Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

For example, a recent phone call I had with a young entrepreneur straight out of one of the most prestigious engineering schools in America he asked, “I have an offer for $400,000 in seed money but the VC wants me to agree now to bring in a new CEO.&# This company is doing its SEED round and they already want to bring someone new in.

Pakistan 297

Pakistan India Technical Review Software Review 297

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

They both raised angel / seed money of $1.5 Let’s consider the following two software companies, both of which have 66% gross margins. Both companies look the exact same after one year. million to fund operations in their first year of operations. Both companies lost $1 million in their first year.

Startup 418

Startup Revenue Technical Review Flash 418

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2011

Since they don’t know you (yet), their first integrity check on you as a person is whether your friends and family believe in you strongly enough to give you seed money for your new idea. You see, investors invest in people, before they invest in ideas or products. If they won’t do it, they why would I as stranger invest in you?

Early Stage 247

Early Stage Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence 247

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2010

Since they don’t know you (yet), their first integrity check on you as a person is whether your friends and family believe in you strongly enough to give you seed money for your new idea. You see, investors invest in people, before they invest in ideas or products. If they won’t do it, they why would I as stranger invest in you?

Technical Review 233

Technical Review Elevator Pitch Due Diligence Angel Investor 233

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 8, 2013

The Brandery provides each company with $20,000 in seed money, training sessions with other entrepreneurs and industry experts, and networking with more than 60 mentors who work with startups to provide insights and help grow each idea into an investable, scalable product.

Ohio 174

Ohio United States Angel Groups Startup 174

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

I raised $500k in seed money to start the company. I had just moved back to the US from living in Europe for 11 years. We had never purchased a house in Europe because we always knew we’d move home at some point. When we moved to Palo Alto we rented a place. year old boy and another one due in 1 months.

Founder 329

Founder Liquidation Preference Term Sheet Participating Preferred 329

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 11, 2023

I will tell you brief details about seed stage funding, and deal sourcing on this page, so read the conclusion until the end. What exactly is the seed funding? The initial official fundraising round is called seed funding, and it comes immediately after the pre-seed investment stage.

Seed Stage 147

Seed Stage Technical Review Early Stage Due Diligence 147

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Most of this advice boils down to an argument in favor of basic planning before starting a company or raising money. In many ways the fact that it has become so cheap to start a company and relatively cheap to raise angel/seed money that we as an industry have gotten lazy on basic planning. Incumbent Strengths & Weaknesses.

Startup 150

Startup Seed Money DC Software Review 150

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 30, 2022

Independent investors have to get used to the idea that the only people who usually manage to make very early investments in startups, providing the seed money, are the friends and family members of the founders, and of course the founders themselves.

Technical Review 165

Technical Review Due Diligence Angel Investor Startup 165

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2014

In the US, many entrepreneurs see grants as “free money,” since they are not loans and don’t have to be repaid. A grant is not an equity investment, so the entrepreneur doesn’t have to give up a stake in the company either.

Seed Money 242

Seed Money SBIR Dilution Government 242

Version One Ventures

APRIL 30, 2013

In addition to gathering seed money, hardware startups are also finding success in raising working capital to buy parts via online fundraisers on Tindie (another portfolio company). However, there’s a challenge when your investors are also your customers. The making of a hardware revolution.

Venture Capital 128

Venture Capital Software Review Incubator Startup 128

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

The industry has made it very easy for companies to raise seed money through online marketplaces like Angel List, accelorators. They're just not very good at raising venture capital--which, in the later stage, has more to do with your own ability to run a sales process.

Venture Capital 130

Venture Capital Marketing Term Sheet Software Review 130

Steve Blank

JUNE 11, 2009

Will there be a lecture on getting seed money in a post crisis world? Reply Michael Durwin , on June 12, 2009 at 10:11 am Said: As I embark on my first start-up I’m continuously bolstered by posts like these. Thanks Steve! Reply YA , on June 14, 2009 at 10:48 am Said: Interesting.

