Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2020

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide.

Funding 174

Funding Startup Equity Examples 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations. Access to entrepreneurs-in-residence, business mentors. Most schools have a rich pipeline of real-world executive volunteers available for mentoring.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2022

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” You have to enjoy working with people -- partners, customers, investors and more -- as well as products to start a business. Yet startup founders are often lonely, since no one else can make their decisions.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Writing 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

Identify customer executives who need your solution. Many savvy entrepreneurs are able to convince high-potential customers that investing early in a high-value solution, perhaps through an advance on royalties, is in their best interest. Reach out to your biggest fans for investor leads.

Statistics 98

Statistics Entrepreneur Funding Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2022

Boomer investors are much more likely to get in the game with a high focus on mentoring and give-back, as well as the financial return potential. Often the Boomer is more willing to work for equity, and easily convinced to step aside when revenues reach that next threshold. Manage customer service. Member of the Advisory Board.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur Report 147

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2021

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. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing the results of your mentoring and leadership. Truly satisfied customers are a joy to every business person.

Startup 160

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 160

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

Identify customer executives who need your solution. Many savvy entrepreneurs are able to convince high-potential customers that investing early in a high-value solution, perhaps through an advance on royalties, is in their best interest. Reach out to your biggest fans for investor leads.

Funding 173

Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

socalTECH

APRIL 10, 2018

Most of our mentors are people who have been successful entrepreneurs and investors, who have been there, and understand how to get a company to the next sage. We charge zero, and take no equity, and really there are very small operational costs for us to support startups. You have to understand your customers and partners.

Startup 172

Startup Seed Funding Mentor Ideas 172

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue). Angel investors probably will know your business, and want to be mentors along the way. Tune your investor pitch and funding expectations accordingly.

Startup 148

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 148

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations. Access to entrepreneurs-in-residence, business mentors. Most schools have a rich pipeline of real-world executive volunteers available for mentoring.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2019

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” You have to enjoy working with people -- partners, customers, investors and more -- as well as products to start a business. Yet startup founders are often lonely, since no one else can make their decisions.

Entrepreneur 135

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Writing 135

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2020

Recognition of internal contributions can be as simple as a public “thank-you,” or as formal as a promotion or equity sharing. It does require sensitivity and engagement with the people around you, as well as your customers. Spend more time coaching and mentoring your team.

Coach 144

Coach Customer Custom Entrepreneur 144

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2023

McGinnis, a well-known venture capitalist and private equity investor. When you are starting a new venture, raising capital, and landing those initial customers, the obstacles keep coming, so you need all the flexibility and resilience you can muster. That’s another variation of a part-time entrepreneur.

Startup 102

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur News 102

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2022

Don’t wait for the right people in business to find you – developers, investors, partners, or key customers. These include other business leaders, mentors, visionaries, and influencers. You only get once chance for a great first impression, so don’t forget that content wins in relationships over style.

Oracle 113

Oracle Entrepreneur Outsource Development Mentor 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2020

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I often feel the frustration of someone trying to build a startup in the wrong place and time, and wrongly attributing their struggle to personal limitations. You need partners, mentors, and investors who can complement your own resources to make it a win-win for all involved.

Resource 131

Resource Startup Capital Mentor 131

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2021

Dave Eastman: For one thing, although we're not completely unique in this, is we don't take equity. What we do, is regional customer discovery for teams, typically academic. We teach them how to determine their value proposition, how to identify and detail their customer targets. but the key thing is customer discovery.

Marina Del Rey 150

Marina Del Rey Startup USC Incubator 150

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. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Funding Innocal Offshore 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

A few are still trying to make a profitable business out of nurturing startups, but it’s a challenge to make money when your customer startups don’t have many resources to give. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

Boomer investors are much more likely to get in the game with a high focus on mentoring and give-back, as well as the financial return potential. Often the Boomer is more willing to work for equity, and easily convinced to step aside when revenues reach that next threshold. Manage customer service. Member of the Advisory Board.

