Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2022

Actually, according to Paul Graham of Y-Combinator fame, “Raising money is the second hardest part of starting a startup. More startups may fail for that reason, but a close second is the difficulty of raising money. Angels are typically high net worth individuals who are investing their own money, for a wide range of motives.

Invest 153

Invest Angel .Net Startup 153

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2015

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. For aspiring entrepreneurs, or if your last startup failed, it’s all about standing out above the crowd of others like you, and demonstrating your readiness.

Startup 104

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Slides 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2019

Actually, according to Paul Graham of Y-Combinator fame, “Raising money is the second hardest part of starting a startup. More startups may fail for that reason, but a close second is the difficulty of raising money. Angels are typically high net worth individuals who are investing their own money, for a wide range of motives.

Angel 99

Angel Startup Invest .Net 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2014

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” On the other hand, there are many additional creative options available for starting a business that you might not find for buying a car, home, or other major consumer item. Trade equity or services for startup help.

Startup 113

Startup Entrepreneur Funding Equity 113

Tech.Co

JULY 24, 2017

Especially in the early days of your startup, when you’re often only months from running out of money, hiring the wrong person can be disastrous. And if, like us, you spend the first six months of your startup under a rock, your social capital may begin to dry up. But how do you go about pitching your friends?

Networking 82

Networking Startup Software Review Conference 82

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2018

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” On the other hand, there are many additional creative options available for starting a business that you might not find for buying a car, home, or other major consumer item. Trade equity or services for startup help.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Funding 96

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2018

You need to get guidance before you start a new venture, connections to investors as you seek funding to scale the business, and expansion and exit insights as the business matures. Whether the business topics are investing or mentoring, networking is personal as well as business. Be prepared to exchange business cards and follow up.

Networking 86

Networking Startup Mentor .Net 86

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

Let me start out with my premise: “Data rooms are where fund-raising processes go to die.” I have to back up and give you more context. Getting follow-on meetings is very hard because if the VC wasn’t totally persuaded in the first pitch meeting they aren’t likely to want to commit more time.

Funding 336

Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2018

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. For aspiring entrepreneurs, or if your last startup failed, it’s all about standing out above the crowd of others like you, and demonstrating your readiness.

Startup 65

Startup Entrepreneur Slides Content 65

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” On the other hand, there are many additional creative options available for starting a business that you might not find for buying a car, home, or other major consumer item. Trade equity or services for startup help.

Funding 107

Funding Startup Equity Examples 107

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2014

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. For aspiring entrepreneurs, or if your last startup failed, it’s all about standing out above the crowd of others like you. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Slides 108

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

Note: This is Part II in the Startup Team Building series. Tolkien’s The Hobbit exemplifies the proper attitude that you must have when joining a startup adVenture. You have no plans to found a startup, but you are driven to join a team that is building something from nothing. Read Part I HERE. No problem. Be patient.

Startup 205

Startup Entrepreneur Help Invest 205

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). And even with the significant cost of credit card debt, many entrepreneurs aggressively use existing cards to finance a startup.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2013

Actually, according to Paul Graham of Y-Combinator fame, “Raising money is the second hardest part of starting a startup. More startups may fail for that reason, but a close second is the difficulty of raising money. Angels are typically high net worth individuals who are investing their own money, for a wide range of motives.

Angel 101

Angel Funding Startup Invest 101

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 25, 2010

Quite honestly I see way too many company pitches that are designed for Techies but I only want to invest in products designed for Normals. Start by defining the problem you’re solving – I see way too many early-stage entrepreneurs who start their companies with a product definition rather than a market problem.

Product 348

Product Startup Design Blogging 348

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series “ Start Up Advice &# but I’d really like to call this post, “VC Advice.&#. Let me start with a couple of stories. The net effect for [my company] for example is we are now doing reasonably well. You start leaving the office earlier. It’s that simple.

Venture Capital 329

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur 329

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

If there happens to be a gas station along the way where you can fill up for a reasonable price, great. In 2000, at Expertcity (creator of GoToMyPC and GoToMeeting, acquired by Citrix), we raised $30 million at an $80 million pre-money valuation – for a startup with absolutely zero revenue. However, do not count on it.

Startup 221

Startup Pricing Entrepreneur Email 221

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2011

Actually, according to Paul Graham , “Raising money is the second hardest part of starting a startup. More startups may fail for that reason, but a close second is the difficulty of raising money. Angels are typically high net worth individuals who are investing their own money, for a wide range of motives.

Angel 97

Angel Startup Invest .Net 97

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2010

Startups and entrepreneurs need to be realists. While the amounts were down, the number of startups that took slices of the pie went up by 9 percent (780 total), perhaps signaling that investors are trying to be more economical with their funds. Personal networking is key. Hone your executive summary. Marty Zwilling.

