Both Sides of the Table

MAY 21, 2018

Note: If you enjoy my posts please subscribe to my newsletter by adding your email below. She had emailed with a partner at a big VC fund and he had passed the request to a junior associate. Of course you have to be careful with this. This is part of a series I’ve been writing on fund raising. I knew she’s come see you.

Funding 217

Funding Newsletter Venture Capital Email 217

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 30, 2018

I thought I’d write a post about how to talk about valuation at a startup and give you some sense of what might be on the mind of the person considering funding you. Of course, unlike cars there is no direct comparison across each startup so these are just some general guidelines to try and even the information field.

Venture Capital 324

Venture Capital Pricing Startup Invest 324

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. It’s why the first company I ever invested in as a VC – Invoca – just announced a $20 million funding by Accel Partners. billion email accounts.

Email 339

Email SaaS Venture Capital Google 339

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 7, 2013

When I first started writing this blog several years ago I had less followers than you have right now. But the realist in me knew I couldn’t write daily nor could I convince you to think to check out my blog with regularity. And of course the other place I inform myself is on Twitter. I should know. People looooove lists.

Writing 326

Writing Buzzfeed Social Media Blogging 326

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 4, 2018

And finally, there are the thirty-plus sad exits that were complete write-offs for the investors, sometimes regaining some portion of note-holder or creditor money in the process. There’s almost always a closing party where the board, prime investors, attorneys and investment bankers all get together to celebrate the victory.

Sales 136

Sales Entrepreneur Writing Invest 136

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2010

I’m sure that every one of us who has been out in the business world for a few years can look back with perfect hindsight and name a few college courses that we should have taken. But on the business side, here is my list of useful courses that we wish existed, but as far as I know, still aren’t generally available: Basic Office Politics.

Course 53

Course Writing Ideas Class 53

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

So I recommend a high-level “state of the company” email a couple of times a year but a message that you assume might get shown to others. This is no different than a public company where of course most investors are not given detailed financial and performance information and when they are it is quarterly and after the fact.

Venture Capital 352

Venture Capital Seed Funding Email Blogging 352

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 9, 2017

Of course not. Email readers, continue here…]. You’ll wonder: ‘’Is this a worthy investment with probable payback in revenues? Here’s a quick nod to the folks at Colour Graphics for urging me to write this insight. Why Is niche marketing important? This is easy. So, what other benefits are there to niche marketing?

Marketing 266

Marketing Resource Advertising Social Media 266

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Others send investors email and business plans in all uppercase or no punctuation. Of course, previous successes provide more direct evidence of a network of the right people. Effective communication requires real listening, as well as talking.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 2, 2011

It’s apropos because there is so much noise these days with email, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, web shows, etc. If I check Twitter it’s usually because I’m waiting for a meeting to start and I never write posts during the day. He’s committed to getting through every email. I read 95% of my email.

Email 287

Email Blogging Venture Capital Writing 287

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2013

It’s the first EIR that we’ve had in the years that I’ve been with the firm and I hope will be the start of our investment in this program. We’re excited to continue to grow our investment professional staff and will continue to do so over the course of 2013 & 2014 with our new fund. Not for me.

Startup 372

Startup Course Ideas Invest 372

Berkonomics

MARCH 14, 2019

Of course, we are speaking of increased valuation of your company when we speak of “wealth.” Professional investors will probe these five risk areas and make the decision to invest based upon their comfort with each. Email readers, continue here…] Are you ahead or behind the market with your product or service?

Outsource Development 120

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 120

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Of course we fund companies in good markets and bad. We also are dependent on money, advice and support of many of our friends & colleagues in the venture industry who co-invest with us in nearly every deal we do. Every year at Upfront we try to analyze the venture markets. VC survey data 2016 from Mark Suster.

Funding 150

Funding Venture Capital Marketing Writing 150

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2014

For all the things he’s likely known for, he probably hasn’t yet built a strong relationship as an early stage venture investor (he invests often in later-stage deals where he is very respected). My email back to him was a version of. Of course I ask more politely that than. He has a team of 4 other such executives.

Venture Capital 333

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Email 333

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

If you truly believe that you, your company and your products are exceptional and your company will be valuable then you’re actually doing them a FAVOR by helping them invest in your startup. If you don’t believe in your bones that you’re amazing then it’s no wonder you don’t want to sell them on making the investment.”

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

And finally, there are the sad exits that were complete write-offs for the investors, regaining some portion of note-holder or creditor money in the process. . I can tell you with great enthusiasm that the high gain exits are by far the most enjoyable in every way.

Writing 159

Writing Sales Entrepreneur Invest 159

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2011

This is a blog post I really didn’t want to write. I didn’t want to write it because I have mixed feelings about AngelList. I didn’t want to write it because the bloggosphere doesn’t always do nuance well. So why I am writing it then? As Shervin said, it’s just email. A few reasons.

Venture Capital 267

Venture Capital Writing Blogging Startup 267

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2013

I’m sure that every one of us who has been out in the business world for a few years can look back with perfect hindsight and name a few college courses that we should have taken. But on the business side, here is my list of useful courses that we wish existed, but as far as I know, still aren’t generally available: Basic Office Politics.

