Berkonomics

MAY 22, 2014

Bill Payne has been actively involved in angel investing since 1980, funding over 50 companies and mentoring over 100 more. The sale of equity in private companies is regulated by the Securities Act of 1933, which requires that the company either register with the SEC or meet one of several exemptions (Regulation D).

Writing 199

Writing Invest Entrepreneur Equity 199

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Growth like this, this early in a company’s lifecycle rarely happens. Email updates frequently. And as Rob points out – if you email members with short updates more frequently they are more up to speed when you do need them to weigh in. Make your emails actionable. ” Or, “I sent u an email.

Tips 365

Tips Email Venture Capital CTO Coach 365

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

When you raise money from investors you produce information that you are told they want and care about: A fund-raising deck that articulates your company strategy, plans, team, market, competitors and so forth. VCs (and LPs) have a vested interest in having more data, whether they want to invest in your company / firm or not.

Funding 336

Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

SoCal CTO

MARCH 12, 2012

I've recently received several emails from people looking for a technical cofounder for their startup. I promised I would write this post with some thoughts and ideas on the topic. Here's an example of that kind of email. Here are some ideas: In your company or other companies. Get to know the developers.

CTO Hire 211

CTO Hire CTO Coach Startup Equity 211

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. What are related products/companies? You will get a response via email to schedule a time to talk. Do I have to write up the overview?

CTO Hire 264

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 264

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. What are related products/companies? You will get a response via email to schedule a time to talk. Do I have to write up the overview?

CTO Hire 259

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 259

Berkonomics

JUNE 2, 2010

But how about awarding stock options to all employees? . Tech companies, particularly early stage and startups, still award options aggressively. Email readers continue here.] Obviously for the appropriate individuals, a bonus program aligned to the department’s goals is appropriate. Yes, sometimes the news is not good.

Slides 216

Slides News Equity Writing 216

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 17, 2020

Let’s take a few minutes to examine the kind of equity financing available to small or early stage businesses. In most cases, these applicants for equity funding must be rooted in technology to apply to this limited discussion. Friends and family investors. We’ll call these “inside angels.” How many angel groups are there?

Equity 156

Equity Technical Review Class Organization 156

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

For years now, companies have been forced to choose between cumbersome, expensive Virtual Data Rooms and decentralized, unsecure email to manage their complex transactions. Yesterdays’ equity round of $1.6 million, brings the company’s aggregate amount of capital raised to $2.5 25 Years of Writing Code.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Software Review Bertelsmann Technology 88

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

If you truly believe that you, your company and your products are exceptional and your company will be valuable then you’re actually doing them a FAVOR by helping them invest in your startup. an investment in your company. Somehow many first-time founders equate “sales” with something that is beneath them.

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

InfoChachkie

JUNE 11, 2012

Mark Zuckerberg – “The dynamic of managing people and being CEO in a company is a lot different than being college roommates with someone.”. Although it may be comfortable to start a company with your friends, it is a mistake, unless your friend(s) happens to be ideally suited to their role in your venture. Share and Enjoy.

Tips 279

Tips Startup Education Entrepreneur 279

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

Many MBA programs still cater too much to the needs of large, corporate management jobs or prepare students to enter big consulting companies or investments banks. I got an email recently from my friend & fellow VC, Jeff Bussgang from Flybridge Capital Partners in Boston. And that leads me to today’s post. Specifically, 1.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

When to get a lawyer - If you plan to be a venture or angel backed technology company (what I mostly write about) the best time to start meeting and getting to know lawyers is long before you ever start your company. Many people start companies arse backwards. Our lives are intertwined.

Startup 318

Startup IP Southern California Entrepreneur 318

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2011

Jeff Zwelling is the co-founder of Convertro (www.convertro.com), a Los Angeles company focused on helping companies track how their marketing efforts are leading to sales conversions. Locally, those are companies like LegalZoom, GameFly, TrueCar, and ShoeDazzle. There are lots of e-commerce companies. Jeff Zwelling.

Startup 210

Startup Marketing Custom Customer 210

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

They’re not in search of price fixing or collusion, they’re in search of diligence information about the company. Convertible or equity? When I was fund raising for my second company we had agreed a company-wide deal with Salesforce.com to use our product. Two emailed Marc Benioff directly.

Pricing 292

Pricing Entrepreneur Technical Review Venture Capital 292

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

Don’t and you might make one catastrophic mistake that leaves you in the annals of Effed Companies. He is very hands-on and helpful – especially for any company looking into customer acquisition. Big thank you to Darius Vasefi , of EyeOnJewels for the write up. Here’s a summary of our interview.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Startup Custom Customer 304

Berkonomics

APRIL 3, 2014

We’ve spoken of financing a young company through friends and family, known as “inside angels.” There are three classes of equity investors for early stage businesses that we have not yet considered. Email readers, continue here.] With angel groups, you should plan of spending months in the process, from application through funding.

Equity 232

Equity Startup Organization Invest 232

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

That’s why it’s important to revisit your company’s mission from time-to-time. We try to hire deeply analytical associates to can help companies problem solve and who make us better investors. Take some time to reflect on how well defined you believe your company’s sense of purpose is.

Startup 150

Startup Coach Course Invest 150

InfoChachkie

APRIL 3, 2012

When the going gets tough (as it always does at any startup) the Wantrepreneurs get busy emailing their resumes to prospective employers. Did you just meet the shy boy who spent his High School years writing in his journal or the boisterous verbal bully who used her wit to hide her insecurities? Job Hunting With A Rifle Or Shotgun?

