Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

I’ve written a few posts about boards recently as part of a series on the subject. I admit that I haven’t yet read it but I’ve had numerous discussions with Brad over the years about board structure & conduct and consider him a mentor on the topic. Offering a sparring-partner function on strategic decisions.

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board mentorship media advice 325

Y Combinator

JULY 15, 2019

One of the most common questions we hear from founders is “How do I manage my board?” It’s something that provokes anxiety, because this is the first time the founder/CEO is subject to external supervision, and the board has powers that include the firing of the CEO and the senior management. But first, what’s the purpose of a board?

board 98

board frameworks advice peer-to-peer 98

Gust

JULY 15, 2012

I recommend that every early-stage startup find three Advisory Board members. For this, you should expect participation in monthly strategy and review meetings, and unlimited access via phone or email for questions, mentoring, and advice. The Advisory Board’s objectives and focus. Let’s talk specifics.

board 178

board startup mentorship strategy 178

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

When I first read Paul Graham’s blog post on “High Resolution&# Financing I read it as a treatise arguing that convertible notes are better than equity. Two strategies I talked about in the post for getting your “anchor tenants&# are 1) taking them on as advisors first and 2) giving early people cheaper pricing.

financing 286

financing finance advice VC 286

Entrepreneurs' Organization

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Whether it’s securing investment capital, marketing a concept, recruiting new talent or leaning on peers for support and advice, having a solid network can seriously work to your benefit. Enhance your self-discipline with these tips: Make habit-forming a priority by using apps or strategies like the 21-day rule. Change your strategy.

entrepreneurs 237

entrepreneurs peer-to-peer creativity networking 237

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Startups that are backed by professional financial investors almost always have a Board of Directors that consists of some set of founders, investors and sometimes independent directors. What exactly is the purpose of a Board of Directors and how do boards best function? I plan to write a series of posts on the topic.

board 204

board startup advice frameworks 204

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

Almost no financings, many VCs and tech startups cratered for the second time in less than a decade following the dot com bursting. Within 5 years I was on the board of real businesses with meaningful revenue, strong balance sheets, no debt and on the path to a few interesting exits. How’s that advice holding up?

VC 466

VC culture sustainability capital 466

TechCrunch

MAY 11, 2022

Marjorie Radlo-Zandi is an entrepreneur, board member, mentor to startups and angel investor who shows early-stage businesses how to build and successfully scale their businesses. There was no IP, no MVP and the founder had only a general idea of the go-to-market strategy. Marjorie Radlo-Zandi. Contributor. Share on Twitter.

peer-to-peer 109

peer-to-peer board strategy advice 109

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

I can’t tell you how many people have thanked me for this advice and say their productivity increased exponentially. One area I’ve had much discussion with the companies in which I’ve invested in is bringing on board an operationally focused CFO. And board confidence matters in growing companies.

board 338

board energy financing finance 338

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 22, 2010

It was thrilling for these angels to find a young entrepreneur with an idea for a business that seemed so destined for greatness that the angels invested over $1 million on the condition that the group receive two board seats and one observer seat on the start-up’s board. Email readers continue here.]

advice 61

advice real estate board angel investing 61

TechCrunch

MARCH 4, 2022

And it will require a lot more work, strategy and persistence on your part to tap into that kind of cash. It often means a new board member, a new valuation and a changing equity structure. It helps to have advice and insight from an experienced VC, and that’s why we’ve invited Peter A.

advice 86

advice venture capital strategy capital 86

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

This financial leader could well have come through the finance org at another startup or at a larger company but they often also can come from strategy consulting (Bain, BCG or McKinsey) or through investment banking (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, etc.).

innovation 286

innovation startup board leadership 286

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2013

They often ask whether they have to move to SF, NY or LA to get financed. ” I’m trying to get a feel for their commitment to local community versus being in a place where financing is easiest. I will commit to traveling to NYC seven times per year for board meetings. “ Startup Advice'

