Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Most entrepreneurs today don’t remember the Dot-Com bubble of 1995 or the Dot-Com crash that followed in 2000. As a reminder, the Dot Com bubble was a five-year period from August 1995 (the Netscape IPO ) when there was a massive wave of experiments on the then-new internet, in commerce, entertainment, nascent social media, and search.

Lean 335

Lean Burn Rate Startup IPO 335

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2022

I was pleased to see this approach highlighted as well in a new book for startups, “ Zero to IPO ,” by Frederick Kerrest. In my experience, most technical entrepreneurs have little interest or expertise in the financials, or marketing. Thus they benefit hugely from finding a partner who has skills and interest in the these domains.

Technical Review 313

Technical Review Due Diligence Partner Cofounder 313

Hearpreneur

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

We asked entrepreneurs and business owners about their best business or entrepreneur turnaround story and here are the responses. #1- My favorite entrepreneur turnaround story is that of Lord Alan Sugar. My favorite success story is of one of the most influential, richest, and talked about, entrepreneurs i.e. Mark Zuckerberg.

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Bankruptcy Southern California South Africa 97

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

I was in it for the love of working with entrepreneurs on business problems and marveling at technology they had built. I told my colleagues at our annual holiday party this past week that 2022 has been my most fulfilling as a VC and I’ve been doing this for > 15 years and nearly 10 more as an entrepreneur.

Valuation 466

Valuation San Francisco Ratchet Liquidation Preference 466

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Many entrepreneurs still dream of “going public,” making billions of dollars, and playing with the big boys. Even though the Initial Public Offering (IPO) alternative for a successful startup seems to be coming back into vogue, it is relatively rare. IPOs in 2008, the market was up to a still trivial 159 in 2011.

Exit Strategy 239

Exit Strategy IPO Investment Bankers Entrepreneur 239

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

” It’s the most common refrain I hear from investors and even entrepreneurs these days. I think there is also no denying the role that Richard Rosenblatt has played in building the LA tech ecosystem and spawning great entrepreneurs who followed in his footsteps. “There’s something going on in LA.”

Los Angeles 376

Los Angeles Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Seattle 376

David Cohen

MARCH 26, 2021

SendGrid IPO’d in late 2017 and was later acquired by Twilio. So Yancey now has the distinction of having IPO’d not one but two Techstars accelerator companies! The post Congrats to DigitalOcean on their IPO this week appeared first on Hi, I'm David G.

IPO 118

IPO Cloud Video Programming 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2018

Despite the fact that the number of IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) for startups have continued to stay low, I still hear it touted often as the preferred exit strategy. I suspect the exuberance for an IPO is still being driven by the highly visible successes of a few companies several years ago, including Facebook, Yelp, and Twitter.

Exit Strategy 128

Exit Strategy IPO Initial Public Offering SEC 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2014

With the recent apparent successes of several startups in taking their company public (initial public offering) and raising billions of dollars, I’m hearing a groundswell of enthusiasm from new entrepreneurs to follow in their footsteps to fund their companies and become billionaires overnight. In the first quarter of 2014, the U.S.

IPO 236

IPO Initial Public Offering Startup Small Business Administration 236

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2015

The visibility of Google, Facebook and a few others continues to propagate the myth that the ultimate objective of every entrepreneur should be to take their startups public via an initial public offering at the earliest opportunity. Facebook, for example, ended up raising almost $16 billion through its IPO.

IPO 120

IPO Initial Public Offering Entrepreneur Private Equity 120

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

In the first of a new series talking to tech industry leaders about what shaped them as entrepreneurs and the lessons they’ve learned in their careers, we speak to Netflix co-founder and CEO, Reed Hastings. When he founded Netflix as a DVD rental service in 1997, Hastings had already led one company, Pure Software, from its birth to an IPO.

Swaziland 137

Swaziland Entrepreneur IPO Netherlands 137

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Many entrepreneurs still dream of “going public,” making billions of dollars, and playing with the big boys. Even though the Initial Public Offering (IPO) alternative for a successful startup seems to be coming back, it is relatively rare. IPOs in 2008, the market was up to a still trivial 128 in 2012 (compared to 675 in 1996).

