Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2019

As a long-time business advisor and angel investor, I’m a believer that “two heads are better than one” in building a new business. The challenge is to recognize and recruit that ideal partner match early with minimal cost and risk. In fact, I would broaden the definition of partner from co-founder to “business partner.”

Cofounder 221

Cofounder Software Review CTO Hire Founder 221

VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

What’s the difference between an angel round and pre-seed round and why do I believe we’ll see more pre-seed rounds taking place in 2024? While the answers are somewhat semantic, the pre-seed funding round is making a comeback in 2024 startup financing.

Valuation 186

Valuation Software Review Generative AI Technical Review 186

Hunter Walker

OCTOBER 14, 2024

I’m also a Sanzo angel investor. What was it like seeing some folks raise tens of millions of dollars, and where has your financing mostly come from? As for Sanzo, we’ve been fortunate to have the support early on of incredible angel investors (like Hunter Walk!) I’m a Sanzo drinker.

New York City 89

New York City Hockey Stick Distribution Angel Investor 89

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 5, 2023

Many of the start-ups my various angel funds have financed died a slow death , not because of poor concept but because of poor execution, wasting fixed overhead and draining the financial resources from the company coffers. And we were able to secure that investment along with a partner from that firm joining our board.

Silicon Valley 118

Silicon Valley Burn Rate Angel Investor Down Round 118

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 22, 2019

The question of venture capitalist versus angel investor often arises. Venture capital and angel investments offer excellent options to startup businesses. Investment firms are staffed with analysts, partners, and others to ensure deals are soundly vetted. Investor Involvement. Angel Investors.

Angel Investor 122

Angel Investor Venture Capital Accredited Investor Equity 122

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

If angel investors are pressuring you to set up a board and if you don’t have the leverage to push back a little then I might suggest a 3-person board in which all 3 seats are appointed by the common stock and you agree to appoint one of these seats to the angel investor but perhaps make it either time based or event based.

Venture Capital 236

Venture Capital Startup Angel Investor Silicon Valley 236

Genuine VC

FEBRUARY 12, 2012

Just as often, however, we’re investing alongside individual angel investors who are participating in the round as well. Angel investors come in many shapes and sizes, however. The choir of angel investors out there is comprised of a number of players which sing different parts: The Super Angel.

Angel Investor 257

Angel Investor Syndicate Syndication Early Stage 257

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

Find the right partners. So, you need to find mentors, partners, and employees who are. Now, not every business can immediately hire more employees, and you may not have someone you want to bring on as an official partner. Track finances early. Even if you’re not a numbers person, you need to track your finances.

Forecast 154

Forecast Software Review Bootstrapping Finance 154

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

Picking the right attorney in your startup is as important as picking the right business partner. My business partner and I made many mistakes in our first tech startup, and so many of them were the result of choosing a lawyer who was a terrible fit. My business partner and I were elated. We set off to raise our money.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Austin Startup

MAY 14, 2021

The company is also backed by International Accelerator and a group of Angel Investors. We appreciate the confidence of our investors in STRAP and strengthening our position for the future.” Dr. Ponmile Osibo, Partner at Platform Capital said, “We are proud to partner with Strap Technologies.

Technical Review 70

Technical Review Technology Angel Investor Software Review 70

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2022

The canvas is a visual chart with elements describing your value proposition, structure, finances, and customers, to help companies identify and align business activities. As a former angel investor, I look for this level of alignment and understanding in every funding presentation I hear. Key partners. Key resources.

Business Model 334

Business Model Intellectual Property Angel Investor Channel 334

ReadWriteStart

MAY 22, 2012

When it comes to financing a brand-new startup, most founders find themselves stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place. While some lucky startups attract angel investors or have access to money from friends and family, the vast majority are on their own, at least at first. Beware Revolving Credit Charges.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Software Review Angel Investor Startup 118

Up and Running

DECEMBER 18, 2013

RocketHub also recently partnered with the TV channel A&E for marketing and funding help for their favorite fundraising campaigns. Kiva is a non-profit organization that partners with microfinance institutions (Kiva’s “field partners”) in third-world countries to offer small loans to budding entrepreneurs.

