Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 310

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 310

Hearpreneur

OCTOBER 13, 2023

A well-constructed business model is a foundational element of a business plan and strategy. Business models can vary significantly across industries and businesses, reflecting each enterprise's unique characteristics and goals. Thanks to Jordan Adair, ShirtMax ! #2- Thanks to Rodney Warner, Connective ! #3-

Business Model 131

Business Model Affiliate Jordan B2C 131

View from Seed

JULY 6, 2020

You have 4-6 years of professional experience as a technology operator, founder, or investor in New York. You have a point of view on emerging technology and business models, and you are not afraid to voice your conviction. Who Are We Looking For. You are a native of NYC tech with a strong network. A Final Note. How To Apply .

Technical Review 257

Technical Review Software Review Hiring Seed Stage 257

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 14, 2022

It is here that the groundwork is laid and the business model developed. A business plan is drawn up to attract investors and partners. The legalities of starting the business are addressed to create a structure for attracting funding. The business logistics are defined, and a brand identity is created.

Technical Review 145

Technical Review Due Diligence India Startup 145

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

Reasons for funding. ? Scale up your operations. One of the most prominent reasons for funding is to scale up your operations, for expansion and achieve economies of scale. For example, you have already started a business and successfully implemented your idea, and it’s running well. Sources of Funding.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

We engage intimately with businesses and their assets, understanding their operations, aspirations, and the hurdles they face. The goal is to transform dormant or underutilized assets into active capital that supports your business. It is also the time to take a hard look at your business model.

Technical Review 133

Technical Review Due Diligence Bankruptcy Intellectual Property 133

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

If you are one of the thousands of entrepreneurs who need equity funding to get your startup going (no loans to repay), you are probably overwhelmed at the prospect of finding, contacting and pitching to the huge number of qualified angels and investment groups around the country. Prepare a slide deck to highlight product and business.

Equity 236

Equity Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch Social Media 236

View from Seed

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

This is sometimes business-model dependent, e.g.: Product/Design/Engineering headcount – need to bring on a full-time PM and/or designer with X product milestones; rough estimates of engineering headcount by stage. Businesses with a geo/city-based operations – city GMs/on-the-ground ops teams.

Part-Time VPE 195

Part-Time VPE Seed Stage CTO Hire Forecast 195

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 30, 2012

The class teaches founders how to dramatically reduce their failure rate through the combination of business model design, customer development and agile development using the Startup Owners Manual. It doesn’t take equity and just has a small fee that varies by city ($140 to $299), to cover event operations and expenses.

Startup 335

Startup Lean Incubator Business Model 335

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Individual and institutional philanthropy. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

View from Seed

MAY 24, 2021

You have 4-6 years of professional experience as a technology operator, founder, or investor in New York. You have a point of view on emerging technology and business models, and you are not afraid to voice your conviction. Who Are We Looking For. You are a native of NYC tech with a strong network. A Final Note. How To Apply .

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Software Review Seed Stage Cofounder 120

David Teten

JANUARY 19, 2021

From traditional equity VC, Flexible VC borrows the option to pursue and reap the rewards of an outsized exit. Flexible VC 101: Equity Meets Revenue Share. Equity Ownership. Yes, typically preferred equity. On average, founders own just 43% of equity by Series B , declining thereafter. Flexible VC 102: Variations.

Cofounder 78

Cofounder Technical Review Equity Dividend 78

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2021

This usually means not taking money from equity investors, since investors want fast growth, high profits, and an exit event, to allow investments to be recouped. Of course, even lifestyle entrepreneurs want to be happy, and want their business to be “successful.” Business model to maintain lifestyle is the primary driver.

Entrepreneur 371

Entrepreneur Equity Dilution LLC 371

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

When you accept outside money, particularly a private equity (PE) investment, however, that changes. In this article, I’ll provide some personal stories of how investors have navigated the balance between raising private equity capital and not losing control of their startup. You make all the decisions, when you want, how you want.

Private Equity 94

Private Equity Pre-Money Valuation Equity Startup 94

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 19, 2018

Getting the capital you need to run your business can be a struggle for any business owner. You need money for operations, but most importantly, you need money to grow. When you’re looking for extra funds, there are typically two options: debt financing and equity financing. They are for established businesses.

Finance 157

Finance Equity Vesting Dividend 157

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 257

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 257

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

Even if your product is a technological marvel, I look for balanced strength on the team in finance, marketing and operations. Investors all know that the startup road is long and hard, so they look for people who have put and will continue to put “skin in the game” -- time, sweat equity, and money. Able to communicate on every level.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Software Review 152

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in non-profits. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. donation equity grant investment non-profit philantropy startup'

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 120

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 16, 2020

For example, a rapidly growing business is often purchasing lots of inventory, investing in fixed assets, and not managing their accounts receivable. If your business model is profitable but you’ve mismanaged one of the above categories, you need to build a 13-week cash forecast to manage your short-term crisis.

