Investor Connect Podcast

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

All businesses must pay taxes, including startups.

Taxes include payroll and social security taxes which are based on the salary of employees and paid monthly.

Even if your business is not yet profitable you still must pay these taxes. 

Contractors pay their own payroll taxes and receive a 1099 Form from you at the end of the year. 

Income taxes are taken from the results on your profit and loss statement.

You can check with the IRS on the current tax rates. 

You can carry forward losses from one year to the next. You’ll need to set up a separate tab in your spreadsheet to track carryforwards. 

Check with your accountant about setting up quarterly tax payments if you are running profits.

If you file as an LLC and take an S-Corp designation, then your business taxes will be transferred to your personal taxes.


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
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Direct download: EG_July_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Financial_Projections_-_Taxes.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:46pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Any financing you have must also be accounted for in the financial statements.  

You’ll need to set up a tab in your spreadsheet to capture the details of a loan, or other types of financing such as accounts receivable financing.

This includes the terms of the loan, the principal, and the interest to be paid. 

Include in your profit and loss statement the payments of the loan under operating expenses.

For revenue-based funding, set the payback calculation off of the monthly revenue. 

For line of credit financing, calculate the amount needed from the profit and loss row and add that into your monthly payments.

Equity investments will go into the cap table and will not show up on the profit and loss statement.

It’s not unusual to have several forms of short-term debt financing and it’s important to review each to see which one fits your business needs.


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
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For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: EG_July_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Financial_Projections_-_Financing.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:03pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

For sales forecasting, begin with your current sales funnel and revenue history.

The more you know about your sales process -- lead generation, conversion, and time in funnel, the more accurate the forecast will be. 

Use your current sales process for the first two years and then switch to your growth initiatives in years three to five. 

If you are in a space with competitors with similar businesses, you can look at the ramp rates for those businesses to find the ballpark of sales growth you may achieve.

If your business has a core driver such as number of design-ins, then you can use this to drive the sales forecast. 

If you have multiple products, you can list each product separately with its own revenue stream.

If you have a recurring revenue business, then you can start with your current customer base and add new customers at your current growth rate and include the churn rate.


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
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Direct download: EG_July_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Financial_Projections_-_Revenues.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:55pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In setting up for your financial projections model, personnel is straightforward to forecast. Each employee has a salary, benefits, and payroll taxes.  

Payroll taxes are a calculation off of the salary. 

Commissions need to be included but are variable expenses related to sales.  

Benefits include things such as healthcare, retirement plans, and the like, and are defined by your providers.

As you grow headcount, it’s clear how much the budget will increase. 

Those related to the product production and delivery will go into the COGS section. 

Those related to sales, marketing, research and development, and administration, will go into the operating expenses.

You may want to divide the personnel into divisions such as sales, marketing, and product development.  You can keep the contractors in a separate category as well.

For part-time employees, compile them into an FTE or full-time equivalent employee for the calculation. 

A key metric is revenue to number of employees. Check your number against your industry standard.


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.


Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
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For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: EG_July_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Financial_Projections_-_Personnel.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:48pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Cost of Goods Sold, called COGS forecasting, represents the cost to build and deliver your product or service.

This includes the cost to build the product or hours to deliver the service. 

In most cases, COGS is a function of sales. The more sales, the more COGS.

If you have a unit that drives your sales forecasts such as a physical product or service program, then you can calculate what it costs to deliver on each one.

An interesting KPI will be Gross Margin which is the amount of revenue left over after subtracting out the COGS. This is often expressed as a percentage.

For recurring revenue businesses, there are hard costs such as hosting, customer support, online payment, and other related costs. These costs must be incurred to deliver the product or service. 

For consumer product goods, a healthy gross margin is 40% or greater. 

For recurring revenue, a healthy gross margin is 70% or greater.

For businesses with multiple products, you may want to split out the COGS by product line.

For businesses with one product, you may want to forecast COGS on the total revenue level.


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.


Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: EG_July_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Financial_Projections_--_COGS.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:58am CDT

In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. and is gaining rapid adoption. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. Cannabis investors and startup founders describe COVID-19-proofing the cannabis market.

Tiby Erdely - 00:43 - https://in/tiby-erdely-iii-ba4ab332/
Kim Rael - 5:57 - https://company/azuca/ 
Scott Greiper - 8:52 - https://in/scott-greiper-12614014/ 
Ryan Dean Hoggan - 15:20 - www.motaventuresco.com/   
Ford Smith - 18:28 - https://in/ford-smith-6b4ba6132/  

I hope you enjoy this episode.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org    

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ 
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ 
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ 
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ 
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/   

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Show_11_--_July_IP_Shows_--_Covid-proofing_the_Cannabis_Market.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 4:10pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Financial projections also called the pro forma, is a key document you’ll need for your fundraise. 

