Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

Use the Internet and social networking instead of public relations companies and advertising agencies. As a result, being an entrepreneur in now within the financial reach of almost everyone. In summary, I see a historic shift taking place in the world today. Sales and marketing costs.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Search Engine Optimization SEM 94

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. Reserve the company name on social networks to protect it.

Angel 104

Angel Screening Summary Startup 104

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

Limited Partners or LPs (the people who invest into VC funds) have taken notice as 2014 is by all accounts the busiest year for LPs since the Great Recession began. pre-money valuation you certainly would want to exercise your right to continue investing if you had prorata rights. and the bigger funds can’t get in directly.

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 19, 2012

I’ve wanted to come back but had a busy year on the road meeting with investors and making a few investments of my own. I like that people can watch a long-form discussion with VCs and entrepreneurs covering the issues of our day. It’s been nearly a year since I did This Week in VC on a regular basis. But I’m back.

Yahoo 268

Yahoo Social Media Startup Media 268

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2010

Do you think men make better entrepreneurs than women, and why? First of all, it is evident that there are fewer women entrepreneurs today than men. First of all, it is evident that there are fewer women entrepreneurs today than men. Here is a summary of observations from this and other studies: Leadership style.

Entrepreneur 49

Entrepreneur Study Competition Summary 49

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 16, 2011

Below is a nice summary of our interview with some great quotes from Joanne. I think this video should serve as an inspiration to any young aspiring female entrepreneur (and male!) You already know that&# ), in sales and more broadly as an entrepreneur. Not enough entrepreneurs dedicate enough of their day to this.

Startup 311

Startup Venture Capital Sales Entrepreneur 311

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Investors invest in people - not just ideas. Executive team.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 9, 2011

I thought about things I never had to as an entrepreneur: check size, ownership percentage, deal stage, portfolio construction and risk. By 2008 I had gotten more serious about championing companies through our investment process. Let’s review all of our existing investments. tl;dr summary. It was September 2008.

Marketing 305

Marketing Funding Venture Capital Technical Review 305

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2013

Yet every investor has his own “rules of thumb” on what makes a specific startup too high a risk for his investment taste. Of course, if you intend to fund the business yourself, or have a rich uncle, external investment funding concerns are not a problem. Large initial investment required. Dependent on government regulations.

Startup 109

Startup Summary Invest Software Review 109

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 18, 2012

Use the Internet and social networking instead of public relations companies and advertising agencies. As a result, being an entrepreneur in now within the financial reach of almost everyone. In summary, I see a historic shift taking place in the world today. Sales and marketing costs.

Startup 102

Startup Search Engine Optimization SEM Social Network 102

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

We received so much positive feedback from our This Week in Venture Capital show walking through valuation calculations & term sheets that we decided to do a Q&A show this week to address topics that entrepreneurs want to learn about. on the entrepreneur side of the table) when I raised at too high of a price. This is wrong.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Capital Startup Pricing 282

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2013

Sure, there will always some seed funding (10% of overall deal flow), but you can bet that this money goes to entrepreneurs who have been there before and won. So what can entrepreneurs do to get to the head of the venture capital investment queue and position their startup for a winning IPO? Line up a winning team.

Venture Capital 101

Venture Capital Startup Capital Seed Funding 101

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2010

Yet every investor has his own “rules of thumb” on what makes a specific startup too high a risk for his investment taste. Of course, if you intend to fund the business yourself, or have a rich uncle, external investment funding concerns are not a problem. Large initial investment required. Dependent on government regulations.

Startup 89

Startup Summary Sites Invest 89

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2011

Yet every investor has his own “rules of thumb” on what makes a specific startup too high a risk for his investment taste. Of course, if you intend to fund the business yourself, or have a rich uncle, external investment funding concerns are not a problem. Large initial investment required. Dependent on government regulations.

Startup 97

Startup Summary Software Review Sites 97

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Reuters TV Interview by Rhonda Schaffler Investing in entrepreneurs and startups is a fun but different world from investing in conventional stocks, bonds, and commodities. First of all, it’s more of an investment in people than in a business, since the startup is usually an idea barely half-baked when they need your money.

