Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

That’s why I caution my aspiring entrepreneur clients against proclaiming to investors that they are a great “idea” person. At least the first time around, it pays big dividends for an idea person to find a partner with the business skills you haven’t tested yet. For example, I have a friend with a Ph.D.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

InfoChachkie

MAY 12, 2016

Refine Your Personal Pitch. You can easily avoid awkward pauses by weaving your Personal Pitch into your networking conversations. Your pitch should comprise the following three elements. If you are networking to assist a startup you are advising, you can substitute the company’s pitch for your personal pitch.

Company 80

Company Companies Startup Mentor 80

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2017

This may seem intuitively obvious, but as an angel investor, I have heard hundreds of new business pitches that focus heavily on the product, but don’t tell the rest of the story. She speaks from years of experience coaching entrepreneurs and executives on the magic of a story. Temper your emotion with data.

Social Media 58

Social Media Coach Invest Media 58

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

Using your bank credit line and credit cards: Even with the credit crunch signaled by the recent recession, many banks will issue business credit cards with a $50,000 limit if the entrepreneur is willing to personally guarantee the balance, and has the net worth to do so. Many accelerators have come and gone during these past five years.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 9, 2013

Have the maximum amount of time in person dedicated to discussing the most important topics. Get board members to help me with things they are uniquely positions to help with – mostly introductions, recruiting or coaching my team members. Meeting Dynamics (also for VC pitches but also some practical tips for board meetings).

Writing 337

Writing Venture Capital Help SaaS 337

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2015

I recommend the elevator pitch -approach instead, which you probably learned in dealing with busy investors, where the person calling the meeting is asked to summarize the purpose, value and recommended solution in the first minute or two. For one-on-one coaching from the startup founder, I call this approach five-minute mentoring.

Product 99

Product Mentor Startup Technical Review 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2019

If you ask someone to prepare a pitch or report to management, you will get big dividends by assuring that they will at least be in the room to hear feedback or take credit for the effort, even if they can’t pitch personally. Many companies also promote local mentoring and coaching opportunities.

Tips 96

Tips Satisfaction Training Mentor 96

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 5, 2010

My personal favorite and best fit for GRP Partners was Thumbtack. Marco Zappacosta served up an cogent, business focused and nicely demo’d pitch of their product. – and provide a way to facilitate a match between vendor and person needing service. Thumbtack is marketplace for local services. As I’m sure Pip.io

Angel 254

Angel Technical Review Software Review Platform 254

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

Yet I believe that business success is more a function of the person than the idea or the plan, so the best idea is one that is a best fit for you, and only you can assess that. As an investor, I’m not attracted to startups where the founder sends in a marketing person to do the talking. I can assess execution plans, if you have any.

Ideas 78

Ideas Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 78

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Technically, he filled ten roles, as he pitched left handed when facing right-handed batters and right handed with lefties at the plate. If the coach / CEO wants to put you in the game and you are not on the bench, ready to play, it does not matter how great you may be. Utility All Star.

Startup 222

Startup Coach Sales Entrepreneur 222

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

Yet I believe that business success is more a function of the person than the idea or the plan, so the best idea is one that is a best fit for you, and only you can assess that. As an investor, I’m not attracted to startups where the founder sends in a marketing person to do the talking. I can assess execution plans, if you have any.

Ideas 108

Ideas Satisfaction Entrepreneur Activity 108

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

Your historical trading information including financials and a “customer file” which shows the history of your transactions so that investors can run “cohort” analyses Customer reference, personal references, key team members, compensation, cap table, stock option plan, etc.

Funding 336

Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

The thing I learned personally in that deal, is it really focused me on how important the entrepreneur and management team are. For example, our LA network is having the Fast Pitch on the 24th at UCLA. But, the entrepreneur really understood the space, had extreme passion, and understood the challenge he was going to undertake.

Tech Coast Angels 231

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

socalTECH

JUNE 13, 2011

I thought it would be awesome to have a marketplace to donate your stuff, which you no longer wanted, had no personal value, but others would appreciate. Jonathan Lehmann: I was awarded the Larry Wolfen Entrepreneurial Spirit Award at UCLA, after getting amazing coaching from Matt Ridenour in our business plan development class.

UCLA 256

UCLA Startup Ideas Help 256

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

We decided we would only take our accelerator to the next level if we found the perfect person to run it. When we started talking to Sam Teller we knew we had the perfect person. There is one person I am especially proud of and that’s Tracy DiNunzio at Tradesy. Yeah, he was LA, baby! See point one!

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2019

Based on my own experience in business over the years, and current coaching efforts, I recommend a focus on the following strategies and attributes: Make your customer the center of everything you do. Steve Jobs was always visible at industry forums, product pitches, and interviews.

Customer 93

Customer Custom IBM IBM 93

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. It wasn’t surprising?—?if

Funding 189

Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Venture Capital 189

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2011

I feel like I know him better personally since he's always in the chat room during the show asking questions). These speakers help coach CEO’s on important executive decisions. These partners travel to a city and take ten minute pitches from the entrepreneurs. What are the most common mistakes in first pitch?

Capital 284

Capital Venture Capital Technical Review Startup 284

LATechDigest

MAY 22, 2016

It has not been an easy path, but through her own life lessons Kashani found a need to help individuals overcome their own personal challenges, and has launched CoAccel, The Human Accelerator. It spawned from my personal story. Self Acceleration goes beyond coaching, its approach is more powerful, and not available otherwise.