Entrepreneur 219

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Journal 219

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

When venture capitalists scale back investing activities it can be very swift and leave many companies that are in the process of fund raising hung out to dry. This should not be confused with raising too much money as many companies did in 2006-08. They also make M&A activity more difficult and with lower outcomes.

Venture Capital 263

Venture Capital Startup Invest Funding 263

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2011

By John Williams Fast Company magazine recently reported that PayPal founder Paul Thiel is giving away $100,000 to twenty-four young men and women to finance startup businesses. An inflated sense of financial well-being can result in sloppy budgeting and accounting as you write checks here and there without pause. Take advantage.

Startup 92

Startup Capital Blogging Ideas 92

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

We get a lot more emails from women entrepreneurs who say they are a high net worth in their community and we should come and help boost the number of angel investors in their companies. The women in the program commit $5,000 and invest as a group of woman in a social venture in exchange for equity. They don’t reply?

Mentor 84

Mentor Invest Entrepreneur Startup 84

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2012

From LA Demo Day to Silicon Beach Fest to Crowdstart LA to hackathons to Startup Weekends, companies and entrepreneurs alike have joined forces to feed the startup ecosystem. Startup Weekend is a 54-hour frenzy in which a group of strangers can come together to form a company and compete for prizes. domain for the company.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas San Diego Mentor 100

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

When should you start a company? What company should you start? When should you join a company? Anyone who has worked in a large company further knows that timing a product launch or a new marketing strategy has more to do with internal politics than reading market forces. When should a VC invest?

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Frank Addante

APRIL 16, 2007

. ► November (1) 2 Ears and 1 Mouth: There's a Reason ► October (2) Be Best at Something Tear Down Your Firewalls ► September (3) Elements of Sustainable Companies We're Not Saving Lives. Web Development & Marketing Technology) Exit: evolved into L90 (next company) Lesson: What you dont know cant stop you.

Google 40

Google Advertising Startup Venture Capital 40

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

This continues my series of posts: Top 30 Startup Posts for July 2010 Top 30 Startup Posts in June 2010 Top 29 Startup Posts May 2010 Startup CTO Top 30 Posts for April 16 Great Startup Posts from March Here they are: How to Minimize Politics in Your Company - Ben's Blog , August 24, 2010 “Who the f@#k you think you f$&kin’ with.

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Why Every Entrepreneur Should Write and 9 Tips To Get Started - OnStartups , September 27, 2010 "The best part of blogging is the people you will meet"- Hugh MacLeod repeating wisdom from Loic Lemeur to me at the Big Pink at 2 am in South Beach after the Future of Web Apps 2008. Why You Should Write. Why You Should Write.

Startup 191

Startup Product Technology Venture Capital 191

Berkonomics

JANUARY 16, 2014

Email readers, continue here.] Example: salary, equity, joint venture, etc… Can the business afford it? Review long term company debt, goals, objectives and financial projections. All agreements should be in writing and signed by all parties involved. Access to new markets. Addition of new services or product lines.

Technical Review 204

Technical Review Startup Examples Metrics 204

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

As an entrepreneur, I helped create companies which achieved two IPOs and two trade sales totaling $385 million. No one has heard of you, your company or your solutions. Evaluate their sincerity by asking them to accept equity in exchange for all or a portion of their overall compensation. Grant Exclusivity. Fallacy: Yes.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

aka: An Open Letter to the Next Big Social Network) - 500 Hats , November 1, 2010 I've held off writing this post for a long time, because I couldn't quite get my head around all the issues. We had several emails back and forth where he provided basic details on the concept. Who better to answer than the company's engineering lead.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

I’ve always been a big believer that just a couple of key individuals make all of the difference in a company’s success. Your highest priority right now is hiring the 1 or 2 people that are going to join your company and make a difference. Patron Companies. The ingredients are all here.

Venture Capital 317

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Press 317

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2011

I was an angel investor in his company, made a bunch of calls on his behalf and then I personally sent it out on AngelList. If I’m not mistaken, I may have been the first person to send out an angel “personal intro&# email on AngelList through their new platform when it launched or at least I was one of the first few.

Startup 292

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Summary 292

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 20, 2014

myLINGO is the first product of her company Oladas, Inc., Explain to our readers why you started your company, and why you created your app myLINGO. It was great to relive a moment when I was in my dorm room at Harvard and watching Toy Story 3 on my laptop and seeing something that we built with no cash, just sweat equity.

Startup 91

Startup Entertainment CTO Coach Screening 91

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2013

Consider the non-cash alternatives, like offering team members equity instead of cash and bartering for services. I believe the process of writing the plan is more valuable than the result, because it forces you to think through all the elements, and make sure they fit together and fit you. Do you have a viable plan? Ask around.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Funding Training Startup 101

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Beyond the traditional new product or service model, you can always buy an existing business, purchase a franchise, join a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, or simply go out on your own as a consultant. Consider the non-cash alternatives, like offering equity instead of cash and bartering for services. Ask around.

Training 96

Training Ideas Entrepreneur Commerce 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Beyond the traditional new product or service model, you can always buy an existing business, purchase a franchise, join a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, or simply go out on your own as a consultant. Consider the non-cash alternatives, like offering equity instead of cash and bartering for services. Ask around.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Invest Training Ideas 103

InfoChachkie

JUNE 27, 2011

My response was brief and straightforward, which is common of popular Quora answers (as discussed in How To Write An Effective Quora Answer ). Although my answer was off-the-cuff, the question caused me to consider the issue of raising entrepreneurial children in greater depth, which led me to write this series.

Entrepreneur 270

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Resource 270