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

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

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Common failures I see along these lines include: solutions that are "nice to have" but don't address painful problems; a business model that lacks a means for bringing in revenue; and a founder who has turned a blind eye toward his or her competitors. Validated pricing and a sufficient revenue stream.

Exit Strategy 120

Exit Strategy Technical Review Distribution Viral 120

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

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

Up and Running

JANUARY 2, 2013

How much will it cost? Your financials should easily allow you to calculate your customer acquisition costs. Your Revenue Model : Investors tend to care about this slide the most. Your Financial Projections : Show what you’re projecting in revenue (per product) over the next three to five years.

Hockey Stick 164

Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Due Diligence 164

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2022

Angel investors will perk up if you have a prototype or a few real customers, while venture capitalists will likely choose to wait until you have achieved several million in revenue or customer count. Here is where projections of cost, pricing, volumes and cash flow are critical.

Preferred Stock 304

Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity Angel Investor 304

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 13, 2020

In that context, I offer the following financial projection strategies, from my own experience: Forecast a business that has plenty of room to grow quickly. Find some credible opportunity statistics that can support your own revenue expectations of between $20 million and $100 million in the fifth year.

Liquidity Event 308

Liquidity Event Forecast Exit Strategy Bootstrapping 308

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. Do they self-pay or use insurance? Be specific. Mention your funding needs.

Business Plan 72

Business Plan Technical Review Exit Strategy Oregon 72

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

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

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

The primary source of your funds should be your paying customers, i.e., your business should generate enough revenues and profits to fund the growth and expansion. 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. Incubators and Accelerators.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2020

Angel investors will perk up if you have a prototype or a few real customers, while venture capitalists will likely choose to wait until you have achieved several million in revenue or customer count. Here is where projections of cost, pricing, volumes and cash flow are critical.

Startup 337

Startup Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity 337

Up and Running

OCTOBER 3, 2018

Financial Summary: Explain your business model, startup costs, revenues, and liabilities to the company. The solution: PARE shoulders the cost of renovations for young people who do not have the time, knowledge, or money to do it themselves. Your funding ask and exit strategy, if applicable. Be specific.

El Paso 61

El Paso Business Plan Technical Review Forecast 61

Berkonomics

JUNE 22, 2023

Can this business grow to above $20MM to $50MM in annual revenues? Early cell phones were large bricks that required a large carrying case and cost up to a dollar a minute to use. Is there an exit strategy for the investor(s) over time? And some attract early adopters but cannot pass into the mass market.

Exit Strategy 114

Exit Strategy Technology Revenue Conversion 114

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2018

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 236

Incubator Exit Strategy Institutional Investors Angel Investor 236

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 15, 2018

Your business model must show the potential to increase the revenue with minimal expenditure in the coming months or years. 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.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

The subscription box industry is growing rapidly thanks to a steady revenue model and tapping into people’s love for surprises. Financial summary : Project your revenue for the first few years. Companies that become a big subset of your revenue are likely strategic alliances, though, which is a later section. Key customers.

Business Plan 63

Business Plan Curation Balance Sheet Intellectual Property 63

Berkonomics

MAY 9, 2024

Can this business grow to above $20MM to $50MM in annual revenues? Early cell phones were large bricks that required a large carrying case and cost up to a dollar a minute to use. Is there an exit strategy for the investor(s) over time? And some attract early adopters but cannot pass into the mass market.

Exit Strategy 62

Exit Strategy Technology Revenue Conversion 62

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 24, 2018

While one entrepreneur may be focused exclusively on buying a property within budget and in decent shape, another might have a strong need to choose a good location — no matter how much it costs. How much will it cost? Have an exit strategy. This will help you make better decisions in the moment.

Exit Strategy 149

Exit Strategy Finance Cost Security 149

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2014

Projecting the financials should be the last step of your business plan preparation, since it assumes you already know the opportunity size, customer buying habits, pricing, costs, and competition. Aggressive revenue projections and growth rate. That’s why investors want to hear about your exit strategy.

Liquidity Event 249

Liquidity Event Equity Venture Capital Merger 249

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution. In this section, you need to be passionate about revenue, profit, and volume growth. Exit strategy. Industry & market sizing.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

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

AUGUST 27, 2012

Explain in analogies your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Implicit in this is the go-to-market strategy. Exit strategy. What is the timeframe for the exit?

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2013

Projecting the financials should be the last step of your business plan preparation, since it assumes you already know the opportunity size, customer buying habits, pricing, costs, and competition. Aggressive revenue projections and growth rate. That’s why investors want to hear about your exit strategy.

Liquidity Event 243

Liquidity Event Startup Equity Venture Capital 243

The Startup Magazine

JULY 3, 2024

Agricultural businesses, for example, may experience significant changes in revenue depending on the time of year. We offer a range of cash management solutions that can help businesses optimize their cash flow, reduce overhead costs, and improve overall financial efficiency.

North Carolina 119

North Carolina Small Business Mobile Vesting 119

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Explain in terms your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution. In this section, you need to be passionate about revenue, profit, and volume growth. Exit strategy. Industry & market sizing.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

Business model showing costs, pricing, and margins. Potential investors love to see gross margins in the fifty percent range or greater, with recurring revenue through subscriptions, follow-on sales, or services. Five-year financial projections of revenue and expenses. Discussion of likely liquidity events and exit strategy.

Product 145

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Valuation 145

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.). Entrepreneurs impress me when they demonstrate a proven revenue stream before asking for capital.

Angel Investor 161

Angel Investor Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 161

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 18, 2024

With her expertise, she’s boosted hundreds of agencies to millions in revenue, attracting premium clients willing to pay 50-600% fees. As a former business exit advisor, she crafts exit strategies, adding up to five figures to clients’ net profit monthly so they can focus on growth. But that comes at a cost.

Framework 76

Framework Sales Cycle Sales Hiring 76

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2013

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 256

Incubator Entrepreneur Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

Explain in analogies your mother could understand, and quantify the “cost-of-pain” in dollars or time. In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Implicit in this is the go-to-market strategy. Exit strategy. What is the timeframe for the exit?

Elevator Pitch 234

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 234

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2016

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 155

Exit Strategy Metrics Operations Cost 155

Gust

AUGUST 10, 2014

Projecting the financials should be the last step of your business plan preparation, since it assumes you already know the opportunity size, customer buying habits, pricing, costs, and competition. Aggressive revenue projections and growth rate. Thats why investors want to hear about your exit strategy.

Liquidity Event 176

Liquidity Event Equity Venture Capital Merger 176

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2016

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 120

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2016

By profit, I simply mean offering a product or service to customers for a price that exceeds the total costs associated with the solution, thus providing some basis for recovering sunk costs and generating a return for stakeholders. Remember you can’t sustain a business or social cause with no revenue or profit.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy 120