When meeting with investors or even your board, during the period devoted to feedback after your presentation, you will hear comments and recommendations that don’t resonate with you. Some will be from a misunderstanding of your explanation. Some listeners will challenge your assumptions. Some will seem to ask just plain show-off questions, in which the […]
Working with Investors
4 Pitching Tips for Investment Success
I started pitching to investors in September 2018. Earlier in August that year, whilst on holiday, I devised a spreadsheet of 18 investors. Investors that I researched, investors that I liked the sound of, investors who may like the sound of me and Tutor House. The list was London-based, invested in seed and venture rounds, […]
Raising money? Find your champion.
Increasing your chances of success If you seek funds from an organized investment group such as an angel fund, venture capital entity, or even an investment club, the first thing you want to do is to find one person to buy into your vision, become excited by your enthusiasm and be willing to become the […]
5 Keys To Negotiating Your Fair Share Of Any Startup
I always tell entrepreneurs that two heads are better than one, so the first task in many startups is finding a co-founder or two. You need to find the skills or experience you don’t have in business, technology, or money. So the first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity […]
Remember These 3 Essential Things for Your Business Plan
Here’s some insider advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, from professional investors. Each of us has a list of things we look for early on when identifying whether we want to go to the next step in analyzing a plan. Come to think of it, these are good for challenging any business plan. Size of your total […]
How to Find Investors for Your Small Business Dream
Starting a small business can be more than just a dream. If it is something you have considered, you probably know that coming up with the financial backing to launch a successful endeavor can be a challenge. One way to get the funds you need is through investors. Finding people willing to invest in your […]
What Investments Should a New Entrepreneur Make?
There are a lot of things someone new to the world of startups should know. Indeed, if you’re new to the world of entrepreneurship, you’re in a much riskier boat than most. Maybe you’ve just come up with a product or business idea, and you need to know where to go next. Well, the number […]
7 Costs To Consider Before Taking Your Startup Public
Despite the fact that the number of IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) for startups have continued to stay low, I still hear it touted often as the preferred exit strategy. I suspect the exuberance for an IPO is still being driven by the highly visible successes of a few companies several years ago, including Facebook, Yelp, […]
Beware: A Million Things Can Kill the Deal
So, you’ve found the buyer, received a letter of interest, signed it, and exclusively tied your company up for a period to complete the deal. Everyone on the board is anxious to close this. You’ve committed time to do whatever is needed. You’ve informed your top management of the pending but still secret deal and […]
What Happens When Selling Your Company for Less Than Expected
Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event. Especially when outside investors, venture capitalists, or angels have put in substantial money and the sales price is less than the value of their investment. Most experienced VC and angel investors have found themselves in such a situation, since it is […]
