Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

According to a Gompers and Lerner study, the challenge is very real, with a majority of new ventures that don''t attract investors failing within the first three years. My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs, like online web sites and smart phone apps.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 283

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. Apply for contests and business grants. It’s what separates the true entrepreneurs from the wannabes.

Finance 320

Finance Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 320

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

According to my experience and this Motley Fool article from a few years ago, the challenge is very real, with around half of all new businesses no longer existing after five years. My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs, like online web sites and smart phone apps.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator Bootstrapping 261

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Finally I realized that venture capital and angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary. Exudes integrity, humility, and stability.

Intellectual Property 316

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 316

SoCal CTO

MARCH 20, 2007

His work in social media, e-Learning and Performance Support has won awards and has led him into engagements at many Fortune 500 companies including Credit Suisse, Royal Bank of Canada, Citibank, Lexus, Microsoft, Nissan, Universal, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Fidelity Investments, Symbol Technologies and SHL Systemhouse.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Technical Cofounder Southern California Los Angeles 150

Feld Thoughts

AUGUST 25, 2015

In January, Jerry Neumann wrote a long and detailed analysis of his view of the VC industry in the 1980’s titled Heat Death: Venture Capital in the 1980’s. So contrary to the piece, it wasn’t VC were good at early stage technology, it was that they had newfound capital and a big exit window. This isn’t true.

Venture Capital 70

Venture Capital SBIC Technical Review Silicon Valley 70

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Most entrepreneurs today don’t remember the Dot-Com bubble of 1995 or the Dot-Com crash that followed in 2000. When Netscape went public, it unleashed a frenzy from the public markets for anything related to the internet and signaled to venture investors that there were massive returns to be made investing in anything internet related.

Lean 335

Lean Burn Rate Startup IPO 335

Up and Running

MARCH 11, 2015

And, there’s a good reason why; it includes back-to-back essays on mobile, high-growth startups and technology. What do you get when a successful entrepreneur becomes a VC and then starts blogging about his experiences? Venture capital is a male-dominated business and it’s rare to get the perspectives of female VC.

Venture Capital 60

Venture Capital Technical Review Silicon Valley Cofounder 60

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 11, 2023

Seed money can range from a relatively modest sum to a sizeable one, depending not only on the nature of the startup, the sector in which it will operate, and any other pertinent business aspects. Seed venture capital firms can make more significant follow-on investments to keep or increase their equity stake in the company.

Seed Stage 123

Seed Stage Technical Review Early Stage Due Diligence 123

Steve Blank

JANUARY 22, 2014

Dino Vendetti a VC at Bay Partners, moved up to Bend, Oregon on a mission to engineer Bend into a regional technology cluster. Today with every city, state and country trying to build out a technology cluster, following Dino’s progress can provide others with a roadmap of what’s worked and what has not. Here’s Part 2 of Dino’s story….

Early Stage 286

Early Stage Silicon Valley Oregon Technical Review 286

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2013

It is no secret that the world of venture capital (VCs) was turned upside down by the recent Recession, and many other changes in the marketplace. Business Week ran a more thorough analysis of this movement a while back, which I have updated below. Technology costs are plummeting, meaning you can do more with less.

Angel Investor 231

Angel Investor Entrepreneur Early Stage Silicon Valley 231

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2014

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Finally I realized that Venture Capital and Angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary. Exudes integrity, humility, and stability.

Angel Investor 268

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Early Stage 268

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

There is a common belief in the angel and venture capital community that you put your money on the best team, rather than the best idea. Thus the top priority of every entrepreneur who wants funding should be to build and highlight their “dream team” of co-founders, executives and advisers, to attract the biggest and best investors.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Software Review 152

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 7, 2011

I spent the month of September lecturing, and interacting with (literally) thousands of entrepreneurs in two emerging startup markets, Finland and Russia. —— I was invited to Finland as part of Stanford’s Engineering Technology Venture Program partnership with Aalto University. Business Angels: FiBAn , Sitra.

Finland 324

Finland Venture Capital Government Russia 324

Steve Blank

APRIL 16, 2013

In my 21 years as an entrepreneur, I would come up for air once a month to religiously read the Harvard Business Review. For decades this revered business magazine described management techniques that were developed in and were for large corporations – offering more efficient and creative ways to execute existing business models.

Technical Review 327

Technical Review Lean Venture Capital Customer Development 327

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

Most entrepreneurs have found by now one or more of the many popular crowdfunding sites , and have the name and contact information for at least one of the big venture capital firms. Each has met legal securities minimums for net worth and professionalism, to reduce the risk to entrepreneurs. Marty Zwilling

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Accredited Investor Syndicate Syndication 265

SoCal CTO

MARCH 5, 2007

There are quite a few other Software Development Companies in Southern California working on open source and/or freemium business models. Technology Advisor Technology Roles in Startups Pricing Customer Acquisition Sunk Costs and More -. Technology Jobs in Southern California – a Rebound. in Computer Science.

Open Source 150

Open Source Business Model Technical Cofounder Southern California 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

According to a classic Gompers and Lerner study, the challenge is very real, with a majority of new ventures that don't attract investors failing within the first three years. My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain, such as online web sites and smart phone apps, that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

According to my experience and a this Motley Fool article, the challenge is very real, with around half of all new businesses no longer existing after five years. My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs, like online web sites and smart phone apps.

Intellectual Property 219

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 219

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 3, 2021

Australian entrepreneur and consulting firm owner Luke Lazarus understands that launching a business is not easy. Operating a competitive business and turning a significant profit is even more challenging. Despite the odds against new business success, Lazarus started and operated four businesses by the time he was 25 years old.

