Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2014

We are often asked how companies get funded, why VCs make the decisions we make and what we’re looking for in entrepreneurs. At Upfront we’re totally fine funding entrepreneurs who have done multiple businesses in the past – in fact we like it. But I’m guessing the narrative is similar elsewhere.

media 373

media education VC financing 373

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

Of course these are great places to network with other investors, meet great entrepreneurs and keep your connections strong with senior execs at larger companies like Yahoo!, You can’t reference check your way into a “yes.” 1: You clearly haven’t persuaded the entrepreneurs that you are value-add to their deal.

VC 374

VC investing investment entrepreneurs 374

A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

MARCH 28, 2022

It is also true that there are good deals and good entrepreneurs that can’t find anyone to invest in them. Here are my rules: 1) Do your very best to connect with the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs are smart and they know they are doing a deal with a firm as well as an individual. That is a failure of the system.

VC 261

VC entrepreneurs venture capital strategy 261

Entrepreneurs' Organization

OCTOBER 24, 2018

Part of being an entrepreneur or small business owner is getting excited about your venture. It can be referred to as your elevator pitch. The post Proven Strategies for Brainstorming Business Names appeared first on THE BLOG. Written for EO by Grant Polachek, the director of marketing at Inc. 500 company Squadhelp.com.

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strategy creativity pitching ventures 130

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

I’ve seen too many companies go off track by a VC hell bent on the team pursuing the VCs strategy which at times is about chasing the next shiny object. If I were looking at which VCs to choose I would reference strongly for which ones are supportive in good times and bad. But don’t over index on brains. Startups are hard.

VC 364

VC advice board leadership 364

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2020

The fact that Kara doesn’t have what my wife likes to refer jokingly as my “Y chromosome problem” is beside the fact. Kara will now be really involved with what goes on to successfully create and run a firm but while still handling her core duties of funding great entrepreneurs. And all the platform stuff. I’m only 52!

ventures 361

ventures leadership mentorship venture capital 361

Gust

NOVEMBER 25, 2012

The popular view of a real entrepreneur is someone with a big vision, and a stubborn determination to charge straight ahead through any obstacle and make it happen. His popular book on this subject, “ The Lean Startup ,” lays out how today’s entrepreneurs use continuous innovation to create radically successful businesses.

startup 187

startup entrepreneurs technology strategy 187

Entrepreneurs' Organization

MAY 13, 2019

Written for EO by Michael Kiel , a serial entrepreneur. That’s not a bad strategy—particularly considering how much money it takes to get a business off the ground. We were also able to generate predictable recurring revenue by referring current and prospective clients to HubSpot’s platform. appeared first on THE BLOG.

strategy 141

strategy startup development opportunity 141

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 6, 2010

doing a reference call on a prospective employee. THE REFERENCE CALL: Reference calls are hard. We’ve obviously had a great experience interviewing him or we wouldn’t be doing reference calls. One thing we picked up from another reference call was that Bob has at times fought with co-workers.

advice 311

advice investing investment strategy 311

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

These days that’s not the case and it’s a great outcome for entrepreneurs and for innovation. A: Only because it’s a nicer branding for entrepreneurs. I totally agree and have been arguing this to entrepreneurs for years. I always counsel young entrepreneurs to start on the local train.

disruption 308

disruption VC entrepreneurs financing 308

Entrepreneurs' Organization

APRIL 29, 2022

This cultural best practice is based on guidance I helped develop for leaders at 17 major organizations in implementing effective strategies for a work culture fit for the future of work. It refers to the tendency to disregard other more appropriate alternatives when we have a particular perception of proper practices.

culture 217

culture collaboration innovation consulting 217

Gust

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Network with other entrepreneurs. Ask the investor for “references,” meaning contacts at companies where previous investments were made. Entrepreneurs are optimists by nature, so I definitely recommend the involvement of your favorite attorney (usually the pessimist). Don’t just call, but personally visit these contacts.

entrepreneurs 119

entrepreneurs peer-to-peer networking investing 119

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 6, 2010

But in my experience as an entrepreneur and now spending my time amongst investors I can generalize that almost all VC investments in early stage technology & Internet investments come down to just four key factors. This post was prompted by an email exchange I had with a young entrepreneur. I was interested in learning more.

startup 360

startup VC advice entrepreneurs 360

TechCrunch

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

David Friend is a serial entrepreneur, six-time founder, and the current co-founder and CEO of cloud storage company, Wasabi Technologies. Entrepreneurs trying to raise funding for their new businesses are faced with a maze of options, with most taking the common route of equity rounds. David Friend. Contributor. Share on Twitter.

