Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

Yet credible reports on current trends tell us just the opposite. According to the most recent report from the Kauffman Foundation , the highest rate of entrepreneurship in America shifted a few years ago to the Boomer age group, compared to Gen-X (1965 to1980) and Gen-Y (1981 to 1995). boomers entrepreneurs gen-x gen-y startups'

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review Report 106

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

According to a well-researched Motly Fool report, the challenge is very real, since around half of all businesses fail in the first five years. My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain, such as online web sites and smart phone apps, that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs. Join a startup incubator.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2015

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. Yet the process is eerily realistic, and every entrepreneur can glean some important lessons. Personalize your presentation, if possible, for every investor.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Sample Ideas Customer 106

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2021

Yet as a business advisor I am convinced that making the jump from a startup to a the next unicorn takes a different mindset, and actions most entrepreneurs are reluctant to face. Of course, that means a mindset willing to give up much more equity, and taking on a whole new level of risk.

Startup 151

Startup Course Sales Entrepreneur 151

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Visit the university library for access to otherwise costly business reports.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

Yet credible reports on current trends tell us just the opposite. According to the most recent report from the Kauffman Foundation , the highest rate of entrepreneurship in America shifted a few years ago to the Boomer age group, compared to Gen-X (1965 to1980) and Gen-Y (1981 to 1995). Don’t expect them to go away any time soon.

Startup 124

Startup Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Visit the university library for access to otherwise costly business reports.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Capital Class Startup 55

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2020

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. Yet the process is eerily realistic, and every entrepreneur can glean some important lessons. Personalize your presentation, if possible, for every investor.

Entrepreneur 127

Entrepreneur Sample Ideas Customer 127

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 8, 2019

The lawsuit, which was filed by Christina Krause, the company’s former head of communications and Stefan Krause’s wife, was first reported by The Verge. Stern is a German entrepreneur who the lawsuit also lists as a friend of Stefan Krause. A Canoo spokesperson said the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

CTO Hire 198

CTO Hire Startup Los Angeles Design 198

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

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.

Entrepreneur 95

Entrepreneur Startup Report Summary 95

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 16, 2013

A willingness to accept equity as part of your agency or law firm’s fees can bring in more work that stimulates your team and exposes you to disruptive opportunities that are potentially very lucrative. However, there are a number of considerations to explore before agreeing to accepting equity as a portion of your firm’s payment.

Equity 40

Equity Services Startup Google 40

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 16, 2013

A willingness to accept equity as part of your agency or law firm’s fees can bring in more work that stimulates your team and exposes you to disruptive opportunities that are potentially very lucrative. However, there are a number of considerations to explore before agreeing to accepting equity as a portion of your firm’s payment.

Equity 40

Equity Services Startup Google 40

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

According to a well-researched Motly Fool report, the challenge is very real, since around half of all businesses fail in the first five years. My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain, such as online web sites and smart phone apps, that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs. Join a startup incubator.

Startup 128

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 128

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2014

I knew eventually people would realize that the Kauffman Report and all the talk of VC returns were rear-view mirror analyses. As I like to say when asked, “For entrepreneurs you generally need to go to 2-3 cities max and probably pitch 5-15 investors. Wait, didn’t you just raise a fund? Was it hard to raise the fund?

Venture Capital 396

Venture Capital Funding Technical Review Startup 396

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2018

Greathouse: Your collective experiences have clearly made bootstrapping a viable option for you, more so than might be the case for a typical, younger entrepreneur who needs more direction, doesn’t have cash discipline, etc. We focus very much on finding employees who are a cultural fit and we share equity when appropriate.

Venture Capital 115

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Santa Barbara SaaS 115

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

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 13, 2012

The Thursday launch of Data Collective demonstrates the increasing uptake of Big Data and signals a new door for entrepreneurs building Big Data companies. They say , “We believe another even larger scale disruption is underway and we are poised to help our entrepreneurs take advantage of it”. 35+ Equity Partners on board.

Technical Review 74

Technical Review Entrepreneur Oracle Software Review 74

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

socalTECH

MAY 30, 2012

That's the idea behind a new startup, Fundable , headed by serial entrepreneur Wil Schroter , which allows you to use rewards -- product, company schwag, an even equity -- as a tool to get your startup to the next stage. We allow startups to raise money, both based on equity, as well as rewards. What's Fundable?

Startup 223

Startup Equity Venture Capital Ideas 223

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts.

Resource 159

Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 22, 2018

Recognizing the tens of billions of dollars that the Southern Californian region leaves on the table, because it hasn’t taken its rightful place in the American technology industry, a new group called the Alliance for Southern California Innovation has just released a report to analyze how SoCal can work to assume its pole position.

