This is going to be BIG.

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

Well, remember the dust up a while back with the backlash against “pay to play” pitch events where startups had to pay to meet angels? Jason Calacanis came up with a solution—creating an event where angel investors and startups get to know each other in a casual environment without a cost to the entrepreneur.

New York City 71

New York City New York Angel Investor Early Stage 71

Duct Tape Marketing

MARCH 30, 2023

Key Takeaway: Finding a way to integrate fun and play at work is a powerful asset that benefits the employees and the company itself. It pays to Play: How Play Improves Business Culture. John Jantsch (03:19): So I, I can't tell you how often entrepreneurs say I started this business to solve my own problem.

Retention 92

Retention Canada Channel Pay to Play 92

ConversionXL

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

We’re on a mission to help entrepreneurs grow with our smart, all-in-one marketing and commerce platform.”. To get quick wins, the likelihood is you’re going to have to pay to play. However, it’s important to pay and play wisely. On Twitter , it’s laid back to suit the B2C, creative audience segment.

Social Media 142

Social Media Media Developer Marketing 142

Feld Thoughts

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

There were a bunch of good comments that caused me to realize that I wrote the post from the perspective of a VC, not an entrepreneur. In many cases, the consequences for not participating are significant and you can get a taste for this from the post on the term Pay-to-Play that my partner Jason and I wrote in 2005.

Entrepreneur 133

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Early Stage Pay to Play 133

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2010

This is the third article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). I should say that I agree that naive optimism in entrepreneurs can produce higher beta (upside or flops) and that’s good from an investment standpoint if you’re looking for big returns.

Angel Investor 284

Angel Investor Early Stage Cap Table Deal Flow 284

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Please see later version of this post on May 16, 2010 Entrepreneurs are often not experts in the area of term-sheet negotiations and all of the surrounding issues.   Investors sometimes “present” the terms they’d like and expect the entrepreneurs to react. Term-sheets and Valuations: Thinking about Negotiations.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Duct Tape Marketing

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

Marc is a lifelong entrepreneur who helps coaches get more clients without paid advertising. He's a lifelong entrepreneur who helps coaches get more clients without paid advertising. And if you're not able to do that or not willing to, then that's fine, but you gotta pay to play or have some skin in the game, uh, that way too.

Reputation 99

Reputation Advertising Networking Programming 99

Duct Tape Marketing

MAY 8, 2024

Through his extensive experience as a rebellious marketer and serial entrepreneur, Alan Dibb has spearheaded a revolutionary approach to marketing known as Lean Marketing. At what point do those tools start making money off of that control and basically everything becomes pay to play. This is John Jantsch.

Lean 93

Lean Technical Review ChatGPT Search 93

Steve Blank

MARCH 22, 2016

Entrepreneurs refuse to take no for an answer. The latest guests on Entrepreneurs are Everywhere shared what they learned from having their ideas rejected and how those lessons propelled their businesses forward. There’s almost $2 billion spent in North America on paying to play basketball. Nigel Caldon.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur North America Cofounder Silicon Valley 120

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

This is the third article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). And if I were an entrepreneur I’d rather find investors who understood “my space&# so that in tough times they felt comfortable about “doubling down.&#. Not everybody agreed.

Angel Investor 152

Angel Investor Cap Table Early Stage Deal Flow 152

Haystack

OCTOBER 7, 2018

As with any new change in the landscape, there are both opportunities and challenges. The opportunities for these new funds are endless.

Cap Table 147

Cap Table Venture Capital Portfolio Pay to Play 147

The Equity Kicker

MARCH 18, 2014

The free-to-play model is far more effective for monetization than a pay-to-play model. ’ and entrepreneurs can say ‘I get that XYZ is a big trend, but how is it manifested in new products, services or use cases?’ The macro way of building looks at characteristics and trends in the broader market.

Pay to Play 91

Pay to Play eCommerce Framework Partner 91

Brandanew

NOVEMBER 22, 2016

Since affiliates often use methods like organic search engine optimization (SEO), e-mail marketing, paid search engine marketing (PPC – Pay Per Click), content marketing and in some sense display advertising, it’s more likely to reach a greater audience. Small investments will add up. It helps you gain a wide audience.

Affiliate 100

Affiliate Startup Social Media Pay to Play 100

Berkonomics

APRIL 28, 2012

This important variation on “money talks” is an important consideration for entrepreneurs when seeking an investment from professionals such as VC’s. Something like a marriage (and often lasting just as long statistically), your investment partner can be a great cheerleader, coach and resource.

Angel Investor 69

Angel Investor Dilution Early Stage Pay to Play 69

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

I’d like to explain as best I can my opinion on what is going on because most of what I hear from entrepreneurs is not only wrong but is reminiscent of what I heard in 1997-2000. ” “This will be great for VCs and bad for entrepreneurs.” What is the True Sentiment of VCs? ” “Sure, prices are dropping.

Valuation 150

Valuation Down Round Startup Later Stage 150

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 12, 2010

Six companies and twenty angels were able to connect up without the friction and artificial scarcity created by the “pay to play” model and it was all made possible by the good folks at Joyent , Cooley , and Winter Wyman. Three of the six companies were led by female entrepreneurs. Hopefully, it’s a trend!

