Paul G. Silva

DECEMBER 21, 2023

When a startup founder is trying to raise money, they know they should use referrals to get introduced to investors. Contact them and ask for advice. Can I get some of your advice on our next few steps?” But those referrals are hard to get! Investors ignore cold-calls.

advice 264

advice networking entrepreneurs startup founder 264

Entrepreneur's Handbook

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

You’ll receive the best practical startup advice straight to your inbox every week. In this week’s edition, we discuss: Why you shouldn’t always trust billionaire’s advice. The founder lessons found in Uno (yes, the game). Should you trust billionaires for startup advice? Whose advice should you follow?

advice 87

advice startup education startup founder 87

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 26, 2010

I wrote a blog post about being hands on where I argued that startup founders need to be hands-on or in my words, “you can’t run a burger chain if you’ve never flipped burgers.&#. I once had a startup team pitch me for an investment where the President of the company led the first call with me on his own.

entrepreneurs 286

entrepreneurs advice pitching VC 286

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2009

This is part of my ongoing posts on Startup Advice. There are people who tell startups that they should hire the most senior people that they can find. My advice: don’t. Tags: Start-up Advice startup technology. Only Hire A+ People Who Punch Above Their Weight Class. I’m not one of those.

startup 327

startup advice SaaS consulting 327

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

I will even take to emailing people I don’t know offering small bits of advice. I try to take time out of my week to occasionally meet with startup founders – even those that haven’t been introduced. If you do randomly write me I have advice. Yet email seems to be an open invitation to anybody.

advice 314

advice culture board VC 314

TechCrunch

DECEMBER 16, 2022

If you’ve read anything about pitching your company, you’ve probably come across advice that says that you need a warm introduction to an investor. Without a doubt, a good, friendly introduction — ideally from a founder they’ve already invested in — is the best way to get on the radar of an investor.

startup founder 105

startup founder founder startup VC 105

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2013

I’m supposed to believe that my best innovation can only come from scores of startup founders who just made millions and have now become CVOs at my company? Startup Advice' If I don’t commit to millions of dollars of acquisitions I will … die? Chief Vesting Officers)? The Aqui-hire Business.

strategy 357

strategy venture capital advice entrepreneurs 357

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2010

I see way too many startup founders who don’t have experience in selling and probably don’t feel that comfortable going to customers and asking for orders. This is probably because many founders are product or technology people. Tags: Startup Advice. Reminds me of Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

startup 346

startup consulting advice construction 346

NZ Entrepreneur

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

However, the journey can be a steep learning curve and present numerous challenges, especially for first-time founders. This article explores five of the most common mistakes startup founders make and how you can steer clear of them.

startup founder 85

startup founder founder startup support 85

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

I was meeting with a first-time CEO of a very promising young startup recently and offering my advice on what his priorities should be. I gave him the same advice I give nearly all over-worked, control-freak, do-everything-yourself startup founders: “Your number one priority isn’t any of these things.

communities 317

communities VC innovation entrepreneurs 317

Onevest

APRIL 23, 2015

Something that we state to our members at 1000 Angels , the private investor network that connects startups with investors, is that If you are a new investor in the startup marketplace, then you will need to quickly familiarize yourself with each round. This is why series A investment is often sought by startup founders.

investing 189

investing investment startup startup founder 189

TechCrunch

AUGUST 3, 2021

Can your startup support a research-based workflow? Kodiak Robotics’ founder says tight focus on autonomous trucks is working. Image Credits: Bryce Durbin.

advice 98

advice transportation construction venture capital 98

Dream It

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

To be fair, investor opinions on this vary and we’ve all seen the proverbial hoodie or casual attire of startup founders. Our advice is to avoid graphic T-shirts, sleeveless muscle shirts, sundresses, or anything that would be considered out of place. But pandemic or not, you need to dress the part.

pitching 285

pitching advice health founder 285

500

NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Under no circumstances should any of the below content be construed as legal, tax or investment advice from 500 Startups or any of its affiliates. Alluva at 500 Startups: What it was really like being a part of Batch 25 In March of 2019, Alluva was accepted into Batch 25 of 500 Startups.

startup 183

startup advice opportunity investing 183

TechCrunch

APRIL 11, 2023

TC Early Stage gives aspiring and early startup founders — from the idea stage to Series A — the confidence, skills, information, connections and community they need to take next steps and grow their business. Book your pass today — college students pay just $99!

advice 86

advice ventures communities capital 86

TechCrunch

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

So, where does this put you — the startup founder, entrepreneur or company executive? It’s a great time to be a founder. If you’re committed to building an enduring company and you want to, as Steve Jobs put it, “make a dent in the universe,” then this is the best time ever to be a founder.

advice 85

advice founder venture capital board 85

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

Paul Graham’s assertion that “any startup founder can tell you the most common question they hear from investors is not about the founders or the product, but “who else is investing?&# if you need advice on how to find / work with startup lawyers cheaply click that link). rings true to me.

financing 286

financing finance advice VC 286

Gust

NOVEMBER 11, 2012

A while back, when a startup founder mentioned to me that he wasn’t sure he had the personality to be an entrepreneur, I realized how important that insight was. My first thought is that if you are more annoyed than energized by expert advice, team suggestions, and customer input, then you should probably avoid this line of work.

entrepreneurs 189

entrepreneurs creativity entrepreneurship advice 189

NZ Entrepreneur

JULY 5, 2022

Want to tap in to the best startup advice from entrepreneurs who are out there doing it? Welcome to ‘500 Founders’ where we ask innovators from around New Zealand for their top insights for first time startup founders. Matt Miller – Founder. BrakeAce. “My Ani Tawhiao-Lomas – Cofounder.

