Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2019

As an advisor to business owners, and an occasional angel investor, my job is to separate the actual challenges from the common misconceptions that distract many promising entrepreneurs while building the leadership team required for your solution, marketing, and finance success. Partner with experts who share the risk.

Bandwidth 246

Bandwidth Software Review Salary Angel Investor 246

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 5, 2011

500 Hats , January 10, 2010 Developing new startup ideas - Chris Dixon , March 14, 2010 Batch Processing Millions and Millions of Images - Code as Craft , July 9, 2010 jQuery Plugin: Give Your Characters a NobleCount - The Product Guy , March 23, 2010 How do the sample Series Seed financing documents differ from typical Series A financing documents?

Silicon Valley 378

Silicon Valley Startup Term Sheet Venture Capital 378

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. Investors talk to each other and they love warm introductions to up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Startup 152

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2022

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. Hopefully you can see from this list that the people and processes involved in financing a nonprofit have little in common with angel investors, or the venture capital process. Individual and institutional philanthropy.

Angel Investor 327

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 327

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 7, 2011

I spent the month of September lecturing, and interacting with (literally) thousands of entrepreneurs in two emerging startup markets, Finland and Russia. What I found in Finland was: a whole lot of smart, passionate entrepreneurs who want to build a startup hub in Helsinki. 9-to-5 Venture Capital.

Finland 329

Finland Venture Capital Government Russia 329

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Should I trust my instincts for founders and products or should I be more focused on the market size or business plan? Otherwise you’re a stock picker, which in this business isn’t a good thing. Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done.

Early Stage 361

Early Stage Deal Flow Investment Bankers Technical Review 361

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

I have often been asked about Startup Funding by entrepreneurs. Here is Startup Funding, a Comprehensive Guide for Entrepreneurs. To secure your funding, you must establish the feasibility of your idea through proper planning and implementation. You can get a personal loan without a business plan. Inception stage.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2012

A closer analysis often indicates the cause to be a lack of diligence in handling common business finances. If you fail to pay a cash obligation when it is due, the business is technically insolvent. Entrepreneurs should sign every check and manage cash personally, rather than delegate this task to anyone.

Technical Review 273

Technical Review Startup Finance Cost 273

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Should I trust my instincts for founders and products or should I be more focused on the market size or business plan? Otherwise you’re a stock picker, which in this business isn’t a good thing. Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done.

Deal Flow 347

Deal Flow Early Stage Investment Bankers Technical Review 347

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….”.

Technical Review 288

Technical Review Venture Capital Silicon Valley Software Review 288

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

Even more importantly, you should expect these members of your team to be your advocates to angel or VC investors, or even be part of your friends and family financing round. For this, you should expect participation in monthly strategy and review meetings, and unlimited access via phone or email for questions, mentoring, and advice.

Advisory Board 239

Advisory Board Technical Review Startup Software Review 239

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Startups with a solid business plan and great pitch deck have a far greater chance of gaining investment. In this essay by one of Mercia’s Fund Principals, Ian Wilson, Ian talks about the sorts of things he and the team are looking for when plans come to them for review. Writing a plan does not need to be a daunting task.

Business Plan 115

Business Plan Technical Review Initial Public Offering Due Diligence 115

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 7, 2024

From identifying your audience to understanding the market and mapping out your finances, entrepreneurs have found they have a lot to do before building a successful venture. But luckily, gone are the days when entrepreneurs have to spend countless hours on these beginning steps.

Artificial Inteligence 156

Artificial Inteligence Entrepreneur Algorithm Cofounder 156

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. Hopefully you can see from this list that the people and processes involved in financing a nonprofit have little in common with angel investors, or the venture capital process. Individual and institutional philanthropy.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 26, 2024

Your logo should be simple, recognizable, and reflective of your business values. Managing Finances Effectively Creating a detailed business plan is essential for the success of your roofing company. A comprehensive plan outlines your business goals, target market, and financial projections.

Limited Liability Company 157

Limited Liability Company Technical Review Software Review Angel Investor 157

Up and Running

AUGUST 30, 2021

The outdoor industry wasn’t helping itself, so he did what all entrepreneurs do: start a business to solve the problem. It’s difficult to be an entrepreneur — whether you’re a recent college graduate or have managed multiple companies. It’s why the average age of an entrepreneur is 42 years old. Solve the rest later.

Entrepreneur 132

Entrepreneur Lean Colorado Engineer 132

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. Hopefully you can see from this list that the people and processes involved in financing a non-profit have little in common with angel investors, or the venture capital process. Individual and institutional donations.

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

Steve Blank

MARCH 8, 2011

We were positing that 20 years of teaching “how to write a business plan” might be obsolete. Startups, are not about executing a plan where the product, customers, channel are known. Startups are in fact only temporary organizations, organized to search –not execute–for a scalable and repeatable business model.

Lean 307

Lean Business Model Customer Development Guinea 307

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 28, 2018

Let me check my plan.” There are many things a VC is looking for in reviewing your business plan but beyond things the like the quality of revenue, margins, OPEX and CAPEX there’s a really simple rule I call, “Cash In, Cash Out, Milestones Achieved.” This is a red flag for VCs. That’s what’s called a “soft no.” Annoying, I know.

Burn Rate 247

Burn Rate Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Dilution 247

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2019

Most of you aspiring entrepreneurs have no idea how dramatically your own role has to evolve as you develop a solution, start a business, and expect it to scale into a successful self-managed company. At this stage, I typically find a solo entrepreneur who creates, manages projects, directs, and oversees every step in the process.

