Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2013

The single most important ingredient of success is not the idea, but having a team in place that has impeccable integrity, can iterate the product quickly, pivot the business model as necessary, and keep costs down in the process. This requires a visible focus on the company’s revenue model, the costs to get there, and cash on hand.

Cram Down 269

Cram Down Angel Investor Intellectual Property Venture Capital 269

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Here are three important reasons for the question: Good investment paybacks normally require an exit event. Investors know that the fun of a startup turns into managing production processes, sales processes, and personnel in a few years.

Equity 120

Equity Exit Strategy Private Equity Startup 120

Up and Running

AUGUST 18, 2014

Difference #3 – planning for the ‘end’ or the exit strategy. “Startups looking for angel investors or venture capital (VC) absolutely need an exit strategy because investors require it. The exit is what gives them a return.” Your product or service has a huge market.

Small Business 154

Small Business Exit Strategy Cofounder Angel Investor 154

Growthink Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2017

Detail prior accomplishments, including funding rounds, product launches, milestones reached, and partnerships secured, among others. Get Growthink's Proven Venture Capital Business Plan Template Here Industry Analysis Goal of the industry analysis section: Prove that there is a real market for your product or service.

Venture Capital 129

Venture Capital Business Plan Technical Review Private Placement 129

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

One of our Bplans writers described going into business in cannabis as a “ once-in-a-generation opportunity ,” with the product rapidly becoming legal for recreational as well as medical use in many states. In legal states, the markets have become so saturated that cannabis companies can end up with thousands of pounds of unsold product.

Business Plan 154

Business Plan Technical Review Forecast Software Review 154

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2013

Based on the final report for 2012 from Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), it may appear that IPOs are back as a viable startup exit strategy. Your friends and family are really the only answer until you have a significant revenue stream. Identify the right people in the right venture firms.

Venture Capital 252

Venture Capital IPO Elevator Pitch Initial Public Offering 252

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

Here are eight key insights that will help you find a productive match: Angels want equity ownership, not causes. Make sure these cover your business model and exit strategy, so the angels see how both of you will make a reasonable return. To be fundable, fifth year revenue projections need to be in the $20-$100 million range.

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Accredited Investor Syndicate Syndication 265

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

Products and services for a business need to be attuned to customer requirements, cost and quality tradeoffs, with milestones for pricing and completion. Typically some production and delivery is outsourced, requiring formal contracts and documentation. Solution development and delivery. Team building status and plan. Marty Zwilling

Exit Strategy 288

Exit Strategy Metrics Operations Cost 288

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Common failures I see along these lines include: solutions that are "nice to have" but don't address painful problems; a business model that lacks a means for bringing in revenue; and a founder who has turned a blind eye toward his or her competitors. Solution production and support. Product distribution or service delivery.

Exit Strategy 120

Exit Strategy Technical Review Distribution Viral 120

Up and Running

JANUARY 2, 2013

Your Solution : Share what’s unique about your product and how it will solve the issue you shared in the previous slide. Impress the investors with what you and your team have accomplished to date (sales, contracts, key hires, product launches, etc.). Your Revenue Model : Investors tend to care about this slide the most.

Hockey Stick 164

Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Due Diligence 164

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

I don’t see myself doing that for 35 years of my productive life. This means you need to be flexible and re-pivot your product or your business. Or look for another revenue generating angle. Also, find a mentor who has done something similar and discovered an exit strategy for their business.

South America 113

South America Software Review Thailand Vietnam 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

I’m still amazed at how many technical entrepreneurs don’t have a business pitch, and offer me their product pitch or product spec instead. I’m a technologist, so I always love to learn about the product, but every investor needs to make sure you have a business, as well as a product.

Product 145

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Exit Strategy 145

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 10, 2018

After all, your clientele is what brings in the revenue and sets up the expenses, so they remain one of the most important elements of your company. A more numerous customer base, of course, means higher revenues and a bigger market presence, but it also says there’s less room within the market for the company to expand.

Valuation 145

Valuation Technical Review Exit Strategy Metrics 145

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JUNE 20, 2011

They’ve heard rules of thumb like “A growing software company is worth 5 times their trailing 12-months revenue.&# Even narrowing the field as much as feasible, revenue multiples varied between 1.2x The “Multiples&# argument does work well in industries where company’s growth and revenue is highly predictable.

Sales 260

Sales Channel Cofounder Valuation 260

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

You must have a prototype or a minimum viable product (MVP). The primary source of your funds should be your paying customers, i.e., your business should generate enough revenues and profits to fund the growth and expansion. To fund the sudden spike in production, funds will be required for additional inventory and wages.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

Products and services for a business need to be attuned to customer requirements, cost and quality tradeoffs, with milestones for pricing and completion. Typically some production and delivery is outsourced, requiring formal contracts and documentation. Solution development and delivery. Team building status and plan.

Entrepreneur 328

Entrepreneur Exit Strategy Metrics Operations 328

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Build a prototype product. A conundrum for many frustrated entrepreneurs is that they need money from investors to design and build a prototype product, yet most angel investors expect to see at least a prototype before they invest. This must be someone who is willing to pay real money for your product or service.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2021

Here are eight key insights that will help you find a productive match: Angels want equity ownership, not causes. Make sure these cover your business model and exit strategy, so the angels see how both of you will make a reasonable return. To be fundable, fifth year revenue projections need to be in the $20-$100 million range.

Search 317

Search Accredited Investor Angel Investor Venture Capital 317

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 9, 2018

Entering new markets can be a great way for your business to expand its portfolio and diversify its product offering. Between choosing location in new cities to creating an exit strategy after you attain success, penetrating a new market requires a strategic plan. Offer slight improvements in existing products on the market.

