Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2021

They dream of appearing at the door, with their idea on the back of a napkin, and popping out a few months later with investor money to burn. His tests focus on personality traits alone (ignoring your startup idea), looking for fluid intelligence, openness, and agreeableness. Expert mentoring and training. Initial funding.

Incubator 146

Incubator Technical Review Entrepreneur Mentor 146

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2023

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Let’s take a look here some similar stages from a support perspective: Idea stage. The first step toward a business with any idea is to write it down, and build a business plan around it.

Startup 122

Startup Funding Organization Incubator 122

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2020

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” I always answer that there isn’t any magic, and contrary to the popular myth, nobody is waiting in the wings to throw money at you, just because you have a new and exciting business idea.

Funding 174

Funding Startup Equity Examples 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2020

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, it still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. Startup equity model. In Europe, other investors can buy equity, with platforms such as Seedrs. In the U.S.,

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Satisfaction Equity 129

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2019

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” The obvious answer is that you need an idea first, but I’ve come to realize that the process is really much more complex than that. Are you confident and disciplined in facing tough challenges?

Entrepreneur 135

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Writing 135

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. Barter services and use equity to get things done for minimum cash. Unfortunately, for every success story you see, there is an even longer list of failure stories with mistakes that you don’t see. Reign-in expenses.

Mentor 100

Mentor Startup Social Network Patents 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Other project and research reports in their library are a rich source of new ideas, if you are still looking for a place to start. Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations. Access to entrepreneurs-in-residence, business mentors.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2021

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat.

Startup 160

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 160

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cash flow personally every day. That should equate to an adequate valuation for a $2 million follow-on Series-A round, without giving away all the equity.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 12, 2020

. “ We will be bringing in founders in residence who will come in without an idea,” Barber said of the program. “ The EIRs will receive a small stipend and equity in the business, Barber said. The starting gun for M13’s Launchpad program was in 2019 and the program currently has managed to spin up three startups.

Startup 178

Startup Incubator Los Angeles IP 178

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Let’s take a look here some similar stages from a support perspective: Idea stage. The first step toward a business with any idea is to write it down, and build a business plan around it.

Resource 171

Resource Startup Organization Incubator 171

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2021

Most aspiring entrepreneurs I know are just waiting for that unique idea to strike them that will kickstart their new venture, put them in control of their lifestyle, achieve financial independence, and maybe even change the world. Should I start out alone, or assemble a team first? A business is never a solo operation.

Startup 159

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Equity 159

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. There are no “can’t fail” shortcuts or “get rich quick” scenarios.

Startup 118

Startup Satisfaction Customer Custom 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2020

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I often feel the frustration of someone trying to build a startup in the wrong place and time, and wrongly attributing their struggle to personal limitations. Contrary to popular belief, innovative new ideas don’t often spring from a single mind. Financial capital – revenue, equity, debt, funding.

Resource 131

Resource Startup Capital Mentor 131

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue). Angel investors probably will know your business, and want to be mentors along the way. Tune your investor pitch and funding expectations accordingly.

Startup 148

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 148

socalTECH

APRIL 10, 2018

Most of our mentors are people who have been successful entrepreneurs and investors, who have been there, and understand how to get a company to the next sage. We charge zero, and take no equity, and really there are very small operational costs for us to support startups. We want teams willing to take advice from mentors.

Startup 172

Startup Seed Funding Mentor Ideas 172

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. There are no “can’t fail” shortcuts or “get rich quick” scenarios.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

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. Today most startup investors still register with the SEC as “ accredited ” investors before they buy any startup equity in the U.S. Participate as a mentor in local startup incubators.

Invest 89

Invest Entrepreneur Startup Equity 89

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

I have often thought that creative endeavors where one has a quick turn-around between idea and realization of one’s work as one of the more fulfilling experiences in life. I suppose if I loved spreadsheets and valuations and benchmarking I would work in the even more lucrative world of late-stage private equity. It was 1991.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2023

McGinnis, a well-known venture capitalist and private equity investor. Make sure you have the right idea before risking all. As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I often advise them to start with another alternative, of working for an existing startup, before or while starting their own.

Startup 102

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur News 102

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Other project and research reports in their library are a rich source of new ideas, if you are still looking for a place to start. Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations. Access to entrepreneurs-in-residence, business mentors.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cash flow personally every day. That should equate to an adequate valuation for a $2 million follow-on Series-A round, without giving away all the equity.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

In my efforts of assist aspiring business owners like you, I find that too many see it as a short sprint to get over that one hurdle, like finding that innovative idea, or attracting an investor. An occasional discussion with a mentor won’t do it. The road to becoming an entrepreneur is a journey , and it’s not a short trip.

Entrepreneur 139

Entrepreneur Help Incubator Startup 139

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

There is a good chance that business advisors and mentors also have access to investment capital, or know someone who does. The advantages are many, including avoiding all the cost, pain, and distractions of finding and managing external investors, allowing you to retain full control and all your hard-earned equity for yourself.

Statistics 98

Statistics Entrepreneur Funding Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. Shared business support services, including telephone answering, conference rooms, teleconferencing, administrative support, and a business mailing address.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2018

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” I always answer that there isn’t any magic, and contrary to the popular myth, nobody is waiting in the wings to throw money at you, just because you have a new and exciting business idea.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Funding 96

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

There is a good chance that business advisors and mentors also have access to investment capital, or know someone who does. The advantages are many, including avoiding all the cost, pain, and distractions of finding and managing external investors, allowing you to retain full control and all your hard-earned equity for yourself.

Funding 173

Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2017

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. Today most startup investors still register with the SEC as “ accredited ” investors before they buy any startup equity in the U.S. Participate as a mentor in local startup incubators.

Invest 73

Invest Startup Equity Incubator 73

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. Shared business support services, including telephone answering, conference rooms, teleconferencing, administrative support, and a business mailing address.

Resource 159

Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” I always answer that there isn’t any magic, and contrary to the popular myth, nobody is waiting in the wings to throw money at you, just because you have a new and exciting business idea.

Funding 107

Funding Startup Equity Examples 107

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2015

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” The obvious answer is that you need an idea first, but I’ve come to realize that the process is really much more complex than that. Are you confident and disciplined in facing tough challenges?

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2018

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Let’s take a look here some similar stages from a support perspective: Idea stage. The first step toward a business with any idea is to write it down, and build a business plan around it.

Funding 94

Funding Startup Organization Incubator 94

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

McGinnis, a well-known venture capitalist and private equity investor. Make sure you have the right idea before risking all. As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I often advise them to start with another alternative, of working for an existing startup, before or while starting their own.

Startup 128

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction News 128

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, it still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. Startup equity model. In Europe, other investors can buy equity, with platforms such as Seedrs. In the U.S.,

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2014

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” I always answer that there isn’t any magic, and contrary to the popular myth, nobody is waiting in the wings to throw money at you, just because you have a new and exciting business idea.

Startup 113

Startup Entrepreneur Funding Equity 113

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2021

Dave Eastman: For one thing, although we're not completely unique in this, is we don't take equity. Those are faculty members who have a commercialization idea and want help with that. We also provide a lot of other training, such as here's how you form an entity, how equity works, etc., but the key thing is customer discovery.

Marina Del Rey 150

Marina Del Rey Startup USC Incubator 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 30, 2014

They dream of appearing at the door, with their idea on the back of a napkin, and popping out a few months later with investor money to burn. His tests focus on personality traits alone (ignoring your startup idea), looking for fluid intelligence, openness, and agreeableness. Expert mentoring and training. Initial funding.

Incubator 103

Incubator Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor 103