Cofounder 230

Cofounder Founder Silicon Valley Technical Cofounder 230

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 4, 2016

I need to admit to a personal bias right up front: I am not the biggest fan of borrowing seed money. In fact, when I founded Fit Body Boot Camp , I never took a single of cent of seed money, mainly because I wanted to maintain total control of my vision. DO Raise Seed Money Through Sales.

Seed Money 100

Seed Money Partner Audience Founder 100

Gust

MAY 11, 2014

In the US, many entrepreneurs see grants as “free money,” since they are not loans and don’t have to be repaid. A grant is not an equity investment, so the entrepreneur doesn’t have to give up a stake in the company either.

Seed Money 164

Seed Money SBIR Dilution Government 164

The Next Web

JANUARY 21, 2014

You can then use the $1,200 as seed money to work on a new idea. If you’re going to let money be your primary reason for selling you need to be emotionally detached from the app. It’s simply an asset, which you are exchanging for money. Don’t think of it as your baby.

Software Review 132

Software Review Revenue Seed Money Analytics 132

The Equity Kicker

AUGUST 20, 2014

With no team and no technical expertise Matt was planning to find a team and build out some product before starting to raise some seed money. His hypothesis was that consumers were moving towards last minute bookings and there was a gap in the market. Our unique model allowed him to get started straight away. USER RESEARCH.

Cofounder 95

Cofounder Founder Technical Cofounder Technical Review 95

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 23, 2018

But perhaps the best part of CRI is that it allows participants to focus full-time on innovation by giving innovators enough seed money — including $220,000 to spend on R&D at the laboratory and about $120,000 in salary, benefits and travel — to focus full-time on developing their technology for two years.

Incubator 104

Incubator SBIR Engineer Technical Support 104

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Startups need to understand how to manage the seed money they receive from investors and VCs. Law firms that focus on emerging technology companies understand their legal issues from multiple perspectives and offer excellent advice.

Convertible Security 100

Convertible Security IP Technical Review Software Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2013

Let’s assume $2 million in seed money. If the money comes from professional investors it usually has a “liquidation preference” meaning that their money comes out before the founders or common stock. It says if you want to make “real” money - quit. Get some famous angel or seed money.

Liquidation Preference 357

Liquidation Preference Early Stage Retention Lock-up Period 357

Version One Ventures

JULY 22, 2014

There’s a lot of “easy” early-stage money floating around right now, but don’t get fooled into taking seed money if you don’t have a viable path for later rounds. News Angel investor AngelList Bootstrapping funding Seed money Series A round Startup company venture capital'

Finance 167

Finance Seed Money Bootstrapping Angel Investor 167

Steve Blank

APRIL 8, 2010

We thought we’d take our plan and go raise seed money. We can’t raise money knowing our plan is wrong.”. He replied, “Well the customers are not acting like we predicted in our plan! There must be something really wrong with our business. Here’s why. No Plan Survives First Contact With Customers.

Business Model 332

Business Model Business Plan Customer Cap Table 332

Feld Thoughts

OCTOBER 15, 2013

Accelerators business david cohen entrepreneur global accelerator network Seed money TechStars United States Venture Capital' The post A Quality Benchmark for Accelerators: The Global Accelerator Network appeared first on Feld Thoughts.

Global 179

Global Networking United States Seed Money 179

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2013

Most schools have business plan competitions, and even give out seed money to winners. Pick an idea, any idea. There is nothing like writing and pitching a business plan that makes you realize what you don’t know. Once you graduate, you can’t take that course you need, and even the advisors are gone. Business networking is key.

Entrepreneur 264

Entrepreneur Seed Money Social Network Business Plan 264

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Most schools have business plan competitions, and even give out seed money to winners. Pick an idea, any idea. There is nothing like writing and pitching a business plan that makes you realize what you don’t know. Once you graduate, you can’t take that course you need, and even the advisors are gone. Business networking is key.

