Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact, angel investors now fund over twice as many companies, according to Crunchbase. A major chunk of this activity is provided by the newer class of “super angels,” who often look more like micro-VCs, except that […]
Advice
Tech IPOs are Not the Problem; It’s the Way We Get There Now That Is
I am a capitalist and in the words of Gordon Gekko “Greed is Good”. I believe in the continuity of self-interest, the invisible hand, and greed to drive the markets. However, the manner in which “high-growth” companies are looking to get to their public offerings is a systemic problem. Here has been the formula for […]
8 Key Business Elements Set Startup Investor Interest
One of the big questions that every entrepreneur struggles with is how much funding they should request from investors in the first round. They know from forums such as Shark Tank on TV that asking for either too much or too little will derail credibility in the eyes of the investor, and leave the entrepreneur with no […]
5 Pivotal Decisions That Define A Great Entrepreneur
Most aspiring entrepreneurs are convinced that the strength of their initial idea somehow defines them as a leader, as well as the success potential of their derivative business. In my experience, it’s a lot more complicated than that. It takes leadership ability, as well as a good idea, to make a successful entrepreneur, and great […]
How to Highlight a Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. How an entrepreneur answers this question speaks volumes about their knowledge of business realities, customers, confidence, and their ability to handle investor funding.
5 Modern Ways To Make Your Product Uniquely Memorable
Every entrepreneur believes that their product or service is memorable and that every customer will quickly see the advantage over competitors. Yet true product differentiation in the eye of the customer is rarely achieved. According to an old but still relevant survey by Bain & Company, 80% of businesses believe they have differentiated offerings, but only 8% of customers agree.
8 Work Trends Driven by Innovation
Here are several key trends in organizational cultures and working practices that can boost output, cut costs, and give employees more freedom.
My Startup Stalled – Now What?
If our startup has stalled, that doesn’t mean we’ve given up on it, it just means we have to figure out where it best fits in our lives.
7 Tips For Building Millennials Into Next-Gen Leaders
Millennials are in every business, and will likely comprise 50 percent of the workforce by 2020. Their success is now vital to our success.
6 Hard Questions That Every Entrepreneur Must Answer
As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I challenge them to think beyond what I call linear extensions to a current trend, such as another “easier-to-use” app for smartphones, a new dating site for pets, or another niche social network. In my experience, these startups usually find the field crowded with competitors, making it hard to get […]
10 Early Business Strategies That Can Lead To Failure
Ten of the top failures we both see in the early stages of entrepreneurship followed immediately by recommendations to mitigate losses from each of these items.