ReadWriteStart

MARCH 3, 2021

Still, you need to find some way to pull your company out of this early-stage quicksand. First, we need to address the core challenges of developing effective early-stage growth strategies for new businesses. What are the best tactics to accomplish these goals? Core Challenges to Overcome in Growth Strategies.

Early Stage 125

Early Stage PPC Retention Churn Rate 125

OnlyOnce

DECEMBER 15, 2021

Last week , I blogged a podcast riff I did about the biggest mistakes early stage founders make and what to do about them. Here’s a summary of part 2 of what I said about later stage founders. I’m sure there are so many other top mistakes for later stage CEOs/founders.

Later Stage 62

Later Stage Founder Early Stage Lean 62

OnlyOnce

DECEMBER 8, 2021

I divided my response into “early stage” and “later stage” founders. Here’s a summary of what I said about early stage founders. Next week: the later stage founder answer (link won’t be live until 12/16/2021).

Early Stage 62

Early Stage Founder Later Stage B2C 62

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2014

They often create the biggest tensions between investors who are investing at different stages in the business. These tensions seep out in some angels or seed funds publicly or semi-privately deriding later-stage VCs for their “bad” behavior. I have seen bad behavior from later-stage VCs, believe me.

Technical Review 336

Technical Review Later Stage Early Stage LP 336

NZ Entrepreneur

FEBRUARY 27, 2020

Building a tech startup? While capital to large tech companies is increasing, smaller rounds for early-stage companies is drying up. While capital to large tech companies is increasing, smaller rounds for early-stage companies is drying up.

Developer 68

Developer Early Stage Later Stage Acquisition 68

David Teten

DECEMBER 15, 2018

If you can’t find a banker which will buy such an early-stage company (which is likely), I suggest at least mail directly all the likely acquirers with whom you have an existing relationship. Since your early days, hopefully you kept a list of likely acquirers and made an effort to get to know them. Is your startup failing?

Startup 60

Startup Later Stage Technical Review Software Review 60

Steve Blank

MARCH 17, 2020

With the Covid-19 virus a worldwide pandemic, if you’re leading any startup or small business, you have to be asking yourself, “What’s Plan B? If you’re running a startup or small business, your first priority (after your family) is keeping your employees and customers safe. If you’re an early stage company, that number may be zero.

Burn Rate 436

Burn Rate Startup Valuation Sales Cycle 436

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 30, 2011

Or the Cliff Note’s version: Open Source & Cloud Computing (led by Amazon) drove down tech startup costs by 90%. The result was a massive increase in startups & a whole group of new funding sources: both angels & “micro VCs&#. Some are going later stage to not miss out on hot deals.

Venture Capital 289

Venture Capital Early Stage Valuation Angel Investor 289

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

If you’re a startup and you don’t have a close relationship with a few law firms you’re really missing one of the most important relationships that any entrepreneur can have. I write about some of the lessons in my post on Startup Mistakes. They want to lock in future clients at an early stage.

Southern California 318

Southern California Silicon Valley IP Stock Options 318

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2014

For all the things he’s likely known for, he probably hasn’t yet built a strong relationship as an early stage venture investor (he invests often in later-stage deals where he is very respected). Startup Advice' He wanted to know what I thought of his technology deal. ” It wasn’t.

Silicon Valley 333

Silicon Valley Early Stage Later Stage Technical Review 333

The Equity Kicker

OCTOBER 14, 2014

———————————– If you ask most VCs what they look for in a startup they will say great team, great product and great market. Early stage investors like Forward Partners look for a minimum of a great entrepreneur and a great idea.

Early Stage 123

Early Stage Institutional Investors Venture Capital Startup 123

The Equity Kicker

JULY 22, 2013

Investors are frequently asked what they look for in a good startup and most good ones answer “Great team, great product and great market” With early stage companies team is paramount because that’s just about all there is in the company. Later stage companies have the reverse situation.

