View from Seed

APRIL 2, 2024

Competitors learn and adapt, products improve, and customers are more satisfied. This happened both in term of large-scale mergers (Coors and Miller for example) as well as via acquisition of craft players (like Heinekin’s acquisition of Lagunitas). In retrospect, this was to be expected as any competitive market matures.

Merger 343

Merger Non-Compete Early Stage Venture Capital 343

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In the short term you need customers to find you at any price, and in the longer term you need revenue, profit, and return loyalty. Get outside the company regularly to get feedback on future customer needs, emerging technologies, and the views of influencers and experts in the field. Proactively prepare for downturns and recoveries.

Technical Review 312

Technical Review Due Diligence Merger Social Media 312

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2014

Thus I’m getting more questions on new mechanisms, like crowd funding, and an old one long out of favor, the so-called “reverse merger.” Reverse mergers may not get your startup on the Nasdaq. The reverse merger process itself doesn’t raise any capital. Yet reverse mergers are not all bad. Marty Zwilling.

Merger 246

Merger OTC IPO Stock 246

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 30, 2020

Mergers and acquisitions are an integral part of the business world. Matthew Brunstrum , a mergers and acquisitions advisor, explains why companies should prioritize their operations and financial considerations in order to make an acquisition succeed. The Basic Principles of Mergers and Acquisitions.

Acquisition 98

Acquisition Operations Merger Forecast 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

Thus I’m getting more questions on new mechanisms, like crowd funding, or going public through the side door as a reverse merger. Reverse mergers may not get your startup on the Nasdaq. The reverse merger process itself doesn’t raise any capital. Yet reverse mergers are not all bad.

Merger 261

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 261

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2010

Focus on your customers and don’t obsess about deals or keeping up with your competitors releases.&#. I lived through the era of companies doing premature mergers. That’s why immature teams spend so much time on mergers. A merger is not the panacea. There is no such thing a “merger of equals&#.

Merger 276

Merger Technical Review Early Stage Dilution 276

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 24, 2014

If you were looking for a lawyer to represent your company for a multimillion-dollar merger, what kind of lawyer would you want? Most of us would want to hire the most experienced, cutthroat lawyer specializing in multimillion-dollar mergers. Go to tradeshows and network with customers. A DUI lawyer? Didn’t think so. Create ads.

Fractional CTO 228

Fractional CTO Product CTO Hire Merger 228

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 11, 2022

With over three decades of experience in private equity investments, acquisitions and mergers, Mark Hauser has developed a keen ability to recognize trends and do his due diligence. In tandem with these efforts toward organic growth, they will also explore opportunities for inorganic growth through acquisitions.

Private Equity 129

Private Equity Equity Technical Review Software Review 129

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2023

If your customers would benefit by having products from both companies, you might negotiate the opportunity to include the other’s product as an add-on. Where your competitor isn't really competing with your direct market, you can refer business to each other without anyone losing customers. Willing to learn from each other.

Non-Compete 262

Non-Compete Intellectual Property Merger Acquisition 262

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2021

Of course, customer relationships, and penetration into new market segments are also critical elements. A popular approach these days is to advertise a higher purpose that embodies your values, such as protecting the environment or assisting the disadvantaged, to your team, as well as customers.

Merger 379

Merger Due Diligence SEC IPO 379

YoungUpstarts

JULY 10, 2017

However, important considerations such as the quality and mix of your customer base, customer cash collections, and the likelihood of your customers buying your service again remain as important as ever.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Revenue Software Review Due Diligence 124

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

On the surface, an immediate opportunity created by the acquisition appears to be a greatly expanded customer base to which Microsoft can market Windows software, devices and services. Thinking Aloud acquisition Jack Narcotta mergers & acquisitions Microsoft Minecraft Mojang'

Acquisition 157

Acquisition Azure Merger Sweden 157

Hearpreneur

JANUARY 28, 2022

I came up with my company's name by envisioning what my company represents and that is an alpha level of customer service and training for me and my agents. Our company's business name, Betworthy, stemmed from its mission of making our customer's bets more worthy. 9- A merger of two companies. 3- What my company represents.

Naming 150

Naming Entrepreneur Jordan Merger 150

OnlyOnce

MARCH 1, 2023

Although we think of scaling issues as primarily startup issues, any company can face scaleup issues for example, through a merger or acquisition that changes your landscape immediately. As a company scales and takes on more customers the support burden can get out of hand.

Customer 62

Customer Offshore Merger Acquisition 62

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2013

Successful entrepreneurs already have a visible network of trusted suppliers, potential customers, partners, and even investors. This has value now, and is critical for maximum value in a merger or acquisition. There may not be any customers to talk to in order to evaluate the market need. Listens before answering questions.

Technical Review 273

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 273

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2020

If your customers would benefit by having products from both companies, you might negotiate the opportunity to include the other’s product as an add-on. Where your competitor isn't really competing with your direct market, you can refer business to each other without anyone losing customers. Willing to learn from each other.

Non-Compete 317

Non-Compete Intellectual Property Merger Acquisition 317

YoungUpstarts

MAY 6, 2019

Here is what you should do: You market and try to acquire initial customers, enough to get you going. Let’s say you have a goal to get at least 1,000 customers in first three months. Next, get better at learning from customers. Find out how your customers are perceiving your product. Further Customer Acquisition.

Startup 113

Startup Technical Cofounder Merger Early Stage 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2012

Successful entrepreneurs already have a visible network of trusted suppliers, potential customers, partners, and even investors. This has value now, and is critical for maximum value in a merger or acquisition. There may not be any customers to talk to in order to evaluate the market need. Listens before answering questions.