Southern California 224

Southern California Dollar Shave Club SoCal Develop 224

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2018

Editor's note: All this week, and into the start of next year, we'll be featuring reflections on 2018 from notable investors, entrepreneurs, and others from Southern California's technology community. Their report crystallized the opportunity and pathways to moving SoCal forward as one of the leading global innovation ecosystem.

Southern California 113

Southern California SoCal Pasadena Startup 113

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 7, 2020

Customers at Bank of America href="[link] have reported being unable to apply for the government-backed loans from the program without having an existing line of credit with the bank. Meanwhile startup entrepreneurs are left holding the bag. And those aren’t the only problems. There will be money.

Startup 167

Startup Email Los Angeles Entrepreneur 167

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

MAY 28, 2013

Most entrepreneurs struggle with financial projections, not wanting to commit to numbers they can’t deliver, and having no clue what investors might consider reasonable. Here are some basic “rules of thumb” that every Angel or venture capital equity investor uses, to help you anticipate their reactions. Gross margins greater than 50%.

Startup 97

Startup Equity Entrepreneur Venture Capital 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2014

Most entrepreneurs struggle with financial projections, not wanting to commit to numbers they can’t deliver, and having no clue what investors might consider reasonable. Here are some basic “rules of thumb” that every Angel or venture capital equity investor uses, to help you anticipate their reactions. Gross margins greater than 50%.

Equity 99

Equity Venture Capital Invest Pricing 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2020

Yet my years of advising entrepreneurs and small businesses has taught me that you do have to follow some basic principles and operational strategies, even to get a micro business off the ground. Just because you want to start a business doesn’t mean you are entitled to outside equity, loans, or crowdfunding.

Customer 125

Customer Custom Tool Writing 125

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

According to a recent Motly Fool report, the challenge is very real, since around half of all businesses fail in the first five years. My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain, such as online web sites and smart phone apps, that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs. Use crowd funding to build reserves.

Startup 53

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 53

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. It sure wasn’t when I was a first-time entrepreneur. But to entrepreneurs can be gold. Same thing.

Email 287

Email Blogging Venture Capital Writing 287

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2016

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. Yet the process is eerily realistic, and every entrepreneur can glean some important lessons. Personalize your presentation, if possible, for every investor.

Startup 57

Startup Entrepreneur Sample Ideas 57

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2019

As you may have seen in a recent report, when that happens, it's death for those businesses. We were acquired in 2014 by Summit Partners, and I ended up in private equity, post-acquisition at Summit Partners. I will say, is that private equity was almost like my MBA, in that it taught me how to scale a business efficiently.

Dollar Shave Club 113

Dollar Shave Club Artificial Inteligence Customer Custom 113

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 14, 2010

It’s meant to be a bit provocative but the reality is that I give this advice to entrepreneurs all the the time and I usually leave the “e&# off of the end. I normally offer this advice in the capacity of really wanting to help entrepreneurs so please bear with me. The list goes on. Legacy deals have “hair.&#.

Venture Capital 289

Venture Capital Capital Startup Pricing 289

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 6, 2014

I like to get a mix of people who have reported to the candidate, whom the candidate has reported to (2x) and peers. By the way, I also strongly advise that entrepreneurs reference VCs. I know that in later-stage growth equity deals some firms even hire third-parties who will do the reference calls.

Startup 302

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Report 302

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2012

Entrepreneurs sometimes assume an initial agreement with an Angel is a commitment, so they start spending before any money is received. It’s true that Angel investors typically do not present entrepreneurs with overly complicated deal structures, especially when compared to venture capitalists. Define equity type.

Pricing 89

Pricing Startup Entrepreneur Angel 89

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2010

I get paid (well) for interesting people to come in and tell me how they want to change the world – Being an entrepreneur is like having blinders on. At least for the best entrepreneurs. Some people do the conference circuit too much, get involved in lots of side projects and attend every entrepreneur dinner. I love it.

Venture Capital 312

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur 312

Eric Greenspan

NOVEMBER 2, 2009

I looked online at Countrywide’s website and I realized I had added a ton of negatively amortized equity back into my loan over the past few years. I also figure I can get BofA to reverse the reporting to the credit agencies once I get back on track (working on that now). But it sure feels pretty good now!

Company 135

Company Companies Entrepreneur Equity 135

Eric Greenspan

NOVEMBER 2, 2009

I looked online at Countrywide’s website and I realized I had added a ton of negatively amortized equity back into my loan over the past few years. I also figure I can get BofA to reverse the reporting to the credit agencies once I get back on track (working on that now). But it sure feels pretty good now!

Company 128

Company Companies Entrepreneur Equity 128