Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. It’s no fun for either side.

Technical Review 310

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 310

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

This is the mysterious and dreaded due diligence process, which can kill the whole deal. Some entrepreneurs do very little to prepare for due diligence, assuming all the talking has already been done, and the business plan and results to-date tell the right story. My best advice is to stick to the middle ground.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Startup Term Sheet 120

The Startup Magazine

OCTOBER 26, 2020

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, taking due diligence takes center stage. Without proper due diligence, you might find yourself in a serious financial mess. On these lines, this guide is going to take you through the Prolifogy Mergers & Acquisitions Checklist and how to take due diligence.

Technical Review 107

Technical Review Software Review Due Diligence Merger 107

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. It’s no fun for either side. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 257

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Offshore 257

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Schroeder, looks at how a wave of entrepreneurial activity – especially tech entrepreneurship – is sweeping across that part of the world. Books & Reviews Arab Spring book book review Entrepreneurship Middle East startup startup ecosystem technology' internet executive and venture investor Christopher M.

Technical Review 248

Technical Review Saudi Arabia Egypt Startup 248

Steve Blank

JANUARY 17, 2023

This post previously appeared in the Harvard Business Review. But these look for founders who have a technical or business model insight and a team. Accelerators provide these teams with technical and business expertise and connect them to a network of other founders and advisors. Carlos stirred his coffee.

Technical Cofounder 368

Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 368

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2020

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Most founders like to talk about their many months or years of sweat-equity , but cash invested is a stronger commitment.

Technical Review 436

Technical Review Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate 436

View from Seed

APRIL 6, 2021

You are a native of NYC tech with a strong network. You have 4-6 years of professional experience as a technology operator, founder, or investor in New York. You have unbounded curiosity for emerging trends, a love for experimentation, and you’re always eager to dive into new products and technologies before others do.

Technical Review 317

Technical Review Software Review Seed Stage Cofounder 317

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 11, 2022

Within private equity there are certainly sectors that drum up more attention than others. On the other side of the spectrum, the idea of finding a unicorn has attracted many investors toward the much riskier venture capital and emerging technologies. Private equity investments offer access to growth in more scaled businesses.

Private Equity 164

Private Equity Equity Technical Review Software Review 164

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 287

Programming Technical Review SBIR China 287

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. What's you believe is your biggest technology risk, if any? I'm looking for free (equity only) development, should I contact you?

Fractional CTO 264

Fractional CTO CTO Hire NDA Technical Review 264

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. What's you believe is your biggest technology risk, if any? I'm looking for free (equity only) development, should I contact you?

Fractional CTO 259

Fractional CTO CTO Hire NDA Technical Review 259

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

The technology team disagrees on direction and wants resolutions. There’s a guy in Los Angeles that I met at several tech networking events. He was a really nice and personable guy who had deep domain knowledge in an industry that he’d worked in for 10 years that is in need of technological advancement.

Entrepreneur 414

Entrepreneur Fractional CTO Technical Review CTO Hire 414

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

SoCal CTO

APRIL 27, 2011

Several people have recently come to me to help them source and/or hire full-time CTOs for their startup having found me through my post that looks at: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data. I'd suggest: Startup CTO or Developer , Startup Founder Developer Gap , Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , CTO Founder , Acting CTO. Not enough?

CTO Hire 282

CTO Hire Los Angeles Hiring Technical Review 282

View from Seed

JULY 6, 2020

You are a native of NYC tech with a strong network. You have 4-6 years of professional experience as a technology operator, founder, or investor in New York. You have unbounded curiosity for emerging trends, a love for experimentation, and you’re always eager to dive into new products and technologies before others do.

Technical Review 257

Technical Review Software Review Hiring Seed Stage 257

The Startup Magazine

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

Venture capital is a type of private equity. It is not always a financial transaction; sometimes it comes in the form of managerial or technical expertise. The downside to venture capital is that the company or individual doing investing generally get equity in the company. What is Venture Capital Funding?

Venture Capital 166

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review Security 166

VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

A new report collated by F2 Capital and derived from a survey of 25 early-stage VCs in Israel (including our input at Remagine Ventures ), analysed investment trends for pre-seed in 2024 and reviewed the expectations for 2025. In contrast, 80% of seed rounds are equity-based. Equity-based deals accounted for 80% of seed deals.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Israel Early Stage Generative AI 88

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

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

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2021

By way of a definition, a business or startup incubator is a company, university, or other organization which provides resources to nurture young companies, usually for a share of the equity, hoping to capitalize on their success, or at least strengthen the local economy. Initial funding. Expert mentoring and training. Facilities support.

