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Startups Manage Legal Compliance F87b24d861a4b42e2d64a34e3f3ba1dadfceb0fca4d3244500a54b8f114eabc9

How does Convertible Debt work?

Let’s start by understanding that because we are talking about something called “Convertible Debt”, it means that whatever it is will start out as one thing, and potentially convert (or “change”) into something else. In this case, what the investor receives in exchange for his or her cash starts out as debt, and potentially converts […]
David S. Rose
David S. Rose , Founder and CEO , GUST INC.
6 Sep 2012
Startups Manage Legal Compliance F87b24d861a4b42e2d64a34e3f3ba1dadfceb0fca4d3244500a54b8f114eabc9

Convertible Debt: Worst Form Of Seed Financing — Except For All The Others

How to finance a new seed-stage startup?  Equity?  Convertible debt?  Convertible equity? As of August 2010, Paul Graham famously proclaimed, “Convertible notes have won. Every investment so far in this YC batch (and there have been a lot) has been done on a convertible note.”  Yet in my little corner of Wonksville, Founder Institute CEO Adeo Ressi and Yoichiro […]
Antone Johnson
Antone Johnson , Founding Principal , Bottom Line Law Group
5 Sep 2012
What Founders Should Consider Early Exit Offer 601e498501579f6bfb2b1c25ae3ca66095ba6d7760710e7efe27246998f9eed7

For a Startup, Two Heads are Always Better Than One

If you are a first-time entrepreneur, I recommend that you team with a co-founder with experiences, connections, and a skill set that complements, but doesn’t duplicate yours. Even experienced entrepreneurs need a partner to back up each other and improve fundability. The question is how to find that elusive perfect-fit partner. First, I will admit […]
Martin Zwilling
Martin Zwilling , Founder and CEO , Startup Professionals
2 Sep 2012
Find And Hire Startup Lawyer Hero E6bab2f09f17ab095368b9bd462de7f02dc0c9ee8ef6a1fa22c9feb6abc5779c

What do investors consider the most important aspect of a potential deal?

Characteristics of the Entrepreneur Integrity, Passion, Startup Experience, Domain Expertise, Functional Skills, Leadership, Commitment, Vision, Pragmatism, Flexibility, Personality Characteristics of the Venture Team, Business Model, Traction, Customer Acquisition, Scalability, Defensibiity, Capital Efficiency, Churn, Time to Breakeven, Exit Strategy Characteristics of the Market Size, Growth, Concentration, Geography, Demographics, Competition, Channels, Regulatory Environment, Technological Developments, Adjacent Markets, […]
David S. Rose
David S. Rose , Founder and CEO , GUST INC.
30 Aug 2012
Using Data To Give Startup Founders Fundraising Feedback C67879e52099d1977ba2188d008855e0d1726b32e2152ce52f46411826e900a6

3 Essentials for Selling Your Marketing Plan to Investors

Somebody asked me in email what investors look for in the marketing portion of a business plan and/or business pitch. What works? What’s credible? What are investors looking for? Caveat: generalizations are dangerous. And I’m generalizing here from what I’ve seen in the three dozen or so pitches and plans I’m exposed to in a […]
Tim Berry
Tim Berry , Founder , Palo Alto Software
29 Aug 2012
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