Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

A reminder that it is important for all entrepreneurs is to remember to be careful about “deal drift.” Conversely I offered the same deal to another entrepreneur who decided to shop around longer. You know that every turn of the legal documents can add weeks. Push hard to document turns. Decide what’s important to you.

venture capital 301

venture capital advice VC real estate 301

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. The records division would be included in the last batch to be migrated, to give ample time to convert all documents and processes to digital forms.

strategy 317

strategy entrepreneurs consulting creativity 317

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 6, 2020

We have been advising a lot of entrepreneurs so I thought I’d “open source” some of the advice I have been sharing. So my only goal is to give you insights into the conversations we’ve been having in case you don’t have the same access or advice. I’m getting so much conflicting advice, whom should I listen to?

VC 279

VC peer-to-peer startup advice 279

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 15, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Startup Advice. But some companies have entrepreneurs that seem talented on paper, are in a space that seems interesting to investors and are able to raise venture capital early in the company’s existence. I always encourage young entrepreneurs now to flip burgers for as long as they can.

startup founder 299

startup founder founder startup VC 299

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2010

18% of all errors come from people using the wrong documents. hours are spent every day by workers searching for documents. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Start-up Advice Startup Advice. It becomes folklore. 13% of GDP is construction – the largest industry. 23% of all costs are inefficient.

consulting 415

consulting data analysis advice construction 415

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

*. What is the role of a VC for entrepreneurs? I was recently contacted by an entrepreneur who was consider a few different business models for his company. My job isn’t to predict markets but rather to find entrepreneurs who want to create markets through insight and conviction.” Document management?

VC 353

VC advice consulting frameworks 353

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2013

And a few teams of super talented, educated and bright entrepreneurs make a few mill. And precisely because buyers usually prefer to have limited money go to investors – investors almost always have the ability to say “no” to transactions in the terms of their funding documents (aka “blocking rights”).

strategy 357

strategy venture capital advice entrepreneurs 357

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Now, I’m pretty on the record that being an entrepreneur is about being great at The Do. I have written about the need for entrepreneurs to take inventory in themselves before deciding whom to hire as the rest of the team. And I get flooded with legal docs, end-of-quarter financial administration, recruiting, whatever.

creativity 400

creativity venture capital entrepreneurs board 400

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

And so do entrepreneurs who are quick to pivot to new businesses or to sell in an acquihire. It’s been high tide since 2009 so an entire batch of entrepreneurs don’t know what low tide even looks like. And the “stay lean” argument isn’t only good for entrepreneurs, it can be good for VCs, too.

startup 390

startup VC venture capital entrepreneurs 390

TechCrunch

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

As an entrepreneur, you have limited time to project that maturity to prospective funds. This is one of the lessons I wish I understood when raising a Series B, so I hope you find this advice helpful when you navigate your larger raises. An elegant strategy memo is your most important document.

founder 97

founder strategy pitching venture capital 97

Gust

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

These steps are not aimed specifically at entrepreneurs, but I see how they can be applied there as follows: Do what you know and enjoy. Figure out what’s really important to you as an entrepreneur. These days, on the Internet you can find samples of every document and contract you will ever need, so use them.

entrepreneurs 180

entrepreneurs strategy energy advice 180

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 17, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series “ Pitching a VC “ There’s a great meme developing this morning on the need to simplify funding terms and documents. Many had the typical investor-friendly terms where entrepreneurs would get screwed and not even understand how they got screwed until many years later. I totally agree.

founder 252

founder pitching VC advice 252

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 31, 2015

I believe many entrepreneurs have ADD. I am good at cranking out documents, memos, presentations, letters and spreadsheets. “I did that f **g documents yesterday! But overall I believe this leads to better entrepreneurship and why I believe so many entrepreneurs have ADD. Embrace it.

