Both Sides of the Table

MAY 30, 2018

One of the hardest things about the fund-raising process for entrepreneurs is that you’re trying to raise money from people who have “asymmetric information.” VC firms see thousands of deals and have a refined sense of how the market is valuing deals because they get price signals across all of these deals. So why does a VC ask you?

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Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

*. What is the role of a VC for entrepreneurs? I suppose it can be different for every founder and for different VCs but I’d like to offer you some context on what I think it is and it isn’t. They are unique to you and not to each other situation that VC has faced. Startup Lessons' ” I responded.

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VC advice consulting frameworks 353

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 23, 2012

I have one failed attempt at a startup under my belt as a founder and I don't have any particularly usable skills that anyone would pay for like selling, designing, building, etc. Conferences, startup blogs, meetups--they're all filled with people telling you how to build your company. Most startups fail.

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advice startup VC strategy 412

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

If you truly believe that you, your company and your products are exceptional and your company will be valuable then you’re actually doing them a FAVOR by helping them invest in your startup. As a result founders often meet the wrong investors, waste time on those who ask for more information. Same with VC. To be clear?—?your

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Both Sides of the Table

JULY 7, 2015

I love how open Danielle has been throughout the development of her startup Mattermark including honest reflections of when she has changed her opinion. They now have a strong VC lead from Foundry Group and from experience when you get advice from Foundry it comes with authority, experience, empathy and the right amount of straight talk.

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Haystack

DECEMBER 29, 2018

It’s that time of year, time to look back and reflect on the most significant storylines in the tech, startup, and VC world. And, with that warning, I offer to you, the big stories in the startup and investing ecosystem of 2018, written in ascending order of importance and magnitude…. 6/ Venture Capital In Expansion Phase.

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Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 13, 2018

One of the hardest things to know when you’re new to fund raising is what you’re supposed to send to an investor, when and will they keep your information confidential. As a VC and former entrepreneur let me offer you some advice. This is part of a series on how to improve your fund raising game. The key is WHAT you send.

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This is going to be BIG.

MARCH 21, 2025

I cant tell you how many times I got announced as a successful VC when I was introduced on a panel or sat across the room from a potential limited partner telling them I was. You dont owe them success, but you do owe them honesty, transparency, and a willingness to share enough information with others to enable them to help you.

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Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

” Your VC friends have been egging you on. So as a startup CEO you constantly have to suspend disbelief. ” A startup CEO’s job is to absorb stress so the team doesn’t have to. The don’t understand VC liquidation preferences or multiple return expectations. ” “True.

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startup peer-to-peer VC culture 417

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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Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2017

There are certain topics that even some of the smartest people I talk with who aren’t startup oriented can’t fully grok. It’s common cocktail party chatter to hear people confidently pronounce that some well known startup is sure to blow up because, “How could they succeed when they’re not even profitable!” What did they actually do?

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Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

In a VC pitch this type of messaging will do just fine. Even the VC who invested in your deal struggles to properly position why you’re going to be huge when they’re calling big tech companies or other VCs on your behalf. how informed will they be about our product / service? Simplify Your Message.

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entrepreneurs pitching startup education 370

This is going to be BIG.

JUNE 22, 2020

A VC’s default is “no”, so without enough information to be convincing, it’s going to wind up being a pass. If you’re going to try to pitch metrics and momentum as the main feature of your pitch—make sure they’re as great relative to other startups as you think they are. To a VC, $50,000 a pre-sale isn’t really that much.

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pitching VC peer-to-peer founder 312

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 3, 2015

Every VC firm works differently but when asked about our process I always reply the same way, We’re a “high conviction” shop. When the partner hears all of the input he or she goes away to do more research, gather more information and get ready to face the doubters. The same is true at startups.

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advice peer-to-peer startup frameworks 332

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 4, 2013

LEAN STARTUP MOVEMENT. And finally there is the most modern spin on these concepts by two individuals who have built tech startups and have done an excellent job at describing the process. ” is Eric Ries who wrote the must own, “ The Lean Startup ” *. Startup Advice' I work with many companies.

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strategy startup peer-to-peer advice 401

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

What is the True Sentiment of VCs? I recently survey more than 150 VC friends from all stages and geographies what they thought about the market by asking “Which of the following statements best describes your mood heading into 2016?” ” “Mark has a vested interest in talking down valuations of startups.”

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startup VC entrepreneurs investing 285

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2013

Didn’t I make myself clear about celebrities & startups ? Turns out she’s done this startup thing before. Soleil is paranoid about leaking design & product information because she’s been burned. And they’re both full time committed to their startup – Moonfrye. Startup Advice'

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Dream It

APRIL 24, 2019

Over the past week, Zillow announced the rollout of their 3D Home tool, which lets real estate agents show immersive VC views of homes for sale. Information modeling for contractors during the building process, allowing stakeholders to avoid costly rework and design that often happens mid-build. The company, which raised a $1.3

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real estate construction startup enablement 288

This is going to be BIG.

JUNE 23, 2014

When I turn down the opportunity to invest in a startup, I really turn it down. It''s unclear what piece of information they were lacking or how someone could have gotten them over the hump. It just feels like the VC wasn''t that interested in the first place and so they''re not sure what the interest was in the first place.

