Investing in startups is an outlier sport. You’re either average – which generally means below the public markets – or you’re extraordinary. You either invest in the great companies that make up 95% of venture returns, or you don’t. The problem is, to get into the very best companies – the Googles, the Airbnbs, the...
If you are reading this blog, you know that venture capital is a power law game. Venture investors invest in ten companies hoping one returns the losses of the other nine many times over. And they have to because so many startups and small businesses fail. But to really understand the implications and motivations of...
The Ultimate Guide to Startup Fundraising Part 5: How to Structure Your Fundraise to Close Your Round Faster Welcome back to Part 5 of our Ultimate Guide to Startup Fundraising. If you missed the previous posts, I highly recommend you read through those first before continuing. The Ultimate Guide to Startup Fundraising Part 1: Understanding...
Fundraising is one of the most critical aspects of any startup. You need the runway to “burn” through the learning phase (products to product market fit) as quickly as possible as you work to scale your business. Because otherwise you’ll never catch (and ultimately conquer) the incumbents. Because some businesses simply NEED outside funding to...
Angel investing in tech startups can be a massive source of wealth creation. It’s sexy too, who doesn’t want to say they’re an angel investor. And what better way to spend your time than by meeting some of the most inspiring and innovative individuals building the world-changing business of tomorrow. But it is not all...
The Top Worldwide Venture Hubs Source: Founder Collective San Francisco, New York, Berlin, London, Shanghai… If I asked you to list the top startup tech hubs globally, these established powerhouses would certainly top the charts. They produce the majority of the elite of tech companies and the lion’s share of venture returns. And every city...
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, at least not in the cutthroat world of venture capital. VCs (and most angel investors) are in the business of making money work, big time ROIs. And if you take outside funding, you’re obligated to deliver. But still, free money… it’s so tempting, especially if a VC-backed...
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s how the old mantra goes. And when it comes to human nature, that’s exactly how we work. We avoid change and go with the flow. If it hasn’t killed us yet (from an evolutionary sense), we’re probably on the right path. And that’s why the WeWork saga...
The Ultimate Guide to Startup Fundraising Part 3: The Killer Startup Pitch Deck VCs Can’t Ignore! Welcome back to Part 3 of our Ultimate Guide to Startup Fundraising. If you missed the previous posts, I highly recommend you read through those first before continuing. The Ultimate Guide to Startup Fundraising Part 1: Understanding Investors 101:...
The Ultimate Guide to Startup Fundraising Part 1: Understanding Investors 101: The Pros and Cons of Angel Investors, VCs, Angel Groups, Syndicates and Venture Debt Welcome to Part 1 of our Ultimate Guide to Startup Fundraising. If you missed the previous posts, I highly recommend you read through those first before continuing. The Ultimate Guide...