Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

It should answer every question an investor or associate might ask, including current valuation, funding needed, and exit strategy. In most cases, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is adequate, with projection formulas for revenue, costs, and cash flow over the next five years. Finalize your financial model.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

Up and Running

JANUARY 2, 2013

How much will it cost? Your financials should easily allow you to calculate your customer acquisition costs. Your Exit Strategy : If you’re seeking large sums of investment capital (over $1M), most investors will want to know what your exit strategy is. How will you reach your customers?

Hockey Stick 164

Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Due Diligence 164

Up and Running

MARCH 14, 2018

How much will it cost? Your financials should easily allow you to calculate your customer acquisition costs. Your exit strategy. If you’re seeking large sums of investment capital (over $1M), most investors will want to know what your exit strategy is. How will you reach your customers?

Hockey Stick 164

Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Angel Investor 164

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 17, 2007

They are quite happy with a business that will turn into a profitable $20M company and dont necessarily need an obvious exit strategy. Technology Advisor Technology Roles in Startups Pricing Customer Acquisition Sunk Costs and More -. This is something Ive always wondered about.

Incubator 150

Incubator Technical Cofounder Southern California Los Angeles 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

It should answer every question an investor or associate might ask, including current valuation, funding needed, and exit strategy. In most cases, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is adequate, with projection formulas for revenue, costs, and cash flow over the next five years. Finalize your financial model.

Angel Investor 224

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

Up and Running

MAY 12, 2020

Can I afford the cost of any adjustments that need to be made? Think about an exit strategy. But establishing an exit strategy is another important piece that forces you to look toward the future of your business. Like the rest of your business plan, your exit strategy does not need to be set in stone.

Software Review 153

Software Review Exit Strategy Technical Review Business Plan 153

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

They don’t realize that this option would likely be their worst nightmare, since it costs millions for the road show, usually dilutes your equity to a tiny fraction, and takes away all your entrepreneurial control. Their synopsis of the key risks should make you look hard for an alternate exit strategy: Increased risk of liability.

Exit Strategy 239

Exit Strategy IPO Investment Bankers Entrepreneur 239

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Here are three important reasons for the question: Good investment paybacks normally require an exit event. Most experts don’t recommend this approach as your default strategy anymore.

Equity 120

Equity Exit Strategy Private Equity Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2018

Initial Public Offerings (IPO) are back as an exit strategy. Cost of entry for a startup is at an all-time low. With the key social media platforms today, an entrepreneur can tune a product, build a brand, and grow the business with very low cost and a high interactivity never before possible.

Entrepreneur 166

Entrepreneur Valuation Incubator Initial Public Offering 166

Up and Running

MAY 1, 2014

Deciding on your price can feel more like an art than a science, but there are some basic rules that you should follow: Your pricing should cover your costs. There are certainly exceptions to this, but for the most part you should be charging your customers more than it costs you to deliver your product or service. Personnel Plan.

Business Plan 163

Business Plan Forecast Balance Sheet Distribution 163

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Customers buy solutions with value that's quantifiable to them today, meaning value which, compared to existing offerings, is half the cost or offers twice the productivity. As an entrepreneur, make sure you understand your direct and indirect costs, staffing requirements, margins and metrics to make sure these elements are in place.

Exit Strategy 120

Exit Strategy Technical Review Distribution Viral 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

Initial Public Offerings (IPO) are back as an exit strategy. Cost of entry for a startup is at an all-time low. With the key social media platforms today, an entrepreneur can tune a product, build a brand, and grow the business with very low cost and a high interactivity never before possible.

IPO 120

IPO Angel Investor Startup Incubator 120

Duct Tape Marketing

JANUARY 15, 2025

By fostering psychological safety, improving communication, and rethinking job exit strategies, businesses can enhance employee retention, protect workplace culture, and build long-term loyalty. Implementing modern job exit strategies can mitigate these risks and foster long-term success.

Exit Strategy 61

Exit Strategy Retention Employee Programming 61

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

For example, if you have ever watched the Shark Tank show on TV, they always ask about the cost of customer acquisition. Show that you anticipate this, how they will react, and how you have ongoing strategies to stay ahead. Present a viable exit strategy for investors to cash out.

Exit Strategy 406

Exit Strategy Merger Angel Investor IPO 406

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

It won’t work, it costs time and money, and hurts your credibility when you need them later. Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). They are not trying to make money, but simply to recoup their costs over time.

Incubator 429

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 429

Up and Running

AUGUST 19, 2014

what’s behind your financials, your go-to-market strategy, your current traction in the marketplace, your competition and why you’re better, your intellectual property or “secret sauce,” your exit strategy, etc.). Keep your strategy, tactics, numbers, and stories in alignment. Tweet This Tip.

Angel Investor 161

Angel Investor Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 161

Up and Running

AUGUST 28, 2018

Financial summary: Explain your business model, startup costs, revenues, and liabilities to the company. Your funding ask and exit strategy, if applicable. Exit strategy : You only need this if you’re seeking outside investment. When writing your financial plan, make sure to consider startup costs.

Business Plan 72

Business Plan Technical Review Exit Strategy Oregon 72

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

It is going to cost a lot of money just to get the initial batch of products to test the market and would definitely require external funding. The business model and revenue model, along with your positioning, pricing, and cost structures, are equally important. ? Future potential. Both of which are expensive and time-consuming.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Hearpreneur

OCTOBER 10, 2023

9- Yes, to mitigate risk and have an exit strategy Photo Credit: Cyble Rizwan Business plans are also useful for sharing your vision with partners, employees, or potential collaborators, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Take aspects that resonate with you and weave them in with your own ideas.

