Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2015

Few investors these days have the time or patience to read a full business plan, so a better way to catch their eye is with a tightly written and well formatted two-page executive summary. Professional investors look for the right people more than the right product. Once you have their attention, content is key.

Summary 101

Summary Patents Technical Review Competition 101

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Mike tells us about the company, who uses its software, as well as how he was initially turned away from the Amplify.LA accelerator--which only inspired him to keep working on making his startup a reality and go from just an idea, to a real company. The company, which started in 2014, now has over 40 employees.

Startup 124

Startup Cornerstone OnDemand Software Review Woodland Hills 124

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

There’s a line of thinking in Silicon Valley that you should build product businesses rather than services businesses. It’s nearly impossible to get a services company financed by VCs. And stop effing around trying to create a product company.&#. You’re a small fish. This team is talented.

Services 332

Services Venture Capital IP Startup 332

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2011

Scott Saunders, the CEO and co-founder, of the company is hoping to change that, by providing tools to consumers to help pay off their debt and achieve their life goals. I built up the company, the Walz Group, with partners. 500 company. The company is doing great, and now has more than $30 million in revenues.

Startup 197

Startup Ideas Southern California Social Network 197

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Entrepreneurs who are looking to attract investors need to develop and pitch a plan -- preferably written -- that answers every potential investor question about your startup before it is asked. How big is the funding request, and how much equity will you give? Quantify founder investments, both cash and sweat-equity.

Invest 108

Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 29, 2011

Amazon in turn led to the formation of an earlier stage of venture capital now led by what I call “micro VCs&# who typically invest $250-500k in companies rather than the $5-7 million that VCs used to invest. Surprisinly, this strategy works well with many entrepreneurs. This led to an explosion in startups. Funny, that.

Venture Capital 296

Venture Capital Capital Software Startup 296

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 1, 2009

I was reading one of my favorite websites for entrepreneurs, VentureHacks, this weekend and noticed that they are running a long piece on how to pick a co-founder. I recommend that you start a company by yourself and own 100% of it. I recommend that you start a company by yourself and own 100% of it. You’ll be fine.

Startup 289

Startup Venture Capital Entrepreneur Sales 289

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Many entrepreneurs still dream of “going public,” making billions of dollars, and playing with the big boys. They don’t realize that this option would likely be their worst nightmare, since it costs millions for the road show, usually dilutes your equity to a tiny fraction, and takes away all your entrepreneurial control.

Startup 89

Startup Entrepreneur Report Summary 89

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Ten Tech Entrepreneurs Who Are Putting LA on the Map. Tech startup accelerators dot the landscape, feeding investments into the waiting arms of the nation’s most intelligent and driven entrepreneurs. Founder and CEO since starting the company back in 1999, Miller has led Cornerstone through 11 years of consecutive growth.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Entrepreneur Riot Games Southern California 75

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

For the elite startups and entrepreneurs who manage to attract the investor they dream of, and survive the term sheet negotiation, there is still one more hurdle before the money is in the bank. Use this opportunity to validate their satisfaction and support for your company and your solution. Status of the solution.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 6, 2012

I had been hanging around Klout for a year and many of my friends had angel funded the company and were champions. John laid into a well-honed thesis on why the social web needed a “Page Rank” equivalent for people. It is company 500px who has a beautiful product and a burgeoning community on the iPad and web.

Cornerstone OnDemand 303

Cornerstone OnDemand Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup 303

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Barter services and use equity to get things done for minimum cash. Start early by registering your company, and reserving the name as your website domain name. Every new startup needs to fight the urge to get the product out, and then start selling it. spirit entrepreneur startup mistakes business'

Tips 102

Tips Help Startup Blogging 102

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2010

It’s always fun chatting with Jason because he’s knowledgeable about the market, quick on topics and pushes me to talk more about VC / entrepreneur issues. We’re staring to get the hang of how to divide the show up into talking about deals but also talking about issues for entrepreneurs during funding. Short answer: no.

Venture Capital 285

Venture Capital Startup Advertising Redpoint 285

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2012

But many entrepreneurs don’t realize that Angels are also extremely discerning in the projects that they will invest in, rejecting approximately 97% of the proposals submitted to them, according to the California Investment Network. In today’s world, if you don’t have a web site up and running, you will not be perceived as a real company.

