Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Legal cannabis generated $16 billion in total economic output in the United States in 2017, and research indicates it will increase 150 percent by 2021, according to a report from cannabis industry analysts Arcview Market Research , in partnership with BDS Analytics. If you’re seeking investment, you need a traditional business plan.

Business Plan 154

Business Plan Technical Review Forecast Exit Strategy 154

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. Each of these requires some ongoing effort, so I expect at least a rudimentary process associated with each: Record of spending and business assets. Marketing, sales, support, and service operations.

Exit Strategy 288

Exit Strategy Metrics Operations Cost 288

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2013

Based on the final report for 2012 from Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), it may appear that IPOs are back as a viable startup exit strategy. The market and venture capitalists are looking for business, but with a continuing focus on proven business models.

Venture Capital 252

Venture Capital IPO Elevator Pitch Initial Public Offering 252

Hearpreneur

MAY 15, 2020

No matter the tale, the background behind each and every business is what fuels each and brand. We asked some entrepreneurs and business owners, why they started their businesses: #1- Make learning to swim more convenient. Today I am a full-time entrepreneur, my business is growing, and I couldn’t be happier!

Entrepreneur 127

Entrepreneur LLC Los Angeles San Francisco 127

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2021

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. An entrepreneur who can’t manage a plan, probably won’t be able to manage the new business.

Silicon Valley 342

Silicon Valley Exit Strategy Business Plan Restful 342

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Too many entrepreneurs look for that one magic bullet -- an exciting new technology, perhaps, or their own determination to make the world a better place -- to override any shortcomings in their startup model. Yet, magic bullets are not sufficient to assure business success. A large and growing market opportunity.

Exit Strategy 120

Exit Strategy Technical Review Distribution Viral 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

As an active angel investor myself, I understand how the process works, and I see the disappointment in the eyes of entrepreneurs who approach angel groups for funding and often get turned away for not being timely or prepared in the minds of potential investors. Come with a product built and a proven business model.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Groups 120

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

Innovative products and business models are the foundations of a promising startup. Funding is crucial for improving technology, hiring the right people, and launching a comprehensive marketing strategy to get a foothold in the market. Creating a scalable business model. Sure, it should be unique.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

NZ Entrepreneur

NOVEMBER 14, 2019

One of the main (and early) steps is to make a considered decision about what IP means to your business and what IP tools will be used to support your business model. Not doing so can cause big problems later for your business. Patent infringement was certain had the New Zealand company entered the US market.

Intellectual Property 45

Intellectual Property IP Software Review New Zealand 45

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

A conundrum for many frustrated entrepreneurs is that they need money from investors to design and build a prototype product, yet most angel investors expect to see at least a prototype before they invest. They must amplify your “elevator pitch” to investors, as well as key points from the business plan and the financial model.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

Up and Running

AUGUST 28, 2018

What you offer and the problem your business solves: What does your practice offer and why is it needed? Target market: Who is your ideal patient? Financial summary: Explain your business model, startup costs, revenues, and liabilities to the company. Target market. This is your value proposition. Be specific.

Business Plan 72

Business Plan Technical Review Exit Strategy Oregon 72

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

A conundrum for many frustrated entrepreneurs is that they need money from investors to design and build a prototype product, yet most angel investors expect to see at least a prototype before they invest. They must amplify your “elevator pitch” to investors, as well as key points from the business plan and the financial model.

Angel Investor 224

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 18, 2024

Gain Freedom With The Hands Off CEO Blueprint written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interviewed Mandi Ellefson. 01:03): Hello and welcome to another episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast.

Framework 64

Framework Sales Cycle Sales Hiring 64

Up and Running

MAY 4, 2015

Tips from entrepreneurs who successfully pitched their businesses for funding. In it, you’ll cover the problem your business solves and how you’ll solve it, but you can include other important details like what your competitive advantage is and why your team is the best for the job. Define your target market.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Entrepreneur Software Review Houston 60

Reid Hoffman

JULY 23, 2020

Recently, my fellow Greylock investor Saam Motamedi and I examined the question of how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected venture investing, and what entrepreneurs should do in response. This week, I’d like to turn to the question of how current market conditions affect the approach entrepreneurs should take towards their exit strategy.

IPO 36

IPO Exit Strategy Acquisition Technical Review 36

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2016

As a startup advisor and investor, I find that more and more entrepreneurs avoid using the term “profit” in pitching their new venture. My view is that the purpose of every business is to make a profit, as fuel for growth, sustainability, and social impact. Without profit there is no business.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy 120

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

But if you’re someone whom just has a dream of launching a social media agency, a business to consumer service, or virtually any other underwhelming by comparison business model, it’s been proven that undercutting your competitors is a tried and true model. No Exit Strategy.

Exit Strategy 174

Exit Strategy Startup Bootstrapping Social Media 174

Up and Running

JUNE 16, 2014

You ask a question related to starting a business and for the next few weeks, every Monday, we will provide the answer. QUESTION: Should I send out market research surveys prior to approaching an investor? Also, how safe is it to pitch my business idea to an investor? Market Share and a Competitive Advantage. “We

Exit Strategy 91

Exit Strategy Advisory Board Business Plan Portfolio 91

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2011

They also favor entrepreneurs who are experienced in starting a company, and experienced in the business domain of the startup. Your business model may be very attractive, but if you are new to this game, you may not be fundable. Smaller numbers may easily make a viable business, but won’t attract investors.