Incubator 366

Incubator Technical Review Due Diligence Venture Capital 366

Austin Startup

NOVEMBER 20, 2020

By: Kasheef Wyzard and Michelle Ferguson Image: Dream Corps TECH Black Engineer Educators Let’s face it?—?we Big Tech has shattered boundaries and made the previously impossible a new reality?—?but To date, Dream Corps TECH has placed 75 students, including partnerships with multiple Fortune 50 companies!

Technical Review 93

Technical Review Texas Equity Programming 93

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 14, 2011

But those same words could easily be applied to the Singapore-based technology entrepreneurs present at Techventure 2011. Just a bit of background – the high-tech start-up scene in Singapore is said to be growing healthily in recent years. Plans for more Singapore-based technology incubators. Singapore Innovation.

Singapore 198

Singapore Technical Review Technology Incubator 198

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2020

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Find a private equity firm or friendly individual.

Exit Strategy 376

Exit Strategy Startup Private Equity Equity 376

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

When I first read Paul Graham’s blog post on “High Resolution&# Financing I read it as a treatise arguing that convertible notes are better than equity. He’s fine with equity provided it’s cheap to paper it legally. Tags: Raising Venture Capital Startup Advice Tech Market Analysis Term Sheets.

Finance 286

Finance Term Sheet Technical Review Warrant 286

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2022

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). 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

SoCal CTO

APRIL 27, 2011

Several people have recently come to me to help them source and/or hire full-time CTOs for their startup having found me through my post that looks at: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data. I'd suggest: Startup CTO or Developer , Startup Founder Developer Gap , Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , CTO Founder , Acting CTO. Not enough?

CTO Hire 225

CTO Hire Los Angeles Hiring Technical Review 225

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

In fact, the cost may be minimal, if you do your networking and build a relationship with an experienced business executive or two in your domain who are willing to share and give back for a nominal retainer, perhaps one percent of your new startup equity. The cost of a co-founder is usually fifty percent of your equity.

Advisory Board 356

Advisory Board Bandwidth Cofounder Technical Review 356

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2012

Convincingly presents a patent, trademark, or other “secret sauce” that can create equity value, not just current cash flow for the owners. Allows sufficient time to find capital, including due diligence time for investors. The technology or product may be at an embryonic stage. Values intellectual property.

Technical Review 294

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 294

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

OCTOBER 16, 2022

They couldn’t possibly understand the new social media culture, new technologies, or have the determination to beat their younger counterparts in the market. In fact, they are well-qualified overall, having worked with high technology and computers for at least 20 years, are highly educated, and highly motivated.

Advisory Board 368

Advisory Board Dividend Angel Investor Cofounder 368

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

APRIL 22, 2013

Convincingly presents a patent, trademark, or other “secret sauce” that can create equity value, not just current cash flow for the owners. Allows sufficient time to find capital, including due diligence time for investors. The technology or product may be at an embryonic stage. Values intellectual property.

Technical Review 273

Technical Review Intellectual Property Angel Investor Elevator Pitch 273

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

Seattle should be the envy of any non Silicon Valley tech community in the country. It really wouldn’t take much to turn a great technology ecosystem into a truly electric one. You need to have passionate tech entrepreneurs who want to build businesses locally. The ingredients are all here.

Seattle 317

Seattle Silicon Valley Technical Review Los Angeles 317

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 14, 2022

And with the technology available these days, it is convenient to invest in emerging startups. Of late, with the advent of new technology and the spread of the internet to nearly all corners of the country, Indians have taken up a new kind of shop! Some sectors where they have left their indelible mark are – Health tech.

Technical Review 167

Technical Review Due Diligence India Startup 167

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2010

I can save tons of development time and I think I can buy it for all equity. I’m doing due diligence on a company of another entrepreneur in LA whose company was apparently doing very well. I know, I know … technically they can be structured as mergers. Me: “Zero dilution.

Merger 276

Merger Technical Review Early Stage Dilution 276

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

VC Cafe

JANUARY 22, 2021

A few months ago, VC Cafe launched a series on startup engagement and outreach programs of large tech companies. Amazon Corporate Development – Notable acquisitions include Whole Foods ($13.7B), smart doorbell system Ring ($1.2B, 2018) and autonomous mobility technology Zoox ($1.2bn). AI startups in the Alexa Fund portfolio.

Technical Review 174

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital Incubator 174