StartupNation

JUNE 1, 2021

Oftentimes, I read articles offering tips for entrepreneurs that revolve around generic advice on getting started. Roosevelt’s advice resonates here: “Be sincere, be brief, be seated.”. Being rejected is the norm for most entrepreneurs. We just need to want to do it and be willing to learn along the way. Franklin D.

entrepreneurs 109

entrepreneurs pitching construction accelerator 109

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Pitching a VC. In most cases if you can’t get a prototype done you’re probably not an entrepreneur. Professional angels / former entrepreneurs / seed funds – In Silicon Valley there are people like Ron Conway, Jeff Clavier, Mike Maples and many more. They have advice to share.

advice 291

advice VC pitching angel investing 291

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

I thought I’d try to look at it from a different lens, that of the entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur you should assume that. But the majority of VCs & Angels all speak. Have you reference them? I asked every VC not to call Salesforce. How did VCs respond? So what is an entrepreneur to do?

entrepreneurs 292

entrepreneurs advice VC financing 292

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 8, 2014

What is a principal at a VC firm and how does it work at Upfront Ventures? ” Associates have different functions at different VCs. VC firm admin. VC firm policy or fund analysis. Helping be the VC “presence” at key events. inside insight into VC decision-making. Industry reviews.

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investing investment VC board 365

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

I had previously raised VC in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005. It included one firm who I asked not to call Salesforce.com as a reference (they were our largest pilot customer) and in their kindness they called Marc Benioff (the CEO) and asked his opinion. In case VC’s haven’t figured this out yet, shit rolls downhill.

VC 274

VC venture capital pitching capital 274

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I recently filmed a show for This Week in Venture Capital in which I talked about how to prepare for a VC meeting: whom you’ll meet, who should attend from your side, what materials you should bring and how you should run the meeting. The “Triple Play&# of VC Presentations. But take prompts from the VC.

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Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2014

This was customer interaction at its finest and as a result they invited him to meet with our entire sales staff and offer advice on the sales process from a customer’s perspective. Contrast that with a VC conversation I had. I even once met with one very, very well known VC who told me, “I don’t attend LP meetings.

peer-to-peer 341

peer-to-peer VC entrepreneurs support 341

TechCrunch

MARCH 7, 2023

However, it appears that even though VCs are proceeding more cautiously than before and taking their time with due diligence, they are still investing. CB Insights recently found that two of the largest global VC firms, Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, actually backed more fintech companies in 2022 than any other category.

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advice ventures sustainability investing 110

AsiaTechDaily

NOVEMBER 16, 2022

It partners with entrepreneurs in funding their growth stories through innovative market access and public venture capital strategies. Rather than tapping traditional VC funding, emerging venture stage companies went public at early stage (e.g. Additionally, Do you have any other advice for anyone looking to start a fund?

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ventures startup VC strategy 97

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 11, 2010

[if you're not old enough to get the reference between this image and the title you can click on the image for a prompter]. This past December I spent a week in Boston to try to get to know some of the local VC’s and entrepreneurs a bit better. Entrepreneurs need to share more information with each other.

peer-to-peer 285

peer-to-peer incubation startup advice 285

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2010

I recently wrote a piece about how Entrepreneurs Should be Respected, Not Loved. The corollary to this rule is “decision by indecision.&# This is one of my favorite lines to remind entrepreneurs because it is the sort of garden variety mistake that is so common in everyday life. You’re a VC.

peer-to-peer 299

peer-to-peer advice entrepreneurs leadership 299

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2010

My favorite two quotes of the weekend were: “Never trade your cat for somebody else’s dog” (referring to selling your company for stock to another privately held company – quote was from Alan. Entrepreneurs always walk away with new relationships, knowledge, deal discussions and enthusiasm. View more presentations from steve blank.

peer-to-peer 279

peer-to-peer advice VC board 279

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 28, 2012

You’re on a first date with a VC – how much should you tell them? When is it appropriate for a VC to call your customers? There is no universal answer and my discussions with various VCs on these topics have yielded many differing opinions. Having been on both sides of this sensitive topic, the following is my personal advice.

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VC strategy advice entrepreneurs 316

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? Kelli Dragovich: It’s so funny because you’ve sent a bunch of those entrepreneurs to me over the years, which I’ve loved. Tell me what the priorities are.”

energy 81

energy entrepreneurs leadership advice 81

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2012

But honestly there are times when being a VC can feel like that, too. But a couple of people replied with responses of such lack of comprehension that I thought it was worth expanding on for first-time entrepreneurs. And they will offer you some of the best business advice you will ever receive if you’re open to it.

startup 363

startup real estate VC venture capital 363

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

Because my role as a VC requires me to take and endless stream of meetings I long ago decided I need to learn as much as I can from the meetings I attend so I often just ask tons of questions and assimilate knowledge. When I think about what defines us as a VC I think: Operationally knowledgeable / strong startup competence.

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VC communities investing investment 360

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2013

.” In the article I discussed the downside of raising capital at a too high of a price and referred people to a previous article I had written encouraging founders to raise “ At the Top end of Normal ” as opposed to stratospheric prices. And most VCs are over-whelmed with deals. Startup Advice'

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advice investing investment VC 302

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 9, 2012

I knew him well before he became a VC. I knew his as he considered becoming a VC and we talked a lot about how it was going for me in my early years. These engagements went well and he came highly referred by my friend Gary Swart who runs oDesk. My guess is that many VCs are. I think my pal Dave is unemployable.

