Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

This is part of my Startup Advice series. Getting suppliers to accept terms that they said they never normally agree, getting accepted to speak on a panel when the conference organizer initially said “no,&# getting people to moonlight for you until you have the cash to bring them on board. A couple of quick stories / examples: 1.

entrepreneurs 414

entrepreneurs board advice consulting 414

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

I have been writing a series on how startup boards get selected, who sits on them and what to avoid. I started this series in part to help entrepreneurs but also to help newer investors because I’ve know with so many new companies you have so many new board members and many people are trying to figure out there respective roles.

board 251

board advice founder construction 251

Entrepreneurs' Organization

MAY 22, 2020

When Pete approached me for advice, I recommended the “Failure-Proofing” strategy, which is a pragmatic and easy-to-use technique to defend against planning and project disasters. He recruited Ann, a member of the firm’s Advisory Board, to be an independent facilitator.

strategy 317

strategy entrepreneurs consulting creativity 317

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 14, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Startup Advice. I wrote recently about the role of Advisory Boards in startups , which I expected to be a bit controversial. It’s just that many companies waste equity on advisory boards, pick the wrong advisers or set up advisory boards with the wrong expectations.

board 215

board VC advice entrepreneurs 215

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 8, 2014

Associates often shadow partners at board meetings so that they can help follow up with the company on important initiatives between board meetings. I think it’s great for some people because it really does give you some solid benefits: board exposure / experience. Startup Advice' Alumni activities. And so forth.

investing 365

investing investment VC board 365

Gust

JULY 15, 2012

I recommend that every early-stage startup find three Advisory Board members. For this, you should expect participation in monthly strategy and review meetings, and unlimited access via phone or email for questions, mentoring, and advice. The Advisory Board’s objectives and focus. Let’s talk specifics.

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board startup mentorship strategy 178

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Startup Advice. When we were thinking of raising, he was the first I called, and after talking to Benchmark, Accel, August, and a few other tier 1 firms, it came down for me the person who was going to join the board. I think the best VCs act as a sounding board for management. Let me explain.

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VC board consulting advice 297

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2013

At any moment in time one of Upfront’s associates are likely to be working on: a pricing strategy, a market-expansion strategy, an M&A review, or helping build a company’s first board deck template. Startup Advice' We’ve done all of these recently. We encourage you to judge us by our actions.

ventures 343

ventures venture capital advice VC 343

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

When you set up a board it is often initially a combination of the founders and the early investors. This post sets out how I believe founders (and investors) should think about independent board members having worked with many of them for the past 20 years. The board is where large equity investors get their representation.

board 187

board peer-to-peer VC funders 187

This is going to be BIG.

MAY 29, 2012

With a little patience, forethought, and strategy, you can avoid angel burnout. You're going to want syndication partners on the deals you find and sounding boards on the thesis behind each of your potential investments. Otherwise, all of your advice sounds like your best advice, until you tell someone else. 5) Focus.

peer-to-peer 301

peer-to-peer angel investing advice entrepreneurs 301

This is going to be BIG.

AUGUST 8, 2011

I'm sure each of those guys got questioned by entrepreneurs as to why they should accept advice from them as opposed to the entrepreneurial veterans of the days who worked in VC. So how can a relatively junior VC hope to add any value to an investment and on a board--and is it enough value that you should have one on your board?

VC 275

VC peer-to-peer board advice 275

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

I had an enjoyable conversation this morning with a young team straight out of college this morning and they were calling to ask advice on how to approach fund raising (angels vs. VCs, how to select a VC, etc.) Startup Advice VC Industry' Deals done in your industry? It’s a bit of all of these. Industry or Operating Experience?

VC 364

VC advice board leadership 364

American Entrepreneurship

MAY 29, 2024

The most successful entrepreneurs are those who take the approach of seeking out those who can give the best advice when dealing with the challenges of growing their small business or startup. The Importance of Seeking Out Expert Advice Seeking out expert advice is crucial for small business owners for several reasons.

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advice construction board entrepreneurs 98

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 7, 2015

They now have a strong VC lead from Foundry Group and from experience when you get advice from Foundry it comes with authority, experience, empathy and the right amount of straight talk. I know because I have been the beneficiary of their advice for years and have appreciated it. All of my partners at Upfront do. Information leaks.

startup 323

startup advice pitching VC 323

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

I can’t tell you how many people have thanked me for this advice and say their productivity increased exponentially. One area I’ve had much discussion with the companies in which I’ve invested in is bringing on board an operationally focused CFO. And board confidence matters in growing companies.

board 338

board energy financing finance 338

Berkonomics

MARCH 29, 2018

Ever get bad advice? Ever take that advice without question because the person giving it was an investor, a superior in rank, the chairperson of your board? I’ll bet you have at least one story of bad advice taken and being bitten as a result. We all have in our past. But I digress.

advice 97

advice real estate board angel investing 97

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

We don’t lay claim to being the only VC to change or think about the future or to having the only or best strategy. Investing early in the lifecycle of a startups history where we can have the biggest impact on strategy & team development and deliver the highest returns if we are successful. Startup Advice'

ventures 324

ventures VC strategy advice 324

This is going to be BIG.

MAY 5, 2011

Advisors, investors and board members come in all shapes and sizes. I'm a strong believer in having a board, even at a seed stage, to report to and set strategy with. The most successful companies have strong boards and so as a good housekeeping practice, why not start acting like a great company as early as possible.

board 278

board advice consulting angel investing 278

David Teten VC

JUNE 9, 2021

You can work as a consultant, an interim executive, a board member, a deal executive partnering to buy a company, an executive in residence, or as an entrepreneur in residence. . As a next step, we recommend that you register at the major expert network websites, as well as LinkedIn and job boards, if you haven’t already.

consulting 128

consulting venture capital board capital 128

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2010

But for my sins I got an MBA and did “strategy&# consulting. In 1999 I was in Japan doing a strategy project for the board of directors of Sony. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Start-up Advice Startup Advice. It was originally COBOL and DB2 – so what?

