Questions related to receiving capital from external sources.
1
vote
2answers
177 views
How to get products on the market quickly and cheap?
I have designed several products that involve electronics. I do all the design, electronics, and building myself except for a few things. There is a market for these products although competition is ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Where can I find samples of good one page executive summary for a business plan?
We are applying for angel investment for our startup and looking for some samples of one page executive summary. Please share if you are aware of any.
Thanks,
1
vote
4answers
310 views
Pair of engineers with code, should we walk away from founder? How much should we ask for ($$)?
TL;DR: Worked a year+ on code we still own, founder refuses to raise capital (wants to bootstrap) and is now low-balling us, we're willing to walk away--what would you do?
Long version (detailed and ...
1
vote
2answers
94 views
What advantages do tech startups with tax exempt 501(c)(3) status enjoy beyond tax exemption, if any?
This past March I co-founded a (for-profit) NV corporation, which created a Facebook App in the C2C social gifting space. This software, however, can be used in multiple industries, and I wanted to ...
2
votes
1answer
164 views
Assessing the value of startup company for investment
We are a start up company set up 14 months ago. We were building few products which we could not finish yet. we plan to finish it in another 6 months. Since our initial budget were very low. We had to ...
1
vote
3answers
135 views
Strategy to raise money for smaller market size
We have a niche business for a particular industry but with very good domain expertise and traction.
We have a few hundred enterprise customers and over 10 paying enterprise customers after just a few ...
1
vote
2answers
311 views
lifecycle of a startup funding and complete buyout?
I'm staring well a start-up :) Currently we are using internal funds, and by estimates it will last for a good while, but if our growth(users servers etc.) exceed our sales, sooner or later we will ...
1
vote
3answers
220 views
When asking for funds from an investor, how do I decide my own salary?
I will be speaking with a potential investor soon. And I will be quitting my job to run this startup. I will also be the only one running the startup for at least the first 6 months. How do I decide ...
-3
votes
1answer
135 views
Where can I find complete list of Venture Capital, Private Equity and Angel Investors? [closed]
I am looking for a list of venture capital, private equity and angel investors. Are these lists available online or do I need to subscribe to a service?
Also where can I find complete lists of ...
1
vote
3answers
131 views
What to use the invested money for?
Ok so i am located in India and am looking for some investment for my startup. Since i am a one man company, i think i can move to valley if the investor/incubator (?) wants me to. But my question is ...
2
votes
6answers
115 views
How do I go about finding a 'closer' to help pitch investors?
I don't understand the funding/investment landscape. If I want to bring someone in to help me pitch angel investors and/or VC's:
Where would I go about finding them?
What questions do I ask to ...
2
votes
2answers
181 views
Will an angel investor be turned off by the founders not wanting to quit their day jobs just yet?
....my co-founder and I are working on a SaaS product and there is a chance we may seek an angel investment. Do you think us wanting to keep our day jobs for 3-6 more months will be a turn-off to ...
4
votes
5answers
261 views
Is 17 too young to apply to Y Combinator or any other incubator program
We are team of two 17 year old students with an "idea". Is it possible to even be considered for Y Combinator etc. We realize we dont have much credentials in terms of experience and education but do ...
5
votes
2answers
277 views
Real-life scenarios of encounters with VC/Angel funding?
I've started lately to think about what's common sense when it comes to seeking funding from VC's or Angels. So What I would like to do is spend a few hours on reading some stories by actual ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
Where to find mentors/advisors for garage stage startup company?
I have an idea related to healthcare communications and am trying to find mentors/advisors who would be willing to guide my partner and I towards success. I live in Silicon Valley.
I was wondering ...
0
votes
1answer
183 views
What to include in our funding requirements?
We're a small group of IT students and recently we came up with an idea that we're going to pitch with business plan in an event hoping to get feedback and funding from investors. (Ok, I read that ...