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VC data analysis incubation health 309

TechCrunch

MARCH 13, 2021

Indeed, many Canadians refer to Toronto as “east”’ despite there being 1,900 miles between Drake and The Weeknd’s hometown and St. VC firms have taken notice: notable investors in Atlantic Canadian startups include Breakthrough Energy Ventures , a fund supported by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson.

venture capital 137

venture capital capital culture advice 137

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

This is part of my ongoing Raising Venture Capital (VC) series. Yesterday I had lunch with a really interesting and capable serial entrepreneur who is raising his A round. Many serial entrepreneurs who have been burned would use something less kind than quotes. Most VCs aren’t either? What’s the difference?

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advice venture capital frameworks VC 279

TechCrunch

APRIL 25, 2023

Similarly, one VC may encourage newly minted CEOs to eat ramen and ride the bus, while another might suggest a salary in the low six-figures, depending on geography. Please share one piece of advice that can help a first-time founder stand out from the rest. Do not be afraid to say “I do not know” when asked a question by an investor.

pitching 98

pitching incubation board opportunity 98

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 25, 2014

So perhaps his king reference was fitting. In tech circles one refers to the firm as either Kleiner Perkins, KP or Kleiner. Read about the Schmatta business to learn one instance where Jews became great entrepreneurs out of need. Tech Market Analysis VC Industry' It’s why I instantly thought out loud on Twitter.

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education real estate economic growth VC 417

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2010

VC’s money comes from mostly institutional investors called LPs (limited partners). They trust the judgment of the VCs to source, finance, help manage and then create some sort of exit for the investments that they make. They also trust VC’s to determine the right price to pay for the company securities that they buy.

startup 290

startup advice financing finance 290

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2011

And yes, VC’s, too. Yet a critical mistake I see many entrepreneurs make is that they hand over too much control to their third-parties. Often recruiters want to handle the final negotiations on package and/or do the reference calls. I’m also reluctant to hand over reference calling. Recruiters. You name it.

real estate 319

real estate VC pitching entrepreneurs 319

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

I recently read a post over on VentureHacks titled, “ Top Ten Reasons Entrepreneurs Hate Lawyers &# written by Scott Walker (who blogs on legal issues for entrepreneurs ). Founded it as a California LLC but your potential VC wants a Delaware C-Corp? Much of this is unfounded – some is not. the link is here.

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startup advice entrepreneurs VC 318

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series, “ Pitching a VC.&# Getting a meeting with a prominent angel or VC is difficult enough. Some advice on how to do that was covered in this link – Getting Access to a VC. If you haven’t read how to build VC relationships and demonstrate traction make sure to read it.

VC 277

VC pitching advice strategy 277

TechCrunch

OCTOBER 29, 2021

Dear Sophie: Any advice for living my dreams in Silicon Valley? Any advice? Eager Entrepreneur. — Eager Entrepreneur. Dear Sophie: Any advice for living my dreams in Silicon Valley? Heavily VC-backed salad chain Sweetgreen heads toward public markets. Image Credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch.

SaaS 82

SaaS pitching advice VC 82

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

This applies to both founders and to VC’s that work with them. And Finally, a word about VC … We VCs need to be as conscious of dipping & skipping as management teams are. Again, I can’t imagine being a VC and NOT doing this. I see two common mistakes in companies (not just in startups, in fact).

startup 308

startup board advice VC 308

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 4, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Startup Advice. Many entrepreneurs who start technology companies are product people, technologists or savvy business people who worked previously for a larger company. Most start-up entrepreneurs have little or no sales experience. This is the easiest one for most entrepreneurs.

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startup advice entrepreneurs networking 319

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

This is an updated post from my ongoing series on Startup Advice that I learned from founding two companies. . I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. On Losing in VC. I HATE LOSING.

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consulting advice collaboration VC 328

Gust

JULY 23, 2014

So, putting all that together, to get a pitch meeting with me, an entrepreneur would probably have the best result with the following strategy: Read up on the kinds of investments I make, and the kinds of opportunities I am seeking. With all this referring and applying, it’s still conceivable that you might not hear back from me.

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pitching angel investing investing investment 153

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

With small amounts of money invested (sub $3 million) the risks are reasonably low for most VCs and the consequences of bad decisions or decisions a VC has limited say in is tolerable. And here’s an important point that I think modern entrepreneurs often forget: Investors are “co-owners” of your business.

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board mentorship media advice 325

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

This is an updated post from my ongoing series on Startup Advice that I learned from founding two companies. . I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. On Losing in VC. I HATE LOSING.

consulting 333

consulting advice collaboration VC 333

FundersClub

JUNE 12, 2017

They seek a VC model where dogma is less of a drag on the enterprise, and investment discovery can come from a wide network of smaller investors—mini LPs, in a way. Founders needn’t have revenue to draw VC investment, but they do need some way to show that they’ve validated the model. These are angels and VCs.

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VC venture capital networking founder 93

This is going to be BIG.

OCTOBER 22, 2014

What I find a bit frustrating is how easily some people get onto panels and are put up in front of an impressionable crowd of new entrepreneurs as "experts". You''ll get an entrepreneur who has raised one and only one round of financing in his or her entire life--all from relatively unsophisticated individuals, giving fundraising advice.

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ventures startup venture capital pitching 397

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 8, 2010

I guess let’s file this under sales & marketing advice. Much of my traffic is through referring websites and/or social media. I was an entrepreneur. Now I’m a VC. My strategy was to keep it advice based for the first 6 months so I never really employed this as a strategy to drive traffic.

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advice mix-use entrepreneurs strategy 286

Entrepreneur's Handbook

APRIL 25, 2022

Here’s the advice I wish someone told me when I started. Terra references the Bitcoin and Ethereum white papers in its preponderance of what other value blockchain technology can bring to the world. Kevin Rose ( @kevinrose ): partner at VC firm True Ventures , host of the Modern Finance and Proof podcasts. Stakers (i.e.,

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networking advice investing investment 52