Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

But VC is an “illiquid asset&# so funds didn’t disappear quickly - In 2000/01 the stock market quickly adjusted punishing investors in the NASDAQ and in individual public technology stocks. It takes less to start a business these days – We all know that it takes less to start a technology company these days.

LP 311

LP Technical Review Early Stage Silicon Valley 311

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

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. You need specialized equipment.

Sweat Equity 255

Sweat Equity Technical Review Entrepreneur Bootstrapping 255

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 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. You need specialized equipment.

Bootstrapping 252

Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Technical Review 252

Steve Blank

APRIL 11, 2013

The previous post described how China built its science and technology infrastructure. This post is about the how the Chinese government engineered technology clusters. Of all the Chinese government programs, the Torch Program is the one program that kick-started Chinese high-tech innovation and startups. Innovation Clusters.

Programming 179

Programming Technical Review SBIR China 179

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. You need specialized equipment.

Sweat Equity 239

Sweat Equity Technical Review Bootstrapping Equity 239

The Startup Magazine

MAY 13, 2022

Equity distribution among co-founders may be a complex procedure while starting any business. How you split founder startup equity can be even harder for a tech startup due to different roles and contributions from the founders. What is the equity structure of a startup? The differences between shares and options.

Equity 172

Equity Founder Vesting Cofounder 172

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 9, 2011

Let’s review all of our existing investments. Finance where needed. I show charts on housing, structural unemployment, home equity re-financings that we spent meaning less spending power post crash, new housing sales, debt-to-income ratios, public-sector job problems that will cause crises in cities and states across the US.

Stock 305

Stock Technical Review Marketing Greece 305

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

——— I’m getting ready to go overseas to teach , and I’ve spent the last week reviewing several countries’ ambitious attempts to kick-start entrepreneurship. In Silicon Valley the equivalent is the journeyman coder or web designer who loves the technology, and takes coding and U/I jobs because it’s a passion.

Government 335

Government Silicon Valley Startup Venture Capital 335

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). 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 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

YoungUpstarts

JULY 3, 2012

Most tech CEOs tend to understand the power of Twitter, and as such, this is the most popular category. Legendary tech entrepreneurs, startup celebrities, and even the creators of Twitter itself are on the service. plibin : Find out what Evernote CEO Phil Libin has to say about startups, tech, and of course, taking notes.

Cofounder 239

Cofounder Technical Review Social Media PR 239

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

Responses ranged from, “hey, they’re in a HUGE market&# to “it is an amazing company and their technology rocks.&# It’s like people arguing that there’s a beautiful beach house in 2006 that represents great long-term value due to scarcity of similar property. Or worse yet they may never get financed.

Saudi Arabia 309

Saudi Arabia Valuation IPO Technical Review 309

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. You need specialized equipment.

Bootstrapping 183

Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Technical Review 183

techcrunch.com

SEPTEMBER 2, 2012

Convertible Equity, A Better Alternative To Convertible Debt? As a refresher, a convertible note is a loan that automatically converts into equity upon the closing of a Series A round of financing. Second, the debt note requires a fixed due date (or “maturity date”) for repayment of the total amount borrowed, plus interest.

Equity 87

Equity San Francisco Technical Review Angel Investor 87

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). 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 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

VC Cafe

MARCH 1, 2024

In addition, founders thinking about starting a company can be overwhelmed by choice, as there are so many problems to tackle with technology, but it could be comforting to know that investors are interested in those areas in the first place.

Artificial Inteligence 176

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Software Review Generative AI 176

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 11, 2023

The following is a condensed explanation of seed funding: Seed money is a form of early-stage financing that new businesses receive from investors in exchange for a share of ownership in the company. This could be a proportion of the company’s equity or investment; in other instances, it could be a portion of its later-stage profits.

Seed Stage 148

Seed Stage Technical Review Early Stage Due Diligence 148

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Written by David Shelters , managing director of Bangkok, Thailand-based investment banking and financial advisory firm Karon Business Consulting, the book should be an eye-opener for aspiring and new technology entrepreneurs and can help you navigate the dangerous waters known as venture capital.

Technical Review 164

Technical Review Private Equity Thailand Incubator 164

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

AngelList 101 : As you know, AngelList is a platform where angels can invest in semi-screened tech deals. lack of traction, lack of downstream financing availability. I have a slightly different take on why I find it valuable. For starters, what is AngelList Syndicates? founder fighting. strategic direction. and much more.

Syndication 356

Syndication Syndicate Cofounder Early Stage 356

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

Private equity and venture capital investors are copying our sisters in the hedge fund world: we’re trying to automate more of our job. . When I met my now-wife, I realized that any technology that can find me a spouse is a killer app. In the private equity universe, most Partners have primary training as deal-makers, not as managers.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78

Gust

DECEMBER 27, 2012

The expectation is that in an era of increasing technology and decreasing costs, you will be bringing them an operating company with at least some traction. Keep in mind that any cash you put in will remain in the company as Founders’ Equity, and will only come back to you on a successful exit in which your investors make money. [3a.

Software Review 164

Software Review Term Sheet Technical Review Angel Investor 164

David Teten

JANUARY 10, 2012

17, on “How Investors Are Increasing Their Returns Through Collaboration and Technology”. Mr. Parekh started his career at Goldman Sachs, developing the firm’s equities business in the Middle East, with high net worth family offices and sovereign wealth funds. We also have a great panel coming up next Thursday night, Jan.

