Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Examples of some leaders in this space include Ron Conway in Silicon Valley and Jeff Bezos , CEO of Amazon, who each may have over 500 startups in their portfolio. The cost of entry for tech startups continues to go down. Mobile and web software apps may cost even less. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 314

Angel Investor Venture Capital Silicon Valley Startup 314

View from Seed

APRIL 30, 2015

It can be lower cost and can either buy more time or accelerate growth. Below, we talk to Glen Mello , Managing Director of Silicon Valley Bank’s accelerator team in Boston. Glen Mello: Venture debt is a good complement to equity. Business model? What is it, and how should founders think about it?

Term Sheet 120

Term Sheet Equity Startup Seed Stage 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2020

Based on my years of experience in both startups and large companies, trusted relationships are more the key to success than a great business model, how smart you are, or how much money you have. Smart business people learn to quickly recognize negative personality types, and avoid them at all costs.

Silicon Valley 312

Silicon Valley Bandwidth Angel Investor Equity 312

Gust

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

As a business lawyer working with startups in technology and digital media every day, I’m fortunate to have a front-row seat as entrepreneurs create value out of thin air. What can we do on the public policy front to turn the United States into one giant Silicon Valley? Free Speech. Healthcare Reform. Yes, really.

Silicon Valley 187

Silicon Valley San Francisco Intellectual Property Accredited Investor 187

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

For a Series A round you want to prove you have built a repeatable and scalable sales/revenue model and understand all parts of the business model. Series B is about proving your net revenue model (can you be profitable?). Team, Product, Traction, Business Model and Market. Business Model.

Cofounder 431

Cofounder Seed Stage Valuation Metrics 431

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

The class teaches the three basic skills all entrepreneurs need to know: business model design. Called “ How to Build a Startup: The Lean LaunchPad ,” it walks you through the Business Model Canvas and an overview of the customer development process. Visitors Guide to Silicon Valley. customer development.

Open Source 335

Open Source Silicon Valley Lean Customer Development 335

Steve Blank

MAY 3, 2022

The Ukraine conflict is demonstrating the changing character of war such that low-cost emerging commercial technology is extremely effective when deployed against a larger 20th-century industrialized force that Russia is fielding. Integrate and create incentives for the Venture Capital/Private Equity ecosystem to invest at scale.

Ukraine 316

Ukraine China Private Equity Russia 316

David Teten

AUGUST 19, 2019

This structure offers some of the benefits of traditional equity VC, without some of the negatives of equity VC. I’ve been a traditional equity VC for 8 years, and I’m now researching new business models in venture capital. Repaid 12-36 months with ability to prepay at reduced cost. Capital need of up to $1.5M

Revenue 60

Revenue Technical Review Software Review Equity 60

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 6, 2021

The pre-pandemic economy was characterized by a mysterious, decades-long decline in business formation. Although the media has been full of inspiring stories about start-ups in Silicon Valley, the reality is that the rate at which Americans have been starting companies has been in decline for a long time.

Limited Liability Company 165

Limited Liability Company Silicon Valley Business Model Stock Options 165

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Unless you are a serial entrepreneur with a string of successes behind you, you need a business plan to convince investors that you can build a business out of the dream that has been driving your passion to change the world. For example, “I just patented a new cell-phone technology that will double battery life for half the cost.

Elevator Pitch 163

Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Silicon Valley Revenue 163

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2014

Examples of some leaders in this space include Ron Conway in Silicon Valley and Brian Cohen , chairman of the New York Angels, who each may have over 500 startups in their portfolio. The cost of entry for tech startups continues to go down. Mobile and web software apps may cost even less.

Angel Investor 260

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Startup Portfolio 260

steveblank.com

JULY 8, 2011

Home Books for Startups Guide Secret History-Bibliography Steve Blank Startup Tools Steve Blank Entries RSS | Comments RSS Email Subscription Get Steve Blank via your RSS Feed RSS - Posts RSS - Comments Categories Air Force (12) Ardent (10) Audubon (1) Big Companies versus Startups: Durant versus Sloan (39) Business Model versus Business Plan (..)

Software Review 110

Software Review Startup Silicon Valley Analytics 110

K9 Ventures

JUNE 12, 2012

Some days in Silicon Valley it feels like there are more investors than there are entrepreneurs. You get a situation whether investors are incentivized to put in more money into a company, not only to buy more equity, but also to fund the quick growth. And there absolutely are more investors than there are good deals.

