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. after all you aren’t presenting this at TED.

Funding 239

Funding Venture Capital IP Email 239

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 15, 2010

Jason started the Open Angel Forum in response to his frustration that entrepreneurs were being charged by some angel organizations to present at their events. Asking young companies with limited capital to pay to present to a group of potential investors is insane. In my next post I will write about one of the five companies.

Angel 254

Angel Startup Tech Coast Angels MyShape 254

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 25, 2016

Do you have any contacts or friends within the target company? Dropping that name will often immediately draw a response if the decision maker is curious or particularly competitive. Let me reinforce this: never reveal competitive information to gain access or advantage.

Ideas 120

Ideas Sales Competition Venture Capital 120

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

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. Just 3 years ago there was talk of institutional investors “not being able to write small enough checks.”

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2021

Especially for entrepreneurs who have not built and sold companies before, and need this startup to be an attractive acquisition or IPO target in a few years, I can’t think of a better way to enlist outside experts and keep them motivated to help you meet the challenges of a startup. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth.

Startup 145

Startup Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 145

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2011

I have long wanted to write about FNAC (feature, not a company) because it’s part of my normal lexicon to push teams that present to me to think harder about where the economics in their industry is coming from. It somehow implied that they “weren’t a real company&# in some people’s eyes.

Email 270

Email Writing Blogging Competition 270

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 14, 2013

Creating awareness for your brand and products is one of the lifebloods of technology startups yet in a world where so many companies are being created it becomes difficult to rise above the noise. Ever notice how some companies tend to be in the press all the time and your big new product launch struggled for inches? More strategic.

Marketing 389

Marketing Press Blogging Startup 389

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2016

There are a lot of other competition shows and reality show, which are much more predatory and cut-throat, and it's nice for our entrepreneurs to not only get a real investment, but get great feedback. You have had an interesting career path to TV, starting with investment banking and a healthcare company � how did that happen?

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Invest Competition 100

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. The idea that the course asks students to write public blog posts is a testament to its more modern teaching style. and in a related post about objection handling.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 16, 2010

We talked with Noah about how the company grew out of a business plan competition at the University of Southern California, his recent funding from the Maverick Angels, as well as how the firm hopes to stand out among a crowded list of comparison shopping sites. How did the company start? So, we decided to go out and do it.

USC 207

USC CPC Sites Startup 207

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Most sophisticated investors ignore them, focusing their attention on an entrepreneur's pitch and presentation materials, financial forecast and executive summary. The Company. Competition. Who do I write the check to and where do I send it? Business Plans are dead. Opportunity. paper cut vs. bleeding artery)?

Venture Capital 211

Venture Capital Summary Technical Review Template 211

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 9, 2012

My pal Dave occasionally presents “headline risks” for investors. I told him only 2 weeks ago when we were in London together that I wanted to write a blog post that has been in my head for 2 years. How to help his companies. When he writes them online his Tourette’s comes out and sometimes the substance gets lost in the style.

Startup 309

Startup Venture Capital Email Writing 309

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 24, 2016

These exchanges are designed to promote competition between major health insurance companies in those states which, in theory, should lead to more generous health insurance plans that are offered at competitive costs for all Americans. The Future of Medical Benefits is Highly Competitive.

Startup 49

Startup Competition Study Writing 49

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

After you have successfully attracted angels or venture capital with your business case, your million dollar product idea, and you have a signed term sheet, there is still one more hurdle to overcome before investors write the check. A good investor can do a lot to help a company, but can't make customers buy products. Waste no time.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Startup Writing Competition 94

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2010

Recently I’ve been debating with a number of young startup companies that are raising money in the next few months, “what is the right about of capital to raise at a startup?&#. It places undue pressure early in the company’s history to “do big things&# when sometimes what is warranted is more prudence.

Startup 319

Startup Venture Capital Capital Competition 319

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 19, 2010

I’m writing this post as part of my series with Advice on Raising Venture Capital but will file it under Sales Tips as well since it applies equally to both scenarios. Information Asymmetry - The biggest problem that presenters face in large (5+ people) is information asymmetry. Congratulations. Does that sound ok?&#.

Venture Capital 318

Venture Capital Startup Sales Writing 318

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 14, 2012

…” I’ll write soon on my views of why I believe Instagram took off as a social network and what I think comes next. What I want to talk about today is one of the insider baseball discussions of our industry this past week: The odd fact of the $500 million financing round completed just before the company sold for a B.

Venture Capital 316

Venture Capital Pricing Social Network Acquisition 316

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2010

After you have successfully attracted angels or venture capital with your business case, your million dollar product idea, and you have a signed term sheet, there is still one more hurdle to overcome before investors write the check. A good investor can do a lot to help a company, but can't make customers buy products. Waste no time.

Technical Review 90

Technical Review Writing Competition Tips 90

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2010

If I’m interested I get to spend more time with them, if I’m not I don’t have to – A few companies per month come in that have fascinating business ideas that warrant my spending more time trying to understand their people, company, technology and market. I will obviously be judged on my performance.

Venture Capital 312

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur 312

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Growth like this, this early in a company’s lifecycle rarely happens. He did it yesterday, “Mark, I’m going to write a blog post following on from your VC’s aren’t dumb. VCs crave the ability to help portfolio companies. He is very pleasant when he calls and writes.

