How to Spot and Avoid Tech Bubbles
In finance, a bubble is too much money chasing assets, greater asset production, and a herd mentality. In startup business plans, a bubble is too many entrepreneurs and too many…
Professional Investors Don’t Sign NDAs
Entrepreneurs often get the advice from their lawyers and friends to always get a Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA or CDA) signed before disclosing anything about their new venture. Most investors and…
Doing a Startup Without Quitting Your Day Job
Many entrepreneurs I know feel guilty about not quitting their day job when initiating their startup, worrying about not giving their all to an employer, juggling the multiple roles, or…
Tips for Preparing Credible Financial Projections
Many entrepreneurs actually refuse to do financial projections beyond the first year, insisting that no one can predict the future. They need to realize that investors ask for projections, not…
Viral Marketing is Far From Free
Every time I challenge a business plan with little or no budget for marketing, I get the answer that they will be using “viral” marketing, which costs nothing. The founder…
Even Visionaries Need to Pay Attention to Details
I’ve noticed a great tendency among startup founders to ignore the essentials of business accounting in the early stages of their startup. Just because you are not profitable yet, doesn’t…
Startups Must be Lean and Agile to Survive Volatility
Prior to the recession, many companies and even startups were acclimated to prosperity, maybe too comfortable. We have now been through some turbulent times, but has your strategy really changed?…
Be the Leader Teams Love to Follow
Startups provide business leaders with new products, services, and new revenue models, but leadership startups can only be built by entrepreneurs who are themselves leaders, and who incent leadership in…
So THIS is How Startups Get Their Funding?
Money to build the business is the number one challenge for most startups. Don’t believe the urban myth that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and professional investors…
Five Hidden Challenges of Entrepreneurship
Most entrepreneurs expect to face the “normal” challenges of starting a business, which include finding the right opportunity, building and executing a winning plan, and financing their venture. But many…