Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2011

The tech market is filled with many stories of early-stage funding. In the case of HDI, for example, we owned 30% of the company, which therefore returns a sizable portion of that fund (the company was profitable enough that it had already dividended out a 2x return on capital invested prior to the exit). Women Entrepreneurs.

Partner 285

Partner Las Vegas San Francisco Baltimore 285

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2020

In their passion to succeed, too many entrepreneurs treat friends and family investments as “low-hanging” fruit, only to find out later, after a stumble, that the pain of lost relationships is greater than the loss of their beloved startup. In the interim, there is no market for the shares, and no dividends or interest.

Management 308

Management Cram Down Angel Investor Equity 308

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2020

After many years of working with angel investors seriously trying to find new ventures worthy of their hard-earned money, I find their frustration often exceeds that of entrepreneurs sincerely looking for financial help. They are not interested in research and development, or funding at the idea stage. Lack of intellectual property.

Due Diligence 308

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Preferred Stock Seed Stage 308

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Many Asian entrepreneurs tell me that they want to raise funds from Silicon Valley firms because they perceive the valuations to be higher. But the problem with this is that most VCs in the Valley, especially early stage ones, only like to invest in companies that are within driving distance from their offices.

Asia 132

Asia Silicon Valley India Term Sheet 132

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

What I love about my job is getting to see teams of super-early-stage companies develop ideas that while raw have potential to make an impact on the market. It’s the nature of most entrepreneurs, honestly. Another thing entrepreneurs f**k up? The plans are continually updated and so, too, should the budgets.

Operations 150

Operations Metrics Early Stage Non-Compete 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

If you’re working with early-stage companies you need to be spending quality time with them which means you need to be nearby. Or the huge dividends that Santa Barbara got from building GoToMeeting that sold for a nice price to Citrix. It creates recycled capital + 2nd-time entrepreneurs … on steroids.

Community 378

Community San Diego Silicon Valley Los Angeles 378

JANUARY 9, 2014

I recently developed a more human framework for early-stage startups to define their startup DNA and lay some foundations for a sustainable business. I’m hoping this will help to save entrepreneurs time in their hunt for success, whilst adding some more meaning to their businesses.

Early Stage 102

Early Stage Startup Cofounder Design 102

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2014

In their passion to succeed, too many entrepreneurs treat friends and family investments as “low-hanging” fruit, only to find out later, after a stumble, that the pain of lost relationships is greater than the loss of their beloved startup. In the interim, there is no market for the shares, and no dividends or interest.

Founder 254

Founder Cram Down Angel Investor Equity 254

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2018

In their passion to succeed, too many entrepreneurs treat friends and family investments as “low-hanging” fruit, only to find out later, after a stumble, that the pain of lost relationships is greater than the loss of their beloved startup. In the interim, there is no market for the shares, and no dividends or interest.

Cram Down 148

Cram Down Angel Investor Equity Dividend 148

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Please see later version of this post on May 16, 2010 Entrepreneurs are often not experts in the area of term-sheet negotiations and all of the surrounding issues.   Investors sometimes “present” the terms they’d like and expect the entrepreneurs to react. Term-sheets and Valuations: Thinking about Negotiations.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

The Startup Magazine

SEPTEMBER 16, 2018

It is probable that in the early stages, you will have to take a pay cut. Taking the time to study how things such as businesses expenses and dividends work is essential. This is perhaps when running your own business really starts to pay dividends. A Higher Income. It is however important to be realistic.

Dividend 94

Dividend Early Stage Salary Security 94

The Startup Magazine

JULY 21, 2019

For startup owners, the initial stages of business can be the most thrilling and terrifying: it’s time to crunch the numbers, go the extra mile, and make your vision fly. But while early stage entrepreneurs are brimming with enthusiasm, they’re not thinking about how to protect themselves if they’re unable to work for a while.

Startup 103

Startup Dividend Early Stage Germany 103

Startup Company Lawyer

MARCH 14, 2010

My general opinion is that anything that makes the financing process faster and easier or otherwise educates entrepreneurs is a good thing. (A In addition, I think that a “peace treaty&# between early-stage investors and startup companies on standard terms (at least at a term sheet level) is a step in the right direction.

