Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

I believe a bubble occurs when a market is willing to pay greater than intrinsic value for an asset class. That asset class need not represent the broader market. They are often bound by geographies and asset classes. But that doesn’t mean that people are paying rational prices as investors based on intrinsic value.

Pricing

TechCrunch LA

MAY 12, 2020

With its third class of startups, Yellow, Snap’s in-house startup accelerator that launched in 2018, brought investors and founders together in private slack channels after a live-streamed presentation. This morning, Snap joined a host of startup accelerators shifting its demo day online amid the COVID-19 quarantine.

Invest

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 25, 2013

Tool Users - Startups often have a long gestation period in which the team is in discovery mode, defining the company's value proposition, target market, pricing, business model, etc. Action vs. Analysis - Although its use is in decline, many MBA classes are still taught via the Socratic case method.

Entrepreneur

Berkonomics

MAY 23, 2024

Give one percent equity to each outside board member vesting over two to four years of service. Pay early-stage board members of companies that are not lifestyle businesses one percent of the fully diluted equity in the form of an option that vests over two to four years of service. How do you set the option price?

Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

OPEC (the organization of petroleum exporting countries) is a cartel that was set up in the 1960′s and represents the interests of the 12 biggest oil producing countries in the world with the goal of increasing prices of oil, a good supplied in limited quantities to a world that had insatiable demand for the product. Why the limitation?

Hulu

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

Three reasons: There is a relative valuation between the price a VC pays and their expectations of what it will exit for in an IPO or trade sale. The best MBA class I took was an investment strategy class. Despite my cynicism of MBA’s , this class was very valuable to me. Short answer – yes.

Venture Capital

Berkonomics

JANUARY 6, 2022

Especially when outside investors, venture capitalists or angels have put in substantial money, and the sales price is not enough to give them a reasonable return for the time and money invested, these investors can be – in a word – greedy. No-one complains if the sales price is ten times the investment since there is plenty to go around.

Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

My list of excuses includes: product, pricing, competition and lack of sales support. Sales people aren’t always motivated only by cash – especially in early-stage business you need to focus on equity because cash won’t be plentiful.

Startup

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 30, 2011

We all know the result of the over-funding of the asset class – poor returns in aggregate for the industry. In the last 90′s it was impossible to charge fair prices for products & services in a market where you had 5 competitors giving away free products to acquire “eyeballs&# and fueled by an excess of venture capital.

Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2013

I normally look to invest my first money below a $20 million valuation and when deals get to lofty prices I normally bow out to later-stage investors who have deeper pockets. And even in this growth equity round led by Insight Partners we asked for our full prorata investment and took as much as we were allowed to. Not so DataSift.

Social Media

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2015

Every investor in your startup, even friends and family, normally expects a share of your company (equity), which means your return for all your effort goes down quickly. This is at least double the time required for most equity investments, and may be a delay you can’t afford in keeping up with the market and your competitors.

Pricing

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

So even within the “alternative class&# our LPs are looking at other asset investment choices such as distressed buyout funds, private equity or hedge funds. But one problem it is causing is that early-stage deal prices are creeping up again higher than historic norms. Price MUST be in a certain range.

Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2015

I saw a few friends politely suggesting that “now was a great stock buying opportunity” meaning that given the stock market is off by 10% it was a great chance to buy and lock in presumably low prices before the market rises again. I’m not so sure. And I said so publicly. If the markets fall this will become pervasive.

Marketing

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Especially when outside investors, venture capitalists or angels have put in substantial money, and the sales price is not enough to give them a reasonable return for the time and money invested, these investors can be – in a word – greedy. No-one complains if the sales price is ten times the investment, since there is plenty to go around.

Angel

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

But the thing I am most proud of about Rob is that he has taken a company with a uniquely talented founder & CTO – Nick Halstead – and managed to build a very tight working relationship with Nick where we drive world-class product development without having the usual founder / CEO conflicts. Always seek input. Already covered.

Tips

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 15, 2016

They offer classes in personal responsibility and accountability, they teach men to forgive themselves and to forgive the people who perpetrated them as children because they all grew up surrounded by bad influences. Even those have a price in our society … Brock Turner raped an unconscious woman and was released in 3 months.

Writing

socalTECH

JUNE 17, 2009

We allow them to post their requests, with the highest price posting for shares at the top of the list for buyers, and the reverse for sellers. That makes it easy, so that when someone comes to a page and wants to transact in shares, they can see what the most attractive bid and ask prices are. He's also a member of our board.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2021

Of course, that means a mindset willing to give up much more equity, and taking on a whole new level of risk. Bring in an experienced Board and world-class leaders. Then there is the pressure to go public ( IPO ), and open your investment to thousands, maybe millions, of small investors.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2021

With US student debt at over one trillion dollars, startups like Skillshare and Udemy provide top-class vocational training for the price of a Harvard hoodie. In the US, we are still waiting for equity crowdfunding, but the rewards, donation, pre-order, and debt-funding models are already working.