Business Plan 143

Business Plan Jordan Entrepreneur Florida 143

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Financial Summary: Explain your business model, startup costs, revenues, and liabilities to the company. Your funding ask and exit strategy, if applicable. Personnel plan : Costs of employees. Exit strategy : Needed if you’re seeking investment. Target market: Who is your ideal buyer? Be specific.

Business Plan 154

Business Plan Technical Review Forecast Software Review 154

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

FEBRUARY 11, 2011

In this post, I want to lay out the details involved in how I first realized the opportunity, the formation of the business idea, the search for my supplier, the establishment and growth of the business, problems encountered and lessons learned, as well as the exit strategy that resulted in the $250,000 sale of the business.

SEO 97

SEO PPC America Search 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2021

A winning strategy today is to combine these objectives, by committing a portion of your profits for a higher cause. The return was far greater than the cost of donated shoes. What do you see as your legacy and exit strategy? For example, TOMS shoes agreed to donate a pair of shoes to the needy for every pair sold.

Startup 399

Startup Exit Strategy Cofounder Equity 399

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2011

They don’t realize that this option would likely be their worst nightmare, since it costs millions for the road show, usually dilutes your equity to a tiny fraction, and takes away all your entrepreneurial control. Their synopsis of the key risks should make you look hard for an alternate exit strategy: Increased risk of liability.

Exit Strategy 235

Exit Strategy IPO Entrepreneur Investment Bankers 235

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2021

You should plan an exit strategy, and optimize your activities and timing to get top dollar. Not getting a signed non-disclosure before negotiating can cost you dearly in value. Selling your business requires the same energy and passion as growing it. Refrain from telling associates that you are selling.

Due Diligence 410

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Bankruptcy Exit Strategy 410

Up and Running

JULY 2, 2014

You can’t underestimate the importance of selecting an attorney who “gets” your business model, your market opportunity, and most importantly, your fundraising and exit strategy. Picking the right attorney in your startup is as important as picking the right business partner.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Angel Investor Due Diligence Dilution 118

Hearpreneur

OCTOBER 5, 2018

It’s a user-friendly and affordable app that businesses can utilize to help increase efficiency while reducing overall costs involved. I hope that my software will help them to get out of a growth rut by reducing their costs, increasing productivity and achieving efficiency in their workflow. Tell us your story. Listen to them.

Software 65

Software Management Entrepreneur Vietnam 65

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

Products and services for a business need to be attuned to customer requirements, cost and quality tradeoffs, with milestones for pricing and completion. External investors expect a documented business plan, with clear targets on funding needed, use of funds, revenue projections, return potential, and exit strategy.

Entrepreneur 328

Entrepreneur Exit Strategy Metrics Operations 328

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2023

It won’t work, it costs time and money, and hurts your credibility when you need them later. Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). They are not trying to make money, but simply to recoup their costs over time.

Incubator 305

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 305

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

This means being able to increase profits without increasing costs at an equal (or higher) rate. You should forecast the expected cost the investment or loan will cover, and the returns it will generate in future. Your business model must show the potential to increase the revenue with minimal expenditure in the coming months or years.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. The most credible sizing approach is to do your financial model first with the volume, cost, and pricing parameters you want. Exit strategy. For a family business, don’t project an exit.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2020

Here is where projections of cost, pricing, volumes and cash flow are critical. The best way to show return on investment is to declare an exit strategy, such as being acquired or going public in the next five years, which allows the investor to cash out. How much do you really need for the next 12 to 18 months?

Startup 337

Startup Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity 337

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. The most credible sizing approach is to do your financial model first with the volume, cost, and pricing parameters you want. Exit strategy. For a family business, don’t project an exit.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

MARCH 10, 2011

This article picks up from that point onward, discussing the challenges we ran into once we went into operation mode, the invaluable lessons that only first-hand experience can teach, the exit strategy which was the $250,000 sale of the website, and finally my overall concluding thoughts on the entire experience. This was a huge risk.

Technical Review 71

Technical Review PPC Due Diligence Exit Strategy 71

Up and Running

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Sure, you can get up to speed eventually, perhaps by hiring the right people, or doing the training, but at what cost? In this way, your combined strength will give you a competitive advantage, leading to lower costs of production, minimized risk, and greater profits. Your exit strategy. And how long will it take?

Intellectual Property 60

Intellectual Property Technical Review Exit Strategy Due Diligence 60

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2013

They don’t realize that this option would likely be their worst nightmare, since it costs millions for the road show, usually dilutes your equity to a tiny fraction, and takes away all your entrepreneurial control. Their synopsis of the key risks should make you look hard for an alternate exit strategy: Increased risk of liability.

IPO 224

IPO Founder Exit Strategy Investment Bankers 224

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

Products and services for a business need to be attuned to customer requirements, cost and quality tradeoffs, with milestones for pricing and completion. External investors expect a documented business plan, with clear targets on funding needed, use of funds, revenue projections, return potential, and exit strategy.

Exit Strategy 288

Exit Strategy Metrics Operations Cost 288

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

Explain in analogies your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Exit strategy. What is the planned exit strategy (IPO, merger, sale, including likely candidates)? What is the timeframe for the exit? Here are the ten slides you need: Problem and market need.

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247