Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2021

There is no magic formula for a formal business plan format or sequence, but I would recommend the following ten sections, in this sequence, with relevant content: Executive summary Problem and solution Company description Market opportunity Business model Competition analysis Marketing and sales strategy Management team Financial projections Exit (..)

Silicon Valley 342

Silicon Valley Exit Strategy Business Plan Restful 342

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

MARCH 11, 2016

Come with a product built and a proven business model. It takes more than one person, no matter how passionate, to grow an investible business. A business needs technical, marketing, financial and many other skills. Formalize the business structure before asking for funding.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Groups 120

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

The next reason is to establish a competitive advantage over your competition and quickly acquire a substantial market share. Let’s take an example – In the case of an internet or app business, the user traction and market penetration is a must. Establish a competitive advantage. Both of which are expensive and time-consuming.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

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

JUNE 7, 2020

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Solo entrepreneurs, with a team of helpers, will be assumed to be a hobby rather than a business.

Entrepreneur 328

Entrepreneur Exit Strategy Metrics Operations 328

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

It should answer every question an investor or associate might ask, including current valuation, funding needed, and exit strategy. Finalize your financial model. Like the business plan, a financial model is required as much for your own use as to impress angel investors. Free trials don’t count.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 18, 2016

The technology’s broad market applicability and relevance are clearly paying off. Each of our teams in this class followed the canonical Lean model: Articulate your hypotheses using the business model canvas. Exit Strategy. Exit Strategy was building the penultimate planning tool.

Artificial Inteligence 318

Artificial Inteligence Lean Exit Strategy Startup 318

Reid Hoffman

JULY 23, 2020

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. We’re looking for market opportunities where in about a decade, we can help transform an industry and build an iconic company.

IPO 36

IPO Exit Strategy Acquisition Technical Review 36

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

It should answer every question an investor or associate might ask, including current valuation, funding needed, and exit strategy. Finalize your financial model. Like the business plan, a financial model is required as much for your own use as to impress angel investors. Free trials don’t count.

Intellectual Property 224

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

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

Women Entrepreneurs Can

JUNE 3, 2021

There are several things that determine startup success such as having the right product market fit, having a product that the market needs, having the right team and having enough cash. Having shared values & vision also means you have thought about an exit strategy for your business. About the Author.

Partner 52

Partner Technical Review Cofounder Georgia 52

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.

Exit Strategy 247

Exit Strategy Elevator Pitch Burn Rate Merger 247

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

Here are the unique business elements that I expect to hear as a potential investor: Target market size and growth projections. Most investors won’t be interested unless you can show them a large market (billion-dollar opportunity), with a double-digit growth rate. Business model showing costs, pricing, and margins.

Product 145

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Valuation 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

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 234

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 234

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

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 18, 2016

The technology’s broad market applicability and relevance are clearly paying off. Each of our teams in this class followed the canonical Lean model: Articulate your hypotheses using the business model canvas. Exit Strategy. Exit Strategy was building the penultimate planning tool.

Artificial Inteligence 120

Artificial Inteligence Lean Exit Strategy Startup 120

Gust

AUGUST 30, 2012

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

Founder Vesting 144

Founder Vesting Option Pool Exit Strategy Vesting 144

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution. Industry & market sizing. Start with the evolution of the overall industry, market segmentation, market dynamics, and customer landscape. Explain the business model. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

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.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

Here are the motivation elements that investors expect to hear: Size and growth potential of the market opportunity. Your customers don’t care if you are targeting a billion-dollar market and growing at double-digit rates, but investors will skip small or shrinking opportunities. First to market” is not sustainable by a startup.

Product 120

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Burn Rate 120

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

To do this they have to accomplish five things; 1) get deal flow – via networking and legwork, they identify likely industries, companies and teams with the potential for rapid growth (less than 10 years), 2) evaluate those companies and teams on the basis of technology, market opportunity, and team.

Silicon Valley 217

Silicon Valley Technical Review IPO Venture Capital 217

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2016

Validate your business model on real customers. Giving free beta copies of your solution to customers to elicit testimonials does not validate a business model. The best business models benefit social needs as well as business needs. Show an aggressive marketing and sales plan.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Differentiation 120

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

AUGUST 19, 2013

But, if you ask, ten sections is a nice round number, and would include the following: Executive summary Problem and solution Company description Market opportunity Business model Competition analysis Marketing and sales strategy Management team Financial projections Exit strategy You can get free downloads of sample business plans from the Internet, (..)

Business Plan 230

Business Plan Exit Strategy Partner Business Model 230

Up and Running

MAY 17, 2017

Even if you aren’t planning to sell, building your business thoughtfully and with an eye toward making it highly acquirable is an effective way to build a healthy business. Plus, you’ll always be prepared in case an opportunity or desire to sell arises in the future—it’s a smart idea to have an exit strategy.

Acquisition 92

Acquisition Technical Review Revenue Exit Strategy 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2016

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Solo entrepreneurs, with a team of helpers, will be assumed to be a hobby rather than a business.

Exit Strategy 155

Exit Strategy Metrics Operations Cost 155

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution. Industry & market sizing. Start with the evolution of the overall industry, market segmentation, market dynamics, and customer landscape. Explain the business model. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Up and Running

MAY 4, 2015

Define your target market. Describe your revenue model. State your exit strategy. You could include a brief product demo that shows off your technology, or more details about your smart and efficient business model that you might not otherwise have had time for. Explain your solution. Introduce your team.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Entrepreneur Software Review Houston 60

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Investors are looking for a concise description of your product or service without technical jargon or fuzzy marketing terms with value quantified in customer terms. 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

Gust

AUGUST 19, 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.

Exit Strategy 146

Exit Strategy Elevator Pitch Burn Rate Merger 146

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2012

But, if you ask, ten sections is a nice round number, and would include the following: Executive summary Problem and solution Company description Market opportunity Business model Competition analysis Marketing and sales strategy Management team Financial projections Exit strategy You can get free downloads of sample business plans from the Internet, (..)

Business Plan 240

Business Plan Exit Strategy Partner Business Model 240

Up and Running

AUGUST 29, 2011

While I have three part-time employees working with me in the company, it will never be a sustainable business model because without me, there is no product. However, ItsYourBiz.com is a company I helped launch that has the operational processes in place to become a sustainable business with a clear exit strategy.

Exit Strategy 153

Exit Strategy Operations Business Model Media 153

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

Quantify the market opportunity in business terms. For example, “Nielsen projects that the market for smart phones will double every year for the next five years.” If possible, quantify these in non-technical business terms, such as dollars saved or replacement costs over time.

Business Plan 423

Business Plan Product Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 423

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2015

There is no magic formula for a formal business plan format or sequence, but I would recommend the following ten sections, in this sequence, with relevant content: Executive summary Problem and solution Company description Market opportunity Business model Competition analysis Marketing and sales strategy Management team Financial projections Exit (..)

Business Plan 120

Business Plan Silicon Valley Startup Exit Strategy 120

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

by Christopher Wallace, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Amsterdam Printing. For years, the most desirable exit strategy for startup companies was to go public through an initial public offering. A volatile stock market and economic recession have since changed much of this thinking. Questionable business model.

IPO 162

IPO Exit Strategy San Francisco Startup 162

Gust

AUGUST 5, 2012

Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution. Industry & market sizing. Start with the evolution of the overall industry, market segmentation, market dynamics, and customer landscape. Explain the business model. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Business Plan 182

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 182