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Start Up with the Exit in Mind

Thursday, 14 November 2019 by
EVERY founder should plan with the exit in mind. Whether that’s getting acquired, merely successful, going public, or otherwise, most startups struggle to bring on board resources and capital because they never think through and communicate what the FUTURE means for everyone. I don’t care if you want to get acquired or stay private, what
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Introducing Venture Capital to Kids

Wednesday, 13 November 2019 by
With three kids of my own (10, 12, and 14), and a lot of time spent in incubators and corporate innovation programs, I’m frequently wondering if and how we can’t better introduce our kids to entrepreneurship and prepare them for what’s involved in raising capital. Begging this question, How would you explain venture capital to
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What Startup Founders Might Consider Before Seeking VC

Tuesday, 05 November 2019 by
Venture Capital seeks opportunity, not a sales pitch. The mindset to have is that you don’t want to have to seek VC, you want investors to seek you. Of course, that doesn’t mean you won’t have to do the work and start the conversation; it’s a mindset – what are you doing to build the
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16 Comments

Do Startups Not Need to Be Profitable?

Wednesday, 14 August 2019 by
We’re in this really weird era as Silicon Valley creeps out to the rest of the world, in which investors elsewhere, traditional business owners, and the like, keep advising everyone to, “focus on customers,” “it’s all about revenue,” and questions such as this. Startups never needed to become profitable. Venture Capital investors fund EXITS Grants fund
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The 5 Reasons Investors Pass on Startups

Monday, 10 June 2019 by
Is it that simple? Let’s try… I’ve explored before HOW startups fail and article after article after article ponders why they fail. I hope we can agree on a simple fact that IF a startup is going to fail, investors would rather not be involved. Yes? So might it be as simple? Investors consider countless
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The Rookie Mistake Investors Make Getting into Venture Capital

Tuesday, 02 April 2019 by
find expertise in startups
Venture capital investing is the riskier version of gambling in Las Vegas. Truly. 90% of startups fail. FEW are experienced with discerning any difference between those likely to fail and those not. What’s the rookie mistake in venture capital investing? Being a rookie. Without experience in startups, your odds are against you as much as
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Before You Start, Define the Outcome

Sunday, 10 March 2019 by
How do you determine when your business is going to be successful? When it meets your definition of success. Many, I’ve found, start businesses thinking forward; the test and validate, customer feedback oriented development.  I have a hypothesis or a business I want to start, what do I do first?  That’s generally actually bad idea because every
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