Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2014

Being the leader doesn’t mean more equity, nor does it mean the leader will necessarily be CEO. The sales professional. A sales fanatic on the founder team helps to contain that risk. The combination of technical insight, founder authority, and sales experience is a hard-to-beat advantage in a competitive market.

Technical Cofounder 245

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Startup 245

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Sales & Marketing | Wednesdays. SALES & MARKETING. Should You Share Equity with Consultants? To grow his cash-strapped start-up, Parker ended up sharing equity -- not only with employees, but also with consultants and vendors. But sharing equity can have pitfalls, too. The Goods: Your Business Toolbox | Thursdays.

Fractional CTO 40

Fractional CTO Equity Iowa Technical Cofounder 40

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Being the leader doesn’t mean more equity, nor does it mean the leader will necessarily be CEO. The sales professional. A sales fanatic on the founder team helps to contain that risk. The combination of technical insight, founder authority, and sales experience is a hard-to-beat advantage in a competitive market.

Technical Cofounder 120

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Stock Options 120

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Sales & Marketing | Wednesdays. SALES & MARKETING. Will Work for Equity. Dave Graham Business Venture Capital Private Equity GlobalLogic Inc. Determined not to miss another opportunity, Graham has begun waiving fees and instead taking equity in clients he thinks have a good shot at success. Finance | Tuesdays.

Arizona 40

Arizona Equity Iowa Venture Capital 40

David Teten

JULY 10, 2019

pre-launch, BIG equity, big peeps involved–ANY TIPS?? Briefly, we think there’s a substantial market for a business which helps enterprises to execute initiatives which require coordination across diverse stakeholders, e.g., make a large sale to a critical client, or lobby for a change in regulation. We’re off to the races!

America 60

America Technical Review Advisory Board Due Diligence 60

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

o Huge on PR, “Be Everywhere” is his motto – fly to NY, proactively everywhere he could get press. To make PR big you need to find a way to “make news”. To make PR big you need to find a way to “make news”. o Everything is for sale but it’s the price that moves the timing. He told them it was now or never.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Warrant Customer Term Sheet 304

David Teten

MAY 7, 2019

Briefly, we think there’s a substantial market for a business which helps enterprises to execute initiatives which require coordination across diverse stakeholders, e.g., make a large sale to a critical client, or lobby for a change in regulation. We agree on an equity split, vesting, and initial compensation structure. Sounds great!

America 60

America Technical Review Advisory Board Due Diligence 60

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

After all, sweat equity can make up for a trim marketing budget, but it would be hard to make up for cuts in product development and customer service without sacrificing customer experience. The sale is only a by-product of a relationship, which I hope will mature into a long-term opportunity to meet their needs.

Sweat Equity 60

Sweat Equity Equity Sales PR 60

ConversionXL

JANUARY 18, 2022

Indeed’s German branch was struggling to close sales because they had no awareness in that market. After running a culturally relevant marketing campaign, Indeed rose to number one in traffic and sales in Germany. Marketing initiatives include campaigns, content, PR, and interactions with your target audience or customer.

Marketing 128

Marketing Campaign Software Review Tulsa 128

Cracking the Code

JANUARY 22, 2009

Building Your SaaS Sales Compensation Plan. Compensating the sales force is a difficult task and the key is usually to keep things simple, so that each sales rep knows what he needs to optimize to make more money at the end of the quarter. which is very close to the typical 8% paid for sales commissions.

Software Review 91

Software Review Clawback Sales Salary 91

Up and Running

JUNE 12, 2014

The growth of her startup is all due to her own efforts: “I wasn’t able to afford a PR firm. While there are many funding alternatives , including crowdfunding, equity-sharing, and pitching for angel investment, if you’d prefer to go without the loan, there are a number of things you can do yourself: 1.

Founder 142

Founder Marketing Startup Software Review 142

Austin Startup

NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Our imagination is bounded by our experience,” Hector shared, and diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical to being able to imagine things properly. Gretel Perera , Director of PR at Roku and Co-Founder of Latinas in Tech , said there’s been a huge shift in the workplace over the past five years.

Technical Review 51

Technical Review Cofounder Dallas LLC 51

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

But this mania to not miss out on the next big thing is driving some investors to pay growth-equity prices for traditional market risk (as in, they’re paying up before it is clear there is product / market fit). And well they should be. And so on down then line. You know what I’m talking about. You feel it, too.