IPO 224

IPO Founder Exit Strategy Investment Bankers 224

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

In the old days, every entrepreneur dreamed of easily taking their startup public, and making it big. Today the rate of startups going public (IPO – Initial Public Offering) is up from the dead zone, but is still less than half the rate of 15 years ago. entrepreneur IPO m&a startup Stock Exchange' Marty Zwilling.

IPO 120

IPO SEC Prospectus Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2022

In the old days, every entrepreneur planned on taking their startup public, and making it big. Today the rate of startups going public (IPO – Initial Public Offering) is finally up from the dead zone of the last two decades, and is now double the rate back in 1999. Going public is an expensive process.

IPO 245

IPO SEC Prospectus Startup 245

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2013

In the old days, every entrepreneur dreamed of someday taking their startup public, and making it a multi-national powerhouse. In my view, the key reasons that IPOs have lost their luster from an entrepreneur and investor perspective include the following: The US IPO process seems broken. Marty Zwilling.

IPO 242

IPO SEC Prospectus Startup 242

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2021

Anyone who works with entrepreneurs will tell you that all are different. The Opportunist is the speculative part of the entrepreneur in all of us. If you ever felt enticed to jump into a quick money deal, like a real-estate quick-flip, or an IPO, that was your Opportunist side showing. But none have any lock on success.

Entrepreneur 335

Entrepreneur Framework Incubator IPO 335

Steve Blank

JANUARY 22, 2014

Part 1: Bend, Oregon Ecosystem and Entrepreneurs. Few entrepreneurs find this scalable and repeatable business model because it’s not easy. This has changed the way entrepreneurs think about building their startups and how investors should look at them. Part 2: Early-stage Regional Venture Funds. Here’s Part 2 of Dino’s story….

Early Stage 286

Early Stage Silicon Valley Oregon Technical Review 286

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

With the current volatile economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. This approach is thus not viable for entrepreneurs already out of money. Increased jeopardy and less fun for the entrepreneur.

Merger 261

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 261

Gust

DECEMBER 28, 2011

If the company was successful, this quickly led to an IPO – a very happy ending for the entrepreneur, the angels, and the venture capitalists. The two major differences in the exit environment in the past decade are (1) the disappearance of the IPO market and (2) the rapidly increasing size of the average VC fund.

IPO 153

IPO Venture Capital Entrepreneur Angel Investor 153

The Startup Magazine

SEPTEMBER 16, 2019

As you move from startup to scaleup, and then to a corporate entity preparing for an IPO for your exit, you learn how to stay focused. Preparing for an IPO. They need to have everything in place before they start planning an IPO. Your significant investors will govern everything you make and do after the IPO.

IPO 82

IPO Angel Investor Stock Investment Bankers 82

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2020

So unless your business is well established, and ready to sell or go public (Initial Public Offering - IPO), you should steer clear of investment banks.

Silicon Valley 362

Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering Term Sheet 362

Feld Thoughts

NOVEMBER 18, 2017

The NYSE recently published a book – The Entrepreneur’s Roadmap – From Concept to IPO that I’ve been involved in. The post Book: The Entrepreneur’s Roadmap – From Concept to IPO appeared first on Feld Thoughts. The Exit: Strategies and Options.

IPO 85

IPO Seed Stage Exit Strategy Government 85

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 15, 2010

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Thursday, July 15, 2010 Some IPO speculation Inspired by Steve Blank’s post today about the “lost decade&# of IPO’s , I’d like to make some predictions. The fact that IPO’s are disappearing makes intuitive sense to me. Let me be clear: Steve is the historian.

IPO 166

IPO San Francisco Lean Silicon Valley 166

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 23, 2017

IPO market is broken”, positioning their offering as an alternative to capitalize on the dwindling supply of smaller IPOs, pointing out that only 18 companies completed IPOs that raised less than $50M last year, versus 557 in 1996. We need smarter humans than we did.”.

Technical Review 154

Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Software Review IPO 154

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by the definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. This Advisory Board is a good test drive for the more formal Board of Directors required later, when going public (IPO) or the entrance of venture capital investors. How much are you willing to spend on your board?

