Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

One of the biggest myths I have found in the entrepreneur community is that every startup needs one or more outside investors for credibility and success, and perhaps is even entitled to at least one. Searching LinkedIn, for example, is a must for contemporary entrepreneurs. Identify customer executives who need your solution.

Statistics 98

Statistics Entrepreneur Funding Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2023

Billionaire entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" co-host Mark Cuban is an outspoken proponent of the all-in early approach in a video interview, and made it clear that he gives no credibility and low odds to founders seeking funding who have not fully committed their time and efforts to their cause. The early entrepreneur lifestyle is not much fun.

Startup 102

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur News 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2015

Image via Flickr by Jupiter Labs Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. The average amount per startup was $23,000, usually in the form of a convertible loan, rather than an equity investment.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Invest 106

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

One of the biggest myths I have found in the entrepreneur community is that every startup needs one or more outside investors for credibility and success, and perhaps is even entitled to at least one. Searching LinkedIn, for example, is a must for contemporary entrepreneurs. Identify customer executives who need your solution.

Funding 173

Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2014

Entrepreneurs who require funding for their startup have long counted on self-accredited high net worth individuals (“angels”) to fill their needs, after friends and family, and before they qualify for institutional investments (“VCs”). Thus investing in startups should always be approached as a low odds game.

Invest 111

Invest Angel Funding Startup 111

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

Most aspiring entrepreneurs understand that you can’t build a business if you won’t commit to delivering a product or service, but many are hesitant or refuse to commit to any financial forecasts. Check competitor numbers and industry average statistics to get you in the right range. Calculate investment amounts and timing.

Startup 147

Startup Pricing Sales Statistics 147

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2015

Most aspiring entrepreneurs understand that you can’t build a business if you won’t commit to delivering a product or service, but many are hesitant or refuse to commit to any financial forecasts. Check competitor numbers and industry average statistics to get you in the right range. Calculate investment amounts and timing.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Startup Pricing Sales 102

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2018

As an advisor to young entrepreneurs, I find that many are a bit naïve about how the investment process really works. In my first working session with this entrepreneur, I suggested ways to break this request into stages or tranches, based on showing traction, with the first amount in a more affordable range of $50 thousand or less.

Tips 86

Tips Funding Startup Entrepreneur 86

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2016

Billionaire entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" co-host Mark Cuban is an outspoken proponent of the all-in early approach, and has made it clear that he gives no credibility and low odds to founders seeking funding who have not fully committed their time and efforts to their cause. The early entrepreneur lifestyle is not much fun.

Entrepreneur 63

Entrepreneur Startup Satisfaction News 63

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

I challenge any entrepreneur, for example, to define the difference between "seed-stage" and "early-stage" financing. Most investors won’t touch a first-time entrepreneur at this stage. These funders often offer convertible notes, rather than the traditional priced equity. A seed-stage “super angel.”

Funding 104

Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2016

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. At least ten online portals are already gearing up to help regular people buy startup equity, without abiding by accredited investor rules.

Equity 54

Equity Platform Entrepreneur Demand 54

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2015

Entrepreneurs who require funding for their startup have long counted on self-accredited high net worth individuals (“angels”) to fill their needs, after friends and family, and before they qualify for institutional investments (“VCs”). Rose, according to his recent book, “ Angel Investing.” billion collected in 2014.

Startup 106

Startup Angel .Net Entrepreneur 106

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2019

At Upfront, our partners have been fortunate enough to be part of 18 companies that have reached north of $1 billion and the average tenure of an investment that exits at this scale is more than 10 years. We have invested in every round and as a result our ownership has actually gone up over time.

Venture Capital 223

Venture Capital IP Startup Google 223

socalTECH

DECEMBER 5, 2013

We''d invested a lot of money in that, uploading clips to Youtube, and that went very well. We are hoping to change that next year, with free crowdfunding, to go towards an equity/royalty funding model for YouTube channels, which will be exciting. That''s the statistics across the board. Josef Holm: Equity-based crowdfunding.

Content 231

Content Platform Sites Web 231

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2017

As an angel investor and business advisor on new ventures, I expect to see five-year financial projections from every entrepreneur. Does this entrepreneur understand the basics of business costs in the selected business domain, growth dynamics, and the competitive environment? Calculate cash-burn rate and investment timing.

Pricing 57

Pricing Startup Entrepreneur Invest 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2016

According to recent statistics from the International Business Innovation Association ( InBIA ), there are about 7,000 business incubators and accelerators worldwide, with over 90 percent being non-profit and focused on incubator programs for community economic development. Costs, returns in equity and funding access.

