Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2022

Lots of people are trying to help, with new twists on the age-old model of free-market capitalism that has driven businesses for the last 500 years. Many young entrepreneurs seem to think that capitalism and making profit are dirty words. Making a profit does not imply greed. The whole can be greater than the sum of the parts.

Startup 110

Startup Entrepreneur Capital Examples 110

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Capitalism is fundamentally about timing, since market competition is about finding opportunities before others. When should a VC invest? Between TechCrunch today and my former roles in venture capital, I’ve had the opportunity to practice timing a lot. Mithril Capital, management fees, and VC strategic drift.

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by the definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. By definition, Advisory Boards are voluntary and have no fiduciary responsibility. It’s a resource that you can’t afford to ignore if you intend to stay competitive today. Marty Zwilling.

Allegis 139

Allegis Startup Acquisition Entrepreneur 139

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

There has been much discussion in the past few years of the changing structure of the venture capital industry. The rise of alternative sources of capital (crowd funding and the like). 15 years ago we were at the peak of Internet hype with the launch of many over-capitalized businesses with a market size & opportunity was limited.

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

As an advisor to many entrepreneurs, I still hear frequently the irrational exuberance that crowdfunding is the quick alternative for startups that are passed over by overly demanding angels or venture capital investors. In reality, crowdfunding has become a major startup funding vehicle, expected to reach $3.62

Startup 100

Startup Equity Entrepreneur Demand 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 23, 2012

One of the biggest complaints that local entrepreneurs have with Los Angeles has been a dearth of local sources of venture capital. However, the recent surge in startup activity has attracted a lot more capital into the area, including a significant amount of capital from LA's latest fund: Karlin Ventures (www.karlinvc.com).

Funding 253

Funding Startup Invest Commerce 253

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

Finally I realized that venture capital and angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary. From an investor perspective, understanding and acting early to establish a sustainable competitive advantage, and barrier to entry, is the best assurance of a financial return.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2020

As an advisor to many entrepreneurs, I still hear frequently the irrational exuberance that crowdfunding is the quick alternative for startups that are passed over by overly demanding angels or venture capital investors. Thus crowdfunding is clearly not the panacea for funding and success that many entrepreneurs envision.

Startup 151

Startup Equity Funding Demand 151

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

If you invested in the first angel round of a startup company it is usually very hard to sell your stock – usually for many years if ever at all. The earlier you invest the higher the chances the company won’t work out and thus you pay a lower price than later-stage investors. Private markets for stocks are the opposite.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Individual and institutional philanthropy.

Equity 94

Equity Startup Technical Review Organization 94

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

If you track the venture capital industry it would be hard to miss the conversation going on this week over AngelList “Syndicates.” But Jason is one of the smartest thinkers in our industry so while style points in his eye-poking post might be low, he’s definitely scratching at something important. Bowery Capital).

Venture Capital 356

Venture Capital Invest Course Technical Review 356

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2019

Lots of people are trying to help, with new twists on the age-old model of free-market capitalism that has driven businesses for the last 500 years. Many young entrepreneurs seem to think that capitalism and making profit are dirty words. Making a profit does not imply greed. The whole can be greater than the sum of the parts.

Startup 93

Startup Entrepreneur Capital Examples 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

Finally I realized that venture capital and angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary. From an investor perspective, understanding and acting early to establish a sustainable competitive advantage, and barrier to entry, is the best assurance of a financial return.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2022

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, one of the definitions of an “ evangelist ” is someone who talks about something with great enthusiasm. Think of it as an investment, rather than an obligation. Capitalize on the unique talents of every individual. You must be intentional and pay focus to even the smallest details.

Resource 114

Resource Coach Startup Training 114

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. It always amazes me how an entrepreneur can define his market opportunity so broadly, and then assess his competition so narrowly in the next breath. Competition and sustainable advantage. Executive team.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

I’m no great scholar on bubbles – I have more interesting things to spend my time worrying about than the exact definition , but having been around a few I have at least given them intellectual consideration. source: Capital IQ. Still, market amnesia by ordinarily rational actors always surprises me.

Pricing 309

Pricing Marketing Startup Venture Capital 309

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

The VC industry grew dramatically as a result of the Internet bubble - Before the Internet bubble the people who invested in VC funds (called LPs or Limited Partners) put about $50 billion into the industry and by 2001 this had grown precipitously to around $250 billion. Lots of discussion these days about the changes in the VC industry.

Venture Capital 311

Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding Rustic Canyon 311

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 4, 2013

I guess this is the ultimate definition of implementing a business model when you’re not clear on strategy! Put simply – you need enough users in a segment who care about what you’re doing to dictate investing further in the product or in sales & marketing resources. My take on his argument is this: 1.

Startup 401

Startup Custom Customer Technical Review 401

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

Investors are very focused on diligence, on business models that make sense, and those companies that have a definite competitive advantage and defensibility to what they're doing. What is not happening, is those marginal deals that would have gotten funded a number of years ago, when things were better, are not making it.

