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. Line up an experienced team.

Angel 104

Angel Screening Summary Startup 104

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 people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it requires at least 100M users and $50M investment. Investors invest in people - not just ideas. Executive team.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2016

With one of the new free tools and a dose of sweat equity, you can create a website for almost nothing -- and you are on your way to success with ecommerce, your latest invention or personal services. Don’t rationalize a big investment in basic equipment with long-term requirements thinking. Operate small, but show a big-company image.

Social Media 60

Social Media Startup Equity Entrepreneur 60

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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. Network big to get connections and ideas, but do the work yourself. In summary, watch your costs, trust your gut, and drive forward with all the passion in your dream.

Organization 111

Organization Startup Summary Entrepreneur 111

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

The corporate entity lends itself best to the concept of “sharing” equity required by investors, and unincorporated entities don’t get funding. Reserve the company name on social networks to protect it. Build an investor presentation and summary. Prepare an investment-grade business plan. Line up an experienced team.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

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. We're looking to build out our investment portfolio.

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. We're looking to build out our investment portfolio.

Capital 100

Capital Southern California Media Venture Capital 100

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 people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it assumes at least 100M users and $50M investment. Investors invest in people - not just ideas. Executive team.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 17, 2010

LA generally doesn’t have an appetite for this kind of investment at early stages. LA was a leader in lead generation (LowerMyBills), comparison shopping (PriceGrabber, Shopzilla), social networking (MySpace … I know, I know – Facebook won – but it was still a big business). LA investors are more pragmatic.

Company 290

Company Companies Technology Startup 290

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 people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it assumes at least 100M users and $50M investment. Investors invest in people - not just ideas. Executive team.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

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. Network big to get connections and ideas, but do the work yourself. In summary, watch your costs, trust your gut, and drive forward with all the passion in your dream.

Tips 96

Tips Startup Summary Entrepreneur 96

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

For some aspiring to be tech entrepreneurs, I often suggest a two-step process, as I argued in this post that “ The First Startup Founder You Need to Invest in Is You.” Being a CEO begets the network to be a CEO. At Upfront we invested in such a company. He still has the dream. He has the hunger.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital IP 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

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. Start in a business domain you know well.

Invest 89

Invest Entrepreneur Startup Equity 89

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2022

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. Start in a business domain you know well.

Startup 120

Startup Invest Equity Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2017

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. Start in a business domain you know well.

Invest 73

Invest Startup Equity Incubator 73

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

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. Start in a business domain you know well.

Startup 87

Startup Invest Incubator Ideas 87

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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. Start in a business domain you know well.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Startup Invest Incubator 102

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

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

We write about $40 million of first-checks into new deals / year and about $40 million of follow-on investments. Social networking finally came of age connected the planet and leading to enormous wealth creation for Facebook employees and investors. As you can see below, investments have skyrocketed – up 300% since 2009.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 9, 2011

By 2008 I had gotten more serious about championing companies through our investment process. And just when I thought I had the deal that was worthy of bringing to investment committee the world changed. Let’s review all of our existing investments. tl;dr summary. Eventually you have to invest.

Marketing 305

Marketing Venture Capital Funding Technical Review 305