Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

According to current Kauffman Indicators of Entrepreneurship , the share of new entrepreneurs who started businesses to pursue opportunity rather than from necessity now exceeds 86%, more than 12 percentage points higher than ten years ago at the height of the last recession. Initial Public Offerings (IPO) are back as an exit strategy.

North America 320

North America Incubator Initial Public Offering Valuation 320

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

As an advisor to new hardware entrepreneurs, I often hear the myth that a business plan is no longer required to find an investor, if your idea is good enough. What you don’t realize is these famous investors only deal with entrepreneurs who sold their last company for a $100M dollars or more.

Business Plan 423

Business Plan Product Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 423

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2013

How do you as an entrepreneur with a new idea get to be one of those choices? That means there are far more entrepreneurs looking for money than there are investors, and entrepreneur entitlement is not a realistic expectation. Exit strategy. No exit strategy means no return to investors.

Angel Investor 269

Angel Investor Cram Down Intellectual Property Venture Capital 269

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2022

Some nonprofit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. A nonprofit is still a business, maybe even tougher than for-profit to run successfully, so the best angel is a great entrepreneur at the helm for fund-raising, as well as operations.

Angel Investor 327

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 327

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

by Michelle Seiler Tucker , author of “ EXIT RICH: The 6 P Method to Sell Your Business for Huge Profit “ Successfully starting and growing a business can be a tough challenge for even the most adept entrepreneurs. Exiting a business for maximum profit, however, can prove even more difficult.

Exit Strategy 246

Exit Strategy Intellectual Property Valuation Metrics 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2013

To complement local face-to-face networking, you can always use one of the many online matchmaking sites that have sprung up in the last few years, like CoFoundersLab and Founder2be (think eHarmony™ for entrepreneurs, or Match.com meets LinkedIn). entrepreneur cofounder startup investor dream team business' Everybody wins.

Technical Cofounder 219

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Startup Exit Strategy 219

Up and Running

AUGUST 18, 2014

Difference #3 – planning for the ‘end’ or the exit strategy. “Startups looking for angel investors or venture capital (VC) absolutely need an exit strategy because investors require it. The exit is what gives them a return.” Ever heard of the serial entrepreneur? ” – Tim Berry.

Small Business 154

Small Business Exit Strategy Cofounder Angel Investor 154

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2018

According to the 2017 Kauffman Startup Activity Index , the share of new entrepreneurs who started businesses to pursue opportunity rather than from necessity reached 86 percent, more than 12 percentage points higher than in 2009 at the height of the Great Recession. Thus a record number of entrepreneurs (and team members) are getting rich.

Entrepreneur 166

Entrepreneur Valuation Incubator Initial Public Offering 166

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

I have often been asked about Startup Funding by entrepreneurs. Here is Startup Funding, a Comprehensive Guide for Entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are passionate as they want to change the world or solve a problem, but don’t expect the investors to be as passionate as you are about your business. Pre-Requisites of Funding.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

Some non-profit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. A non-profit is still a business, maybe even tougher than for-profit to run successfully, so the best angel is a great entrepreneur at the helm for fund-raising, as well as operations.

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2013

Based on the final report for 2012 from Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), it may appear that IPOs are back as a viable startup exit strategy. Sure, there will always some seed funding (10% of overall deal flow), but you can bet that this money goes to entrepreneurs who have been there before and won.

Venture Capital 252

Venture Capital IPO Elevator Pitch Initial Public Offering 252

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

A conundrum for many frustrated entrepreneurs is that they need money from investors to design and build a prototype product, yet most angel investors expect to see at least a prototype before they invest. Every entrepreneur needs a professional business plan for their own use, whether they intend to seek investor funding or not.

Intellectual Property 249

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Technical Review Elevator Pitch 249

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

Some nonprofit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. A nonprofit is still a business, maybe even tougher than for-profit to run successfully, so the best angel is a great entrepreneur at the helm for fund-raising, as well as operations.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

Some non-profit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. A non-profit is still a business, maybe even tougher than for-profit to run successfully, so the best angel is a great entrepreneur at the helm for fund-raising, as well as operations.

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Many entrepreneurs still dream of “going public,” making billions of dollars, and playing with the big boys. I recently reviewed a good summary of the advantages and disadvantages of an IPO exit strategy for startups in a widely-used textbook “ Entrepreneurship ,” by Robert Hisrich, Michael Peters, and Dean Shepherd.

Exit Strategy 239

Exit Strategy IPO Investment Bankers Entrepreneur 239

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

A conundrum for many frustrated entrepreneurs is that they need money from investors to design and build a prototype product, yet most angel investors expect to see at least a prototype before they invest. Every entrepreneur needs a professional business plan for their own use, whether they intend to seek investor funding or not.

Angel Investor 224

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Technical Review Elevator Pitch 224

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

Some non-profit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. A non-profit is still a business, maybe even tougher than for-profit to run successfully, so the best angel is a great entrepreneur at the helm for fund-raising, as well as operations.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2012

Entrepreneurs love the art of the start. So here are the most common exit strategies and considerations these days for planning purposes: Merger & Acquisition (M&A). Even lifetime entrepreneurs can decide that enough is enough. To some, an exit strategy sounds negative. Marty Zwilling.

Exit Strategy 241

Exit Strategy Initial Public Offering IPO Startup 241

Up and Running

JANUARY 2, 2013

I’ve seen too many entrepreneurs think, “oh, I know my business inside and out – pitching will be a breeze!” I’ve also seen many entrepreneurs crash and burn when delivering their investor pitch – and ramble on and on. ” Good luck!