Investors will want to see detailed, five-year financial projections as it shows you’ve thought through the financial side of the business. 

Financial projections are not about predicting the future with great accuracy, instead it shows the causality and interdependencies of your business. It answers questions such as:

If sales increase by 2X, what is the impact on costs?

If sales drop by 50%, what happens to cash flow?

A quality financial projection shows investors you know your business and have a good idea about what things cost and what customers will pay.

Investors also glean from the financials how you are going to use the funds.

Financial projections typically go out 3 to 5 years and contain substantial detail on the spreadsheet portion.

It’s not a good idea to copy and paste the spreadsheet into your pitchdeck as it comes out unreadable.

Instead, show a graph of revenue, costs, and profits and call out 3 key metrics such as time to cash flow positive, gross margins, and growth rates.


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.


Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
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For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: EG_July_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Purpose_of_Financial_Projections_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 3:12pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

There are two approaches to financial forecasting for startups.

The first is top-down forecasting. The second is bottom-up forecasting.

Bottom-up forecasting uses the company’s historical data for cost and sales. It takes a micro view and focuses on the core drivers in the business. 

Through experimentation, the startup learns the cost of sales and marketing through various channels.  

Having sold some units of the product will guide the revenue forecast based on the sales funnel and the sales resources available. 

The bottom-up approach may generate a forecast that looks weak to an investor. 

You may add your growth initiatives in to show what will drive the growth upwards past the organic growth rate.  

The initial growth (say 1-2 years out), comes from the current state of the business, while the future growth (say 3-5 years out), comes from your growth initiatives.

Make clear your assumptions in the spreadsheet. 

Your thought process and approach will weigh more heavily than the numbers themselves. 

Include attributions for market research such as websites, news articles, and market reports. 


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
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For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: EG_July_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Bottom_up_Forecasting_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 3:02pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

There are two approaches to financial forecasting for startups.

The first is top-down forecasting.

Top down takes a macro perspective by using the overall market sizes and industry estimates for your type of business. 

The top-down approach uses market share. Market share is divided into three segments:

Total Available Market -- anyone you can sell to.

Serviceable market -- your target market.

Beachhead market -- your initial segment to pursue.

Base your financials as a percent of market share.

Look at similar companies in the space to identify the COGS, gross margin, and operating expenses.

Give yourself three years to ramp to profitability.


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.


Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: EG_July_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Top_Down_forecasting_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:56pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

A financial model provides three outputs.

Key financial statements, an operational cash-flow forecast, and key metrics for the business.

Key financial statements include the profit and loss statement (called P&L), the balance sheet (BS), and the cash-flow statement (CF).

The P&L shows revenue matched with costs and indicates whether or not you are profitable over a period of time.

It can be used to compare different time periods such as this year versus last year or this quarter versus last quarter.  

It’s often used to compare the actual results with the budget. 

The balance sheet shows the company’s assets -- what it owns and liabilities -- what it owes.  This is a snapshot in time. 

The balance sheet must always be in balance so the difference between assets and liabilities is shareholder equity (assets = liabilities + equity).

The cash-flow statement shows cash inflows and outflows over a period of time. 

Key metrics include gross margin, profit margin, cash runway, and more. 

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: EG_July_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Outputs_of_the_Financial_Model_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:52pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

The most important financial statement is the cash flow statement because cash is the most important financial metric for the business.

If you run out of cash then you most likely will have to put the business on hold or shut it down entirely.

There are two ways to account for cash: cash-based accounting and accrual-based accounting.

As a startup, you’ll want to focus on cash-based accounting as it matches expenses with cash more tightly.

The cash flow statement will give a runway number of months of operation.

Run what-if scenarios based on different outcomes of the sales funnel.

If your runway falls to six months or less, you must take steps such as launching a round of fundraising.

It’s also helpful to understand your costs -- you have variable and fixed expenses.

Variable expenses rise and fall with sales activity, while fixed expenses stay the same regardless of activity.

In the early days of the startup you want to push as many expenses into the variable side as you can. As you grow larger, you’ll want to move from variable to fixed expenses as the overall cost will be lower. 


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.


Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group


Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

After completing the financial projections, you may want to create various scenarios of your financial model. 

Startups are often optimistic, while investors are pessimistic.

You may want to create a best-case scenario and a worst-case scenario.

For the worst-case scenario, keep your revenue at the current level or only with small increases.

Check your cash position and runway and adjust the expenses and fundraise plan accordingly.

For the best-case scenario, use the revenue targets you have in mind.

Check your cash position and runway and adjust the expenses and fundraise plan accordingly.

