Tag: startup
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Of Mice and Mentors
There are a ton of positives that mentors provide startups, as no one person innately has the skill set and/or experience to run a successful company. But if there is an incubator bubble, does that beget a mentor bubble? Mentors at incubators should be in it strictly to pay it forward and most certainly are.…
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Non-Dilution Rights are Wrong
I hate non-dilution rights and if you are an entrepreneur you should, too. I’m not talking about price-based anti-dilution protection that is typical in an angel or VC round. What I’m referring to is a right given to a particular stockholder so that such stockholder’s equity in the company is not diluted by any future…
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How to Evaluate a Startup Accelerator Offer
Great news — your startup just got accepted to an accelerator! But before your startup signs up and cashes that $[25,000] check, your startup’s co-founders should sit down and evaluate the accelerator offer. The following are some issues to consider and actions to take before accepting an the accelerator offer: (1) Calculate Valuation and Determine…
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Tech Wildcatters Applications Due January 16th
Dallas-based Tech Wildcatters is set to launch their 2nd class and will stop accepting applications January 16th. Their inaugural class of 5 companies raised over $4,000,000 in funding through two venture and two angel rounds. Tech Wildcatters is a startup accelerator that offers up to $25,000 and 12 weeks of hands on mentorship. Here’s what…
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Term Sheet Purgatory
There’s a lot of advice about (1) how to attract VCs, and (2) how to negotiate a venture capital term sheet. Both sets of advice tend to ignore the gap between an investor’s expression of investment interest and your startup’s receipt of the term sheet. I refer to this waiting period as “term sheet purgatory.”…
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Interview with Mike Brown Jr. of AOL Ventures
I had the chance to chat with Mike Brown Jr., Founder and Partner at AOL Ventures, a few weeks ago. I’ve known Mike for a few years now and during the conversation I asked if we could turn the chat into a formal interview for this blog. He graciously obliged and the following Q&A about…
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Key Ring is Hiring
Key Ring is a mobile app by Mobestream Media on both iPhone and Android that brings all your loyalty cards together. You use Key Ring to scan & store your existing loyalty cards, enroll in new loyalty programs, and access exclusive coupons and discounts. This Dallas-based startup is looking for people to fill the following…
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November Rain
Axl Rose began working on November Rain in 1983 — a full 8 years before it was released by Guns N’ Roses. Axl came up with a piano-only version of the song early, but by the time 1991 rolled around November Rain was a full-blown hair metal power ballad. Axl realized that what might have…
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Why Finders Are Losers
Whenever a startup considers paying a “finder” for successful investor introductions, I have the same type of conversation with the founders that goes something like this: — Startup: “Finder” knows a lot of investors and he’ll introduce us if we pay him [6]% of all capital raised through the introductions. Me: Is “finder” a registered…
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Dealing with a Startup Creeper
Advisors are great for startups. They can provide your startup with guidance on a wide range of topics and typically take a seat on your startup’s advisory board. But sometimes a person who gives your startup infrequent, casual advice will broadcast to the world that he or she is an advisor to your startup in…