Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. Most of these scenarios involve attracting outside investors, strategic partners, or key team members: You are the team and you don’t need outside funding.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

Based on my own experience as a mentor and angel investor, I find that as many as ninety percent of startups fail in the first five years, despite their best efforts. By far, the majority of new businesses I know are self-funding (bootstrapped) from your own savings and prior assets. Giving is the best way to get the support you need.

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Tool 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2015

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. Don’t try to impress constituents with technical terms, jargon, and acronyms.

Startup 109

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 109

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like the BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this Forbes article. You need funding, and plan to get it from friends and family.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 109

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Fariborz Masseh: The idea of funding a business plan competition is not a new idea. In 2003 or 2004, I moved to California, and decided to change from running an engineering company into running a hedge fund. Now, I run a hedge fund and finance firm in Southern California. It has been done before, at a number of schools.

Competition 154

Competition Southern California Mentor USC 154

InfoChachkie

JUNE 9, 2015

With top-ranked accelerators Lauchpad LA closing its doors and Y Combinator rebranding itself as a seed fund, it seems fair to ask the question, “Are Accelerators Dead?”. My Forbes co-contributor Geri Stengel concurs that something is happening in the Volunteer State, writing last month about that state’s emerging women entrepreneurs.

Startup 100

Startup Class LAMP Santa Barbara 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2013

The entrepreneur’s tendency to be in a huge hurry to obtain the funding can end up being disastrous, and play into the hands of these less scrupulous investors. As long as somebody recognizes their million dollar idea and writes them a check, the source really doesn''t matter. The mentoring offer always sounds good up front.

Angel 105

Angel Writing Startup Invest 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2012

The entrepreneur’s tendency to be in a huge hurry to obtain the funding can end up being disastrous, and play into the hands of these less scrupulous investors. As long as somebody recognizes their million dollar idea and writes them a check, the source really doesn't matter. The mentoring offer always sounds good up front.

Angel 112

Angel Entrepreneur Writing Invest 112

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2010

They are likely to be able to get grants to fund development for you in strategic focus areas, like alternative energy sources, that would otherwise cost you many thousands of dollars.< Start by contacting the school entrepreneurship support organization. Research and development. < Business plan creation. Finding a team.

Help 94

Help Startup Mentor Incubator 94

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2010

The entrepreneur’s tendency to be in a huge hurry to obtain the funding can end up being disastrous, and play into the hands of these less scrupulous investors. As long as somebody recognizes their million dollar idea and writes them a check, the source really doesn't matter. The mentoring offer always sounds good up front.

Angel 97

Angel Writing Invest Startup 97

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

What Miigle does is make it easier for entrepreneurs to grow their ideas and startups by connecting them with people including other entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, potential product users who share their interests and want to help. Have you been funded yet? How do you expect to get funded? I want to change that.

Startup 101

Startup Ideas Platform Entrepreneur 101

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

In the original version of his post, Andy writes. Most top tier VCs return about 3x invested capital and outlier funds (the best of a vintage) might return 6-8x. But the larger funds usually have lower returns because they are often investing bigger dollars at later stages with less risk and therefore lower returns. Yeah, true.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 17, 2017

Ryan Blair: The theme around the fund is pretty simple. I learned a hell of a lot, invested my gains, and set up my venture fund, knowing I was going to monetize the network I had created. So where is the fund now? Ryan Blair: I took $20M of personal capital to start the fund. What's the theme of your investments?

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

I finally got around to writing it having read Fred Wilson’s post about what a CEO does. Even three person organizations are political. He wanted more resources allocated to him and he would begin wondering whether he might rise in the organization. Both are basically people businesses.

Venture Capital 319

Venture Capital Startup Sales Customer 319

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 23, 2013

Using amSTATZ athletes can track workouts and search for trainers and local events and event organizers can use the network for their events publicity and partner with trainers to develop training programs for their registrants. Have you raised any funding yet? For the client: Before: 60 minutes of training with a trainer = $60.

Social Network 92

Social Network Networking Training Summary 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

As a mentor to young aspiring entrepreneurs , I often get asked for tips on a strategy to get started. Don’t be shy about networking for advisors with business experience for coaching and mentoring. Sources should include local startup incubators, blog owners, and government support organizations, such as SCORE.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

The second is that they are usually very experienced operators that can mentor the founding team. We’re an investor in an amazing startup company called Apeel Sciences that creates a film that helps preserve fruit & vegetables with totally organic materials and extends the shelf life by 3+ weeks without using herbicides or pesticides.

Startup 187

Startup Writing Venture Capital Oracle 187

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Eric Golden ( CEO of Equipois ) & I ( Aaron Ross bio ) are organizing a formal, facilitated CEO group here on the westside that will meet monthly. First session: To kick things off and find other founding members, we’re organizing a first working session and get together for interested CEOs on March 13. Just write me).

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Eric Golden ( CEO of Equipois ) & I ( Aaron Ross bio ) are organizing a formal, facilitated CEO group here on the westside that will meet monthly. First session: To kick things off and find other founding members, we’re organizing a first working session and get together for interested CEOs on March 13. Just write me).

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Eric Golden ( CEO of Equipois ) & I ( Aaron Ross bio ) are organizing a formal, facilitated CEO group here on the westside that will meet monthly. First session: To kick things off and find other founding members, we’re organizing a first working session and get together for interested CEOs on March 13. Just write me).

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Eric Golden ( CEO of Equipois ) & I ( Aaron Ross bio ) are organizing a formal, facilitated CEO group here on the westside that will meet monthly. First session: To kick things off and find other founding members, we’re organizing a first working session and get together for interested CEOs on March 13. Just write me).

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

As of writing, my twin and I serve as the Co-CEOs and Co-Presidents at LAGbook. Who are your mentors, role models? We don’t have mentors at the moment. Raising fund to meet up with the increasing user growth and activities on LAGbook has not been easy though. Who are the founders and team and their backgrounds?

Social Network 100

Social Network Networking Advertising Startup 100

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2012

I met with a lawyer, talked to an investor and a few mentors, all who are serial entrepreneurs to advise me. But a wise mentor of mine said, “Go with your gut! It’s amusing at the very least when I share this story to my mentors, advisors and peers. Interesting offer considering he did nothing. LESSONS AND LAUGHS.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas San Diego Mentor 100

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 30, 2012

We write and create our own content for the game. Start Engine offers a team of mentors who have proven themselves as successful entrepreneurs – not professional investors – ensuring that its startups are guided by the right people for the right reasons. Tech Coast Angels is actively seeking great startups to fund.

CalTech 91

CalTech Company Companies Idealab 91

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

I have been writing a series on how startup boards get selected, who sits on them and what to avoid. Equally, put away your computer, your iPad or whatever other electronic device you use unless it’s 100% in note-taking mode and you’re using a stylus to write. The thing is?—?no You don’t have to have an opinion on every topic.

Startup 251

Startup Help Technical Review Writing 251

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

We had to write a CRM to keep track of them all. They are: Fred Wilson: Lead Investors, Dipshit Companies, and Funding Every Entrepreneur. Often board members give entrepreneurs two bits of advice regarding scale: Get a mentor. I've funded some myself. The expanding pool of angel, seed, and super seed funds is another.

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191