Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2010

I never implied that startups are all great and job hoppers are all at fault. Most of what I learned about operating startups I learned from the really tough years at my first company from 2001-2003. That is when no customers wanted to work with Internet startups because we as an industry had burned so many customers.

Venture Capital 285

Venture Capital Hiring Software Review Stock Options 285

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

Mike Stern (wasn’t sure which one so leave a comment if it’s you): Q: “is it possible to sell your startup without venture investment if the company has big traction and a large user base?&# I talked about the need to have a restricted stock plan for your earliest employees. This is minutes 8-11.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Term Sheet Valuation Stock Options 282

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 28, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Startup Lessons. I know that we haven’t brought in revenue as quickly as we had hoped. They haven’t hit their revenue targets. We do hand out stock options. Building companies is hard work. I know that we’ve made some mistakes. But here is the problem.

PR 331

PR Software Review Ireland Germany 331

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2022

Typical incentives give percentages of quarterly revenues and contribution as rewards for success. An even better alternative could be stock options, linked to the long-term success of the company. Provide bonuses for volumes, not milestones. Always promote from within rather than seek fresh blood.

Stock Options 277

Stock Options Incubator Framework Stock 277

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2016

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. Early stage burn rates over $50K per month, or a runway of less than six months may indicate an inefficient or desperate startup.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Burn Rate Technical Review Intellectual Property 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2015

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. Early stage burn rates over $50K per month, or a runway of less than six months may indicate an inefficient or desperate startup.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

Typical incentives give percentages of quarterly revenues and contribution as rewards for success. An even better alternative could be stock options, linked to the long-term success of the company. Provide bonuses for volumes, not milestones. Always promote from within rather than seek fresh blood.

Stock Options 236

Stock Options Incubator Framework Stock 236

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Even non-profits need revenue to cover their costs, and continue to provide services. Find a strategic partner to accelerate growth.

Startup 120

Startup Forecast Stock Options Technical Review 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2018

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Even non-profits need revenue to cover their costs, and continue to provide services. Find a strategic partner to accelerate growth.

Forecast 161

Forecast Stock Options Technical Review Metrics 161

crowdSPRING Blog

OCTOBER 10, 2014

These posts and videos are about logo design , web design , startups, entrepreneurship, small business, leadership, social media, marketing, and more! The ROI of Blogging: What the Groove Blog is Worth to Our Startup – crowdspring.co/YUXa2r. The Ultimate Startup Marketing Strategy | by Venture Harbour – [link] crowdspring.co/1xxV8lb.

Social Media 97

Social Media Small Business Design Media 97

The Next Web

AUGUST 12, 2013

It’s unrelated to the startup world, but I can highly recommend to watch “ Being Liverpool ”. Starting a global tech business with international, well-educated and highly-skilled people, generating millions of revenue per month, is incredibly hard. But that’s the case for only tiny amount of startups. Startups fail.

Cofounder 119

Cofounder CTO Hire Startup Europe 119

Steve Blank

MARCH 16, 2016

There are many reasons to found a startup. There are many reasons to work at a startup. To most founders a startup is not a job, but a calling. But startups require money upfront for product development and later to scale. Traditional lenders (banks) think that startups are too risky for a traditional bank loan.

Liquidity Event 120

Liquidity Event Founder Liquidation Preference Private Equity 120

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

We like to talk about logo design , web design , startups, entrepreneurship, small business, leadership, social media, marketing, and various random stuff! 10 Psychological Triggers To Boost Revenues – crowdspring.co/1rXsiql. Small Business and Startups: Customer Service Marketing Manifesto – crowdspring.co/1wYokDi.

Social Media 99

Social Media Small Business Design Media 99

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2017

There are certain topics that even some of the smartest people I talk with who aren’t startup oriented can’t fully grok. It’s common cocktail party chatter to hear people confidently pronounce that some well known startup is sure to blow up because, “How could they succeed when they’re not even profitable!”

Stock Options 227

Stock Options Startup Dilution Venture Capital 227

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 19, 2017

Typical incentives give percentages of quarterly revenues and contribution as rewards for success. An even better alternative could be stock options, linked to the long-term success of the company. Provide bonuses for volumes, not milestones. Always promote from within rather than seek fresh blood.

Stock Options 141

Stock Options Incubator Framework Stock 141

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

So as a startup CEO you constantly have to suspend disbelief. ” A startup CEO’s job is to absorb stress so the team doesn’t have to. Startups have to be optimists because no rational person would actually believe you could build Uber into the amazing company that it is today. We just need your $500,000!!”

Startup 417

Startup Dilution San Diego Stock Options 417

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 21, 2010

This is part of my ongoing series on Startup Advice. As startup entrepreneurs we all want to work with them because having their name as reference clients makes it so much easier for marketing, PR, selling to other customers, fund raising and even recruiting. Think of it as similar to an employee stock option.

Warrant 298

Warrant Dilution Startup Stock Options 298

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 4, 2009

This is part of my Startup Advice series. at a startup that has already raised $5 million the chances of you making your retirement money on that company is EXTREMELY small. Now … these are stock options and not restricted stock so you’ll likely be taxed at a long-term capital gains rate. It was 1999.

Stock Options 418

Stock Options Stock Liquidation Preference Option Pool 418

www.paulgraham.com

APRIL 28, 2010

Want to start a startup? A typical startup goes throughseveral rounds of funding, and at each round you want to take justenough money to reach the speed where you can shift into the nextgear. Few startups get it quite right. 1 ] A startups life will be more complicated, legally, if any of theinvestors arent accredited.

