Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

I saw a good summary of the most effective ways to source prospective investors in a classic book, “ The Art of Startup Fundraising ,” by Alejandro Cremades, who has been there and done that, both as an entrepreneur and an investor. Industry leaders are a prime source of leads to companies and individuals that may invest.

Funding 173

Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 9, 2023

For example, if you are an entrepreneur seeking investment or a cofounder, there is no substitute for networking at industry and startup conferences in your area. Effective networking can also lead you to great coaches and mentors, as well as business and customer connections. Be sincere and truthful to show integrity and gain trust.

Networking 104

Networking Mentor Conference Summary 104

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

DECEMBER 21, 2020

Workship - Mentor. Unlike the mentor, who is a coach and teacher, the advocate inspires you to be the best that you can be. That’s why investors say they invest in people, not ideas. When both parties contribute, it’s a powerful and positive relationship that benefits both careers, as well as the business. Workship - Advocate.

Mentor 135

Mentor Competition Summary Coach 135

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. 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. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2021

Most investors will readily admit that they invest in entrepreneur leadership, more so than innovative ideas, but they often find it difficult to separate aspiring leaders from those that are clearly extraordinary. That means accepting coaching and seeking mentoring, as well as giving it.

Coach 162

Coach Startup Resource Competition 162

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2022

After many years working in business and investing in startups, I’m convinced that the primary reason for new business and career failures is NOT a lack of skill or money, but people giving up too quickly on their dreams and goals. Build and maintain your emotional intelligence.

Startup 122

Startup Satisfaction Summary Coach 122

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

With the current volatile economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. You may no longer have the option of investing all earnings into growth, or servicing your special corporate cause. Yet reverse mergers are not all bad.

Funding 104

Funding Summary Entrepreneur Acquisition 104

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 15, 2012

But for now, the summary is: You’ll extend your network. . I think it’s been tremendously helpful to us because the founder of Awe.sm ( Jonathan Strauss ) has a mentor who is going through similar issues but is a few years ahead in terms of company development. So I was intrigued by Brad’s post.

Startup 294

Startup Carson Summary Press 294

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2014

Many startups now go through accelerators and have mentors passing through each day with advice – usually it’s conflicting. When I meet other VCs I’m constantly asking how they decide which investments to make, when to pass, when to do follow-on rounds, when to sell a company vs. when to go long, etc.

Startup 407

Startup Framework CTO Coach Sales 407

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

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

Or read the quick, informative summary below the image! Get connected to the right mentors and your business may catapult to the next level. I figured if Matt was on the verge of bankruptcy and one mentor changed his trajectory, what if we had a formalized, community-wide program? Here’s a summary of our interview.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Startup Customer Custom 304

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2019

With the current strong economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. You may no longer have the option of investing all earnings into growth, or servicing your special corporate cause. The reverse merger process itself doesn’t raise any capital.

Summary 121

Summary Startup Entrepreneur Funding 121

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2020

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always surprised by the fact that some never seem to be able to that first startup going, while many others never seem to stop, starting their second or third initiative before the first one is fully hatched. I’m now convinced that serious entrepreneurs relish the startup process more than success.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2014

Here is a summary of recommendations from both of us, based on my own business mentoring insights: Re-launch using your enhanced core competency. Find mentors who have the skills you lack. Proactively seek out mentors who will tell you what you need to hear, rather than what you want to hear.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor Summary 105

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2015

Here is a summary of some key investor stereotypes that generally need to be avoided: Investment sharks. These are investors with such massive egos that they expect to dictate both the terms of the investment as well as all future strategic decisions of your startup. Legal eagle investors. Academic coach investors.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Coach Invest Sample 108

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Or, as always, summary notes available below. My initial desire to blog came from something that’s always been my approach to investing – I’m a nerd and I love to play with the technology and part of my approach has really been to understand things both at a user level and at a reasonably deep tentacle level. “My Brad on blogging.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2014

The basic components are obvious: talented founders, great engineers, angel money, venture capital, access to larger corporates (for business, funding & talent), great education / research (for IP breakthroughs) and a sufficient ecosystem of mentors, advisors, executive coaches and mavens. We have invested $17.3

Startup 390

Startup Venture Capital Capital Funding 390

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2010

For this, you should expect participation in monthly strategy and review meetings, and unlimited access via phone or email for questions, mentoring, and advice. To bring real money and credibility to your company, and help you avoid costly mistakes in development and strategy, a first-class Advisory Board is a small investment.

