By Katie Bronnenkant Most entrepreneurs know they should avoid the obvious mistakes when creating their pitch deck: pitch is too long or not clear, it says there are no competitors, etc. But what a lot of first-time entrepreneurs do not know is what venture capitalists are actually looking for. In a way, VCs are like clients. […]
Looking for Venture Capital? Avoid the 3 Biggest Pitch Deck Mistakes Read More »
Practice makes perfect before pitching your idea to investors. It’s important that you display the right amount of confidence so that investors will believe in you and your business idea. That’s why we asked 10 successful entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following question: Q. Getting your pitch right for investors is vital—after all,
10 Ways to Practice Your Pitch Presentation When Seeking Investors Read More »
By Adam Cragg Raising money for your business can be great. Many entrepreneurs see it as validation that they’ve “made it.” While it is a good sign that a professional investor has kicked the tires on your company and is willing to invest their money, there are many reasons why raising venture funds may not
Raising Venture Capital Can Have Some Downsides—Here’s How to Avoid Them Read More »
By Curt Cuscino There’s a saying in Los Angeles: “Always be camera ready.” Likewise, it can be said for startups: “Always be investor ready.” Are you scrambling to touch up spreadsheets and printing out a mountain of documents before every important meeting? Does even thinking about an investor meeting give you anxiety? Fear not. There are ways you
Positioning Your Startup to Raise Venture Capital Funding Read More »
By Mike Sullivan and Richard D. Harroch Startups seeking financing often turn to venture capital (VC) firms. These firms can provide capital; strategic assistance; introductions to potential customers, partners, and employees; and much more. Venture capital financings are not easy to obtain or close. Entrepreneurs will be better prepared to obtain venture capital financing if
A Guide to Venture Capital Financings for Startups Read More »
I recently had the privilege of being a judge at the U.C. Berkeley Venture Capital Investment Competition (the “Competition”). This program was hosted by the Berkeley Entrepreneurs Association and the Berkeley-Haas Entrepreneurship Program (affiliated with the Haas MBA School at U.C. Berkeley). The Competition was terrific, bringing together Berkeley-Haas and U.C. Berkeley graduate students to
10 Lessons for Entrepreneurs I Learned From Being a ‘Shark Tank’-Type Judge Read More »
We present a roundup of the most popular small business and entrepreneurship articles of 2017. Dive into this list of can’t-miss advice on a variety of important topics that will inform and inspire you. Here at AllBusiness.com, the majority of our advice articles are written by real entrepreneurs and small business owners just like you—people
It can be nerve-racking to step into a room with busy people and, in the short time you have available, get them excited about your project—one you know is solid. While part of preparing for that meeting is getting your numbers together, the way the information is presented matters a lot, too. So how do you