Venture Capital 84

Venture Capital Angel Investor Pay to Play Hosting 84

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 2, 2019

Consumers rely on search engines and pay-to-play rating sites to find legal counsel. I’ve been an entrepreneur for almost two decades. (Share with us what problem you’re solving). With more lawyers in the US than ever before, marketing legal services has become increasingly difficult.

Founder 117

Founder New York City Cofounder Bankruptcy 117

Up and Running

APRIL 3, 2017

Whether you run a well-established company or are a budding entrepreneur, you’ll likely experience growing pains while building your team. For example: We’re a New York-based jewelry company that turns women in developing countries into entrepreneurs. Pay to play: Set a daily budget of $20 for two to three weeks to start.

Social Media 96

Social Media Employee Media Hiring 96

Scott Edward Walker

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

I have previously discussed this issue in detail, and the importance of choosing solid investors, in my post “ Doing Deals In The New Decade: 7 Tips For Entrepreneurs ” (see tip #1). Second, founders should only agree to pay the investors’ legal fees and expenses if the deal actually closes.

Term Sheet 76

Term Sheet Due Diligence Liquidation Preference Redemption 76

Feld Thoughts

JULY 14, 2015

It usually happens in a later round, when the company is in fact worth much less than the liquidation preference overhang and insiders use a pay-to-play and a low valuation to reset the preferences and the cap table. And, everyone, in either case, felt good about how things played out. Sure – it happens.

Recapitalization 70

Recapitalization Pre-Money Valuation Post-Money Valuation Angel Investor 70

Duct Tape Marketing

JANUARY 30, 2025

He's a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Fransi, a platform revolutionizing franchise discovery and acquisition. They empower aspiring entrepreneurs with transparency, support, and the tools to find the right franchise opportunity. This is John Jantsch and my guest today is Alex Smereczniak. Nailed that, I?

Private Equity 75

Private Equity Bankruptcy Naming Equity 75

Feld Thoughts

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

And, rather than rational and helpful thoughts for entrepreneurs, it often brings out the schadenfreude in even the most talented people. We entrepreneurs have been spinning that line for decades in every boom cycle. Mark’s post is one of the first in this cycle that I’ve seen from a VC giving clear, actionable advice.

Cap Table 70

Cap Table Down Round Liquidation Preference Founder 70

ConversionXL

JANUARY 18, 2022

They know there’s pay-to-play stuff. CXL uses Facebook Groups to unite marketers, entrepreneurs, and business owners around conversion optimization, analytics, and growth. They know there are affiliate links. They know that the vendor’s blog isn’t objective. via Natalie Luneva ].

Social Media 145

Social Media Audience Media Marketing 145

ithacaVC

FEBRUARY 20, 2011

Typically, I think that most entrepreneurs raising VC think that the VC mindset is standard. In addition to the “entrepreneur to investor” relationship, the “investor to investor” mindset relationship is critical. Bottom line: as an entrepreneur, make sure to understand the mindset of your investors.

Bridge Financing 40

Bridge Financing IPO Pay to Play Finance 40

Scott Edward Walker

JULY 27, 2011

There is, however, another set of rights with which many entrepreneurs may not be familiar: State law rights.

Delaware 49

Delaware Liquidation Preference Redemption Los Angeles 49

This is going to be BIG.

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

That’s how it feels when your hot deal from two years ago winds up running low on cash and gets into a pay-to-play round that wipes out the cap table. But that the work - in our case including mobilizing the whole firm - needs to be done every time to win the trust of the entrepreneur.” But I thought I was good!?”

Non-Compete 97

Non-Compete Cofounder Cap Table Reputation 97

Professor VC

MARCH 11, 2013

The Launch Festival was Jason Calacanis' response to the pay-to-play of DEMO and other similar conferences. Also, as experienced entrepreneurs, an accelerator program wasn't that appealing. For many entrepreneurs, you'll get more investor traction and press coverage out of a YCombinator, 500 Startups or AngelPad demo day.

Silicon Valley 28

Silicon Valley San Francisco Social Network SEC 28

blog.simeonov.com

FEBRUARY 22, 2010

Even if you are an experienced entrepreneur, you’ve probably only seen a few founder agreements in your life. In this case you have to consider whether they are common or preferred holders and, in the latter case, their anti-dilution protection, pay-to-play provisions and willingness to participate in the recap financing.

Founder 44

Founder Vesting Agile Startup 44

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2020

We spent time talking about why “pay-to-play” deals are back on the table and why these deals happen. Not anywhere nearly as hard as being an entrepreneur. To win the best deals entrepreneurs need to trust you and want to work with you. It’s hard being a VC right now. Is It Important for a VC to Build a Brand?:

Marketing 263

Marketing Valuation Churn Rate Balance Sheet 263

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 26, 2024

Be careful about investor rights This important variation on money talks is an important consideration for entrepreneurs when seeking an investment from professionals such as VCs. Something like a marriage (and often lasting just as long statistically), your investment partner can be a great cheerleader, coach and resource.

Angel Investor 62

Angel Investor Dilution Early Stage Pay to Play 62

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 2, 2025

And you have to pay to play inevitably. I've made a lot of money as an entrepreneur using it. But they're not gonna let you win all the time. And they're not gonna let you do it for free. And again, man, like I love this space. I love I just love the space, man. I have grown up evolving with this in my life. Like I love them.

ChatGPT 73

ChatGPT Marketing Social Media Social Network 73