Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

It should help some entrepreneurs to better access early-stage capital and should allow some angel investors better access to deal flow. If you know, VCs end up writing sizable checks into their own funds, which is important in better aligning interests. Less investments, more active. For starters, what is AngelList Syndicates?

Venture Capital 356

Venture Capital Invest Course Technical Review 356

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 15, 2010

This sometimes frustrates entrepreneurs who just want to “get back to running the business.&# But if you understand it you’ll see that it is perfectly rational and it should also influence how you form relationships with investors. For this reason I tell entrepreneurs the following: Meet your potential investors early.

Invest 411

Invest Technical Review Venture Capital Startup 411

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. For aspiring entrepreneurs, or if your last startup failed, it’s all about standing out above the crowd of others like you, and demonstrating your readiness.

Entrepreneur 156

Entrepreneur Tips Funding Startup 156

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2014

PR is an insanely valuable activity in early-stage companies. But as I like to tell entrepreneurs, great PR could add $10 million to your valuation or increase your chances of closing a round 2x and either case is a reason to make sure you have good press. Very few investors understand this and even fewer startups.

Press 415

Press Google Course Writing 415

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

Of course these are great places to network with other investors, meet great entrepreneurs and keep your connections strong with senior execs at larger companies like Yahoo!, I know I can’t be in every deal and I know that the easy part of being a VC is writing the first check in a deal. And there’s conferences. Web Summit.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 5, 2011

Grade A Entrepreneurs , September 5, 2010 Why Krispy Kreme failed in Australia - Start Up Blog , November 3, 2010 Mellow Johnny’s: Retail Stores as Community Hubs - IDDICTIVE.COM , July 14, 2010 Is crowdfunding an option for my business?

Startup 378

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Coach 378

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2021

In my role as mentor to many of you aspiring entrepreneurs, I often find you convinced that all you need to start is a unique innovation or idea , and now you are ready to jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride. Remember that being an entrepreneur is all about starting and running a business, after the initial invention.

Satisfaction 135

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Startup Mentor 135

InfoChachkie

JULY 23, 2012

Serial entrepreneur, venture investor and startup accelerator pioneer Brad Feld has notoriously mocked traditional marketing throughout his career. Instead of focusing on marketing as an activity… integrate it into (your) products.”. Instead of focusing on marketing as an activity… integrate it into (your) products.”.

Marketing 233

Marketing Blogging Startup Venture Capital 233

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2021

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. I hope all this seems obvious to you, but I still get a good number of notes from “entrepreneurs” who have been busy inventing things all their life, but can’t find a partner to start their first business, and others trying to find an executive, an investor, or a lawyer.

Entrepreneur 140

Entrepreneur Startup Social Network Mentor 140

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2013

If you are one of the new age of entrepreneurs who hates the thought of doing a business plan as a first step in starting your new venture you will love this message. You will never remove all uncertainties, so accept them, and plan your activities in an incremental fashion. No entrepreneur can survive as an island.

Writing 102

Writing Startup Entrepreneur Capital 102

socalTECH

JUNE 8, 2011

It's the biggest portion of our revenues at our company, and our clients include the Buffalo News, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, JDate, Spark network, and many entrepreneurs. It looks like a lot of your execs have background at Active Network? As part of that, I built a ton of relationships at Active. It's similar to a franchise.

Platform 263

Platform Training Software Review Advertising 263

Berkonomics

MAY 22, 2014

Bill Payne has been actively involved in angel investing since 1980, funding over 50 companies and mentoring over 100 more. In most cases, those entrepreneurs choosing to raise capital using PPMs retain specialists (many of whom are lawyers) to write their PPMs – a rather expensive undertaking. By Bill Payne.

Writing 199

Writing Invest Entrepreneur Equity 199

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2014

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. For aspiring entrepreneurs, or if your last startup failed, it’s all about standing out above the crowd of others like you. Financial model.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Slides 108

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 18, 2010

As a startup entrepreneur you’ll have many demands for your time. The problem is that the scarcest resource in any entrepreneur’s life is your time. “Thank you for writing to me – it’s nice to hear from you (or meet you) via email. Everyone will want you to speak at conferences. I totally agree!

Startup 305

Startup Venture Capital Writing Conference 305

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 1, 2011

If you take a snapshot during an extraordinary surge in valuations, M&A activity, IPOs and thus wealth creation you’d echo John Doerr’s famous quote from 1999 that, “The Internet is the greatest legal creation of wealth in history.&# I hope to offer experiences from being an entrepreneur and being a VC.&#.

Startup 391

Startup Blogging Venture Capital Writing 391

TechCrunch LA

JULY 21, 2020

Equally as important, Uhrman was part of a casual pick-up basketball game among women investors, entrepreneurs and their friends in Los Angeles that Nortman had helped set up. For each of the founders, activism and community engagement is as important as the business of setting up a new sports business in Los Angeles.

Writing 171

Writing Los Angeles Equity Startup 171

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

We are doing what we do – writing larger checks and playing an active role at the company. But I have always warned of the consequences of not very well regulated situations in wish investors (and even entrepreneurs) produce information bordering on financial malfeasance. Is this investor on AngelList? You betcha.