VC 365

VC board communities pitching 365

TechCrunch

MARCH 7, 2023

Plus, they were gracious enough to share some of the advice they’re giving to their portfolio companies. Private market valuations, at any point in time, are not only a reflection of a team’s hard work and progress, but are also impacted by the financing environment. What advice are you giving to your portfolio companies?

advice 110

advice ventures sustainability investing 110

TechCrunch

APRIL 25, 2023

I asked five early-stage investors to share frank advice for first-timers, and I’m going to save you some time: many (if not most) of you are probably not ready to pitch an investor. But, of course, part of my job as a board director and investor is making it feasible, as it is essential for maximizing the business’ success.

pitching 98

pitching incubation board opportunity 98

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 11, 2016

The number one advice I give is “stop trying to be too smart”. Think about how profound a difference adding Sheryl Sandberg early at Facebook was to Mark Zuckerberg and knowing that he should stay in charge of product and strategy while she ran operations. It’s the founders who are willing to let you join their boards.

venture capital 363

venture capital capital ventures VC 363

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

We don’t lay claim to being the only VC to change or think about the future or to having the only or best strategy. Investing early in the lifecycle of a startups history where we can have the biggest impact on strategy & team development and deliver the highest returns if we are successful. Startup Advice'

ventures 324

ventures VC strategy advice 324

TechCrunch

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

The job board has more than 217,000 listings with jobs across the spectrum, from tech to blue-collar industries. Instead, wrkfrce makes money through affiliate links on its job board, advertising remote-work tools and consultancy fees it charges companies that ask for advice on how to scale a remote team.

startup 100

startup consulting advice media 100

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

I had an enjoyable conversation this morning with a young team straight out of college this morning and they were calling to ask advice on how to approach fund raising (angels vs. VCs, how to select a VC, etc.) Startup Advice VC Industry' Deals done in your industry? It’s a bit of all of these. Industry or Operating Experience?

VC 364

VC advice board leadership 364

Innovation 2 Enterprise

MARCH 26, 2021

A few of the critical functions of portfolio management are summarized below: Reporting: Finance: Management: Strategy: Scaling Sales: Capital Raises: Collecting and analyzing quarterly updates and financials. Attending meetings of the Board of Directors. Advising on the development of and executing on a detailed sales strategy.

startup 52

startup strategy advice investing 52

StartupNation

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

They believe everyone’s advice. Entrepreneurs often struggle because they listen to others’ advice instead of their instincts. Learn your numbers, understanding the benefits and pitfalls of tax strategy, so you don’t waste the net profits your business will desperately need at some point. They ignore their finances.

entrepreneurs 103

entrepreneurs advice leadership startup 103

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

I have been writing a series on how startup boards get selected, who sits on them and what to avoid. I started this series in part to help entrepreneurs but also to help newer investors because I’ve know with so many new companies you have so many new board members and many people are trying to figure out there respective roles.

board 251

board advice founder construction 251

This is going to be BIG.

AUGUST 2, 2010

First off all, not every company is right for equity financing—and many other companies would be better off starting without it. I can’t tell you how many companies I’ve run into where the inability to get financing, or the lack of interest in it, led them to building better companies.

startup 253

startup entrepreneurship mentorship venture capital 253

Smart Hustle Magazine

AUGUST 16, 2021

Scaling up a business may involve changes in how senior management defines the strategic direction of the company, which, in turn, could affect operations, human resources, finances, and other processes. 5 steps to better communicate your business strategy. 1. Have a clear strategic direction. 2. Establish key metrics.

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strategy board consulting financing 114

Feedough

APRIL 14, 2021

Acqui-hiring is one such strategy that changes the game and has gained popularity in recent years. Acqui-hiring is simply a strategy that assists the growth of the company with the expertise of recruited employees. Acqui-hiring is a smart strategy for any organisation looking to expand its business. Advantages of Acqui-hiring.

