Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

Get connected to the right mentors and your business may catapult to the next level. I figured if Matt was on the verge of bankruptcy and one mentor changed his trajectory, what if we had a formalized, community-wide program? He is very hands-on and helpful – especially for any company looking into customer acquisition.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Startup Customer Custom 304

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

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

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2012

But honestly there are times when being a VC can feel like that, too. And that person has almost certainly chosen specifically to be a startup lawyer over serving other types of customers because he or she enjoys working with entrepreneurs. I would gladly part with equity (actually, I have) to work with people like her on deals.

Startup 363

Startup Venture Capital Coach Press 363

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). Different types of investors tend to specialize in capitalizing on businesses at different stages. Don’t sign up for one, expecting the other.

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. These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

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

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 2, 2011

I was thinking back to a few previous “insider baseball&# blog debates that raged for several weeks: AngelGate (aka Bin38 secret cabal), convertible debt vs. equity, bubble vs. not, and now the AngelList discussion. I would argue that all of the above topics for us VCs are noise. Probably we all have different filters.

Email 287

Email Blogging Venture Capital Writing 287

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

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). Angel Investors & Venture Capital.

Startup 124

Startup Tech Coast Angels TCVN Incubator 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2014

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). Different types of investors tend to specialize in capitalizing on businesses at different stages. Don’t sign up for one, expecting the other.

Startup 93

Startup Funding Venture Capital Ideas 93

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

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

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). Different types of investors tend to specialize in capitalizing on businesses at different stages. Don’t sign up for one, expecting the other.

Startup 73

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 73

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. Good facilities and support services are not enough.

Incubator 58

Incubator Startup Seed Funding Equity 58

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. 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 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2016

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). Different types of investors tend to specialize in capitalizing on businesses at different stages. Don’t sign up for one, expecting the other.

Startup 67

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 67

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. 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 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations. These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Capital Class Startup 55

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2016

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.

Startup 61

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Funding 61

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

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.

Incubator 98

Incubator Startup Help Resource 98

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 30, 2011

The panel is comprised of Southern California’s Top VC’s, Angels, and Startup Accelerator founders. In this role, Mike oversaw global business strategy and operations for Myspace, Myspace Music, and Myspace Mobile, which included board and strategic roles with joint venture partners in Myspace China and Myspace Japan / Softbank.

Tech Coast Angels 105

Tech Coast Angels Startup Angel Southern California 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2011

Recently I heard a talk by Dave McClure, a long-time angel investor, who also proclaims to be one of the “new breed” of venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, as CEO of 500Startups , which is either a micro-VC seed fund, or a startup incubator, or both. For VCs, early-stage means customer revenue is less than $10M.

Startup 92

Startup Funding Seed Funding Incubator 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2012

A while back I heard a talk by Dave McClure, a long-time angel investor, who also proclaims to be one of the “new breed” of venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, as CEO of 500Startups , which is either a micro-VC seed fund, or a startup incubator, or both. For VCs, early-stage means customer revenue is less than $10M.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Startup Seed Funding Incubator 101

Tech Coast Venture Network

MARCH 9, 2011

Investors and entrepreneurs who won at the fundraising game during and after the Great Recession offer advice on landing equity money. “Most have a strong desire to mentor and help build companies.” million in angel and venture capital. By Monica Mehta. Is this a limited window of opportunity, or more?

Tips 100

Tips Capital Tech Coast Angels Screening 100

Jason Nazar

MAY 2, 2016

Find sources of capital— friends & family, business bank loans , angel investment , venture capital or even crowdfunding ( Crowdfunder , Fundable ). Choose an email system to connect with customers ( Constant Contact , MailChimp , Sendgrid ). Business Mentors. Clarify who gets equity , and how much.

Outsource Development 40

Outsource Development Startup Google Mentor 40

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Mike has over 18 years of business development, marketing and management experience in businesses ranging from early stage start-ups to private equity and from mid-stage business to large turn-around operations. As of May 2010, CallFire has over 20,000 customers! Custom ad deals and partnerships.

Tsavo 76

Tsavo Idealab Tech Coast Angels Userplane 76

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Mike has over 18 years of business development, marketing and management experience in businesses ranging from early stage start-ups to private equity and from mid-stage business to large turn-around operations. As of May 2010, CallFire has over 20,000 customers! Custom ad deals and partnerships.

Tech Coast Angels 96

Tech Coast Angels Idealab Angel Startup 96

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

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

It will consist of a fixed group of up to 12 CEOs which will meet in person and support each other in navigating through the economic turmoil, generating revenue and working with investors and customers in the new climate. Who this is for: This is for CEOs of companies that have either raised $1m+ in capital or have $1m+ in revenues. .

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

It will consist of a fixed group of up to 12 CEOs which will meet in person and support each other in navigating through the economic turmoil, generating revenue and working with investors and customers in the new climate. Who this is for: This is for CEOs of companies that have either raised $1m+ in capital or have $1m+ in revenues. .

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

It will consist of a fixed group of up to 12 CEOs which will meet in person and support each other in navigating through the economic turmoil, generating revenue and working with investors and customers in the new climate. Who this is for: This is for CEOs of companies that have either raised $1m+ in capital or have $1m+ in revenues. .

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

It will consist of a fixed group of up to 12 CEOs which will meet in person and support each other in navigating through the economic turmoil, generating revenue and working with investors and customers in the new climate. Who this is for: This is for CEOs of companies that have either raised $1m+ in capital or have $1m+ in revenues. .

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

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

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Chris Dixon , September 12, 2010 My most useful career experience was about eight years ago when I was trying to break into the world of VC-backed startups. I applied to hundreds of jobs: low-level VC roles, startups jobs, even to big tech companies. But how do you actually get the right people to be your mentors?

Startup 191

Startup Product Technology Venture Capital 191

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

Pricing models, the freemium myth and why you may not be charging enough for your product - Seth Levine's VC Adventure , August 12, 2010 I’ve been pulled into a number of product and pricing meetings recently (for reasons unknown I’ve become the Foundry pricing and productization guy). equity debate. clearly didn’t cause this.”

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2009

Please don’t also confuse this with whether a VC should invest in a CEO who’s done it before – that’s a given. He’s joining you because your company offers him/her the hope of the big equity package but likely the step forward in his career that he’s been looking for. I’ll explain both below.

Startup 327

Startup Sales Class CIO 327