“Why create financial projections when it is all a guess?” That is a question I hear all too often. Many entrepreneurs and small business owners have trouble making estimates and reducing the uncertainty in which they operate to a limited set of variables within a structured model. Their mistake...

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There are two valuation methodologies for early-stage startups - qualitative and quantitative. Method #1: Qualitative Approach All qualitative approaches are based on some sort of scorecard. Each scorecard has its own unique set of attributes. Every attribute has a monetary range assigned to it...

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Not every investor is the same and choosing the right investor is critical to your company’s success. All investors can be categorized by three criteria: An investment amount The level of involvement The investor’s role in a company An investment amount All investments fall into one of...

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As a startup founder, time management and priority setting are very important. There are many things you need to do every day and at times it can be overwhelming to decide what to do first. These four tips will help you better understand where you should focus your efforts. Tip # 1: Formulate...

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1. “I have an amazing idea” Every entrepreneur believes that his or her idea is amazing. If you don’t, why even bother starting a company? However, instead of simply stating that your idea is amazing, you should prove to investors that it is. You can do so with a well thought out business plan,...

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Determining how much equity to give co-founders or contributors is not easy. On one hand, you want to fairly reward people for taking the risk, believing in you and helping you build your company from scratch. On another, you want to create the right incentives and only offer equity to those who...

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There are five main financing stages that startups go through on their fundraising journey. First Stage: Friends and Family This round is raised by people who know you personally. You use this capital to prove that your idea is viable and to build a minimum viable product (MVP). Even if you...

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There are many common mistakes that first-time entrepreneurs make. It is important to be aware of them so that you can launch your venture successfully. These are three most common mistakes. Mistake #1: The failure to sign a founder’s agreement From the business perspective, a founder’s...

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I often get asked by entrepreneurs how to create assumptions for their financial model when there is no financial history, no product on the market, and no track record. How can they ensure that those assumptions are credible, justifiable, and taken seriously by investors, strategic partners, and...

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Five Reasons Why a Board of Advisors Could Help a Startup All established private and public companies have a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is a legal entity that is created to protect the interests of the shareholders. The Board votes on important decisions concerning the...

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