Early Stage 146

Early Stage Later Stage Cofounder Startup 146

View from Seed

JANUARY 5, 2016

I realize sports analogies for startups can feel trite, but as you think about the different phases of team-building in a startup, this one is actually pretty spot on. At the beginning, a startup team is typically just a couple of co-founders. Early Growth (Founding Team to ~20). Basketball or football?

Founder 120

Founder Cofounder Startup Early Stage 120

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. That’s the deal you get when you’re raising in a good market for startup financing.

Pre-Money Valuation 336

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Silicon Valley Stock 336

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 28, 2018

There’s a quick litmus-test conversation any early-stage VC will have with the founder and it’s one that you should be as prepared for as your elevator pitch. Conversely many VCs believe that constraining cash can often lead to increases in creative solutions at a startup. Founder: “$250k / month.” This is a red flag for VCs.

Burn Rate 247

Burn Rate Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Dilution 247

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Thomas Clayton has started and run numerous high-tech startups in Silicon Valley. He is currently CEO of Bubbly , a social media startup backed by Sequoia Capital, SingTel Innov8, and JAFCO. The company is one of the largest VC–backed startups in Southeast Asia, having raised over $60M in funding. Sequoia , Accel , NEA , etc.).

Asia 132

Asia Silicon Valley India Term Sheet 132

Gust

JANUARY 4, 2012

Last month we covered the basics of intellectual property (IP) for startups, including a simple taxonomy, some common issues and related documents for entrepreneurs to use when forming a new startup. The amount of investment in IP in any direct sense is generally small for early stage startups.

Intellectual Property 143

Intellectual Property IP Startup United States 143

View from Seed

APRIL 30, 2015

There’s been a lot of digital ink spilled around the various types of capital available to startups today. As a startup grows, venture debt becomes a viable option to continue that growth. Glen is an active contributor to the local tech ecosystem and well-versed in how and when startups can use venture debt to their advantage.

Term Sheet 120

Term Sheet Equity Startup Seed Stage 120

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 15, 2016

There is much talk these days that startup valuations have decreased and may continue to do so and that the amount of time it takes to fund raise may take longer. But they are “over their skis” on ability to help you because they’re an early-stage investor so they’re dependent on your B-round investor or outside money.

Burn Rate 150

Burn Rate Cap Table Valuation Software Review 150

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 19, 2017

There is a thin line between success and failure for startups, and that is usually determined by capital. The more capital a startup has, the easier it is to get off the ground and ramp up growth. In turn, this leads to the development of a thriving startup ecosystem which paves the way for technology and innovation.

Venture Capital 196

Venture Capital Asia Artificial Inteligence Later Stage 196

K9 Ventures

FEBRUARY 8, 2020

2/ This is why it’s impossible to “accelerate” a startup. ” IMHO this was why @cartainc had such a hard time raising in the early stages. This is what makes early-stage investing so much more fun and exciting for me. I would be bored out of my mind if I were investing at later stages.

Startup 118

Startup Early Stage Later Stage Revenue 118

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

In venture capital in particular, early-stage companies are often operating in frontier industries, where the rules are unpredictable and conventional analytic frameworks may be misleading. The only problem that faces startup investors now is how to mine this new data layer efficiently to increase returns.”.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Technical Review 60

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 1, 2016

While there is much discussion about VCs starting to pull back on their investments into startups, the LPs we surveyed don’t expect to slow the pace of investment into VC funds themselves – at least for the foreseeable future. That’s money that fuels our startup ecosystems.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital LP Silicon Valley Marketing 150

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 27, 2014

We both agree that the later-stage valuations are being driven up to a point that feels irrationally priced [he uses b-round SaaS valuations as an example and I am willing to be even more broad based]. Startup Lessons' I believe most LPs still want discipline in fund sizes, fees and focus. And we ended.

Valuation 309

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Later Stage Non-Compete 309

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

I would say the norm for many early-stage companies is somewhere between 6-10 in-person meetings per year. The earlier stage the more likely it is 10 meetings and the later stage the more likely it is 6. Startup Advice' Ask for short conference calls.

