Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2011

Many entrepreneurs still dream of “going public,” making billions of dollars, and playing with the big boys. They don’t realize that this option would likely be their worst nightmare, since it costs millions for the road show, usually dilutes your equity to a tiny fraction, and takes away all your entrepreneurial control.

Startup 94

Startup Entrepreneur Report Summary 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

The new hot topic for entrepreneurs the last couple of years is crowd funding, which is anticipated to at least supplement, if not replace, the slow and mysterious process of current Angel and venture capital investors. Example sites include StartSomeGood and the Facebook Cause page. There is no concept of ROI other than product.

Funding 99

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2015

Few investors these days have the time or patience to read a full business plan, so a better way to catch their eye is with a tightly written and well formatted two-page executive summary. Professional investors look for the right people more than the right product. Once you have their attention, content is key.

Summary 101

Summary Patents Technical Review Competition 101

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2012

The new hot topic for entrepreneurs these days is crowd funding, which is anticipated to at least supplement, if not replace, the slow and mysterious process of current Angel and venture capital investors. Example sites include StartSomeGood and the Facebook Cause page. There is no concept of ROI other than product.

Funding 96

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 96

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

It's was really about herding cats and getting everyone on the same page, and making sure you could get the financials out on time. However, he said�we can't just give you money, you've got to find a co-founder, and have a product, and get some customers on board first. Mike Whitmire: It's all about product, market, fit.

Startup 124

Startup Cornerstone OnDemand Software Review Woodland Hills 124

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Entrepreneurs who are looking to attract investors need to develop and pitch a plan -- preferably written -- that answers every potential investor question about your startup before it is asked. How big is the funding request, and how much equity will you give? Quantify founder investments, both cash and sweat-equity.

Invest 108

Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

There’s a line of thinking in Silicon Valley that you should build product businesses rather than services businesses. They have created two internal technology “products&# and wanted to figure out how they could turn their services business into a product business that could be financed. This team is talented.

Services 332

Services Venture Capital IP Startup 332

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2011

When I shoed up with a few pages of conceptual, early stage ideas around consumer finance, it was immediately captivating, and it really lined up with what he wanted to do. That's compared to other financial products, which are designed for managing money, and just feel like work. There are three main components of the product.

Startup 197

Startup Ideas Southern California Social Network 197

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

For the elite startups and entrepreneurs who manage to attract the investor they dream of, and survive the term sheet negotiation, there is still one more hurdle before the money is in the bank. Here investors are looking for feature problems or quality issues on the current product. Status of the solution.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Barter services and use equity to get things done for minimum cash. Every new startup needs to fight the urge to get the product out, and then start selling it. Visit [link] to take a look at the reinvented Facebook Page: Well Sourced by Visa Business. spirit entrepreneur startup mistakes business' Reign-in expenses.

Tips 102

Tips Help Startup Blogging 102

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Ten Tech Entrepreneurs Who Are Putting LA on the Map. Tech startup accelerators dot the landscape, feeding investments into the waiting arms of the nation’s most intelligent and driven entrepreneurs. Miller was even honored as an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” for 2011. Follow PandoDaily: Search.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Entrepreneur Riot Games Southern California 75

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 1, 2009

I was reading one of my favorite websites for entrepreneurs, VentureHacks, this weekend and noticed that they are running a long piece on how to pick a co-founder. I advocate treating them like a co-founder in every way except when they join and how much equity they get. This is part of my ongoing series on Startup Advice.

Startup 289

Startup Venture Capital Entrepreneur Sales 289

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Many entrepreneurs still dream of “going public,” making billions of dollars, and playing with the big boys. They don’t realize that this option would likely be their worst nightmare, since it costs millions for the road show, usually dilutes your equity to a tiny fraction, and takes away all your entrepreneurial control.

Startup 89

Startup Entrepreneur Report Summary 89

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2012

But many entrepreneurs don’t realize that Angels are also extremely discerning in the projects that they will invest in, rejecting approximately 97% of the proposals submitted to them, according to the California Investment Network. Build a prototype product. Line up an experienced team. Build an investor presentation and summary.

Angel 104

Angel Screening Summary Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

As a member of the local angel group Selection Committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Solution product & technology. Make sure to communicate the relevance of your product / services to market needs.

Slides 94

Slides Competition Sample Sales 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Often I find that experienced investors scan ahead to the management page of a business plan, even before they read the product description. They should have a track record of originating and closing equity deals, and should have a long list of potential financing sources that are willing to take their call. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 99

Startup Report Equity Resource 99

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

The corporate entity lends itself best to the concept of “sharing” equity required by investors, and unincorporated entities don’t get funding. Build a prototype product. Investors expect a one or two-page executive summary sheet for the initial screening, backed up by a ten-slide Powerpoint investor presentation.