Angel Investor 244

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Exit Strategy 244

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is misunderstanding the role of venture capital investors. There’s lots of lore, emotion, and misconceptions of what VC’s do or don’t do for entrepreneurs. While there was an occasional bad apple, the public markets rewarded companies with revenue growth and sustainable profits.

Silicon Valley 223

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 223

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

As an occasional angel investor, I always ask for a business pitch to get me in the mood. I’m still amazed at how many technical entrepreneurs don’t have a business pitch, and offer me their product pitch or product spec instead. This implies high odds of a scalable business, simply needing an investment to lead to success.

Product 145

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Exit Strategy 145

Up and Running

MAY 1, 2014

The vast majority of business owners and entrepreneurs aren’t business experts. Just like you, they’re learning as they go and don’t have degrees in business. Writing a business plan may seem like a difficult hurdle, but it doesn’t have to be. Target Market. Marketing and Sales Plan. Target market.

Business Plan 163

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Distribution 163

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

Picking the right attorney in your startup is as important as picking the right business partner. You can’t underestimate the importance of selecting an attorney who “gets” your business model, your market opportunity, and most importantly, your fundraising and exit strategy. ownership and never dilute.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2013

They also favor entrepreneurs who are experienced in starting a company, and experienced in the business domain of the startup. Your business model may be very attractive, but if you are new to this game, you may not be fundable. Smaller numbers may easily make a viable business, but won’t attract investors.

Angel Investor 252

Angel Investor Accredited Investor Silicon Valley Venture Capital 252

Hearpreneur

JUNE 24, 2022

Since we offer strategy and guidance for clients, we didn't want to have marketing in our name since that would corner us as a category instead of a service-based business. After thinking through many options, we chose StrategyBeam because it reflected the fact that we focus our approach to marketing on strategy.

Naming 115

Naming Entrepreneur South America Social Media 115

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution. Industry & market sizing. Explain the business model. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

When pitching to investors, entrepreneurs always seem to start with a customer pitch, then add a slide or two about the business. In reality, they need a separate pitch about the business, carrying over only a slide or two about the solution. Remember, investors are buying into the business, not the product.

Product 120

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Burn Rate 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2016

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. Each of these requires some ongoing effort, so I expect at least a rudimentary process associated with each: Record of spending and business assets. Marketing, sales, support, and service operations.

Exit Strategy 155

Exit Strategy Metrics Operations Cost 155

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

The approach I recommend is to build the investor presentation first, by iterating on the bullets with your team, and then fleshing out the points into a full-blown text-based business plan document. Here are the ten slides you need: Problem and market need. Investors like $1B markets with double-digit growth rates.

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

Gust

AUGUST 30, 2012

Characteristics of the Entrepreneur. Team, Business Model, Traction, Customer Acquisition, Scalability, Defensibiity, Capital Efficiency, Churn, Time to Breakeven, Exit Strategy. Characteristics of the Market. Characteristics of the Market. Characteristics of the Venture.

Founder Vesting 144

Founder Vesting Option Pool Exit Strategy Vesting 144

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2013

Too many entrepreneurs still believe the urban myth that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and investors will throw money at you. Every investor I know is frustrated with the poor quality of the business plans they get. entrepreneur startup business plan business' Marty Zwilling.

Business Plan 230

Business Plan Exit Strategy Partner Business Model 230

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2012

They also favor entrepreneurs who are experienced in starting a company, and experienced in the business domain of the startup. Your business model may be very attractive, but if you are new to this game, you may not be fundable. Secondly, you need a large and growing market, to offset the huge risk of funding a startup.

Angel Investor 245

Angel Investor Silicon Valley Exit Strategy Boston 245

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution. Industry & market sizing. Explain the business model. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Up and Running

MARCH 11, 2015

Another assumption is that you’ve actually conducted due diligence on your own business, and these are the areas of your team, financials, your competition, your IP, market trends, because the best pitches I’ve ever delivered were when investors were raising their hands and asking me questions about, “How is your IP protected?”

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Software Review Due Diligence Exit Strategy 60

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Having a business plan shows that you’ve done the homework of thinking through how your business will work and what goals you’re trying to achieve. A business plan provides the structure for thinking through these things and documents your answers so you’re prepared for the inevitable questions investors will ask about your business.

Business Plan 138

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Exit Strategy 138

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

An alternative approach, which I prefer, is to build the investor presentation first, by iterating on the bullets with your team, and then fleshing out the points into a full-blown text-based business plan document. Here are the ten slides you need: Problem and market need. Investors like $1B markets with double-digit growth rates.

Elevator Pitch 235

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 235

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Entrepreneurs who are looking to attract investors need to develop and pitch a plan -- preferably written -- that answers every potential investor question about your startup before it is asked. How big and growing is the total market and your target segment? They like billion-dollar markets with double-digit growth rates.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Advisory Board Liquidity Event Startup 120