Tips 365

Tips Email Venture Capital CTO Coach 365

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2015

Especially for entrepreneurs who have not built and sold companies before, and need this startup to be an attractive acquisition or IPO target in a few years, I can’t think of a better way to enlist outside experts and keep them motivated to help you meet the challenges of a startup. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 103

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 1, 2016

LPs have been feeling great about venture capital due to holding valuable paper positions in companies like Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Dropbox, all of which they feel confident will drive large cash distributions in the future. dollars going directly into portfolio companies vs. the funds themselves).

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Capital Marketing Seed Funding 150

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 31, 2021

Tech companies have spent the past decade or more developing innovations that can be applied to old-world industries like agriculture, construction, energy, education, manufacturing and transportation and logistics. As with most of Biden’s big infrastructure initiatives, there are startups tackling these issues.

Startup 229

Startup Technical Review Invest Research 229

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2009

We caught up with Jason and Kurt to hear more about the company. What's the story behind the company and how it started? I am someone who likes to interact with my Representatives and Senators, by way of writing letters, emailing, and what not. What really differentiates us from our competition is the data set we have.

Startup 100

Startup Writing Southern California Email 100

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

On myfab5, people rank their favorite places instead of giving them star ratings and write bite-sized reviews instead of writing long reviews. This information is presented in the search results so you don’t have to waste time looking into restaurants you’re not interested in. Any competition?

Software Review 79

Software Review Technical Review Writing Startup 79

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 12, 2017

And when it’s time to apply to an accelerator, making sure your company is presented in the best way on the application can significantly improve your chances. Admittedly, that last part is an exaggeration but they were bad enough that I am writing this essay in the hopes that you will read it and not make these mistakes.

Tips 70

Tips Startup Statistics Metrics 70

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2012

The Beatles longevity and success was largely the result of their group dynamics, which are identical to those present in successful startups. The Beatles formed a cohesive team that embodied the key attributes that must be present in order for a startup Core Team to function at its peak. Competitive Rivalry. We Can Work It Out.

Startup 193

Startup Competition Marketing Sales 193

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 6, 2012

“Competition for the future is about what you are doing today,” Vijay Govindarajan preaches passionately from the stage at the front of the Metro Toronto Convention center on June 5th, 2012 at the Art of Leadership Conference. In the boxes he writes: 1. Manage the present. Selectively forget the past. Direction.

Pricing 80

Pricing Statistics Examples Design 80

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

A good early-stage CEO needs to be accessible, to be accountable for producing results and should be establishing the cultural norms of the company through direct leadership at all levels. But issues do arise as your company grows. I see two common mistakes in companies (not just in startups, in fact).

Startup 308

Startup CTO Coach Technical Review CTO Hire 308

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2016

Especially for entrepreneurs who have not built and sold companies before, and need this startup to be an attractive acquisition or IPO target in a few years, I can’t think of a better way to enlist outside experts and keep them motivated to help you meet the challenges of a startup. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth.

Entrepreneur 58

Entrepreneur Startup Mentor Writing 58

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 18, 2012

ExplorerB2B is a free to join exclusive network of experts who share information that matters to you and make sure you expand your professional network, interact with a relevant audience and present your expertise. Competition? How unique are you from the competition? What inspired them to find it? Any strategic partnerships?

Networking 71

Networking Help Social Media Platform 71

socalTECH

MAY 18, 2010

As of the last four months, we've had about 200,000 plus downloads, a bunch of great write ups, and a lot of mom bloggers who have been reviewing the app and writing stories on it. Al Eisaian: There's a common theme with the last three companies I've been involved in as far as startups. Al Eisaian: It's been angel funded so far.

Mobile 168

Mobile .Net Pasadena Software Review 168

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2010

We invest in early stage IT startups and then oversee those portfolio companies through to exit. Stephanie: I love building companies. Stephanie: I am a venture capitalist currently based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico, with EPIC Ventures. Marty: What events led you to your commitment to venture capital investing?

Venture Capital 65

Venture Capital Capital Entrepreneur Competition 65

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2011

It was a pleasure to write them myself. He presented the idea at the TED conference in the mid 90′s and was literally boo’d while he was on stage. So he launched a company with exclusively paid search. They were a juggernaut and Google was a small company. Summary notes, as always, provide below.

Competition 350

Competition Idealab Product CitySearch 350

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2010

I’m writing this post to make sure you’re all on that same playing field. One of our core tasks was “market analysis,&# which consistent of: market sizing, market forecasts, competitive analysis and then instructing customers on which direction to take. So, where is this all coming from, Mark? What are you on about?

Statistics 415

Statistics Startup Report Research 415

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

It turns out that to build a successful company you ultimately need this strange thing called “revenue” that people don’t just hand you: You need to earn it. Most of this advice boils down to an argument in favor of basic planning before starting a company or raising money. MakeSpace provides physical storage.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

That’s why it’s important to revisit your company’s mission from time-to-time. We try to hire deeply analytical associates to can help companies problem solve and who make us better investors. Take some time to reflect on how well defined you believe your company’s sense of purpose is.

Startup 150

Startup Coach Course Invest 150