Venture Capital 352

Venture Capital Seed Funding Email Blogging 352

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2010

A while back, when a startup founder mentioned to me that he wasn’t sure he had the personality to be an entrepreneur, I realized how important that insight was. So here is a list of personality characteristics which I believe are absolutely necessary for you as an entrepreneur to see in yourself. Actively seek others input.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Writing 106

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

As an angel investor and a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always disappointed to see founders who seem stressed out most of the time, and more annoyed than energized by the abundance of challenges they see in building their startup. Investors and strategic partners look for entrepreneurs who can execute.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Ideas 110

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2020

As an angel investor and a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always disappointed to see founders who seem stressed out most of the time, and more annoyed than energized by the abundance of challenges they see in building their startup. Investors and strategic partners look for entrepreneurs who can execute.

Startup 171

Startup Entrepreneur Activity Ideas 171

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2013

If you can’t solve problems and enjoy it, you won’t make it as an entrepreneur. By definition, an entrepreneur is the first to undertake a given business, and firsts never happen without problems and people frustrations. Here are some basics rules: Practice active listening. Put the decision in writing to prevent ambiguity.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Training Customer 107

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 15, 2012

One the most frequent questions asked of me by entrepreneurs is, "How can I become a Venture Capitalist?" The inquiry is common because being a VC is (to an entrepreneur, at least) a sexy job. All you need do to become an Angel is identify a promising venture and write a check. Microscopic Industry. Manipulate Your Odds.

Venture Capital 242

Venture Capital Technical Review Invest RSS 242

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2016

Some people even believe that entrepreneurs must be born with the right genes, and no element of education is relevant. In my view, the most effective entrepreneurs are those with a background of an array of real-life experiences, both positive and negative, as well as good academic and coaching activities.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Tips Writing Coach 98

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2010

This experience made me want to dig into my archives, re-write & publish this piece. Get a reference list - Most entrepreneurs do almost no reference checks or at least do them very informally. Focus on the companies that went through tough times – For some reason most entrepreneurs do. Don’t let that be you.

Venture Capital 298

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Capital Help 298

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2019

The challenge is to adequately define leadership in terms of everyday activities. Most entrepreneurs believe they are leaders, even though the feedback I get from their team and partners may indicate otherwise. Thus I’m always looking for more practical guidance on the right activities to be perceived as a business leader.

Activity 92

Activity Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2011

I’ve long believed that entrepreneurs are different. We all know successful entrepreneurs who dropped out of school, and people with high IQs that cannot manage a business. Successful entrepreneurs always seem to have several good intelligences. Entrepreneurs particularly need interpersonal intelligence.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Writing Design Activity 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2012

I’ve long believed that entrepreneurs are different. We all know successful entrepreneurs who dropped out of school, and people with high IQs that cannot manage a business. Successful entrepreneurs always seem to have several good intelligences. Entrepreneurs particularly need interpersonal intelligence.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Writing Design Activity 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2018

As an angel investor and a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always disappointed to see founders who seem stressed out most of the time, and more annoyed than energized by the abundance of challenges they see in building their startup. Investors and strategic partners look for entrepreneurs who can execute.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Ideas 100

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 10, 2010

I graduated this class and at all of 16 years old wanted to be an entrepreneur. Lawrence) both helped me master the rules of writing and tap into my creativity. I know that I make grammar and spelling errors in this blog but I promise it’s through speed of writing, typing and publishing and not through a lack of knowledge.

Class 340

Class Education Technical Review Writing 340

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2013

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. As with many startup activities, you only have one chance for a great first impression. Communication and writing skills are required. ROI entrepreneur startup metrics social media business'

Social Media 101

Social Media Media Entrepreneur Metrics 101

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2013

Despite the increase in startup activity in Southern California, local venture capital funds are still few and far between, and a large chunk of the funding here is still from Sand Hill Road. Being so open, when entrepreneurs think about capital, we want to be top of mind. Tell us about the new fund? Mark Suster: It''s a $200M fund.

Funding 196

Funding Venture Capital Los Angeles Social Media 196

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2013

One of the toughest challenges of an entrepreneur in building a startup is the fact that there are so many things that you don’t know how to do, or don’t like to do. I haven’t met an entrepreneur yet who can honestly say they haven’t felt this challenge. Write down the real deadline. These aren’t fun, especially for a visionary.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Examples 103

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

I’m an entrepreneur at heart so I’m always inspired when I hear stories about innovation. It’s why my investment philosophy is called, “ the entrepreneur thesis.&#. Passionate Entrepreneurs & Ambassadors. You need to have passionate tech entrepreneurs who want to build businesses locally.

Venture Capital 317

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Press 317

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2013

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. I hope all this seems obvious to you, but I still get a good number of notes from “entrepreneurs” who have been busy inventing things all their life, but can’t find a partner to start their first business, and others trying to find an executive, an investor, or a lawyer.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Tips Startup Social Network 108

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

A while back, when a startup founder mentioned to me that he wasn’t sure he had the personality to be an entrepreneur, I realized how important that insight was. So here is a list of mentality characteristics which I believe are absolutely necessary for you as an entrepreneur to see in yourself. Actively seek others input.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Writing 100

socalTECH

MAY 10, 2010

When I was visited by many companies at my old firm I was amazed at how many entrepreneurs would try to cram as much as they possibly could into their pitch. I assumed that people would view my worth as the literal sum of the activities listed. I assumed that people would view my worth as the literal sum of the activities listed.

Activity 140

Activity Writing Sales Entrepreneur 140

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2013

Most of the young entrepreneurs I know are classic proof of the old adage that people tend to overestimate what they can do in a short period, and underestimate what they can do over a long period. By writing just 500 words a day in a blog, I suddenly realized that I had enough for a book in just a few months.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Blogging 100