Posts Tagged ‘Startups’
10 Things Angel Investors Ask About Startups
Recently the angel investment group I’m a member of (Willamette Angel Conference) finished our eighth year of choosing a startup to invest in. Our investment runs $100K to $500K, roughly. It’s announced every year on the second Thursday in May. Our annual angel investors process Every year we review 40 or so submissions from startups. We…
Read MoreThe 3 Most Powerful Words for Startups
If you understand them, you can help any size company succeed. In my last article, I spoke about a growing and costly language gap between big businesses and startups and why bridging it is critical. The reason is simple. Large and small businesses need each other. Startups need large businesses because they have the systems, brand awareness, distribution and expertise…
Read More6 Places to Find the Right Investor for Your Startup
One of the biggest myths I have found in the entrepreneur community is that every startup needs one or more outside investors for credibility and success, and perhaps is even entitled to at least one. They don’t realize that according to statistics from Startup.co, almost 60 percent are funded with personal savings and credit, and another…
Read More4 Major Benefits (and 3 Drawbacks) to Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is here to stay. Absolutely every regulator in the world is now trying to get in on the crowdfunding game, especially since the JOBS Act recently went into effect. It’s made it easier for businesses of all sizes to reach out to the world and collect the funds needed to get a venture up…
Read More7 Shortcuts That Can Kill a Startup Business
Starting a new business is not an informal process, and should never be treated like a hobby between friends. Unfortunately, as a startup advisor and angel investor, I’ve seen too many ventures with great potential get destroyed or set back by legal and other shortcuts that should never have been allowed to happen. The path…
Read MoreThe 3 Words That Matter Most to Entrepreneurs
There is a growing and costly language gap between big businesses and startups, and the stakes have never been higher. News flash #1: Startups could really use the help of large businesses. Established companies have the systems, brand awareness, distribution and expertise to turn the seeds of ideas into flourishing gardens of possibility. #JustwhatIneed News flash #2: Established businesses…
Read More6 Characteristics of a Successful Startup Content Plan
Content marketing isn’t as easy as it once was. Today, every company with an online presence has a company blog. We’re all battling over keywords and rankings, and we all use multiple social media channels to shout into the void. Getting your content noticed above the noise is a significant challenge for any company, particularly…
Read MoreBootstrapping is Much More Fun Than Investors
If you really want to start a business your way without a boss or professional investor hovering over you, then just fund it yourself or through friends and family, and grow it organically. It’s more possible to bootstrap today than a few years ago, as the cost of entry continues to go down. According to…
Read MoreWhy Excellent Customer Service is Essential to Startup Success
According to the book “Leading on the Edge of Chaos” by Emmett C. Murphy and Mark A. Murphy, 68% of customers leave a business because of bad customer service. That is an astonishing number when you consider that dissatisfaction with the product or service that the company provides accounts for only 14% percent. This means…
Read MoreA Day in the Life of a Startup Owner
Some days will be smooth sailing; others will be an uphill battle. Just like when you take a new job in any area, when you start your own business you’re bound to face some challenges. It’s a fact of the learning curve. For startup owners just getting their companies off the ground, you have the…
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