Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2017

I read commentary or Twitter or blogs and realize that there are also strongly held convictions that there are these evil VCs who do terrible things to mostly altruistic founders. But unlike the popular press reporting of this conflict — 80% of the time it is founder-to-founder conflict and not investor-to-founder conflict.

Cofounder 217

Cofounder Stock Options Equity Technical Review 217

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2018

Those that do it right also have the unprecedented opportunity to join the elite ranks of 250 unicorns (relatively new companies with a current valuation of over $1 billion). I suggest the following sequence of startup preparation steps: Create a business entity early to isolate business efforts.

Technical Cofounder 184

Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property Silicon Valley LLC 184

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 1, 2023

By Daniel Sokolovksy, Co-Founder and CEO, WARP and Troy Lester, Co-Founder and CRO, WARP The dissolution of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was more than just a bank collapse, it was a reality check for both startups and the VCs that fund them. As a founder, ask yourself – does your business actually warrant VC funding?

Early Stage 123

Early Stage Los Angeles Silicon Valley Cofounder 123

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2021

Although every startup is unique, there are certain common avoidable mistakes that can lead to legal complications which jeopardize the long-term success of the business. Here are five of the most common examples: Failure to document a Founder agreement at the beginning. Trouble with the IRS over Founders stock value.

Cost 363

Cost Non-Compete Accredited Investor Cofounder 363

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 22, 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) voice generation startup ElevenLabs has secured an $80 million Series B funding round, minting them as the UK’s newest unicorn. The latest funding brings ElevenLabs’ total raised to $101 million and values the company at over $1 billion after it received a $100 million valuation in June. Who are ElevenLabs?

Artificial Inteligence 85

Artificial Inteligence Poland Cofounder Startup 85

Agile VC

APRIL 17, 2011

AGILEVC My idle thoughts on tech startups. Kayak was started here in my backyard of Boston… co-founder & CTO Paul English and the product/engineering team is based here in Concord MA. Co-founder & CEO Steve Hafner and the business team are based in Norwalk, CT. Pre-money valuation was approx.

Pre-Money Valuation 113

Pre-Money Valuation Liquidation Preference Dividend Common Stock 113

Berkonomics

JANUARY 28, 2021

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked away from deals where the entrepreneur insists on a start-up pre-money valuation that is so high, no angel could expect to make a return upon the investment, even with a reasonable sales price for the company down the road. Why fight about valuation, or disappoint the founder at the outset?

Early Stage 62

Early Stage Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Cofounder 62

www.avc.com

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Employee Equity: How Much? The most common comment in this long and complicated MBA Mondays series on Employee Equity is the question of how much equity should you grant when you make a hire. To be clear, these are hires we are talking about, not co-founders. This could include reception, clerical employees, etc.

Equity 64

Equity Employee CTO Hire Fractional CTO 64

Steve Blank

MARCH 31, 2014

Just look at the disruptive challenges that businesses face today– globalization, China as a manufacturer, China as a consumer, the Internet, and a steady stream of new startups. Perhaps that’s because where established companies might see risks or threats, startups see opportunity. This is the kind most of us are familiar with.

Private Equity 329

Private Equity Metrics China Intellectual Property 329

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2010

Another topic we debated early in the program was “lean startup” vs. “ fat startup ” where we both took the obvious hedge and said “it depends.” But truthfully both Dana and I are more aligned with the lean startup principles and believe you only go FAT when you’ve really proved out your product / market fit. Time will tell.

Partner 240

Partner New York City Cofounder Syndicate 240

Steve Blank

MAY 19, 2015

Startups focus on speed since they are burning cash every day as they search for product/market fit. While technical debt is an understood problem, it turns out startups also accrue another kind of debt – one that can kill the company even quicker – organizational debt. And let me tell you about the vision and strategy again.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Salary Early Stage Software Review 120

The Startup Magazine

JANUARY 10, 2023

Hufnagel, who possesses an intrinsically driven personality, leads with passionate optimism that pushes him beyond obstacles—and he looks for employees who share his unbridled enthusiasm. He knows that quality of startup hiring is linked to the tone the founder sets for the company. Photo by nappy: [link]. “I

Hiring 143

Hiring Founder Sweat Equity Cofounder 143

David Teten

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

This is the third of three blog posts on financial modeling for startups. The first was on best practices in building financial models , and the second was a template financial model for a startup. Download the Startup Options Valuation model here. I couldn’t find one online, so I built it.