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pitching VC venture capital opportunity 351

This is going to be BIG.

NOVEMBER 15, 2020

Take the story of luggage startup Away’s CEO Steph Korey. Don’t get me wrong--the mental and emotional well-being of startup employees is a serious issue. In late 2018, the company raised $75 million Series C from Sequoia, arguably the top VC firm in the world. VC David Sacks tweeted “?? It’s male founder friendly.

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coworking spaces hospitality culture coworking 545

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

He had joined a young startup in LA called HauteLook and was interested in getting to know the local tech community. 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.

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VC communities investing investment 360

Dream It

APRIL 7, 2020

Friday, April 3 was supposed to be the orderly launch of the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) providing $349B of urgently needed funding to struggling startups and small businesses. The information on this page was updated on April 6th, 2020. What are the immediate do’s and don’ts for startups?

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Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 11, 2021

Photo by Vanna Phon on Unsplash Customer acquisition is the lifeblood of many startups from e-commerce to gaming to marketplace companies, among others. Most of these startups spend the lion’s share of their marketing budget in today’s social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Snap, TikTok and so on because?—?no no surprise?—?that’s

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founder peer-to-peer sustainability VC 424

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 14, 2013

Creating awareness for your brand and products is one of the lifebloods of technology startups yet in a world where so many companies are being created it becomes difficult to rise above the noise. Will I have information that other journalists don’t have (otherwise known as a “scoop”)? I am a VC.

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mix-use advice VC technology 389

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2013

If you’ve been following the press about VC funds you’ll know this is no small feat. Santa Monica is the place where the highest concentration of early-stage startups are created if you consider also the contiguous geography of Venice Beach. We think transparency and easy access to information benefit our entire ecosystem.

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ventures venture capital advice VC 343

This is going to be BIG.

APRIL 13, 2022

In this case, a VC would have every right, having seen lots of products get built and succeed or fail, to want to observe and discuss that process. What’s harder to notice for a founder is all of the things that a founder isn’t being asked to review in detail that a VC has no problem trusting the founder on.

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founder VC board strategy 411

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Your goal should be to turn your VCs into extended members of your team to get real value from them. Understanding where your VC partner sits in their respective fund and where their fund is in the cycle of its investment lifecycle will help you understand your VCs behavior. More information comes out. Rob does it.

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board VC advice pitching 365

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2013

He pinged me that he was thinking about joining a startup based in LA with the CEO in NYC and would I be willing to meet him and give him advice on this process. I looked up his bio, “UVA, banking analyst, doing some early startup work” and thought – sure – come meet me for a coffee. Not for me.

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pitching advice VC entrepreneurs 372

TechCrunch

NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Though some businesses may never be truly sustainable, a venture firm in Seoul argues that emerging climate-tech startups will help big manufacturers do better overall. I spoke with Sopoong chief executive Max Sang-Yeop Han , a serial entrepreneur who joined Sopoong in 2016 and acquired the firm in 2019, to learn about the VC’s plans.

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TechCrunch

OCTOBER 9, 2023

This is the United States’ first piece of legislation that aims to increase diversity within the venture capital landscape.

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Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

I’m often asked about the differences between being at a VC and being an entrepreneur and whether I prefer one or the other. The biggest difference I cite is that Venture Capital often feels like an “individual sport” while startups are a “team sport.” That’s what we’re trying to do at Upfront.

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culture VC communities venture capital 339

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 5, 2014

We are expected to know everything and many people rush to conclusions given a limited set of information. How should a large European telco deal with a rival “free Internet access” startup? In my experience many VC’s fall into this “I’m expected to know all the answers” trap.

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The Seraf Compass

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Join Seraf for an engaging and informative webinar on VC investing in BRICS countries, with an emphasis on the exciting opportunities in Brazil. This event is tailored for venture capitalists, startup founders, and investors eager to delve into the high-growth potential within Brazil's dynamic market.

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Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 6, 2013

I had to get basic information about my brother’s dogs (size, willingness to be with other dogs, special needs, were they spayed, had shots, etc.) We got along and shared stories about the startup market. Monitor had a little internal VC group so he got some experience there. and upload that. I’ll leave the year out.

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collaboration VC accelerator consulting 344

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

We use this try to draw some context that informs our funding decisions. Our last thoughts on the VC funding markets heading into 2016 was published here and I followed up with a little more context on the resetting of the venture industry , some thoughts on how startups are valued and how to think about burn rates at startups.

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peer-to-peer VC advice ventures 277

David Teten VC

MARCH 1, 2022

The easiest way to work with and for VC funds is to become a part-time scout, getting paid for sourcing investments. How to find a job as a VC scout. VC recruiters list and compensation data. How to negotiate a partner role at a VC or private equity firm. Syllabus for how to launch, manage, and invest a VC fund.

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StartupNation

JANUARY 6, 2022

In this post, I’ll cover six realistic ways startups and entrepreneurs can fund their business , including: Incubators or accelerators. Venture capital or VC. A business incubator or accelerator is an organization that provides resources, mentorship, and connections to startups. Get angel investment for your startup.

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