Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2022

Maintaining your team’s passion and freedom to focus first on innovating for customers are only a couple of the reasons for thinking hard before you seek money from crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital organizations, or attempt to qualify for a public stock offering. Investors want board seats and a vote on key decisions.

Funding 107

Funding Startup Satisfaction Venture Capital 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2020

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, it still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return. In the U.S.,

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Satisfaction Equity 129

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. Last year 300,000+ American angels invested an estimated $25 billion in more than 70,000 startup deals.

Startup 128

Startup Social Media Satisfaction Entrepreneur 128

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 29, 2020

Maintaining your team’s passion and freedom to focus first on innovating for customers are only a couple of the reasons for thinking hard before you seek money from crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital organizations, or attempt to qualify for a public stock offering. Investors want board seats and a vote on key decisions.

Startup 124

Startup Satisfaction Venture Capital Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

Based on my own experience as a mentor and angel investor, I find that as many as ninety percent of startups fail in the first five years, despite their best efforts. But if you do it right, the joys and satisfaction, as well as financial returns, of your success can’t be beat. The key is not to expect any magic or entitlement here.

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Tool 98

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2022

As a former angel investor, I look for this level of alignment and understanding in every funding presentation I hear. Then there is the follow-up to provide customer support and satisfaction. Every startup looking for investment needs a solid partner story. It shows you how everyone works in synergy. Key partners.

Funding 133

Funding Activity Customer Custom 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2022

Effective scaling and growth often requires more investment than is available from early organic returns. You need to evaluate the tradeoffs of getting investment capital from angel investors and crowdsourcing. These also will keep you better informed on new technologies, trends, and likely competitors.

Technical Review 142

Technical Review Social Media Conference Customer 142

socalTECH

APRIL 4, 2011

In our Insights and Opinions section today, we have an article from Frank Peters , angel investor and podcaster at the Frank Peters Show , who talks about how he's suddenly taking another look at social entrepreneurship and ventures in a new light. That's what I thought 3 years ago when the Tech Coast Angels screened BikeStation.

Tech Coast Angels 170

Tech Coast Angels High Tech Satisfaction Invest 170

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

million round led by Los Angeles firm Upfront Ventures, with participation from Mucker Capital and Matchstick Ventures. HappyOrNot nabs $25M for its customer satisfaction terminals . Groww, an investment app for Indian millennials, raises $21M. The business has closed a $3.85 Online personal shopping service Lookiero gets $19M.

Services 207

Services Startup Venture Capital Redpoint 207

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

VCs and Angel investors like to see a startup that is running lean and mean, with no more than three or four of the conventional C-level or VP titles. They should get their satisfaction from building their business, rather than building their title. More executives, or other more creative titles are seen as a big red flag.

Startup 97

Startup Invest CTO Hire Cloud Computing 97

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2022

Starting and running any business is hard work, so the last thing you need is “success” with no satisfaction. As an angel investor, I see too many business proposals that are heavy on sustainability, but light on financial realities. Sustainability and social responsibility alone don’t make a viable business.

Startup 110

Startup Entrepreneur Capital Examples 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. With more startups, angels still limit their focus to about one out of 40 requests.

Startup 108

Startup Social Media Entrepreneur Satisfaction 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

The new hot topic for entrepreneurs the last couple of years is crowd funding, which is anticipated to at least supplement, if not replace, the slow and mysterious process of current Angel and venture capital investors. People can invest (donate) money to a project which has good moral/ethical value. Good-cause crowd funding.

Funding 99

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 99

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2012

The new hot topic for entrepreneurs these days is crowd funding, which is anticipated to at least supplement, if not replace, the slow and mysterious process of current Angel and venture capital investors. This new model will allow large numbers of “regular” people to invest small amounts each online to fund early startups.

Funding 96

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 96

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2013

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. I can remember when creating a web site for eCommerce could easily require a million dollar investment.

Startup 109

Startup Entrepreneur Social Media Satisfaction 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2019

As an active angel investor, I look for this level of alignment and understanding in every funding presentation I hear. Then there is the follow-up to provide customer support and satisfaction. Every startup looking for investment needs a solid partner story. It shows you how everyone works in synergy. Key partners.

Activity 100

Activity Customer Custom Resource 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2018

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. Last year 200,000+ American angels invested an estimated $25 billion in more than 71,000 startup deals.

Entrepreneur 66

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Satisfaction 66

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2020

As an angel investor, you can bet I wasn’t convinced he would ever start his next proposal. As well, Jeff Bezos admits to having make an embarrassing number of bad investments, which he calls painful learning experiences, but he never gave up. The best way to start is to enable employee decision making on customer satisfaction issues.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2010

Even more importantly, you should expect these members of your team to be your advocates to angel or VC investors, or even be part of your friends and family financing round. To bring real money and credibility to your company, and help you avoid costly mistakes in development and strategy, a first-class Advisory Board is a small investment.

