Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 5, 2014

For me, after nearly a decade in the trenches of being an entrepreneur I felt I was un-brainwashed from trying to pretend I had all the answers. The more self-assured the VC is and the more impressionable the entrepreneur is the worse the outcome. And I encourage entrepreneurs to triangulate as well. It is unknowable.

peer-to-peer 337

peer-to-peer entrepreneurs consulting VC 337

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 30, 2015

I’m so tired of seeing young entrepreneurs get screwed by their angel investors on convertible notes and I know I can’t convince you not to do it so I’d like to offer one simple bit of advice to help you avoid getting screwed (at least on one part of your note). They get their full investment as a 1x liquidation preference.

entrepreneurs 381

entrepreneurs VC advice finance 381

Entrepreneurs' Organization

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Heidi Zak , Elon Musk, Oprah, Warren Buffet, Kendra Scott , Sara Blakely and Bill Gates—entrepreneurs may appear quite diverse, but they typically share a few key qualities. What makes an entrepreneur? The adage couldn’t be more true than in the context of successful entrepreneurs. A passion for connection.

entrepreneurs 236

entrepreneurs peer-to-peer creativity networking 236

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 10, 2024

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen executive summaries of business plans in which the entrepreneur seeks $5,000,000 to build the business. Third (if you’re keeping score), it is not wise to dilute the founder’s ownership greatly in the first round of financing. Four reasons you should reconsider.

startup 127

startup consulting creativity financing 127

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2016

During the Q&A I was asked about how I make investment decisions in early-stage businesses. I know that sounds trite but it’s the best way I can describe my early-stage investments. If I don’t do both then it’s highly unlikely I will invest. I answered in the same way I always do so I thought I’d just write it publicly. “I

investment 254

investment investing incumbents culture 254

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 29, 2014

This week I wrote about obsessive and competitive founders and how this forms the basis of what I look for when I invest. I had been thinking a lot about this recently because I’m often asked the question of “what I look for in an entrepreneur when I want to invest?” I had invested in myself for years.

startup founder 409

startup founder investment investing founder 409

Entrepreneurs' Organization

AUGUST 4, 2023

As an entrepreneur or founder starting a business, you may think of capital as purely monetary. Identify the right track for your goals Entrepreneurs must align business goals and long-term objectives at the outset of founding their company in order to attract the right type or combination of capital to support success.

entrepreneurs 225

entrepreneurs capital founder culture 225

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2015

So why invest in that period of uncertainty unless it’s early-stage and thus valuation matters less. If the next 30 days stays calm then investment will pick up. So, too, investments. It will make follow-on financings much harder and people will have to consider whether or not to do inside rounds.

financing 344

financing finance ventures real estate 344

NZ Entrepreneur

MARCH 18, 2025

The ultimate live event for entrepreneurs, INSPIRE + SUCCEED is coming to New Zealand for the first time in April-May, presented by Success Resources. In the full day of learning, attendees will get actionable insights from eight speaker sessions, plus the opportunity to network and connect with other entrepreneurs.

entrepreneurs 86

entrepreneurs peer-to-peer leadership entrepreneurship 86

American Entrepreneurship

JANUARY 5, 2025

Having the right business advisor can be a game-changer for an entrepreneur Starting and growing a business is a challenging and often lonely endeavor. Entrepreneurs are presented with both business and personal challenges as they travel their entrepreneurial journey. Accountability can be a powerful motivator.

entrepreneurs 98

entrepreneurs mentorship entrepreneurship advice 98

Entrepreneurs' Organization

AUGUST 31, 2022

The world is a big place, and companies wishing to invest have many domestic and foreign options. based companies invested in Germany in some way in 2021, almost matching the pre-pandemic total. Excluding sources of investments may alter the way a startup builds and shapes its culture. For example, 1,806 U.S.-based

strategy 241

strategy investment investing culture 241

Entrepreneurs' Organization

JUNE 19, 2024

Yet, as most seasoned entrepreneurs will attest, the reality is far more complex and challenging, particularly when you decide to bootstrap your business. Instead, it began with 15 years of hands-on learning in capital markets, working closely with entrepreneurs, investors, and bankers. The early years were grueling.

financing 255

financing finance entrepreneurship mentorship 255

Dream It

FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Matt Murphy and Grace Ge, Menlo Ventures Which trends are you most excited about in construction robotics from an investing perspective? We are active in construction with investments such as HOVER and Fieldwire and believe the entire sector is right for a digital and automation overhaul. About 10 percent of our time.

construction 259

construction investment investing opportunity 259

This is going to be BIG.