United States 167

United States Entrepreneur Angel Investor Social Media 167

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

According to a Gompers and Lerner study, the challenge is very real, with 90% of new ventures that don't attract investors failing within the first three years. My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs, like online web sites and smart phone apps.

Intellectual Property 309

Intellectual Property Technical Review Venture Capital Startup 309

Steve Blank

APRIL 16, 2013

In my 21 years as an entrepreneur, I would come up for air once a month to religiously read the Harvard Business Review. For decades this revered business magazine described management techniques that were developed in and were for large corporations – offering more efficient and creative ways to execute existing business models.

Technical Review 219

Technical Review Lean Venture Capital Customer Development 219

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 19, 2017

In turn, this leads to the development of a thriving startup ecosystem which paves the way for technology and innovation. With venture capitalists around the world shifting their focus to Asia, here are 5 ways the surge in venture capital fundraising is shaking up the startup landscape in the region.

Venture Capital 196

Venture Capital Asia Artificial Inteligence Later Stage 196

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. Apply for contests and business grants. It’s what separates the true entrepreneurs from the wannabes.

Intellectual Property 134

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 134

ReadWriteStart

JULY 26, 2022

In reality, the digital Transformation in Supply Chain is revolutionary in each sector of business; the same is true with the chemical industry. Accordingly, the Chemical and pharmaceutical industries are also growing business With Technology. Further, many start-ups have been stimulated by fresh concepts and technologies.

Germany 175

Germany San Jose Technical Review India 175

David Teten

JANUARY 19, 2021

Similar to the explosion of seed funds in the past decade, we (and some limited partners too ) believe these Flexible VCs are on the forefront of what will become a major segment of the venture ecosystem. We detail below the major categories of VC: VENTURE CAPITAL TYPOLOGY. FLEXIBLE VC VS. OTHER VENTURE CAPITAL MODELS.

Cofounder 78

Cofounder Technical Review Equity Dividend 78

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 10, 2011

I was invited to Finland as part of Stanford’s Engineering Technology Venture Program partnership with Aalto University. Ultimately, Nokia’s difficulties will turn out to be good news for Finnish entrepreneurs. The country needs to figure out a long term privatization strategy for Venture investing.

Finland 324

Finland Naming Russia Government 324

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Angel investors and venture capitalists are looking for startups with real products and a proven business model, ready to scale. Yet I still get too many business plans that clearly are looking for money to do research and development (R&D) on a new and unproven technology. Technology pilots.

Angel Investor 256

Angel Investor Early Stage Incubator Government 256

Hunter Walker

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

This triggered entrepreneurs to start breeding cobras to collect the bounty. And how mismatched (or unspoken) ones in venture capital can cause stress. .’ The title is explained in the opening paragraph: When Delhi was under colonial rule it suffered from an excess of venomous cobras.

Venture Capital 65

Venture Capital China Government Early Stage 65

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

A critical stage for most first-time entrepreneurs is getting their idea developed into at least a prototype to validate their technology. This process costs money, which professional investors are not willing to contribute, since their interest is in scaling a proven product and business model into a growth business.

Early Stage 225

Early Stage SBIR Technical Review Seed Stage 225

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

According to my experience and a classic Gompers and Lerner study, the challenge is very real, with a majority of new ventures that don't attract investors failing within the first three years. Apply for contests and business grants. It’s what separates the true entrepreneurs from the wannabes. Get a loan or line-of-credit.

Product Development 177

Product Development Cost Developer Product 177

The Next Web

JULY 20, 2013

Editor’s note: Andrej Kiska is an associate at Prague-based Credo Ventures. Prior to Credo, Andrej worked at an early growth fund Benson Oak, the first backer of AVG Technologies . Venture capitalists and their feedback. Yes, it is true that some entrepreneurs either don’t receive a response or get a pre-made template.

Silicon Valley 124

Silicon Valley Mongolia Technical Cofounder Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2021

Most entrepreneurs have found by now one or more of the many popular crowdfunding sites , and have the name and contact information for at least one of the big venture capital firms. Each has met legal securities minimums for net worth and professionalism, to reduce the risk to entrepreneurs. Marty Zwilling.

Search 317

Search Accredited Investor Angel Investor Venture Capital 317

ReadWriteStart

FEBRUARY 21, 2021

Early in your startup’s development, you’ll likely be low on capital. Even if you have an angel investor or a venture capital (VC) firm backing you, you’ll have an abundance of expenses, limited income, and a finite amount of time before the money completely runs out. Barter With Other Entrepreneurs. Cut or Keep?

Startup 106

Startup Software Review Open Source Technical Review 106

Steve Blank

APRIL 14, 2013

business models. Entrepreneurs in Beijing were knowledgeable about Silicon Valley, entrepreneurship and the state of software and tools available for two reasons. Almost every entrepreneur I met was using VPN to circumvent the Great Firewall. Turnover of employees in capital in Beijing is very high. Management 101.

China 323

China Silicon Valley Non-Compete Intellectual Property 323

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

Draw Your Ideas - A VC : Venture Capital and Technology , May 16, 2010 I saw Jack Dorsey give this talk at The 99% Conference last month. Why Entrepreneurs Hate Lawyers. In many of them I get asked similar questions, including the inevitable “what makes a great entrepreneur?” Tesla is not. It's a great talk.

Fractional CTO 248

Fractional CTO Startup Venture Capital Cofounder 248

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Posted on September 14, 2009 by steveblank Over the last 30 years Wall Street’s appetite for technology stocks have changed radically – swinging between unbridled enthusiasm to believing they’re all toxic. One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is misunderstanding the role of venture capital investors.

Silicon Valley 217

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 217