Venture Capital 117

Venture Capital Silicon Valley Founder Seed Stage 117

Austin Startup

AUGUST 20, 2017

They’re looking to be paid properly in the context of the overall salary structure, including cash, benefits, and equity, and to be paid commensurate with performance. That will keep the Silicon Valley wags buzzing for some time to come. Can you acquire them at a sustainable cost? How about your Investors ?

Technical Review 48

Technical Review Software Review Cap Table Securities and Exchange Commission 48

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2012

I can see many advantages to the imitation with innovation approach, beyond just limiting the risk to changing just one variable rather than many: Avoid initial major R&D cost. Statistically, the costs to the first inventor of a new technology are at least a third higher than to follow-on innovators in the same technology.

Silicon Valley 211

Silicon Valley Equity Technology Cost 211

K9 Ventures

JUNE 12, 2012

Some days in Silicon Valley it feels like there are more investors than there are entrepreneurs. You get a situation whether investors are incentivized to put in more money into a company, not only to buy more equity, but also to fund the quick growth. And there absolutely are more investors than there are good deals.

Venture Capital 105

Venture Capital Silicon Valley Founder Seed Stage 105

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2016

Based on my years of experience in both startups and large companies, trusted relationships are more the key to success than a great business model, how smart you are, or how much money you have. Smart business people learn to quickly recognize negative personality types, and avoid them at all costs.

Silicon Valley 120

Silicon Valley Bandwidth Angel Investor Equity 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 26, 2011

I can see many advantages to the imitation with innovation approach, beyond just limiting the risk to changing just one variable rather than many: Avoid initial major R&D cost. Statistically, the costs to the first inventor of a new technology are at least a third higher than to follow-on innovators in the same technology.

Silicon Valley 228

Silicon Valley Startup Equity Technology 228

infochachkie.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Instead of hearing from your long lost third-cousin, you will be inundated with an avalanche of ‘congratulatory’ emails, calls and letters from people who want to relieve you of the burden of your hard-earned equity round. There is an inherent conflict in a consultant’s business model and the needs of a startup.

Equity 40

Equity Silicon Valley Cofounder PR 40

Scalable Startup

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

This is a line that was pretty common in Silicon Valley until recently. The threshold for “company” status is very low, including the following list of minimum pieces at their lowest cost. The threshold for “company” status is very low, including the following list of minimum pieces at their lowest cost.

Silicon Valley 24

Silicon Valley Equity Reputation Business Model 24

Up and Running

MAY 17, 2012

We’ve applied to at least a dozen accelerator programs over the last 12 months from TechStars New York to Y-Combinator in Silicon Valley. The costs were minimal and the returns were better than we’d expected. If you’re a startup still discovering your business model, loans may not be for you. Crowdfunding Project.

Silicon Valley 103

Silicon Valley Startup Campaign Incubator 103

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

So we’ve got scholarships for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend—early-stage entrepreneurs, particularly those from beyond Silicon Valley; staff from small non-profits; and students. To ease the financial load, we’ve got a scholarship program that strips away luxuries and offers you a ticket that’s under-cost for us.

Lean 165

Lean Nebraska San Francisco Silicon Valley 165

maplebutter.com

JANUARY 8, 2013

Outsourcing is something a big company, with a known customer / problem (that has revenue & traction) does to save cost. I don’t have any formal business training and I actually think it’s served me well. I have a proposal written up including full cost and revenue projections. No investor cares about a business plan.

Technical Review 44

Technical Review Startup Cofounder Software Review 44

www.paulgraham.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

Silicon Valleydominates, then Boston, then Seattle, Austin, Denver, and New York. Even in New York the number of startups percapita is probably a 20th of what it is in Silicon Valley. Afterthat theres not much. In townslike Houston and Chicago and Detroit its too small to measure. Why is the falloff so sharp?

Startup 108

Startup Software Review Hiring Detroit 108

www.vccafe.com

MARCH 11, 2013

tells you how much adwords cost. hire low-cost international engineering talent. outsourcing for small business. YCombinator Series AA Equity Financing Documents. Founder Equity Issues. Venture Hacks equity section. Legal, Equity, etc. Argonaut Private Equity. SEMRush â?? Clickable â??

