Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. Yet according to the latest data from Gust (formerly AngelSoft), only about 3 out of 100 companies who initiate the formal request process actually get funded. Remember the old adage that “investors fund people, not ideas.” Line up an experienced team.

Invest 99

Invest Angel Technical Review Summary 99

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

When someone asks me for the best way to fund a startup, I always say bootstrap it, meaning fund it yourself and grow organically. Bootstrapping avoids all the cost, pain, and distractions of finding angels or VCs, and allows you to keep control and all your hard-earned equity for yourself. Do it yourself.

Organization 111

Organization Startup Summary Entrepreneur 111

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2016

If you really want to start a business your way without a boss or professional investor hovering over you, then just fund it yourself or through friends and family, and grow it organically. Use your networking to get advice, but all jobs can be do-it-yourself. Use your equity for key executives and business partners.

Social Media 60

Social Media Startup Equity Entrepreneur 60

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 17, 2010

Funding is different – In Silicon Valley you have mega venture capital funds and many of them. They not only have gotten bigger but they have an amazing track record of funding the biggest names in the sector: Cisco, Apple, Google, Facebook. As a result many funds are OK with big bets.

Company 290

Company Companies Technology Startup 290

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

No investor wants to wait that long for his payback, or fund the years of waiting. Many people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it assumes at least 100M users and $50M investment. You can bolster this position by including a Letter of Intent (LOI), contract summaries, or even testimonials.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

When someone asks me for the best way to fund a startup, I always say bootstrap it, meaning fund it yourself and grow organically. Bootstrapping avoids all the cost, pain, and distractions of finding angels or VCs, and allows you to keep control and all your hard-earned equity for yourself. Do it yourself.

Tips 96

Tips Startup Summary Entrepreneur 96

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

No investor wants to wait that long for his payback, or fund the years of waiting. Many people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it assumes at least 100M users and $50M investment. You can bolster this position by including a Letter of Intent (LOI), contract summaries, or even testimonials.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

socalTECH

DECEMBER 1, 2008

In what looks to be a challenging funding climate for entrepreneurs, we thought it would be interesting to talk to one fund which is still making investments--Saban Ventures (www.saban.com)--a new, digital media focused venture capital fund located in Los Angeles. How big of a fund is this? where he is Chairman.

Southern California 100

Southern California Media Venture Capital Invest 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 1, 2008

In what looks to be a challenging funding climate for entrepreneurs, we thought it would be interesting to talk to one fund which is still making investments--Saban Ventures (www.saban.com)--a new, digital media focused venture capital fund located in Los Angeles. How big of a fund is this? where he is Chairman.

Capital 100

Capital Southern California Media Venture Capital 100

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

He wants a chance at changing life’s circumstances with building equity value that might free him and his family from the rat-race of 529 accounts, property taxes, summer-school tuitions and even spending some cash on aging parents. Being a CEO begets the network to be a CEO. He still has the dream. He has the hunger.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital IP 150

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

The founders could reinvest this in growth (0% tax, focus on future equity growth) or take the profits of $12 million and divide amongst the founding partners. Start with a network of independent contractors ( 1099′s )- When you’re a young company with 3-4 people and you land work that requires 7-8 it can be daunting.

Services 332

Services Venture Capital IP Startup 332

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Bio summary: Aaron Ross is the founder of CEOFlow , which helps CEOs understand how to create predictable revenue, through guidance, groups and consulting. 9:30a – 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the next session. 9:30a – 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the prior session. Date & Time: Friday, March 13.

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Bio summary: Aaron Ross is the founder of CEOFlow , which helps CEOs understand how to create predictable revenue, through guidance, groups and consulting. 9:30a – 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the next session. 9:30a – 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the prior session. Date & Time: Friday, March 13.

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Bio summary: Aaron Ross is the founder of CEOFlow , which helps CEOs understand how to create predictable revenue, through guidance, groups and consulting. 9:30a – 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the next session. 9:30a – 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the prior session. Date & Time: Friday, March 13.

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Bio summary: Aaron Ross is the founder of CEOFlow , which helps CEOs understand how to create predictable revenue, through guidance, groups and consulting. 9:30a - 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the next session. 9:30a - 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the prior session. Date & Time: Friday, March 13.

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

No investor wants to wait that long for his payback, or fund the years of waiting. Many people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it requires at least 100M users and $50M investment. You can bolster this position by including a Letter of Intent (LOI), contract summaries, or even testimonials.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2022

Today most startup investors still register with the SEC as “ accredited ” investors before they buy any startup equity in the U.S. These requirements for equity investing have been relaxed only a bit, with caveats, with relevant crowdfunding changes. Fund an entrepreneur you know and trust. Do your homework before investing.

Startup 120

Startup Invest Equity Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2020

I support their summary of the seven capital assets that are the core required to create a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, and produce real economic value for your startup and the rest of us: Intellectual capital – ideas, information, technologies. Financial capital – revenue, equity, debt, funding.

Resource 131

Resource Startup Capital Mentor 131

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

Today most startup investors still register with the SEC as “ accredited ” investors before they buy any startup equity in the U.S. These requirements for equity investing have been relaxed only a bit, with caveats, with recent crowdfunding changes. Fund an entrepreneur you know and trust. Do your homework before investing.

Invest 89

Invest Entrepreneur Startup Equity 89

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2017

Today most startup investors still register with the SEC as “ accredited ” investors before they buy any startup equity in the U.S. Don’t be fooled by thinking that social networks are hot, so you should invest in the next startup you see in that realm. Fund an entrepreneur you know and trust. Do your homework before investing.

Invest 73

Invest Startup Equity Incubator 73

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

I’ll spare you the math and point out that this means we funded 0.104% of the market. I am highly unlikely to fund your company strictly based on math and my only motive for publicly telling you what is going on privately is to help prepare you if in fact I’m right about the funding environment. Mostly, no.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Today you still need to be registered with the SEC as an “ accredited ” investor to legally buy any startup equity in the U.S. Don’t be fooled by thinking that social networks are hot, so you should invest in the next startup you see in that realm. Fund an entrepreneur you know and trust. Do your homework before investing.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Startup Invest Incubator 102

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Today you still need to be registered with the SEC as an “ accredited ” investor to legally buy any startup equity. Don’t be fooled by thinking that social networks are hot, so you should invest in the next startup you see in that realm. Fund an entrepreneur you know and trust. Do your homework before investing.

Startup 87

Startup Invest Incubator Ideas 87

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Today you still need to be registered with the SEC as an “ accredited ” investor to legally buy any startup equity. Don’t be fooled by thinking that social networks are hot, so you should invest in the next startup you see in that realm. Fund an entrepreneur you know and trust. Do your homework before investing.

Startup 91

Startup Invest Incubator Ideas 91

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 9, 2011

Let’s help get their funding get finalized or the company sold if it’s already in play. tl;dr summary. And VCs scrambled to raise their own funds. So I encouraged entrepreneurs to think about raising their funds as quickly as they could because. Fundings boomed. Summary version? Cut where needed.

Marketing 305

Marketing Venture Capital Funding Technical Review 305