Coach 76

Coach Startup Tool Entrepreneur 76

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Any CEO worth his or her salt knows that her investors get an insane amount of emails and often spend 8+ hours / day in meetings (board meetings, pitches, partner meetings, LP meetings, corporate relationship meetings) so often email is done on the run on one’s iPhone or in the early morning / late evening. Rob is driven to learn.

Tips 365

Tips Email Venture Capital CTO Coach 365

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2010

This only works if you’re not a crocodile sales person. The mistake many startup people make is they hire a “sales person&# to go out and talk with customers so they can do what they’re good at which is building product or “running the company.&# Sales people are a different breed, you say.

Sales 346

Sales Startup Technical Review Customer 346

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2015

Written mission statements and a passionate quarterly pitch to the team is not enough. Demonstrate a consistent set of personal values and priorities. Successful leaders are good coaches and mentors, as well as being on the lookout for personal learning opportunities. That’s how a culture is solidified.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor Training 102

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

Yet I believe that business success is more a function of the person than the idea or the plan, so the best idea is one that is a best fit for you, and only you can assess that. As an investor, I’m not attracted to startups where the founder sends in a marketing person to do the talking. I can assess execution plans, if you have any.

Entrepreneur 62

Entrepreneur Tips Ideas Satisfaction 62

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 28, 2010

They wanted to be able to say to their senior person (who had hired Accenture in the first place) that they had been good corporate citizens but they had no real intention of actually helping me with me work. I come from a world that if the coach wasn’t yelling at you, it meant he didn’t care. He had a family. Me: “LOL.

Startup 378

Startup Framework Slides Coach 378

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

In addition with investing, there are members of the Pipeline Fellowship who individually invested into another company they have met through the Pitch Summit. In addition to our seminars, we issue out a qualification application for women entrepreneurs for our signature event, the Pitch Summit. Pitching isn’t a zero-sum game.

Mentor 84

Mentor Invest Entrepreneur Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

Others schedule long and exhaustive practice and coaching sessions for everyone on the team, including showcase customers, to make sure that everyone tells the most positive and consistent story. Most founders consider the story already told and the deal pending, so they aren’t sure what more then can do.

Invest 59

Invest Startup Doc Slides 59

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

They know her personally and know she cares about her constituencies even if she has to make tough trade-offs from time-to-time. And Coach Campbell. I’ve heard directly from top executives that Jeff Bezos (in my opinion the most talented person in the tech industry) has received his fair share of VC coaching in the early years.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2012

They arrive at the end of their "pitch" just as the customer is beginning to recognize they have a need! Often the real buy decision is not made by the person doing the interaction. Provide coaching early in the sales process; avoid last minute interventions. Focus on the most influential decision makers.

Sales 96

Sales Customer Custom Competition 96

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2011

They arrive at the end of their "pitch" just as the customer is beginning to recognize they have a need! Often the real buy decision is not made by the person doing the interaction. Provide coaching early in the sales process; avoid last minute interventions. Focus on the most influential decision makers.

Sales 93

Sales Customer Custom Competition 93

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2012

I pitched an idea that was voted in the top 12 but couldn’t form a complete team. The following week, I joined AT&T Hackathon at iO/LA in Hollywood and again pitched the idea. After pitching this idea twice in other events and not being able to form a team, it certainly felt good that I was finally able to do so my third time.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas San Diego Mentor 100

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 30, 2014

Before Howard Schultz took the world by storm with Starbuck’s, his pitch to the original owners to expand the company from three stores into a national retailer was rebuffed. While you’re at it, seek out advice and coaching from experts in all of the areas where you and/or your plan were deficient before starting over. Albert Einstein.

Startup 95

Startup Coach Funding Course 95

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2012

Spend time researching your buyers and not just pitching them. Meet in person. Trust doesn’t come from one 45-minute Powerpoint pitch or 30-minute demo. I never suggest that entrepreneurs just randomly pitch VCs. So interacting with you in person is paramount. Always do your important meetings in person.

Develop 366

Develop Development Funding Venture Capital 366

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 9, 2009

For this morning's interview, we thought we'd try something different, and put together a virtual panel of venture capitalists to give us a few tips on pitching your company. Let's start, and why don't you tell us what you are looking for in a pitch? What I'm looking for in companies when pitching, is, first and foremost--the founders.

Tech Coast Angels 100

Tech Coast Angels Ideas Entrepreneur Invest 100

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 26, 2019

Our meeting was memorable both because the pitch was compelling but also because it was the first pitch meeting I ever took in our new Santa Monica offices. Not only was his commitment to LA tech enormous but we happened to have kids on the same traveling soccer team where Andrew was the assistant coach! By “first” I mean?—?we

News 33

News Mobile Santa Monica Coach 33

Tech Coast Venture Network

MARCH 9, 2011

“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. Pitching at a screening in slow months can result in delayed response from investors or even lack of interest at lightly attended screenings. million in 2010. million in 2010.

Tips 100

Tips Capital Tech Coast Angels Screening 100

Eric Greenspan

DECEMBER 5, 2009

Lisa is an a skilled public speaking coach. We will collaborate on ideas and projects and we created the Superfriends together, a group of local entrepreneurs that will gather to share ideas and help each other grow personally and professionally. About a month ago, I met @lewishowes at the Perfect Pitch conference in LA.

Social Network 180

Social Network Networking Yahoo Social Media 180

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. One thing I learned from the book is that real estate agents always sell their personal property at higher relative prices than their clients’ properties. They want to place this person.

Venture Capital 319

Venture Capital Pricing Startup Outsource 319