Founders and Fundraising
What Investors Really Want To See In Your Pitch Deck
Before you pitch any investors, you’re going to need to know what investors actually want to see in your pitch deck. And you’re going to need to know the order those slides should be presented in. In today’s video, I’ll show you the ten slides you’ll need in your investor pitch deck, the order these…
Read MoreShould You Be Friends With Your Co-Founders?
When I was a kid, I used to really like westerns. Maybe it was because my Dad really liked westerns, so I liked westerns too. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] There was a rather obscure western that I really liked called, “The Culpepper Cattle Company.” It’s the…
Read MoreHow Do You Keep Your Idea From Being Stolen?
The idea for your startup can be stolen. I should know because the idea for my startup was stolen, right down to the pitch deck I was using to raise funding. In today’s video, I’ll share with you how to protect yourself from having your idea stolen, and what you should do if your idea…
Read MoreHow Do You Present Your Startup’s Vision
One of the big mistakes entrepreneurs make when they are pitching their startups to investors is focusing only on the short term problem they are solving. However, your company isn’t investable unless you explain your vision too. In today’s video, I’ll show you how to present your vision to investors, so your startup can get…
Read MoreWhat’s The Most Important Thing You Can Do Running Your Startup?
I was visiting with my Mom a few years ago. My Mom said to me, “I found this picture from years ago. Do you remember it?” Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. I looked at the picture and smiled. I did remember it from when I was a…
Read MoreWhy You Should Ignore The Rise Of The Unicorns
“I hate high-margin businesses,” one of the most famous VCs in Silicon Valley told me during my pitch. “There’s not a hope in hell this guy’s going to fund us,” I thought to myself. I ignored his comment, and I continued on with my presentation. So what did this world-renowned VC mean? I asked one…
Read MoreHow Do You Deal With Feeling Like A Fraud?
I felt like the biggest fraud in the world. My co-founders, “Jim” and John”, had just quit three months after we started the company. John said, in his parting comment to me, “I know better how to build a analog IC company than you do.” In other words, John was saying, “We don’t need you.”…
Read MoreAre You More Powerful Than The Board Of Directors?
Do you know about the theory of rational thought? The theory of rational thought has at its core the basic assumption that people will act in a logical manner. Now, if that was true, then a great startup CEO would have much more power than a board of directors because a great startup CEO is…
Read MoreWhat’s The Best Way To Start Your Pitch?
You have, maybe, 7 seconds to make an emotional connection with investors. If you fail this critical step, your window of opportunity is gone, and it gets infinitely more difficult for you to raise your funding. Most startup CEOs start their pitches slowly, and lose their investors attention, and their chance to raise funding. Worse…
Read MoreWhat Books Do You Recommend For CEOs?
Since I’m biased, and you asked, you could start by reading my book, “Learn How to Take a Punch: Building Your Startup Isn’t a Marathon, It’s a Prizefight.” Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. While every startup’s journey is unique, I noticed similar patterns in the startups I’ve been…
Read More