Class 93

Class Course Writing Slides 93

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 13, 2018

Remember that the goal of an email to a VC or an introduction from a trusted mutual connection is simply to get you the meeting. You want to send just enough to get the meeting (and of course a great deck sells better than a long email) and not so long that you don’t leave a chance to wow the person in your actual meeting.

Venture Capital 261

Venture Capital Slides Email Startup 261

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Others send investors email and business plans in all uppercase or no punctuation. Of course, previous successes provide more direct evidence of a network of the right people. Effective communication requires real listening, as well as talking.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2010

In writing anything positive about any of the companies I’m not suggesting that it means that I prefer them to any of their competitors. Also, some of the deals I write about I have actually seen as part of their fund raising process. I just cover the companies that were funded that week. Others I have not. Really!).

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Capital Email Blogging 265

Berkonomics

MAY 29, 2014

If you don’t know these things, how are you going to course-correct if things go differently than forecast? I’m not seeking a bank loan or investment. Email readers, continue here.] A business plan is yours alone. A business plan: Organizes your thoughts to better run your business. Helps you to be more focused.

Startup 166

Startup Guide Help Mentor 166

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. 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.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2017

I’m sure that every one of us who has been out in the business world for a few years can look back with perfect hindsight and name a few college courses that we should have taken. But on the business side, here is my list of useful courses that we wish existed, but as far as I know, still aren’t generally available: Basic Office Politics.

Training 57

Training Course Email Social Network 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2011

I’m sure that every one of us who has been out in the business world for a few years can look back with perfect hindsight and name a few college courses that we should have taken. But on the business side, here is my list of useful courses that we wish existed, but as far as I know, still aren’t generally available: Basic Office Politics.

Course 91

Course Writing Social Network Ideas 91

InfoChachkie

JULY 23, 2012

Rejecting the paint-by-numbers approach to corporate communications deployed by most marketing executives, Brad has embraced unconventional guerilla marketing tactics to help establish his venture capital firm, Foundry Group, as a thought leader in early-stage tech investing. Write Your Own Playbook. We have never done a press release.

Marketing 233

Marketing Blogging Startup Venture Capital 233

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

The main thrust of the post is that with YouTube taking a 45% of revenue and talent taking 70% of the remaining revenue, YouTube Networks didn’t have sustainable businesses unless they invested heavily in technology as a tool to increase margin and provide defensibility. margin range to more sustainable 50-60% margin businesses.

Company 339

Company Companies Technical Review Content 339

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

But of course all of these things are intertwined. We want to invest in early-stage technology enabled startup businesses – upfront in the funding cycle. In fact, 90% of our investments are either Seed or A-round investments (10% are B-round). We chose the word “upfront” to represent our culture.

Startup 150

Startup Coach Course Invest 150

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

Even venture capitalists who sit on boards where they have significant investments often forget this point. 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.

Class 179

Class Coach Invest Sales 179

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2014

Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Others send investors email and business plans in all uppercase or no punctuation. Of course, previous successes provide more direct evidence of a network of the right people. Effective communication requires real listening, as well as talking.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Angel Social Media Patents 107

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

In the original version of his post, Andy writes. Most top tier VCs return about 3x invested capital and outlier funds (the best of a vintage) might return 6-8x. But the larger funds usually have lower returns because they are often investing bigger dollars at later stages with less risk and therefore lower returns. Yeah, true.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

I had a recent email dialog with the founder of a company looking for a CTO for their startup. We had several emails back and forth where he provided basic details on the concept. Of course, if you are a good developer looking for equity-only positions in very interesting startups, please drop me a note.

CTO Hire 241

CTO Hire CTO Coach Equity Develop 241

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 24, 2016

What you Before Sets the Course for How Well the Day Goes Make sure you send your financial and operating metrics no less than 72 hours before the board meeting — even better if it can be a week in advance. Literally stop the meeting, let everybody do their quick emails and then restart with no devices. Not pushing for votes.

Guide 196

Guide Startup Metrics Conference 196

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 24, 2010

I write the annual “state of the Suster’s&# summarizing our year. We wished them a good holiday, of course, and we tried to get across a message. Most people I tell this to think I’m joking. I’m not. But I’ve learned to enjoy sending annual cards. But I have send out business cards in the past.

Writing 283

Writing Course Email Capital 283

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

When to get a lawyer - If you plan to be a venture or angel backed technology company (what I mostly write about) the best time to start meeting and getting to know lawyers is long before you ever start your company. I write about some of the lessons in my post on Startup Mistakes. Many people start companies arse backwards.

Startup 318

Startup IP Southern California Entrepreneur 318

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

He writes with a great perspective and is well worth reading. But in the end we selected David Lin , a superstar who did 4 years at the technology investment banking firm Montgomery & Co and 4 years as Director of Strategy at the comparison shopping site PriceGrabber where he dealt with many operational issues. So back to MBAs.

Startup 337

Startup Venture Capital Study Course 337

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

The questions that a VC mulls before writing a check are precisely the questions you should be asking yourself. What would it take in investments to acquire and retain traffic to support these businesses? But I’m investing on the assumption you will be successful, of course. Market Size.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150