Finance 70

Finance Software Review Term Sheet Liquidation Preference 70

Startup Company Lawyer

AUGUST 31, 2012

Over the past few years, convertible debt has emerged as a quick and inexpensive method for startup companies to raise money from angel investors and early stage venture funds. ” As a result, Ted introduced the Series Seed preferred stock documents as an alternative to convertible debt for early stage investments.

Convertible Security 73

Convertible Security Equity Security Preferred Stock 73

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2013

In their passion to succeed, too many entrepreneurs treat friends and family investments as “low-hanging” fruit, only to find out later, after a stumble, that the pain of lost relationships is greater than the loss of their beloved startup. In the interim, there is no market for the shares, and no dividends or interest.

Cram Down 230

Cram Down Angel Investor Equity Dividend 230

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2016

After many years of working with angel investors seriously trying to find new ventures worthy of their hard-earned money, I find their frustration often exceeds that of entrepreneurs sincerely looking for financial help. They are not interested in research and development, or funding at the idea stage. Lack of intellectual property.

Due Diligence 120

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Preferred Stock Seed Stage 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2015

In their passion to succeed, too many entrepreneurs treat friends and family investments as “low-hanging” fruit, only to find out later, after a stumble, that the pain of lost relationships is greater than the loss of their beloved startup. In the interim, there is no market for the shares, and no dividends or interest.

Cram Down 120

Cram Down Angel Investor Equity Dividend 120

The Equity Kicker

JUNE 26, 2014

Our model of backing entrepreneurs and then also investing heavily in a team and co-working space to support them is new. Our bet is that the investment in support will pay dividends when our companies exit, and if we are right our entrepreneurs will win big and we will win big. They are usually self-funded by the entrepreneurs.

eCommerce 98

eCommerce Partner Incubator Early Stage 98

David Teten

JANUARY 21, 2021

VI: Revenue-based financing: The next step for private equity and early-stage investment. David Teten , Versatile’s founder, was previously a Partner with HOF Capital and ff Venture Capital, two early-stage New York VC firms. in idea-stage and side-hustle founders using a Convertible Income Share Agreement, or CISA.

Equity 78

Equity Revenue Cofounder Colorado 78

Altgate

OCTOBER 8, 2009

Raising Capital: 5 Reasons Convertible Debt Sucks HOT The Collapse of the VC Ecosystem & What It Will Look Like Post Recovery 10 Tips On Negotiating With VCs Dating…er…Fundraising Etiquette The Science & Art of Term Sheet Negotiation HOT How Liquidation Preferences Work HOT How Much Money Should I Raise?

Term Sheet 39

Term Sheet Technical Review Michigan Liquidation Preference 39

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

So spending time thinking about what your leadership style is, whether it’s effective and what you could do to improve it can yield dividends. We want to invest in early-stage technology enabled startup businesses – upfront in the funding cycle. Empowerment is hard for most startup entrepreneurs.

Leadership 150

Leadership Southern California San Diego Hiring 150

Up and Running

MARCH 20, 2017

When starting a business, the costs add up so fast that entrepreneurs are usually looking for ways to save money rather than increase costs. However, some expenses are worth shelling out for, and will pay dividends down the road when the investment is made up front. Nonetheless, not all business costs are compulsory.

Social Media 116

Social Media Early Stage Audience Media 116

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 26, 2013

Understanding “The Funding Angle” I sit at enough board meetings to hear conflicting advice given to entrepreneurs about how to handle PR and announcements at startups. Having strong relationships with journalists will pay you huge dividends over the long haul and benefit your company and your career.

Startup 355

Startup PR Dividend Merger 355

Scott Edward Walker

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

I’ve been helping entrepreneurs raise capital as a securities lawyer for 17+ years, and there are certain fundamental mistakes that I’ve seen entrepreneurs repeatedly make. Accordingly, I thought it would be helpful to share three basic tips for entrepreneurs in connection with raising capital. This is how the game is played.

Preferred Stock 45

Preferred Stock Angel Investor Entrepreneur Common Stock 45

Up and Running

AUGUST 20, 2014

Not to mention the mental stress of having to make back every dollar you spent in the early stages of setting up your business. Each month, thousands of entrepreneurs use this calculator to manage their financial success. At Bplans, we work with entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs on a daily basis.

