Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

When pitching to investors, entrepreneurs always seem to start with a customer pitch, then add a slide or two about the business. In reality, they need a separate pitch about the business, carrying over only a slide or two about the solution. Remember, investors are buying into the business, not the product.

Product 103

Product Slides Customer Custom 103

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

What I used to do is pencil out my plans for the board deck and strategy topics and my CFO would then pull together the slides and analysis. The full financial details and metrics were in the deck. So my time was freed up to call board members in advance and walk them through our metrics and understand any concerns.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Metrics Startup Sales 150

Jason Nazar

JUNE 1, 2016

Forget Your Slides. Have your slides there, reference the key points as needed, but keep the focus on each other — not a slideshow. Communicate these metrics in the first five minutes of your meeting. You probably have 2-3 minutes to get the investors leaning in, or you’ve likely lost their attention and interest for good.

Slides 49

Slides Startup Entrepreneur Metrics 49

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 21, 2010

Have minimums but a sliding scale. If 1% of your stock for year one equals 50,000 shares then you might give 10,000 shares when they hit $50,000 in sales and a sliding scale between $50k-$200k. Subjective warrants – I also see warrants given out without hard metrics. I believe that PBW’s should have hard metrics.

Startup 298

Startup Sales Slides Metrics 298

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 24, 2016

What you Before Sets the Course for How Well the Day Goes Make sure you send your financial and operating metrics no less than 72 hours before the board meeting — even better if it can be a week in advance. If you provide these slides in advance you give board members a chance to reflect and come prepared for a real discussion.

Guide 196

Guide Startup Metrics Conference 196

socalTECH

JULY 10, 2019

The only thing we knew, is you sent around this set of slides which was supposed to convey what could bette rbe conveyed in conversation. Some of th epilots have made it far enough to have some metrics, to the point we're having conversations about integration. Talk a bit about your funding, and how you got to it?

Pricing 113

Pricing Startup North Hollywood Platform 113

CEO Flow

JUNE 8, 2009

The internet has changed business – in helpful and challenging ways: * We have more information and metrics – and more confusion from all the clutter. * Note that companies are not pull OR push…there would be a sliding scale (such as 70/30 push/pull). Are we working harder, under more pressure, but running in place?

Metrics 66

Metrics Startup Slides Activity 66

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2013

Of course there are scenarios where a written business plan is not critical, but I haven’t seen one yet where a well-written 15-page document, or at least a 10-slide pitch, is a negative. From my perspective as a professional investor and long-time advisor to entrepreneurs, much of this urban legend advice is just plain wrong.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Technical Review Writing Slides 100

CEO Flow

JUNE 8, 2009

The internet has changed business – in helpful and challenging ways: * We have more information and metrics – and more confusion from all the clutter. * Note that companies are not pull OR push…there would be a sliding scale (such as 70/30 push/pull). Are we working harder, under more pressure, but running in place?

Metrics 66

Metrics Slides Competition Activity 66

CEO Flow

JUNE 8, 2009

The internet has changed business – in helpful and challenging ways: * We have more information and metrics – and more confusion from all the clutter. * Note that companies are not pull OR push…there would be a sliding scale (such as 70/30 push/pull). Are we working harder, under more pressure, but running in place?

Metrics 66

Metrics Slides Competition Activity 66

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

The deck itself was produced by a committee of functional team lead who were asked to do 5–7 slides each for an update. Each section head reads his / her 5–7 slides. If you put up 5 slides on “what should we order for lunch today” the board will spend 30 minutes debating that. There are too many pages. It passes the weight test.

Startup 226

Startup Slides Metrics News 226

CEO Flow

JUNE 8, 2009

The internet has changed business – in helpful and challenging ways: * We have more information and metrics – and more confusion from all the clutter. * Note that companies are not pull OR push…there would be a sliding scale (such as 70/30 push/pull). Are we working harder, under more pressure, but running in place?

Metrics 40

Metrics Slides Competition Activity 40

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 9, 2014

In seed stage funding, we’re often told that the investments are ultimately about the people/teams, and not necessarily the metrics. Roam & Wander won me over as soon in the same way that the packed room of investors uttered a unanimous ‘aww’ during their slide deck presentation.

Startup 111

Startup Mobile Commerce Education 111

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 20, 2012

Though, it’s possible that some people were there because of the confusion, Reiss certainly pleased the crowd and kept them in their seats as his presentation with power point slides and funny pictures seemed more like a stand up improv than your typical business presentation.

Social Media 101

Social Media Design Los Angeles Media 101

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 16, 2015

Examples of milestones: traction as measured by user numbers and user engagement; financial metrics such as cash flow and revenue. Use before and after slides to hit home with investors. This will set you up for step function increases in valuation when you hit those milestones. Choose lead investors with deep pockets.

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Equity Funding 40

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 6, 2010

That might work for $50-100k but less likely for $3m unless you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, known to the VC, have some metrics that work in your favor or have built something the VC believes to be truly unique. Because management is so important I always tell people to make the bio slide the first in your deck.

Startup 360

Startup Venture Capital Invest Slides 360

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2010

Company grew by more than “400% each year” for past few years [assume growth metric = revenues]. Metrics: 2.5mm members, 1,000 brands, 2,500 sale events to-date. Metrics: 50mm users (up from 40mm in Dec 2009), -Competition includes: Spotify , Last.fm. Competitor: Slide. Founded in 2008 by Mehdi Maghsoodnia.

Venture Capital 217

Venture Capital Capital Metrics Competition 217