Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2011

I have sat on a board with Howard and have known him a few years. Investing Strategy. These partners travel to a city and take ten minute pitches from the entrepreneurs. What are the most common mistakes in first pitch? What is ideal board structure? How to run a board meeting?

capital 284

capital board VC pitching 284

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2013

When DataSift sets up a board meeting (next one in London, last was in NYC) we have investors from NYC (IA Ventures), SF (Scale Ventures) and the founding team + chairman in London. If these people work for reputable firms and have the right industry knowledge they ought to be on your pitch list. This isn’t a complaint.

VC 365

VC board communities pitching 365

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 23, 2012

So much of this is gut feel with a thin later of strategy retrofitted to seem more than random. Half the time, founders were pitching a completely different idea than what took off--so the VC who looks brilliant for funding the latest viral app really funded a B2B product that never took off. So why bother showing up?

advice 417

advice startup VC strategy 417

Gust

AUGUST 19, 2012

Give the “elevator pitch” for your startup. Implicit in this is the go-to-market strategy. Describe marketing strategy, sales plan, licensing, and partnership plans. Qualifications and roles of the top three executives and top three on your Board of Advisors. Exit strategy. Competition and sustainable advantage.

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pitching sustainability strategy energy 146

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2014

On investment strategies I have “ Deflationary Economics ” 6. I am VERY careful in board meetings and in startup pitches to tell entrepreneurs, “I feel very strongly about my opinion on this topic. On marketing I talk about “ Arming & Aiming ” 4. In the End Go with Your Gut.

advice 407

advice frameworks startup mix-use 407

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

I pitched Gus twice and he told me no both times. When we were thinking of raising, he was the first I called, and after talking to Benchmark, Accel, August, and a few other tier 1 firms, it came down for me the person who was going to join the board. I think the best VCs act as a sounding board for management. Let me explain.

VC 297

VC board consulting advice 297

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Board Meetings. If you’re not taking this zone-out down time I’ll bet you’re not having enough strategic reflection on your job, your company, your strategy. Every so often I find myself caught up in a really hectic 3-4 week schedule where it seems like I float endlessly betweens meetings. Conferences.

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creativity venture capital entrepreneurs board 400

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 5, 2014

But as I rose in my career (and post MBA) I moved into a role in which I was to advise board-level executives on topics where I was expected to rapidly become an expert. What is the right organizational strategy for a large UK conglomerate to operate more effectively? We are their sparring partners, their sounding boards.

peer-to-peer 337

peer-to-peer entrepreneurs consulting VC 337

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 7, 2015

Another founder … “When I pitched the idea to Adam, he was super on board,” Mr. Sloyan said. If you can’t raise from a few strong angels, from seed funds or from a VC then raising from a ton (let’s say 20+) angels is a perfectly acceptable strategy. All of my partners at Upfront do. It’s that simple.

startup 323

startup advice pitching VC 323

Dream It

APRIL 3, 2020

His strategy for selling in 2009 is relevant to any economic downturn. Luckily, the strategy can be broken down into 3 steps. Identify a problem that resonates with the decision-maker at your target organization Moore recommends that you put yourself in the shoes of the CEO or Board of Directors. What keeps them up at night?

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pitching strategy advice opportunity 221

This is going to be BIG.

DECEMBER 21, 2017

Board meetings at @amplehills are dangerous. Would we pitch Series A players? It's too easy to think that if you tilt the pitch just a little one way or the other, that's going to make the difference, but that's Monday morning quarterbacking. Did that seed make this round our Series A? Who cares what we called it?

pitching 255

pitching VC investment investing 255

This is going to be BIG.

MAY 5, 2011

Advisors, investors and board members come in all shapes and sizes. I'm a strong believer in having a board, even at a seed stage, to report to and set strategy with. The most successful companies have strong boards and so as a good housekeeping practice, why not start acting like a great company as early as possible.

board 278

board advice consulting angel investing 278

This is going to be BIG.

