This is going to be BIG.
FEBRUARY 21, 2021
Fundraising takes a long time. I’m a female founder. I don’t have a technical co-founder. I don’t have enough traction. These are all of the things I heard from a founder that I recently backed. She was pitching for a pre-seed round of $400k. I committed to the round, but I wanted to see her raise a bit more—at least $750k, but perhaps up to $1.5mm.
Dream It
FEBRUARY 5, 2021
We did a previous dose on 5 things investors wish startups knew. Go here if you missed it. Well, that didn’t cover everything. Managing Partner, Steve Barsh , sat down to give us 5 MORE things investors wish startups knew. Keep reading for some more of the most common mistakes startups make when pitching and for Steve’s tips on how to fix them. 1. Share your unique insight What did you discover that sets you apart from other startups?
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Entrepreneurs' Organization
FEBRUARY 17, 2021
Contributed by Rich Mulholland, an EO member in Cape Town and founder of Missing Link. On 15 March 2020, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa–like many other world leaders–declared a national State of Disaster. This meant that there would be no public gatherings and that a lockdown was imminent. That’s bad news if you make your living from live conferences, like we did.
A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC
FEBRUARY 1, 2021
I’ve been thinking a lot about the economics of rooftop solar. Our family has invested in rooftop solar over the last five years in an attempt to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our electric bills. When you do that in combination with electrification of your heating and cooling (using electric heat pumps vs gas or oil), you can save money and live a more sustainable life.
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Generative AI is upending the way product developers & end-users alike are interacting with data. Despite the potential of AI, many are left with questions about the future of product development: How will AI impact my business and contribute to its success? What can product managers and developers expect in the future with the widespread adoption of AI?
The Seraf Compass
FEBRUARY 18, 2021
As a director on an early stage company board, how do you deliver on your main responsibility as a board member - maximizing shareholder value? And, what do you do to make sure the CEO is doing her job in increasing the value of your investment in the company? And what good is the increase in value if it is not accompanied by sufficient liquidity to realize it?
Startup Catalyst Brief brings together the best content for the entrepreneurial ecosystem from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
TechCrunch
FEBRUARY 13, 2021
Welcome back to The TechCrunch Exchange, a weekly startups-and-markets newsletter. It’s broadly based on the daily column that appears on Extra Crunch , but free, and made for your weekend reading. Want it in your inbox every Saturday morning? Sign up here. . Ready? Let’s talk money, startups and spicy IPO rumors. Earlier this week TechCrunch broke the news that Public, a consumer stock trading service, was in the process of raising more money.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners
FEBRUARY 1, 2021
STATE COLLEGE, PA –Ben Franklin’s Tech Celerator @StateCollege; a partnership with the Invent Penn State initiative, is again offering local entrepreneurs, grad-students, professors, and university researchers its VIRTUAL 10-Week Business Startup Boot Camp. You’ll expand your network, engage with other successful entrepreneurs, discuss your business model with experts and develop a pitch that could win you up to $10,000!
Entrepreneurs' Organization
FEBRUARY 24, 2021
Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)’s purpose is to help entrepreneurs achieve their full potential by enabling life-enhancing connections, designing shared experiences and providing collaborative learning. EO’s quarterly Impact Day events, as part of the sustainability plan, including “Reimagine Success” and “Designing Your Future,” focus on our planet and the vital role businesses play in building a sustainable future.
A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC
FEBRUARY 8, 2021
Many/most of you know that a lot of my philanthropic time and energy is dedicated to making sure that all K12 students, but particularly young women and students of color, have access to a high quality computer science education. When I started this work a decade or more ago, I would regularly run into well-meaning people in the education system who would say something like “oh, that’s not for my students” and it would p**s me off and I would try to explain that anyone can lear
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Mighty Financial specializes in supporting the financial aspirations of small businesses and entrepreneurs. With our comprehensive bookkeeping and precise accounting expertise with decades of experience across diverse financial roles, our team offers tailor-made services ranging from essential bookkeeping to strategic fractional CFO support, catered specifically to the unique challenges of technology companies, startups, and SMEs.
Entrepreneur's Handbook
FEBRUARY 18, 2021
Forewarned is forearmed Photo by Anna Schvets via Pexels 18 months ago, I decided to start my own business. Why not? I had a great idea for a tool the market was crying out for, and a technical co-founder to build it. Having worked in the startup world for a few years, I also thought I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting myself into. I look back and chuckle.
StartupNation
FEBRUARY 25, 2021
The perfect side hustle fuses passion, expertise and a prototyping mindset. Hustling comes naturally to entrepreneurs, and during the pandemic, it has become even more essential to get out there and make a buck. To naysayers who fear a side venture might divert them from an amazing startup or great job down the line, listen close: side hustling is cross-training for your best business performance.
TechCrunch
FEBRUARY 13, 2021
There’s always a fintech angle , even on Valentine’s Day. This week, I covered Zeta, a new startup working on joint finances for modern couples. It aims to take away the money chores of a relationship, from splitting the bill at dinner to requesting rent through a payment app every month. Aditi Shekar, the co-founder, gave me some notes about why the ongoing popularity of Venmo is validation for the company, instead of competition.
Tomasz Tunguz
FEBRUARY 8, 2021
At Redpoint, we believe 2020 is the decade of data. We’ve partnered in the leaders of the next generation of data from the earliest stages; companies like Snowflake, Looker, and Dremio. Leaders rely more on data every day to inform our decisions, to power our products, and to communicate. In short, the data pipelines that move data from one place to another have become the nervous system of the modern organization.
