Questions related to receiving capital from external sources.
4
votes
1answer
895 views
Private Stock Offering - Funding through online means
I thought of this some time ago when I was raising some capital for my first start up (which blew up after year 1).
We were a team of 3 cofounders working on a financial portal startup. After a few ...
6
votes
5answers
3k views
Best start-up pitch videos
I was just watching a few of the TechCrunch50 videos, and I really liked the Yext pitch the most - http://www.techcrunch50.com/2009/yext/.
Any of you guys here have recommendations for some very ...
2
votes
2answers
109 views
Market sizing for Angels
pretty high-level question here that might be too general: is there a minimum market size that a typical angel would be interested in investing in? I've heard that a typical VC wants to see a $100M ...
0
votes
3answers
188 views
What are some considerations you should make when borrowing money from friends and family to seed a startup?
The question speaks for itself. There are similar questions, but I didn't find one that provides a checklist of things you should consider before and after borrowing money to fund your business.
I'd ...
1
vote
2answers
651 views
What is a reasonable percentage of equity
What is a reasonable percentage of equity that I should expect to give up to an angel investor in exchange for their investment?
3
votes
4answers
435 views
Using 401k or IRA money to fund a startup?
Is there a way to use my own money in a 401k or IRA account to invest in my startup? It looks like "Rollover Business Startups" (ROBS) are discouraged by the IRS. Are you aware of any other tactics to ...
2
votes
2answers
334 views
5 killer questions investors at funding round always want to know?
We are going to a first stage funding round next week at our investor event. I just wanted to know what the collective thoughts were based on experience of the top 5 questions people have asked ?
5
votes
9answers
742 views
Start up needs advice on getting customer B2B
I am founder of an online mobile marketing company that sends text coupons and promotions to cell phones. Our customers are local small businesses who wants to send their coupons and promotion to ...
10
votes
6answers
646 views
Using consulting to bootstrap your software startup
I've been through some pretty brutal experiences recently with venture capitalists and I'm looking into ways I can start a company without VC money.
Has anyone out there used consulting to bootstrap ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
What's a reasonable salary for a CEO in a startup?
Just out of curiosity, for a funded startup, what will be a reasonably salary for a CEO?
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Web-based Business Built on Open Source and Questions about Funding Options
it's my first post here so be gentle :)
First, I've read a few similar posts to the one I'm writing but I wasn't able to find an answer that fit the same mold.
Project Details:
I have been involved ...
1
vote
1answer
99 views
Funding for a Discounts website start up thats going to promise over 95% saving
I am in the process of launching a website that would offer advertising discounts of any nature at just 1/100th of the cost of news paper ads or for that matter any other form of ads. To add advantage ...
1
vote
2answers
210 views
I have to raise $25K to start my company, any ideas what I could sell/do?
I'm looking for things I can sell/do to make $25k within 3 months. Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
7
votes
2answers
148 views
What type of funding are you using?
I'd like to start a thread discussing the type of funding different startups are using and why. I think that there are a lot of people here who would like to hear the general experiences, advantages, ...
2
votes
5answers
503 views
How does one create a startup without any seed funds and developers/coders?
Ok there is a startup idea in place; Not a big thing!
Even the plan is 99% on paper; Considerably not bad!
Two fellows have shown faith in the plans and agreed to partner; good considering team is ...
2
votes
6answers
323 views
How to get an opportunity to meet an angel investor or business mentor for free?
How? Is there a smart or efficient way?
2
votes
3answers
125 views
Marketing challenge - Social Media Marketing the only option?
Like every other startup, LetDealersBid.com development was personally funded but that part was easy we realized when it came to market the website :-)
How would you promote your website assuming you ...
1
vote
2answers
302 views
VC funding and determination of a revenue model
In a recent group chat hosted by Joel Spolsky regarding the Stackoverflow Series A funding round, Spolsky was asked:
"How do you envision making a profit?"
to which Spolsky replied:
"...the whole ...
4
votes
2answers
133 views
What's the process around transferring the cash upon a VC funding round?
Let's assume a startup and a VC agree to $X of funding in a Series A. What typically is the process (the mechanics) around transfer of funds from the VC to the startup? (A) Do the funds typically ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
What are examples of terms on the far end of a funding round?
By "far end" I mean after the round is executed and some time has passed.
Do term sheets typically state what happens if agreed upon milestones are not met?
are there ever claw back provisions on ...
1
vote
5answers
362 views
Startup Development Funding Path
I'm looking to do a internet based startup with a friend. It is heavily focused on the site development and although I haven't really made proper cost calculations yet, I'm guessing the initial ...
3
votes
6answers
628 views
Family money, now how much ownership do I give them?
I received family money to build a prototype. They gave me money with little questions ask, but expect to have some part of the action if the business actually works.
My question is, what kind of ...
6
votes
6answers
264 views
When, and how should I think about getting money out of a free site/service?
How to (slightly) monetize a tiny niche website... when it's free to use?
I'm developing a small niche website to help an airline worker I know solve a problem she faces fairly regularly. It seems ...
2
votes
3answers
193 views
Business Plan with No Immediate Revenue Opportunity
I am wondering if I should pursue a new business idea that has no immediate revenue opportunity. I would like to develop a web portal (I cannot divulge the exact business idea) and it will require ...
1
vote
1answer
157 views
Startup Visa: How can we secure funding from abroad? Is it flawed?
There is a proposal lately to push the US government to create a startup visa for brilliant innovators/entrepreneus from outside USA. With this visa, it is said that these innovators will be allowed ...
4
votes
6answers
300 views
To Build or To Mockup?