Entrepreneur 264

Entrepreneur Seed Money Social Network Business Plan 264

The Entrepreneurial Mind

NOVEMBER 22, 2011

Even thought money for entrepreneurial ventures is tougher to find than it was in the boom times, there still is money out there. Even seed stage ventures can find backing if they are patient, determined, and have a strong enough business model.

Seed Money 64

Seed Money Seed Stage Business Model 64

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 2, 2011

They might have some seed money and are thinking or raising a Series A based on success of an early release (MVP). A lot of my time is spent helping early-stage companies get to proof points so that they can raise capital. What are they really looking for?

Valuation 198

Valuation Revenue Pre-Money Valuation Early Stage 198

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 14, 2014

But he chose to move forward with a positive attitude, raise seed money for his company, and network his way to a profitable future. His history with drugs and violence could have easily led to a cycle of crime, poverty, and incarceration, as it does for many people with criminal records. How to Position Yourself for Funding.

Bootstrapping 249

Bootstrapping Startup Seed Money New York 249

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 9, 2013

If you’re a venture-backed tech company or even an early-stage business fueled by angel or seed money I assume you have a good group of board members or advisors who will give you time to be helpful and they want to be helpful. If I’m in your shoes I’d think about what is most critical to help your business succeed.

Advisory Board 337

Advisory Board Valuation Stock Options Seed Money 337

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2013

The explosion in seed funding, without a corresponding explosion in investors willing to lead the next round (Series A), may mean that you can’t get a second round and will be “orphaned” or die. Seeded companies will take longer to raise a next round. As soon as you get seed money, it’s time to start working on the next round.

Massachusetts 249

Massachusetts Silicon Valley Venture Capital California 249

YoungUpstarts

JULY 17, 2020

Contributing seed money to an employee’s HSA or 401K, or instituting a match program for contributions, can encourage employees to save. Of course, you want to make sure that your employees are also feeling financially secure.

Startup 287

Startup Wisconsin Stock Options Dividend 287

Babbling VC

JUNE 10, 2010

Anyway, they passed on that, if I remember correctly turning their nose up at venture capital. :-) Yet, when Nils had launched Cellity, they came back to us to pitch this idea (together with Mangrove who had already injected seed money) and we eventually ended up investing shortly thereafter. Emporis This one is a bit of an outlier.

Software Review 64

Software Review Due Diligence Venture Capital Germany 64

Version One Ventures

DECEMBER 14, 2016

At the same time, seed money is still abundant due to the proliferation of micro VC over the past few years. The fundraising environment is certainly tougher for later rounds. From Series A and onwards, fundraising takes longer and valuations are typically below the expectations and benchmarks of 2015.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Early Stage Portfolio Valuation 60

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2010

Most schools have business plan competitions, and even give out seed money to winners. Pick an idea, any idea. There is nothing like writing and pitching a business plan that makes you realize what you don’t know. Once you graduate, you can’t take that course you need, and even the advisors are gone. Business networking is key.

Seed Money 225

Seed Money Social Network Networking Business Plan 225

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2010

To get the mentors and the seed money, the start-up teams must clearly demonstrate what I call Moxie, the strength of character to play the game to its conclusion. The others go home, empty-handed, but typically energized, rather than defeated. This process is not for the faint of heart. The entry screenings are tough.

Incubator 201

Incubator Programming Virginia DC 201

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 20, 2011

His company had raised seed money already. But this particular guy who called me for advice I suspect had a different problem. It was the silent killer. The one he probably had no chance of identifying. He was price signaling without knowing it. They had good assets and initial market traction.

Dilution 284

Dilution Valuation Seed Money Differentiation 284

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 13, 2014

Looking back to its origins you find it began with just $20,000 in seed money. When doing so, you will quickly realize many did not begin with standout rounds of investment in the millions of dollars. For example, home sharing service AirBnB was recently valued at around $2.5

Angel Investor 217

Angel Investor Seed Money LLC Bootstrapping 217