Both Sides of the Table
JULY 17, 2018
One thing that comes with being a venture capitalist is you see hundreds and hundreds of businesses. You get to have interesting conversations with founders and review business plans and then see how these businesses evolve over the years. A firm like ours has almost 100 different investments across all the various partners so we get to see some businesses very intimately.
Entrepreneurs' Organization
JULY 17, 2018
Written for EO by Megan Hottman. Megan, also known at The Cyclist Lawyer, formed her own law practice in 2010 at age 29. As part of her life’s mission to help lawyers and entrepreneurs become healthier and happier people who take care of themselves and remain fully optimized, Megan recently launched her latest venture, TrialAthlete.com. Megan recently shared this essay with Octane.
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This is going to be BIG.
JULY 23, 2018
I've seen this so many times over: A founder pitches a VC, or several of them, and then they come back from that process with all sorts of new strategy goals or worries that they need to be doing something differently. Nine times out of ten, if you're pitching more than one VC, the advice seems to conflict with itself, and the founder winds up playing Wack-a-Mole trying to figure out what to do next.
Paul G. Silva
JULY 16, 2018
When I talk about politics I am filled with sadness and a sense of near powerlessness to make the world a better place. But when I talk to entrepreneurs, I am filled with hope. Where most of us see problems, they imagine solutions… and solutions that scale. Here are just some of the companies blowing me away, all local/ VVM companies making the world a better place!
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Haystack
JULY 8, 2018
I recently shared this article and tweeted this , and I was quite surprised by the thread it triggered and the reaction it generated. After reflecting on it for a day, I began to understand why — even though this topic has been written about many times, “technology” as a sector and industry now has gone from vertical to horizontal, entirely pervasive across industries, across sectors, across geographies and cultures.
Startup Catalyst Brief brings together the best content for the entrepreneurial ecosystem from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Berkonomics
JULY 5, 2018
Ever think about growing your business with the plan to sell it someday, cashing in on your hard-earned work over the years? Or if you’re an employee with stock options, are you aware of the increases in value you can make with your efforts? Then again, you may be an architect or doctor or other professional managing your. Dave’s book on exits.
Entrepreneurs' Organization
JULY 30, 2018
What steps can you take to make your organization more inclusive and welcoming of diversity? This was a question posed at a networking event that EO DC recently participated in. . In early 2018, EO DC joined forces with the Employer Assistance Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and DC Metro Business Leadership Network (DC Metro BLN) to host an event to educate entrepreneurs and small businesses on the value of hiring people with disabilities.
Tomasz Tunguz
JULY 28, 2018
I met a seasoned executive recently. He made a bold claim. “Management is an art, and one that is overwhelmingly undervalued in Silicon Valley.” I wondered, are we investing enough in our managers? Talent is the largest investment of an early stage company. 80%+ of startup operating expense flows to compensation. Retaining these employees is good business.
Paul G. Silva
JULY 11, 2018
Due diligence (AKA “doing your homework” on a startup to see if investing is the right call) should clearly take time… but how much? Marianne Hudson, executive director of the Angel Capital Association (the trade association for angel investors in the US) wrote an article on this topic. Her full article (with her permission) appears further below.
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Haystack
JULY 15, 2018
Recently on this blog, I’ve been attempting to unpack how an investor can sort through deal flow and potential investment opportunities. After writing about “ the quick kill ” to discard of inbound flow, next I wrote about what actually captures my attention and graduates to a meeting. So, now, what happens in the actual meeting? This is hard to explain, actually, because I can have a range of reactions to a meeting.
FundersClub
JULY 20, 2018
We'd like to congratulate FundersClub portfolio companies on their ongoing progress, as well as to welcome aboard their new VC investor partners. Selected recent FundersClub portfolio company follow-on rounds: Embark Trucks announced its $30M Series B, led by Sequoia Capital, to commercialize its fleet of autonomous, 18-wheel, highway-traversing freight trucks.
abovethecrowd.com
JULY 9, 2018
The partners at Benchmark are pleased to announce Chetan Puttagunta has joined the firm as our newest General Partner. As early-stage investors, we are acutely aware of the work of other venture capitalists on the boards of the companies we serve. Nearly 15 years ago one of Benchmark’s founding partners, Kevin Harvey, saw the skills of a young Peter Fenton on a board they shared.
Entrepreneurs' Organization
JULY 22, 2018
Alice Mann’s latest book, Future First: How Successful Leaders Turn Innovation Challenges into New Value Frontiers is an important read for any business leader or entrepreneur who wishes to embrace global challenges as innovation opportunities. Like the EO members who are making an #EOImpact in their support of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , Alice believes that business leaders are in a position to solve the greatest problems facing our world today: climate change,
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Tomasz Tunguz
JULY 19, 2018
There are three types of product features, a seasoned head of product told me recently. MMRs, neutralizers, and differentiators. MMRs are minimum market requirements; basic features that every customer expects and demands. Neutralizers mitigate competitive threat. Differentiators are your startup’s competitive advantage. As a product manager, I’d never thought about this type of roadmap segmentation before.
