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How to Configure Your Startup Team

Both Sides of the Table

I am fond of quoting that about 70% of my investment decision of an early-stage company is the team. My rationale is simple: everything goes wrong and only great teams can respond to competitors, markets, funding environments, staff departures, PR disasters and the like. Final startup grind from msuster. Limit the number of VCs.

Cofounder 388
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Why Misunderstanding Startup Metrics Can Cost You Your Business

Both Sides of the Table

The key to being able to run a business that isn’t yet profitable (on operating margin) is availability of capital to finance losses and preferably at a cost that isn’t too punitive to the founders and employees. Sustaining short-term losses is all predicated on ability to finance the losses through venture capital or other means.

Metrics 150
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Why Raising Too Much Money Can Harm Your Startup

Both Sides of the Table

It is a truism that with more capital you will hire people more quickly and spend more liberally whether it’s on external contractors, PR firms, attending events, doing legal work (trademarks, patents) or whatever. These types of firms may see your follow-on financing as a chance to “buy up ownership.” million or $4 million.

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How I Got the Monkey Off My Back – Today Was a Good Day

Both Sides of the Table

Working with early-stage teams : coaching, mentoring, setting strategy, rolling up sleeves: 9/10. Helping companies get to next financing round successfully: I was just beginning this phase in Sept 2010 and said so. I’ve now been involved with many other successful foll0w-on financings. Since then?

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Here’s How to Do PR on a Budget

Both Sides of the Table

Yesterday I wrote a post about The Silent Benefits of PR in which I pointed out that most young companies I encounter don’t fully grasp the benefits of PR because they are less measurable than product milestones or customer acquisition analyses (like CAC/LTV). When to start PR? It’s a continual process.

PR 319
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How to Know When to Sell vs. When to Market to Customers

Both Sides of the Table

As a very early-stage startup person you’re used to rigorous prioritization on almost all other parts of your business because you likely work closely with product where these choice are natural. PR – Some companies are excellent at PR and others don’t put much effort into it at all.

Customer 324
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Scaling Sales: Arming & Aiming – A’s, B’s & C’s

Both Sides of the Table

As a very early-stage startup person you’re used to rigorous prioritization. You have no choice since in the first few years everything you do is about showing results to justify financing to continue your operations. PR – Some companies are excellent at PR and others don’t put much effort into it at all.

Sales 286