Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2018

Every entrepreneur wants to hear “yes” during the fund-raising process but I would argue that being too risk averse and not pushing hard enough and be willing to hear a “no” is what holds back many people from “yes.” Do they have authority to invest? What I’m looking for in the conversation is: Whom at the firm are you meeting with?

Funding 189

Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Venture Capital 189

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

But many have no insight or connections to the ethereal angel investment community, which In the U.S. contributes more than $25 billion to fund 70,000 startups every year. By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. Avoid risky or questionable business domains.

Venture Capital 106

Venture Capital Angel Seed Funding Invest 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2023

Every startup dreams of achieving that milestone, when they can focus more on scaling the business and enjoying their earnings, rather than fighting for another investment infusion. Re-investing profits to grow the business is organic growth. High customer loyalty and high team passion.

Organization 94

Organization Invest Customer Custom 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2020

Every startup dreams of achieving that milestone, when they can focus more on scaling the business and enjoying their earnings, rather than fighting for another investment infusion. Re-investing profits to grow the business is organic growth. High customer loyalty and high team passion.

Organization 173

Organization Invest Customer Custom 173

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Gross Burn vs. Net Burn. Burn rate in case you don’t know is the amount of money a company is either spending (gross) or losing (net) per month. (it Net burn is the amount of money you are losing per month. I often see companies burning $100,000 per month (net) looking to raise $6-8 million.

Startup 383

Startup Company Companies .Net 383

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 30, 2019

Nine years after launching its online magazine, and three years after diversifying into the subscription box business , FabFitFun has raised $80 million in a growth round of funding led by Kleiner Perkins with participation from its previous investors Upfront Ventures and NEA. .

Newsletter 212

Newsletter Los Angeles .Net Platform 212

Berkonomics

MARCH 30, 2012

You have enough in savings to get started, but how and where do you go to find additional funding sources? There is still abundant money available for early stage investment, but many of the rules have changed, as well as the processes for accessing these resources. Email readers, continue here.] Start here, and then move on.

Funding 192

Funding Entrepreneur Startup Invest 192

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 5, 2020

Today, one of the companies that is supplying produce and other items both to consumers and other services that are in turn selling food and groceries to them, is announcing a new round of funding as it gears up to take its next step, an IPO. Source tell us it is now between $400 million and $500 million.

Technical Review 343

Technical Review Startup Marketing San Diego 343

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

[Email readers, continue here…] Bootstrapping: This term describes your ability to start a business with little investment and grow it using internally-generated funds. Strategic partner” investors: If you can find a strategic partner willing to invest in your enterprise, consider it a blessing.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2023

For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide. Negotiate an advance from a strategic partner or customer. Fund your startup yourself. Solicit venture capital investors.

Startup 106

Startup Capital Equity Funding 106

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

You can’t succeed in business without an operational model that delivers value to customers at a reasonable price, with an underlying cost that allows you to make a profit. A target market is the group of customers that the startup plans to attract through marketing and sales their product or service. Target market. Sales/Marketing.

Sales 102

Sales Customer Custom Outsource 102

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide. Negotiate an advance from a strategic partner or customer. Fund your startup yourself. Solicit venture capital investors.

Funding 107

Funding Startup Equity Examples 107

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 12, 2020

Jeff Bezos is one of the world’s most admired entrepreneurs, primarily because of his humble style and his growth from a regular person background to a current net worth in the neighborhood of $200 billion dollars. It allows investors to come into alignment with customers. Focus relentlessly and passionately on the customer.

Slides 137

Slides Customer Custom Satisfaction 137

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2014

For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide. Negotiate an advance from a strategic partner or customer. Fund your startup yourself. Solicit venture capital investors.

Startup 113

Startup Entrepreneur Funding Equity 113

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 8, 2020

Today, a startup that is doing this in the specific area of distressed property is announcing a round of growth funding to ramp up its team and expand its business. The funding is being led by QED Investors; Founders Fund, Susa Ventures, Navitas Capital, and Prudence Holdings also participated. million Series A also led by QED.

Sales 282

Sales Demand San Diego Funding 282

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

In one year of Airbnb Tracy netted more than $28,000. She focused on her customer. Tracy is knowledgeable enough to talk tech and swap design & product stories with other founders, but she realized early that networking amongst this group and reading and writing in their journals would not bring her more customers.

Startup 363

Startup Entrepreneur SEO Venture Capital 363

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2010

Bockerstette, Main Street Venture Fund As I outlined last week, trophy angel investors are always looking for trophy entrepreneurs. The result is that the Main Street Venture Fund consistently has more money available than good opportunities for investment. Main Street has a desired investment term of three to five years.

Funding 106

Funding Startup Entrepreneur Activity 106

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

To grow faster businesses need resources in today’s financial period to fund growth that may not come for 6 months to a year. You have to understand whether they’re likely to yield revenue growth in the near term OR whether you have access to cheap enough capital to fund your losses until your investments pay off.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2021

This usually means not taking money from equity investors, since investors want fast growth, high profits, and an exit event, to allow investments to be recouped. If you are living your passion, you want to interact with customers, and “touch and feel” the product every day. Startup funding comes from personal savings and family.

