Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Of course, you need to show how your business will make money and provide an impressive investor return, but that should be only the beginning. As you may have seen on the Shark Tank TV show, offering a tiny equity amount for a large investment will not endear you to investors. Offer an attractive and viable investment equation.

Ideas 140

Ideas Entrepreneur Equity Resource 140

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2021

Of course, if you wait for the perfect time, you may never start. Yet, I find that most of us don’t have the financials for that option, so we must share the equity, control, and reward, and rely on funding from family, friends, and professional investors. Timing is critical for every startup.

Startup 159

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Equity 159

SoCal CTO

APRIL 25, 2017

Of course, this needs to be "elevator size" - 3 to 4 sentences. The way they expressed it "technical co-founder" is code for find someone who will work as an Equity Only Developer. It's really hard to find and super competitive to find developers who are going to jump on a concept and build it.

Email 150

Email Startup Develop Development 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Of course, every new direction has some challenges, so the super angel model isn’t perfect. Perhaps because of their focus on building a large portfolio, or their competitiveness, these angels sometimes accept valuations that cause later friction while moving to VCs, or even other angel groups.

Guide 136

Guide Venture Capital Funding Class 136

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. Of course you need to discount any investor competitive positioning, but local investment group leaders will quickly tell you the strengths and terms of active investors in your area.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Funding Innocal Offshore 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2023

Anything less makes you non-competitive. Work-life balance is not about equity, but about escape. Of course, there are many more work expectations that haven’t changed, but the 80-20 rule still applies. Yet peers and customers notice phone calls and e-mails not returned in twenty-four hours or less.

Startup 106

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Screening 106

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

Here is a sample of the reading list for the course that gives you a flavor for just how modern and practical this course is. Jeff (also an HBS alum) co-teaches the LTV course with Professor Eisenmann about a student of theirs who had written a blog post about sales taking on some of my previous assertions.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2014

We’ve been dying to tell you all for a while that we had raised a new venture capital fund and of course given SEC filing requirements the story was somewhat already scooped by the always-in-the-know Dan Primack a few weeks ago. Or perhaps VCs like to carefully guard who has bankrolled them so as not to attract competition?

Venture Capital 396

Venture Capital Funding Technical Review Startup 396

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 4, 2014

Of course it makes no sense to have great people management and a crappy product. But I would posit that in order to sustainably build great products in an intensely competitive industry with skills shortages – people management is one of the most critical soft skills organizations need. Equity for the future?

Startup 340

Startup Technical Review Course Press 340

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2020

Anything less makes you non-competitive. Work-life balance is not about equity, but about escape. Of course, there are many more work expectations that haven’t changed, but the 80-20 rule still applies. Yet peers and customers notice phone calls and e-mails not returned in twenty-four hours or less.

Startup 153

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Screening 153

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 29, 2020

The firm, which underwent a significant restructuring over the last two years, went on an investment tear over the course of 2019 as new partners went out to build up a new portfolio for the firm — almost of a whole cloth. Kleiner Perkins gets back to early-stage with its $600M 18th fund.

IBM 164

IBM IBM Venture Capital Invest 164

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2020

Apple has since capitalized on the top technical talent in Silicon Valley to stay ahead of the competition. Financial capital – revenue, equity, debt, funding. Of course, ultimately you must appeal to real customers to survive. Despite the reach of the Internet and cold calls, there is no substitute for warm introductions.

Resource 131

Resource Startup Capital Mentor 131

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2020

In the same way, great entrepreneurs and company leaders should no longer rely on faceless and nameless processes to drive business strategy and innovation to stay competitive. He speaks from a wealth of personal experience in private equity, as well as top executive positions at American Express, Sears, and Citigroup. by Steven D.

Social Media 128

Social Media Metrics Custom Customer 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Of course, every new direction has some challenges, so the super angel model isn’t perfect. Perhaps because of their focus on building a large portfolio, or their competitiveness, these angels sometimes accept valuations that cause later friction while moving to VCs, or even other angel groups.

Funding 125

Funding Venture Capital Startup Class 125

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2013

Today’s higher education is responding by making more courses online and available to people outside of physical boundaries. ” But I pointed out a professor at HBS ( Tom Eisenmann ) who teaches a course where blogs are a part of the classroom reading material. “Online education is truly going to kill us.”

Venture Capital 403

Venture Capital Education Offshore Outsource Development 403

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

Therefore of course they need to be more selection when writing checks and can’t spread their bets across 75 deals. Of course it’s obvious that it helps the self-interested syndicate lead who gets carry if the investment is successful. Of course the same goes with traditional VCs. This is what leads do.

Venture Capital 356

Venture Capital Invest Course Technical Review 356

Tech.Co

JULY 18, 2016

Startup of the Year competition, which will be held in San Jose, CA during the Innovate! This year, we’ve partnered with the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) – which produces the CES – for the global conference that will bring together tech leaders, influencers, investors, and of course, early-stage startup companies.

Los Angeles 70

Los Angeles Angel Startup Newsletter 70

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Capitalism is fundamentally about timing, since market competition is about finding opportunities before others. It’s obvious that we can be too late to these decisions of course. If — and it’s a big if of course — they can do that on the cheap, then why should an LP care at all? When should you start a company?

