Both Sides of the Table

MAY 28, 2018

Let me check my plan.” There are many things a VC is looking for in reviewing your business plan but beyond things the like the quality of revenue, margins, OPEX and CAPEX there’s a really simple rule I call, “Cash In, Cash Out, Milestones Achieved.” Every VC knows that the amount you raise is often a proxy for your valuation.

Burn Rate 247

Burn Rate Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Dilution 247

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2016

Building a new business is quite different from an executive role in a mature company, so people from these backgrounds are often a liability. Value is embodied in previous success with investors, proven problem solving ability, and having built and executed a business plan with minimal resources. But don’t get greedy.

Equity 120

Equity Cofounder Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

If you need help building your first business plan or financial model, it’s getting easier and easier to find what you need, as well as connections to peers and investors, without an expensive business consultant. Visit the university library for access to otherwise costly business reports.

Arizona 276

Arizona Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Entrepreneur 276

Business Plan Blog

JANUARY 9, 2014

Performance milestones and a strong business plan are two key components to successfully raising capital from investors, according to Steve. Fear of Dilution. Understand the difference between dilution and economic dilution, which occurs when the value of the business doesn’t change but the number of shares increases.

San Diego 74

San Diego Dilution Technical Review Forecast 74

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2021

A popular myth these days is that finishing college only dilutes your entrepreneurial instincts, and the best of the best, including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, dropped out early to hasten their success. Produce a real business plan for critical feedback from outside investors. I agree with Robert E.

Entrepreneur 373

Entrepreneur Chad Incubator Dilution 373

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

You can get a personal loan without a business plan. The business model and revenue model, along with your positioning, pricing, and cost structures, are equally important. ? Future potential. I have already uploaded a video on creating a business plan on my channel – [link]. They will surely help you.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

A documented business plan for the new venture is critical here. Even though the funding cycle for external startups is often long and arduous, I find that big business funding processes are even longer, and more political. Don’t count on friends and family, crowdfunding, angels, or other external investors.

Advisory Board 359

Advisory Board Incubator Dilution Agile 359

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2022

Real innovation in the business world is still rare. As I’ve said before, everyone talks about innovation, but the majority of new business plans I see still reflect linear thinking – one more social network with more features, another smartphone app for marketing, or one more platform for faster e-commerce.

Marketing 313

Marketing Dilution Social Network Government 313

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

of our company in exchange for the $300K, and my business partner and I each diluted from 50% ownership down to 33.3% ownership and never dilute. When fundraising for a startup, all investors dilute as additional investors join in on the deal. The deal we made with him was he’d get 33.3%

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

So as to plan efficiently, you need to spend a significant amount of time on research, including places where you could get free resources to build your business. The resources would help you to craft everything, from a proper business plan and legal structure, to agreements and basic operational processes.

Cofounder 124

Cofounder Sweat Equity Equity Dilution 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

If you need help building your first business plan or financial model, it’s getting easier and easier to find what you need, as well as connections to peers and investors, without an expensive business consultant. Visit the university library for access to otherwise costly business reports.

Arizona 310

Arizona Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Dividend 310

YoungUpstarts

MAY 6, 2019

Business plan. What is your business going to be? These are some serious questions and you need to have an answer for all these questions to create a sound business plan. Finally, you have a product, a business plan, and a marketing strategy. How are you going to earn money through your product?

Startup 113

Startup Technical Cofounder Merger Early Stage 113

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2021

For the rest of us, I’ve accumulated the following additional practical strategies for surviving the scale-up challenges, and making your business profitable and sustainable: Enlist an experienced advisor to project real costs. White labeling is custom branding your product for a particular customer, to keep committed resources busy.

Dilution 404

Dilution Incubator Bootstrapping Government 404

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 28, 2018

A popular myth these days is that finishing college only dilutes your entrepreneurial instincts, and the best of the best, including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, dropped out early to hasten their success. Produce a real business plan for critical feedback from outside investors. I agree with Robert E.

Chad 242

Chad Incubator Startup Dilution 242

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2019

Suddenly you will find that writing a ten-to-twenty page business plan with details is easy rather than daunting. Create a specific plan to network to get the help you need. Also, your culture must be not afraid to pivot and to adapt your plan as things change. Narrow your focus daily to the key things that really matter.

Intellectual Property 248

Intellectual Property Dilution Cofounder Social Media 248

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2020

Founder insistence on non-dilute clauses, arms-length relationships, and quick closure without due diligence will short-circuit active interest. Naïve expectations on funding terms and process. Experienced entrepreneurs understand investor expectations of Board representation, preferred stock, and payments based on interim milestones.

Due Diligence 308

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Preferred Stock Seed Stage 308

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

To organize my thoughts, I found a new book, “ Burn the Business Plan ,” by Carl Schramm, who speaks from experience founding five companies, working major corporate roles, and being an active venture investor. All successful businesses start with a business plan.

Incubator 180

Incubator Angel Investor Dilution Equity 180

Up and Running

MARCH 19, 2015

That business writing course taught me many things, but didn’t offer much practical advice. After many emails, plans, and business letters, I made some practical improvements which I’m about to share with you. See Also How to Write a Business Plan. This is the most common weakness in business documents.

