TechCrunch

JULY 6, 2021

Influential entrepreneurs like Paul Graham and Naval Ravikant always preach the need for startups to have founders-turned-investors on their cap table. However , some venture firms have taken this up a notch by bringing founders to create a fund and invest together. I was pitching on the day, but I was also listening to other pitches.

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founder angel investing pitching strategy 130

Gust

DECEMBER 16, 2011

The best business plans are stories, and the best pitches are stories. Pitch tip: don’t start with a boring introduction; start with a slide showing a great picture, nothing else, and use that picture to tell your story. It’s well worth the time and money for anybody who ever talks to a business meeting, let alone an investor pitch.

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pitching strategy technology angel investing 98

Onevest

APRIL 30, 2015

But the data shows a rapidly growing trend in accredited investors investing together. This is something that we have experience at 1000 Angels , the private investor network that connects startups with investors. Wikipedia notes that “in 1996 there were about 10 angel groups in the United States. Invest in startups.

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investing investment coworking spaces startup 116

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 11, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Startup Advice. Many startup companies hire advisory boards. When they’re first approached it sounds exciting to be involved with a startup and if they’re offered free shares – why not? At a minimum their angel investments will likely take precedence.

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board startup advice VC 306

TechCrunch

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

The strategy, for the most part, has worked. While Campuswire’s pitch was set to boom overnight, the founder instead saw a bigger challenge approaching: more competition. Campuswire’s key monetization strategy, which was selling pro licenses for its online class software, felt threatened by alternatives.

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education angel investing strategy pitching 109

Entrepreneurs' Organization

JANUARY 5, 2024

Million in Startup Funding Tal Moore (EO Los Angeles) is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Popsmith. Tal shared what he learned from his first-ever round of raising startup capital. Having people from your network bet on you with an angel investment is like motivational rocket fuel.”

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consulting entrepreneurial ecosystem real estate leadership 110

TechCrunch

MARCH 9, 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. 5 essential factors for attracting angel investment. 4 key strategies for succeeding at international expansion. Share on Twitter.

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angel investing consulting disruption education 76

Gust

JULY 12, 2012

The goal was to share our experiences in the realm of angel investing with an array of global audiences, by participating in various lectures, discussions and workshops. In all four countries we met passionate entrepreneurs who were eager to discuss their exciting startups, as well as angel investors looking to support them.

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communities startup pitching entrepreneurship 121

American Entrepreneurship

JUNE 16, 2023

(LIMBER) is announcing it has received$250,000 in seed funding from the University of California San Diego and $263,000 from San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC) V , a University of San Diego (USD) Knauss School of Business program, last month for a total of $513,000.

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accelerator angel investing entrepreneurship startup accelerator 52

Angel Capital Association

MAY 20, 2021

Fresh for 2021, the Innovation Funders Showcase Company Flipbook provided a sneak peek of all the companies presenting, along with critical information such as market strategy, opportunities and more. The pitch prep work from our sponsors at NIH were helpful in crafting the message from experts in their field.

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funders innovation angel investing pitching 40

Gust

JULY 23, 2014

So even if my own mother asked me to meet with you, and you were pitching me a biotech opportunity for a $10 million investment at a $90 million valuation, I might take the meeting, but it wouldn’t be particularly useful for either of us. In this case, it’s not a lack of interest, just a lack of time and efficiency.

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pitching angel investing investing investment 153

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. With a product advisory council (PAC) , early-stage startups can tap into the their users’ hive mind. How to build a product advisory council for your startup. Walter Thompson.

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VC incubation angel investing investing 80

Gust

JUNE 19, 2012

Thoughts on startups by investors that fund them & entrepreneurs that run them. Invested Interests. Investment and startups problem : we all want disruptive and game-changing businesses. Money to build the business is the number one challenge for most startups. Power Pitches. Invested Interests.

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startup pitching disruption mix-use 180

Gust

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

Since this is my inaugural post here, I decided it would fit the occasion to list the five things I value most in an startup investment proposal. Startup experience. I want to see people on the team who have been through a startup. I want somebody who knows what it feels like to work in a startup.

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investing investment startup angel investing 70

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 1, 2013

Plus, I've heard, and can anecdotally corroborate, that most angel investors put 70% of all the money they will ever put into startups to work in their very first year of angel investing. When you have to defend deals you did to a pension board, you inevitably take less risk.

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angel investing financing finance entrepreneurs 289

Gust

DECEMBER 20, 2011

An entrepreneur has just finished his pitch. He did a good job on the pitch and the business looks like it has potential. But that was before the question and answer period after the pitch. We go on to the next pitch. Startups are a team sport. Raise your hand.” Investors want teams.

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pitching strategy entrepreneurs startup 93

TechCrunch

DECEMBER 1, 2022

Enter Rillavoice , a new startup with a niche focus: building speech analytics software for field sales teams that sell in person as opposed to via Zoom or over the phone. It started out as a vehicle for joint angel investing for the two general partners, who later brought in Reider to lead the investment team.

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pitching founder energy SaaS 86

Gust

DECEMBER 5, 2011

Too many entrepreneurs develop a new product without regard for market demand , then build an entire strategy based on creating a need, rather than acting on an existing market need. The best startups find a way to drive the market with their technology, rather than push their new technology-driven ‘solution’ on the marketplace.

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technology disruption entrepreneurs education 167

Gust

DECEMBER 19, 2011

First-to-market is meaningful for a large company, like IBM or GE, which has the resources to sustain their move, but is not relevant for a startup, when surrounded by “big gorillas.” Undercutting competitors in price is always a good strategy, but free implies no real value. “We have the first mover advantage.”

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sustainability disruption strategy technology 98

Gust

OCTOBER 12, 2011

Speaking with many angel leaders , I believe we have identified several possible explanations for group-to-group variations: 1) Clearly, startup ventures in some business verticals command high pre-money valuations that others. They intend to invest in as many as 100 companies quickly, looking for the next Facebook or Groupon.

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investing investment networking ventures 125

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 18, 2011

I’m also on record as saying I invest in lines & not dots. If you haven’t read the post the thesis was that I care way more about watching the trajectory of your performance as a team (or individual) than I do about how good you “pitch” on the first day you come to see me. Pose is no different. Still, I didn’t chase the deal.

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investing investment VC media 303

This is going to be BIG.

MAY 5, 2011

I'm a strong believer in having a board, even at a seed stage, to report to and set strategy with. VC Blogger Fanboy This geek reads all the blogs religiously and is a lean startup ninja. Advisors, investors and board members come in all shapes and sizes.

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board advice consulting angel investing 278

Gust

JANUARY 5, 2012

Most recently, the number of shareholders issue has arisen as Congress considers legalizing crowdfunding which may allow hundreds or even thousands of smaller investors to make equity investments in startups. Let’s be frank: neither angels nor VCs choose to invest alongside large numbers of less-than-sophisticated investors.

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Hunter Walk

AUGUST 23, 2023

Specifically I’ve had the chance to spend meaningful time over the years with Michael Mignano as he went from startup CEO to Executive/Angel Investor and now VC Partner at Lightspeed. Michael Mignano: Throughout my time building Anchor, I met and pitched many, many VCs. Do you remember what I told you? Was I right?

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VC founder ventures culture 73

David Teten VC

JUNE 14, 2021

If you want outside capital, VCs will chase after you to invest. . Unfortunately, most founders are not in that position: 9 out of 10 startups fail. Especially if your life partner and/or bank account are burnt out on the income volatility of startups? . Angel Investing, Venture Capital, and Mentoring. Consulting.

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consulting founder investing investment 119