Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2013

Here is my edited summary of their ten principles, which I like and may convince you that you don’t need a business plan at all, or at the very least will help you write a better one later: A new venture is a means, not an end. Get started and get some momentum. Early perseverance pays off.

Writing 102

Writing Startup Entrepreneur Capital 102

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 19, 2021

If you want people to invest in your idea, then my best advice is first write a business plan, and keep it simple. This means writing at the level of an average newspaper story (about eighth-grade level). The one-page Oprah plan is a good executive summary, but it’s not enough to get the investment. Bullet points are good.

Invest 135

Invest Tips Writing Content 135

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Most sophisticated investors ignore them, focusing their attention on an entrepreneur's pitch and presentation materials, financial forecast and executive summary. As such, the primary goal of your executive summary is to open the door to an in-person meeting. Entrepreneurs routinely seek my advice regarding their executive summaries.

Venture Capital 211

Venture Capital Summary Technical Review Template 211

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

I plan to write a series of posts on the topic. One goal I have is to help founders better figure out how to structure boards, how to communicate with boards and how to get the most out of boards. I’m open to lobbying via Twitter (I’m msuster ) which order to write them in and/or if you think I’m missing a topic.

Startup 204

Startup Writing Framework Summary 204

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

I can’t help you get into the right mindset, but I can offer some proven specific steps for translating a business dream into reality, based on my own years of experience working at all levels in the business world: Narrow your focus, to identify your major business goal. Stop talking and writing, and start executing the plan.

Writing 139

Writing Startup Summary Activity 139

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 29, 2016

He didn’t lead the initial investment in the team at GOAT but when the original concept wasn’t working he graciously agreed to step up and help the duo. Please read Greg’s summary of the GOAT story for a better understanding of entrepreneurial grit, stick-to-it-ness, pursuit of one’s passions and second chances.

Venture Capital 199

Venture Capital Summary Writing Funding 199

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2023

Here is my edited summary of their ten principles, which I like and may convince you that you don’t need a business plan at all, or at the very least will help you write a better one later: A new venture is a means, not an end. Get started and get some momentum. Early perseverance pays off.

Startup 142

Startup Capital Resource Research 142

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2019

We not only have our Series A funds that can write $500k?—?$15 If you invest early and then pull back in the next 3 rounds your multiples on cash invested are much higher than if you keep writing checks. It takes all types and helping people realize their best skills and interests is an incredibly important part of the job.

Venture Capital 223

Venture Capital IP Startup Google 223

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2022

If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. A good alternative is to enlist the help of a business mentor you can trust. Verbalize the problem to fully understand it and why it’s occurring.

Startup 135

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review 135

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Here is a summary of some key items to think about as an entrepreneur before approaching friends, family, or even fools: Don’t be afraid to ask, carefully. Nothing kills everyone’s optimism and desire to help quicker than a negative or arrogant attitude. Communicate the risks, and write down the agreement. Nobody likes a downer.

Invest 135

Invest Technical Review Startup Ideas 135

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

By Mahesh Raj Mohan Writing a business plan can be a difficult process. you still have to write the plan for a particular audience. Your business plan’s writing style should take their preferences into account. So what writing styles should you use for these very different audiences? Hi, I’m writing this plan because.”

Writing 97

Writing Summary Ideas Research 97

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 8, 2010

Since it’s already written (and since I promised not to republish on my blog other than a summary) if you’re interested please have a read over there. Summary notes and then I’ll extend: Should you blog? Don’t just write a carbon copy of what somebody else is doing. And don’t blog drunk.

Blogging 286

Blogging Startup Writing Summary 286

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

So I thought I’d write about out with what I would look for in a VC knowing what I know now and why. To be clear – I’m not saying huge successes make a VC less likely to be helpful to you – I’m just saying it’s not a guaranteed predictor. I’m not afraid to help make difficult decisions.

Venture Capital 364

Venture Capital Coach Writing SaaS 364

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2015

If you don’t have the time to write things down, or your writing skills leave something to be desired, don’t be afraid to get some help. No executive I know writes all his own contracts, but every smart one owns every one that is written for him, and understands every element.

Startup 109

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 17, 2020

Here is my edited summary of their ten principles, which I like and may convince you that you don’t need a business plan at all, or at the very least will help you write a better one later: A new venture is a means, not an end. Get started and get some momentum. Early perseverance pays off.

Startup 143

Startup Capital Resource Research 143

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 13, 2019

If you want people to invest in your idea, then my best advice is first write a business plan, and keep it simple. This means writing at the level of an average newspaper story (about eighth-grade level). The one-page Oprah plan is a good executive summary, but it’s not enough to get the investment.

Tips 96

Tips Entrepreneur Writing Content 96

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

It always started the same way – a founder would ask for an intro because they figured he could help with promotion. In a perfect world they would just hang out in our offices, work on tech ideas, help us evaluate opportunities, attend our investment meetings and be thoughtful advising tech companies that come to meet us.

Conference 150

Conference Slides Social Media Summary 150

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 14, 2018

Whenever you write your deck and send it out I think you should actually think to yourself, “my competitors are probably going to read this one day and this will be forwarded widely” and if your response isn’t “so what!” I’m sure that some VCs and others do love online viewers when they read a deck.

Funding 239

Funding Venture Capital IP Email 239

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Generally I can provide quite a bit of help in that brief time. And I try my best to point them to resources that can help them longer term. This overview (executive summary) needs to include: Product and Business What is the product? I need a life-sciences CTO, can you help? Do I have to write up the overview?

