Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

I hear a lot of entrepreneurs contemplating their great “idea” for several years with little discernable progress, and looking for money to start. It doesn’t prove your business model of pricing, distribution, and support. milestones entrepreneur startup funding business' Traction means forward progress.

Intellectual Property 281

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Sweat Equity CTO Hire 281

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. These bubble startups were actually guessing at their business model and did premature and aggressive hype and early company launches and had extremely high burn rates – all predicated on an IPO to raise more cash.

Lean 335

Lean Burn Rate Startup IPO 335

VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 26, 2023

In addition to these data points Ali identifies seven key traits that these “super founders” possess, and I believe that these traits are essential for any entrepreneur who wants to build a successful startup. “extreme resilience” – Successful entrepreneurs are able to persevere through challenges and setbacks.

Founder 88

Founder Cofounder Seed Stage Valuation 88

The Startup Magazine

MAY 27, 2020

If, as an entrepreneur, you want to know what aspects should be monitored to learn to trade cryptocurrency as a beginner , here are the top expectancies for this year. The number of fraudulent companies is lower, as compared to 2017, but even in 2020, we can find entities operating offshore with a questionable business model.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Offshore Sweden China 124

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 14, 2022

India has always been renowned as the land of entrepreneurs. Profitably managing and owning businesses with all the inherent risks have always defined the Indian entrepreneurial spirit. It is here that the groundwork is laid and the business model developed. A business plan is drawn up to attract investors and partners.

Technical Review 143

Technical Review Due Diligence India Startup 143

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. Some nonprofit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. That’s a higher calling. Marty Zwilling.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2016

Others, like Guy Kawasaki , have irreverently called some of these “entrepreneur lies,” but I prefer to think of them as innocent enhancements or omissions that can kill your deal. They know it’s especially hard to provide a financial return with a free business model. Entrepreneurs in this category are usually dreamers.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Valuation Technical Review Equity 120

Duct Tape Marketing

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Helping Entrepreneurs Buy And Sell Their Agencies written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing. In this episode, she’s sharing how she’s helped many entrepreneurs buy and sell businesses. And we're gonna talk today about helping entrepreneurs buy and sell their agencies. This is great.

Entrepreneur 79

Entrepreneur Technical Review Cofounder Valuation 79

Steve Blank

MARCH 12, 2014

. — Teaching students to think like entrepreneurs not accountants. We wanted to teach our students how to think like entrepreneurs not accountants. The startups and the teaching team crafted a challenge for the kids to tackle using the Customer Development methodology, Lean Launchpad tools and the business model canvas.

Lean 334

Lean Customer Development Startup Silicon Valley 334

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2023

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue).

Angel Investor 313

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 313

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Term-sheets and Valuations: Thinking about Negotiations. Please see later version of this post on May 16, 2010 Entrepreneurs are often not experts in the area of term-sheet negotiations and all of the surrounding issues.   Investors sometimes “present” the terms they’d like and expect the entrepreneurs to react.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

crowdSPRING Blog

APRIL 8, 2012

As college graduation weekends and summer business incubator announcements loom, I thought I would take a few minutes to consider the connection between the entrepreneurship and academia. Entrepreneurs, by definition, take an idea or a concept and strive to make that idea into a operating business. Academics research throughly.

Software Review 112

Software Review Entrepreneur Incubator Valuation 112

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Super angels sometimes drive up valuations. Perhaps because of their focus on building a large portfolio, or their competitiveness, these angels sometimes accept valuations that cause later friction while moving to VCs, or even other angel groups.

Angel Investor 342

Angel Investor Venture Capital Silicon Valley Portfolio 342

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

This was an audience of mostly first-time entrepreneurs. It is great for entrepreneurs and great for VCs. So here is what I have been telling entrepreneurs privately for the past 6 months. They have seen one side of a market where many of us have seen the ebb and flow multiple times. I believe that. Why does all this matter?

Saudi Arabia 309

Saudi Arabia Valuation IPO Technical Review 309

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2016

As an entrepreneur mentor and startup investor, I see with sadness the 50 to 90 percent that fail. Many are just not facing the reality that their passion had a critical business flaw. Physically or emotionally moving yourself above the business. Never take your eye off the ball in business. Fail fast and pivot.

Business Model 120

Business Model Intellectual Property Startup Bankruptcy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2013

The market and venture capitalists are looking for business, but with a continuing focus on proven business models. Sure, there will always some seed funding (10% of overall deal flow), but you can bet that this money goes to entrepreneurs who have been there before and won. Line up a winning team.

Venture Capital 252

Venture Capital IPO Elevator Pitch Initial Public Offering 252

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2010

Bockerstette, Main Street Venture Fund As I outlined last week, trophy angel investors are always looking for trophy entrepreneurs. In many areas, not enough entrepreneurs meet the criteria, so it’s still a buyer’s market. Unfortunately, we read far more poorly written business plans at Main Street than good ones. By Joseph A.

