Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

Now, with open source software components, and low-cost development tools, the same job can be done by one good hacker for a few thousand dollars. That’s a burn rate of at least $10K per month that can be eliminated if you are handy with computers and Quickbooks. Technology costs. Sales and marketing costs. Marty Zwilling.

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Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

However, I have seen some blog posts posing the question about whether the same principles of valuing baseball players could be applied to entrepreneurs. I encourage entrepreneurs to give it a shot and let me know what you think. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"?

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Professor VC

APRIL 7, 2011

This will also serve as a good pointer for all the entrepreneurs who ask why I am not interested in their company led convertible note financing round. Ive seen a number of entrepreneurs, angels and VCs fall into the trap of providing debt in small pieces. In a convertible note structure, Im penalized for increasing your valuation.

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Professor VC

MARCH 10, 2009

In this economy, all entrepreneurs are going to hear a lot of "nos", but time spent going after customers rather than investors should provide a higher return on investment. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

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Professor VC

APRIL 1, 2010

was part of a Dow Jones VentureWire webinar last week titled Negotiating An Angel Deal: What Angels, Entrepreneurs & VCs Need to Know. I let him know that he just accomplished two things - left a bad taste with the entrepreneur and opened the door for the next investor to ask for a multiple preference that is senior to yours.

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Term Sheet Angel Investor San Jose Venture Capital 32

Professor VC

DECEMBER 18, 2008

The NIF (in its 5th year), is essentially a science fair for entrepreneurs. Some have developed working prototypes, while others are still at the concept stage and only on posterboard. Manija Ansari is an undergraduate business student (currently in my Entrepreneurial Finance course), working on a social entreprenurial venture.

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Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2008

In addition to the case study analysis, the students also have the opportunity to develop a business model and financial model for a new concept, which always proves a lot more challenging. Im going to continue to follow the paths of entrepreneurs turned VCs turned entrepreneurs again and see how it evolves. Steve Bennet.

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Professor VC

MAY 29, 2008

An entrepreneur will pitch their business plan to what they think is a group of angel investors and will get a number of follow-up calls afterwards, but they are pitches for services not investment interest. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? ► January. (1). ► 2010. (7).

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Professor VC

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

At a high level, I definitely agree that being an entrepreneur and being in school dont necessarily mix. Most of us know of Exhibits 1 ( Bill Gates ) and 2 ( Mark Zuckerberg ) from Harvard, but I have met dozens of other successful entrepreneurs who felt a greater need to get going on an opportunity than to wait around to complete a degree.

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Professor VC

FEBRUARY 26, 2008

Do you have the right make-up to be an entrepreneur? You need to be true to yourself and many people arent cut out to take the personal and professional risk associated with being an entrepreneur. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? ► January. (1). ► 2010. (7).

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Professor VC

JANUARY 17, 2008

I think the title of this post is a TV show, but fitting as there has been much debate in the venture community as to the whether angel investors are good or bad for entrepreneurs and VCs. One group charges entrepreneurs "an administrative fee" to present to the group. Touched by an Angel. for a total of $10.5M

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Pre-Money Valuation Angel Investor Angel Groups Valuation 28

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 12, 2008

While spending time with the entrepreneurs and championing the deal through the group, you tend to become emotionally attached. In most cases, the entrepreneur hasnt hidden anything, it is just buyers remorse kicking in and the realization that the hard work is beginning. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► 2010. (7).

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San Jose Technical Review Venture Capital Angel Investor 31

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 26, 2010

For firms that dont have access to the most successful entrepreneurs, trying to predict an individual or individual teams success rate based on experience, personal attributes, intellect, etc. might very well be a good way to find some promising first time entrepreneurs. Steve Bennet. at 1:42 PM. Email This BlogThis! Newer Post.