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Lack of digitalization decreases business competitiveness. To thrive, embracing modern solutions becomes essential. The approach to digitalization often aligns with a company's business model. This shift not only boosts productivity but also automates processes and improves security. The tech market offers a wealth of technologies tailored for management, planning, and forecasting, replacing outdated pen-and-paper methods.
Entrepreneurs' Organization
FEBRUARY 10, 2021
Contributed by Miranda Naiman, founder and managing partner of Empower, a Tanzanian consulting firm and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. . It’s 2:17am on December 17 2020 and my tightly booted feet trudge gradually forward in zig-zag formation up a 70 percent incline in the eerie darkness. An artic breeze bites my exposed face—the balaclava pulled down to allow extra oxygen deep into my lungs.
Smart Hustle Magazine
FEBRUARY 10, 2021
Small businesses are vital to our global economy, yet they are disproportionately vulnerable to the economic fallout from COVID-19. In fact, more than 70 percent of small business leaders felt a moderate-to-large negative effect from the pandemic, according to an October 2020 U.S. Census Bureau Small Business Pulse Survey. While 4.9 million PPP loans were issued this summer to provide relief for small businesses, it is uncertain how many businesses will benefit from this next wave of governme
Entrepreneur's Handbook
FEBRUARY 3, 2021
And what his approach can teach you about how to deal with “The Next Big Thing” Continue reading on Entrepreneur's Handbook ».
StartupNation
FEBRUARY 2, 2021
Over 3.2 million Americans filed a business application in 2020, 500,000 more than in 2019. Are you a member of this group? If so, you’re proof that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America despite present day challenges. As a new business owner, you’re likely struggling with where to spend your valuable resources (time, energy and money) to run the most successful business you can.
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CAPTARGET presents a masterclass in M&A deal sourcing. Learn to cast a wide net, embracing seller self-identification. Consistency is the linchpin: keep the origination process steady for a reliable flow of opportunities. Diversify your tactics, employing various tools and vendors. Tech matters! Understand DNS settings, domain authority, and brand presence for optimal outreach.
TechCrunch
FEBRUARY 8, 2021
Getaway CEO Jon Staff said that while the startup’s offerings weren’t designed with a pandemic in mind, they turned out to be well-suited for a time when people were eager to find safe ways to get off Zoom and out of their homes. Founded in 2015, Getaway builds “Outposts” — collections of tiny cabins in rustic locations within a two-hour drive of major cities like Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles and New York.
Tomasz Tunguz
FEBRUARY 2, 2021
On Wednesday, February 17th at 9:30 AM PT, Redpoint Office Hours will host Allison Pickens , the former COO of Gainsight and one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women. Throughout her time there, she scaled the SaaS company from $1M ARR to pre- IPO, along the way, creating the category of customer success software, and paving the way for Gainsight’s $1.1B sale.
Y Combinator
FEBRUARY 23, 2021
Songe LaRon didn’t have experience working in the barbershop world when he first had the idea for Squire , a business management and point-of-sales software focusing on barbershop owners. He did, however, have firsthand knowledge of the customer experience. Beginning at the age of six or seven, LaRon started frequenting the barber with his dad. Twenty years later, he realized the industry hadn’t evolved much.
Smart Hustle Magazine
FEBRUARY 24, 2021
Do you want to start or grow your business? Let’s do a spot check and see if you have these 10 key pillars of a successful business: 10 Small Business Pillars. Target audience. Are you getting clients and serving your audience? Business solution. Does your business solve a specific problem? Pricing. Do you have pricing down? Capacity. Are you built to the right scale?
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr
Entrepreneur's Handbook
FEBRUARY 17, 2021
Here’s what you can learn from the 25-year-old prodigy Continue reading on Entrepreneur's Handbook ».
StartupNation
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Join StartupNation, Dell Technologies and Microsoft for a free LIVE webinar and Q&A on modern workplace solutions and collaboration technologies on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. ET! Register for the free webinar here! Leveraging technology to ensure business agility is important in any environment, but in today’s world of COVID-19 where it’s your main or only way to collaborate with employees and customers, it’s truly imperative.
TechCrunch
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Demetrius Curry has spent the last couple years chasing a dream. His startup, College Cash , allows brands to petition users to create photo and video marketing content highlighting their product or service, with the wrinkle being that content creators are paid by the brands in the form of credits that go directly toward paying down their student loan debt.
Feedough
FEBRUARY 23, 2021
You not only have to be an innovator but also a leader if you want to succeed in the startup ecosystem. For a startup to exist, you should have a disruptive idea, the right investor, and unique positioning. But more than that, you need to be an exceptional leader to lead the startup and make it stay in the market for long. Startup leadership is a unique art that not everyone possesses.
Speaker: Wayne Spivak - President and Chief Financial Officer of SBA * Consulting LTD, Industry Writer, and Public Speaker
The old adages that "cash is king" and "you can’t spend profits" still hold true today. But however well-known these sayings might be, it requires a change in mindset to properly implement a cash flow management system that predicts your business's runaway as accurately as possible. Key to this new mindset is understanding the difference between the Statement of Cash Flows, a historical look at the source and uses of cash, and the Cash Flow Statement, which uses transaction history and forward-l
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