Berkonomics

JANUARY 6, 2022

First, the marginal exit event: Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event for the early investors, including the entrepreneur or the founders. Most sophisticated investors will take either a promissory note or preferred stock, both of which come before founder or management stock in a sale or liquidation.

Venture Capital 156

Venture Capital Sales Pricing Equity 156

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 18, 2018

And it is that disconnected employee, usually one or more of the better performers, that starts looking for a job when times look bad for a company. Email readers, continue here…] Sometimes a secondary fund-raising effort leads to a lower valuation than the last. Investor loyalty is most tenuous of all.

Layoffs 240

Layoffs Class News Email 240

Tech.Co

JUNE 3, 2022

Square is teaming up with Apple to enable the ‘Tap to Pay' iPhone functionality within the Square Point of Sale app. Now, though, the companies both seem to agree that they'll turn larger profits by teaming up — even if it might mean a slowdown in Square's hardware sales in the long term. Please fill in your email.

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News Newsletter Sales Tips 152

Berkonomics

JUNE 15, 2017

From the moment such an investor looks seriously at your company, the investor or VC partner is thinking of the end game, the ultimate sale of the company or even of an eventual initial public offering. So be aware that professional investors are in your company for the eventual large profits at the liquidity event.

Venture Capital 243

Venture Capital Sales Invest Class 243

Berkonomics

JULY 11, 2013

There is such leverage in high gross profit margins once a company is past breakeven. A ten percent increase in revenues for a company with 50% gross margin and 5% net profit before the increase would double net profit for the period with that ten percent increase in revenue. That’s impressive sales leverage.

.Net 207

.Net Sales Tool Social Network 207

Berkonomics

AUGUST 2, 2018

There are five major classes or niches a company should examine and make its own in calculating positioning in the marketplace. Companies that compete on price rarely compete against others who emphasize service or quality. There are exceptions, based upon cost of sales. So, here comes the lesson and your challenge….

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Pricing Competition Examples Class 226

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 2, 2014

A CEO friend of mine who manages her one hundred person remote workforce as a virtual company told me her story of how she welcomes new employees as she grows her firm. Email readers, continue here.] “You will be successful at our company!” Strike that. She over-welcomes her new employees. the fortune states.

Startup 207

Startup Email Class Examples 207

Berkonomics

APRIL 4, 2019

Every investor wants regular information from companies taking their money. And most of us investors are frustrated by the lack of regular communication – unless of course – the company needs more money. First, let’s cover the absolute minimum legal requirement a company must provide to its investors.

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Class Course Report Competition 120

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). For you who fit that description, nice work. It is for this group that we explore the implications implicit in raising money for growth.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Email readers, continue here…] Although this debate will continue for ages, I tend to fall on the side of betting on the jockey, simply because it has been a rare business plan that did not change again and again seeking a successful model in the marketplace. Concentrate on a world class team.

Venture Capital 120

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Ideas Summary 120

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Email readers, continue here…] Although this debate will continue for ages, I tend to fall on the side of betting on the jockey, simply because it has been a rare business plan that did not change again and again seeking a successful model in the marketplace. Concentrate on a world class team.

Venture Capital 120

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Ideas Summary 120

Berkonomics

JUNE 12, 2014

It is rare when one person starts a company, supplies all the funding, and shares no management tasks or equity with others, and still grows the company to any significant size, worthy of a multi-million dollar opportunity to cash out at exit. Email readers, continue here.] Think of it as the rule of the thirds.

Startup 214

Startup Equity Invest Class 214

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 14, 2014

If you follow the tech media you would be subject to a lot of narrative biases that are completely off base – and this includes the value of email and phone calls. All the data actually suggests with the growth of mobile, inbound sales calls will double from 30 billion to 60 billion in 3 years (source: Kelsey). THE FULL STORY.

Email 339

Email SaaS Venture Capital Google 339

Berkonomics

MARCH 3, 2016

Her firm is a model of a virtual company, with over 100 employees and absolutely no office other than a post office box. At my CEO roundtables, all too often I listen to leaders who are perfectly positioned to transform their company into a virtual one to great financial gain, but who are afraid to take the first step. So we moved out.

Layoffs 120

Layoffs Ideas Email Social Network 120

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event for the early investors, including the entrepreneur or the founders. Most sophisticated investors will take either a promissory note or preferred stock, both of which come before founder or management stock in a sale or liquidation.

Angel 120

Angel Sales Pricing Equity 120

Berkonomics

APRIL 14, 2012

First, let’s cover the absolute minimum legal requirement a company has to provide to its investors. Email readers, continue here.] That burden is an ongoing cost of taking the investment, much as a public company takes on the additional burden of governmental reporting, both adding to costs over time.

Class 202

Class Report Competition .Net 202

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

They write into their investment documents that they will occupy a seat on the board for as long as they are invested in the company, thinking of this as a protection for their investment and tool for them to influence growth. Email readers continue here.] Actually, there are two legal duties of board members.