Invest 50

Invest Technical Review Software Review High Tech 50

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

MAY 25, 2013

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. That would mean 6 firms drive $24.5 billion in returns. Yeah, true.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 10, 2010

If I AM an investor, mentor, friend or advisor I accept the email being longer. I met this person at the Open Angel Forum last week but I’m worried that he may have invested in a competitor – should I be concerned?&# Send me a second email that I can forward. But you hate email!?!

Help 332

Help Email Mentor Blogging 332

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2016

Workship - Mentor. Unlike the mentor, who is a coach and teacher, the advocate inspires you to be the best that you can be. That’s why investors say they invest in people, not ideas. When both parties contribute, it’s a powerful and positive relationship that benefits both careers, as well as the business. Workship - Advocate.

Mentor 70

Mentor Competition Entrepreneur Summary 70

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2016

I saw a good summary of the most effective ways to source prospective investors in a new book, “ The Art of Startup Fundraising ,” by Alejandro Cremades, who has been there and done that, both as an entrepreneur and an investor. Industry leaders are a prime source of leads to companies and individuals that may invest.

Startup 61

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Funding 61

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2018

With the current strong economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. You may no longer have the option of investing all earnings into growth, or servicing your special corporate cause. The reverse merger process itself doesn’t raise any capital.

Summary 79

Summary Startup Entrepreneur Funding 79

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2013

Workship - Mentor. Unlike the mentor, who is a coach and teacher, the advocate inspires you to be the best that you can be. That’s why investors say they invest in people, not ideas. When both parties contribute, it’s a powerful and positive relationship that benefits both careers, as well as the business. Workship - Advocate.

Startup 99

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Competition 99

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

And since we all knew that Sam’s dealflow and judgment were sound we empowered him to make early-stage, accelerator-like investments in early-stage entrepreneurs under the Upfront brand. She joined Mesa Global where she is doing both venture capital and investment banking. This is just a quick summary. Jamie did, too!

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2015

With the uptick in the economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. You may no longer have the option of investing all earnings into growth, or servicing your special corporate cause. There just aren’t enough Angel investors and VCs to go around.

Funding 102

Funding Summary Startup Entrepreneur 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

For this, you should expect participation in monthly strategy and review meetings, and unlimited access via phone or email for questions, mentoring, and advice. To bring real money and credibility to your company, and help you avoid costly mistakes in development and strategy, a first-class Advisory Board is a small investment.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2014

With the uptick in the economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. You may no longer have the option of investing all earnings into growth, or servicing your special corporate cause. There just aren’t enough Angel investors and VCs to go around.

Funding 98

Funding Startup Entrepreneur Summary 98

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 23, 2013

No summary of what we did, no easy way for me to recommend my trainer to my friends, and no way for me to easily book the next appointment. After the session, Andy posts a summary to Jenna’s profile with the details of their workout and a few words of advice. Why did you venture into fitness? Braintree Payment integration is another.

Social Network 92

Social Network Networking Training Summary 92

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

I admit that I haven’t yet read it but I’ve had numerous discussions with Brad over the years about board structure & conduct and consider him a mentor on the topic. As we have invested millions in building out our sales organization efficiency really matters. In the Early Days.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2011

For this, you should expect participation in monthly strategy and review meetings, and unlimited access via phone or email for questions, mentoring, and advice. To bring real money and credibility to your company, and help you avoid costly mistakes in development and strategy, a first-class Advisory Board is a small investment.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2017

I was mentoring some graduate students at a local university recently, and I sensed again that profit seems to be a dirty word these days to many aspiring entrepreneurs. Advantages for your business include a stable revenue stream, customer retention, and increasing customer investment over time.

Pricing 66

Pricing Customer Custom Advertising 66

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 28, 2010

I have developed a Non-Profit and a For-Profit HealthCare and Home Care Agency, and I have an Executive Summary and Business Plan. You will find that investors don’t often invest in a services business, since there are no assets for equity, and banks don’t lend money to someone with no credit and a mortgage problem.

Entrepreneur 75

Entrepreneur Education Equity IP 75

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 14, 2015

Balancing portfolio My “portfolio companies” (which means the companies in which I’ve invested) get my top priority. Summary I live the same life as you, Ezra. tl;dr version courtesy of Tuvia Elbaum which made me laugh so I’m adding it after the fact. As you can see Tuvia asked me this June 25th.

Blogging 150

Blogging Writing Email Startup 150

SoCal Delicious

JANUARY 9, 2014

Design as an afterthought Mistakenly, many early-stage startups often don’t see value in investing in design early on, believing it is a luxury which can be bolted on later like some kind of magic stardust. Get some customers and investment will come a lot easier. Forget funding and find a customer that will pay for your product.

Startup 78

Startup Design Customer Custom 78