Owners and managers of early-stage growing companies often have mixed views toward the institutional venture capital industry. On one hand, they welcome the money and management support they desperately need for growth, but fear the loss of control and various restrictions that are typically placed on the company by the investment documents.
Growing a company often requires significant financing. Purchasing new equipment adding product lines, expanding the premises or raising additional working capital to fund growth are just some of the reasons why a company might want to think about putting together a proposal to obtain financing.
Experienced angel investors, Ron Conway, Founder of Angel Investors LP, and Mike Maples, Founder of Maples Investments, provide a rare look into the ins and outs of angel investing.
Your capabilities in maintaining perspective (reality vs. euphoria), balancing today's and tomorrow's needs, and coordinating resources are being tested. The original route to success works for some time, but then it stops working so well and hits diminishing returns.
Things to consider when buying or selling a business. If you are considering buying (or selling) your business, please have a look at this presentation on buying a business.
With her natural elegance and persistent hard work, Michelle Kwan is an inspiration to anyone working to achieve great success. Even when the skaters she started out with retired, Kwan continued to compete. Despite multiple injuries, Kwan pushed through. She believes in herself, works hard and takes risks.
How Do You Define Success For Your Company?: Click the pic to the right
As a start up you need to develop a strategic perspective from the word go.
Innovation has become a polluted word with a lot of different meanings. It a one of the buzz words in current management speak, government policy, etc. But everybody seems to have a different interpretation and it is getting in the way of what innovation should be about.
This will guide you through some of the things you might want to consider when you develop your ideas.
Ask yourself the question; if you would apply for the job of CEO if your own company would you get it? What happens if the answer in “NO”?
Founded in January 1990, Century Homes is now the largest housing timber frame (roof trusses, walls, door units, floors) manufacturing business in Ireland and the UK, employing over 320 staff.
Product Adaptation For International Markets
David Frankel, Founding Partner at Altirah Capital, discusses term sheets and how to structure a venture capital deal.
This spreadsheet will help you calculate what items you need to include in your initial start-up investment, whether you already have them or need to buy them,What they cost, when you need them (this will be helpful when you come to calculate your cash-flow).
As an entrepreneur you have a choice of going solo or as part of a team. Teams have a much higher chance of success. That does not mean that everybody needs to be in the business full time, but you do need a combination of skill sets in areas such as sales (key!), marketing, finance and technology.
Once you have segmented your target market, identified the target audience’s buying process and devised your positioning, you will find that the best way to structure, equip and manage your sales force will be apparent.
Business in not about today. It is about tomorrow.
Sticking to the core Sticking to the core
Execute!