founder 98

founder advice pitching startup founder 98

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 22, 2011

I hold true to form and follow my own advice. And we’re here with Dan Martell , who like any great startup founder is wearing his company t-shirt for Flowtown. Wendy Tan White, the founder of Moonfruit. And a motley crew of other interesting startup founders. Yes, this is what I look like at 2am.

mix-use 294

mix-use accelerator opportunity startup accelerator 294

OnStartups

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

Startups are hard. If you’re a startup founder you already know these statistics and yet you are irrationally proceeding forward. When we finally hired our marketing co-founder (5 yrs into the journey) it was late and had we done this earlier we would’ve likely have had more steady growth.

startup founder 89

startup founder founder startup leadership 89

Gust

JANUARY 19, 2014

A question I sometimes get from startup founders is “What do I talk to these guys about?” No matter how much advice and counsel you have been given, I guarantee that you will encounter new challenges daily, to enhance your learning opportunities. These include the following: Networking with people who know.

entrepreneurs 172

entrepreneurs creativity advice networking 172

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2013

Jonathan Strauss took this issue head on in a blog post that I believe every startup founder should read on “ Replacing Oneself as CEO.” ” “After 3 and a half years of fusing my self-worth with the success of the company in the crucible of startup survival, it was impossible to tear them apart without pain.

peer-to-peer 303

peer-to-peer energy founder advice 303

NZ Entrepreneur

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Want to tap in to the best startup advice from entrepreneurs who are out there doing it? Welcome to ‘500 Founders’ where we ask innovators from around New Zealand for their top insights for first time startup founders. Luke Campbell – Cofounder.

founder 105

founder peer-to-peer advice entrepreneurship 105

Hunter Walk

AUGUST 26, 2024

HW: I’m sure you get hit up for career advice all the time. JS: The most general yet useful bit of career advice I often give is for people to look at the progression of their career as a story, and do their best to make the story compelling. HW: You’ve been a startup founder as well as an executive at larger tech companies.

culture 114

culture advice founder startup 114

Y Combinator

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

When it comes to deciding what to do with technology, technical founders know what the options are and what kinds of problems are hard and which are easy. 1 Because of this core thesis, over the years we have actively done outreach to computer science majors in order to explain the advantages of being a startup founder.

support 138

support founder advice education 138

Gust

OCTOBER 26, 2014

He published a book with Ron Porter, titled “ Bootstrap Business ”, that provides a wealth of practical examples and advice on this subject. Most startup founders already do this, rather than take a salary, to improve their offering. Don’t justify over-spending initially with “long-run” thinking.

startup 176

startup creativity entrepreneurs advice 176

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

And trust me when I tell you that 90%+ of the people can’t wake up every day with the uncertainties and insecurities that startup founders face. Most employees want cruising altitude, most founders live in take off mode. Startup Advice' ” The details is the sausage factory that nobody really wants.

startup 417

startup peer-to-peer VC culture 417

Entrepreneur's Handbook

MARCH 20, 2023

There are 5 good reasons to build a startup and 1 bad one Continue reading on Entrepreneur's Handbook »

startup founder 91

startup founder founder startup entrepreneurs 91

NZ Entrepreneur

JULY 19, 2022

Want to tap in to the best startup advice from entrepreneurs who are out there doing it? Welcome to ‘500 Founders’ where we ask innovators from around New Zealand for their top insights for first time startup founders. The best advice I can give is to dive in with the mindset that done is better than perfect.”

founder 118

founder advice incubation networking 118

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 3, 2011

If women can get funded to run startups at 22-25 then they can get well into their experiences as entrepreneurs before having to navigate the tricky years of balancing being a mommy with running a company. If your first chance at being a startup founder coincides with your first child it’s really difficult for either gender.

entrepreneurs 341

entrepreneurs entrepreneurship VC pitching 341

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2014

So the startup work moves to where the startup founders live and not vice versa. And I’m proud to say that one of our startups is already exploring the idea of opening a local office nearby with the help of Cintrifuse. They often fly back at least once if not twice a year to see family.

startup 390

startup communities venture capital capital 390

American Entrepreneurship

JANUARY 21, 2025

Develop a Strong Network Building a network of advisors, mentors, investors, and peers can be one of your most valuable resources as a founder. The startup ecosystem is filled with people who have walked the path before and are often willing to share their experiences and advice.

founder 98

founder peer-to-peer entrepreneurship strategy 98

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2009

On Street Smarts / Working with customers: I had coffee with another startup founder yesterday. He was at a 3-person startup where he was a co-founder but not the CEO. Tags: Start-up Advice. Really nice guy and clearly smart. You just have to get out of your comfort zone.

entrepreneurs 306

entrepreneurs board advice consulting 306

NZ Entrepreneur

AUGUST 2, 2022

Want to tap in to the best startup advice from entrepreneurs who are out there doing it? Welcome to ‘500 Founders’ where we ask innovators from around New Zealand for their top insights for first time startup founders. Janelle Fenwick – Founder. Lane Litz – Cofounder (EXITED). Chatterize.

founder 95

founder advice construction startup ecosystem 95

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2012

In driving down the costs of building businesses it’s driving down the age of startup founders and thus they’re starting companies where young people want to live – in urban environments.

technology 313

technology incubation VC ventures 313

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 27, 2012

Talent – in a world where startup founders are rewarded handsomely for taking risks of building their own startup companies and where the press shines a brighter light on them, much of the early-stage company traction will come from startups. I described that here in this post.

VC 299

VC media entrepreneurs energy 299