Defining The ‘Best Possible Outcome’ For Startups
This Article was originally posted at the Huffington Post June 10, 2013. By Dave Parker, VP of Product at UP Global Every startup founder I’ve met starts with a huge dream of some kind. Some want to change the world, others want a huge exit and a red Ferrari. But understanding how your startup might change the world
Read MoreTop 10 Startup Fundraising Fails
Startup Wisdom from Founder Institute – The content provided is by Dave Parker and Chris Dishman of Denali Financial. Infographic provided by the Founder Institute.
Read MoreCan I buy you a coffee? Meeting Checklist
The call usually starts like this. “I was told by <name> that you could help me with <funding my startup, improving my startup idea, a financial model, finding a co-founder or a good developer , blah, blah, blah.> ______________, can I buy you a coffee?” I love helping startups! I think I overcompensate for not having found
Read MoreSix Reasons Your Startup WON’T Raise Capital
When I talk to new Entrepreneurs there are times when I think I’m only talking to myself. I know I’m speaking English… But they don’t seem to hear. So I’ll write it down… Here are Six Reasons your startup will never raise capital:
Read MoreWhy Convertible Equity?
Earlier today the Founder Institute’s new early-stage investing vehicle,Convertible Equity, was highlighted in the Wall Street Journal in an article byJessica Vascellaro entitled “New Tack in Early Stage Tech-Investing.” The piece illustrates the issues “haphazard approaches to seed investing in the past” (namely, Convertible Debt) have created, and how the Founder Institute’s “Convertible Equity” approach aims to mitigate those issues. According to
Read MoreEpic Fail in Fundraising – Financial Assumptions Part 2 – Overblown Growth
Benchmark data for financial models I wrote an earlier post of this topic here that covers common errors like starting at zero revenue and growing to a billion dollars in sales in year four or not knowing your key metrics for your business model. I wanted to add a part II to the post and provide
Read MoreThe Startup Ecosystem – Avoiding the Leeches!
When I started going to China for business I was amazed how many “helpful” people who I found at events with US Business people. They all knew people, in my industry and especially in the government. It was later that I discovered that those weren’t the real people you wanted to meet. But they were
Read MoreDoes Your Startup Idea have a Fatal Flaw?
One of the weekly components of the Founder Institute Semester is the “Hot Seat”. Where founders have a chance to pitch their idea/company to the three mentors plus the local Director. During the Hotseat sessions for some Founders in Bogotá Columbia, I was watching as one of the Founders was having a challenge taking feedback
Read MoreWhen is Late to Market Really Too Late to Market?
I recently had the chance to host a group of mentors for office hours @StartupRiot in Seattle – Thanks to Jimmy Kwan at Turnstone for providing the furniture, it was the best the Bar at Showbox Soho has ever looked! We accepted applications from over 41 companies that requested office hours for Founder Institute Mentors.
Read MoreWhat is Fair Market Value for a Startup
Selling a company can be a lot like selling a unique car – it’s only worth what the buyer will pay for it. That also means that your company may not be worth what you want the company to be worth. Here are the approaches to traditional valuation methods. Asset approach Income approach Market approach
Read More