0
votes
2answers
247 views
Age of founder > brick wall (in front of?) angel investors/vc's
Legally speaking it isn't a problem that i'm seventeen years old, in my country it is allowed to start a business at 16+. A cantonal judge removed some other boundaries so that I'm now fully ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
What rights do I have as a founder of a startup? What happens if I do not accept the VCs terms?
I am a founder of a startup with 10% shares.
We are in the stage of Series A financing.
The valuation of the VC is pretty low according to me.
Also the option pool that VC is demanding from us (common ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
How do businesses like Instagram and TwitPic make money?
Both of those examples don't charge anything, and don't have ads on their wedsite/app. Both of them have (to the best of my knowledge) gotten hugh amounts of money in funding rounds. How exactly are ...
1
vote
2answers
64 views
Funding Cash, Who should contribute to the company's assets?
So let's say we have company ACME.
ACME has 2 people:
John - Founder ( %70 Equity )
Dan - Sales ( %30 Equity )
An investor came up and invested $100k and demands %20 of shares.
Question Time:
...
1
vote
4answers
305 views
What does it mean to get angel funded? Is it giving away a %?
When I read about a company getting angel funded, what does it mean?
Is it a company selling a % of their company in exchange for seed money?
Is there any interest involved?
0
votes
4answers
188 views
Determining the value of my online company for seeking funding
How do you calculate the worth of your company when you are looking for funding? If i sell my company outright today the value is about $200K but this does not mean that i will take on $100K ...
1
vote
1answer
174 views
Example of new shares issued for investment and options pool in one round?
Please check my thinking.
Right now, founders own 100% of 1000 shares.
We're willing to sell 30% of the company to outside investors.
We want to set aside another 10% for an employee options pool.
...
0
votes
2answers
584 views
What do investors look for in a SaaS startup's development plan?
Foreword: Assume that a working MVP prototype with traction exists for the startup.
As of right now, we have a software development plan covering:
Milestone Title;
Est. Development Time;
...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
What happens when I issue shares and nobody buys them?
After launching the prototype and getting some pretty exciting customer feedback over the last six weeks, we want to raise a little investment money.
We're talking with several organizations so far. ...
2
votes
2answers
223 views
I have a website idea I need to share with major companies
My idea works with the help of major companies, however, Im afraid if I share it with them they may steal the idea. I know there isnt much I can do to protect myself from this happening. My question ...
-1
votes
1answer
103 views
In the dark on how to get started? [closed]
First let me inform you: I am new to this type of enterprise and in a sense I am looking for all the help that I can get so that I will have a general idea where to start. I have a drawn out plan for ...
1
vote
3answers
91 views
How important is a budget when seeking early stage investment?
Once we launch our product, we intended to raise our first round of funding. The preparation has already started, including the budget. I feel that the budget should be highly detailed, realistic ...
2
votes
2answers
73 views
What to focus on when pitching, product or underlying platform?
I'm working on launching a startup based on a new computing platform developed by my co-founders. The platform itself is very powerful and flexible, and we envision it being used as a foundation for ...
0
votes
1answer
79 views
Looking for startup grants in the UK
I'm looking for grants and funding I may be eligible for in Wales, United Kingdom.
I'm running a web development startup, and I'm after any sort of starting capital.
Preferably a free grant with no ...
3
votes
4answers
397 views
My startup is in “concept” stage. Where should I go from here?
I just found OnStartups and I'm looking forward to sharing
insights with you guys. My startup is currently in "concept" stage, and
I was wondering where to begin my journey. I have a great idea, ...
3
votes
1answer
234 views
What does “warrants for the equity kicker” mean?
I was reading an article in a VC's blog and I found this explanation about venture debt:
"The terms are usually three years, interest only, balloon payment, with warrants for the equity kicker."
Can ...
0
votes
2answers
95 views
What to offer to advisers / endorsers to make them interested?
The question is about how attract and what to offer to people who you want to be behind your start-up? It's easier with developers and other positions where you can translate their hours to pay at a ...
