Berkonomics

MAY 8, 2014

The company has been funded entirely by grants from the National Institute of Health, amounting to millions of non-dilutive dollars in all. I am chairman of a company that, as I write this, is twelve years old and has not yet taken a dollar of outside investment. And often, grants come with detailed accounting and reporting requirements.

Company 166

Company Companies Writing Education 166

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2017

And of course we help with business development introductions and with fund raising events. Boards are not appointed to be founder-friendly lapdogs for the 1–3 founders who start companies and usually own the largest equity positions in the company. Often we are asked to get involved in executive-level recruiting.

Startup 217

Startup Technical Review Equity Report 217

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

Customers today quickly get beyond these, and put a competitive priority on the experience of others, reflected in reviews and social media, and their own total experience with your sales process, delivery, returns, and support on their schedule. These have the vision and the resources to fund long-term digital success.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 23, 2012

One of the first tough decisions that startup founders have to make is how to allocate or split the equity among co-founders. Another common “failure to start” situation I see is one where the “idea person” insists that the idea is 90% of the value (and 90% of the equity). Expertise can be marketing, technical, financial, or sales.

Startup 101

Startup Entrepreneur Equity CTO Hire 101

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. Always add 20 percent to your best estimate of funding requirements when approaching investors. Waiting until you have something to sell before bringing on a sales and operations staff. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2016

If you expect an equity investment from reputable investors for your new startup, you need to know the boundaries that often limit their interest. It costs very little to file a provisional patent to begin your protection. In the jargon of investors, certain businesses may be viable but not fundable. Minimize both.

Funding 57

Funding Social Media Startup Patents 57

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. Always add 20 percent to your best estimate of funding requirements when approaching investors. Waiting until you have something to sell before bringing on a sales and operations staff. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

This is also the place to first mention patents and any other differentiators that put you ahead of competition. What are your specific marketing and sales plans? You need to identify pricing details, sales channels, strategic partners and a customized marketing plan consistent with your industry and target segment.

Invest 108

Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2013

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need expensive resources up front.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Technical Review Equity 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need expensive resources up front.

Technical Review 95

Technical Review Startup Equity Entrepreneur 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

Unfortunately, customers look for value in solving their problem, and new technologies alone scare them, so these solutions don’t get bought by customers, or funded. Potential investors love to see gross margins in the fifty percent range or greater, with recurring revenue through subscriptions, follow-on sales, or services.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. Always add 20 percent to your best estimate of funding requirements when approaching investors. Waiting until you have something to sell before bringing on a sales and operations staff. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

For example, “I just patented a new cell-phone technology that will double battery life for half the cost. List key competitors and alternatives, highlighting your sustainable competitive advantages, such as patents and trademarks. Marketing, sales, and customer experience. Use concrete terms to quantify value and pain.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need expensive resources up front.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Equity 102

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

Describe your technology patents and “secret sauce”. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe marketing strategy, sales plan, licensing, and partnership plans. Funding requirements and use of funds. What is the level of capital funding sought during this stage? Opportunity sizing. Exit strategy.

Slides 99

Slides Competition Sample Sales 99

socalTECH

DECEMBER 7, 2016

Barry Lieberman: My backgruond is about 35 years in technology, business development, and sales and marketing. I built my own company around marketing services, and have been around business development, marketing, custom service, and sales, and also on the consumer side of technology, a little bit a mix of the two. All are separate.

Tech Coast Angels 100

Tech Coast Angels CTO Coach Startup Pasadena Angels 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2013

I like the work just published by Bob Rice in “ The Alternative Answer ,” which does a great job of summarizing the investment universe, starting with the “conventional” stocks, bonds, and real estate, but moving on through more esoteric alternatives, including hedge funds, private equity, real assets, managed futures, and finally venture funding.

Invest 107

Invest Startup Venture Capital Ideas 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

Describe your technology patents and “secret sauce”. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe marketing strategy, sales plan, licensing, and partnership plans. Funding requirements and use of funds. What is the level of capital funding sought during this stage? Opportunity sizing. Exit strategy.

Slides 93

Slides Competition Sample Sales 93

Xconomy

JUNE 3, 2016

Merck also saw some expected fruits of its 2014 big-ticket acquisition of Cubist Pharmaceuticals wither away this week, as the Supreme Court wouldn’t reverse a decision that shaved years off the patent life of the top-selling antibiotic daptomyicin (Cubicin). ” The project leaders are seeking $100 million in funding.

San Diego 62

San Diego Patents Acquisition News 62

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2012

I offer these pragmatic recommendations: Buffer your funding requirements. Consider both the money you need before funding, and the size of investor funding requests. Barter services and use equity to get things done for minimum cash. Make marketing and sales a priority. Reign-in expenses.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Social Network Startup Patents 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

I offer these pragmatic recommendations: Buffer your funding requirements. Consider both the money you need before funding, and the size of investor funding requests. Barter services and use equity to get things done for minimum cash. Make marketing and sales a priority. Reign-in expenses.

Mentor 100

Mentor Startup Social Network Patents 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

Describe your technology patents and “secret sauce”. Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe marketing strategy, sales plan, licensing, and partnership plans. Funding requirements and use of funds. What is the level of capital funding sought during this stage? Opportunity sizing. Exit strategy.

Slides 94

Slides Competition Sample Sales 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

I offer these pragmatic recommendations: Buffer your funding requirements. Consider both the money you need before funding, and the size of investor funding requests. Barter services and use equity to get things done for minimum cash. Make marketing and sales a priority. Reign-in expenses.

Tips 102

Tips Help Startup Blogging 102

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 30, 2012

This is the origin of the “solution looking for a problem” and “if we build it, they will come” syndromes, which result in surprise and frustration waiting for funding, and waiting for customers that don’t materialize. It is to earn more bottom-line profit-ability than a random walk. Form a basis for making better decisions. Scalability.

Startup 99

Startup Competition IP Patents 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2010

I offer these pragmatic recommendations: Buffer your funding requirements. Consider both the money you need before funding, and the size of investor funding requests. Barter services and use equity to get things done for minimum cash. Make marketing and sales a priority. Reign-in expenses.

Guide 92

Guide Startup Social Network Patents 92

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2010

This is the origin of the “ solution looking for a problem ” and “ if we build it, they will come ” syndromes, which result in surprise and frustration waiting for funding, and waiting for customers that don’t materialize. It is to earn more bottom-line profit-ability than a random walk. To form a basis for making better decisions.

Startup 92

Startup Competition IP Patents 92

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 9, 2009

We brought together Peter Cowen of Groundwork Equity , Mark Suster of GRP Partners , Rick Smith of Crosscut Ventures , and Richard Yen of Saban Ventures -- all of who will be on the judging panel for the Tech Coast Angel's Fast Pitch on February 24th, to give us a their hints and tips about pitching to venture capitalists.

Tech Coast Angels 100

Tech Coast Angels Ideas Entrepreneur Invest 100

SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

The short story is that he received 400+ responses and goes through how he categorized/vetted the responses: 300 Didn’t Fit – Outside expertise/interest, pushing for immediate funding assistance, too many ideas (not focused), looking for sales agents.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Technical Advisors CTO Coach Startup 170