Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Today Upfront Ventures is announcing that we’ve backed Rebecca Kantar ’s startup Imbellus , a company designed to assess human potential and ultimately change the way we teach children. We led a $4 million investment along with Thrive Capital, GLG and Sound Ventures. The news blogs will cover the what, how and how much but I want to focus on the “why” and try to be instructive of what I think makes for a great A-round startup.

incumbents 270

incumbents entrepreneurs education pitching 270

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2016

Recently, Josh Kopelman of First Round Capital announced Brett Berson 's promotion to Partner. For the last six years, Brett had been building the platform team at FRC. The firm scaled assistance to startups in a way that for outpaced the resources any investment team could provide as individuals. I got to work with Brett for two years while I was investing at First Round, before I started Brooklyn Bridge Ventures.

VC 276

VC angel investing startup venture capital 276

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

By Michael Alden, President & CEO of Blue Vase Marketing. If you are in business, could 5% more on your bottom line change your world? The answer is yes. As a successful entrepreneur, I have launched several companies that generate millions of dollars year in and year out. The secret to achieving success like this is actually very simple: Just do 5% more each and every day, and you will see significant growth.

creativity 109

creativity support entrepreneurs development 109

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Think for a minute whether there is any process or person that could be classed as the eye of the needle in your organization. Is there anything, process or person, that stalls the flow of work from start to finish? A CEO once told me that she was ‘the eye of the needle’ in her organization, purposely controlling quality of service and making sure all of her direct reports let her know of each . decision and action they undertook.

creativity 97

creativity innovation 97

Advertisement

Large enterprises face unique challenges in optimizing their Business Intelligence (BI) output due to the sheer scale and complexity of their operations. Unlike smaller organizations, where basic BI features and simple dashboards might suffice, enterprises must manage vast amounts of data from diverse sources. What are the top modern BI use cases for enterprise businesses to help you get a leg up on the competition?

strategy

Tomasz Tunguz

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

In Startups are Risk Bundles , Leo Polovets outlines the risks startups face as they grow. In particular, Leo identifies common mistakes when addressing that parcel of peril. Addressing minor risk by spending time and effort on low priority or low impact risk a common failure mode for companies. The business isn’t focused on the most critical issues.

startup 40

startup strategy founder investing 40

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Rolf Winkler wrote a piece in the WSJ about A16Z’s returns in which he says they “lag behind Sequoia, Benchmark and Founders Fund.” Scott Kupor of A16Z responded with a comprehensive overview of valuation methodology in a post that while accurate feels more targeted at sophisticated Limited Partners (LPs) who invest in funds. Let me offer you an insider’s take.

VC 264

VC investing investment entrepreneurs 264

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

I shared a version of this in my weekly tech newsletter yesterday: Many of you are new to this newsletter--especially those who came out to our event last Thursday. It's mostly about tech, but sometimes it isn't. When it isn't, it's honest and hopefully thought provoking. You're welcome to stick around and I hope that you do. It is difficult to write on mornings like this.

health 318

health media 318

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

By Jeff Naeem, owner of Junk-a-Haulics. I learned a tremendous amount in my first three years in business, and I’m happy to share it! Although hauling away people’s junk may seem awfully low-tech and “un-sexy,” Junk-A-Haulics has taught me several key things, among them: Take the unconventional route when marketing. Over-deliver and exceed customers’ expectations.

advice 100

advice collaboration technology investing 100

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

Imagine yourself with a calendar requiring you to be in six meetings in a day. Day after day. How long would it take to induce you to rethink your use of time – and that of the others sitting (or standing) beside you? More important, how long would it take to realize that there is something wrong with the enterprise when it takes constant meetings to get the job done?

board 106

board 106

Advertisement

Gearing up for 2025 annual planning? Our latest eBook from the Operators Guild is your ultimate guide. Discover real-world solutions and best practices shared by top CFOs, drawn directly from discussions within OG’s vibrant online community. Learn from senior executives at high-growth tech startups as they outline financial planning strategies, align CEO and board goals, and coordinate budgets across departments.

startup

Tomasz Tunguz

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Creating and optimizing a sales plan for an early stage SaaS company is a challenging task. There are lots of different variables to manage and the truth is it’s always a work in progress even for massively successful businesses. But at the very earliest days, where do you start? Quota is a function of number of deals closed, sales cycle, price point and conversion rate.

SaaS 65

SaaS startup pitching founder 65

Unvalidated Learnings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

Very true. Have you ever seen it happened in practice?

40

40

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

I recently read a blog post by Beezer Clarkson, Managing Director of Sapphire Ventures about why entrepreneurs should care about from whom their VC funds raise their capital. I spent a bunch of time thinking about this position — especially since Beezer is an investor in Upfront Ventures. There are a lot of things I think entrepreneurs should care about when raising from a VC: How big or small their fund is?

entrepreneurs 237

entrepreneurs VC mentorship strategy 237

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

When hardware maker Quirky went out of business, Ben Einstein at Bolt had this to say : "A good company builds one product, learns from its customers, and iterates to make that product exceptional. Each step in the process is designed to refine a product and find the often elusive “product/market fit” that is the basis for all successful startups. Imagine if Apple built the first app-free iPhone and then moved on to the Apple Watch, or GoPro only sold one version of its camera and then decided t

networking 279

networking VC technology development 279

Advertisement

Mighty Financial specializes in supporting the financial aspirations of small businesses and entrepreneurs. With our comprehensive bookkeeping and precise accounting expertise with decades of experience across diverse financial roles, our team offers tailor-made services ranging from essential bookkeeping to strategic fractional CFO support, catered specifically to the unique challenges of technology companies, startups, and SMEs.