AUGUST 8, 2011

So how can a relatively junior VC hope to add any value to an investment and on a board--and is it enough value that you should have one on your board? Facing live pitching is a new thing, but that's no excuse for not having an approach to hitting and studying up to face this particular pitcher. 3) Network, network, network.

VC 275

VC peer-to-peer board advice 275

StartupNation

NOVEMBER 21, 2021

In the startup world, it’s pitch decks, not business plans that get companies funded. Making a pitch deck is an art, a science, but most importantly, a story. Angel investors and venture capitalists have also learned to expect a standard pitch deck as the first filter when evaluating a company to invest in.

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pitching SaaS mix-use media 122

TechCrunch

APRIL 25, 2023

But dealmaking is idiosyncratic: a few investors might be content to make a deal over coffee, but early-stage teams still need a sturdy pitch deck or memo they can leave behind. I’m going to save you some time: many (if not most) of you are not yet ready to pitch an investor. Thanks very much to everyone who took the time to respond!

pitching 98

pitching incubation board opportunity 98

Entrepreneurs' Organization

MAY 24, 2024

In her 20-year leadership tenure with the organization, Winnie has held volunteer positions ranging from Communications Chair to Global Board Director, and has been instrumental in EO’s progress. She currently serves as EO’s Senior Global Board Advisor for Leadership Communications and Brand.

leadership 197

leadership board sustainability entrepreneurs 197

This is going to be BIG.

AUGUST 2, 2010

Too many entrepreneurs start out their business endeavors with an investment pitch. Getting key strategy advice early on, or getting introduced to a new market can make or break a company in ways that no amount of angel capital can help. Step one: Ask for money. You’d also be incredibly shortsighted.

startup 253

startup entrepreneurship venture capital mentorship 253

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. The partner you saw is probably sitting on 5-6 boards which means he or she will be busy helping existing portfolio companies. Start with a very short thank you email the day after your pitch.

VC 277

VC pitching advice strategy 277

StartupNation

JULY 5, 2025

This article presents key strategies, backed by expert insights, to help you showcase your startup’s value and growth potential. If you’re pitching impact, make it real. Effectively communicating your startup’s impact metrics to investors can make or break your funding opportunities. Show the feedback loop.

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pitching advice hospitality frameworks 64

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2013

bang on the windows of a board meeting recently and stick his tongue out at all of us. They pitched on a Wednesday. She debates manufacturing strategies. Heck, I even had Robert Downey, Jr. And Tasha never screamed before? We’re in LA. They’re only people. Turns out Punky was a childhood hero for Tasha.

startup 398

startup creativity advice entrepreneurs 398

Entrepreneurs' Organization

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Get involved with non-profits where CEOs serve on the board, attend their galas and events, and get to know the leadership. CEOs may resonate with a higher-end content strategy such as white papers, books, or even a branded podcast. In addition to high-level conferences, where else can you meet CEOs? None in your area?

culture 260

culture incubation entrepreneurs media 260

This is going to be BIG.

NOVEMBER 29, 2010

The way the public markets work, when changes happen in the environment or the market doesn’t like your new strategy, you find out about it instantaneously via the price of your stock. Here’s how it works: You go pitch your idea to nine smart, experienced investors with domain knowledge in your space.

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pitching entrepreneurs support strategy 288

Entrepreneurs' Organization

JANUARY 20, 2023

by Erick Slabaugh, a long-standing EO member in Seattle and former director on the EO Global Board “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” The Origins David Galbenski and I served on the EO Global Board together in 2007. The world needs us.

leadership 211

leadership board entrepreneurs education 211

NZ Entrepreneur

JUNE 11, 2025

Whether you’re just starting or scaling up, Puāwai brings strategy, content, and collaboration together, powered by intelligence that gets smarter and personalised the more you use it. Our AI learns your strategies and adapts to your unique tone of voice, turning everyday tasks into smarter outcomes.

communities 52

communities energy strategy sustainability 52

StartupNation

JUNE 7, 2021

It may seem counterintuitive to think of your exit strategy in the early stages of starting and running your business, as there is much to do as a young company — product development, go-to market strategy, hiring, etc. Today, I am an angel investor as well as a board member and advisor to early-stage companies.