Paul G. Silva
JULY 25, 2018
[This is a part of a series on the KISS Canvas ]. What are the major cost centers of your business? When do you have to pay? Do you have any options to pay differently? What costs can kill you? All of this is covered in the Cost Structure section of the KISS Canvas. Here is each sub-lesson: Intro. Capital costs. Fixed & Variable costs. Example: a family.
Haystack
JULY 13, 2018
About a month ago, I wrote a post about how the Bay Area seed ecosystem is generating deal flow levels that are nearly impossible to keep up with. In the post, titled “ Seed Deal Flow Tsunami And The Quick Kill ,” I attempted to explain how, in the face of the deal flow firehose, I get to a quick “no” which I hope is helpful for both sides.
NZ Entrepreneur
JULY 12, 2018
We often see single founders slogging it out on their own. While this isn’t necessarily a “problem” that needs solving, it does warrant a discussion. Building a company by yourself can be challenging without a strong network around you. Founders can be reluctant to give up equity and control of their idea to bring in a co-founder alongside them to share in the decision making, as well as the highs and lows.
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Lack of digitalization decreases business competitiveness. To thrive, embracing modern solutions becomes essential. The approach to digitalization often aligns with a company's business model. This shift not only boosts productivity but also automates processes and improves security. The tech market offers a wealth of technologies tailored for management, planning, and forecasting, replacing outdated pen-and-paper methods.
This is going to be BIG.
JULY 9, 2018
Recently, I helped one of my portfolio companies make a VP of Marketing hire. The founder asked me early in the process if I thought the candidate was good. Having not worked with her previously, I didn't know how talented she was firsthand, but what I did have confidence in was that her strategy would be well thought out, and if it wasn't working, she'd analyze why, proactively address it, and describe what steps she would take to find a solution.
Entrepreneurs' Organization
JULY 24, 2018
Written by David Louden. Dave is a co-founder and partner at Fathom , a strategy and creative consultancy based in Connecticut. In the past 25-plus years, he has worked with leading companies and brands to design futures worth fighting for. Dave also conceived and developed the ubiquitous VeriSign Secure Site Seal and helped grow several start-ups to successful IPOs and acquisitions.
Tomasz Tunguz
JULY 22, 2018
Jacob’s Ladder is a toy of thin wooden blocks attached by ribbon. If you hold it in your hand and rotate it to touch the second block, it seems to set off a cascade of blocks falling from the top. The blocks haven’t changed positions, though they do rotate. It’s a moving optical illusion. When I watch this toy, I’m reminded of the current state of the fundraising market.
Paul G. Silva
JULY 9, 2018
Launch413 is itself a startup, and like all startups has lots of hypothesis to test. I’m proud to share that we just completed Phase 1 and validated all of our core hypothesis: With our help startups accomplish in months what would have taken them years to do on their own. Our Venture Advisors can provide that help in a scalable-way. There are enough startups connected to our region that want our kind of investment.
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CAPTARGET presents a masterclass in M&A deal sourcing. Learn to cast a wide net, embracing seller self-identification. Consistency is the linchpin: keep the origination process steady for a reliable flow of opportunities. Diversify your tactics, employing various tools and vendors. Tech matters! Understand DNS settings, domain authority, and brand presence for optimal outreach.
For Entrepreneurs
JULY 13, 2018
I have great pleasure in announcing a new program called Zero to 100 – The Growth Academy. This program is my response to what so many of you have been asking for: a detailed instruction manual for how to take your startup from zero to $100m, with a particular focus on the area of building.
NZ Entrepreneur
JULY 23, 2018
There is plenty of advice out there for employees about the importance of not mistaking good management for good leadership. But entrepreneurs also need to be reminded that good leadership is not the same as good management. Because while leadership may come naturally to many entrepreneurs, management is a completely different ball game. As an entrepreneur, the very act of starting a business or venture from scratch – grabbing the bull by the horns and getting on with making something happ
This is going to be BIG.
JULY 30, 2018
Decided to follow no more than 250 people on Twitter. If you got bumped, blame @willyf , who just made a good case for me to follow him. :) — Charlie O'Donnell (@ceonyc) June 30, 2008. Just about 10 years ago, I tried hard to keep my Twitter follows to a manageable amount--to people I actually cared about following and either already knew or wanted to get to know in person. 5000+ follows later and I've failed miserably.
Entrepreneurs' Organization
JULY 12, 2018
Written for EO by Kirsten Quigley, the founder and CEO of LunchSkins , a company that manufactures dishwasher-safe reusable bags, and new recyclable and sealable paper bags for food on-the-go. Troubled by the ongoing reports of plastic waste ruining our environment , Kirsten transformed her passion into a business. She shares the twists and turns along her journey so far, how she reinvented her business, and why she’s feeling particularly positive about her future today. .
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