Hockey Stick 164

Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Due Diligence 164

Up and Running

MARCH 14, 2018

I’ve seen too many entrepreneurs think, “Oh, I know my business inside and out—pitching will be a breeze!” I’ve seen many entrepreneurs crash and burn when delivering their investor pitch—and ramble on and on. Your exit strategy. Don’t wing it.

Hockey Stick 164

Hockey Stick Exit Strategy Technical Review Angel Investor 164

Up and Running

MAY 12, 2020

While many traditional jobs still can’t function remotely, or have difficulty adjusting, many entrepreneurs have found success in starting a business from home. 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.

Software Review 153

Software Review Exit Strategy Technical Review Business Plan 153

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is misunderstanding the role of venture capital investors. There’s lots of lore, emotion, and misconceptions of what VC’s do or don’t do for entrepreneurs. What this meant for entrepreneurs and VC’s was simple– the gold rush to liquidity was on. What Do VC’s Do?

Silicon Valley 237

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 237

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2012

Make certain you as the founder and the CEO are on the same page on mission, company values, exit strategy, and workplace model. The CEO needs to know how to qualify and close deals, as well as who to sell to, why do they buy, pricing, and what are your strengths against the competition. Communicate company values and culture.

Founder 248

Founder Startup Exit Strategy Leadership 248

Hearpreneur

OCTOBER 10, 2023

We asked entrepreneurs and CEOs about having a business plan and here is what they had to say. #1- Take inspiration from other successful entrepreneurs, and look for opportunities to receive mentorship. As a dynamic document, it remains rooted in your business's core objectives while flexibly responding to change.

Business Plan 143

Business Plan Jordan Entrepreneur Florida 143

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

The last thing a new entrepreneur wants to think about for a new startup is how it will end. 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.

Equity 120

Equity Exit Strategy Private Equity Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2011

Make certain you as the founder and the CEO are on the same page on mission, company values, exit strategy, and workplace model. The CEO needs to know how to qualify and close deals, as well as who to sell to, why do they buy, pricing, and what are your strengths against the competition. Communicate company values and culture.

Search 224

Search Startup Exit Strategy Leadership 224

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2010

Some non-profit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. A non-profit is still a business, so the best angel is a great entrepreneur at the helm for fund-raising, as well as operations. That’s a higher calling. Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 143

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 143

mashable.com

MARCH 20, 2014

Thats why I asked 10 entrepreneurs from the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) what questions they would pose for an interviewer at a startup. Whats your exit strategy? Before accepting an offer with a startup, ask what their exit strategy is, and make sure youre on board. Heres what they had to say: 1.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Software Review Exit Strategy San Francisco 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2021

Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur. Although many won’t admit it, true entrepreneurs can’t wait to exit their current startup, and build a new and better one with their next great idea. For these reasons, I always look for an overt exit strategy in every startup I might consider for an angel investment.

Exit Strategy 434

Exit Strategy Valuation Acquisition Metrics 434

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Entrepreneurs need to find a way to get traction (sales) without funding. If entrepreneurs are only pitching to angel groups, they’re only pitching to 6% of the active angels, and 0.4% However, entrepreneurs still need to approach angel investors offline for larger amounts of capital. Furthermore, according to the IRS, about 3.9

Angel Investor 159

Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review Accredited Investor 159

Hearpreneur

MAY 15, 2020

We asked some entrepreneurs and business owners, why they started their businesses: #1- Make learning to swim more convenient. I started our business and took the leap to become an entrepreneur because I am so passionate about seeing people get ahead in their careers. Each story is different though the reasons may be the same.

Entrepreneur 127

Entrepreneur LLC Los Angeles San Francisco 127

SoCal CTO

APRIL 8, 2010

The Exit Disconnect - Ask the Angels , March 25, 2010 I’ll admit to having a bias towards exits and focus my review of a potential investment on the exit potential. I do sometimes get impatient when the investment proposal has little or no information on the exit path. Not that it’s always a bad thing.

Software Review 150

Software Review Startup PR Exit Strategy 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

Some nonprofit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy. A nonprofit is still a business, maybe even tougher than for-profit to run successfully, so the best angel is a great entrepreneur at the helm for fund-raising, as well as operations.

Angel Investor 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

According to the latest Kaufman Startup Activity Index , entrepreneurs are making an unprecedented comeback in America, with data showing the largest year-over-year increase in two decades. Thus a record number of entrepreneurs (and employees) are getting rich. Initial Public Offerings (IPO) are back as an exit strategy.

IPO 120

IPO Angel Investor Startup Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

As an active angel investor myself, I understand how the process works, and I see the disappointment in the eyes of entrepreneurs who approach angel groups for funding and often get turned away for not being timely or prepared in the minds of potential investors. These are all accredited investors who risk their own money.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Accredited Investor Angel Groups 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

Based on my own years of experience in startups and big business, and more recently as an angel investor, I often cringe when I see one of you entrepreneurs missing a cue that I have seen work for many before you. A passionate entrepreneur I met a while back had found that a certain algae could be grown cheaply, and could end world hunger.

Exit Strategy 406

Exit Strategy Merger Angel Investor IPO 406

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Too many entrepreneurs look for that one magic bullet -- an exciting new technology, perhaps, or their own determination to make the world a better place -- to override any shortcomings in their startup model. This will lead to investor-return calculations and exit strategies. An experienced and skilled team on board.

Exit Strategy 120

Exit Strategy Technical Review Distribution Viral 120