Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most have the technical challenges well understood, but many are a bit short on some basic street smarts , or basic business realities. It starts with documenting and communicating a real purpose and mission in terms everyone can get excited about. Neither is good.

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Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2010

A few angel investors have slipped or fallen from their lofty perch, so entrepreneurs must take great care to validate the character and reputation of every prospective investor. In fact, most angels are pure, but there are some exceptions that may cost you more than an investment: Shark angels. Litigious angels.

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Angel Writing Invest Startup 97

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. The size of the document should be based on your style, but 10-20 pages or slides are usually more than adequate to outline even a complex business.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Investing in entrepreneurs and startups is a fun but different world from investing in conventional stocks, bonds, and commodities. First of all, it’s more of an investment in people than in a business, since the startup is usually an idea barely half-baked when they need your money. Join an existing Angel investor group.

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Entrepreneur Startup Invest Incubator 102

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2020

Yet if that leaves you with no documented business plan or unclear strategy, most investors and even customers will walk away. I’m a total believer in servant leadership and mentoring others, but nobody wins when you are in charge as an entrepreneur, and the business fails because you didn’t do your job.

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Product Startup Tips Entrepreneur 123

InfoChachkie

MARCH 5, 2012

In 1961, after 70-years, professional baseball created its first expansion teams – the Angels and Twins. So it’s a very early form of investment. If you use the mentor-driven model that we pioneered at TechStars, you get entrepreneurs who are deeply connected with the broader entrepreneurial landscape.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2015

Investors are human and subject to human tendencies, whether they are your rich uncle, an angel investor with personal funds or a venture capital investor with institutional money. Here is a summary of some key investor stereotypes that generally need to be avoided: Investment sharks. Legal eagle investors. Academic coach investors.

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Entrepreneur Coach Invest Sample 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Reuters TV Interview by Rhonda Schaffler Investing in entrepreneurs and startups is a fun but different world from investing in conventional stocks, bonds, and commodities. First of all, it’s more of an investment in people than in a business, since the startup is usually an idea barely half-baked when they need your money.

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Startup Invest Incubator Ideas 91

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 10, 2010

If I AM an investor, mentor, friend or advisor I accept the email being longer. DON’T send me a frigging link to your document on DropBox or a request that the recipient visit your website to watch a video. Ask me something very narrow that I can answer without typing a whole blog post length response.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. The size of the document should be based on your style, but 10-20 pages or slides are usually more than adequate to outline even a complex business. In fact, the whole process is a waste of time.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 109

socalTECH

MAY 14, 2015

After the earnout after selling EQAL, I was investing in companies, and looking at the landscape, and saw this opportunity to improve the efficiency of healthcare and help doctors save money. We have had a whole bunch of other great investors, like Rincon Ventures, SV Angels, and lots of great angels. Explain how that works?

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Startup Content Technical Review Product 100

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 16, 2013

Previously known as GRP Partners, Upfront Ventures has focused on early stage investments since 1996. Fun Fact: Los Angeles heavy hitters J.J. Abrams, Jim Wiatt, and Zach James have presented at Amplify’s Wednesday evening mentor events. Get to know them now before they become household names. Venture Capital: Upfront Ventures.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist. Project revenues, costs and investment needs. The details can be added later. Now let’s talk about the bases that need to be covered.

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Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 8, 2011

HowSimple just launched into beta a next generation browser and desktop manager named andi (Advanced Numerous Document Interface). We leverage our network in the Los Angeles community to provide members with access to potential employees, mentors and investors. Xavor invest through our dependable consulting services.

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CalTech Technical Review Company Companies 100

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

Seth’s interest in helping others grew out of his lack of having a mentor. In 1995, while in high school, Seth wanted to start a business scanning paper documents for companies, but realized it was a non-starter when he learned that a scanner costs $4k. Seth also spoke about not accepting investment until after gaining traction.

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Startup Venture Capital Web Ideas 286

Jason Nazar

MAY 2, 2016

Find sources of capital— friends & family, business bank loans , angel investment , venture capital or even crowdfunding ( Crowdfunder , Fundable ). Set up a collaboration method for business documents, spreadsheets and presentations ( GoogleApps ). Business Mentors. Financing and Business Planning. Recommended.

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Outsource Development Startup Google Mentor 40

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

The second is that they are usually very experienced operators that can mentor the founding team. It’s why the best angels and seed investors are local and why the best independents are, too. I think when you choose an independent board member you should be thinking about somebody who can mentor you.

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