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strategy board startup ecosystem innovation 98

AsiaTechDaily

JANUARY 30, 2023

Register Joseph Lee has a strong track record in the finance industry throughout his career to date. With that, Joseph Lee shared enthusiastically about Kairous Capital and its cross-border business strategy: Can you tell us about your background and how you started your entrepreneurial journey?

capital 69

capital investing investment venture capital 69

TechCrunch

AUGUST 20, 2021

“As the venture landscape becomes more a meritocratic environment where resumes and institutional affiliations matter less, these strategies can make the difference between a successful fundraise and a fruitless meeting,” says Agya Ventures co-founder Kunal Lunawat. How to establish a health tech startup advisory board.

startup 103

startup health board VC 103

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 3, 2016

While firms define platforms differently, let’s just say they are the services that a VC offers outside of investment capital and partner time on boards or providing intros. They offer leadership conferences, regular content articles on leadership, board pack templates and the like. That certainly works well for some.

VC 198

VC peer-to-peer mix-use leadership 198

David Teten VC

AUGUST 19, 2019

Does the traditional VC financing model make sense for all companies? 2018 also had the fewest number of angel-led financing rounds since before 2010. John Borchers, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Decathlon Capital, claims to be the largest revenue-based financing investor in the US. Absolutely not.

investing 99

investing investment founder VC 99

Entrepreneurs' Organization

APRIL 17, 2019

In this article, Manny shares his strategy for a smooth business exit plan. While there’s lots of advice out there on how investors can exit successfully, there’s less for entrepreneurs in the trenches. Uplevel your board and exec team. Bring a ringer onto your board or executive team.

board 141

board entrepreneurs founder advice 141

TechCrunch

FEBRUARY 12, 2022

This week I published a first look at the stealthy business , built by Shimkus and former Udemy CEO Dennis Yang, and its recently capitalized strategy of cohort-based learning for the enterprise. The anger came from the potential that founders could get confused on whether that advice could lean to a future investment from the same VC.

pitching 94

pitching health advice leadership 94

Onevest

MAY 21, 2015

By Michael Whitehouse Whether you are an investor browsing through 1000 Angels looking to put money into a startup, or an entrepreneur attempting to bring finances into your project, it is critical that you understand the terms and conditions of any investment. For this reason investors often make the entire amount available immediately.

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investing investment startup board 116

TechCrunch

JANUARY 21, 2022

I’ve worked at early-stage startups where we relied on our best guesses to shape product pipelines and develop marketing strategies. In this seven-step guide, you’ll find strategies and tactics for identifying key members and influencers, streamlining the communication process, and creating “a little FOMO.”

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VC incubation angel investing investing 80

Smart Hustle Magazine

JANUARY 28, 2021

Kate then spent months helping Jill with strategies to grow the business. These are financing and data. These institutions are also providing realistic opportunities to get sustainable financing for small businesses. Part of that is having stable financing to smooth out the peaks and valleys in the business models, she says.

financing 114

financing finance opportunity leadership 114

TechCrunch

DECEMBER 11, 2022

But here is some unsolicited (and probably obvious) advice from someone covering startups for years: Stay focused. It is also likely a strategy designed to help retain users considering the company reported losing 1.8 Ocho wants to rethink (and rebrand) personal finance for business owners. I mean generally. Funding and M&A.

real estate 101

real estate financing finance ventures 101

TechCrunch

JULY 20, 2021

It’s also a useful overview for early employees and co-founders who may be new to startup financing. Topics covered: How financing works: SAFEs versus equity rounds. Founders: How well do you really understand seed-stage financing? How much to raise. How to arrive at your valuation. I hope you have a great week.

SaaS 53

SaaS VC financing finance 53

Andreessen Horowitz

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

And we know that the chief people officer role, CHRO—unlike maybe finance or sales—entrepreneurs have a harder time understanding what that role is, right? And one of my biggest advice to those folks is, look, presumably, we all have the technical and functional skill set for this job. Kelli Dragovich: That makes a ton of sense, Matt.

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energy entrepreneurs leadership advice 86