Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2022

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Angel Investor 327

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 327

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 17, 2020

Michael Majeed is quick to note the vast numbers of new startups that launch each year on the Canadian landscape, and he’s keenly interested in helping young business owners make the most of their opportunities, especially when it comes to their finances. An entrepreneur should always know their numbers and check on them frequently.

Finance 217

Finance Forecast Balance Sheet Angel Investor 217

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2022

Even if you ignore all the hype around crowdfunding, there can be no doubt that it is a real alternative for entrepreneurs to achieve visibility and funding today. In this model, often called micro-financing or peer-to-peer lending (P2P), people contribute with the intent to create a pool for all to borrow against. In the U.S.,

Accredited Investor 352

Accredited Investor Startup SEC Equity 352

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

This time by the efforts of Adeo Ressi to introduce a new kind of structure called “ convertible equity.” My initial reaction to Adeo when we spoke was that while it may have solved some issues (debt versus equity) it didn’t solve the ones that I’ve been warning entrepreneurs about most loudly.

Ratchet 354

Ratchet Liquidation Preference Equity Stock 354

Gust

DECEMBER 15, 2013

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need to spread the risk.

Bootstrapping 183

Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Technical Review 183

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

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2010

It’s always fun chatting with Jason because he’s knowledgeable about the market, quick on topics and pushes me to talk more about VC / entrepreneur issues. We’re staring to get the hang of how to divide the show up into talking about deals but also talking about issues for entrepreneurs during funding. Short answer: no.

Stealth 285

Stealth SEC Advertising Accredited Investor 285

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need to spread the risk.

Sweat Equity 239

Sweat Equity Technical Review Bootstrapping Equity 239

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

Not understanding and agreeing what “Entrepreneur&# and “Startup” mean can sink an entire country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Who’s an entrepreneur? There are six distinct organizational paths for entrepreneurs: lifestyle business , small business, scalable startup, buyable startup, large company, and social entrepreneur.

Government 335

Government Silicon Valley Startup Venture Capital 335

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

I have often been asked about Startup Funding by entrepreneurs. Here is Startup Funding, a Comprehensive Guide for Entrepreneurs. Forms of funding. ? Equity investment. Equity investment is the most popular and most talked-about avenue for startup funding. Equity investors. Stages of Equity-based funding. ?

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

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

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

So even within the “alternative class&# our LPs are looking at other asset investment choices such as distressed buyout funds, private equity or hedge funds. So angel and seed stage investors’ returns will be dependent on good times continuing or on the ability of their portfolio companies to get financed. VC will shrink.

LP 311

LP Technical Review Early Stage Silicon Valley 311

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Individual and institutional donations.

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

The new hot topic for entrepreneurs the last couple of years is crowd funding, which is anticipated to at least supplement, if not replace, the slow and mysterious process of current Angel and venture capital investors. It has had some notable successes for entrepreneurs (over $1M in funding), as well as non-starters. Marty Zwilling.

Intellectual Property 247

Intellectual Property SEC Venture Capital Equity 247

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

This was an audience of mostly first-time entrepreneurs. It is great for entrepreneurs and great for VCs. So here is what I have been telling entrepreneurs privately for the past 6 months. What a bubble means for each entrepreneur. Still, market amnesia by ordinarily rational actors always surprises me. I believe that.

Saudi Arabia 309

Saudi Arabia Valuation IPO Technical Review 309

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.

Finland 329

Finland Venture Capital Government Russia 329

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Individual and institutional donations.

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2012

The new hot topic for entrepreneurs these days is crowd funding, which is anticipated to at least supplement, if not replace, the slow and mysterious process of current Angel and venture capital investors. It has had some notable successes for entrepreneurs (over $1M in funding), as well as non-starters. Rewards-based crowd funding.

Intellectual Property 242

Intellectual Property Venture Capital Angel Investor Equity 242

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2014

Entrepreneurs who require funding for their startup have long counted on self-accredited high net worth individuals (“angels”) to fill their needs, after friends and family, and before they qualify for institutional investments (“VCs”). Here again, the entrepreneur will be the one hurt most, by having fewer funding sources to access.

Angel Investor 278

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor IRR 278

Feld Thoughts

OCTOBER 7, 2013

This check is for The Community Foundation and for the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado (EFCO) and results from a gift of 24,793 shares of common stock from Rally at the time of its first financing that represented approximately 1% of the equity of the company. I remember numerous conversations with Ryan about this.

Community 182

Community Colorado Common Stock Equity 182

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

It should help some entrepreneurs to better access early-stage capital and should allow some angel investors better access to deal flow. In Jason’s mind half of the VC industry will now disappear as entrepreneurs flock to him and to Dave Morin for their money. lack of traction, lack of downstream financing availability.

