Your Startup is NOT a Platform (yet)
Over the last year, I’ve looked at >150 deals (for some VC’s that’s tiny, for other’s that’s a lot). In that time a number of phrases have risen to the top of the list that makes my eyes roll or create a queasy wave of nausea that overtakes over me. Near the top of the list is:
Read MoreWTIA Startup Program – Cohort I – What to Expect
Hey Cohort 1, I wanted to introduce myself and the Cohort I program. I’m Dave Parker and the WTIA Chair of startup programs/club. I’m a five-time founder and VC with Seven Peaks Ventures. I work with Nick Ellingson who’s the point person for programs and is the WTIA staff member. We also have an
Read MoreDeciding to Pivot your Startup
This was originally posted on WXR Fund Blog, cross-posted with permission. Recently, the WXR team hosted a virtual seminar for our current cohort of founders. The seminar featured three seasoned entrepreneurs who discussed the ins and outs of pivoting a business. Here are some highlights of the invaluable insight they shared. Deciding to Pivot All
Read MorePlay Bigger Seattle!
It’s time for Seattle to Play Bigger! As a startup community, we’ve had a chip on our shoulder for years. We’re not the valley. VCs would say we need better founders, founders would say we need better (and more) VCs. Both were right. Founders are flogged for thinking too small. But investors don’t want to fund
Read MoreDo’s and Don’ts of Venture Seed Fundraising
Here’s some of the “Sausage Making” of early stage venture funding. When we’re raising capital, we tend to over-index on getting the meetings and honing the pitch. Both are critical to the process. But, there are a number of other factors you need to take into consideration during the process, especially in a Venture or
Read MoreIs Your Pitch Venture Ready? Pitch Checklist
How do investors evaluate your startup company? Are you ready to raise capital? Let me take some of the mystery out of the process and give you one approach and some of the questions venture capitalists will be asking of your deck. It’s not the only approach and different investors will put a different weighting
Read MoreStartup meet Angels (Seattle) – Process and Rubric
How do we evaluate teams for Seattle’s Startups meet Angels meetup (aka Angels, Pitches and Beer)? Pitches Bring your pitch deck and plan on a 5 minute pitch with 5-10 minutes of Q&A from the Angels. Your pitch will not be public, but in a conference room with qualified investors only. Selection Process: 6+ Teams are
Read MoreStartup Marketing: Funnel Breakdown
A lot of startup founders work hard on getting their product ready to launch before understanding the economics of marketing. Specifically, how to acquire customers at reasonable economics. Sometimes that topic is met with a genuine head tilt and quizzical look. Sometimes it’s met with a “handwavy” response – usually by those who believe if they
Read MoreReview of 2017 and 2018 Goals
I’ve never been great about New Year’s Resolutions – but I’m a fan of goals. Goals can be a challenge because we set unrealistic goals at this time of year and miss them early. So while we feel defeated, we end up giving up on the bigger picture, the reason for the goal in the
Read MoreHow Startups Get Started
Reposted from Q13 Fox – Seattle Startup Week 2017 Starting a new company is never easy. Some started in their garage. Other people wrote an idea down on a napkin at a coffee shop. It all started somewhere. To have the next big idea, you need good connections, investment money and above all, a good
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