I have a desire to build a software package in a niche area that already has some established competing products. I believe my Feature Set and ease of use could propel me well in the market. Most of ...
0
votes
1answer
125 views
Where can I find funding for a media startup with no hard assets, only IP? [closed]
Where can I find funding for a media startup with no hard assets, only IP?
7
votes
3answers
304 views
How can startup be ready to defend IP/Patents if/when a competitor does infringe?
My startup is working on a consumer product (manufacture, sell, ship), where we have developed a really great improvement over our competitors. We have patent pending status, and will be entering the ...
9
votes
3answers
300 views
What does it take to be an Angel?
I'm a wannabe Angel.
I don't sit on a huge pile of cash, but my intention is to help startups in whatever possible way within my capacity. I haven't made a decision yet, as this thought has recently ...
0
votes
2answers
201 views
crowd financing - any opinions/comments?
What would your SWOT analysis say for following kind of website?
phase 1: Get people/organizations who are looking for financing their projects.
phase 2: Get people who can provide finance to these ...
0
votes
3answers
223 views
If one of your close acquaintances asks for some money from you, without a timeline or guarantee of returning it, how much would you cough up?
A close friend (or a mere acquaintance) of yours approaches you. States that he/she is badly in need of some money. And you oblige. In the back of your mind you know that the money would be returned ...
3
votes
2answers
172 views
Has anyone had issues with too high of a seed-stage valuation?
I was sitting down with an experienced entrepreneur a few days ago who was telling me about a guy he was advising who was having no luck raising a Series A round. Apparently, when he got seed money ...
6
votes
1answer
231 views
Investor documents during fund raising
I have few question related to fund raising
When you are raising money from VCs, what type of documents are expected from you?
How much of your internal and confidential data/stats do you reveal ...
1
vote
7answers
260 views
“What does your website do?” My answer is
Suppose you are an angel investor and I want you to invest my website, you may ask, "Tell me, what does your website do?" I answer, "My website is a platform. You can seek for people to do something ...
0
votes
3answers
130 views
I am the founder of a website.What is my business's core compentency? [closed]
I have created a novel and very useful website. Now it is undergoing internal testing. It is a time trading platform. You spend your time doing something(can be anything) for others and get paid. Now ...
3
votes
5answers
184 views
Are you sure you want to start that business next year? How are you planning to take your small business forward next year?
Are you working from home? Is your office in a garage? Is your business plan too big to be executed by you? What plans do you have to change this, if you don’t like the present situation?
Is start-up ...
3
votes
9answers
448 views
Lifestyle company
VCs are looking for extremely large exits. This puts a lot of pressure on the founders to succeed fast or fail fast. A small, self-sustaining company can be more rewarding, because it can be molded to ...
2
votes
3answers
287 views
Finding quick dollars
My partner pulled out of our deal literally DAYS after I signed the lease, purchased equipment and re-located to start our business. In retrospect, I am glad because I have discovered his integrity ...
3
votes
2answers
209 views
Is asking for donations from users a viable option for a startup?
I know, Evan Williams asked for donations from users while he was running Blogger.com in its early days but that was then. Is a donation button for a web app in beta tactless, in these times? what if ...
1
vote
4answers
182 views
Can you fund with government grants or donations?
In order to keep your share unchanged and avoid loans, could it be possible to think of setting up a foundation to get government grants and/or donations, and have the foundation's main project to be ...
6
votes
5answers
539 views
Just Been Through the VC Process: I Love to Be Transparent, but Wondering How Much is Smart to Share vs. Keep Private
Over the last 3 months, I've had more than 40 phone calls with partners at well-known VC firms, dozens of in-person meetings, follow-on meetings and partner meetings. We're nearing the end of the ...
0
votes
3answers
271 views
Links or answers for Pre Money evaluation for seed funding
We are looking to raise Angel funding and was wondering if anyone knows how to calculate the pre-money evaluation?
3
votes
5answers
1k views
What happens if the startup that funded by VC failed a couple of years later?
We've heard the good stories of startup that succeed after receiving funds but what happens if a startup that got funded by a VC but turns out being failure a couple of years later?
Do they get sued ...
1
vote
1answer
92 views
Is there a technical distinction between “early stage” funding and other “early” funding terminology
Is there a formal distinction between the term "early stage" funding and other "early" funding such as seed funding, angel funding and venture funding?
2
votes
8answers
3k views
What is a reasonable equity proposal for investors?
Say I have a brilliant idea for a startup, and need to raise 250,000 $ from private investors. How do I decide on how much equity to give for this investment? Is there a ball-park?
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Why don't investors like to invest in an LLC?
I have read that if you are raising money, that an LLC is a dispreferred vehicle for your company.
Why do investors not like to invest in an LLC?
3
votes
3answers
647 views
Is having a working prototype required for getting seed funding(first round)?
I'm currently finishing up a business plan that's based on a social network that would solve a critical problem in the recruitment industry.
I am working on this project with one other person who ...
1
vote
3answers
378 views
Where can I find information on what ‘Web 2.0’ companies valuations are?
Does anybody know of any source where I can find out what 'real' valuations internet startups are getting?
The term 'real' valuation is totally made up, but I mean what actual investors are paying. ...
2
votes
4answers
340 views
When is the best time for a web based startup to look for funding and how?
I plan to have a web startup but the implementation is costing me a lot. Is it acceptable to look for funding at this stage? If yes, how do I do it and what are the parameters which will increase the ...
2
votes
1answer
102 views
How do I find the right investor in Europe?
I am peripherally involved in a startup in Denmark. The company has been in business for close to 10 years and is still mostly a 2-person company. During this time the company has been mostly ...