Venture Capital 90

Venture Capital Capital Startup Summary 90

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Natalia not only wants to increase the number of women in investment, but bring more people in total to help startups and other businesses get the capital they need. In addition with investing, there are members of the Pipeline Fellowship who individually invested into another company they have met through the Pitch Summit.

Mentor 84

Mentor Invest Entrepreneur Startup 84

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2011

And a key point is that when it comes down to “negotiations&# you need to turn up your personal heat and dial back the middle man. Let me start with an example. She told me, “start with the price you want but the move in date he wants.&#. That said, there are times where you need to cast a wider net.

Venture Capital 319

Venture Capital Pricing Startup Outsource 319

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2017

Actually, according to Paul Graham of Y-Combinator fame, “Raising money is the second hardest part of starting a startup. More startups may fail for that reason, but a close second is the difficulty of raising money. Angels are typically high net worth individuals who are investing their own money, for a wide range of motives.

Angel 63

Angel Invest .Net Funding 63

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 1, 2016

We All Know That Dollars into Venture Have Gone Up … As a starting point, we know that the dollars into venture have steadily rebounded to pre great-recession levels, with just under $30 billion committed to US technology venture capital in 2015. That’s money that fuels our startup ecosystems.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Capital Marketing Seed Funding 150

Steve Reich

JULY 20, 2013

Worse yet, Angels will no longer be able to “self certify” as accredited investors–we will have to show W2′s or proof of our net worth, and most of us will never be willing to share such personal information. And did I mention that pitch events will become a form of illegal solicitation?

Pasadena Angels 45

Pasadena Angels Pasadena .Net Writing 45

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Actually, according to Paul Graham , “Raising money is the second hardest part of starting a startup. More startups may fail for that reason, but a close second is the difficulty of raising money. Angels are typically high net worth individuals who are investing their own money, for a wide range of motives.

Angel 98

Angel Invest .Net Startup 98

Tech Coast Venture Network

MARCH 9, 2011

But as the stock market edges ever higher and the wealthier feel healthier, there’s a good chance that American startups will also get their moment in the sun. “It’s a targeted way to get access to investors and acquire intelligence on the personality of the angel group, all in one pop,” Sudek says.

Tips 100

Tips Capital Tech Coast Angels Screening 100

Xconomy

OCTOBER 5, 2016

The first round of pitches are due this week. “We have a window of opportunity to start incorporating security measures on the front end.” “We have a window of opportunity to start incorporating security measures on the front end.”

Research 111

Research Technical Review Conference Software Review 111

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 13, 2010

As noted in Net Profit Score , salespeople have used references as a means of establishing credibility with strangers for hundreds of years. This will result in personal and specific descriptions of your involvement. However, be sure that any statistics you quote are primarily attributable to your personal efforts.

Startup 113

Startup .Net Organization Networking 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2010

Actually, according to Paul Graham , “Raising money is the second hardest part of starting a startup. More startups may fail for that reason, but a close second is the difficulty of raising money. A while back, I outlined “ Ten Top Funding Sources for Startups ” for startups, listing angel investors as alternative #6.

Angel 91

Angel Tips Invest .Net 91

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

As discussed in Personal Pitch , entrepreneurs must cultivate the help of Donors during the early days of their adVenture. Such Donors are willing to expend time and resources to assist the startup, often without monetary gain. I relish helping startups recruit executive talent and establish partnerships.

Entrepreneur 210

Entrepreneur Help Networking Startup 210

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2018

In the case of the investment they are often also not only committing personal risk of looking bad at their partnership if things don’t go well but also countless hours of board meetings, financial reviews, legal documents across what is often 7–10 years or more. Embrace “no” and don’t take it personally. I’d give it a bigger shot.

Funding 189

Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Venture Capital 189

socalTECH

JULY 13, 2009

Mark has also been quite active mentoring entrepreneurs, We caught up with Mark to hear about what kinds of investments GRP is looking at nowadays, his view on the software-as-a-service market, and how best to approach him with a pitch. Mark Suster: Let's start at the 50,000 foot level, then I'll segue into that question.

GRP Partners 157

GRP Partners Southern California Santa Barbara Rustic Canyon 157

InfoChachkie

JULY 14, 2009

Pop Quiz: Who was this person and what did they ultimately do with the cards dealt them? Some first-time entrepreneurs mistakenly believe that they are not entrepreneurs because they have never invented anything nor have they come up with a novel idea upon which a company could be built. Source: Harold Evans, They Made America.

Entrepreneur 153

Entrepreneur Ideas Writing Startup 153