Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. Yet as an active angel investor, I still get this question on a regular basis, so I’ll try to outline the considerations in common-sense terms. Examples include charitable organizations, trade unions, and public arts organizations.

Angel 52

Angel Funding Equity Technical Review 52

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t invest in non-profits. Examples include charitable organizations, trade unions, and public arts organizations. 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.

Equity 83

Equity Technical Review Organization Startup 83

Tech.Co

JULY 18, 2016

It’s no secret that Los Angeles is home to a bevy of celebrities. startups wanting to get recognized, Tech.Co’s Startup Showcase in Los Angeles on July 26th is the perfect opportunity. startups wanting to get recognized, Tech.Co’s Startup Showcase in Los Angeles on July 26th is the perfect opportunity.

Los Angeles 70

Los Angeles Angel Startup Newsletter 70

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations. These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2014

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over 60 times as many companies, according the Center for Venture Research. Individual angel investors have been filling the gap, and now match VCs in total amount invested.

Angel 104

Angel Funding Startup Venture Capital 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2022

For example, is the person who starts a new trend likely to be the one who controls it through the growth phase? You have very little money, and you don’t want to give away your equity. Giving equity is realistic, but base it on contribution and role, with vesting after time and milestones. The right motivated employees dilemma.

Startup 130

Startup USC Entrepreneur Statistics 130

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

Angel investors are still the lifeblood of early-stage startups, despite the surge of activity in crowdfunding and an increasing early interest from venture capitalists. According to the Angel Capital Association , at least 300,000 people have made angel investments in the last two years, totaling $24 billion in the U.S.

Angel 65

Angel Startup Technical Review Social Media 65

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over twice as many companies, according the Crunchbase. Individual angel investors and crowdfunding have been adding to the momentum, some say exceeding VCs in total amount invested.

Funding 125

Funding Venture Capital Startup Class 125

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

Based on my own years of experience in startups and big business, and more recently as an angel investor, I often cringe when I see one of you entrepreneurs missing a cue that I have seen work for many before you. For example, if you have ever watched the Shark Tank show on TV, they always ask about the cost of customer acquisition.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations. These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2010

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t invest in non-profits. Examples include charitable organizations, trade unions, and public arts organizations. 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.

Angel 57

Angel Technical Review Startup Organization 57

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

With the advent and popularity of crowdfunding platforms, including Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , as a winning alternative for funding your new venture, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs are confused about the need to ever seek a professional angel investor. In the real world, most angels are regular business people like you and me.

Funding 119

Funding Startup Platform Examples 119

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 8, 2019

. “If big companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon are prevented from acquiring startups, that actually reduces competition,” Sirinivasan writes. If big companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon are prevented from acquiring startups, that actually reduces competition. — Balaji S.

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Startup Chief Technology Officer Social Media 144

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

But there are notable examples of for-profit incubators that are thriving, including YCombinator , led by Paul Graham in Silicon Valley, and TechStars , led by David Cohen and located in several key cities around the country, that have an excellent reputation and track record. That’s about the same ratio that angel investors claim.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

But there are notable examples of for-profit incubators that are thriving, including YCombinator , led by Paul Graham in Silicon Valley, and TechStars , led by David Cohen and located in several key cities around the country, that have an excellent reputation and track record. That’s about the same ratio that angel investors claim.

Resource 159

Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 8, 2020

He did note that in the four markets where the company has gone live since launching its business in January 2019 — San Diego, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire , and Sacramento — has yielded an annualized revenue run rate of over $400 million in gross merchandise value (the total value of home sales transacted on its platform).

Sales 282

Sales Demand San Diego Funding 282

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

High-profile entrepreneurs and investors, Peter Thiel, for example , have left. Of Benchmark’s 10 most recent investments, for example, eight were based in SF, according to Crunchbase. It may be because of heightened competition abroad. .’ The author outlined reasons why the Valley has “peaked.”

Venture Capital 279

Venture Capital Startup Capital Entrepreneur 279

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2015

An example of a startup which used non-organic growth early and effectively was Microsoft. Some people feel that organic growth is “better” because it requires real innovation and sustained effort to create long-term competitive advantage through differentiation and efficiency. Even mergers and acquisitions (M&A) came quickly.

Organization 100

Organization Startup Competition IBM 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2019

For example, is the person who starts a new trend likely to be the one who controls it through the growth phase? You have very little money, and you don’t want to give away your equity. Giving equity is realistic, but base it on contribution and role, with vesting after time and milestones. The right motivated employees dilemma.

Startup 97

Startup USC Entrepreneur Statistics 97

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2012

An example of a startup which used non-organic growth early and effectively was Microsoft. Some people feel that organic growth is “better” because it requires real innovation and sustained effort to create long-term competitive advantage through differentiation and efficiency. Even mergers and acquisitions (M&A) came early.