Invest 99

Invest Angel Technical Review Summary 99

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Solution product & technology. Make sure to communicate the relevance of your product / services to market needs.

Slides 99

Slides Competition Sample Sales 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

The corporate entity lends itself best to the concept of “sharing” equity required by investors, and unincorporated entities don’t get funding. Build a prototype product. Investors expect a one or two-page executive summary sheet for the initial screening, backed up by a ten-slide Powerpoint investor presentation.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

SoCal Delicious

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Next → As startup ecosystems evolve and mature, validation of their viability comes in waves from entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers alike. We hope that the platform will allow entrepreneurs a streamlined transition to an accelerator program, financing or to otherwise launch their businesses.”. Get Tickets.

Sherman Oaks 44

Sherman Oaks Riot Games Tips Redpoint 44

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Quantify existing skin-in-the-game, by insiders and outsiders, including sweat equity and capital.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

As a member of the local Angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Solution product & technology. Make sure to communicate the relevance of your product / services to market needs.

Slides 93

Slides Competition Sample Sales 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Quantify existing skin-in-the-game, by insiders and outsiders, including sweat equity and capital.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2013

Often I find that experienced investors scan ahead to the management page of a business plan, even before they read the product description. They should have a track record of originating and closing equity deals, and should have a long list of potential financing sources that are willing to take their call.

Startup 95

Startup Report Equity Resource 95

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Participating companies get between $4,000 and $8,000 in addition to mentorship and office space while participating in the 12 week program, and have to give up zero equity in exchange. PuddleWorks – PuddleWorks is developing interactive mobile games and leveraging these products and capabilities to develop a powerful franchise.

UCLA 47

UCLA Invest Startup Class 47

Jason Nazar

MAY 2, 2016

If you are inventing or creating a product, understand patents and register for one at the USPTO. Check Google , Yellow Pages , and local directories to ensure your business name is not taken. Speak to entrepreneurs and leaders in your industry and consider asking them to be your mentor. Set up your Yelp page.

Outsource Development 40

Outsource Development Startup Google Mentor 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2011

The caveat is that these young entrepreneurs have to drop out of college to do it. Fancy websites are expensive, but blogs and Facebook pages are free. Businesses can be built on sweat equity. If you will be making a product to sell, be sure the cost of materials is minimal and beyond that it costs only your labor.

Startup 92

Startup Capital Blogging Ideas 92

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Quantify existing skin-in-the-game, by insiders and outsiders, including sweat equity and capital.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2011

Often I find that experienced investors scan ahead to the management page of a business plan, even before they read the product description. They should have a track record of originating and closing equity deals, and should have a long list of potential financing sources that are willing to take their call.

Startup 93

Startup Report Equity Resource 93

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 13, 2010

TechZulu is helping the startup community out by listing all the great startup/entrepreneur oriented panels. Simply click on the title of the panel you like and you will be taken to their SXSWi panel picker page. Bootstrapping process, product development, Prototyping. . Bootstrapping advice, entrepreneur, startups. .

Guide 69

Guide Startup Venture Capital Entrepreneur 69

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2012

From LA Demo Day to Silicon Beach Fest to Crowdstart LA to hackathons to Startup Weekends, companies and entrepreneurs alike have joined forces to feed the startup ecosystem. THIRD TIME’S A CHARM: On Sunday we presented to a panel of judges consisting of entrepreneurs and a VC investor. Again, the answer I got was, “I’m on it.”

Startup 100

Startup Ideas San Diego Mentor 100

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 29, 2011

.&# Surprisinly, this strategy works well with many entrepreneurs. It’s as though we forgot the management mantra of the 90′s about “core competencies&# or the most common VC advice to entrepreneurs: Focus. I doubt this will end well for those VCs or for the entrepreneurs they backed. Funny, that.

Venture Capital 296

Venture Capital Capital Software Startup 296

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2010

It’s always fun chatting with Jason because he’s knowledgeable about the market, quick on topics and pushes me to talk more about VC / entrepreneur issues. We’re staring to get the hang of how to divide the show up into talking about deals but also talking about issues for entrepreneurs during funding.

Venture Capital 285

Venture Capital Startup Advertising Redpoint 285

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 6, 2012

John laid into a well-honed thesis on why the social web needed a “Page Rank” equivalent for people. I almost don’t want to tell you because I love the product and would love for them to stay under the radar screen from investors. Nobody had any sound logic on why Klout would be successful. 500px is in Toronto.

Cornerstone OnDemand 303

Cornerstone OnDemand Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup 303