Jacksonville 189

Jacksonville Due Diligence Exit Strategy Marketing 189

Berkonomics

JUNE 22, 2023

If your vision is for a product or service that fills a need in a mature industry, you may be flying against the prevailing winds as a market shrinks over time, taking your business with it. Can this business grow to above $20MM to $50MM in annual revenues? Can you translate an idea into a compelling product?

Exit Strategy 114

Exit Strategy Technology Revenue Conversion 114

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 18, 2024

With her expertise, she’s boosted hundreds of agencies to millions in revenue, attracting premium clients willing to pay 50-600% fees. As a former business exit advisor, she crafts exit strategies, adding up to five figures to clients’ net profit monthly so they can focus on growth. Why is that?

Framework 63

Framework Sales Cycle Sales Hiring 63

Up and Running

AUGUST 28, 2018

Financial summary: Explain your business model, startup costs, revenues, and liabilities to the company. Future products and services : Name the products/services you will offer as your practice grows and earns more money and as your patients develop new needs. Your funding ask and exit strategy, if applicable.

Business Plan 72

Business Plan Technical Review Exit Strategy Oregon 72

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 18, 2016

We just finished our Lean LaunchPad class at UC Berkeley’s engineering school where many of the teams embedded machine learning technology into their products. Later entrants who miss that wave have to build real products that people want to buy. Often no usable products exist and commercial viability is unproven.

Artificial Inteligence 318

Artificial Inteligence Lean Exit Strategy Startup 318

Hearpreneur

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Sometimes it can be so hard to truly optimize your sleep because of how inaccessible and expensive certain sleep products can be, so I wanted to work against that. I believe businesses across all industries can still provide top-notch, quality products to consumers, without forcing them to break the bank. Photo Credit: Orville Wright.

Entrepreneur 144

Entrepreneur Software Review LLC Web Development 144

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Build a prototype product. A conundrum for many frustrated entrepreneurs is that they need money from investors to design and build a prototype product, yet most angel investors expect to see at least a prototype before they invest. This must be someone who is willing to pay real money for your product or service.

Angel Investor 224

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

Remember, investors are buying into the business, not the product. Investors are business experts, while the entrepreneur is more likely the product expert. Every customer understands that your solution has to generate more revenue than cost, but you should not put that data in a customer pitch.

Product 120

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Burn Rate 120

YoungUpstarts

MAY 6, 2019

They make money by starting a product from scratch and then selling it in thousands of dollars. In most cases, they hit the jackpot when their products are sold for millions. You don’t have a product and most of your meetings will not bring any fruit. You are looking for cofounders that can help you build a product.

Startup 113

Startup Technical Cofounder Merger Early Stage 113

Up and Running

MAY 17, 2017

Plus, you’ll always be prepared in case an opportunity or desire to sell arises in the future—it’s a smart idea to have an exit strategy. In sales, it is a common practice to take the needs, wants, and desires of your potential customer and to present your product or service as a solution. million in sales revenue.

Acquisition 92

Acquisition Technical Review Revenue Exit Strategy 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2011

Assuming your startup takes off, you will probably find that the fun is gone by the time you reach 50 employees, or a few million in revenue. So here are the most common exit strategies and considerations these days for planning purposes: Merger & Acquisition (M&A). To some, an exit strategy sounds negative.

Exit Strategy 231

Exit Strategy Initial Public Offering Startup IPO 231

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

Innovative products and business models are the foundations of a promising startup. Funding is crucial for improving technology, hiring the right people, and launching a comprehensive marketing strategy to get a foothold in the market. However, sourcing enough money to start your new venture can be difficult. Venture capital.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

The subscription box industry is growing rapidly thanks to a steady revenue model and tapping into people’s love for surprises. Solution : How does your box and the products it contains solve that problem? Financial summary : Project your revenue for the first few years. Target market : What groups of people will want your box?

Business Plan 63

Business Plan Curation Balance Sheet Intellectual Property 63

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

Solution product & technology. Make sure to communicate the relevance of your product / services to market needs. In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Implicit in this is the go-to-market strategy. Exit strategy. Opportunity sizing.

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

Up and Running

OCTOBER 3, 2018

Financial Summary: Explain your business model, startup costs, revenues, and liabilities to the company. Future products and services. Name the products/services you will offer as your company earns more money and as your market develops new needs. Your funding ask and exit strategy, if applicable. Be specific.

El Paso 61

El Paso Business Plan Technical Review Forecast 61

Women Entrepreneurs Can

JUNE 3, 2021

There are several things that determine startup success such as having the right product market fit, having a product that the market needs, having the right team and having enough cash. These online tools are force multipliers and help you be more productive by automating tasks among other crucial benefits.

Partner 52

Partner Technical Review Cofounder Georgia 52

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. This is not the place for a detailed product specification, but an explanation of how and why it works, including a customer-centric quantification of the benefits. Exit strategy. Solution and benefits.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 17, 2007

They are quite happy with a business that will turn into a profitable $20M company and dont necessarily need an obvious exit strategy. Product Manager Entrepreneur Mark Geller SEO for Startups Startup Version 1.0 This is something Ive always wondered about. What can they do for funding, where can they go for help?

Incubator 150

Incubator Technical Cofounder Southern California Los Angeles 150

Up and Running

MAY 1, 2014

Accommodate your investors, and keep explanations of your product simple and direct, using terms that everyone can understand. Products and Services. If you need more space for product images or additional information, use the appendix for those details. This is your product or service. > Don’t be intimidated.

Business Plan 163

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Distribution 163