Kenya 119

Kenya Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review 119

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

Thus the top priority of every entrepreneur who wants funding should be to build and highlight their “dream team” of co-founders, executives and advisers, to attract the biggest and best investors. Solo entrepreneurs rarely find an investor. Team members have investor relationships. Not afraid to make a decision.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Startup 152

Berkonomics

AUGUST 24, 2023

Smart money at the table… I have served on the boards of several companies with just such VC talent at the table, partners in firms that made subsequent investments in companies where I either made early investments or led a group of fellow investors in early rounds of finance.

Covenant 118

Covenant Angel Investor Valuation Later Stage 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2010

I chair the Selection Committee of the Arizona Angels, and have been an active Angel investor as General Partner of Lobodos Ventures over the last thirteen years. Marty: What’s the most challenging aspect of being an investor? Marty: What’s the most challenging aspect of being an investor?

Angel Investor 211

Angel Investor Arizona Entrepreneur Phoenix 211

Feld Thoughts

JUNE 2, 2010

I wasn’t able to make it to Boston yesterday for the Angel Boot Camp as I was running around NYC with the CEO of a company I invested in last week introducing him to a bunch of potential customers and partners. It sounds like Angel Boot Camp rocked. Run in a pack: The best angels run in packs. So – here’s the advice: 1.

Angel Investor 167

Angel Investor Boston Due Diligence Cofounder 167

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

As a current Angel investor, I can attest that any investments in startups are more risky than the commodity markets, and you shouldn’t expect to see any return for many years. Of course, this might also lead to investors, partners, and licensing opportunities. This is not a get-rich-quick vehicle for consumers.

Intellectual Property 247

Intellectual Property SEC Venture Capital Equity 247

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Understanding where your VC partner sits in their respective fund and where their fund is in the cycle of its investment lifecycle will help you understand your VCs behavior. In addition to helping manage the board Chris also helps represent the interests of the angel investors / common stock holders.

Advisory Board 365

Advisory Board CTO Hire Fractional CTO Los Angeles 365

View from Seed

MARCH 24, 2021

7 Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make in VC Pitches and How to Fix Them “Different partners in a VC firm are different. How Decisions are Made After the Partner Meeting “The lead partner might also be using this opportunity to dive deeper into areas that you might not have had the chance to cover during the first/second meetings.

Seed Stage 177

Seed Stage Hiring IPO Analytics 177

Genuine VC

FEBRUARY 12, 2012

Just as often, however, we’re investing alongside individual angel investors who are participating in the round as well. Angel investors come in many shapes and sizes, however. The choir of angel investors out there is comprised of a number of players which sing different parts: The Super Angel.

Angel Investor 128

Angel Investor Syndicate Syndication Early Stage 128

Up and Running

AUGUST 30, 2021

Angel investors, venture capital firms, accelerators, and (maybe) the newer equity crowdfunding will look to see if you have previous experience in startups. More often than not, whatever it is you are building will require a complementary skill set, whether that’s business/finance, sales/marketing, or design/engineering.

Entrepreneur 132

Entrepreneur Lean Colorado Engineer 132

YoungUpstarts

MAY 25, 2018

As the years went on, Pat Mackaronis continued to grow his network and partners in a second restaurant as well as a nightclub, he also invested in several small businesses and worked with teams to grow their projections.

Developer 159

Developer Investment Bankers eCommerce Social Media 159

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2012

As a current Angel investor, I can attest that any investments in startups are more risky than the commodity markets, and you shouldn’t expect to see any return for five years. Of course, this might also lead to investors, partners, and licensing opportunities. This is not a get-rich-quick vehicle for consumers.

Intellectual Property 242

Intellectual Property Venture Capital Angel Investor Equity 242

Up and Running

APRIL 11, 2017

Seek out business financing. To remedy that, it’s time to familiarize yourself with the many financing options available to fledgling businesses. Angel investors and venture capitalists are also worth exploring, and they may come with secondary benefits such as guidance and mentoring or access to industry connections.