Technical Review 294

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 294

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2023

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue). For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested.

Angel Investor 313

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 313

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

All this was done without damaging anyone’s credibility, or stealing customers. It’s very unusual for two competitors to have exactly the same strengths – in development, marketing, distribution, or customer support. Ability to up-sell customers with related products. Capitalize on shared costs and common distribution.

Partner 434

Partner Non-disclosure Agreement Intellectual Property Non-Compete 434

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2022

You may focus only on Facebook, and missing customers who expect to see you on Instagram and YouTube. Get interactive with online users and customer feedback. Publishing your content is positive, but responding to customers online multiplies your impact. Sponsor customer events for visibility and giveaways.

Marketing 299

Marketing Social Media Merger Acquisition 299

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

The primary source of your funds should be your paying customers, i.e., your business should generate enough revenues and profits to fund the growth and expansion. Any custom manufactured IoT device would require software development as well as hardware customization. Both of which are expensive and time-consuming.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2012

Your goal is “ coopetition ” - to find a way to partner with your competitor in such a way that both parties can substantially benefit from the other's resources - without stealing customers or damaging anyone's credibility. In the following quarter, we jointly signed up two new customers who loved our “end to end” integrated solution.

Non-Compete 241

Non-Compete Merger Technical Review Software Review 241

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2021

In reality, every startup brings new unknowns, new people, new competitors, and new customers. Starting a new business does put you in control, but you will face a harrowing new set of demands from partners, investors, suppliers, and customers. With innovative startups, every new one is a new challenge.

Dilution 428

Dilution Entrepreneur Merger Acquisition 428

The Startup Magazine

JULY 27, 2019

Barely a year after the regulation’s introduction, British Airways became among the first offenders and was slapped with a fine of £183 million following a breach of their customer’s data. For instance, you should assess what risk lies in a merger and acquisition decision. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

Merger 90

Merger Reputation Security Employee 90

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2022

In addition, you need to focus on the unique value you bring, and maintaining the gap between what customers are willing to pay versus your best cost. Business agility can also be improved by proactively looking ahead – for new trends and technologies that will likely attract competitors and customers. Optimize your ability to react.

Intellectual Property 322

Intellectual Property Acquisition Non-Compete Merger 322

VC Cafe

JULY 21, 2022

The portion of women who play games has increased (+5%), with almost as many women playing games as men – 85% vs 81%, respectively ( source ) Gaming is expanding – companies who didn’t traditionally do gaming (like Netflix ) have understood that it’s a key activity for their customers time spent outside of work.

Forecast 190

Forecast IP Mobile Acquisition 190

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

For example, if you have ever watched the Shark Tank show on TV, they always ask about the cost of customer acquisition. It still amazes me that some entrepreneurs seem totally at a loss on this question, or customer retention rate, or even margin expectations. Show that you have to ability to move the ball forward.

Exit Strategy 406

Exit Strategy Merger Angel Investor IPO 406

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2016

What they don’t realize is that about half the investment deals fail to close at this stage, including mergers and acquisitions , during the due-diligence process. Due diligence is going the next step, to meet and interview all key members of the team, visit the business location and follow-up with early customers and advisors.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Cap Table Intellectual Property 120

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 27, 2012

We once thought the merger of AOL/Time Warner needed to be investigated by the DOJ. The Innovators Dilemma – which means that if you have large customers with big profit margins it’s impossible to throw that all away to destruct your industry. It simply hasn’t played out in history. As I point out in my video.

Silicon Valley 299

Silicon Valley Technical Review Early Stage Cofounder 299

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 25, 2018

Toronto’s Mark Attanasio has spent some 20 years advising businesses at various stages in their development on what it takes to position themselves for growth – whether it’s through traditional transactional activities like management buyouts and mergers and acquisitions or via a public listing on a Canadian stock exchange.

Partner 113

Partner Technical Review Management Due Diligence 113

Cracking the Code

JUNE 5, 2019

The second rule is to always check with your customers before you acquire a business. Nothing beats customer references. Lastly, focus on acquisitions, not mergers. I believe mergers of equals almost never succeed in the tech industry. You have to be extra careful with public companies, but still follow this step.

Acquisition 48

Acquisition Management Merger Social Media 48

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2023

Most retail and commercial banks offer investment services to their customers, but these services have nothing to do with investing in your business. It may be the same physical bank that you deal with for your personal account, except in the personal context it is called a retail bank.

Early Stage 182

Early Stage Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering 182

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2010

Successful entrepreneurs already have a visible network of trusted suppliers, potential customers, partners, and even investors. This has value now, and is critical for maximum value in a merger or acquisition. There may not be any customers to talk to in order to evaluate the market need. Listens before answering questions.

Angel Investor 241

Angel Investor Technical Review Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 241

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2011

Your goal is “ coopetition ” - to find a way to partner with your competitor in such a way that both parties can substantially benefit from the other's resources - without stealing customers or damaging anyone's credibility. In the following quarter, we jointly signed up two new customers who loved our “end to end” integrated solution.

Partner 225

Partner Non-Compete Merger Technical Review 225

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2020

Most retail and commercial banks offer investment services to their customers, but these services have nothing to do with investing in your business. It may be the same physical bank that you deal with for your personal account, except in the personal context it is called a retail bank.

Silicon Valley 362

Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering Term Sheet 362

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue). For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested.

Angel Investor 370

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 370