Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2014

The first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity is that person worth? Just because it was your idea doesn’t mean you “deserve” 90 percent of the equity. The value in a startup is all about tangible results, so there is no equity value in the idea alone. Key to required patents or trade secrets.

Equity 104

Equity Patents Startup CTO Hire 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2016

I’m not suggesting that formal legal documents are always required, but agreements without some paper or email trail are easily forgotten or misconstrued. Filing a provisional patent costs very little if you do it yourself, and it holds your place in line for a year. Give away more equity than required to drive the business.

Startup 62

Startup Patents Entrepreneur Writing 62

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. For example, “I just patented a new cell-phone technology that will double battery life for half the cost. The details can be added later. Skip the acronyms and jargon.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

In addition, we all know that patent disclosure rules often facilitate legal reverse engineering, and innovation at this point is now much cheaper. Most equity investors tend to avoid truly disruptive technology startups, since they take longer and more money to scale. Capitalize on the lessons from early adopters and competitors.

Startup 65

Startup Social Media Study Research 65

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2010

Here are some examples: Failure to document a founder agreement at the beginning. Later, when your venture is trying to close on financing, or even going public, that forgotten partner surfaces, demanding equity. Disclosing inventions before the patent application is filed. Trouble with the IRS over founders stock value.

Startup 50

Startup Patents Entrepreneur Invest 50

socalTECH

MARCH 31, 2014

That''s really where the genesis of this comes from, and we have patents around the idea of continually analyzing both structure and semistructured data from a wide variety of sources, simultaneously. To give you an overview, there are something like 6,000 equities in the U.S. That''s the unique nature of this technology.

Orange County 245

Orange County Startup News IBM 245

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2014

In addition, we all know that patent disclosure rules often facilitate legal reverse engineering, and innovation at this point is now much cheaper. Most equity investors tend to avoid truly disruptive technology startups, since they take longer and more money to scale. Capitalize on the lessons from early adopters and competitors.

Technology 103

Technology Entrepreneur Study Research 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2016

In addition, we all know that patent disclosure rules often facilitate legal reverse engineering, and innovation at this point is now much cheaper. Most equity investors tend to avoid truly disruptive technology startups, since they take longer and more money to scale. Capitalize on the lessons from early adopters and competitors.

Technology 57

Technology Startup Study Research 57

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. Describe your technology patents and “secret sauce”. What equity is the company willing to give in return for the investment?

Slides 99

Slides Competition Sample Sales 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

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. Describe your technology patents and “secret sauce”. What equity is the company willing to give in return for the investment?

Slides 93

Slides Competition Sample Sales 93

InfoChachkie

JUNE 25, 2009

Some startup attorneys will accept a portion of their initial fees in the form of equity. When you hit the inevitable bumps in the road, a lawyer who has an equity stake in your business is more likely to be flexible with respect to payment terms and more willing to give you quick, off-the-clock feedback and guidance.

Technical Advisors 124

Technical Advisors Technical Review IP Patents 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

An alternative approach, which I prefer, 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. Describe your technology patents and “secret sauce”. Here are the ten slides you need: Problem and market need.

Slides 94

Slides Competition Sample Sales 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Here are some tips which will signal traction and fundability to investors, as well as to your team: Document your business plan. File a provisional patent, register a trademark, and reserve your company domain names. It’s hard to build a business without a plan, just like it’s hard to build a house without a blueprint.

Funding 112

Funding Entrepreneur Startup CTO Hire 112

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2012

Here are some tips which will signal traction and fundability to investors, as well as to your team: Document your business plan. File a provisional patent, register a trademark, and reserve your company domain names. It’s hard to build a business without a plan, just like it’s hard to build a house without a blueprint.

Startup 104

Startup CTO Hire Press Customer 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2011

Here are some tips which will signal traction and fundability to investors, as well as to your team: Document your business plan. File a provisional patent, register a trademark, and reserve your company domain names. It’s hard to build a business without a plan, just like it’s hard to build a house without a blueprint.

Startup 101

Startup CTO Hire Press Customer 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2010

Here are some tips which will signal traction to investors, as well as your team: Document your business plan. File a provisional patent, register a trademark, and reserve your company domain names. Investors like to see that you have committed personal funds as well as “sweat equity,” and they like to see real progress at this level.

Tips 88

Tips Startup CTO Hire Press 88

Jason Nazar

MAY 2, 2016

If you are inventing or creating a product, understand patents and register for one at the USPTO. Set up a collaboration method for business documents, spreadsheets and presentations ( GoogleApps ). Clarify who gets equity , and how much. Protect your written works and code through the Copyright Office. Recommended.

Outsource Development 40

Outsource Development Startup Google Mentor 40