strategy 111

strategy real estate entrepreneurs investment 111

Ben Franklin Technology Partners

JULY 10, 2024

On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Ben Franklin Technology Partners hosted a virtual pitch event for their TechCelerator Startup Bootcamp. Through expert-led weekly group sessions and personalized mentorship, participants refine their business models, financial strategies, and presentation skills, culminating in a compelling pitch presentation.

pitching 111

pitching mentorship economic development education 111

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 1, 2013

For years, VCs have been pitching and getting funded by the most conservative investors on the face of the earth--pension funds and endowments. 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

Dream It

APRIL 8, 2020

Jason sat down with Steve Barsh , Managing Partner of Dreamit, to give founders relevant downturn strategies. Founders planning near-term fundraising rounds need to understand that an economic downturn is one of the most difficult times to pitch to investors. In fact, Jason started investing during the financial crisis.

founder 195

founder economic environments sustainability pitching 195

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

One was the hardest working guy on our board and the biggest mensch. I will be on your board but don’t ask me for anything.&# He literally said it that bluntly. Also, you have more leverage to not take them all on as full board members. They value their core business more than your success – and they should!

advice 279

advice venture capital frameworks entrepreneurs 279

TechCrunch

MARCH 21, 2023

The relatively recent shift to cloud computing promised to lower costs and boost productivity, but “ cloud-first strategies may be hitting the limits of their efficacy , and in many cases, ROIs are diminishing,” writes Thomas Robinson, COO of Domino Data Lab. Full TechCrunch+ articles are only available to members.

pitching 86

pitching SaaS startup venture capital 86

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

By Monday morning after their board meeting in NorCal I didn’t get a return phone call. Given that it was a public tender the chairman of our board had encouraged us to think about launching a complaint with the UK government agency in charge of such reviews. In the corporate world this strategy is flawed.

consulting 333

consulting advice collaboration VC 333

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

By Monday morning after their board meeting in NorCal I didn’t get a return phone call. Given that it was a public tender the chairman of our board had encouraged us to think about launching a complaint with the UK government agency in charge of such reviews. In the corporate world this strategy is flawed.

consulting 328

consulting advice collaboration VC 328

This is going to be BIG.

JULY 23, 2018

I've seen this so many times over: A founder pitches a VC, or several of them, and then they come back from that process with all sorts of new strategy goals or worries that they need to be doing something differently. So why is this feedback seemingly all over the board? That's not helpful feedback.

VC 170

VC advice pitching strategy 170

Dream It

APRIL 12, 2020

Founders have grown accustomed to supervoting stock structures as VCs agree to loosen terms to get a stake in the funding event, essentially giving these founders authority over their own boards. “I I think you’ll start seeing pushback on complete board control by the founding team,” stated Martino. “I

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ventures startup capital board 334

TechCrunch

DECEMBER 23, 2022

Ackerman says he expects to see another tranche of layoffs in several weeks, after startups hold their Q4 2022 board meetings. Pitch Deck Teardown: Card Blanch’s $460K deck for its angel round. Pitch Deck Teardown: Card Blanch’s $460K deck for its angel round. Full TechCrunch+ articles are only available to members.

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SaaS strategy pitching board 95

TechCrunch

OCTOBER 11, 2022

They are always seeking out ways to cost effectively and rapidly produce must-have answers — well ahead of time — on the performance of scenarios in strategic portfolio design, budget planning, assortment, space, pricing and trade fund strategies,” Mirpuri said. ” That’s where Insite comes in. .

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strategy consulting collaboration pitching 76

Entrepreneurs' Organization

MARCH 3, 2021

Monthly sessions share best practices, resources and cover everything from marketing, presentations, ghostwriting, publishing tips, pitching–any and everything related to promoting authors and speakers. Past speakers include Alfred Lin , former chairman of Zappos, Airbnb board member, and an investor at Sequoia.

education 236

education VC pitching support 236