Leadership 248

Leadership Technical Review Cofounder Social Media 248

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. Hopefully you can see from this list that the people and processes involved in financing a non-profit have little in common with Angel investors, or the venture capital process. Individual and institutional donations.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Most healthy businesses need business financing at some point. Startups have to deal with starting costs and ongoing businesses have to finance growth and working capital. Financing options depend on what kind of business you have. Don’t waste your time looking for the wrong kind of financing.

SBA 161

SBA Venture Capital Angel Investor Technical Review 161

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 13, 2024

A Master of Business Administration, or MBA, is considered the golden ticket for aspiring entrepreneurs. This degree equips them with the skills required to navigate the complexities of running a business successfully. Create a detailed business plan where you must outline your financial goals, expenses, and revenue projections.

United States 141

United States Bootstrapping Social Media Angel Investor 141

NZ Entrepreneur

OCTOBER 7, 2021

Whether you’re starting your first business or a serial entrepreneur, managing periods of unscheduled downtime is fast becoming a core skill. Review your business plan. Your plan needs to adapt as the business evolves, but taking the time to review it is often pushed to the bottom of the to-do list.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Software Review Social Media Business Plan 103

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 17, 2021

Accomplished entrepreneurs often pride themselves on being able to spot a gap in the market from a mile away. Suppose you happen to be the owner of an online business and would like to nurture your entrepreneurial skillset. Maintaining a Successful Business.

Analytics 179

Analytics Technical Review Social Media Software Review 179

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 13, 2013

My mom was an entrepreneur – she was kind of my inspiration for entrepreneurship. I got a job at a bank, and I worked in their corporate finance group. And no one could see me as anything but a startup guy, so I started a second company and called myself a serial entrepreneur. My mom grew up in the States.

Cofounder 337

Cofounder Technical Cofounder Startup San Diego 337

Steve Blank

APRIL 14, 2013

Entrepreneurs in Beijing were knowledgeable about Silicon Valley, entrepreneurship and the state of software and tools available for two reasons. Almost every entrepreneur I met was using VPN to circumvent the Great Firewall. There’s a noticeable lack of tenacity in young, new entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial Culture.

China 328

China Silicon Valley Non-Compete Intellectual Property 328

The Startup Magazine

DECEMBER 27, 2023

Since you might be responsible for many of these tasks yourself, thinking about your company’s finances might not be at the top of your list. But you can learn from other entrepreneurs’ financial mistakes and avoid making them yourself to save money and focus on your growth right now.

Startup 144

Startup Technical Review Reputation Hiring 144

The Startup Magazine

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024

For new entrepreneurs , the startup phase is one of the most challenging yet exciting stages of launching a business. If you’re struggling to raise capital, here are six practical strategies to obtain startup funding in today’s modern and competitive business world.

Security 158

Security Angel Investor Startup Bootstrapping 158

View from Seed

APRIL 21, 2015

On the heels of our research on HBS entrepreneurs , NextView’s Dimitri Dadiomov (HBS ’15) interviewed several top founders on the early stages of their companies. An area that would be more helpful and I think could be improved is [offering] more practical, real business experience in the student population.

Founder 120

Founder Las Vegas Entrepreneur Cofounder 120

Hearpreneur

MARCH 23, 2022

I soon realized that I had as much passion for teaching as I do about finance and investment, and I knew that I had acquired the kind of insight that could help transform the lives of business professionals who were looking to survive in investment banking roles. I always wanted to start a business but didn’t know which one.

Los Angeles 133

Los Angeles Entrepreneur New Jersey Technical Review 133

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 2, 2023

You will need to look at past situations, analyze different scenarios and create a flexible business plan. A simple way to do this is to divide the scenarios into three categories; worst-case, likely-case, and best-case, and use your intuition and the facts to make a plan for all consequences.

Management 148

Management Business Plan Advertising Finance 148

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 22, 2019

So you have a great business idea, you’ve done your research and due diligence, you know your market and you are good at what you do. Many small business owners and entrepreneurs begin their first foray into self employment neglecting some of the most crucial aspects of running a business. What could go wrong?

Software Review 176

Software Review Due Diligence Startup Stock 176

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

If you are looking towards the end of 2017 and you plan on jumping out of your comfort zone for 2018, you may be an entrepreneur in the making. If you are looking to build a business from scratch in the new year there are a few things you will need to know and consider.

Software Review 186

Software Review Startup Finance Software 186

YoungUpstarts

MAY 25, 2018

You might say that Pat Mackaronis has never not been an entrepreneur. He got an early start as an entrepreneur at the age of 12 when he used to live near a golf course and would gather up lost golf balls from the players in the trees, ponds and lakes. All parts of what is vital in a business plan.

Developer 159

Developer Investment Bankers eCommerce Social Media 159

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

Are you starting a business? Not to mention the mental and emotional impact of being an entrepreneur. As you begin your startup journey—consider the following tips to set your business up for success. Download our free Startup Checklist and review the complete guide for starting a small business. Prepare a business plan.

Forecast 154

Forecast Software Review Bootstrapping Finance 154

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

The fundraising stage is vital for any entrepreneur, but you can’t wing it through your meetings and expect to be taken seriously. As an entrepreneur, your goal when raising financing is to get several term sheets — the documents describing the terms and conditions of financing. Determine how much you need to raise.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Term Sheet Technical Review Due Diligence 100