Advisory Board 365

Advisory Board CTO Hire Fractional CTO Los Angeles 365

Steve Blank

JUNE 11, 2009

Posted on June 11, 2009 by steveblank When my students ask me about whether they should be a founder or cofounder of a startup I ask them to take a walk around the block and ask themselves: Are you comfortable with: Chaos – startups are disorganized Uncertainty – startups never go per plan Are you: Resilient – at times you will fail – badly.

Cofounder 219

Cofounder Founder Silicon Valley Technical Cofounder 219

David Teten

MAY 9, 2012

HBSAANY is comprised of New York City tri-state area Harvard alumni who are venture capitalists and other accredited investors investing in early-stage, private companies around the United States. Women-owned businesses, according to the Forte Foundation represent about 775,000 new startups per year. According to the U.S.

Venture Capital 154

Venture Capital Programming Accredited Investor New York 154

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 22, 2010

VC’s in early rounds will argue that “participation&# is simply downside protection and if you sell for a lower price they should get more of the proceeds. Privately some early-stage VC’s talk about participation helping them to “juice their returns&# on smaller exits. This is a shame.

Valuation 405

Valuation Liquidation Preference Pre-Money Valuation Term Sheet 405

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

Her post is short & well written so definitely worth a read if you’re a startup person and want to hear some sensible views on sales. Erin’s main points: “As a former tech sales executive, I agree with many of [Mark's] lessons — when applied to later-stage, post-traction point startups.

Startup 319

Startup Early Stage Sales Cofounder 319

NZ Entrepreneur

AUGUST 12, 2020

This article is the third of a three-part series by Baldwins Intellectual Property that focuses on the importance of intellectual property for startup companies. Intellectual property can create trouble for startups in their early stages, and getting it right is a crucial aspect to running a successful business.

Intellectual Property 91

Intellectual Property New Zealand Startup Early Stage 91

The Next Web

AUGUST 26, 2013

Today, in steps 10-12 I want to discuss with you raising your first round of money, hiring to develop and maintain your company culture, as well as defining your role in the management of your startup. Before you start talking to large VCs, find some early stage investors. Raise your first round of money, or bootstrap.

Management 120

Management Cofounder Startup Bootstrapping 120

Austin Startup

MAY 11, 2017

Our unique approach to investing, coupled with a pioneering spirit, provides the vision to guide early stage growth companies beyond today and toward future success. We invest at the earliest stages in transformative companies that are leveraging technology to move our species forward. New Age VC About This is just a start.

Private Equity 48

Private Equity Venture Capital Technical Review Seed Stage 48

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2021

Shots on Goal Being great as a startup technology investor of course requires a lot of things to come together: You need to have strong insights into where technology markets are heading and where value in the future will be created and sustained You need be perfect with your market timing. Being too early is the same as being wrong.

Bankruptcy 294

Bankruptcy Bridge Financing Portfolio Angel Investor 294

David Teten

JULY 25, 2017

We also have a better known brand than some of our early stage companies, so we can leverage that to help source talent. We have built relationships with a set of service providers specializing in startups, and have pre-negotiated discounted rates with them. For example, consider public relations.

Portfolio 60

Portfolio Technical Review Private Equity Database 60

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2016

Investors know that valuations at startup early stages are negotiable, but they do expect that smart entrepreneurs understand the top three elements of a startup valuation would include the following. Future revenue projections are not relevant at the pre-revenue stage. Team strength and experience is value.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Startup 120

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2016

I was speaking recently to the team at NuOrder , an LA-based company we’re an investor in about “realism in startups” — an impromptu talk I have given to any of our portfolio companies who ask. During the Q&A I was asked about how I make investment decisions in early-stage businesses. Early stage.

Early Stage 254

Early Stage Non-Compete LP Later Stage 254

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 19, 2017

How Much Capital You Have Raised / Your Runway In general I recommend that in early-stage startups you try to raise at least 15-18 months of runway. How Much Capital You Have Raised / Your Runway In general I recommend that in early-stage startups you try to raise at least 15-18 months of runway.

Burn Rate 212

Burn Rate Startup .Net Venture Capital 212