The Valuation of a Pre Funded Startup
Wednesday, 20 January 2021
Startups all, struggle with a question of what’s called, “valuation.” What is the company worth? To put together a pitch deck, negotiate terms with investors, or just to share with potential team members and advisors what you’re doing, people will want to know what it’s worth now. Before you take money from a venture capital
- Published in Insights / Research, Startups
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The Distinction of Startup CEO
Tuesday, 05 January 2021
Chief Executive Officer. The responsibilities of a CEO are set by the organization’s board of directors because technically, a CEO is the Chief Executive among many, referring to the fact that companies are largely run by the CxOs of their respective business (CMO, CTO, CIO, etc.). Managing a leadership team and meeting the expectations of stakeholders
- Published in Startups
The Future of our Economy Lies in Property Development and Startups Finding Common Ground
Thursday, 17 December 2020
“Perhaps one of the most important financial decisions a forest landowner will make is determining when to harvest timber.” That, the opening of a PennState article exploring the financial decisions land owners consider in this use case, including how to determine and calculate when to maximize financial returns, prompted a thought about investing in property
- Published in Economic Development, Startups
A Competition Slide that Closes Capital
Wednesday, 25 November 2020
I was asked recently if Facebook and Google are competitors, and the question being asked, struck me with as much alarm as hearing a startup founder say they don’t have competitors. What most frequently gives an investor pause is a slide in a pitch deck that communicates that you’re not paying attention to your market and
- Published in Raising Capital
Ideas Are Valuable; Stop Saying They’re Not!
Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Businesses without ideas are like people with matches trying to light a wet campfire. Striking, striking, and striking again. You have the stuff that's valued (wood, matches) but you can't do anything without a ton of work.
- Published in Insights / Research, Startups
The Emperor’s New Clothes of Entrepreneurship
Tuesday, 10 November 2020
When you're prepared for loss, failure, isolation, commitment, tenacity, perseverance, and living on nothing, THEN maybe give it a shot; not because someone else says it's easy or that they'll help you. You need to be more prepared for the very likely downside than living on the hopes and dreams perpetuated because a small fraction who try make it work.
- Published in Insights / Research, Startups
Maybe Starting with the Problem is the Problem
Tuesday, 06 October 2020
In a world wherein overwhelmingly most founders and startups fail as a result of a lack of product/market fit, and incubators, University startup programs, and mentors, are flush with “ideas” that genuinely warrant, “that’s already being done,” perhaps the advice to start with the problem (or solution, for that matter), is wrong. Think on it:
- Published in Startups