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

Of course, you wouldn’t include this data in your customer product pitch. Intellectual property and sustainable competitive advantage. Of course, investors want to see a positive return on their investment, with timeframes and growth expectations. Specific investment size request, and equity offered.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2010

Content, of course, is the same!]. Competition: Chegg (has raised $144 in debt and equity)—estimated by Steven Carpenter ( TechCrunch ) to be 10x more unique visitors than BookRenter (during peak book renting seasons) with nearly $140mm in revenues for 2010. -New Founded in 2008 by Mehdi Maghsoodnia.

Venture Capital 217

Venture Capital Capital Metrics Competition 217

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. Of course you need to discount any investor competitive positioning, but local investment group leaders will quickly tell you the strengths and terms of active investors in your area.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2014

Projecting the financials should be the last step of your business plan preparation, since it assumes you already know the opportunity size, customer buying habits, pricing, costs, and competition. Here are some basic “rules of thumb” that every Angel or venture capital equity investor uses, to help you anticipate their reactions.

Equity 99

Equity Venture Capital Invest Pricing 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2018

In the same way, great entrepreneurs and company leaders should no longer rely on faceless and nameless processes to drive business strategy and innovation to stay competitive. He speaks from a wealth of personal experience in private equity, as well as top executive positions at American Express, Sears, and Citigroup. by Steven D.

Social Media 96

Social Media Metrics Custom Customer 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2016

Of course, they all prefer cash, but some may work for future revenue or startup equity. Acquiring another startup with a strong development team may be far faster and cheaper than building your own, and can be an equity exchange rather than cash. Investigate strategic alliance alternatives. Think outside the box.

Startup 56

Startup Outsource Development Organization Outsource 56

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2013

Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat. Love that sustainable competitive advantage. Of course, never forget those ongoing perspiration items that seem to haunt you every day: Create intellectual property.

Startup 100

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2012

Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat. Love that sustainable competitive advantage. Of course, never forget those ongoing perspiration items that seem to haunt you every day: Create intellectual property.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Ideas 102

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 8, 2011

Amarillo’s advice is consistent with my comments in the Startup Competition ; get to know your competitors on a personal basis, while appearing as innocuous as possible. Be vigilant and keep your eyes on your competition, especially when they are dealt their hands. The same is true with poker. Seven Card Entrepreneurial Stud.

Startup 207

Startup Entrepreneur Competition Guide 207

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2013

Projecting the financials should be the last step of your business plan preparation, since it assumes you already know the opportunity size, customer buying habits, pricing, costs, and competition. Here are some basic “rules of thumb” that every Angel or venture capital equity investor uses, to help you anticipate their reactions.

Startup 97

Startup Equity Entrepreneur Venture Capital 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. Of course you need to discount any investor competitive positioning, but local investment group leaders will quickly tell you the strengths and terms of active investors in your area.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2016

Of course, customers love free, but investors hate it. Even non-profits need money to scale, but their pitch should be to philanthropists, not equity investors. Smart entrepreneurs highlight their own positives in competitive positioning, rather than competitor negatives. Spends time denigrating key competitors.

Funding 98

Funding Startup Innocal Entrepreneur 98

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2017

Machine Learning / AI They discussed many topics ranging from protection of the press to what Mark looks for in an entrepreneur to investing outside of Silicon Valley and of course Trump and sports. And he believes with less companies going public there is less competition. He said if Instagram went public. So here ya go, boys.

Artificial Inteligence 105

Artificial Inteligence Study Press Netflix 105

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

In the same way, great entrepreneurs and company leaders should no longer rely on faceless and nameless processes to drive business strategy and innovation to stay competitive. He speaks from a wealth of personal experience in private equity, as well as top executive positions at American Express, Sears, and Citigroup. by Steven D.

Social Media 99

Social Media Metrics Custom Customer 99

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 16, 2015

Of course, if the campaign does not meet or exceed the funding objective, you get nothing. Many successful crowdfunding campaigns, just like many startups funded by angels and VCs, fail miserably due to normal business challenges, including inventory buildup, marketing, competition, and customer support. Startup revenues come later.

Startup 53

Startup Equity Entrepreneur Demand 53

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2017

In the heat of scaling the business, it’s tempting to skip the cost and time of finding qualified job candidates, and enlist those close at hand, without paying them a competitive wage for the hard work and commitment you need. Retain maximum equity by requesting minimal funding. Remember the old adage that you get what you pay for.

Entrepreneur 72

Entrepreneur Competition Custom Customer 72

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

Of course there’s no exact number of VCs you should meet?—?these As a VC I of course want you to come see only me because that means I have no competition and have time to properly get to know you. Summary Fund-raising is a sales & marketing process in which the buyer is a VC and the product is equity in your company.

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

Investors all know that the startup road is long and hard, so they look for people who have put and will continue to put “skin in the game” -- time, sweat equity, and money. Startup leaders have to be relentlessly resourceful in overcoming obstacles and competition. Executives exude confidence and energy.

Startup 60

Startup Entrepreneur Software Review Technical Review 60

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

Competitor positioning and sustainable competitive advantage. Of course, these should never be in a customer pitch, but investors expect an overall strategy with specific budgets, milestones and metrics. Investors will impatiently expect a winning business model, customer segment definitions and volume projections.

Product 103

Product Slides Custom Customer 103