Angel Investor 89

Angel Investor Entrepreneur Finance Small Business Administration 89

David Teten

MAY 9, 2012

We are in the midst of two great disruptions to American business: the internet’s ongoing disruption of most traditional industries: finance, healthcare, retail, finance, fashion, etc. the shift of America to a majority minority country by 2050. VCAP© provides our members with a pipeline of unique opportunities.”

Venture Capital 154

Venture Capital Programming Accredited Investor New York 154

Berkonomics

AUGUST 10, 2017

Many of the start-ups my various angel funds have financed died a slow death, not because of poor concept but because of poor execution, wasting fixed overhead and draining the financial resources from the company coffers. And we were able to secure that investment along with a partner from that firm joining our board.

Silicon Valley 97

Silicon Valley Burn Rate Angel Investor Down Round 97

Growthink Blog

MARCH 11, 2012

These other entrepreneurs can provide funding to you as "angel investors." They can introduce you to other angel investors they know. They can partner with you or introduce you to other partners. On one hand, it's unfortunate that no one has a comprehensive "magic" list of angel investors.

Angel Investor 82

Angel Investor Hosting Networking Partner 82

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2014

This is important for nearly every institutional investor because once you have 25-50 investments being able to “follow” the investments that are working well is critical to making money. New investors sometimes want early investors to put in money to “prove” they have confidence in the new price.

Technical Review 336

Technical Review Later Stage Early Stage LP 336

Growthink Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2017

And the desire to raise capital (whether from an individual “angel” investor or a venture capital firm) is often the key motivator in the business planning process. But how exactly will your business plan persuade investors to sign a check? Raising money from individual "angel" investors? Concept vs. reality.

Venture Capital 129

Venture Capital Business Plan Technical Review Private Placement 129

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 28, 2018

Your classmates could become your business partners one day. You can leverage your MBA connections to search for suitable investors. You’ll meet partners, mentors, advisors, and people who have the experience to help you set up a successful business. There might come a time when you need extra funding for your business.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Partner Programming 100

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

There was a lot of consumer internet activity again…resurgence of things, but it was still mysterious, venture capital was still kind of closed, 1st time entrepreneurs had a lot of questions that were unanswered, and there was still some sort of hand waiving around all the financing stuff and so we took it on….”. Is that when it became big?

Technical Review 288

Technical Review Venture Capital Silicon Valley Software Review 288

Berkonomics

AUGUST 10, 2023

Setting your expectations Taking in angel or venture money requires a setting of an entrepreneur’s expectations that may come as a shock at least at first. There is no middle ground. Draconian terms?

Liquidity Event 116

Liquidity Event Initial Public Offering Dividend Valuation 116

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

They emailed billionaire investor Mark Cuban, asking him for financing. How a law firm got funded thanks to partners that wouldn’t give up. In 2003, Ben Luftman, fresh out of law school, started Luftman, Heck & Associates, LLP, with partner, Jeremy Heck. After all, what have you got to lose?

Cofounder 137

Cofounder Green Small Business Administration Business Plan 137

Feld Thoughts

MAY 28, 2015

For example, from a post in 2008 about Rally’s $16.85m financing , I riffed on the origins of the company. About a year after he got started, he was ready to raise a venture financing. Ryan was encouraged to team up with Tim and shortly after that happened we co-led the first round VC financing with Boulder Ventures.

Software 70

Software Technology Agile SCRUM 70

Up and Running

MAY 20, 2019

By creating a “low-friction plan,” you can avoid or at least mitigate problems down the road—plus, it’s what potential lenders or investors expect when you approach them for funding. Align on a mission statement that ensures all partners understand what you want to accomplish and what is outside of that core.

Business Plan 92

Business Plan Angel Investor Partner Naming 92

Austin Startup

MARCH 4, 2019

For more information, visit atxstartupcrawl.com SXSW Pitch (formerly SXSW Accelerator) SXSW Pitch is the official SXSW platform to allow early stage technology startups to pitch their product and/or services to industry technology experts, high profiled media personnel, and Venture Capitalists / Angel Investors.

Silicon Valley 50

Silicon Valley Technical Review Texas Venture Capital 50