creativity 384

creativity consulting entrepreneurship energy 384

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 10, 2010

An entrepreneur recently sent me an @ reply message on Twitter asking for some help with a decision coming up in his business. But many well intentioned entrepreneurs are sloppy about how they ask so I’d like to give you some guidelines to help. Tags: Startup Advice. I get these frequently via Twitter, Facebook or email.

advice 332

advice entrepreneurs investing investment 332

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

I recently read a post over on VentureHacks titled, “ Top Ten Reasons Entrepreneurs Hate Lawyers &# written by Scott Walker (who blogs on legal issues for entrepreneurs ). Because many great entrepreneurs work with lawyers in registering their companies they have their ear to the pavement on the earliest of company formations.

startup 318

startup advice entrepreneurs VC 318

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 2, 2014

But the book is a must read for entrepreneurs. It was written by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann and documents the 2012 election from the early GOP primary fights right through to the final outcome. Startup Advice' And I can tell you from first-hand experience this is EXACTLY what goes on inside startups.

startup 385

startup coworking advice leadership 385

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2009

This is part of my ongoing posts on Startup Advice. My advice: don’t. I was able to hire the former European head of sales for the largest document management player in the world. I had always been a scrappy entrepreneur. Tags: Start-up Advice startup technology. I’m not one of those. Your solution?

startup 327

startup advice SaaS consulting 327

Entrepreneurs' Organization

AUGUST 25, 2021

You also need to know who are the executors, trustees, and beneficiaries of all your parents’ legal documents. Documents such as wills, trusts, automobile titles, property deeds, insurance policies, tax returns, Powers of Attorney, healthcare directives (eg, DNR) . Lincoln Financial Advisors does not provide legal or tax advice.

hospitality 286

hospitality advice education opportunity 286

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 19, 2010

I’m writing this post as part of my series with Advice on Raising Venture Capital but will file it under Sales Tips as well since it applies equally to both scenarios. As both an entrepreneur (in VC and sales meetings) and as a VC I’ve seen this happen many times. Congratulations.

advice 318

advice VC pitching venture capital 318

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 11, 2014

And if there is a term for that which helps entrepreneurs stay focused on these good and true objectives then I’m all for it. Startup Advice' ” Whenever I work with early-stage teams I have discussions about the meat & potatoes of online marketing. But ignore his rant and hack on. Photo Credit: Daniel Kuras from 500px.

peer-to-peer 384

peer-to-peer strategy culture advice 384

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Many of you entrepreneurs know that feeling. That product isn't money--it's their time, attention, sound advice and network. I was out trying to save my startup by talking to as many investors as I could. One particular investor pass--from someone we thought we had a good shot with--felt like a punch in the the stomach.

ventures 280

ventures pitching VC startup ecosystem 280

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

My initial reaction to Adeo when we spoke was that while it may have solved some issues (debt versus equity) it didn’t solve the ones that I’ve been warning entrepreneurs about most loudly. If I could persuade you that they’re already in these documents would you consider abandoning this structure?

startup 354

startup VC entrepreneurs financing 354

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2012

If you do a capped note it’s bad for the entrepreneur. Here is what I recommend very often – privately – to startup entrepreneurs for angel funding. Especially if it was memorialized in the documents why you were doing it. I recently wrote about my views that startups rounds should be priced. Price the round.

financing 294

financing finance pitching VC 294

Gust

DECEMBER 8, 2011

In Part I , I gave a quick summary of the who, when and why of forming and documenting a new startup company. I’m reluctant to give legalistic disclaimers, but in this instance, I do need to emphasize that the material in this article is legal information , not legal advice. Appoint Newco’s initial Board of Directors.

board 139

board consulting real estate entrepreneurs 139

StartupNation

APRIL 9, 2021

The bottom line is, your business plan will make your life as an entrepreneur much easier. Here’s my advice on how to approach your business plan one step at a time: Get good at just one thing. This is one of the biggest secrets that successful entrepreneurs know. This is where being an entrepreneur gets really fun.

