Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2010

I’m very pleased today to announce that I invested, on behalf of GRP Partners, in Burstly alongside Rincon Venture Partners , an early stage VC in Southern California whith whom we love to work (and were our co-investors on RingRevenue ). Naturally I’m excited about this investment or I wouldn’t have done it.

Mobile 282

Mobile Invest Company Companies 282

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Scott Kupor of A16Z responded with a comprehensive overview of valuation methodology in a post that while accurate feels more targeted at sophisticated Limited Partners (LPs) who invest in funds. But privately now most VCs I know contend that it has gone much better than they had initially expected. Let me offer you an insider’s take.

Venture Capital 264

Venture Capital Invest Funding Competition 264

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

But what IS the right amount of burn for a company? Burn rate in case you don’t know is the amount of money a company is either spending (gross) or losing (net) per month. (it Conversely if you’re burning $600,000 per month (yes, some companies do) then you only have 5 months of cash left. Gross Burn vs. Net Burn.

Startup 383

Startup Company Companies .Net 383

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

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 152

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 152

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2023

A question I get from time to time is “Can I ever expect any backing from my bank for a great opportunity?” The first thing to remember is that banks only do loans – they generally don’t do equity investments like angels and venture capitalists (and vice versa). Be concise as well as complete. A winning product or service.

Equity 121

Equity Technical Advisors Funding Ideas 121

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 30, 2018

If you’re talking with a typical Seed/A/B round firm they often have ownership targets in the company in which they invest. Since they have limited capital and limited time availability they often try to make concentrated investments across companies in which they have the highest conviction. thank you!”

Venture Capital 324

Venture Capital Pricing Startup Invest 324

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. Related activities must be defined, including performance expectations, quality certification, and proof of concept. That means they invest first in a set of plans.

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Entrepreneur 112

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2023

Here is a summary of their key observations, with our joint specifics on what to expect, and how to overcome these obstacles: Customers don’t buy what they don’t know and understand. Word-of-mouth is great, but it’s not a launch strategy that stands alone. Marketing alone cannot make a product great.

Case Study 89

Case Study Customer Custom Study 89

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2023

Incidentally, if you never thought of yourself as being an A-Player employee, you probably will struggle even more in the competitive entrepreneur world. Understand the need for an investment well before results. Unfortunately we all live in an age of instant gratification, where we expect immediate payment for every effort.

Entrepreneur 85

Entrepreneur Customer Custom Competition 85

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2020

Here is a summary of their key observations, with our joint specifics on what to expect, and how to overcome these obstacles: Customers don’t buy what they don’t know and understand. Word-of-mouth is great, but it’s not a launch strategy that stands alone. Marketing alone cannot make a product great.

Case Study 174

Case Study Startup Customer Custom 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2020

A question I get from time to time is “Can I ever expect any backing from my bank for a great opportunity?” The first thing to remember is that banks only do loans – they don’t do equity investments like angels and venture capitalists (and vice versa). The short answer is that some banks will help, if you do your homework.

Technical Advisors 162

Technical Advisors Tips Startup Equity 162

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2021

Most entrepreneurs expect to face the “normal” challenges of starting a business, which include finding the right opportunity, building and executing a winning plan, and financing their venture. The result is a sinking feeling after some time that you are no longer vital and competitive in your own domain. Personal wealth management.

Startup 152

Startup Training Entrepreneur Course 152

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2020

Incidentally, if you never thought of yourself as being an A-Player employee, you probably will struggle even more in the competitive entrepreneur world. Understand the need for an investment well before results. Unfortunately we all live in an age of instant gratification, where we expect immediate payment for every effort.

Entrepreneur 159

Entrepreneur Customer Custom Competition 159

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 14, 2018

I know all of this because every VC knows this because we’ve all either funded companies that have marketing technology or we’ve seen a pitch with a company that does this. Your deck should be so good that a VC asks you for permission to show it to his or her portfolio companies. Many of my colleagues do, too.

Funding 239

Funding Venture Capital IP Email 239

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 9, 2017

So, aiming a brand-new smartphone full of great features but increased complexity using AARP Magazine as your marketing resource just won’t get the job done. You’ll have less competition. You’ll wonder: ‘’Is this a worthy investment with probable payback in revenues? Of course not. Email readers, continue here…].

Marketing 266

Marketing Resource Advertising Social Media 266

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Jeff Bezos readily admits that his first career in a Wall Street-based investment banking firm gave him some keen insights into business realities, before a fear of regret and a personal passion led him to create Amazon, now the largest ecommerce site in the world. Intellectual property is required for a competitive edge.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2014

The speaks to the continued confidence in the venture capital markets and as I had predicted some time ago the VC markets right now are a great place to invest – especially relative to other places to put one’s money. If you want to understand how the VC industry is changing there is a great primer in the link.