Class 179

Class Coach Invest Sales 179

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Since Bill Hewlett joined with Dave Packard in 1939 to create what is today one of the world’s largest computer companies, there has been an evergreen debate as to who is more important in starting a tech company: the techie or the business guy? founder and CEO of Gust, the angel financing platform used by over 50,000.

Startup 189

Startup Sales Ideas Entrepreneur 189

Berkonomics

JANUARY 27, 2010

From the moment such an investor looks seriously at your company, the investor or VC partner is thinking of the end game, the ultimate sale of the company or even of an eventual initial public offering. So be aware that professional investors are in your company for the eventual large profits at the liquidity event.

Venture Capital 168

Venture Capital Sales Invest Class 168

Berkonomics

JULY 19, 2011

Here’s a phrase I created in the early 1980’s to describe what I clearly saw as the last chance to make high margins on the sale of computer hardware to businesses. Email readers, continue here.] New retail channels popped up everywhere, competing for this lucrative, growing business segment.

Pricing 184

Pricing Networking IBM IBM 184

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

The object of a financial purchase is to negotiate a bargain, capable of payoff through operating profits or growth over time, or even of immediate profit from arbitrage – knowing of a purchaser that is willing to pay more for your company if repackaged, or even with no changes at all. This rare buyer needs your company.

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Pricing Sales IBM IBM 600

Berkonomics

JANUARY 20, 2010

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder is able to self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). For you who fit that description, nice work. There is a lot to say about retaining control.

Venture Capital 174

Venture Capital Invest Class Entrepreneur 174

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 10, 2012

The innocuous post, which was simply titled " Divshot " generated over 110 comments and was awarded nearly 200 points by Hacker News' notoriously jaded readers. The team subsequently earned a coveted position in Launchpad LA's current accelerator class after winning the Crowdstart LA competition.

News 198

News Sites Startup RSS 198

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Here is the warning: The execution of equity allocations and of a good incentive program using equity is often mismanaged, damaging the corporate capitalization structure and even affecting the outcome of subsequent investment into the company. … How about multiple classes of stock?

Equity 156

Equity Class Pricing Sales 156

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

There are four basic ways to increase the cash position of a company: inject cash through borrowing or investment, decrease spending or payments on debt, increase efficiency of operations, and increase revenues or advance payments from customers. A close second for the same reasons are sales taxes and income taxes.

Services 159

Services Statistics Startup .Net 159

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 25, 2010

I recently read a book I’d highly recommend to every reader of this blog called “ Yes, 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive &# by Robert B. John gave me the book after I spoke at his entrepreneurship class at UCSB. He first worked hard to get him to be an advisor to the company.

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Guide Funding Venture Capital Technical Review 293

socalTECH

JUNE 15, 2011

For our readers who haven't yet heard of your company, what's the idea behind StarGreetz? Eric Frankel: StarGreetz is a digital media content company, that allows brands to stand out in a very cluttered marketplace. How did the company come about? What about the geography makes a difference?

Entertainment 159

Entertainment Startup Class Santa Barbara 159

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 20, 2014

myLINGO is the first product of her company Oladas, Inc., Explain to our readers why you started your company, and why you created your app myLINGO. Share with our readers your experience surrounding the launch of the app. Explain to our readers what you learned from seeing myLINGO in action.

Startup 91

Startup Entertainment CTO Coach Screening 91

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 17, 2020

Here is a class of investor we’ve covered before, one usually focused upon you and less upon your business case. There is an exemption from the requirements that these investors be accredited with net worth or income minimums to qualify legally to invest in your company. Friends and family investors. We’ll call these “inside angels.”

Equity 156

Equity Technical Review Class Organization 156

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Here is the warning: The execution of partnership equity allocations and of a good incentive program using equity is often mismanaged, damaging the corporate capitalization structure and even affecting the outcome of subsequent investment into the company. Equity is divided between the founders and the business begun. There are some rules.

Equity 256

Equity Class Pricing Sales 256

Berkonomics

APRIL 3, 2014

We’ve spoken of financing a young company through friends and family, known as “inside angels.” There are three classes of equity investors for early stage businesses that we have not yet considered. Email readers, continue here.] With angel groups, you should plan of spending months in the process, from application through funding.

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Equity Startup Organization Invest 232

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

Strategic buyers look for managerial talent, intellectual property, geographic expansion, an extension into adjacent markets and more that will be achieved with the acquisition of your company. Email readers, continue here.] There is a third class of buyer I discovered first hand when selling my company – the emotional buyer.

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Sales Pricing IBM IBM 220

Berkonomics

MAY 12, 2010

The document should also contain clear buy-sell clauses, forcing any sale of shares to first be offered to the corporate treasury, then to the other founders in proportion to their holdings, and then if no interest, to outside investors. Email readers continue here.] a share, then options must be priced at that amount.

Equity 213

Equity Class Pricing Startup 213

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 7, 2011

Blogs weren’t popularized yet so it was an oddity for me to read the founder of a software company spewing out advice. I asked him if he’d be willing to allow me to interview him for This Week in VC and we filmed it in the offices of Stack Overflow – his new company. Juno provided a free email service.

Software Review 285

Software Review Software Blogging Startup 285