Recapitalization 200

Recapitalization Forecast Software Review Finance 200

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 7, 2011

It’s hard enough to pick which existing companies with known business models to aid. At Tekes, government employees (and their hired consultants) – with no equity, no risk or reward, no startup or venture capital experience – try to pick startup winners and losers.

Finland 324

Finland Venture Capital Government Russia 324

Rob Go

JANUARY 18, 2012

In a prior post about what it’s like to be a VC I made the claim that even if an investor has operating experience, that experience gets stale after a few years. This led to the following question in my comments: “You mention that operational skills begin to decline 2 years into the job. Couple observations.

Operations 50

Operations Technical Review Investment Bankers Cofounder 50

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Some non-profit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy.

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

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. The average monthly operating expenses is $70,335. Key elements: . “We

Revenue 60

Revenue Technical Review Software Review Equity 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Some non-profit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy.

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 120

Steve Blank

MARCH 31, 2014

In fact, it was only 7 years ago that Apple shipped its first iPhone and Google introduced its Android operating system. In spite of this, private equity funds have used the rallying cry of efficiency to hijack corporate strategy and loot the profits that historically would have been reinvested into research and development and new products.

Private Equity 325

Private Equity Metrics China Intellectual Property 325

NZ Entrepreneur

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

experiments to build a product, find customers, test business models and hire amazing people. Creating this value is anchored in finding a repeatable, scalable business model. This equity will vest over 2-3 years. Underpinning this growth is good governance. Risk and reward.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Software Review New Zealand Due Diligence 88

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Most new businesses need three to five advisors or board members to regularly evaluate progress and resource needs, as well as your own leadership. These advisors need a stake in your success, like a monthly stipend, or an equity share of the business. Put operational systems and metrics in place early.

Marketing 290

Marketing Leadership Differentiation Equity 290

YoungUpstarts

MAY 30, 2016

For one, the business owner continues to own major equity which gives them greater financial leverage and control. Also, by their very nature, bootstrapped businesses are built on sustainable business models. This includes loss of operational control and an inability to take your own decisions.

Bootstrapping 100

Bootstrapping Germany United States France 100

The Startup Magazine

JULY 1, 2022

How To Create A Business Model And Identify Your Target Market. Creating a business model is an essential step in starting a business. Once you understand the different types of companies and their structures, you need to identify your target market and choose a business model that fits your startup.

Technology 138

Technology Venture Capital Finance Startup 138

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Naming a Business. Financing a Small Business. Buying a Small Business. RUNNING A BUSINESS. Office and Operations. Financing A Small Business. Business Taxes. Selling A Business. Will Work for Equity. Dave Graham Business Venture Capital Private Equity GlobalLogic Inc.

Arizona 40

Arizona Equity Iowa Venture Capital 40

Steve Blank

JUNE 12, 2020

And the trick is we use the same Lean LaunchPad / I-Corps curriculum — and kept the same class structure – experiential, hands-on, driven this time by a mission -model not a business model. Army as a special operations light infantry squad leader in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jeff served in the U.S.

Oakland 301

Oakland Asia Lean Video 301

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

Even if you already know what a SWOT analysis is and what it’s used for, it can be tough to translate that information and examine your own business with a critical eye. Reading an example SWOT analysis for a business that is either in your industry or based on a comparable business model can help get you started.

Botswana 148

Botswana Business Plan Oregon Distribution 148

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2016

Plan includes a business model with good margins. Counting on sustaining the business through more free users and growth in eyeballs for advertisers is a naïve and risky approach and it implies investors with very deep pockets. Founding team has business and domain experience.

Technical Review 134

Technical Review Intellectual Property Due Diligence Angel Investor 134

Gust

DECEMBER 21, 2013

Their entire business model is based on investing in companies that can potentially offer very high returns. For venture capital, this is typically ten times the invested capital, and those returns can only be achieved through equity appreciation, not debt service. That would typically be done before you start the company.

Private Equity 139

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Finance 139

Steve Blank

MARCH 17, 2020

With the Covid-19 virus a worldwide pandemic, if you’re leading any startup or small business, you have to be asking yourself, “What’s Plan B? Here are a few thoughts about operating in uncertainty in a pandemic. But next the question is, ‘What happens to my business?”. What does your new business model look like?

Burn Rate 436

Burn Rate Startup Valuation Sales Cycle 436

David Teten

AUGUST 19, 2019

I’ve been a traditional equity VC for 8 years, and I’m now researching new business models in venture capital. Though RBI will displace some traditional equity VC, its much bigger impact will be to expand the pool of capital available for early-stage entrepreneurs. .

Revenue 60

Revenue Term Sheet Founder Technical Review 60