Entrepreneur 148

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Course 148

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2019

If you are looking for funding and customers for your new business, you need to identify your “unique selling proposition” (USP) right up front, in 30 seconds or less, to differentiate yourself in today’s information overload. Investor and customer attention spans are short, and both will write you off quickly.

.Net 73

.Net Examples Customer Custom 73

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. Early customers and contracts in progress add value. NewCo doesn’t have any of these yet.

Startup 108

Startup Invest Patents Outsource Development 108

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2010

Clearstone currently invests out of a $200 million fund based in LA with offices in Menlo Park and in India. Segment One: Jim’s background and Clearstone’s investment strategy. Segment Three: “VC Deals Funded this Week”. the funding and market coverage. Segment Two: “Deal of the Week”. LivingSocial.

Clearstone 236

Clearstone Venture Capital ReachLocal Google 236

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2017

To grow faster businesses need resources in today to fund growth that may not come for 6 months to a year. They don’t want high burn rates but they will never fund slow growth. Do 20% of the customers make 80% of the revenue or do the top 3 customers represent 80% of the revenue. Is it one product line or multiple?

Startup 227

Startup Venture Capital Sales Course 227

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

But many have no insight or connections to the ethereal angel investment community, which actually funds more startups then all other venture sources combined (over $25 billion annually). By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business.

Angel 106

Angel Startup Venture Capital Seed Funding 106

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2014

Every startup dreams of achieving that milestone, when they can focus more on scaling the business and enjoying their earnings rather than fighting for another investment infusion. Re-investing profits to grow the business is organic growth. High customer loyalty and high team passion.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Organization Invest Customer 98

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2018

For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide. Negotiate an advance from a strategic partner or customer. Fund your startup yourself. Solicit venture capital investors.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Funding 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 1, 2010

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping you growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Self-funding from your savings is the preferred source of cash for your startup – if you have it. Of course, there are pros and cons to each of these. Angel investors.

Funding 59

Funding Startup Technical Review Equity 59

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. Early customers and contracts in progress add value. NewCo doesn’t have any of these yet.

Funding 98

Funding Startup Patents Outsource Development 98

socalTECH

MAY 30, 2012

One way is getting funding from your potential customers. Wil Schroter: We're a crowd-funding platform for startups. Wil Schroter: We had been in the startup space for a long time, watching lots and lots of companies--my own included--try to get funded. We believe that there is more than one way to crowd fund a company.

Startup 223

Startup Equity Venture Capital Ideas 223

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2016

Every startup dreams of achieving that milestone, when they can focus more on scaling the business and enjoying their earnings, rather than fighting for another investment infusion. Re-investing profits to grow the business is organic growth. High customer loyalty and high team passion.

Startup 58

Startup Organization Invest Customer 58

InfoChachkie

JULY 11, 2011

In the past, venture debt was often viewed as a funding vehicle of last resort. The nature of the company’s business model requires it to fund certain costs before it is paid by its customers. Thus, even though the company is cash flow positive, its growth is constrained by the amount of payables it can fund.

Equity 235

Equity Startup Invest Funding 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2012

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping your growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Self-funding is the preferred source of cash for your startup – if you can do it. Use this approach before you have a real valuation, a real product, or any real customers.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Equity Incubator Venture Capital 103

Berkonomics

JANUARY 20, 2010

Bootstrapping: This term describes your ability to start a business with little investment and grow it using internally-generated funds. It’s an option, even though an expensive one. “ Strategic partner” investors: If you can find a strategic partner willing to invest in your enterprise, consider it a blessing.

Venture Capital 174

Venture Capital Invest Class Entrepreneur 174

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2010

While entrepreneurs freely throw around the term “value proposition,” they rarely offer a thoughtful explanation for the “value” their business is providing and, more importantly, an understanding of who their real customer is and what valuable benefit their customer perceives they are receiving.

Startup 95

Startup .Net Customer Custom 95

Tech Coast Venture Network

APRIL 22, 2010

Virgina Lorimor There are several options for financing a start-up business that tend to follow a natural course in a business’ development: Personal Investment. With rare exception, you will need to finance personally (or with friends and family to the point of revenue and/or significant customer pre-order or commitment).

Startup 124

Startup Tech Coast Angels TCVN Incubator 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2011

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping your growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Self-funding is the preferred source of cash for your startup – if you can do it. Use this approach before you have a real valuation, a real product, or any real customers.

Startup 93

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2019

This usually means not taking money from equity investors, since investors want fast growth, high profits, and an exit event, to allow investments to be recouped. If you are living your passion, you want to interact with customers, and “touch and feel” the product every day. Startup funding comes from personal savings and family.

Startup 77

Startup Equity Entrepreneur Course 77