Intellectual Property 265

Intellectual Property Balance Sheet Phoenix Arizona 265

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. Some nonprofit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. That’s a higher calling. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

Steve Blank

MARCH 31, 2014

I like the guy because he’s credited with coining the word entrepreneur. Look at the valuations of companies like Tesla, Illumina, and Twitter. The first will be commodity businesses that are valued for their ability to execute their current business model. I’m sure many of you have heard his name.

Private Equity 325

Private Equity Metrics China Intellectual Property 325

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2022

One of the big questions that every entrepreneur struggles with is how much funding they should request from investors in the first round. If your financial model projects a negative cash flow in this period of $400,000, you should buffer this amount by 25 percent, and ask for $500,000. Be prepared to explain your business model.

Preferred Stock 304

Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity Angel Investor 304

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2017

The question every entrepreneur and business executive should be asking is what are the drivers of the digital transformation, and how can you make them opportunities rather than costs. Think about the up-and-comers during the past decade that have either created new business models or stolen share from established players.

Technical Review 136

Technical Review Demand Valuation Business Model 136

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

While statistics are weak on startup success rates, the worst one I’ve seen suggests that 2 in 1000 venture backed startups will ever achieve $100-million or more in valuation. Without passionate customers, even the most passionate entrepreneur will flounder at best. . ——————-.

Startup 332

Startup Cofounder Customer Development Viral 332

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

That’s because obtaining a pre-money valuation for a concept level technology company in excess of $1 million is difficult, particularly for a startup founder without a proven track record. By contrast, obtaining a pre-money valuation of $5 million for a business with a new viable product and even very minimal sales is somewhat reasonable.

Private Equity 94

Private Equity Pre-Money Valuation Equity Startup 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

It’s higher risk, but higher return, to pick the big winners early, before angels have set unreasonable valuations and restrictive terms. This means smaller amounts given to more entrepreneurs who get a chance to prove that they can build great businesses. Tags: entrepreneur startup investor super angels founder.

Technical Review 215

Technical Review Early Stage Venture Capital Startup 215

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

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2020

After many years of working with angel investors seriously trying to find new ventures worthy of their hard-earned money, I find their frustration often exceeds that of entrepreneurs sincerely looking for financial help. Non-credible funding request or unreasonable valuation. Future unproven projections don’t set today’s valuation.

Due Diligence 308

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Preferred Stock Seed Stage 308

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. Some non-profit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. That’s a higher calling. Marty Zwilling.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2021

This sharing economy is rapidly becoming the new business of sharing, with major winners already including Airbnb (rooms), Uber (rides), and Chegg (books). If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, or an existing business, and haven’t yet sized any of these opportunities, you may be already late to the game.

Cuba 316

Cuba Venture Capital Community Valuation 316

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. Some non-profit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. That’s a higher calling. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

That’s why I recommend that they find a co-founder who loves business challenges, including marketing and finance. Outside investors are most interested in scaling a proven business model, not research and development. Business efforts should start only after the product is right.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Intellectual Property Cofounder Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue).

Angel Investor 370

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 370

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2020

As an entrepreneur mentor and startup investor, I see with sadness the 50 to 90 percent that fail. Many are just not facing the reality that their passion had a critical business flaw. Physically or emotionally moving yourself above the business. Never take your eye off the ball in business. Fail fast and pivot.

Intellectual Property 310

Intellectual Property Startup Bankruptcy Viral 310

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2020

One of the big questions that every entrepreneur struggles with is how much funding they should request from investors in the first round. If your financial model projects a negative cash flow in this period of $400,000, you should buffer this amount by 25 percent, and ask for $500,000. Be prepared to explain your business model.

Startup 337

Startup Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity 337

ReadWriteStart

MARCH 24, 2011

This week's One Million by One Million roundtable was our 75th session, and we worked today with three entrepreneurs from the Midwest region of the United States. As an entrepreneur CEO, she ran three companies: DAIS, Intarka, and Uuma. Our co-host for the program was TiE Midwest, based in Chicago.

Illinois 114

Illinois Entrepreneur Silicon Valley Chicago 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. Some non-profit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. That’s a higher calling. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

With the advent and popularity of crowdfunding platforms, including Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , as a winning alternative for funding your new venture, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs are confused about the need to ever seek a professional angel investor. Investors are very wary of unknown owners and valuation.

Non-disclosure Agreement 299

Non-disclosure Agreement Angel Investor Bootstrapping SEC 299

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Super angels sometimes drive up valuations. Perhaps because of their focus on building a large portfolio, or their competitiveness, these angels sometimes accept valuations that cause later friction while moving to VCs, or even other angel groups.

Angel Investor 314

Angel Investor Venture Capital Silicon Valley Startup 314