Email 60

Email Dilution Business Plan Audience 60

YoungUpstarts

MAY 9, 2017

individuals dilute their focus and slow their productivity. It’s unsurprising that most teams struggle to meet productivity goals in environments where. team members are encouraged to take on more than their capacity allows. With each task, project, email, drive-by conversation, meeting, etc.,

Lean 124

Lean Agile Technical Review Dilution 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2014

A popular myth these days is that finishing college only dilutes your entrepreneurial instincts, and the best of the best, including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, dropped out early to hasten their success. Produce a real business plan for critical feedback from outside investors. I agree with Robert E.

Chad 279

Chad Incubator Dilution LLC 279

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2014

Putting your grant application intent and status in your business plan will greatly enhance your potential to get Angel funding for the interim. To the investors, it means less dilution and lower overall risk. Pursue grants and investors in parallel. Research related tax credits and incentives.

Seed Money 242

Seed Money SBIR Dilution Government 242

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2019

Real innovation in the business world is still rare. As I’ve said before, everyone talks about innovation, but the majority of new business plans I see still reflect linear thinking – one more social network with more features, another smartphone app for marketing, or one more platform for faster e-commerce.

Dilution 137

Dilution Social Network Government Restful 137

The Startup Magazine

JANUARY 22, 2023

If the other business has a registered trademark for their name, they may decide to take legal action against you for trademark infringement. Even if the other business does not have a registered trademark, they may still be able to sue you for unfair competition or dilution of their brand.

Naming 123

Naming Cleveland Social Media Dilution 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 23, 2013

A business plan I saw a while back to combine all the good features of several popular social networks on one site does not do it. Success requires market leadership in your product area, and it’s easy to see that pushing more products and services dilutes your focus and attention. Innovate to market leadership.

Bandwidth 256

Bandwidth Startup Dilution Leadership 256

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Putting your grant application intent and status in you business plan will greatly enhance your potential to get Angel funding for the interim. To the investors, it means less dilution and lower overall risk. Pursue grants and investors in parallel. Research related tax credits and incentives.

Government 230

Government Equity Cost SBIR 230

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Real innovation in the business world is still rare. As I’ve said before, everyone talks about innovation, but the majority of new business plans I see still reflect linear thinking – one more social network with more features, another smartphone app for marketing, or one more platform for faster e-commerce.

Dilution 264

Dilution Social Network Government Restful 264

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

If you need help building your first business plan or financial model, it’s getting easier and easier to find what you need, as well as connections to peers and investors, without an expensive business consultant. Visit the university library for access to otherwise costly business reports.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Entrepreneur Incubator 120

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 21, 2019

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen executive summaries of business plans in which the entrepreneur seeks $5,000,000 to build the business. Third (if you’re keeping score), it is not wise to dilute the founder’s ownership greatly in the first round of financing. Four reasons you should reconsider.

Dilution 48

Dilution Retention Valuation Startup 48

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

A limited budget makes for a better business plan. Flaws in a business plan are often masked by money, but ultimately will kill any startup. Don’t let early funding increase risk and dilute your potential. You don’t have to fight for your equity, and no one can slow you down in decision making.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Exit Strategy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2017

Real innovation in the business world is still rare. As I’ve said before, everyone talks about innovation, but the majority of new business plans I see still reflect linear thinking – one more social network with more features, another smartphone app for marketing, or one more platform for faster e-commerce.

Dilution 132

Dilution Social Network Government Restful 132

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2016

A popular myth these days is that finishing college only dilutes your entrepreneurial instincts, and the best of the best, including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, dropped out early to hasten their success. Produce a real business plan for critical feedback from outside investors. I agree with Robert E.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Chad Incubator Dilution 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2012

A business plan I saw a while back to combine all the good features of several popular social networks on one site does not do it. Success requires market leadership in your product area, and it’s easy to see that pushing more products and services dilutes your focus and attention. Innovate to market leadership.

Bandwidth 235

Bandwidth Dilution Leadership Social Network 235

Gust

MAY 11, 2014

Putting your grant application intent and status in your business plan will greatly enhance your potential to get Angel funding for the interim. To the investors, it means less dilution and lower overall risk. Pursue grants and investors in parallel. Research related tax credits and incentives.

Seed Money 164

Seed Money SBIR Dilution Government 164

Up and Running

JUNE 14, 2012

So take this to pre-money level and assuming 50% dilution, it will be 12-20% (assume 16%) for the CEO and 4% for VP of Engineering. Skills Part – A CEO in a high-tech may get about 6-10% of the equity post Series A (when a VC or some accredited investor puts the money into company) while a VP of Engineering may only get 2%.

Cofounder 90

Cofounder Technical Cofounder Accredited Investor Equity 90

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Writing A Business Plan. Running A Home-Based Business. Naming a Business. Financing a Small Business. Buying a Small Business. RUNNING A BUSINESS. Besides the future potential earnings youre forgoing, youre also diluting your own ownership in the company. Sales & Marketing | Wednesdays.

Fractional CTO 40

Fractional CTO Equity Iowa Technical Cofounder 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2011

Putting your grant application intent and status in you business plan will greatly enhance your potential to get angel funding for the interim. To the investors, it means less dilution and lower overall risk. Pursue grants and investors in parallel. Research related tax credits and incentives.

Government 221

Government SBIR Dilution Database 221

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

A business plan I saw a while back to combine all the good features of several popular social networks on one site does not do it. Success requires market leadership in your product area, and it’s easy to see that pushing more products and services dilutes your focus and attention. Innovate to market leadership.

Bandwidth 233

Bandwidth Dilution Leadership Social Network 233