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The Bell Mason Diagnostic and First Principles Thinking in Venture Capital

Thursday, 20 February 2025 by
Why Venture Capital Needs a First Principles Overhaul Venture capital is broken. Not in the “bubble’s about to pop” and certainly not in the sense that so many are pissed off because they aren’t getting funded, but in the “founders keep getting bad funding advice from firms still operating on outdated, ineffective methodologies” sense.  In the
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48 Comments

Time for Congress to Reform the SEC’s Outdated Accredited Investor Definition

Thursday, 06 February 2025 by
Public policy isn’t just a framework for startups and investors, it’s a gatekeeper deciding who gets to play the game. And few policies are as restrictive as the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) definition of an “accredited investor.” This definition has long determined who can and cannot invest in private securities offerings (i.e. startups), not
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34 Comments

What the Best Angel Investors Do Differently in Startup Investing

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 by
The rush to become an angel investor mirrors the increase in the appeal of the “celebrity entrepreneur” we’ve seen over the last couple of decades.  To flourish, the investor community must consolidate more (i.e. become an LP in a fund vs doing our own thing) and those who remain independent must level up their value-add. I
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Venture Capital Manifests for Opportunity: It’s Not Available to Serve

Monday, 06 January 2025 by
For economic development professionals, community builders, and government officials committed to fostering entrepreneurship, it’s all too common to hear founders lament that a “lack of capital” is their most significant challenge. Yet, curiously, a lack of capital is rarely cited as a leading cause of startup failure. This disconnect points to a deeper, systemic issue
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How to Get More Out of Entrepreneurs

Thursday, 12 December 2024 by
Whether you are an investor, a founder seeking advice, a business owner, or someone working through a city to encourage economic growth, we can be certain that you engage with people who are entrepreneurial. Certain of that, having read the body of works about entrepreneurship, the studies about entrepreneurs, and even the psychological works related
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Argentina Unleashed: How Reforms Under President Milei Spark Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Monday, 25 November 2024 by
Argentina’s history is one of extremes — a nation that has swung from prosperity to crisis and back again yet always demonstrated an uncanny ability to rebuild and reinvent itself. In the early 20th century, Argentina was among the top 10 wealthiest nations globally, thanks to its fertile agricultural sector, booming trade, and a forward-thinking,
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When Founders Need Referrals to Meet Investors, Fix This About Your Startup Ecosystem

Friday, 08 November 2024 by
In a well-functioning startup ecosystem, founders should know who their potential investors are and how to connect with them. In a supportive startup ecosystem, founders should know how to develop ventures that attract attention, supported by journalists and ecosystem leaders who promote fundable startups, so that investors engage them. Yet, we often see founders struggling
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