The Dangers of Pretend VCs: How Founders Can Protect Themselves
In the dynamic world of startups, venture capitalists (VCs) are vital. They provide the necessary funding, mentorship, and network connections that help startups thrive. However, not everyone who claims to be a VC genuinely fits the bill. Some individuals adopt the title for the cachet, to enhance their resumes, or [...]
How To Invest in a Startup as an Angel Investor
tl;dr – Angel investors are generally high net worth individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses (I.e. start-ups). Angel investing is a great way to provide a high-growth startup with its initial outside capital while investors build a portfolio. Understanding who can become an angel investor, how to start investing [...]
5 Things to Keep in Mind When Picking Investors
tl;dr – Startup founders need to consider items beyond capital when choosing investors to join their team. You must assess investors for personality fit, fund horizon, time commitment, the ability to fill gaps, and belief in you and your team. As a startup founder, picking the right investors for [...]
6 Ways to Finance Your Startup Without VC
tl;dr - If you choose or cannot go down the VC path in financing your startup there are other options. Bootstrapping, finding patient money, crowdfunding, financing via personal loans & credit cards, and reinvesting any profit are paths you can take to grow your startup. My favorite is for a [...]
Should You Raise From VCs?
This game ain’t for everybody…and that’s OK. "Do you plan on raising capital from VC’s?” That is one of the first questions I ask founders that I meet whose companies are in early stage. The question is quickly followed by a “Why?” I find too often that [...]
How to Properly Raise Seed Capital from Family & Friends
In my last post we ran through a scenario where a founder excitedly decided to sell equity to her uncle, an unsophisticated investor. That decision led to the unintended consequences of inflating the value of the company’s stock at an early stage as well as creating a giant tax liability [...]
Your Startup’s Initial Investors – Up to Series Seed
tl;dr - A high-growth startup will likely eventually need outside capital. Family and friends invest in companies when they are little more than an idea. Angels invest when the startup starts to gain traction. Traditional accelerators invest cash as well as resources for a piece of equity. Seed funds write [...]
The Dangers of Pretend VCs: How Founders Can Protect Themselves
In the dynamic world of startups, venture capitalists (VCs) are vital. They provide the necessary funding, mentorship, and network connections that help startups thrive. However, not everyone who claims to be a VC genuinely fits the bill. Some individuals adopt the title for the cachet, to enhance their resumes, or [...]
How To Invest in a Startup as an Angel Investor
tl;dr – Angel investors are generally high net worth individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses (I.e. start-ups). Angel investing is a great way to provide a high-growth startup with its initial outside capital while investors build a portfolio. Understanding who can become an angel investor, how to start investing [...]
5 Things to Keep in Mind When Picking Investors
tl;dr – Startup founders need to consider items beyond capital when choosing investors to join their team. You must assess investors for personality fit, fund horizon, time commitment, the ability to fill gaps, and belief in you and your team. As a startup founder, picking the right investors for [...]
6 Ways to Finance Your Startup Without VC
tl;dr - If you choose or cannot go down the VC path in financing your startup there are other options. Bootstrapping, finding patient money, crowdfunding, financing via personal loans & credit cards, and reinvesting any profit are paths you can take to grow your startup. My favorite is for a [...]
Should You Raise From VCs?
This game ain’t for everybody…and that’s OK. "Do you plan on raising capital from VC’s?” That is one of the first questions I ask founders that I meet whose companies are in early stage. The question is quickly followed by a “Why?” I find too often that [...]
How to Properly Raise Seed Capital from Family & Friends
In my last post we ran through a scenario where a founder excitedly decided to sell equity to her uncle, an unsophisticated investor. That decision led to the unintended consequences of inflating the value of the company’s stock at an early stage as well as creating a giant tax liability [...]
Your Startup’s Initial Investors – Up to Series Seed
tl;dr - A high-growth startup will likely eventually need outside capital. Family and friends invest in companies when they are little more than an idea. Angels invest when the startup starts to gain traction. Traditional accelerators invest cash as well as resources for a piece of equity. Seed funds write [...]