Forecast 135

Forecast .Net Dividend Finance 135

ConversionXL

JULY 29, 2015

shares, dividends). Those early donors are simply personal connections of the project creator: “Friends and family funding plays a key role in the early stages of fundraising. Yet they incentive people to donate, even in the early stages of a campaign. Reward-based – Non-financial rewards (e.g.,

Campaign 48

Campaign Reputation Metrics Naming 48

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 22, 2018

This is particularly true in the early stages of a new venture when you may be a solopreneur or working with a very small team. A single track conference with a maximum cap of 400 attendees offers an intimate, collaborative environment where founders and entrepreneurs can get to know one another. Final Thoughts.

Las Vegas 124

Las Vegas Software Review Affiliate Cofounder 124

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. Be intentional about building your team’s culture – it will not only pay dividends in the long run, but also help you filter for fit in hiring and improve employee retention.

Founder 187

Founder Startup Valuation Pre-Money Valuation 187

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 28, 2022

Dividends paid and capital gains realized on a per-share basis provide ordinary shareholders with a way to participate in the profits stream of the company. The establishment of a dividend policy. During the early phases of any company, it is quite probable that the product or service will also be in the early stages of development.

Valuation 108

Valuation Equity Warrant Common Stock 108

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2014

PR is an insanely valuable activity in early-stage companies. When you’re an early-stage business every dollar matters and because many startup teams these days are very product & technology centric they often miscalculate the importance of PR. PR pays dividends in Biz Dev. Business is going well.

PR 415

PR Early Stage Dividend Acquisition 415

Rob Go

MARCH 20, 2013

Hopefully, anyone investing in an early stage private company knows that that liquidity will not come for at least 5-years+. The third is some sort of dividend structure. Whatever approach you pursue, do more research and talk to your lawyer and fellow entrepreneurs about the pros and cons of each approach.

Bootstrapping 46

Bootstrapping Finance Dividend Vesting 46

Altgate

MARCH 17, 2009

Tips: $75 HOT All-Hands Team Meeting NEW Board Management Tips For Startup CEOs Customer Support 2.0 Tips: $75 HOT All-Hands Team Meeting NEW Board Management Tips For Startup CEOs Customer Support 2.0

Term Sheet 28

Term Sheet Due Diligence Liquidation Preference Dividend 28

Gust

MAY 24, 2012

Yet I’m skeptical that a widespread shift will occur anytime soon, and for reasons discussed below, as much as I admire and advocate for talented entrepreneurs, I believe it would be a losing proposition for nearly all involved.

IPO 159

IPO Equity Common Stock Stock 159

VC Cafe

JULY 5, 2010

The workshop participants, of which there were about 30, brought diverse experience and expertise to the table – from young entrepreneurs with just a few years of experience in the consumer web, to seasoned executives with decades of experience in semiconductors, telecommunications and enterprise software.

Software Review 116

Software Review Technical Review Community Due Diligence 116

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 9, 2015

For new entrepreneurs, this can be daunting. To answer this question, I turned to the Young Entrepreneur Council’s members, and asked for their advice. While ups and downs are inevitable, this strategy can pay dividends for both you and your employees. See Also: 10 Employee Incentives Every Business Can Afford.

Hiring 60

Hiring Employee Technical Review Dividend 60

www.singlefounder.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

In the early stages of a company, this can be critical. I know more than a dozen entrepreneurs who have spent a great deal of time and effort working on their respective businesses. The dozen or so entrepreneurs that I know enjoy those things I mentioned, yet still own their companies. However, it could be more complete.

Software Review 40

Software Review Software Startup Massachusetts 40

abovethecrowd.com

APRIL 20, 2016

Many modern entrepreneurs have limited exposure to the notion of failure or layoffs because it has been so long since these things were common in the industry. By the first quarter of 2016, the late-stage financing market had changed materially. Entrepreneurs/Founders/CEOs. Here is the historic perspective.

IPO 40

IPO Term Sheet Silicon Valley Valuation 40