Founders and Fundraising
Adding Your Co-Founders To Your Board Is A Bad Idea
The doorbell rang. It was my co-founder, “Jim.” He was a few minutes early for our planning meeting with my other co-founder, “John.” [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] I opened up the door to my house, and I smiled and said, “Hi Jim.” Jim looked like he…
Read MoreThe Five Signs You’re Not Thinking Big Enough
“Why are you worried about selling your company?” I asked Fred. “You’re just getting started, and you’re worried about selling (your company)? That doesn’t feel good to me.” I had just met Fred, and I was trying to decide whether I was going to work with him. And, an entrepreneur who volunteers they are focused…
Read MoreWhat Do You Do When An Investor Gives You Bad Advice?
“I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!” I screamed to myself as I walked to my car. I had just gotten the snot beaten out of me by the partners at one of my investors, “Donald Ventures.” I had been asked to present and update to the partnership by “Raul,” the partner leading…
Read MoreWhat’s The Best Mindset When You’re Getting Started?
It was the summer of 2009, and we were closing in on our Series A funding. I wanted to update my fellow co-founders on our progress, so I scheduled a meeting at the local Starbucks. Three of my four fellow co-founders were on time for our 11AM meeting. We were waiting on our Chief Technology…
Read MoreHow Do You Know What Investor Feedback Is Valuable?
You’re going to get tons of feedback from investors when you pitch your startup. The problem is, a lot of the feedback you get will lead you in the wrong direction, and actually hurt your chances of getting funded. So what are you, the CEO, supposed to do with the feedback you get? In today’s…
Read MoreThe 9 Tips You Need To Know Before Raising Your Series A
“Just visit ten investors,” my friend Dave said to me. “If no one is interested, then you should just move on.” Dave is a dear friend, a mentor, and, at the time, a VC. Usually his advice is spot on. However, this was one time I just couldn’t agree with his advice. [Do you want…
Read MoreWhat Is The Best Strategy For You To Impress Investors?
“You should have seen the look on Gill’s face,” Barry, the Chairman of the Board of my company said to me. He was telling me about sitting in on a pitch to our lead investor’s fund. “Gill gave me this look about five minutes into the pitch,” Barry said, laughing. “He just wanted this thing…
Read MoreHow Can You Make Your Pitch Stand Out?
Whether you realize it or not, you’re in a competing against hundreds of other startups, inside and outside your industry, for funding. So the question is how can you make your pitch stand out? In today’s video, I’ll share with you four tips that will help your pitch and pitch deck stand out from the…
Read MoreMake It Easy For Investors To Understand Your Startup
It’s really tempting when you’re raising money to try and hide key issues and weaknesses about your company from potential investors. In a word, don’t. Because you’ll live to regret it if you do try and hide things from potential investors. Let me propose a different strategy. Instead, you should try and make it really…
Read MoreWhen Does Your Startup Need Be Profitable?
I really respect Steve Blank. He’s got a great view of startups, venture capitalists, and the startup ecosystem as a whole. Plus, he’s viewed as the Godfather of the lean startup movement, so what’s not to like? Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. Blank, 68, has been around…
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