Advisory Board 348

Advisory Board IPO Angel Investor Acquisition 348

The Next Web

JULY 20, 2013

They speak about how they love to help entrepreneurs build successful companies, yet when I ask them to give me feedback on my business plan or idea, they usually don’t even bother writing me back. Yes, it is true that some entrepreneurs either don’t receive a response or get a pre-made template. VCs are arrogant. VCs are cowards.

Silicon Valley 124

Silicon Valley Mongolia Technical Cofounder Entrepreneur 124

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

With the explosion of online cybercrimes, cybercrime security is undoubtedly the next lucrative venture any entrepreneur should think about. IPOs are difficult company transactions as it requires companies to go public. This is an example of how new entrepreneurs can start a business by supplying VDR security solutions.

Software Review 60

Software Review Technical Review Intellectual Property Due Diligence 60

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 14, 2022

India has always been renowned as the land of entrepreneurs. After England, it was India which was described by many as the “nation of shopkeepers”. And this has been the way of life here in India. Indians are celebrated for their determination and hard work.

Technical Review 145

Technical Review Due Diligence India Startup 145

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2021

Yet as a business advisor I am convinced that making the jump from a startup to a the next unicorn takes a different mindset, and actions most entrepreneurs are reluctant to face. Then there is the pressure to go public ( IPO ), and open your investment to thousands, maybe millions, of small investors.

Merger 379

Merger Due Diligence SEC IPO 379

View from Seed

MARCH 24, 2021

7 Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make in VC Pitches and How to Fix Them “Different partners in a VC firm are different. Entrepreneurs should know their audience, and most importantly, how savvy it is about the company’s particular market segment.” Why Do Consumer IPOs and B2B IPOs Get Treated Differently?

Seed Stage 177

Seed Stage Hiring IPO Analytics 177

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2011

It has been at least a decade since going public via an Initial Public Offering (IPO) has been considered a credible exit strategy for startups. Usually a small company can sell about 20 percent of its stock in an IPO. In 1999, there were 486 IPOs nationwide; just 10 years later, in 2009, there were only 63. How’s the timing?

IPO 223

IPO Social Media Media Exit Strategy 223

View from Seed

OCTOBER 11, 2022

Through all of this, what has been obvious is her hunger to serve founders and desire to work with entrepreneurs to bring about the kind of world changing impact we seek to be a part of at NextView.

Cofounder 156

Cofounder San Francisco Portfolio Limited Partner 156

Hunter Walker

DECEMBER 11, 2023

It might ‘exit’ again at a later point (anything from a sale to an IPO), but it’s no long dependent on VC funding. Steering the company in that way has been a growth area for me as an entrepreneur and something as a CEO that I’ve been learning to do well. What does 2023 Daniel know that 2012 Daniel didn’t?

Private Equity 78

Private Equity Equity DC Leveraged Buyout 78

ReadWriteStart

MARCH 31, 2020

Every expert agrees that VC investing faced a huge setback last year with the IPO flops of major companies such as WeWork, Uber, Slack, and Lyft as the facts show. This may probably drive entrepreneurs to alternative funding options, such as equity crowdfunding. However, things have not been all rosy in the VC market.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Startup Term Sheet 175

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2019

With the current strong economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. This approach is thus not viable for entrepreneurs already out of money. Increased jeopardy and less fun for the entrepreneur. Being a public company isn’t cheap or easy.

Merger 303

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 303

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 12, 2014

An exit strategy is a method by which entrepreneurs and investors, especially those that have invested large sums of money in startup companies, transfer ownership of their business to a third party, or by which they recoup money invested in the business. See Also 3 Things Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know About Exit Strategies.

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Exit Strategy Lock-up Period Merger IPO 117

Feld Thoughts

OCTOBER 18, 2019

One of the many great things about the Governor of Colorado is that he’s an entrepreneur, having started multiple successful technology companies, including BlueMountainArts.com (acquired by Excite for $800m) and Provide Commerce (IPO, then acquired by Liberty Media for $500m).

Colorado 70

Colorado Government IPO Cofounder 70