Founders and Fundraising
How Do You Deal With A Problem Customer?
Your largest customer, representing over 80 percent of your revenue, threatens they are not going to work with you anymore. Making matters worse, your startup is in the middle of fundraising. What should you do? In today’s video, I’m going to go over this real life problem that a startup CEO I’m advising, “Gary”, is…
Read MoreWhat Types Of Startups Usually Succeed?
The first startup I ever invested in had great technology. In fact, it was clear to me the technology was great, but I wasn’t sure how good the CEO was. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] I decided to invest anyways, and the company failed about two years…
Read MoreHow Can You Buy Back Your Equity?
“I have an early investor that wants to liquidate their investment,” “Steve” said to me. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] “That’s interesting,” I said. “Tell me more.” “They were an incubator we hooked up with. They just contacted me a couple of days ago. I don’t think…
Read MoreAdding Your Co-Founders To Your Board Is A Bad Idea
The doorbell rang. It was my co-founder, “Jim.” He was a few minutes early for our planning meeting with my other co-founder, “John.” [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] I opened up the door to my house, and I smiled and said, “Hi Jim.” Jim looked like he…
Read MoreThe Five Signs You’re Not Thinking Big Enough
“Why are you worried about selling your company?” I asked Fred. “You’re just getting started, and you’re worried about selling (your company)? That doesn’t feel good to me.” I had just met Fred, and I was trying to decide whether I was going to work with him. And, an entrepreneur who volunteers they are focused…
Read MoreWhat Do You Do When An Investor Gives You Bad Advice?
“I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!” I screamed to myself as I walked to my car. I had just gotten the snot beaten out of me by the partners at one of my investors, “Donald Ventures.” I had been asked to present and update to the partnership by “Raul,” the partner leading…
Read MoreWhat’s The Best Mindset When You’re Getting Started?
It was the summer of 2009, and we were closing in on our Series A funding. I wanted to update my fellow co-founders on our progress, so I scheduled a meeting at the local Starbucks. Three of my four fellow co-founders were on time for our 11AM meeting. We were waiting on our Chief Technology…
Read MoreAre You More Powerful Than The Board Of Directors?
Do you know about the theory of rational thought? The theory of rational thought has at its core the basic assumption that people will act in a logical manner. Now, if that was true, then a great startup CEO would have much more power than a board of directors because a great startup CEO is…
Read MoreHow Do You Know What Investor Feedback Is Valuable?
You’re going to get tons of feedback from investors when you pitch your startup. The problem is, a lot of the feedback you get will lead you in the wrong direction, and actually hurt your chances of getting funded. So what are you, the CEO, supposed to do with the feedback you get? In today’s…
Read MoreThe 9 Tips You Need To Know Before Raising Your Series A
“Just visit ten investors,” my friend Dave said to me. “If no one is interested, then you should just move on.” Dave is a dear friend, a mentor, and, at the time, a VC. Usually his advice is spot on. However, this was one time I just couldn’t agree with his advice. [Do you want…
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