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strategy incumbents VC disruption 95

Entrepreneurs' Organization

DECEMBER 17, 2021

Culture refers to the social and emotional glue that bonds employees together into a community of belonging, motivates employees and protects against burnout. The physical and mental health of employees is of utmost concern to entrepreneurs. For more insights and inspiration from today’s leading entrepreneurs, check out EO on Inc.

culture 265

culture collaboration communities consulting 265

Entrepreneurs' Organization

JANUARY 10, 2024

It is helpful to have those four concepts clearly outlined for reference as you brainstorm supporting actions. Barry Raber is a serial entrepreneur, president of Carefree RV Storage , a 22-year member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) , the founder of Business Property Trust , and an EO Portland Entrepreneur of the Year.

collaboration 218

collaboration entrepreneurs creativity education 218

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. Often recruiters want to handle the final negotiations on package and/or do the reference calls. I’m also reluctant to hand over reference calling. Unfortunately that’s how reference checking works.

real estate 319

real estate VC pitching entrepreneurs 319

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2014

In case you don’t know – as VCs we have have 2 sets of customers: LPs (limited partners) who invest money in our funds and entrepreneurs (who we in turn give money to and help support them in building businesses we hope will be valuable). Who else is going to tell a VC if he got a bad reference from an entrepreneur or fellow VC?

peer-to-peer 341

peer-to-peer VC entrepreneurs support 341

Entrepreneurs' Organization

JANUARY 15, 2021

That refers to our tendency to look for and interpret information in ways that conform to our prior beliefs, intuitions, feelings, desires and preferences, as opposed to the facts. You can use decision-aid strategies to address cognitive biases to defend your organization from misinformation. Again, cognitive fluency deserves blame.

peer-to-peer 256

peer-to-peer strategy education advice 256

Entrepreneurs' Organization

JULY 23, 2020

The key to success, however, lies in a tactful execution of strategy. Whether you’re an entrepreneur eager to get your business off the ground, or you’re a business owner exploring ways to rechart your company’s course in light of this crisis , prioritize these qualites in your next remote hire: . Tech-Savvy.

education 274

education data collection hospitality technology 274

Gust

DECEMBER 6, 2011

The resources required to start a company vary significantly , depending on the type of company and growth rate anticipated by the entrepreneur. There are several important sources of capital for entrepreneurs starting their businesses, depending on the stage of development of the company. ANNUAL US $$$. TYPICAL STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT.

angel investing 179

angel investing entrepreneurs venture capital investing 179

Entrepreneur's Handbook

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

A Fork In The Road Recently, I’ve been discussing strategy with a number of companies facing a common decision point. A literal fork in the road At this fork, there are two distinct and mutually exclusive types of strategies to focus on. I call them Inbound Strategies and Outbound Strategies. This is rarely successful.

strategy 84

strategy leadership media SaaS 84

Entrepreneurs' Organization

JULY 20, 2022

Contributed by Chris Jacks , director of growth strategy for HireInfluence , where he analyzes and adapts to the ever-changing influencer marketing industry. That is good news for brands and marketers who are looking for influencer partnerships to enhance the impact of their social media strategies.

media 289

media mix-use strategy creativity 289

Entrepreneur's Handbook

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

No need to reinvent the wheel, just use these tried-and-true strategies for sustainable growth. Amidst numerous challenges, the right growth strategy becomes paramount. Securing a solid foothold in the market requires a well-planned approach, and that’s where effective growth strategies come into play.