OCTOBER 7, 2013

Some financing rounds seem to go really fast. a) The entrepreneur is distracted from doing what they need to do--i.e. The same goes for vetting the entrepreneur. In many cases, I got to know the entrepreneur before they were pitching or even had a deck. Others drag on for months and months. running the business.

investment 322

investment investing construction venture capital 322

Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative

JUNE 7, 2019

As an independent woman with a go-getter attitude, she shared insights with us into her life as an entrepreneur and what it was like getting YHS off the ground, as well as her advice for other young entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Obstacles and Lessons Learned as an Entrepreneur .

entrepreneurs 214

entrepreneurs advice peer-to-peer sustainability 214

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

AngelList 101 : As you know, AngelList is a platform where angels can invest in semi-screened tech deals. It should help some entrepreneurs to better access early-stage capital and should allow some angel investors better access to deal flow. lack of traction, lack of downstream financing availability. Both are right.

VC 356

VC peer-to-peer board entrepreneurs 356

Entrepreneurs' Organization

JULY 6, 2020

Like the downturns in 2008 and 2001, this has been a very trying time for entrepreneurs running startups. Many entrepreneurs are reliant on outside funding, whether angel investors, venture capitalists or strategic investors , to keep the venture going. I interviewed a number of prominent VC’s and entrepreneurs for my recent book.

peer-to-peer 321

peer-to-peer startup advice entrepreneurs 321

A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

JULY 19, 2021

Over the last 18 months, the early-stage financing market has seen dramatic changes characterized by these three things: A shift from in-person fundraising to virtual fundraising A reduction in financing process timelines from months to weeks A continued increase in the amount of capital available for early stage companies.

board 276

board financing finance sustainability 276

This is going to be BIG.

DECEMBER 28, 2013

If you are a venture capital investor and you''re not preparing yourself to succeed in a more diverse ecosystem of entrepreneurs, you''re just going to get left behind. YC''s best investing days may be behind it. Considering the myopia at the top, it''s not surprising that turning point may have already happened for YCombinator.

venture capital 398

venture capital VC ventures capital 398

Revolution

MARCH 26, 2025

Post-AOL, I dedicated myself to backing and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs as Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Revolution. Weve made these investments because we are constantly impressed by the remarkable talent and groundbreaking innovations emerging in these communitieswhere fresh ideas intersect with deep, legacy expertise.

capital 147

capital innovation entrepreneurship culture 147

TechCrunch

AUGUST 6, 2021

” Two years on, the entrepreneur who is a household name has significantly scaled the company to new heights. million seed round and a student loan financing facility of $25 million from Nigerian financial institution Sterling Bank. For its equity financing, Decagon raised money from Kepple Africa and Timon Capital.

financing 127

financing finance accelerator education 127

This is going to be BIG.

JANUARY 8, 2015

How I got to this investment was another long term story. Small world, it turns out I also knew his husband from the finance world having met him over 10 years ago. Bradford said something to me that I think every entrepreneur should consider, "This might not be a billion dollar company.".

venture capital 402

venture capital creativity VC finance 402

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2015

I am reminded of this problem every time my firm does a financing where a note went before us but more specifically I was reminded by this great post by Brad Feld to talk about the pre-money vs. post-money conversion issue. Pre-money ($8m) + investment ($2m) = Post-money ($10m) and the investors now own 20% of your company $2m / $10m.