0
votes
2answers
54 views
Should one join local pitch programme, which will be aired on national TV?
It's something new. There is this reality tv show coming up, for candidates to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, then get funded. The whole process will be aired in national TV several months ...
8
votes
2answers
302 views
How and When to Raise Funds For Your Company
Funding your company is an important part of your startup and expansion strategy. It's a broad topic that has a lot of aspects including: keeping your idea secret, seed funding, angels, venture ...
3
votes
2answers
222 views
What do you do when your Angel turns out to be a Devil?
Investor are in it for one thing, profit. That's okay if both the founders and the investors profit. What do you do when the "Angels" who have been funding your work kick out the founders and the ...
5
votes
2answers
216 views
How long to wait for investing?
I'm the tech guy and doing a lot of technical development for the startup.
How long does one wait around for the business people to get funding from VC's and Angels? is there a ballpark of how long a ...
2
votes
2answers
281 views
What are the funding “rounds” equity tradeoffs for most startups?
Searching and reading about funding, I see a lot of people referring to different rounds of funding (related to a given stage the startup is at). Still, I can only find limited information on the ...
2
votes
2answers
231 views
How do I get funding for my app
I am looking for help with start-up for my idea. I have an idea for an app but can't seem to find out how to get funding, without losing at least 75% equity.
Any ideas welcome.
4
votes
1answer
121 views
When does the Series A round kicks in?
We are preparing a business plan for our next startup and this time we are planning to raise seed funds of $300K for 12 months with a milestone. We will enter the private BETA program for a group of ...
5
votes
3answers
388 views
Evaluate an offer for a startup advisor
My co-founders and I just began searching for $1.5-2M of funding. We met with someone who has many contacts and friends who are angels or VCs.
After meeting with us, he surprised us by offering to:
...
2
votes
2answers
89 views
Beta Download as Achievement?
I just wondering, whether anyone agree if I say that software (beta/prototype version) download number as an achievement for a software product, especially in startup stage.
I know it is not a real ...
3
votes
5answers
162 views
Is it possible to get funding before any sale?
I am curious, is it possible to get funding from investor before doing any sale? Any experience?
3
votes
1answer
55 views
At a crossroads-Whether to launch or seek more time/funding for more development
I have spent considerable resources on the development of a networking/eCommerce site and have since changed my focus on the core idea for the business to the extent that the website is not 100% what ...
5
votes
3answers
304 views
Getting VC funding but one partner doesn't want to dedicate full-time
I would really appreciate your guidance and advice. Great community.
I am a co-founder of a two year old start-up that is finally getting proper VC funding ($1MM injection). Currently, the founders ...
3
votes
2answers
268 views
Evaluating a “Promise” from a startup company for pay raise, benefits, stock options within a specified period of time?
I would appreciate any advice based on a current situation that I am in that I think a lot of people involved in startups (especially developers) find themselves in at some point.
Basically, I'm in a ...
3
votes
2answers
301 views
What is the value of my IP (in terms of equity)
Here is the scenario:
I am the ceo/founder of a company that will be launching a website/application. The amount of cash I have invested thus far is less than 3,000.
I am currently seeking ...
3
votes
3answers
73 views
When pitching to potentials investors, should I let them come to me with offers individually or have a set price?
I am about to put together a investor presentation for my company. I will be presenting to investors individually.The investors are going to be pitched to within a short amount of time.
Should I be ...
3
votes
2answers
187 views
Unemployed but with ideas burning a hole in my brain. Where to?
(Incoming wall of text)
I'm a 27-year-old recent college (under)graduate (computer science) who's currently unemployed and having a heck of a time finding a job. I have what I believe is a decent ...
3
votes
2answers
221 views
Profit Sharing - How to deduct on the Profit Loss Sheets
We have a Profit sharing program with the branch managers of our firm and I have a question about where to include those payments with regards to our P&L.
We currently provide payments quarterly ...
