Money answers

Answered by JS Cournoyer Posted in Money

Knowledge of their market. Smart. Dedicated and driven. Honest. Mature (do not take criticism personally). Confident. Can build the product. Know what they don't know. (more)

What are the common mistakes entrepreneurs make when pitching investors?

Answered by David Rose Posted in Money

unrealistic assessment of market size unrealistic assessment of competitive offerings unrealistic assessment of competitive advantages unrealistic assessment of execution c... (more)

We're a startup SaaS company that's been out to the public for 8 months. Our user base has been growing at a very significant rate. Were considering raising funds to hire m...

Answered by JS Cournoyer Posted in Money

Look for investors who invest in Saas. Most investors are public with their interests. We like Saas. You can email me at js@realventures.com (more)

Problem: not all Advisors contribute to value creation equally. Therefore, we want to incent and reward value-added on some equitable basis. How can Advisor stock options ...

Answered by Mark MacLeod Posted in Money Operations

The problem with advisor relationships are many: You get what you pay for. If you pay only in options (no cash) which have uncertain value, you will get mixed levels of e... (more)

How did you raise seed funding?

Answered by Jack Abraham Posted in Money

Initially I raised seed funding from one of my professors, Len Lodish, who connected me with one of his investment partners. That is what got us going. Later on I was intro... (more)

What are the first steps for finding capital for a new business?

Answered by Corey Kossack Posted in Money

First major step is building a business that will be attractive to investors (you are growing quickly, have revenue and have an impressive prototype/website build already).... (more)

I need an angel, but not sure about the procedure. What do angels get in return for their (small) investment (how much equity on avg)? Do they get more for being first?

Answered by Dan Martell Posted in Money

It's best to find a lawyer with experience in angel rounds. I use Gunderson Dettmer (Josh Cook) for Flowtown, McInnes Cooper (Crystal Gamble) in Atlantic Canada and Fortis... (more)

What are the most favorable deal terms for startups?

Answered by Jason Cohen Posted in Money

Too generic of a question. Read http://venturehacks.com for tips. (more)

As someone bootstrapping a startup, what should you look for in an investor, besides the willingness to invest.

Answered by Michael Garrity Posted in Money

If you have someone willing to invest and you need the money now, then you should seriously consider taking it. Before doing so though you should ensure that they are an a... (more)

This is probably for Mark Mcleod: How is a Canadian corporation supposed to treat American revenue when it comes to accounting (both for statements, as well as for tax)? Do...

Answered by Mark MacLeod Posted in Money Operations

Revenue recognition for accounting purposes does not differ based on where the revenue comes from (other than the need to convert USD to CAD) on your books. (more)

Setting up a Delaware C corp. and want to make it as investor (Silicon Valley VC) friendly as possible. What are the major requirements?

Answered by Duncan Hill Posted in Money Management Operations

You should talk to a startup lawyer about this. James Smith at LeBarge Weinstein, Derek Keay at Gowlings, Chris Chapman at KPMG, Rubsun Ho at Cognition Partners. In gener... (more)

How do you finance business growth without putting in your own capital?

Answered by Dan Martell Posted in Money

If you're not willing to put in your own capital, then why should anyone else? That being said - you do have options. Professional investors (if your business is a venture... (more)

How important is the business plan for investors given that you want to run an internet company and not to build a steel factory? Could the whole tedious process of busines...

Answered by Duncan Hill Posted in Money Management

We don;t look for formal business plans, but we do look for a well thought out business hypothesis, product plan, go to market plan, financing plan. If you can get that ac... (more)

How closely do you work with the entrepreneurs you invest in? I want to know how hands-on a VC would be if I took investment.

Answered by Duncan Hill Posted in Money

Really depends on the VC. Most VC's will help with customer introductions, recruiting, and board level governance. Some early stage investors like MantellaVP take more ac... (more)

I had a referral to an investor from one of his company owners and he asked me to meet him at a restaurant. Should I bring my laptop or a print out of my pitch?

Answered by Dan Martell Posted in Money

Laptop, always show product and let them play. Don't pitch but passionately show them what you're building. (more)

I have an idea and about to build a prototype. Validation of my idea has been positive. When and how should i approach VCs for funding? Before building prototype or wait un...

Answered by Benjamin Yoskovitz Posted in Money

Generally I suggest - the longer you wait the better. You'll hopefully have more proof and traction and can present that to investors. But there's nothing wrong with starti... (more)

How to arrange start up funds for a restaurant?

Answered by Andrew Patricio Posted in Money

It's tough raising funds for a restaurant. If I was you I'd start off by developing a business plan. Once you have this ready shop around for money (more)

Hey Ryan, I am the co-founder of a guerilla marketing start-up that focusses on interactive campaigns. I am a bit lost when it comes to ROI. How can I successfully measure...

Answered by Ryan Holmes Posted in Money Marketing

Take a look at the techniques used by the DM industry. (more)

Do you recommend a specific format or have a template proforma to help calculate financial projections for business plans?

Answered by Mark MacLeod Posted in Money Resources

Here is a good template here: http://unstructuredventures.com/ (more)

How do you get a supply company to partner with you on a start-up company. Funding has not been acquired yet.

Answered by Duncan Hill Posted in Money Operations

I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by a supply company. In general, doing BD deals early in a company's evolution is a great idea, but you do need to puff out your ches... (more)

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Money answers