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consulting data analysis advice construction 415

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

As female entrepreneurs, we are independent-minded and innovative, and this advice is critical for securing our future and the future of our families. She provided me with so much advice on business strategy, business channels and HR. My first female mentor was the incredible Janine Allis , founder of Boost Juice.

founder 262

founder advice entrepreneurship entrepreneurs 262

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2013

When DataSift sets up a board meeting (next one in London, last was in NYC) we have investors from NYC (IA Ventures), SF (Scale Ventures) and the founding team + chairman in London. I will commit to traveling to NYC seven times per year for board meetings. All I would ask is that you hold 1-2 board meetings / year in KC.

VC 365

VC board communities pitching 365

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2010

You’re not lecturing to a college class, you’re not at a cocktail party and you’re not chatting with a small group in a board meeting. One strategy I often employ. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Start-up Advice Startup Advice. – No great presentation can be delivered like a conversation.

advice 362

advice VC entrepreneurs education 362

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 25, 2010

Rincon is part of the new breed of Seed Stage VCs and with the leadership of Jim Andelman has charted out the most authentic early-stage investment strategy in Southern California. In the video I linked to above Farb talks about how he got Rob Lord on board at Grockit. He first worked hard to get him to be an advisor to the company.

strategy 293

strategy venture capital SaaS investment 293

This is going to be BIG.

AUGUST 2, 2010

That’s the thing—startups in the initial stages need advice, feedback, and guidence a lot more than they need money upfront. Getting key strategy advice early on, or getting introduced to a new market can make or break a company in ways that no amount of angel capital can help.

startup 253

startup entrepreneurship venture capital mentorship 253

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 13, 2010

Post MBA I went into strategy consulting where my job was to problem solve for clients. This is a problem for a strategy consultant because you are, by definition, a generalist that is thrown into new problems again and again. And few people in my experience do this well so many board meetings wander.

entrepreneurs 372

entrepreneurs consulting frameworks advice 372

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

This is an updated post from my ongoing series on Startup Advice that I learned from founding two companies. . By Monday morning after their board meeting in NorCal I didn’t get a return phone call. We assumed they would take our advice and upgrade. In the corporate world this strategy is flawed. I HATE LOSING.

consulting 328

consulting advice collaboration VC 328

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

He grew up in Connecticut attended Yale undergrad and worked for IBM after graduation doing M&A, strategy and venture capital. What is the communication rhythm and dynamics with the board and in other meetings? In the beginning there were monthly board meetings then after Series C they moved to quarterly. I totally agree.

board 286

board culture VC education 286

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

This financial leader could well have come through the finance org at another startup or at a larger company but they often also can come from strategy consulting (Bain, BCG or McKinsey) or through investment banking (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, etc.).

innovation 286

innovation startup board leadership 286

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 27, 2011

I was meeting regularly with entrepreneurs and offering (for better or for worse) advice on how to run a startup and how to raise venture capital from my experience in doing so at two companies. Or “I’m a new entrepreneur, why would I offer advice on how to run a startup?&#. People often ask me why I started blogging.

startup 373

startup advice communities VC 373

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2011

I have sat on a board with Howard and have known him a few years. Investing Strategy. What is ideal board structure? For a company that raises a seed round of capital a three person board that includes the CEO, Investor, and an Independent member is fine. How to run a board meeting?

capital 284

capital board VC pitching 284

Revolution

MARCH 1, 2023

But if the fund relies on a “momentum” investing strategy (a strategy that is dependent on the next investor simply investing at a higher valuation than is supported by the fundamentals of the business because of an assumed upward trend) it is likely that those marks will be reset as the market inevitably corrects.

advice 147

advice founder finance financing 147

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

This is an updated post from my ongoing series on Startup Advice that I learned from founding two companies. . By Monday morning after their board meeting in NorCal I didn’t get a return phone call. We assumed they would take our advice and upgrade. In the corporate world this strategy is flawed. I HATE LOSING.

consulting 333

consulting advice collaboration VC 333

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

It’s true that many VCs over promise how helpful they’ll be with introductions / strategic advice / recruiting, etc. One was the hardest working guy on our board and the biggest mensch. I will be on your board but don’t ask me for anything.&# He literally said it that bluntly. Most VCs aren’t either?

advice 279

advice venture capital frameworks entrepreneurs 279

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 11, 2016

The number one advice I give is “stop trying to be too smart”. Think about how profound a difference adding Sheryl Sandberg early at Facebook was to Mark Zuckerberg and knowing that he should stay in charge of product and strategy while she ran operations. It’s the founders who are willing to let you join their boards.

venture capital 363

venture capital capital ventures VC 363

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2013

bang on the windows of a board meeting recently and stick his tongue out at all of us. She debates manufacturing strategies. Startup Advice' Aka Punky Brewster. We’ve had many celebrities walk through our doors including a-list film stars. Heck, I even had Robert Downey, Jr. And Tasha never screamed before?

startup 398

startup creativity advice entrepreneurs 398

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Board Meetings. If you’re not taking this zone-out down time I’ll bet you’re not having enough strategic reflection on your job, your company, your strategy. Every so often I find myself caught up in a really hectic 3-4 week schedule where it seems like I float endlessly betweens meetings. Conferences.

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creativity venture capital entrepreneurs board 400