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2012

Otherwise, I suggest that founders be up-front with their employers, with an honest commitment that the “side” work on the potential startup will not jeopardize committed results. In a part-time effort, a co-founder is essential to keeping you on-track and working. Pick a day and time per week where you always work together.

Entrepreneur 239

Entrepreneur Cofounder Angel Investor Partner 239

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 1, 2019

by Bruce Cleveland, Founding Partner at Wildcat Venture Partners and author of “ Traversing the Traction Gap “. In two of these three phases – the first and third – volumes of helpful information and numerous organizations are readily available to help guide and support founders of startups.

Cleveland 150

Cleveland Framework Marketing Early Stage 150

Austin Startup

MAY 14, 2021

The company is also backed by International Accelerator and a group of Angel Investors. Diego Roel, Founder and CEO of Strap Technologies said, “STRAP is the first assistive technology on the market that replaces the white cane that’s been in use for over 100 years.

Technical Review 70

Technical Review Technology Angel Investor Software Review 70

The Equity Kicker

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

We see this all the time at Forward Partners where we invest right from the idea stage and most of the companies get a first version of their product live for less than £30k (that generally includes founder salaries and time spent doing customer research). Forward Partners and Crowdcube are both attacking elements of these problems.

Early Stage 119

Early Stage Development Team Review Technical Review Software Review 119