Software Review 53

Software Review Technical Review Startup 53

Up and Running

DECEMBER 9, 2014

The DIY mentality can really bog you down and become a burden eventually, plus it can really cost you more time and money in the grand scheme of things. I just wanted to break down those two pieces real quick the time side and the cost side. Then the second one here which I eluded to is really all about cost.

Small Business 95

Small Business Finance Forecast Metrics 95

Lightspeed Venture Partners

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

Season 4 of week 10 of Shark Tank was interesting because two of the pitches were for internet businesses that I could imagine seeing in my day job as a Silicon Valley Venture Capitalis t. All e-commerce businesses should be examined through the lens of customer acquisition cost and lifetime value.

Pre-Money Valuation 166

Pre-Money Valuation Alabama Valuation Churn Rate 166

Professor VC

OCTOBER 11, 2010

The last blogger in Silicon Valley. It could come back and hit you in the face during a deposition Make sure that your co-founders have the right skills and commitment before doling out equity. If there are any promises (written, verbal or otherwise) regarding equity, address early rather than later. ProfessorVC.

Social Network 28

Social Network Networking Software Review San Jose 28

techcrunch.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2010

Researchers polled experts in lending, mezzanine capital, private equity, venture capital and private businesses themselves. Especially since even Youtube is still struggling to try find a viable business model. The cost of money is steep, and only works in certain verticals, of which software is NOT one.

Venture Capital 62

Venture Capital Technical Review Sweat Equity Valuation 62

Lightspeed Venture Partners

DECEMBER 10, 2012

Revenue is driven by children’s parties, which cost $600-$4,000 for a two hour party for 15 kids, which apparently is the market price for kids parties in LA. As O’Leary said, this isn’t an equity investment. By all accounts, the Coop is quite successful. Astonishingly, the entrepreneurs took the deal.

Covenant 162

Covenant Warrant Southern California Los Angeles 162

The Equity Kicker

OCTOBER 8, 2012

A company making $1000 a month (a typical number early in YC) and growing at 1% a week will 4 years later be making $7900 a month, which is less than a good programmer makes in salary in Silicon Valley. I share the view that growth is critical, and that without very high growth rates early on a business will never grow big.

Silicon Valley 149

Silicon Valley IPO eCommerce Valuation 149

www.chubbybrain.com

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

created a vastly higher cost structure; I had 80 people mostly on base salaries under $100,000 and was bringing in revenue at the rate of $20 million annually. Contributing to the high cost structure was the new culture of working 9-5 Monday through Friday. We had the wrong business model. Company : YouCastr.

Software Review 79

Software Review Startup Technical Review Vesting 79

techcrunch.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

Especially if you aren’t from around Silicon Valley. pretty much sums everything up well, but – let’s be honest here – if you live outside Silicon Valley, you are going to be at odds, because the rest of the world hasn’t yet caught up with this tech start-up thing.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Cofounder Technical Cofounder Software Review 84

Up and Running

MAY 23, 2016

The one-page pitch format is also more suitable for SaaS businesses that are constantly testing new ideas. Your pitch is going to cover your strategy (what you’re going to do), your tactics (how you’re going to do it), your business model (how you will make money), and your schedule (who is doing what and when).

Software Review 74

Software Review Software Delaware Forecast 74

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

Equity-Only CTO and Equity-Only Developers - SoCal CTO , November 1, 2010 I had a recent email dialog with the founder of a company looking for a CTO for their startup. few years ago I also started following Alexander Osterwalder in his blog about his Business Model Generation -mantra. Build Your Own Silicon Valley?

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Technology Product CTO Hire 175

Small Business Force

OCTOBER 22, 2017

equity, debt, some combination) or how you intend to raise it (e.g., angel/professional investors, private equity, crowdfunding) the process will always take more time and resources than you can ever imagine. For a consumer business, that number could easily be ten times that amount. Less dilution!

Entrepreneur 25

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Valuation Investment Bankers 25

Duct Tape Marketing

MARCH 1, 2018

John Jantsch: One of the challenges I see, and I’m strategizing with a startup right now that I think has a decent idea but no business model. There’s a running joke in Silicon Valley, “What do you called a failed entrepreneur?” They tap into their home equity.

Lean 63

Lean Social Media Bootstrapping Business Model 63