Syndicate 356

Syndicate Syndication Cofounder Early Stage 356

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 7, 2018

One of the biggest challenges facing startup businesses is getting adequate financing – without hobbling future performance. It’s not just an issue of knowing where to start and what options fit best with the entrepreneur’s personal and business circumstances, cash needs and credit rating. Of course not.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Incubator Finance Canada 124

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 9, 2011

I thought about things I never had to as an entrepreneur: check size, ownership percentage, deal stage, portfolio construction and risk. Finance where needed. So I encouraged entrepreneurs to think about raising their funds as quickly as they could because. I have a young entrepreneur friend who IMs me a lot.

Stock 305

Stock Technical Review Marketing Greece 305

Hearpreneur

JUNE 14, 2017

We asked some entrepreneurs and business owners, why they started their businesses: #1 – Fell in Love. My advice for people making the switch from full-time worker to entrepreneur is to know your strengths. 9 – Always Wanted to be an Entrepreneur. Each story is different though the reasons may be the same.

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur South Africa PR Thailand 129

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 30, 2012

Although their book is written for businesses of all sizes, I believe the principles apply especially to startups as follows: Increase return on equity invested. Attract investors and financing. ” They emphasize that before the “What” should come the “Why?” It is to earn more bottom-line profit-ability than a random walk.

Intellectual Property 248

Intellectual Property Startup IP Finance 248

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

YoungUpstarts

JULY 3, 2012

Legendary tech entrepreneurs, startup celebrities, and even the creators of Twitter itself are on the service. photomatt : Social media entrepreneur Matt Mullenweg is doing a little bit of everything these days, tweeting about his roles with WordPress, Automattic, Akismet, and more. mtbert : Mark T.

Cofounder 239

Cofounder Technical Review Social Media PR 239

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 6, 2012

Follow along as we explore 10 of the most exciting college business incubators around today, and be sure to share your own favorites in the comments: Entrepreneurs Hall @ The RIT Global Village. At Rochester Institute of Technology’s Entrepreneurs Hall, innovation is a way of life. Based in Mountain View, Calif.,

Incubator 202

Incubator New York City Boston Intellectual Property 202

Hearpreneur

MARCH 4, 2022

Being in love with your business, when you’re an entrepreneur, is even better. Although there are days when tossing in your hat seems like a viable option, remembering how much you love your “job” can quickly snap an entrepreneur out of that mentality. When you're an entrepreneur, you have to make a lot of compromises.

Entrepreneur 133

Entrepreneur Technical Review Restful Colorado 133

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JANUARY 4, 2018

This week we closed $250M in financing from Silver Lake , the premier technology private equity firm. It’s the heroin-hit that hooks the entrepreneur. (The That revenue is in on 75,000 customers, earned through the hard work of 500 employees across six offices on three continents. The next sale isn’t quite as sweet.).

Engineer 152

Engineer Revenue San Francisco Security 152

YoungUpstarts

MAY 27, 2019

Many young entrepreneurs are focused on the superficial belief that the more money they raise, the more successful their business is going to be. Other businesses fail because they raise the wrong kind of money, such as debt they can’t repay on time or equity that causes them to lose control of their business. She raised $900 million.

Cofounder 170

Cofounder Private Equity Software Review Equity 170

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. Consider Funding Your Startup As mentioned previously, financing your startup is another viable funding method. Your business goals are your foundation and will direct you to the right entrepreneurial path.

Security 158

Security Angel Investor Startup Bootstrapping 158

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 4, 2019

Though personal income taxes will usually not be due until the middle of April, organizing your finances at the end of each year is an absolute necessity. Balancing Assets, Liabilities, and Owner’s Equity. The formula that your business ought to use for a balance sheet — without exception — is assets= liabilities + equity.

Balance Sheet 172

Balance Sheet Software Review Equity Cofounder 172

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Angel Investor 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

David Teten

APRIL 1, 2021

I’ve recently advised a number of emerging private equity and VC funds who are wrestling with the question: What are the highest impact steps they can take to support their portfolio companies? . Almost every private equity and venture capital investor now advertises that they have a platform to support their portfolio companies.

Private Equity 78

Private Equity Venture Capital Portfolio Equity 78

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. Perhaps it’s the weather.

China 328

China Silicon Valley Non-Compete Intellectual Property 328

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2010

I’ve written about the topic of convertible debt at length before specifically about how angels & entrepreneurs should think about pricing. Convertible debt is an investment that “converts&# into equity in the future usually at a discount to your next funding round price and sometimes has a “cap&# (maximum price).

Equity 319

Equity Early Stage Angel Investor Valuation 319