Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020

Here are some key ways that personal stories can raise your message above the standard sales pitch: Show that you are authentic and deserve their trust. Investors tell me that they invest in people, more than products. That means that you must convince your constituents that you are a real person, trustworthy, and authentic.

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Startup Competition Customer Custom 145

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 31, 2010

This is part of my ongoing Sales & Marketing Series. In the first part of this post I talked about how sales in a startup is often evangelical , requires as consultative sale and needs constant adjustments based on customer feedback. We had 4 or 5 sales reps that had been around since the early days.

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Sales Newsletter Technical Review Activity 286

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I believe in this so much that, despite my post advising you to be prepared for the *norm* in VC, I wrote a post about a company that came in for a presentation and never even got the slides out or presented a demo. The “Triple Play&# of VC Presentations. Be ready to map your presentation to their preferred method.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

The rest of the purchase price was concocted from a brew of zero-coupon bonds (where the face value is many times the invested amount until the reduced cost bonds mature thirty years later), and borrowing using the target company’s accounts receivable and other assets as collateral for a loan to purchase the company.

Pricing 156

Pricing Sales Examples Tool 156

Berkonomics

JUNE 15, 2017

From the moment such an investor looks seriously at your company, the investor or VC partner is thinking of the end game, the ultimate sale of the company or even of an eventual initial public offering. Taking in angel or venture money requires a setting of an entrepreneur’s expectations that may come as a shock at least at first.

Venture Capital 243

Venture Capital Sales Invest Class 243

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 20, 2014

Last year at this time I spoke at VidCon and gave this presentation in which I said YouTube was “the Walmart of Online Video” but I also commented that I felt YouTube was vulnerable to competition because their rev share to MCNs wasn’t high enough to allow MCNs to build a profitable business inside of YouTube.

Invest 291

Invest Content Media Networking 291

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

After presenting a “state of the company” report at a national meeting of resellers for a company where I sat on the board, I was approached by one of the audience members, complimenting my presentation and stating, “I have a problem. The background for my story. The year was 1998. My immediate reaction and offer.

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Sales Web Design Web Design 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Either of these qualms can ultimately sidetrack your startup as not worthy of investment, so it pays to do your homework on what you say and how to communicate effectively. Investors will be looking for a sizing validated by industry analysts large enough for good investment returns. What are your specific marketing and sales plans?

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Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

Yet in this age when customers have a thousand alternatives, and are overwhelmed by a multitude of messages, sales efforts can make or break a business. In fact, I believe modern entrepreneurs need to be super sales people, in the most positive sense, to their team as well as customers. No pain usually means no sales.

Sales 106

Sales Entrepreneur Customer Custom 106

socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2019

We spoke with Meredith Finn a new Partner at March Capital--who headed up that the Rise of the Female Entrepreneur sessions this year--to hear more about her perspectives on investments, what the Rise of the Female Entrepeneur was all about, March's interests in artificial intelligence and more. What's your role at March Capital?

Capital 162

Capital Entrepreneur Invest Artificial Inteligence 162

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 18, 2013

We will also have some of the top companies present that each of the panelist has invested in. Our Panelist Include: Brock Pierce - Starting & Investing in Bitcoin, Games, and Gambling Businesses. The post TechZulu Presents: The Annual Startup Forecast appeared first on TechZulu. Contact us at sponsor@techzulu.com.

Startup 111

Startup Entertainment Media Santa Barbara 111

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 8, 2020

He did note that in the four markets where the company has gone live since launching its business in January 2019 — San Diego, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire , and Sacramento — has yielded an annualized revenue run rate of over $400 million in gross merchandise value (the total value of home sales transacted on its platform).

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Sales Demand San Diego Funding 282

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

As a member of the local angel group Selection Committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Every startup needs both a business plan and an investor presentation, completed before you formally approach any investors.

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Slides Competition Sample Sales 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 31, 2023

Selecting the right sales channels is one of the first strategic decisions that every startup faces. This area of demand analysis is also called the “sales funnel” or “sales pipeline,” used for tracking the overall process from initial prospect engagement to close. Return on investment for demand generation.

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Metrics Demand Paramount Content 102

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

I am fond of quoting that about 70% of my investment decision of an early-stage company is the team. So I naturally spend much time with the companies in which I invest helping them: recruit. And the folks at Startup Grind have been kind enough to invite me to present this morning in Mountain View on the topic. identify gaps.

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Startup Slides Outsource Development Sales 388

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2022

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. Here are some basic principles: Angels invest in people, more often than they invest in ideas. USA Angel Investment Network. Or does it?

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Startup Keiretsu Platform Invest 135

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2011

I invested in LA-based Gogii , one of the fastest growing, most exciting mobile social networking companies you’ve never heard of and maker of a product called textPlus. I only recently invested and I only got here through persistence. The opportunity came up to invest in this one and I pounced. But I never gave up.

Gogii 310

Gogii Invest Blogging Startup 310

socalTECH

MARCH 14, 2018

This year, we're sponsoring the Recurring Revenue Conference (www.recurringrevenueconference.com), presented by Sutton Capital Partners. Jon Ferrara: I firmly believe that Service is the New Sales and that the Sales starts after a customer buys. You're hiring new sales and customer support team members as fast as you can.

Customer 166

Customer Custom Conference Social Media 166

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 18, 2018

Managers almost always believe that stakeholders understand the pressures of the business and the circumstance of the present. The chasm between management and employees. The truth is that many employees merely make a simple pact: timely pay for time in service. Investor loyalty is most tenuous of all.

