Steve Blank

MARCH 16, 2016

VC’s raise money from their investors (limited partners like pension funds) and then spread their risk by investing in a number of startups (called a portfolio). BTW, Angel investors do not have limited partners, and often invest for reasons other than just for financial gain (e.g., You’ve been funded to get to a liquidity event.

Liquidity Event 120

Liquidity Event Founder Liquidation Preference Private Equity 120

Steve Blank

JANUARY 22, 2014

Dino Vendetti a VC at Bay Partners, moved up to Bend, Oregon on a mission to engineer Bend into a regional technology cluster. Success depends on finding startups that have identified acute customer pains in large markets where conditions are ripe for a new entrant. I visited Bend last year and caught up with his progress.

Early Stage 295

Early Stage Silicon Valley Oregon Technical Review 295

Women Entrepreneurs Can

NOVEMBER 19, 2022

VC funding is best suited for businesses with high growth potential. Investors receive a healthy return on investment when the company reaches a liquidity event. Xfund, Patrick Chung is a managing general partner in a venture capital firm that supports lateral thinkers. Pre-Seed Investments. Seed Rounds.

Venture Capital 52

Venture Capital Early Stage Liquidity Event SEC 52

Steve Blank

JULY 15, 2010

VC’s invested their limited partners’ “risk capital” in a portfolio of startups in exchange for illiquid stock. Most of the startups they invested in either died by running out of money before they found a scalable business model or ended up in the “land of the living dead” by never growing (failing to Pivot.). Source: NVCA.).

Venture Capital 307

Venture Capital IPO Liquidity Event Entrepreneur 307

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Just because your technology is exciting and potentially disruptive doesn’t mean you are ready to build a business. Investors want to hear about customers with money who have a painful problem that you can solve now. How does your business model make money? What is your specific solution and value proposition?

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Advisory Board Liquidity Event Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Terms like “every customer needs this” and “next generation platform” are far too soft, and should be avoided. This is not the place for a detailed product specification, but an explanation of how and why it works, including a customer-centric quantification of the benefits. Explain the business model.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Terms like “every customer needs this” and “next generation platform” are far too soft, and should be avoided. This is not the place for a detailed product specification, but an explanation of how and why it works, including a customer-centric quantification of the benefits. Explain the business model.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290