CTO Hire 264

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 264

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2010

I stumbled upon the Question, “ What-is-the-motivation-behind-writing-public-reviews-and-tips-as-on-Amazon-Yelp-Foursquare-StickyBits-etc &# and took the bait. Or let’s face it – writing lots of answers on Quora. So in summary, if you’re going to do a UGC site: Know that there will be three buckets of users.

Technical Review 294

Technical Review Writing Content Sites 294

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Generally I can provide quite a bit of help in that brief time. And I try my best to point them to resources that can help them longer term. This overview (executive summary) needs to include: Product and Business What is the product? I need a life-sciences CTO, can you help? Do I have to write up the overview?

CTO Hire 259

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 259

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 2, 2014

In layman terms (if you’re a doctor feel free to correct anything in the comments) I would say that ADD is caused by a slow functioning frontal cortex and that anything that helps stimulate the frontal cortex (being late, being under pressure, arguing, caffeine) helps to get proper brain function going. This is a help in itself.

Startup 416

Startup Entrepreneur Writing Help 416

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 20, 2013

So I thought I’d write a piece on how not to suck when you give a presentation. Help us to get to know him or her. It’s OK to throw in some facts & figures that people won’t remember because giving people numbers helps them understand the magnitude of the problem you’re solving. Show some energy!

Slides 399

Slides Startup Conference Writing 399

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2011

I think you'll enjoy hearing him, but if you're in a rush check out the summary notes below. As a courtesy if you enjoyed his write-up please check out his startup company, ChannelStack. Through his research he helped bring ARPANET to Philadelphia in 1973. These speakers help coach CEO’s on important executive decisions.

Capital 284

Capital Venture Capital Technical Review Startup 284

InfoChachkie

JULY 21, 2011

Paige is a gifted communicator and my summary does not do him justice. He offers a number of worthwhile tips and tricks that I was not able to capture in the textual summary, so the 14-minute audio file is well worth your time. What follows is a summary which paraphrases Paige’s responses. Click here to listen to the Audio File.

Summary 246

Summary Tips Sales Entrepreneur 246

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. A good alternative is to enlist the help of a business mentor you can trust. Verbalize the problem to fully understand it and why it’s occurring.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 23, 2013

I’ve been writing a series on a simple methodology that we used at my first enterprise software company. The next logical piece of work is therefore to help your prospect quantify the problem so they can attribute economic value to your solution and help you complete your sale.

Sales 328

Sales Customer Custom Examples 328

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 12, 2011

Chris Dixon is one of my favorite people in tech and writes one of the few blogs I read religiously. I think you’ll really enjoy this video , but as always I have summary notes for those with less time. If you like the quick summary notes, please check out Adam’s blog on tech, entrepreneurship & VC as a thank you.

Technical Review 281

Technical Review Venture Capital Startup Artificial Inteligence 281

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 22, 2012

At best “over introducers” are driven by a sincere desire to help other people. ” That you’re helpful. Helping with a Sales Lead. After all, if your VCs won’t help you get access to potential buyers or business development partners – what will they do? Helping Access Money.

Email 359

Email Venture Capital Startup Technical Review 359

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 23, 2011

I took the opportunity this past week to publish summary notes of some of the VCs and entrepreneurs I had interviewed on This Week in VC. Back to regular writing this week so check back in. TWIVC Summary – Richard de Silva. Usually through some sort of referral, it helps assign priority. Thank you. (if 1:00 – 3:40).

Capital 265

Capital Venture Capital Veoh Startup 265

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

I try to be helpful. I shifted my thinking a few years ago after I read Tim Ferris’s book The Four Hour Workweek (link is to a short summary I wrote). You’re writing a freaking blog post! I’m a university student working on a project on entrepreneurship - could you help? If I can help I will.

Email 314

Email Product Startup Writing 314

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 11, 2011

What follows is a summary which paraphrases Naval’s responses. One of the things AngelList helps us do is raise our brand, have a pre-existing relationship with many, many entrepreneurs and give us access into great deals. 3) If you were writing your book Pitching Hacks today, how would your advice differ ?

Startup 273

Startup Software Review Summary Technical Review 273

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2015

Here is my summary of some major considerations that every entrepreneur needs to evaluate against the cost and effort to attract equity investors: Completing a grant application is real work. Grant providers may not require a seat on your board to help you make decisions, but your spending processes will be carefully monitored and audited.

Pricing 100

Pricing Equity Technical Review Research 100

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 10, 2013

Also, if you read my previous post you’ll know that I believe 1:1 calls with each board member before a meeting will help limit the amount of random questions you get and will also help you surface any real concerns somebody may have and that may be worthy of going on the agenda. Have a scribe write it down.

Startup 312

Startup Course Summary Product 312

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2011

The gist of MG’s argument is that he’d rather work with people who are openly critical of his ideas if it helps him to perform better than to have a bunch of “yes men” around who just say what a great job he’s doing. Of course I can’t write every press release for the company nor would I want to.

Press 337

Press Venture Capital Doc Summary 337

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

Or if you’re pinched on time the summary is below and the time coding can help you watch a brief snippet on topics that interest you. 41:00 Transitioning from software to writing. what lessons can we draw from Steve Jobs successes? Eric is so damn good. I could have gone 2 hours. Will these norms change? 46:18 iOS Vs.

Social Media 301

Social Media Startup Metrics Media 301

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2018

Here is my edited summary of their ten principles, which I like and may convince you that you don’t need a business plan at all, or at the very least will help you write a better one later: A new venture is a means, not an end. Get started and get some momentum. Early perseverance pays off.

Startup 94

Startup Capital Resource Research 94