Startup 91

Startup Invest Incubator Ideas 91

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2011

These are variations on a “crowd-funding” theme to raise money for a startup through social networks and voting at public events. Crowd-sourcing tools, usually Internet applications, use the social media to poll for interest, feedback, and ultimately some funding for the startup. Multiple micro-investments are not manageable.

Funding 92

Funding Startup Social Media Sample 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Reserve the company name on social networks to protect it. A conundrum for many frustrated entrepreneurs is that they need money from investors to design and build a prototype product, yet most angel investors expect to see at least a prototype before they invest. Build an investor presentation and summary.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 18, 2015

On the one hand innovation is clearly at an all time high unleashed by smart phones, fast telecom networks, social networks that spread commerce and the fact that we are all one click away from buying things on Amazon, Apple, Google or PayPal. This must be a boon for entrepreneurs of fast-growing tech firms – right?

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Pricing Platform Marketing 150

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2014

Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads. This also requires a huge investment to get to critical mass, and real work to differentiate and sell premium services to convert users to paying customers. Cost-based model. Subscription model.

Startup 114

Startup Pricing Custom Customer 114

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Investors invest in people - not just ideas. Executive team.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2013

Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads. This also requires a huge investment to get to critical mass, and real work to differentiate and sell premium services to “convert” users to paying customers. Cost-based model. Subscription model.

Pricing 116

Pricing Product Customer Custom 116

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

I’d like to explain as best I can my opinion on what is going on because most of what I hear from entrepreneurs is not only wrong but is reminiscent of what I heard in 1997-2000. ” “This will be great for VCs and bad for entrepreneurs.” What is the True Sentiment of VCs? ” “Sure, prices are dropping.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2011

Sure, there is always some seed funding (10% of overall deal flow), but you can bet that this money goes to entrepreneurs who have been there before and won. In fact, most of the most active investment firms are located there, although NY now has moved solidly into second place (ahead of Boston). Line up a winning team.

Venture Capital 93

Venture Capital Startup Capital Seed Funding 93

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 17, 2010

We have many seasoned entrepreneurs who have built successful companies here and made a lot of money for investors and themselves. LA generally doesn’t have an appetite for this kind of investment at early stages. Entrepreneurs in LA spend a lot of time commuting up to the Valley. LA investors are more pragmatic.

Company 290

Company Companies Technology Startup 290

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2017

I was mentoring some graduate students at a local university recently, and I sensed again that profit seems to be a dirty word these days to many aspiring entrepreneurs. This doesn’t work well with “nice to have” offerings, like social networks, but does work for new drugs and medical devices that solve critical health problems.

Pricing 66

Pricing Custom Customer Advertising 66

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2010

These are variations on a “crowd-funding” theme to raise money for a startup through social networks and voting at public events. Crowd-sourcing tools, usually Internet applications, use the social media to poll for interest, feedback, and ultimately some funding for the startup. Multiple micro-investments are not manageable.

Funding 59

Funding Startup Social Media Sample 59

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. Many entrepreneurs scare away potential investors by claiming that their technology represents “truly disruptive technology.” Investors invest in people - not just ideas. Executive team.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

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

AUGUST 14, 2009

In most cases if you can’t get a prototype done you’re probably not an entrepreneur. Professional angels / former entrepreneurs / seed funds – In Silicon Valley there are people like Ron Conway, Jeff Clavier, Mike Maples and many more. They know that the money they invest may be lost. That’s OK.

Angel 291

Angel Funding Venture Capital Startup 291

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

Use the Internet and social networking instead of public relations companies and advertising agencies. As a result, being an entrepreneur in now within the financial reach of almost everyone. In summary, I see a historic shift taking place in the world today. Sales and marketing costs.

Startup 50

Startup High Tech Search Engine Optimization SEM 50

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2012

Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads and critical mass. This also requires a huge investment to get to critical mass, and real work to differentiate and sell premium services to users locked-in as free. Cost-based model. Portfolio pricing.

Pricing 112

Pricing Competition Custom Customer 112

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2010

Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads and critical mass. This also requires a huge investment to get to critical mass, and real work to differentiate and sell premium services to users locked-in as free. Cost-based model. Portfolio pricing.

Pricing 98

Pricing Product Startup Competition 98