Ten Things That I Wish Didn’t Happen in the Alley
As New York develops into a thriving ecosystem for startups, a culture is slowly being created. I have had the opportunity to attend a wide variety of events and to meet with countless people in the...
View Article8 Key Actions for Entrepreneurs Needing Early Money
Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than Angel investors or professional investors (VCs). In fact, most investors...
View ArticleAn Angel in NY: Brian Cohen
Brian Cohen, current Chairman of the New York Angels, has been considered the father of science and technology communications since he founded Technology Solutions, Inc. in 1983, supporting startup...
View ArticleThe Different Objectives of an Executive Summary and Pitch Deck
A common area of confusion on the part of entrepreneurs seeking to raise capital is the different objectives of an executive summary and an investor deck (usually a PowerPoint). Typically an executive...
View Article5 Places to Look for Your Brand’s Story
Finding your authentic brand’s story is not a luxury for the touchy-feely. Given our overloaded channels of communication and the general lack of trust (and boredom) with advertising messages, finding...
View Article#BehindthePitch: Advice From Women VCs
Don’t ‘pitch.’ Tell a story. – Mary Lemmer For a quick pitch, make it simple and clear. Tell me succinctly and directly what it is you’re doing and what problem that solves. Try out your simple...
View Article10 Tips on Making a Memorable Investor Pitch
The average length of a funding pitch to angel investors is ten minutes. Even if you have booked an hour with a VC, you should plan to talk only for the first fifteen minutes. The biggest complaint I...
View ArticleDo You Have What it Takes to Attract Investors
I’ve noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to have no trouble attracting investors, while others with a great business plan struggle with it. The reality is that angel investors are humans, and personal...
View Article10 Guidelines for Pitching Angel Investors
The average length of a funding pitch to angel investors is ten minutes. Even if you have booked an hour with a VC, you should plan to talk only for the first fifteen minutes. The biggest complaint I...
View ArticleThe 10 Slides You Need For Your Investor Pitch
As a member of the local angel group selection committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short–maybe short on content, but never short on...
View Article8 Startup Gaps That Will Frustrate Funding Efforts
A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t...
View ArticleWhat I Have Learned Building My Startup
The journey to building a startup seems daunting and unachievable to many. For me, it was very much the opposite. Over the past few months, since creating the first prototype and concept to the actual...
View Article5 Logistical Steps for Startups Seeking Investors
Don’t charge the hill until you are “ready.” This probably seems obvious to military types, but I see entrepreneurs violating this rule all the time. They approach key potential investors way too...
View ArticleThe 10 Slides You Need to Sell Your Vision
Delivering a compelling pitch is Step 0 in building your company. Whether you are pitching to a customer, an investor or a potential hire, you need to sell your vision with clarity, passion and...
View ArticleHow to Become a Networking Machine in 4 Easy Steps
Don’t believe anyone that tells you that hard work is the way to get ahead. That helps tremendously as does just having a brilliant idea at the right time. But the real secret to getting ahead is...
View ArticleHow to Broaden Your Search for the Right Investors
If you’re part of an accelerator or startup, the SEC just granted you a new way to approach funding in 2014: the right to solicit a broader range of investors. I wouldn’t jump the gun on this...
View ArticleHow To Make A Great Elevator Pitch
Whether you are an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or just someone trying to show that you are worth working for, chances are there will come a day when you need to convince someone that you have an...
View ArticleSales for Startups: People and Process
When people hire for sales, they are looking for people triggers. What do I mean by people triggers? Those are the innate signals that hiring managers are seeking that conform to their view of a...
View ArticleRelate Your Technology Solution to Customer Values
Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can...
View ArticleWhat Is the Customer’s Elevator Pitch for Your Startup?
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Moisey Uretsky, co-founder of Digital Ocean (Techstars ’12), a close friend, and one of my all-time favorite founders. Moisey is incredibly smart,...
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