Incubator 58

Incubator Startup Seed Funding Equity 58

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

Peter is an entrepreneur and founded and exited four digital media companies, he is going to be building with us and bringing a capability of advising and consulting digital media from startups to big brands on their digital media strategies. More interest and money invested in LA. Are there any other problems LA needs to fix?

Los Angeles 84

Los Angeles Media Invest Startup 84

socalTECH

OCTOBER 2, 2012

One of the few local funds to recently raise a fund is TVC Capital (www.tvccapital.com), which just closed TVC Capital II, a $75 million growth equity and buyout fund. As a reminder to our readers, can you talk briefly about TVC and what kinds of companies you invest in? Jeb Spencer: We consider ourselves a private equity firm.

Acquisition 168

Acquisition Software Review Technical Review Equity 168

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2016

One of the biggest myths I have found in the entrepreneur community is that every startup needs one or more outside investors for credibility and success, and perhaps is even entitled to at least one. Searching LinkedIn, for example, is a must for contemporary entrepreneurs. Identify customer executives who need your solution.

Startup 61

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Funding 61

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 8, 2016

One of the myths I often hear as an advisor to many entrepreneurs is that their lifestyle would somehow be better if they could more easily find other people’s money to build their startup. Most entrepreneurs never forget for a moment that having investors means owing money, even if they can legally argue that equity is not debt.

Funding 57

Funding Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 57

socalTECH

MARCH 31, 2014

Bitvore is based in Irvine, and is backed by serial entrepreneur Yuri Pikover, as well as other angels. Our system will go off and watch those things for you, trend them over time, do statistical analysis on them, or you can use it as a very advanced news gathering system, which is what we''re doing with it today for Wall Street.

Orange County 245

Orange County Startup News IBM 245

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2012

If you are an entrepreneur starting a business for the first time, I recommend that you find a product concept that is already accepted and improve on it, rather than tackling that ultimate disruptive technology. Even banks, as well as equity investors, look more favorably on a proven business model than a new and unproven one.

Patents 84

Patents Startup Statistics Course 84

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

When venture capitalists scale back investing activities it can be very swift and leave many companies that are in the process of fund raising hung out to dry. But any entrepreneurs raising capital should keep in mind that this opening of the markets could possibly be temporary. Why did the VC markets freeze so quickly?

Venture Capital 263

Venture Capital Startup Invest Funding 263

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 26, 2011

If you are an entrepreneur starting a business for the first time, I recommend that you find a product concept that is already accepted and improve on it, rather than tackling that ultimate disruptive technology. Even banks, as well as equity investors, look more favorably on a proven business model than a new and unproven one.

Startup 91

Startup Patents Statistics Course 91

socalTECH

MARCH 10, 2010

One of the more successful serial entrepreneurs here in Southern California has been Robin D. We spoke to Robin about the new startup, his executive team, as well as his angel investing activity here. Robin Richards: Yes, I'm investing in smart young companies that are solving a need. com, and managing director at Tickets.com.

Startup 223

Startup Content Sites CTO Coach 223

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2018

According to statistics by Fundly , crowdfunding contributed $34 billion in funding last year around the world, including peer-to-peer lending. Yet crowdfunding is no panacea for hungry entrepreneurs and startups. In fact, there are many types of crowdfunding, including donations, reward, pre-orders, loans, and equity.

Equity 72

Equity Entrepreneur Statistics Funding 72

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

The last thing a new entrepreneur wants to think about for a new startup is how it will end. Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. The answer you give can make or break your ability to get an investment, so you need to have the right answer ready before anyone asks.

Technical Review 105

Technical Review Equity Invest Startup 105

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

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’re a national venture capital investment firm but with our roots firmly in Los Angeles. That’s healthy.

Startup 150

Startup Coach Course Invest 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2020

The last thing a new entrepreneur wants to think about for a new startup is how it will end. Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. The answer you give can make or break your ability to get an investment, so you need to have the right answer ready before anyone asks.

Startup 150

Startup Technical Review Equity Statistics 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

The last thing a new entrepreneur wants to think about for a new startup is how it will end. Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. The answer you give can make or break your ability to get an investment, so you need to have the right answer ready before anyone asks.

Entrepreneur 115

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Equity 115

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

The last thing a new entrepreneur wants to think about for a new startup is how it will end. Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. The answer you give can make or break your ability to get an investment, so you need to have the right answer ready before anyone asks.

Equity 55

Equity Startup Technical Review Statistics 55

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 12, 2010

As a serial entrepreneur and Internet visionary, Richard co-founded Demand Media in May 2006, and currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. As an undergradudate, Leila authored background papers for the World Bank's Development Research Group and Ashoka on equity and social rights. Richard Rosenblatt. Bambi Francisco.

Twiistup 40

Twiistup Riot Games UCLA Media 40