Resource

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

According to Attracting Capital from Angels by Brian Hill and Dee Powers, here are some key clauses that angel investors expect on the first term sheet for the investment you need: Set the price. The price is the percent of ownership given to the investor, calculated as “investment/post-money valuation.” Define equity type.

Invest

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2012

Based on my experience, and the book “ Attracting Capital from Angels ” by Brian Hill and Dee Powers, here are some key clauses that any investors expect on the first term sheet for the investment you need: Set the price. The price is the percent of ownership given to the investor, calculated as “investment/post-money valuation.”

Pricing

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Being the leader doesn’t mean more equity, nor does it mean the leader will necessarily be CEO. Outside professionals are always available, but they may have their own agenda, such as building a career, making money quickly, or managing up the stock price for a quick exit. The industry veteran. The operations superstar.

Technical Advisors

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

Being the leader doesn’t mean more equity, nor does it mean the leader will necessarily be CEO. Outside professionals are always available, but they may have their own agenda, such as building a career, making money quickly, or managing up the stock price for a quick exit. The industry veteran. The operations superstar.

Technical Advisors

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Being the leader doesn’t mean more equity, nor does it mean the leader will necessarily be CEO. Outside professionals are always available, but they may have their own agenda, such as building a career, making money quickly, or managing up the stock price for a quick exit. The industry veteran. The operations superstar.

Technical Advisors

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2015

With US student debt at over one trillion dollars, startups like Skillshare and Udemy provide top-class vocational training for the price of a Harvard hoodie. In the US, we are still waiting for equity crowdfunding, but the rewards, donation, pre-order, and debt-funding models are already working.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

With US student debt at over one trillion dollars, startups like Skillshare and Udemy provide top-class vocational training for the price of a Harvard hoodie. In the US, we are still waiting for equity crowdfunding, but the rewards, donation, pre-order, and debt-funding models are already working.

Commerce

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2014

Being the leader doesn’t mean more equity, nor does it mean the leader will necessarily be CEO. Outside professionals are always available, but they may have their own agenda, such as building a career, making money quickly, or managing up the stock price for a quick exit. The industry veteran. The operations superstar.

Technical Advisors

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Sometimes I see statements like “A world-class CEO will be joining us after funding.” Quantify existing skin-in-the-game, by insiders and outsiders, including sweat equity and capital. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Competition

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Sometimes I see statements like “A world-class CEO will be joining us after funding.” Quantify existing skin-in-the-game, by insiders and outsiders, including sweat equity and capital. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Competition

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2016

We'd do a Series A, and participate in the Series B, but when companies hit breakout, we would call a late stage VC and have them price the deal, and do all of that. The reason for that, and it's really important, is the bane of this asset class is the generally poor liquidity that venture capital provides. That's a sea change.

Southern California

socalTECH

OCTOBER 29, 2015

Those loans are very mis-priced, in our opinion. Where there are lots of players focused on different types of equity, different types of investments, different types of debt, they're doing it in a very unfocused manner. We're also 100 percent focused on debt.

Southern California

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Sometimes I see statements like “A world-class CEO will be joining us after funding.” Quantify existing skin-in-the-game, by insiders and outsiders, including sweat equity and capital. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Invest

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

Being the leader doesn’t mean more equity, nor does it mean the leader will necessarily be CEO. Outside professionals are always available, but they may have their own agenda, such as building a career, making money quickly, or managing up the stock price for a quick exit. The industry veteran. The operations superstar.

Technical Advisors

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Mike has over 18 years of business development, marketing and management experience in businesses ranging from early stage start-ups to private equity and from mid-stage business to large turn-around operations. Price: $15 (Early Bird). Mike Jones , Investor and Advisor Located In Los Angeles. to 9:30 p.m. What: Spotlight Series Event.

Tech Coast Angels

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2016

With US student debt at over one trillion dollars, startups like Skillshare and Udemy provide top-class vocational training for the price of a Harvard hoodie. In the US, we are still waiting for equity crowdfunding, but the rewards, donation, pre-order, and debt-funding models are already working.

Marketing

Berkonomics

AUGUST 3, 2023

You will realize much more from the ultimate sale of your business even if at a considerably lower price than if splitting the proceeds with investors. Strategic investors validate a business, by their presence creating the very value they pay for with increased price per share purchased. There is a lot to say about retaining control.

Venture Capital

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

You will realize much more from the ultimate sale of your business even if at a considerably lower price than if splitting the proceeds with investors. Strategic investors validate a business, by their presence creating the very value they pay for with increased price per share purchased. There is a lot to say about retaining control.

Venture Capital