Saudi Arabia 309

Saudi Arabia Valuation IPO Technical Review 309

infochachkie.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Instead of hearing from your long lost third-cousin, you will be inundated with an avalanche of ‘congratulatory’ emails, calls and letters from people who want to relieve you of the burden of your hard-earned equity round. Such positions include: PR, Sales, Product Development, Lead Generation, Strategic Planning, Fund Raising, etc.

Equity 40

Equity Silicon Valley Cofounder PR 40

ConversionXL

JANUARY 18, 2022

If you spam the non-buyers with sales CTAs, you’ll only annoy them. Can you capture more brand equity by executing marketing tactics in new or better ways? They’re a great example of employee advocacy because their content is often shared and retweeted by their colleagues, like their Digital PR Lead. Which are they neglecting?

Marketing 109

Marketing Social Media Non-Compete Audience 109

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

The DNA of the founders makes its way into the product, sales strategy, recruiting efforts, etc. Unfortunately, using other people's channels and audience, which is essentially what PR is, won't be as effective--simply because no one can tell your story as well as you can. PR can magnify, distribute, etc.,

Social Media 111

Social Media PR Media Hiring 111

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 21, 2010

As startup entrepreneurs we all want to work with them because having their name as reference clients makes it so much easier for marketing, PR, selling to other customers, fund raising and even recruiting. I’ve already made clear that I think raising equity from “strategic money&# is an oxymoron. million in sales.

Warrant 298

Warrant Dilution Startup Stock Options 298

Altgate

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

The servers are in the cloud, his advertising sales is with Google, etc. For example, you can barter for a service or you can negotiate payment terms or even equity for service. The reason is that putting a sales force in the field with limited inventory is very, very expensive. PR/Marketing. PR/Marketing.

Software Review 65

Software Review Offshore Startup Boston 65

Duct Tape Marketing

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Karrie is Chief Marketing Officer at Typeform, leading brand strategy, advertising, PR, internal communications, and DEI efforts as well as overseeing the internal creative studio. John Jantsch (01:11): So that's a lot in the CMOs job, particularly diversity, equity, inclusion. Marketing Podcast with Karrie Sanderson. It's possible.

Marketing 75

Marketing Differentiation B2C PR 75

The Next Web

AUGUST 26, 2013

I’ve seen a few businesses where the first investors took huge pieces of equity for very little money. 15-20% equity for first investors. Depending on your team and the risk of the business, you should reserve 15% to 20% of equity for the first investors you get on board. Avoid making those mistakes and define a fair structure.

Management 120

Management Cofounder Startup Bootstrapping 120

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

The most important advice I could give you before you set out in fund raising mode is to understand that fund-raising a sales & marketing process and needs to be managed. Somehow many first-time founders equate “sales” with something that is beneath them. In sales there are also three rules: Qualify, qualify, qualify.

Term Sheet 332

Term Sheet Due Diligence Campaign Sales 332

socialmatchbox.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

These days sales, marketing and PR people seem to grow on trees. Another option is sweat equity. It is important to realize that most people who are willing to work for sweat equity are not a) the best, b) in demand, and c) going to put their heart and soul into your project.

Part-Time VPE 41

Part-Time VPE Sweat Equity DC Washington 41

crowdSPRING Blog

SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Convertible Equity, A Better Alternative To Convertible Debt? Mobile Advertising: Twitter Sales Are Double That Of Facebook In A Google-Ruled, $2.6B In fewer than 2 weeks, Amazon will begin charging sales tax for purchases by Californians – [link]. Pricing Experiments You Might Not Know, But Can Learn From – [link].

Social Media 92

Social Media Small Business Design Media 92

Cracking the Code

MARCH 12, 2010

The SaaS growth recovery does not seem to take a "V" shape 2) Sales productivity is ramping up: bottom was hit in the first half of 2009 However, the sales and productivity of the group, measured by the median "Customer Acquisition Cost ratio" or "CAC ratio", seems to be recovering more steeply. Labels: SaaS , sales and marketing.

Software Review 63

Software Review Technical Review Cloud Forecast 63

ConversionXL

OCTOBER 7, 2021

But in many cases, the introduction stage is marked by slow-to-moderate sales and little profit. It works best when: Your target market is early adopters and innovators Your short-term goals are to maximize profits and increase product sales quickly. The long-term goal is to maximize sales or profits. Rapid skimming.