VC 364

VC financing finance board 364

Dream It

JULY 12, 2021

In this Dreamit Dose, Steve Barsh, Managing Partner at Dreamit, gives you his breakdown and tells you what issues to avoid on these early-stage financing instruments. You’ll learn 6 key points to be prepared and ready the next time you’re structuring a convertible note or SAFE financing.

founder 397

founder financing finance angel investing 397

Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative

DECEMBER 4, 2019

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs and professionals looking to finance their business? Angel investors or venture capitalists will require that entrepreneurs sell shares (equity) of their companies for investment. Another great route for social entrepreneurs is Kiva , which provides low-interest loans.

advice 240

advice entrepreneurship entrepreneurs networking 240

Entrepreneurs' Organization

APRIL 1, 2020

These are the times in which ingenuity thrives—particularly among entrepreneurs. As EO CEO Carrie Santos observes , “Entrepreneurs do not catch up on news and wonder how they will face the COVID-19 crisis. Entrepreneurs jump in to offer solutions.”. EO is the only global network exclusively for entrepreneurs.

peer-to-peer 339

peer-to-peer health entrepreneurs support 339

Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative

MARCH 31, 2020

With this in mind, ThrivingDollars has been addressing the need for financial literacy in Jamaica by simplifying and disseminating quality financial education that covers key topics such as budgeting, saving, debt management, and elimination, investing, insurance, and retirement and estate planning.

entrepreneurship 245

entrepreneurship financing finance education 245

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

What I learned in the process: Profitable growth is entirely achievable for every company, and as entrepreneurs, we don’t need to know every number inside out. The main purpose: Operating profit helps entrepreneurs, investors and leadership teams know how profitably the business itself is operating. Working capital.

entrepreneurs 224

entrepreneurs leadership sustainability capital 224

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Last week a company we enthusiastically backed, uBeam , led by a very special entrepreneur, 25-year-old Meredith Perry , announced a $10 million round of financing. Here I make the case that entrepreneurs must stay focused on the prize, not the doubters. Entrepreneurs. ” **.

startup 417

startup innovation entrepreneurs transportation 417

This is going to be BIG.

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

So many entrepreneurs beg for just a few minutes of my time. I only invest in NYC, so I won''t take meetings with out of town companies or people "planning on moving". Investing a few hours of time to meet five random people doesn''t make a lot of sense. No "Just 5 or 10 minutes" meetings.

pitching 329

pitching financing finance incubation 329

David Teten VC

AUGUST 30, 2021

have created or supported funds to invest in local VC managers. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking at Harvard Business School. . all bear the marks of government investment. Instead, they should consider investing in VC funds which invest in their diaspora, and more generally, taking other moves to support their diaspora. .

investment 119

investment investing founder VC 119

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

” We explained what we felt the core values of a firm of the future needed to uphold: Provide real operational insights to entrepreneurs (the days of being “money men” are gone). Give direct feedback to entrepreneurs on their businesses or if we’re not investing why it’s not a fit for us.

ventures 324

ventures VC strategy advice 324

Smart Hustle Magazine

JUNE 4, 2021

Here’s a list of top sources for funding minority entrepreneurs. The NASE has been around since 1981, providing entrepreneurs and micro-businesses, including those by minority owners with access to grants and educational resources. It is a great resource for minority entrepreneurs with a more specific funding need.

entrepreneurs 131

entrepreneurs peer-to-peer collaboration communities 131

Innovation 2 Enterprise

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

a nonprofit dedicated to fostering the growth of startups and entrepreneurs in Oklahoma, is proud to announce surpassing the $100 million mark in total investments. These investments, collectively over $100 million, have provided vital early capital to help startups throughout the state to thrive. i2E, Inc., About i2E, Inc.

ventures 40

ventures investment investing entrepreneurial ecosystem 40

American Entrepreneurship

MARCH 30, 2025

San Francisco-based FinTech company Mercury has announced a $300 million Series C investment round, bringing its valuation to $3.5 Bank accounts are the nucleus of business finance, said Akhund. This deep integration streamlines operations and provides business owners with greater visibility and control over their finances.

financing 90

financing finance board entrepreneurship 90

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

At the time I pointed out: “If I had realized exits almost certainly it would be because I invested in a company that failed. Helping companies get to next financing round successfully: I was just beginning this phase in Sept 2010 and said so. I’ve now been involved with many other successful foll0w-on financings.

VC 387

VC venture capital ventures financing 387

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2014

When I work with community leaders I often encourage them to “pool capital” together from many angels into a fund structure run by a small investment committee that can make more rapid funding decisions, take more risks (it is pooled capital so goes across more investments), and standardize investment terms.

startup 390

startup communities venture capital capital 390