Technical Review 128

Technical Review Technology North Carolina Switzerland 128

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JANUARY 4, 2018

The Silicon Valley-oriented technology press outlets don’t cover us because we’re not in San Francisco, even though we’re more successful than most of the startups they cover. This week we closed $250M in financing from Silver Lake , the premier technology private equity firm.

Engineer 152

Engineer Revenue San Francisco Security 152

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Posted on September 14, 2009 by steveblank Over the last 30 years Wall Street’s appetite for technology stocks have changed radically – swinging between unbridled enthusiasm to believing they’re all toxic. 3) invest in and take equity stakes in exchange for capital. Tech acquisitions went crazy at the same time the IPO market did.

Silicon Valley 237

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 237

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020

Investment banks simply help governments or businesses to raise capital through equity and debt financing. However, while they may be able to perform the technical functions that are required, they can often struggle with the social side of it. What is the role of an investment banker?

Investment Bankers 236

Investment Bankers Technical Review Equity Portfolio 236

VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

While the answers are somewhat semantic, the pre-seed funding round is making a comeback in 2024 startup financing. In smaller funds, ticket sizes tend to be lower, so pre-seed is the only stage where micro funds are able to secure their minimum equity targets. Pre-seed tends to be about developing an MVP and generating early traction.

Valuation 186

Valuation Software Review Generative AI Technical Review 186

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2014

David is also the CEO of Gust , which is an online platform for startup financing used by over 50,000 accredited angel investors, 1000 angel groups and venture capital funds, and 250,000 entrepreneurs. I just finished a new book, “ Angel Investing ,” by a friend and one of the most active angel investors in New York, David S.

Angel Investor 278

Angel Investor Angel Groups Accredited Investor IRR 278

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

TEC is one of Canada’s largest and most experienced private credit firms, specializing in providing asset-based capital solutions to companies that are underserved or overlooked by traditional sources of financing, primarily banks. Lending decisions in private credit are underpinned by thorough due diligence processes.

Technical Review 158

Technical Review Due Diligence Bankruptcy Intellectual Property 158

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MARCH 21, 2017

Revenue multiples, profit multiples, premium over the previous financing — these are metrics used by sellers to help determine a minimum acceptable price. In terms of acquisition, they ask more specifically: “How can we trade balance sheet assets (cash, equity) in exchange for executing our strategy better?”.

Balance Sheet 242

Balance Sheet Vertical Acquisition Revenue 242

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 20, 2019

Expectations indicate that the FinTech industry will extend its tech integration significantly over the next four years. Finance companies increasingly recognize that their people are the most valuable resource and need to be managed more thoughtfully as well as efficiently. There is no way to stop technology.

Technical Review 127

Technical Review Software Review Private Equity Cofounder 127

VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Baichuan AI is pivoting toward specialized AI models for finance and healthcare. This review of the Chinese AI ecosystem by Spacecadet Ventures, goes deeper into each one. While DeepSeeks technology has impressed, its long-term global impact is still uncertain. and European enterprise markets.

China 97

China Artificial Inteligence ChatGPT Generative AI 97

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

For some aspiring to be tech entrepreneurs, I often suggest a two-step process, as I argued in this post that “ The First Startup Founder You Need to Invest in Is You.” He or she has worked at some very successful big technology or media companies and went to a great school. He still has the dream. He has the hunger.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Liquidation Preference Silicon Valley IP 150

The Startup Magazine

JANUARY 24, 2020

Luckily, tech startups have made it easier and cheaper for businesses to access these kinds of services. Giving up too much investor equity. Financing your business is another obstacle you may face in the launch process. Before accepting any investment offers, consider the risks and benefits, and review all possibilities first.

Software Review 185

Software Review Startup Technical Review Hiring 185

mashable.com

MAY 5, 2011

“Once that product is built, you will probably have given away a lot of equity.&# In exchange for $150,000 to $300,000 of work, each startup has given Kayweb 14% to 40% equity. The shortage of startup technical talent, especially in New York City, has been well-documented. Have an account?

Equity 74

Equity Engineer Technical Review Social Media 74

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

Even if your product is a technological marvel, I look for balanced strength on the team in finance, marketing and operations. Investors all know that the startup road is long and hard, so they look for people who have put and will continue to put “skin in the game” -- time, sweat equity, and money.

Sweat Equity 152

Sweat Equity Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Startup 152

Feld Thoughts

NOVEMBER 18, 2013

Here’s the punchline: if you run your company as if you have closed a VC equity financing round even though you actually closed a convertible debt round, you’ll be in much better shape when it comes time to raise your Series A financing. So why would you treat your debt investors (somewhat) like equity investors?

Burn Rate 155

Burn Rate Equity Software Review Early Stage 155

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 10, 2018

A business runs on diligence, passion, and creativity — but it also needs a whole lot of legal help. Lawyers have existed for centuries, and they command high salaries due to the intricacy of their work — so is it really possible to replace them with a few lines of code? But the startup is working diligently to build AI solutions.

Software Review 92

Software Review Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Software 92

Hunter Walker

JANUARY 2, 2017

When Satya and I started Homebrew in 2013 one of our bets for the coming decades was that non-traditional acquirers would become more aggressive in their pursuit of technology startups. We had our first taste of this trend playing out early in 2016 when GM acquired self-driving tech startup Cruise for north of $1b.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Cap Table Acquisition Startup 131