Angel 104

Angel Screening Summary Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Often I find that experienced investors scan ahead to the management page of a business plan, even before they read the product description. These days, with Sarbanes-Oxley and all the new SEC regulations, an MBA does not begin to cover the accounting, process, and tax knowledge needed to steer a company’s finances.

Startup 99

Startup Report Equity Resource 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

As a member of the local angel group Selection Committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Solution product & technology. Make sure to communicate the relevance of your product / services to market needs.

Slides 94

Slides Competition Sample Sales 94

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Yet according to the latest data from Gust (formerly AngelSoft), only about 3 out of 100 companies who initiate the formal request process actually get funded. The Gust Deal Funnel from the last 12 months indicates is that 70% of the interested companies never make it past the initial screening process. Build a prototype product.

Invest 99

Invest Angel Technical Review Summary 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Yet according to the latest data from AngelSoft , only about 3 out of 100 companies who initiate the formal request process actually get funded. The AngelSoft Deal Funnel from the last 12 months indicates is that 70% of the interested companies never make it past the initial screening process. Build a prototype product.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Solution product & technology. Make sure to communicate the relevance of your product / services to market needs.

Slides 99

Slides Competition Sample Sales 99

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Usually the reason the big companies are no threat is because the market is too small.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

SoCal Delicious

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Next → As startup ecosystems evolve and mature, validation of their viability comes in waves from entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers alike. We hope that the platform will allow entrepreneurs a streamlined transition to an accelerator program, financing or to otherwise launch their businesses.”. Get Tickets.

Sherman Oaks 44

Sherman Oaks Riot Games Tips Redpoint 44

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Usually the reason the big companies are no threat is because the market is too small.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2013

Often I find that experienced investors scan ahead to the management page of a business plan, even before they read the product description. These days, with Sarbanes-Oxley and all the new SEC regulations, an MBA does not begin to cover the accounting, process, and tax knowledge needed to steer a company’s finances.

Startup 95

Startup Report Equity Resource 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Solution product & technology. Make sure to communicate the relevance of your product / services to market needs.

Slides 93

Slides Competition Sample Sales 93

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

PwC has been a significant contributor, as have the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, local creative agency Philosophie, and cloud infrastructure company Joyent. In many cases, the next logical step for one of these young companies will be to join another, later-stage accelerator. Follow PandoDaily: Search. Post navigation.

UCLA 47

UCLA Invest Startup Class 47

Jason Nazar

MAY 2, 2016

Pick a company name and check any potential trademark infringements on Trademarkia or KnowEm. If you are inventing or creating a product, understand patents and register for one at the USPTO. Check Google , Yellow Pages , and local directories to ensure your business name is not taken. Open your company bank account.

Outsource Development 40

Outsource Development Startup Google Mentor 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2011

Often I find that experienced investors scan ahead to the management page of a business plan, even before they read the product description. These days, with Sarbanes-Oxley and all the new SEC regulations, an MBA does not begin to cover the accounting, process, and tax knowledge needed to steer a company’s finances.

Startup 93

Startup Report Equity Resource 93

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Usually the reason the big companies are no threat is because the market is too small.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2011

By John Williams Fast Company magazine recently reported that PayPal founder Paul Thiel is giving away $100,000 to twenty-four young men and women to finance startup businesses. The caveat is that these young entrepreneurs have to drop out of college to do it. Fancy websites are expensive, but blogs and Facebook pages are free.

Startup 92

Startup Capital Blogging Ideas 92

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 13, 2010

TechZulu is helping the startup community out by listing all the great startup/entrepreneur oriented panels. Simply click on the title of the panel you like and you will be taken to their SXSWi panel picker page. Bootstrapping process, product development, Prototyping. . Bootstrapping advice, entrepreneur, startups. .

Guide 69

Guide Startup Venture Capital Entrepreneur 69

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2012

From LA Demo Day to Silicon Beach Fest to Crowdstart LA to hackathons to Startup Weekends, companies and entrepreneurs alike have joined forces to feed the startup ecosystem. Startup Weekend is a 54-hour frenzy in which a group of strangers can come together to form a company and compete for prizes. domain for the company.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas San Diego Mentor 100