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Layoffs Class News Email 240

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 24, 2018

controlling your psychology ) you no doubt have heard me say that raising capital is a sales & marketing process. Some firms are trickier since they artificially call everybody “partner” but they’re not all “investment partners.” Find a portfolio company or two that they’ve invested in. It’s super easy to suss all this out.

Venture Capital 314

Venture Capital Technical Review Invest Slides 314

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2012

Later today I’m presenting at the annual Rincon Ventures Summit in Santa Barbara. There is a mythology amongst some LPs (funds that invest in VCs) and some VCs that “entry price doesn’t matter – only investing in the absolute best entrepreneurs.” Startup Exits: A Primer from msuster.

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Startup Technology Venture Capital Santa Barbara 323

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2021

It takes repeatable sales processes to create a scalable business. The most sustainable way to create long-term value is to continually invest in your capabilities both as individuals and as an organization. Leaders must be aware of the present moment while setting their sights on long-term goals. Accelerate sustainable growth.

Ideas 158

Ideas Entrepreneur Study Product 158

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

After presenting a “state of the company” report at a national meeting of resellers for a company where I sat on the board, I was approached by one of the audience members, complimenting my presentation and stating, “I have a problem. First here is a bit of the background. The year was 1998. million at a valuation of $80 million.

Sales 149

Sales Web Design Web Entrepreneur 149

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 13, 2018

The short answer is that you should have multiple versions of your “pitch deck” (a short, visual presentation in Keynote, PPT or similar and shared as a PDF) and each occasion has a specific goal. whether they invest or not. (This is part of a series on how to improve your fund raising game. I recommend sub 10MB.

Venture Capital 261

Venture Capital Slides Email Startup 261

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 14, 2018

You’re adding unnecessary “purchase friction” If your deck is something I should open 3–4 times as I’m contemplating an investment, why add any consumption friction to the reader? after all you aren’t presenting this at TED. Because I invest in “ lines, not dots ” it’s actually the delta that I’m investing in.

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Funding Venture Capital IP Email 239

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2022

As a former angel investor, I look for this level of alignment and understanding in every funding presentation I hear. Popular revenue models today include recurring subscription charges, licensing, as well the traditional sale or lease model. Every startup looking for investment needs a solid partner story. Key activities.

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Funding Activity Customer Custom 133

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

Many MBA programs still cater too much to the needs of large, corporate management jobs or prepare students to enter big consulting companies or investments banks. That student is Erin McCann who formerly worked in sales at Google, so she has some ground to stand on in her assertions. My guess is that we are likely in total agreement.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Berkonomics

JUNE 11, 2020

Email readers, continue here…] As solar panel efficiency increases from the present average of 22% to 30% and more, and as electricity prices rise, the net break even for solar panels should decrease dramatically. Electric cars become attractive investments when the extra cost can be amortized over a year or two of savings in fuel.

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Examples .Net Pricing Email 156

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

To keep you on a positive track with potential investors, I recommend the following logic principles, to balance your passion in presenting your vision of a new business: Make sure your plan includes some business metrics. Present a viable exit strategy for investors to cash out. Don’t forget to focus on the value of you and your team.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 9, 2013

This is final part of a series that describes a sales methodology for technology companies or frankly many other types of companies, too. Well think of it this way – you have your sales process. And with scarce resources it’s your job to decide which door this lead must go through – sales or marketing.

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Customer Custom Marketing Newsletter 324

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

You need to work just as hard to convince investors that you are the best person to take your idea from a dream to a successful business, and provide an impressive return on their investment at the same time. Offer an attractive and viable investment equation. Emphasize the value and skills of your team.

Ideas 140

Ideas Entrepreneur Equity Resource 140

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2023

In addition, current investors want to see every startup go public or be acquired, as an exit event, so they can get their due return for that investment which has been tied up for the last few years. For these reasons, I always look for an overt exit strategy in every startup I might consider for an angel investment.

Startup 99

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 99

SoCal Tech Calendar

AUGUST 31, 2012

Thursday, September 6, 2012 -- LA CEOs, an education and support group for CEOs presents: Monica Dodi, Managing Director of The Women?s s Venture Capital Fund with Perspectives of a Venture Capitalist and How They Evaluate Potential Investments and The Benefits of Gender Diversity. Service providers will be asked to leave.

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Education Venture Capital Sales Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

This is the last step of the process, where surprises in the evaluation of the management team, documentation, and personnel problems can derail the investment. If there are financial anomalies, or someone on the team doesn’t know the current strategy, or is unhappy with you or the company, the investment will be jeopardized.

Technical Review 152

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 152

Berkonomics

JANUARY 26, 2017

The rest of the purchase price was concocted from a brew of zero coupon bonds (where the face value is many times the invested amount until the reduced cost bonds mature thirty years later), and borrowing using the target company’s accounts receivable and other assets as collateral for a loan to purchase the company.

Pricing 120

Pricing Sales Tool Equity 120

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2011

Actually, I think the advice in this post applies to any sales meeting also. I know it’s incredibly important to me in my investment decisions. I wanted to write a quick post on a pet peeve that I have when teams present “who they are” whether in a bio slide or just in the up front introductions.

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Slides GRP Partners Venture Capital Writing 296

Berkonomics

APRIL 4, 2019

On the other side, entrepreneurs and CEO’s usually have a natural fear of giving too much information to us investors after the initial investment is received. At the annual meeting (which can be attended by phone), there are actions that require a vote of the shares present either by proxy or in person.

Class 120

Class Course Report Competition 120