Entrepreneur 99

Entrepreneur Organization Startup Competition 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t invest in non-profits. Examples include charitable organizations, trade unions, and public arts organizations. 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.

Funding 95

Funding Technical Review Organization Equity 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t invest in non-profits. Examples include charitable organizations, trade unions, and public arts organizations. 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.

Technical Review 87

Technical Review Organization Equity Startup 87

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist. For example, “I just patented a new cell-phone technology that will double battery life for half the cost.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

But the majority of VCs & Angels all speak. Have you looked at competition? How well financed is the competition? Convertible or equity? I’ll give you an example of information flow at its worst. My advice: Do not mention the other VC firms, angels, seed funds, etc. It’s called competition.

Pricing 292

Pricing Entrepreneur Technical Review Venture Capital 292

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Capitalism is fundamentally about timing, since market competition is about finding opportunities before others. Mithril is struggling to compete against ferocious competition in the growth-stage equity market. If there was a process or bidding war or something resembling a competition, he would just walk,” the employee said.

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

An example of a startup which used non-organic growth early and effectively was Microsoft. Some people feel that organic growth is “better” because it requires real innovation and sustained effort to create long-term competitive advantage through differentiation and efficiency. Even mergers and acquisitions (M&A) came early.

Startup 93

Startup Organization Competition IBM 93

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 16, 2015

There’s plenty of capital out there, but there’s also a lot of competition for startup funding. Angels (invest their own money) and super angels. If you’re raising funds from angels you’ll likely need to get investments from several different players. Expect to be diluted by 20-25% with each equity round.

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Equity Funding 40

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2016

Prime examples include Uber, Airbnb and Snapchat. Super-angel investors (micro-VCs). These terms refer to a class of professional investors who invest their own money, like angels, but have the larger resources and scope of venture capitalists with other people’s money. Sweat equity. Equity crowdfunding.

Startup 57

Startup Software Review Equity Invest 57

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

But there are notable examples of for-profit incubators that are thriving, including YCombinator , led by Paul Graham in Silicon Valley, and TechStars , led by David Cohen and located in several key cities around the country, that have an excellent reputation and track record. That’s about the same ratio that angel investors claim.

Incubator 87

Incubator Startup Resource Seed Funding 87

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2014

For example, is the person who starts a new trend likely to be the one who controls it through the growth phase? You have very little money, and you don’t want to give away your equity. Giving equity is realistic, but base it on contribution and role, with vesting after time and milestones. The right motivated employees dilemma.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Statistics Equity Satisfaction 107

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2016

But there are notable examples of for-profit incubators that are thriving, including YCombinator , led by Paul Graham in Silicon Valley, and TechStars , led by David Cohen and located in several key cities around the country, that have an excellent reputation and track record. That’s about the same ratio that Angel investors claim.

Incubator 106

Incubator Startup Help Resource 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

There is a common belief in the angel and venture capital community that you put your money on the best team, rather than the best idea. In my angel investor mode, I often find myself flipping to the “management” section of a business plan, even before I read the solution description and opportunity. Able to communicate on every level.

Startup 60

Startup Entrepreneur Software Review Technical Review 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

As an occasional angel investor, I always ask for a business pitch to get me in the mood. Intellectual property and sustainable competitive advantage. Specific investment size request, and equity offered. Examples of similar events in your industry are especially helpful.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

socalTECH

MARCH 31, 2014

Bitvore is based in Irvine, and is backed by serial entrepreneur Yuri Pikover, as well as other angels. A good example of this, we can keep track of a supply chain. To give you an overview, there are something like 6,000 equities in the U.S. It wouldn''t be covered in the Los Angeles Times, and not by the San Diego papers.

Orange County 245

Orange County Startup News IBM 245

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2010

An example of a startup which used non-organic growth early and effectively was Microsoft. Some people feel that organic growth is “better” because it requires real innovation and sustained effort to create long-term competitive advantage through differentiation and efficiency. Even mergers and acquisitions (M&A) came early.

Acquisition 85

Acquisition Startup Organization Competition 85

socalTECH

JUNE 20, 2012

There is a large menu of startup accelerators in the Los Angeles, but one of more established efforts in the area is LaunchpadLA ([link] The effort actually started as an informal mentoring program, but has grown and expanded to follow the accelerator model. We were founded in 2009 by Mark Suster from GRP Partners.

Class 261

Class Mentor Startup Santa Monica 261

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

Every startup needs to start their funding search looking for grants, with no equity dilution, as well as contests and foundations. These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Capital Class Startup 55