Invest 50

Invest Technical Review Software Review High Tech 50

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2013

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. This is the last step of the process, where surprises in the evaluation of the management team, documentation, and personnel problems can derail the investment.

Technical Review 97

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2012

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. This is the last step of the process, where surprises in the evaluation of the management team, documentation, and personnel problems can derail the investment.

Technical Review 98

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Training 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 8, 2016

Maintaining your team’s passion and freedom to focus first on innovating for customers are only a couple of the reasons for thinking hard before you seek money from crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital organizations, or attempt to qualify for a public stock offering. Investors want board seats and a vote on key decisions.

Funding 57

Funding Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2019

Starting and running any business is hard work, so the last thing you need is “success” with no satisfaction. As an angel investor, I see too many business proposals that are heavy on sustainability, but light on financial realities. Sustainability and social responsibility alone don’t make a viable business.

Startup 93

Startup Entrepreneur Capital Examples 93

socalTECH

APRIL 26, 2018

That's where Los Angeles-based One Potato (www.onepotato.com) comes in. Catherine McCord: We have a commissary now in Los Angeles. I think the beauty of having been underfunded, is you learn the value of every invested dollar you have in the company, and really knowing the importance of that dollar. Finally, what's next?

Startup 100

Startup Resource Los Angeles Organization 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Rose, who literally wrote the book on Angel Investing, and is the long-time CEO of the Gust platform for bringing together investors and startups, just announced Gust Launch as a “Company as a Service” solution. Marty: How does Gust Launch relate to your existing Gust online platform to connect investors to growing startups?

Startup 63

Startup Entrepreneur Platform Activity 63

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2017

As an angel investor in startups, I often find myself looking harder at the quality of the team and the leadership, than at the details of the product and business model. Investors read this as being trustworthy of their investment, and an appropriate role model for all business constituents. Business is more about people than product.

Funding 55

Funding Satisfaction Customer Custom 55

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2010

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. This is the last step of the process, where surprises in the evaluation of the management team, documentation, and personnel problems can derail the investment.

Technical Review 91

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 91

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Personal friendships will improve communications and trust, and will definitely improve your personal satisfaction and life balance, between work and play. As an angel investor, I learned this the hard way, and now I’m a believer that smart investors invest in people with the right relationships, not just ideas and skills.

Tips 95

Tips Mentor Coach Activity 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2012

Create and maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is very important for all companies, but it is everything for a services company. Another reality is that angel investors and venture capital groups almost never invest in a services-only company.

Satisfaction 91

Satisfaction Patents Outsource Development Services 91

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2017

As an active angel investor, I look for this level of alignment and understanding in every funding presentation I hear. Then there is the follow-up to provide customer support and satisfaction. Every startup looking for investment needs a solid partner story. It shows you how everyone works in synergy. Key partners.

Funding 57

Funding Startup Activity Customer 57

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Create and maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is very important for all companies, but it is everything for a services company. Another reality is that angel investors and venture capital groups almost never invest in a services-only company.

Product 91

Product Services Satisfaction Patents 91

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2014

Starting and running any business is hard work, so the last thing you need is “success” with no satisfaction. As an Angel investor, I see too many business proposals that are heavy on sustainability, but light on financial realities. Sustainability and social responsibility alone don’t make a viable business.

Startup 104

Startup Entrepreneur Examples Satisfaction 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

Even more importantly, you should expect these members of your team to be your advocates to angel or VC investors, or even be part of your friends and family financing round. To bring real money and credibility to your company, and help you avoid costly mistakes in development and strategy, a first-class Advisory Board is a small investment.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2010

It doesn’t matter which side of the investment table you are on, you need to stay alert, or these guys will kill your dream. Every reputable investment firms has to file regular reports with the SEC. Ask for references, and call or visit previous “successes” of the company to verify experience and satisfaction. By commission?

Offshore 70

Offshore Tips Satisfaction Invest 70

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2017

Starting and running any business is hard work, so the last thing you need is “success” with no satisfaction. As an angel investor, I see too many business proposals that are heavy on sustainability, but light on financial realities. Sustainability and social responsibility alone don’t make a viable business.

Tips 55

Tips Startup Entrepreneur Examples 55

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2017

They skip from one to the next, providing expert guidance and money, getting their satisfaction (and reward) from the best of the best. Many entrepreneurs love investing in other startups. Most Angel investors I know have previously founded and run at least one startup. Attract and share specialized talent and skills.

Startup 60

Startup Entrepreneur Resource Course 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2013

Starting and running any business is hard work, so the last thing you need is “success” with no satisfaction. As an Angel investor, I see too many business proposals that are heavy on sustainability, but light on financial realities. Sustainability and social responsibility alone don’t make a viable business.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Startup Examples Satisfaction 98