Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

Commit a source of internal or external seed funding. There is no point incubating an innovative new venture if you don’t have the funds to launch and expect quick self-sustaining revenue. A documented business plan for the new venture is critical here. Assemble an engaged new venture advisory board.

Incubator 143

Incubator Seed Funding Metrics Customer 143

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2010

In my own effort to keep up with the times, I just finished a new book by Landy Chase, titled “ Competitive Selling: Out-Plan, Out-Think, Out-Sell to Win Every Time.” This concept applies equally well to convincing investors to fund you, employees to join you, or customers to buy from you. Establish the competitive playing field early.

Competition 92

Competition Entrepreneur Startup Customer 92

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2022

In reality, it doesn’t take a huge investment of money and time to build a prototype today. With a realistic prototype, you can get more accurate feedback from customers on their real need and what they might pay, before you invest millions on the final product. Time is money, and may be your primary competitive advantage.

Outsource Development 110

Outsource Development Ideas Tool Outsource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The industry veteran.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 123

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

Finally you create and document your recipe (business plan). All the investment money in the world won’t make your company succeed, if you have the wrong team. investors invest in people, not ideas) Effective and timely go-to-market. Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration. Don’t stand still.

Startup 156

Startup Coach Metrics Marketing 156

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

Since this document is outward facing, it is important to keep the terminology and tone consistent with that of your customer set, investors, and business partners. Opportunity segmentation and competitive environment. Executives, marketing & sales, financial projections, and funding. Provide details on the business model.

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Entrepreneur 112

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2018

On the other hand, everyone is doing it, so that means more competition, and the market and technology are changing faster than ever before. Co-mingling personal and business funds and accounts creates legal risk and tax liability, and makes your efforts look like a hobby. Prepare a pitch deck to document and share your plan.

Funding 73

Funding Social Media Slides Platform 73

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2015

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. I still see entrepreneurs who spend money and time for months on a new business idea without any separation of personal and business funds, and any formal accounting system for their new business.

Outsource Development 99

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Every investor expects to see some business traction, both before and after a funding event. Here are some tips which will signal traction and fundability to investors, as well as to your team: Document your business plan. Now investors will pay attention, since scale-up funding is less risky and has a time frame.

Funding 112

Funding Entrepreneur Startup CTO Hire 112

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 5, 2018

The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I Don’t send investors documents and notes that would be rejected by any high-school teacher. Investors invest in the jockey, more than the horse.

Funding 62

Funding Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup 62

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The industry veteran.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 123

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. No investor wants to wait that long for his payback, or fund the years of waiting. Competition and sustainable advantage. Competition and sustainable advantage. Solution and benefits. Executive team.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2022

Thus, today around 90 percent of successful startups are still acquired by bigger companies versus an IPO, as the safer and preferred method of growth and funding. Thus, there is tremendous pressure to increase current earnings, and little appetite for strategic investments. Public companies are always at risk for takeovers.

Startup 98

Startup Report IBM IBM 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2020

Since this document is outward facing, it is important to keep the terminology and tone consistent with that of your customer set, investors, and business partners. Opportunity segmentation and competitive environment. Executives, marketing & sales, financial projections, and funding. Provide details on the business model.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Startup Summary Product 124

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2020

In reality, it doesn’t take a huge investment of money and time to build a prototype today. With a realistic prototype, you can get more accurate feedback from customers on their real need and what they might pay, before you invest millions on the final product. Time is money, and may be your primary competitive advantage.

Outsource Development 124

Outsource Development Ideas Tool Outsource 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2016

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. I still see entrepreneurs who spend money and time for months on a new business idea without any separation of personal and business funds, and any formal accounting system for their new business.

Ideas 62

Ideas Outsource Development Startup Competition 62

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2010

In simple terms, it is a document which describes all the what, when, where, and how of your business for you, your cohorts, and potential investors. Finally, hone the result into a professional document. You really need a business plan for you own efforts, even if external funding is not a requirement. No problem.

Startup 91

Startup Funding Sample Writing 91

socalTECH

JULY 8, 2010

Whoever wins, these are some of the local firms in interesting markets--and their tough, well-backed head-to-head competition--worth watching. DocStoc, based in Santa Monica, is headed by Jason Nazar , and offers a way for people to share and purchase professional documents. Funding: Around $4.0M. Funding: $12.8M.

