Blog

Learn how to start and run your company like a seasoned entrepreneur

Ready to launch your startup?

can help.

We have everything you need to build a successful, high-growth company—the right way.

LEARN MORE
Subscribe to the Founder's Guide Six Weeks to a Smarter Startup
Read the FAQs
Us Tax Code Changes Corporations 2017 B20738aa97eb6ecb042609a5bc8d00d5e7d21c6d60eab9fa30a80596e821be36

What percentage of the business should I ask for if I came up with the idea but didn’t have time to work on the business?

As Peter Van Dijck noted, the answer is 0%.  “Ideas” are simply not compensated in today’s business world, because there are so many of them out there—even good ones. *original post can be found on Quora @ http://www.quora.com/David-S-Rose/answers
David S. Rose
David S. Rose , Founder and CEO , GUST INC.
17 Aug 2014
Startup Strategies: The Strategic and Financial Significance of Intellectual Property

Entrepreneurs Need To Keep Their Business Focused

One of the most common failures I see in startups is lack of focus. Unfocused entrepreneurs boast that their new technology will generate multiple disruptive products for consumers as well as enterprises around the world. Investors hear this as trying to do too many things with limited resources, meaning the startup will not shine at […]
Martin Zwilling
Martin Zwilling , Founder and CEO , Startup Professionals
17 Aug 2014
What Your Cap Table Tells 51163fec57d1e9c663b84e3f25da79a69dcd9a637a730150dbb41772aa5bca19

In a seed round, is it poor form to accept a lower cap from later investors?

There are a [very] few companies, mostly on the West Coast, that have done convertible rounds with differing caps, but it’s unusual, hard to do, and not something that will endear you to the less-fortunate investors. If you find yourself in a situation where (a) you absolutely need/want the $4 m investor, and (b) those […]
David S. Rose
David S. Rose , Founder and CEO , GUST INC.
14 Aug 2014
10 Early Mistakes Startup Founders Should Avoid D9aa1adbb0aeeeb61a9800d1df81c1460d99acecba203b7d0f9d21e61e965e1f

What is the worst startup pitch ever?

Take your choice (these are both real, honest-to-God pitches, and I’ve got the originals in my possession): Contestant A CluelessCo is an internet startup company seeking $2 million of equity financing to fund our company for at least one year. CluelessCo will become the main consumer outlet for the internet, digital cable and satellite TV, […]
David S. Rose
David S. Rose , Founder and CEO , GUST INC.
10 Aug 2014
Startups Need Option Plan To Hire Employees A22ae849e242af5b43b604e1ece450ef528cfd82a66946aa35f256c030709f7d

5 Clues To Investor-Friendly Financial Estimates

Most entrepreneurs struggle with financial projections, not wanting to commit to numbers they can’t deliver, and having no clue what investors might consider reasonable. However, making no projections, or non-credible projections will get your startup marked as unfundable. I recommend a simple set of guidelines, which work for at least 80% of the business domains […]
Martin Zwilling
Martin Zwilling , Founder and CEO , Startup Professionals
10 Aug 2014
1 … 42 43 44 45 46 … 136