Product 142

Product Marketing Software Review Social Media 142

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

You never got around to agreeing exact equity splits but you had many conversations about it. Consider it a sales & marketing expense for them. But as with consulting, PR, web design and even VC – it’s not just the firm it’s also the individual. They want to lock in future clients at an early stage.

Southern California 318

Southern California Silicon Valley IP Stock Options 318

YoungUpstarts

JULY 8, 2014

Fund R&D: Bootstrapped raising funds is far ‘cheaper’ than debt or equity. Jeff, from OnHand, shares, “there is a lot that goes into the ongoing marketing and PR efforts for you campaign, especially in highlighting the mentions you receive. Establishing Sustainable Sales Channels. Delivery Issues.

Campaign 216

Campaign Channel Bootstrapping Database 216

The Next Web

JUNE 15, 2012

From Silicon Valley to Peoria, Illinois, cash-strapped startups look for inventive way to finance their business – often handing out equity to employees, consultants, vendors, and other service providers. Pitfalls in sharing equity. While equity can be a great tool for compensating early on, the drawbacks are significant.

Equity 116

Equity Stock Options Vesting Stock 116

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

The newly formed teams then work for the entire weekend, with the help of some experienced mentors from the industry, who volunteer their time to share advice on product, technology, legal, PR and other issues. As the founder, you’re the number one sales person of the company and it is not a function you can outsource right away.

Elevator Pitch 103

Elevator Pitch Incubator Technical Review Startup 103

Austin Startup

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

A strong advisor can walk you in the door to the same number of companies as 2–3 new sales hires. I think of this as an early test of the founding team’s sales ability. All of these are challenging sales tasks, and advisors are no different. Never discount the power of a warm intro. There isn’t a simple trick to get it done.

Advisory Board 48

Advisory Board Sweat Equity Marketing Vertical 48

The Equity Kicker

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

The core message to their customers is that consumers are using Facebook and Twitter to make customer service requests and that failing to respond and manage them properly can rapidly lead to dissatisfaction and loss of brand equity. They keep things interesting by continually focusing on different aspects of social customer service.

Leadership 117

Leadership Marketing PR Social Media 117

Rob Go

JUNE 10, 2013

Write code, talk to users, and build the company (hire the best people you can find, get the culture right, fundraise, close sales, etc.) Keep salaries low and equity high. If you hire PR people, resist their desire to control all the contact. Don’t let your company be run by a sales guy. Don’t lose it. Schleps are good.

Startup 49

Startup Technical Cofounder Hiring Cofounder 49

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Convertible Debt: really Bridge Loans and Equity Replacement Debt – [link]. What a pile of crap … Facebook Reveals How Samsung Turned A $10 Million Ad Buy To $129 In Sales | Business Insider – [link]. A turkey is a turkey – [link]. 6 Signs You’re Not Fit to Lead – [link].

Social Media 100

Social Media Small Business Central African Republic Design 100

crowdSPRING Blog

JANUARY 5, 2012

Experienced entrepreneurs preserve equity – [link]. The Fire) Sales Have Surpassed 1 Million Per Week – [link]. CEC’s Startup Forecast – “Never been a better time to start a company in Chicago” – [link]. Mocked And Misunderstood – [link]. For The 3d Week, Kindle (Incl.

Social Media 92

Social Media Small Business Design Media 92

Lightspeed Venture Partners

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

The company launched six months ago and so far has grown to 110 subscribers, with all customer acquisition coming from PR and referrals. They talked about a referral program, as well as direct sales. The company did $250,000 in sales last year and is profitable. They are seeing an 85% monthly renewal rate.

Pre-Money Valuation 166

Pre-Money Valuation Alabama Valuation Churn Rate 166

The Equity Kicker

MARCH 15, 2013

Most obviously that can be momentum in sales and/or user activity, but momentum in other areas really helps too – e.g. the market opportunity, PR, or development of the team. Good SaaS companies often demonstrate their execution ability by talking about sales and marketing.

Metrics 105

Metrics PR Internet Sales 105

ReadWriteStart

OCTOBER 14, 2010

Well, my advice for Chak is to focus steadily on a worldwide list of greeting card distributors using Telewebsales and Sales 2.0 methodologies - in other words, don't invest in travel and in-person sales, but try to close as many deals as possible by phone and the Web. (On While you may not have the budget to spend $500,000 on Sales 2.0

Bootstrapping 114

Bootstrapping Marketing Angel Investor Silicon Valley 114