Employee 155

Employee IRR Startup Mexico 155

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

For starters let me use “CEO” as a proxy to include her “inner circle” which might mean co-founders or might just mean senior execs of the business. The Mind of the Founder. So as a startup CEO you constantly have to suspend disbelief. The mind of a founder is wired differently than most people.

Startup 417

Startup Dilution San Diego Stock Options 417

VC Cafe

JULY 4, 2022

The WSJ confirmed what we already know: Q2 venture capital investments declined both in size and in valuation. billion valuation, according to the WSJ, down from $45.6 Narrative violation: VC investment in EMEA startups reached an all-time high in the first half of 2022. Declining investment: U.S. VC funds invested about $47.5

Venture Capital 167

Venture Capital Valuation Private Equity LP 167

www.entrepreneur.com

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Entrepreneur Homepage Startups Starting a Business Home How-To Guides Startup Basics Business Ideas Business Planning Startup Financing Success Stories Home-Based Business Starting a Business Play Video How to Take a New Product from Just an Idea to a Business (Video). Startup Basics Does College Matter for Entrepreneurs?

Sweat Equity 55

Sweat Equity Equity Fractional CTO CTO 55

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Funding challenges and other issues founders face in the early days of starting up were the focus of interviews with the latest guests on Entrepreneurs are Everywhere , my radio show on SiriusXM Channel 111 (airing weekly Thursdays at 1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern). Will Zell , co-founder and CEO of Nikola Labs wireless power company.

Silicon Valley 120

Silicon Valley Ohio Columbus Entrepreneur 120

Hunter Walker

JANUARY 10, 2022

I love working with great people and as a venture capitalist, am fortunate the number of founders I’m impressed by far exceeds our investment capacity. Here’s an example of a founder that I’ve known for a while who recently raised a seed round with different firms than ours. fundraise came about & why it didn’t include me (yet).

Cofounder 88

Cofounder Founder Acquisition Startup 88

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2013

Although every startup is unique, there are certain common avoidable mistakes that can lead to legal complications which jeopardize the long-term success of the business. Here are five of the most common examples: Failure to document a Founder agreement at the beginning. Trouble with the IRS over Founders stock value.

Non-Compete 235

Non-Compete Accredited Investor Startup Cofounder 235

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 5, 2019

by Dan Abatte, co-founder of 81-c. Entrepreneurs nowadays want to boast about brand-name investors, huge rounds of funding, and a team of high-skill employees. Are you fresh out of Y Combinator with $1 million in funding at a $10 million valuation? Growth rates don’t pay employee salaries. Making it” is relative.

Valuation 162

Valuation Cofounder Metrics SEC 162

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 18, 2019

by Chris Grey, co-founder and COO of CapLinked. In the uber-competitive startup world, surviving is success in itself. Conventional wisdom says that 90% of startups will fail. As a founder, you have to come to terms with not having complete control — of your team, the market, or your valuation.

Cofounder 127

Cofounder Startup Private Equity Equity 127

Berkonomics

JULY 10, 2014

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked away from deals where the entrepreneur insists on a start-up premoney valuation that is so high, no angel could expect to make a return upon the investment, even with a reasonable sales price for the company down the road. Why fight about valuation, or disappoint the founder at the outset?

Valuation 71

Valuation Cofounder Founder Revenue 71

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 10, 2012

Although every startup is unique, there are certain common avoidable mistakes that can lead to legal complications which jeopardize the long-term success of the business. Here are five of the most common examples: Failure to document a Founder agreement at the beginning. Trouble with the IRS over Founders stock value.

Non-Compete 249

Non-Compete Accredited Investor Cofounder Startup 249

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2016

Unfortunately, as a startup advisor and angel investor, I’ve seen too many ventures with great potential get destroyed or set back by legal and other shortcuts that should never have been allowed to happen. A co-founder who loses interest and backs out early will likely be back to claim his half after you reach unicorn status.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Due Diligence Non-Compete Startup 120

mashable.com

OCTOBER 16, 2010

All of this is according to Paul Graham, co-founder of the early-stage investment fund Ycombinator. During a presentation at Startup School at Stanford University earlier today, the prolific investor discussed the state of startup funding with a packed auditorium of students and entrepreneurs.