strategy 87

strategy startup networking sustainability 87

Innovation 2 Enterprise

MARCH 26, 2024

I’ve unapologetically hyper-focused this shopping solution for women, as informed and directed by my personal experience and the experiences of my users as women, moms, and what I refer to as “household procurement specialists.” The post Empowering Innovators: Trailblazing Women Entrepreneurs Share Their Journey appeared first on i2E.

entrepreneurs 106

entrepreneurs innovation advice construction 106

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

Yesterday I had lunch with a really interesting and capable serial entrepreneur who is raising his A round. When people refer to a strategic investor they are usually talking about an investor that comes from the industry you serve as opposed to an independent venture capital investor. The topic of &# strategic&# investors came up.

advice 279

advice venture capital frameworks entrepreneurs 279

StartupNation

JUNE 7, 2021

For founders and entrepreneurs building up their business, the initial startup stage typically focuses on the product, technology or service offering. In most cases, early-stage companies need outside capital and significant runway (the amount of cash needed before a capital raise) to pursue a strategy and fund the company.

strategy 105

strategy real estate entrepreneurs investing 105

Entrepreneurs' Organization

DECEMBER 4, 2019

This combination of poor promotion practices and lack of training stem largely from a dangerous judgment error known as the curse of knowledge , referring to the fact that when we learn something, we face great difficulty in relating to someone who doesn’t know it.

leadership 269

leadership consulting transportation strategy 269

Smart Hustle Magazine

AUGUST 18, 2021

Contributed by Tatyana Artemova an entrepreneur, mastermind expert, and founder at IStartHub. Actually, that should be the number one strategy of a growing business. . So, here are some essential strategies that will help you to improve customer loyalty and move your business to the next level. What Is Customer Loyalty.

strategy 109

strategy energy SaaS entrepreneurs 109

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 31, 2015

I believe many entrepreneurs have ADD. Executive function refers to a number of mental processes that are required to regulate, control, and manage daily life tasks. But overall I believe this leads to better entrepreneurship and why I believe so many entrepreneurs have ADD. It’s both your curse and your secret sauce.

creativity 384

creativity consulting entrepreneurship energy 384

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

And I always encourage entrepreneurs to do reference checking. You might just have differences of opinion on the direction / strategy of the company or how to handle situations in difficult times. So obviously before agreeing to work with this VC you better make sure you know them really well.

VC 314

VC advice pitching investing 314

Entrepreneurs' Organization

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

I keep a Post-It on my wall with a quote from a professor at my alma mater, Harvard Business School: “Strategy is about setting yourself apart from the competition. Studies show that record numbers of Americans now identify themselves as entrepreneurs?approximately It’s not a matter of being better at what you do?it’s impress them.

peer-to-peer 130

peer-to-peer makerspace entrepreneurship entrepreneurs 130

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2016

This led median valuations to triple in 3 years and led to this stupid phenomenon that people refer to as “unicorns ,” which I am convinced will the the thing most historians laugh most about in this era. The fact that I still see it referred to in pitch decks is farcical. Late-Stage VCs Pay Up. VC Infighting. Choose wisely.

venture capital 271

venture capital capital ventures VC 271

Entrepreneurs' Organization

AUGUST 25, 2021

We are often referred to as the Sandwich Generation—caught in the middle between aging parents and children. The intention is also to create asset protection strategies so creditors, predators or ex-family members, cannot access the monies that your mom and dad worked so hard to accumulate.

hospitality 286

hospitality advice education opportunity 286

Entrepreneurs' Organization

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

An entrepreneur, global speaker and university instructor, she is on a mission to inspire entrepreneurs to stand out, speak up and be radically authentic. She is the co-founder of Brand of a Leader , the personal branding agency for entrepreneurs. What is the coolest outcome (speaking gig) you got as a result of attending GSA?

peer-to-peer 176

peer-to-peer leadership entrepreneurs communities 176

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

Entrepreneurs' Organization

AUGUST 9, 2023

The key to our success is how we leveraged certain entrepreneurial strategies that are often misinterpreted as mere trends. To find a pace that works for you, refer to an internal, financeable rate of growth, based on your cashflow and profit. For more insights and inspiration from today’s leading entrepreneurs, check out EO on Inc.

entrepreneurship 206

entrepreneurship sustainability board entrepreneurs 206