Startup 124

Startup Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

A few are still trying to make a profitable business out of nurturing startups, but it’s a challenge to make money when your customer startups don’t have many resources to give. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors.

Resource 159

Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2018

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Funding 96

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

Crowdfunding, on the other hand, opens the investment door online to almost anyone who is willing to bet on a new product or service with an investment, typically for a chance to be first in line for the offering, and willing to forgo any equity or management position in the company. Business-to-business products need professional investors.

Funding 119

Funding Startup Platform Examples 119

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2020

Don’t wait for the right people in business to find you – developers, investors, partners, or key customers. These include other business leaders, mentors, visionaries, and influencers. You only get once chance for a great first impression, so don’t forget that content wins in relationships over style.

Oracle 124

Oracle Entrepreneur Outsource Development Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

McGinnis, a well-known venture capitalist and private equity investor. When you are starting a new venture, raising capital, and landing those initial customers, the obstacles keep coming, so you need all the flexibility and resilience you can muster. That’s another variation of a part-time entrepreneur.

Startup 128

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction News 128

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide.

Funding 107

Funding Startup Equity Examples 107

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

An occasional discussion with a mentor won’t do it. Here is where you learn to listen and communicate with people and customers. Maybe you are more comfortable going slow, with limited resources, or aiming high and giving up equity. The place – finding a community where you can thrive.

Entrepreneur 139

Entrepreneur Help Incubator Startup 139

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2013

How can you beat finding someone who has been there and done that, able to mentor Gen-Y, has lots of connections to people in your industry, and is often willing to work for equity alone? Customer service. Most actually have the time and inclination to help you, rather than compete with you. Angel investor. Interim executive.

Startup 98

Startup Mentor Demand High Tech 98

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2014

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide.

Startup 113

Startup Entrepreneur Funding Equity 113

Tech Coast Venture Network

APRIL 22, 2010

Often, this also involves a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) if you’re a home owner with equity. With rare exception, you will need to finance personally (or with friends and family to the point of revenue and/or significant customer pre-order or commitment). Remember, help is only a mentor away. www.WINopp.com.

Startup 124

Startup Tech Coast Angels TCVN Incubator 124

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2015

A successful business has to satisfy customers with a strong team, by helping them solve problems, save money, or experience more pleasure. Many entrepreneurs are able to come up with a vision, but far fewer are able to hold on to it through thick and thin, and communicate it effectively and continuously to their team and their customers.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Customer Custom Mentor 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2015

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer.

Satisfaction 101

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Customer Custom 101

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2011

How can you beat finding someone who has been there and done that, able to mentor Gen-Y, has lots of connections to people in your industry, and is often willing to work for equity alone? Customer Service. Most actually have the time and inclination to help you, rather than compete with you. Angel Investor. Interim Executive.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Mentor Demand High Tech 107

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2018

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue). Angel investors probably will know your business, and want to be mentors along the way. Tune your investor pitch and funding expectations accordingly.

Startup 73

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 73

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

Asking for early-stage money before you have customers and revenue will likely kill your credibility with real investors. Seed-stage, meanwhil e, is technically that critical period when you need funding to do solution- and business-model development, to prove that your new product or service works, before you try to sell it to customers.

Funding 104

Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2016

Direction, mentoring and resources required. Costs, returns in equity and funding access. A few incubators and most accelerators provide some seed funding for startup entrants, ranging from $10,000 to $150,000 and expect a chunk of your equity in return. No surprises in this advice.

Incubator 58

Incubator Startup Seed Funding Equity 58

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

When an entrepreneur takes on investors who take equity (i.e. The board is where large equity investors get their representation. They therefore often play the role of the “voice of the customer” and bring important relationships. The second is that they are usually very experienced operators that can mentor the founding team.

Startup 187

Startup Writing Venture Capital Oracle 187