Southern California 124

Southern California Rustic Canyon SoCal Startup 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I Don’t send investors documents and notes that would be rejected by any high-school teacher. Investors invest in the jockey, more than the horse.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Statistics Startup Social Media 124

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 28, 2012

I often caution entrepreneurs about seeing too many VCs when you’re beginning your fund raising process both because information tends to leak and because if you see too many people who talk with each other you’ll soon have whispers amongst all of the VCs who “passed on you” and your deal will seem over-shopped and lacking in momentum.

Technical Review 316

Technical Review Venture Capital Customer Custom 316

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Why you should set up a board at the seed round of funding I know these days with SAFE documents and rolling convertible notes many founders prefer not to set up a board early on. This is the norm and unless you have a hugely competitive round it’s not worth fighting. How does control start to change at the B-round of funding?

Startup 236

Startup Venture Capital Tips Capital 236

TechEmpower

AUGUST 21, 2023

Keeping up with the competition: You’re a market leader in a fast-growing field. Due diligence prep: You’re coming up on a funding round or looking at a potential exit. It’s important to ensure that they’re on a strong footing as significant changes occur. Otherwise, the downstream technical debt created can be overwhelming.

Technical Review 260

Technical Review Development Team Review Software Review TechEmpower 260

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. No investor wants to wait that long for his payback, or fund the years of waiting. Competition and sustainable advantage. Competition and sustainable advantage. Solution and benefits. Executive team.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2018

Finally you create and document your recipe (business plan). All the investment money in the world won’t make your company succeed, if you have the wrong team. investors invest in people, not ideas) Effective and timely go-to-market. Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration. Don’t stand still.

Startup 81

Startup Coach Metrics Marketing 81

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

We thought today for our interview, that we'd get an update on the angel investment environment here in Southern California from Scott Sangster , the incoming President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tech Coast Angels , the biggest angel investment group in Southern California. I think that's a good sign for startups.

Tech Coast Angels 182

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 182

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

The approach I recommend is to build the investor presentation first, by iterating on the bullets with your team, and then fleshing out the points into a full-blown text-based business plan document. Competition and sustainable advantage. List and position your competition, or alternatives available to the customer.

Slides 99

Slides Competition Sample Sales 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. No investor wants to wait that long for his payback, or fund the years of waiting. Competition and sustainable advantage. Competition and sustainable advantage. Solution and benefits. Executive team.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2010

Venture Capital funds: the different between “closed funds&# (which typically have a 10-year time horizon) and “evergreen funds&# which re-invest profits back into the fund. An investment doesn’t guarantee your product will suddenly be on the investor’s price sheet. 406 Ventures.

Venture Capital 225

Venture Capital Google Web Sites 225

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Since this document is outward facing, it is important to keep the terminology and tone consistent with that of your customer set, investors, and business partners. Opportunity segmentation and competitive environment. No mention usually means no plan and not competitive. Project revenues, costs and investment needs.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Finally you create and document your recipe (business plan). All the investment money in the world won’t make your company succeed, if you have the wrong team. investors invest in people, not ideas) Effective and timely go-to-market. Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration. Don’t stand still.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Startup Coach Metrics 93

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2019

Today around 90 percent of successful startups are still acquired by bigger companies, as the safer and preferred method of growth and funding. The reasons are a lot more complex than the meltdown of key investment banks in the US a few years ago, so don’t expect a big change in the numbers soon, even with recent stock market rallies.

Startup 84

Startup Technical Review Report IBM 84

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 16, 2015

Why raise funds? This seems like an obvious question but you need to be clear why you’re looking to raise in order to come up with an effective game plan and determine your best funding option. And when it comes to timing, wait until you’ve come up with a working prototype and developed your product before you seek external funding.

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Equity Funding 40

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2013

In simple terms, it is a document which describes all the what, when, where, and how of your business for you, your cohorts, and potential investors. Finally, hone the result into a professional document. You really need a business plan for you own efforts, even if external funding is not a requirement. No problem.

Sample 92

Sample Writing Startup Summary 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

I had intended to talk about how bad the process could become, not to name-and-shame anybody (and The Funded was not yet around). So for anybody who has been through the funding process before I hope that this will resonate and for those that haven’t I hope it will be interesting. Page 3: Competition. Page 4: Business Model.

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274