Angel Investor 84

Angel Investor Venture Capital Social Media Technical Review 84

mashable.com

OCTOBER 16, 2010

All of this is according to Paul Graham, co-founder of the early-stage investment fund Ycombinator. During a presentation at Startup School at Stanford University earlier today, the prolific investor discussed the state of startup funding with a packed auditorium of students and entrepreneurs.

Angel Investor 83

Angel Investor Venture Capital Social Media Technical Review 83

Austin Startup

DECEMBER 29, 2018

As I mentioned at the beginning of this series/ebook, over the years I’ve noticed that I tend to frequently share certain Lucky7 posts with entrepreneurs we’ve backed , team members at data.world, or other startup investors I know. Since I first wrote about the Golden Age in 2014, valuations for tech companies have only increased?—?rather

Cofounder 48

Cofounder Austin Technical Review Advisory Board 48

Austin Startup

JULY 22, 2021

On October 4th, five technology startup finalists will pitch to a panel of advisors and judges made up of successful investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. Any software, hardware, or CPG startup in Texas with a female founder or co-founder can apply to participate. Startups, submit your application now!

San Antonio 107

San Antonio Dallas Houston Founder 107

Altgate

JUNE 25, 2012

Re-posted from post co-authored with Prof. —————– Dead equity — equity held by employees and founders no longer working at the company — is a large and growing problem. Dead equity has always been a significant issue for startups. Noam Wasserman on Inc.

Equity 44

Equity Vesting Cap Table Technical Review 44

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

A fter years of talking with many of you in the Israeli startup industry, investors and entrepreneurs alike, I was invited to present some tips for entrepreneurs at the Launch48 conference in London this weekend. Very cool concept and I want to thank the founder Adil Mohammed for inviting me to take part in it. Open the kimono.

Elevator Pitch 102

Elevator Pitch Incubator Technical Review Startup 102

Steve Blank

JANUARY 4, 2010

A lot of entrepreneurs think that their startup is the next big thing when in reality they’re just building a small business. How can you tell if your startup has the potential to be the next Google, Intel or Facebook? A first order filter is whether the founders are aiming for a scalable startup. The Scalable Startup.

Hockey Stick 299

Hockey Stick Venture Capital Startup Cofounder 299

Gust

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Entrepreneurs and investors who have spent any time dealing with convertible debt seed financing transactions are likely to have encountered the subject of valuation caps. Valuation caps can come into play in settings other than seed-stage convertible note financing rounds. Read on for a fuller explanation.

Valuation 98

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Merger Vesting 98

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

The name of this startup was Flipkart and they started it with $6,500. He started it in 2009 with 10 employees and sold it to Susino Umbrella in 2014. This company’s valuation peaked at $10 billion in 2013/2014. Peter is the founder of Bay Street Capital Partners. Today, Flipkart is worth $2.8 Olaf Carlson Wee.

Cofounder 145

Cofounder Venture Capital India Valuation 145

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

The past year was a wild ride for startups and founders, giving a whole new meaning to the ”rollercoaster” aspect of being an entrepreneur. A combination of competition for top talent and an effort to bring employees back to the office drove startups in Israel to throw extravagant parties and all-inclusive retreats abroad.

Founder 187

Founder Startup Valuation Pre-Money Valuation 187

Berkonomics

JANUARY 7, 2021

Think of startups and early stage businesses whose entrepreneurs you know. Two: Co-management. So, co-management is the second group to share in the bounty upon a liquidity event. The third group is made of the total number and types of investors, other than the founder(s). Three: Outside investors. Reward for early risk.

Liquidity Event 96

Liquidity Event Pre-Money Valuation Cofounder Initial Public Offering 96

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 9, 2013

This is especially true in startups where speed matters and where there is a need to constantly calibrate direction and where these decisions can have existential outcomes. It’s why I caution people about whom you choose as your co-founder. I believe in “benevolent dictators.” Or firing people.

Burn Rate 413

Burn Rate Cofounder Dilution Valuation 413

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

The only problem that faces startup investors now is how to mine this new data layer efficiently to increase returns.”. Signal is a fundraising tool for founders run by NFX Guild, which identifies the most relevant VCs for you. . For the broader use case of helping startups execute their legal paperwork, Clerky is a focused solution.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Technical Review 60