entrepreneurs 101

entrepreneurs creativity advice strategy 101

Gust

DECEMBER 1, 2011

When meeting with early stage entrepreneurs for the first time, after reviewing a demo or hearing their pitch, I often ask them to articulate what they’re most focused on building. I don’t fault entrepreneurs for relegating startup legal work to the bottom of their daily triage list; founders are spread incredibly thin.

entrepreneurs 114

entrepreneurs advice pitching board 114

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 3, 2010

Additionally, we standardized the “allowance rates&# for services such as document storage, maximum numbers of users and we created more standardized packages of features that constituted an “up-sell&# to a our premium offerings. Tags: Startup Advice. And that’s kind of fitting.

advice 296

advice SaaS startup pitching 296

Gust

MARCH 8, 2014

After that most basic and important function, I’ve found that the other really valuable things that a law firm brings to a startup are: Formation/organization documentation and administration: Take a look at this interesting package from one law firm to see the kinds of things that could include: Start-Up Organization Package.

peer-to-peer 156

peer-to-peer startup advice finance 156

Berkonomics

APRIL 12, 2018

To most entrepreneurs, this often leads to an event whose resolution by a governmental agency or even a court seems unfair and illogical. So, my advice is simple. Recognize the realities of the times; and do all possible to protect the company by documenting behavioral or skill related problems to the employee file.

entrepreneurs 90

entrepreneurs advice board investing 90

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 26, 2011

I have often said that what separates real entrepreneurs from pundits and bystanders is a bias towards getting things done versus over analyzing things. The startup entrepreneur knows that they’re going to be wrong often. Great entrepreneurs find a way. But if you’re afraid of firing people you shouldn’t be an entrepreneur.

startup 335

startup culture frameworks entrepreneurs 335

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2011

Yet a critical mistake I see many entrepreneurs make is that they hand over too much control to their third-parties. You thought it was going to be as easy as just having term sheet transferred to a longer form document. But every freakin’ week there are delays in getting the lawyers to “turn around&# the documents.

real estate 319

real estate VC pitching entrepreneurs 319

Smart Hustle Magazine

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

Advice on Pivoting in a Small Business. Erik gave us some advice on where to shift: Focus on yourself and your teams. Groups or teams can update presentations and documents virtually and see the changes in real-time. Final Words of Advice. Microsoft Teams is truly about collaboration. Listen to the Podcast.

support 112

support advice technology financing 112

NZ Entrepreneur

JULY 5, 2022

Want to tap in to the best startup advice from entrepreneurs who are out there doing it? My best piece of advice for founders is to keep in mind that they can’t do it alone. “ One piece of advice I would give to others starting their entrepreneurial journey is just start! Matt Miller – Founder.

founder 96

founder advice pitching startup founder 96

Gust

MAY 25, 2014

A key success element is to start by avoiding the known list of interviewing and hiring mistakes that have been documented many times by human resources professionals. In my view, if every CEO and hiring manager followed this advice, as well as good hiring practices, their business would scale a lot faster with a lot less headaches.

entrepreneurs 170

entrepreneurs advice pitching investing 170

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

In 1995, while in high school, Seth wanted to start a business scanning paper documents for companies, but realized it was a non-starter when he learned that a scanner costs $4k. He knew he was an entrepreneur because he couldn’t stop thinking about ideas. Why do you love speaking to students at universities?

board 286

board culture VC education 286

Gust

JUNE 19, 2012

Thoughts on startups by investors that fund them & entrepreneurs that run them. And no life is more of a constant negotiation than that of an entrepreneur. It seems like good advice to me. Entrepreneurs: Don’t Quit Your Real Job Too Early. Bonus point) Don’t let the document get in the way. I like that.

startup 180

startup pitching disruption mix-use 180

StartupNation

JANUARY 28, 2021

One of the key documents for starting a business is a business plan. If you’re looking for investment capital, it’s an important document for investors to review to learn more about your company. These documents also tend to be written three to five years in advance. This is a brief introduction to your business.

leadership 125

leadership strategy advice entrepreneurs 125