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San Jose Silicon Valley Venture Capital Angel Investor 28

Professor VC

AUGUST 26, 2011

I get asked this question a lot by entrepreneurs (and students). Related to this, I got an email from an entrepreneur this week interested in meeting with me. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? ProfessorVC. The last blogger in Silicon Valley. Friday, August 26, 2011.

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Silicon Valley San Jose Hockey Stick Venture Capital 35

thestartuplawyer.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Contact The Startup Lawyer: Home Page About Contact FAQs Glossary Ryan Roberts Law: Home Page Social Networks: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Flickr Delicious Digg Last.FM Contact The Startup Lawyer: Home Page About Contact FAQs Glossary Ryan Roberts Law: Home Page Social Networks: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Flickr Delicious Digg Last.FM

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Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 26, 2008

I spent most of the time with the reporter talking about Sand Hill Angels and how we add value to the start-ups and entrepreneurs that we partner with, which is why I just have a small mention in the article. How passionate are the entrepreneurs about their business? Can they recruit and get others excited? ► January. (1).

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Professor VC

JUNE 20, 2011

There are definitely some lessons in the story for entrepreneurs and angel investors, but before discussing, I thought Id share a bit about the early financing history for iControl. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Before the $52M Series D , the $23M Series C , the $15.5M

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Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

Entrepreneurs struggle to find investors and investors struggle to find the best start-ups. This is a brutal process for entrepreneurs and many have no interest in the angel groups for this reason. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? ► January. (1). ▼ 2010. (7).

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Angel Investor Angel Groups San Jose Venture Capital 28

Professor VC

JANUARY 17, 2008

I thought about the name some more and I do spend much of my time teaching entrepreneurship and coaching entrepreneurs. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? I next tried it on my 14 year old daughter and she said it was completely lame. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal.

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Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 13, 2009

Do some Customer Development instead. Figuring this out takes time, and few entrepreneurs have the patience to wait it out, because the business plan does such a good job of explaining what customers are going to think. Build a gigantic river of momentum with minimal effort so you dont get burned out. Help you raise money.

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Professor VC

NOVEMBER 14, 2011

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act (H.R. Since small businesses are responsible for the vast majority of new jobs, legislators believe that these new rules will make it easier for entrepreneurs to raise capital and ramp up hiring. Crowdfunding - Good Idea or Really, Really Stupid Idea?

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Professor VC

FEBRUARY 18, 2011

Why can’t anyone just say, “it wasn’t a great outcome for investors, but was for the entrepreneurs and glad we could help make that happen” I guess nobody wants to pull a kazoo out of their pocket when it feels so much better to blare a trumpet. Steve Bennet. at 1:20 PM. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal.

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Professor VC

MAY 30, 2009

In addition to the first prize, he was also given office space at the Plug and Play incubator for the summer and get to spend his days with other entrepreneurs and investors. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

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www.chubbybrain.com

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

We love a good entrepreneurial success story – entrepreneur as protagonist overcomes obstacles and builds a thriving, successful company (and become wealthy while doing so). At the end, I asked myself what are the most critical resources I need to be successful and the answer was partners and developers. It’s free.

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Software Review Startup Technical Review Vesting 79

Professor VC

JANUARY 20, 2009

Of course, the most important funding statistic to an entrepreneur relates to one specific company, and whether there is sufficient capital available to build and scale his business. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? First round median investment size fell to $3.8 million and $4.2

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Professor VC

OCTOBER 20, 2009

I have been following the rallying cry of entrepreneurs with some amusement over the past couple of weeks in response to a blog post by Jason Calacanis, " Why Start-ups Shouldnt have to pay to pitch angel investors." Ive written about the practice of charging entrepreneurs in earlier blog posts and it is not something we would ever do at SHA.

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Professor VC

JANUARY 19, 2012

VFAs tagline is "Mobilizing graduates as entrepreneurs" and is "A program for young, talented grads to spend 2 years in the trenches of a start-up with the goal that these graduates will become socialized and mobilized as entrepreneurs moving forward." A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

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