financing

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

By Brian Scudamore, founder and CEO of O2E Brands. At O2E Brands (the banner company to 1-800-GOT-JUNK?), communication is a cornerstone of our culture. Every day, we strive to create a space defined by transparency and respect, where employees feel comfortable taking risks and speaking up. I’m often asked about the tactics we use to create this kind of culture and maintain it as we grow – with over 400 employees, it can be a challenge to keep lines of communication open.

culture 100

culture peer-to-peer creativity support 100

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Is your commission structure so complex that even you must have help understanding it – and calculating a commission on a pending bid? Sales people are incentivized by money. They usually are able to calculate what’s in it for them before they make the final presentation and ask for the order. But what if the commission plan is so complex that even the people who should be most excited cannot understand or calculate the winning numbers?

97

97

Tomasz Tunguz

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

How fast could a SaaS business grow on paid acquisition? If the business decided today to sprint and acquire as many customers as possible? We can model it with some assumptions, some of which are quite aggressive. Let’s take a startup with $1.2M on the balance dedicated to customer acquisition. Assume a $10,000 CAC, an 80% gross margin and a payback period of 12 months.

SaaS 45

SaaS startup strategy support 45

Derek Sivers

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

It’s crucial to know why you’re doing what you’re doing. Most people don’t know. They just go with the flow. Social norms are powerful. The inputs that influence you are powerful. A great talk, book, or video can instantly change how you think. But on your death bed, you don’t want that horrible regret, feeling like you spent your life pursuing what someone said you should want, instead of what you actually wanted.

strategy 40

strategy energy 40

Advertisement

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.

technology

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

Yesterday was the opening of the African American Museum in Washington DC, dedicated to the role that African Americans have played in building our country and our culture. It was signed into law 13 years ago by then president George W. Bush after being sponsored by the bipartisan support of Rep John Lewis (D) and Sen Sam Brownback (R). Many of you saw the photo released above of first lady Michelle Obama embracing former president Bush.

culture 342

culture education communities support 342

This is going to be BIG.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2016

Colin Kaepernick is going to make almost $12 million this year. He profits from a league that routinely disregards the health and safety of its majority black player base--so, to me, he comes off as a bit hypocritical in his public protest. And yeah, it bugs me when a guy who has never served in the military won't respect our flag and anthem in front of the veterans who project our freedom.

health 210

health 210

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

By April Clarke, owner of Xpress Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, Inc. Successful female entrepreneurs who are also moms face an initial struggle when their businesses are transforming from simple ideas to profit-generating new ventures. While you are tackling the everyday desirable obligation of motherhood duties, you are also forced to deal with the engrossing tasks of nurturing yet another being, an entity that is as demanding in its infancy as a newborn.

transportation 100

transportation advice entrepreneurs consulting 100

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

This is not necessarily the way we intend to behave as managers, but our headline reflects the reality of most experiences when viewed in retrospect. We carefully vet the potential hire for experience required. Ninety days or longer later, if that person is terminated by management, it often is for actions resulting from the person’s relationship with others in the organization more often than failure to perform the specific task for which the person was hired.

culture 67

culture 67

Advertisement

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.

opportunity

Tomasz Tunguz

SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

Recently, we examined the comparative efficiency of bottoms-up and top-down businesses. Today, we’ll dig into valuation metrics to see if there’s any systematic bias in the investor community for SMB, Mid-Market and Enterprise SaaS companies. Using public data, I categorized the 50 or so public companies by ACV at IPO. SMB is less than $10k, Mid-Market is between $10k and $100k, and Enterprise is greater than $100k in average customer value.

SaaS 40

SaaS peer-to-peer sustainability communities 40

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Successful entrepreneurs know good time management separates mediocre CEOs from amazing ones – and strategies that work for some don’t always work well for others. We asked four EO Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) finalists from the U.S. how they manage a full college course load while running a company. Here’s what they had to say: Work Out. “Time management is absolutely one of my most challenging tasks.

strategy 100

strategy entrepreneurs peer-to-peer entrepreneurship 100

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

In a world of fierce competition, the key to success could be an unsuspecting one. How can small businesses beat larger contenders while retaining strategic talent? According to Raúl Cristián Aguirre , it all starts with love. How did you found your business? RCG/ “I founded Tango/04 in my living room 25 years ago, and I only recently sold it. It has become a multinational company with offices in six countries, 100+ employees and enterprise customers in more than 50 countries.

culture 100

culture finance financing education 100

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

According to Mark Cheng and Laura Kromminga of Ashoka, one of EO’s partners, a new type of fund allows entrepreneurs to start their own foundations without the hassle of set-up costs and extensive administrative tasks. A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a new philanthropic tool that’s ground-breaking because “before granting out the money, a DAF, with donors’ permission, can use the funds for impact investing.” Read more about DAFs in this recent article published on Ashoka

investing 100

investing investment capital entrepreneurs 100

Advertiser: ZoomInfo

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

B2B marketing