Startups, entrepreneurs, innovation, technology, and economic development.
I’ve been helping entrepreneurs prepare for their investor pitches for several years. Before that, I pitched my startups to investors for over a decade. Based on this experience, I have come up with the 10 slides a typical 5-to-10-minute presentation should have. 0. Title Before the content slides, you need a slick title slide to... Continue Reading →
In a previous post, I covered the kinds of investors that support startups. In the last post, I discussed the different types of financial instruments available to startups. But how does an entrepreneur know which type of instrument is ideal for his or her business? Let’s now turn to the main questions one should ask... Continue Reading →
In a previous post I discussed the different types of investors available to entrepreneurs. But choosing the right investor depends also on the types of financial commitment you are willing to take on. Therefore, in this post I will discuss the main financial instruments used to fund startups – equity, debt, grants, and convertibles –... Continue Reading →
Startup fundraising is never easy and the current pandemic crisis makes it even harder. Typical early-stage investors, such as angel investors and venture capital funds, today might be more reluctant to take risks and bet on early-stage startups. In such situations, entrepreneurs often turn to friends and family (2F's) to support their endeavors. Asking people... Continue Reading →
Startups are constantly looking for funding to support their growth. Here is a brief explanation of the different types of investors that typically support entrepreneurs in their journeys. Friends and Family These are people you (obviously) know personally and who decide to help you in your endeavor. Think “rich uncle”. These investors usually have little... Continue Reading →
Guest post by Suhail Kassim A new startup is like a baby A startup needs to be cradled and nourished. Even so, there is no certainty that the baby will grow up to be a lean mean fighting machine. In this post, I begin to investigate the phenomenon of some exciting startups which then refuse... Continue Reading →
Seed capital and ownership A common mistake entrepreneurs make, especially in the startup's early stage, is to worry too much about valuation and dilution. The business, after all, is their "baby" and they can't give away too much too soon - every share is worth fighting for! Well, guess what, the business is almost as... Continue Reading →
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