View from Seed

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

As the former Head of Product at Blue Apron where I also built and led our Analytics & Data Science team (I know enough SQL to be dangerous), I have an intuitive sense for the “when” and “what” of this role. Analytics vs. Finance?—?what’s In reality, these two domains require quite different skill sets (more on this later).

Analytics 149

Analytics Hiring SQL Forecast 149

www.mint.com

MARCH 9, 2010

If the answer to the question centers around “We will achieve revenue soon so our net will improve and give us more runway,” it means the company is in trouble because no product ever ships on time nor achieves the company’s “conservative forecast.” Life is challenging for a company that has undistinguished products and services.

Software Review 68

Software Review Startup Post-Money Valuation Technical Review 68

Small Business Force

FEBRUARY 21, 2014

In early stage companies (and even some later stage or mature ones), there is no one area where most entrepreneurs and small business owners are lacking in just basic fundamentals, than in dealing with their company's finances and financial management. Go spring for some basic accounting software, early. What are yours?

Finance 37

Finance Management Forecast Entrepreneur 37

Ben's Blog

AUGUST 17, 2020

But, accurately forecasting the size, timing, and risk of cash flow over many years can be incredibly challenging, so many investors often rely on valuation multiples as a proxy for determining what a company is worth. cash flows beyond that forecast period). It starts with the complexity involved in valuing companies in general.

Valuation 36

Valuation Balance Sheet Cofounder Forecast 36

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 1, 2009

Sloan realized that the traditional centralized management structures (like General Motors had in 1920) were poor fits for the management of GM’s already diverse product lines. Sloan kept the corporate staff small and focused on policymaking, corporate finance and planning. Think of the iPod family and its yearly new models.)

Silicon Valley 161

Silicon Valley United States RSS Customer Development 161

Hunter Walker

FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Asking founders to prematurely perfectly forecast the amount of capital they need to get to a Series A is an unnecessary constraint. Why should I expect premature precision in budgeting and forecasting the capital requirements? Why does this matter to founders (and to us)? A few reasons.

Forecast 109

Forecast Early Stage Dilution Later Stage 109

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Valuing any company can be difficult because it requires a degree of forecasting future growth & competition and ultimately the profits of the organization. The principle of microeconomics is that at a market-clearing price for any product the right amount of sellers and buyers will emerge and a price will be set. And so it goes.

Valuation 150

Valuation Down Round Startup Later Stage 150