Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

The AngelSoft Deal Funnel from the last 12 months indicates is that 70% of the interested companies never make it past the initial screening process. That’s why this item is so important, and is probably the biggest stumbling block I see in getting through the initial angel screening. Build an investor presentation and summary.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2011

When I described to people why I initially invested my calls went something like this, “He’s taken kicks to the face for nearly 2 years and is still standing. Jody didn’t exactly have an easy time fund raising because he’s not one of the prototypical Silicon Valley funded entrepreneurs. I love the concept.

Startup 292

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Summary 292

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2012

I raised money as an entrepreneur, like you, in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005 for two different companies. Executive Summary. Partners make investment decisions. If you want to watch the video version summary of my advice on fund raising it’s here. I never suggest that entrepreneurs just randomly pitch VCs.

Develop 366

Develop Development Funding Venture Capital 366

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2011

Crowd-pitching is an offline event, but logically similar, which give several candidates an opportunity to pitch to a crowd of interested people for a couple of minutes, after which the crowd “votes” with some play-money to pick the best candidate, who then wins some nominal investment amount or services. Intellectual property is jeopardized.

Funding 92

Funding Startup Social Media Sample 92

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

I shifted my thinking a few years ago after I read Tim Ferris’s book The Four Hour Workweek (link is to a short summary I wrote). I do what I wish all entrepreneurs would do. I had a pre breakfast with a CEO of a company in which I invested talking about his next fund raising round. I think so. [I Operations. Fund raising.

Email 314

Email Product Startup Writing 314

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2010

Crowd-pitching is an offline event, but logically similar, which give several candidates an opportunity to pitch to a crowd of interested people for a couple of minutes, after which the crowd “votes” with some play-money to pick the best candidate, who then wins some nominal investment amount or services. Intellectual property is jeopardized.

Funding 59

Funding Startup Social Media Sample 59

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2009

There are now a second generation of entrepreneurs and companies that have learned from their last successes and are producing great new companies like TopSpin Media , Sometrics and GumGum. My favorite Rogers line was, “musicians of the future will be entrepreneurs and not employees [of labels].”

Twiistup 228

Twiistup SoCal Southern California Yammer 228

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I wrote the summary notes in this blog post. I talked about this in the TWiVC video but I didn’t do a good enough job of writing it up in the summary notes in the post. The quote from Bryce is: “When an entrepreneur steps to the whiteboard the energy in the room totally changes. That’s an awesome suggestion.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

I like to tell entrepreneurs to treat it like a sales campaign. I am really surprised how many entrepreneurs pitch me and then I never hear from them again. ENTREPRENEUR NEXT STEPS. Stay on the radar – You need to find a very polite way to persistently be on the top of the radar screen of your VC.

Venture Capital 277

Venture Capital Startup Email News 277

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 5, 2014

Speakers listed: Brock Pierce – Digital currency pioneer investing in Bitcoin, games, and online gambling businesses; Clearstone Global Gaming Fund. Peter Csathy – CEO Manatt Digital Media Ventures, accomplished media and digital media entrepreneur. Summary of Topics. Is Micro-Investing the Future?

Startup 95

Startup Google Education Venture Capital 95

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 6, 2015

When I counsel startup entrepreneurs I give them my blunt dose of reality, “If you can’t easily identify target leads who have a problem you can solve then hang up your cleats – you’re not going to succeed.” VCs all say: We are entrepreneur friendly. We have a great screening process.

Sales 150

Sales SaaS Startup Venture Capital 150

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2011

Yet a critical mistake I see many entrepreneurs make is that they hand over too much control to their third-parties. They’re also good at screening candidates. I have investment money at stake so I’m a principal in the negotiation, too. As an entrepreneur I have one company to sell. Recruiters. You name it.

Venture Capital 319

Venture Capital Pricing Startup Outsource 319