Venture Capital 396

Venture Capital Funding Technical Review Startup 396

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

We’re all socially connected (so great businesses spread faster). The VC market has right-sized (returned back to mid 90′s levels & less competition). Lower costs to start a business (95% reduction), many more companies created & funded by angels / seed. and the bigger funds can’t get in directly.

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2022

Moving forward, you should expect the market volatility to increase, driven not only by customers, but by new technology, changing government regulations, and a surge in new competitors. For a business, volatile markets are a source of great opportunities, as well as great risks. The real problem is inflexible people.

Technical Review 151

Technical Review Organization Social Media Entrepreneur 151

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2020

Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. Related activities must be defined, including performance expectations, quality certification, and proof of concept. That means they invest first in a set of plans.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Startup Summary Product 124

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

If you aren’t willing to take some risk as an entrepreneur, then don’t expect any gain. Yet everyone has limits, and every investor implicitly has similar limits on what makes a startup investable, or one to avoid at all costs. Even top big-company executives are considered high-risk in a startup environment.

Startup 126

Startup Sites Technical Review Social Media 126

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

Email readers, continue here…] Bootstrapping: This term describes your ability to start a business with little investment and grow it using internally-generated funds. Strategic partner” investors: If you can find a strategic partner willing to invest in your enterprise, consider it a blessing.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. There is an inherent value that any company has. There is no great science to it.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2020

It won’t happen right away but I’ve seen some innovative companies doing exactly this in places like Australia where they are taking a more liberal approach to allowing drone deliveries. they just put up with the food delivery company fees. Customers were happy and restaurants focused on their in-store business.

SaaS 242

SaaS Customer Custom Technical Review 242

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

I think it’s great to have more options, but I still see each one having a place, so don’t be too quick to limit your alternatives. To refresh your memory, angel investors are typically high net worth individuals, accredited by the SEC and willing to invest their own money in a high-potential startup for a share of the ownership.

Funding 119

Funding Startup Platform Examples 119

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

In reality, there isn’t much overlap between the business pitch I expect, versus a product pitch. Here are the unique business elements that I expect to hear as a potential investor: Target market size and growth projections. This implies high odds of a scalable business, simply needing an investment to lead to success.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

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. All great business organization are internally competitive, and thrive on recognition.

Resource 114

Resource Coach Startup Training 114

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 11, 2014

Just like starting a company as a sole founder, it is possible to excel without a partner, it''s just a lot harder. Competitive Rivalry - Constructive internal competition that does not derail a startup from achieving its strategic goals will enhance your teams overall performance. A Dissenting Voice.

Startup 257

Startup Santa Barbara Competition Journal 257

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

This is smart because amazing board members can be transformative with important advice and access and can also help attract other great board members (and team members). Do you need a board when you first start you company? This is the norm and unless you have a hugely competitive round it’s not worth fighting.

Startup 236

Startup Venture Capital Tips Capital 236

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

For example, it’s great to pursue a higher purpose, like feeding the hungry, but don’t forget that running any business is a hungry mouth you have to feed. It still amazes me that some entrepreneurs seem totally at a loss on this question, or customer retention rate, or even margin expectations.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

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. Mike Napoli: We've revised the way we review companies at the prescreening stage. So you don't see as many people looking for funding now?

Tech Coast Angels 231

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

Here are the motivation elements that investors expect to hear: Size and growth potential of the market opportunity. Investors will impatiently expect a winning business model, customer segment definitions and volume projections. Competitor positioning and sustainable competitive advantage.

Product 103

Product Slides Customer Custom 103

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2019

What was the biggest news for you/your company this year? Given my fascination with this sector (I also happen to serve on the board of a municipal utility), I have watched with great curiosity an Idealab portfolio company Energy Vault (initially named Energy Cache) evolve over the last decade.

SoCal 140

SoCal Southern California Startup Venture Capital 140

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

Many questioned whether it could survive under the fail whale, inevitable competition from Facebook, founder fighting, fights with 3rd-party developers let alone become a revolutionary business that could make money. ” So other partners at the firm might sling mud at your ideas as you go for approval on an investment. Lots of it.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

socalTECH

APRIL 1, 2019

The hypothesis was, companies are in an extremely competitive environment, and it doesn't matter what company or industry they are in, it's been one of the most competitive environments we've seen in a long time. That competitiveness is driving companies to make better decisions.

Startup 113

Startup Culver City Competition Customer 113

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

It’s building a product that is substantially differentiated, and, as Bill Gross, one of the most prolific tech entrepreneurs of our era says, “ It needs to be 10x better than the competition ” (because if you shoot for that then in competitive markets you might achieve 3x. Look at Viddy & SocialCast.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379