Technical Review 76

Technical Review Startup Software Review Angel Investor 76

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2014

With the uptick in the economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. Is your startup really ready to play in the corporate world? These looming constraints can turn your startup dream into a nightmare, all to increase funding.

Merger 246

Merger OTC IPO Stock 246

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2019

With the current strong economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. Is your startup really ready to play in the corporate world? These looming constraints can turn your startup dream into a nightmare, all to increase funding.

Merger 303

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 303

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Revenue multiple? Less than you’ll probably grant your most junior employees in stock options? Stock Option plans. Startup Lessons' How will you price the next round? Your A round? Him: On metrics. We’ll have some proof points by then. What proof points? How will the lead determine a value?

Venture Capital 417

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

Austin Startup

NOVEMBER 29, 2017

In September 2017, I spent 2 weeks in Austin, Texas to understand what makes this vibrant startup ecosystem tick. It follows up on my posts discussing why early stage startups should — or should not — move to Silicon Valley. Should Early Stage Startups Move to Austin because of Capital? Money is like gasoline during a road trip.

Early Stage 48

Early Stage Austin Silicon Valley Texas 48

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 9, 2013

Deal with company admin: 409a valuations, approve stock options, vote on key measures (15%). should we charge SaaS revenue, ad revenue or volumetric billing revenue? should we cut staff early since our revenue isn’t growing? Startup Advice' Provide information / context (15%).

Advisory Board 337

Advisory Board Valuation Stock Options Seed Money 337

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Startups and angels: Along the way to success. 3]   However, if they are built bottom up, they demonstrate and make explicit a range of business model assumptions the entrepreneur is using to think about his business and its revenue model.   Pre-bubble Siliicon Valley deals were popularly valued at multiples of revenue.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

With the current volatile economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. Is your startup really ready to play in the corporate world? These looming constraints can turn your startup dream into a nightmare, all to increase funding.

Merger 261

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 261

Startup Company Lawyer

MAY 1, 2009

Data is analyzed by: founder/non-founder status, company revenue and headcount, geography, business segment, and number of financing rounds raised. CEOs or CFOs of startups in the US, China, India, Israel, or the UK in the technology or life science industry should consider taking the survey. Tags: Stock options.

Stock Options 31

Stock Options CTO Hire Israel Equity 31

Ben's Blog

APRIL 28, 2010

The conventional wisdom says a startup CEO should make way for a professional CEO once the company has achieved product-market fit. They are paid in terms of stock options that vest over 4 years and cash bonuses for quarterly and yearly performance. Investments in innovation do not pay out in the current quarter.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Cofounder Technical Cofounder Software Review 78

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

A new flock of startups has launched to support content creators to craft (videos, art, newsletters, music, games, courses, etc), find an audience, generate income (subscriptions, tipping, ecommerce, NFTs, etc) and engage their communities. This is where new startups can help. The creator economy market map, Singalfire.

Startup 207

Startup Social Media Venture Capital Advertising 207

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 26, 2018

When a small business startup manages to secure external investment magical things happen. Amongst the benefits of attracting external investors to a startup is helping to preserve owner resources, allowing growth to continue, accelerating research and development and product rollout.

Stock 166

Stock Stock Options Startup Equity 166

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 16, 2012

When interviewing for a job at a startup, you might focus on the questions you will be asked by the interviewer, but there are also a series of questions you need to ask yourself. This article provides a series of information startup job candidates should consider and answers to commonly asked questions. What are your short term goals?

Stock Options 141

Stock Options Startup Stock Salary 141

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2011

It has been at least a decade since going public via an Initial Public Offering (IPO) has been considered a credible exit strategy for startups. Draper III, in his new book titled “ The Startup Game.” Of course, you’re going to have to perform well to make that stock useful in the acquisitions process.

IPO 223

IPO Social Media Media Exit Strategy 223

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 22, 2010

This is part of my startup advice series. It’s still important advice for startup founders and something that I’m passionate about. Yes, if you were a startup CEO I would probably cut you some slack. If they are Google, Facebook and then a startup – you’re fine. You’re a startup founder.

Hiring 392

Hiring Employee Vesting Silicon Valley 392

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MARCH 11, 2014

That’s exactly my point is you’re up against either startups with funding or just entrenched names that have just been around a long time and have a ton of customers and brand value. That is always true for all startups until they get old, right? How do you split revenue? Jason: Exactly. That is always true.

Technical Cofounder 220

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Software Review Management 220

Scott Edward Walker

NOVEMBER 2, 2011

I’ve been a corporate lawyer for 17+ years, and there are certain fundamental legal mistakes that I’ve seen startups repeatedly make. Accordingly, I thought it would be helpful to provide a simple checklist for startups , which includes links to prior posts for a more detailed discussion.

Accredited Investor 111

Accredited Investor Stock Options Delaware Silicon Valley 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2018

With the current strong economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. Is your startup really ready to play in the corporate world? These looming constraints can turn your startup dream into a nightmare, all to increase funding.

Merger 198

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 198

Scalable Startup

OCTOBER 26, 2014

How is it that so many people associated with startups reap the financial benefits, yet others just as close get no financial upside This is a source of frustration among many people in the startup sphere. If the startup actually makes it to an IPO, there is actually something you can do. The rewards are pretty amazing.

Silicon Valley 25

Silicon Valley Hawaii Angel Investor IPO 25