Up and Running

AUGUST 20, 2018

The need becomes obvious as soon as you recognize that you don’t know how much money you need, and when you need it, without laying out projected sales , costs, expenses, and timing of payments. You don’t do an exit strategy section of your business plan if you’re not writing for investors and therefore you aren’t concerned with an exit.

Business Plan 119

Business Plan Technical Review Lean Forecast 119

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

As an entrepreneur, you will face several challenges while seeking the funds, in part because you’ll have to convince others that your idea is a solid investment. This means being able to increase profits without increasing costs at an equal (or higher) rate. Your business plan also needs to have a realistic financial forecast.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2016

As a startup advisor and investor, I find that more and more entrepreneurs avoid using the term “profit” in pitching their new venture. Thus I was pleased and a bit surprised to see a new book, “ The Purpose Is Profit ,” by Ed “Skip” McLaughlin, an entrepreneur who has both succeeded and failed in starting multiple businesses.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy 120

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

How easy is it to acquire a customer, and how much will it cost? How much money and effort will it cost to deliver value? Estimate your basic expenses and forecast sales to ensure that you can make a profit with your business. Estimate your startup costs. Sales forecast. Know your exit strategy.

Elevator Pitch 60

Elevator Pitch Startup Balance Sheet Forecast 60

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Financial forecast and metrics. Exit strategy. See where your cashflow bottoms out.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Entrepreneurs who are looking to attract investors need to develop and pitch a plan -- preferably written -- that answers every potential investor question about your startup before it is asked. What are your forecasts for revenue, expenses and cash flow? Who are your competitors, and how do you win?

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Advisory Board Liquidity Event Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Financial forecast and metrics. Exit strategy. See where your cashflow bottoms out.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

The Next Web

MAY 26, 2013

I recently asked a panel of nine successful young entrepreneurs the following question: What’s one CRITICAL, must-include item or data point for a software startup pitching an investor for the first time? Provide customer acquisition costs. Investors want to know how much it costs you to gain a customer.

Software 151

Software Forecast Startup Exit Strategy 151

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

When pitching to investors, entrepreneurs always seem to start with a customer pitch, then add a slide or two about the business. Investors are business experts, while the entrepreneur is more likely the product expert. This allows them to calculate burn rates, break-even points and forecast the company valuation over time.

Product 120

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Burn Rate 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Financial forecast and metrics. Exit strategy. Include a current valuation estimate.

Business Plan 186

Business Plan Exit Strategy Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 186

Gust

AUGUST 5, 2012

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Financial forecast and metrics. Exit strategy. See where your cashflow bottoms out.

Business Plan 182

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 182

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

FEBRUARY 11, 2011

In this post, I want to lay out the details involved in how I first realized the opportunity, the formation of the business idea, the search for my supplier, the establishment and growth of the business, problems encountered and lessons learned, as well as the exit strategy that resulted in the $250,000 sale of the business.

SEO 86

SEO PPC America Design 86

Up and Running

MAY 22, 2018

The show has been around for a while; entrepreneur contestants pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of investors—the “sharks”—in hopes that one of them will want to invest in their idea. However, for those entrepreneurs, a whole new struggle begins after the show ends. Total cost that is involved in gaining a paying customer.

Exit Strategy 90

Exit Strategy Angel Investor Search Elevator Pitch 90

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

Sources like Crunchbase , Angel List , and Seed Invest even give this data away for free or very low cost. Chris Dixon, Partner, A16Z, observes , “ Success in VC is probably 10% about picking, and 90% about sourcing the right deals and having entrepreneurs choose your firm as a partner”. 3) Originate investments.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Technical Review 60

Up and Running

APRIL 28, 2015

Most entrepreneurs are very focused on their product when instead they need to be focused on their customers and the problems those customers face. Investors will expect to see your sales forecast, profit and loss statement, and cash flow forecast for at least three years. Exit strategy. Slide 9: Financials.

Forecast 60

Forecast Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 60

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 1, 2009

Sloan put in place GM’s management accounting system (borrowed from DuPont) that for the first time allowed the company to: 1) produce an annual operating forecast that compared each division’s forecast (revenue, costs, capital requirements and return on investment) with the company’s financial goals. I find both intriguing.

Silicon Valley 156

Silicon Valley United States RSS Customer Development 156