Tech Coast Angels 231

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2019

By definition, most entrepreneurs are thought leaders. That’s why venture capital investors often replace startup CEOs as a condition of their scale-up investment. That’s why so many startups plateau after gaining some initial traction, and are run over or acquired by their competition. Most entrepreneurs are not both.

Startup 86

Startup Competition Entrepreneur Training 86

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 6, 2018

It definitely has a “d” in it, as in it’s really not fun, raising. Fund raising. But it’s critical for your business, for you as a leader and people who excel at fund raising have an extreme advantage over those who do not. The best entrepreneurs in our industry focus on it year-round as opposed to just once every 18 months.

Funding 236

Funding Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur 236

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in non-profits. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. donation equity grant investment non-profit philantropy startup'

Startup 100

Startup Angel Equity Technical Review 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2019

Image via Flickr by MDGovpics Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. By definition, Advisory Boards are voluntary and have no fiduciary responsibility. It’s a resource that you can’t afford to ignore if you intend to stay competitive today.

Startup 98

Startup Allegis Entrepreneur Acquisition 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

In today’s world of growing competition and customer evolution , holding your own, and growing to the next level is a constant challenge that can never be ignored. Very few organizations communicate internally with the same investment of thought and professionalism as when implementing their customer-obsessed strategies.

Ideas 77

Ideas Custom Customer Competition 77

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

Consider the situation in which the entrepreneur wants to accept a financially life-changing offer to sell her company which is vetoed by the investor because the price does not meet its minimal investment return criteria. Response : Offer a straightforward recitation of the market and competitive risks.

Entrepreneur 253

Entrepreneur Google Invest RSS 253

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 14, 2019

in a funding led by Orange County's Okapi Venture Capitalis looking to help direct to consumer brands use better data to direct their marketing and other efforts. We found, in a year and a half developing the product in early alpha, that we were definitely ahead of anybody else in the industry. Do we want to raise capital?

Startup 113

Startup Platform Commerce San Diego 113

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

By definition each of those VCs (unless they are a micro VC – and one who doesn’t mind 5% ownership) will view you as a sort of “option&# where they might get to fund the next round if you do well. So why else would they invest if not as an option to re-up in the next round? But it happens.

Venture Capital 314

Venture Capital Startup Invest Pricing 314

socalTECH

DECEMBER 12, 2013

I really was part of the plan to take a year to two years of very intensely focused effort and investment, to improve our infrastructure from the ground up. The investment was made to give some liquidity to one of the four founders. Simon Anderson: There''s a lot of competition in the market, undoubtedly. Simon Anderson: It is.

Software Review 238

Software Review Cloud Computing Technical Review Platform 238

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

Many MBA programs still cater too much to the needs of large, corporate management jobs or prepare students to enter big consulting companies or investments banks. I got an email recently from my friend & fellow VC, Jeff Bussgang from Flybridge Capital Partners in Boston. And that leads me to today’s post.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2017

Machine Learning / AI They discussed many topics ranging from protection of the press to what Mark looks for in an entrepreneur to investing outside of Silicon Valley and of course Trump and sports. Mark made a fortune by being early in Local Area Networking, streaming and then High Definition video so perhaps it’s worth listening.

Artificial Inteligence 105

Artificial Inteligence Study Press Netflix 105

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2010

This is part of my ongoing series on Understanding Venture Capital. I recently wrote a blog post on understanding how the size and age of a venture capital fund might affect you when you’re raising money. invested in the seed round they have more inside knowledge than I do. As always it comes down to competition.

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Seed Funding Pricing Invest 265

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. It always amazes me how an entrepreneur can define his market opportunity so broadly, and then assess his competition so narrowly in the next breath. Competition and sustainable advantage. Executive team.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Individual and institutional philanthropy.

Angel 52

Angel Funding Equity Technical Review 52

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series about Raising Venture Capital. Look at Josh Kopelman over at First Round Capital. I think they definitely qualify as a VC and not a seed fund. But they do small, seed like investments when they like the entrepreneurs. I could definitely see that happening. The contra is also true.

Seed Funding 283

Seed Funding Venture Capital Funding Software Review 283

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2014

Lots of people are trying to help, with new twists on the age-old model of free-market capitalism that has driven businesses for the last 500 years. Many young entrepreneurs seem to think that capitalism and making profit are dirty words. Conscious Capitalism, for example, claims 3.2 Making a profit does not imply greed.

Startup 104

Startup Entrepreneur Examples Satisfaction 104

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 11, 2011

If you want a very quick primer on all the stuff nobody ever tells you about raising venture capital check out this video where Mark Jeffrey & I break it down on This Week in VC. In the video I describe how to best play this meeting and why, without a champion going into the meeting, you’re unlikely to get an investment.

Venture Capital 340

Venture Capital Slides Doc Startup 340

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2017

By definition, most entrepreneurs are thought leaders. That’s why venture capital investors often replace startup CEOs as a condition of their scale-up investment. That’s why so many startups plateau after gaining some initial traction, and are run over or acquired by their competition. Most entrepreneurs are not both.

Startup 68

Startup Competition Entrepreneur Training 68