Here are several common errors:

  1. As sales grow, so do sales costs - in particular commissions. Make sure these costs are included with the revenue ramp.
  2. Fundraises typically take longer than expected. For every $1M of funding you seek, it will take you one calendar year to raise it.
  3. Include your working capital needs for your fundraise planning and its impact on cash position.
  4. Founders typically work long hours for little to no pay. This is not true with non-founders. Make sure you include reasonable salaries for the work you expect from others.

 

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group


In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. and is gaining rapid adoption. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. Cannabis investors and startup founders describe the status of regulatory approval for cannabis.

Our featured guests are:

Tiby Erdely  - 00:42 - https://in/tiby-erdely-iii-ba4ab332/   
Kim Rael - 04:26 - https://company/azuca/ 
Ford Smith - 12:59 - https://in/ford-smith-6b4ba6132/  

I hope you enjoy this episode.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org   

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ 
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ 
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ 
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/  

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Show_10_--_July_IP_Shows_--_Regulatory_Trends_in_the_Cannabis_Market.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:39pm CDT

In this episode, Hall welcomes Chris Willis, Managing Director, Government Advisory & Programme Delivery, and Will Garner, U.S. Immigration Lawyer and Strategic Partner at Latitude Consultancy Limited.

Latitude's team of specialists offers leading insight and expertise to investors who are prepared to make an important economic contribution to gain residency or citizenship privileges in a selected country. They also provide government advisory services, helping nations to create residency and citizenship-by-investment programs that attract this privileged segment of the world population to their shores. Their internationally recognized team have over 100 years of combined experience in the Investment Migration industry. An unrivaled international network of clients and institutional relationships, combined with complementary ancillary services from their global financial services partner, provides a uniquely compelling proposition for their clients.

Chris has been involved in the immigration industry since 1995 and is a member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) and the Investment Migration Council (IMC). His office is the Regional Representative Office (RRO) for the Investment Migration Council in the Caribbean. He is a regular contributor to immigration specific newspapers and magazines as well as a speaker at immigration and industry conferences.

Chris has been educated in the United Kingdom and Canada and has owned and managed immigration firms in London, Montreal and the Caribbean. He is fluent in English and French and is involved in fundraising for philanthropic causes.

Will Garner is a U.S. immigration attorney and strategic partner with Latitude. Will also serves as a senior advisor to Vulpes Investment Management based in Singapore and is a strategic advisor to GreenWing Ventures based in Vancouver, BC.  Will has over ten years of ‘boots on the ground’ experience across Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and New Zealand as a lawyer, entrepreneur and business development professional. 

Chris and Will discuss the benefits with Hall of having secondary citizenship, taking into consideration taxes, COVID-19 and the current travel ban to certain countries, the cost involved, the waiting periods, and the criteria that need to be met. 

You can visit Latitude Consultancy Ltd. at www.latitudeworld.com, on their LinkedIn page at https://in/latitude-world/, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/latitudeworld

Chris can be contacted via LinkedIn at https://in/chrisnwillis/, and via email at christopher.willis@latitudeworld.com.

Will can be contacted via email at will.garner@latitudeworld.com.

Direct download: Chris_Willis__Will_Garner_of_Latitude.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:18pm CDT

In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. and is gaining rapid adoption. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. Investors and startup founders discuss product and technology trends in the cannabis market.

Our featured guests are:

Kim Rael - 0:51 - https://company/azuca/
Scott Greiper - 11:27 - https://in/scott-greiper-12614014/
Ryan Hoggan - 17:36 - www.motaventuresco.com/
Ford Smith - 21:07 - https://in/ford-smith-6b4ba6132/ 

I hope you enjoy this episode.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org  

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ 
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ 
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ 
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ 

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group


In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. and is gaining rapid adoption. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. Cannabis investors and startup founders give an update on the sectors in the cannabis market.

Our featured guests are:

Tiby Erdely - 0:42 - https://in/tiby-erdely-iii-ba4ab332/
Kim Rael - 7:01 - https://company/azuca/
Scott Greiper - 12:49 - https://in/scott-greiper-12614014/
Ryan Hoggan
- 17:37 - www.motaventuresco.com/
Ford Smith - 20:12 - https://in/ford-smith-6b4ba6132/ 

I hope you enjoy this episode.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org 

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ 
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ 
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ 
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Show_8_--_July_IP_--__Sectors_in_the_Cannabis_Market_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 3:08pm CDT

In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. We have investors and startup founders describe the impact of COVID-19 on the cannabis market.

Our featured guests are:

Tiby Erdely - 0:42 - https://in/tiby-erdely-iii-ba4ab332/ 
Kim Rael - 5:11 - https://company/azuca/
Scott Greiper - 6:25 - https://in/scott-greiper-12614014/ 
Ryan Hoggan - 8:55 - www.motaventuresco.com/ 
Ford Smith - 11:21 - https://in/ford-smith-6b4ba6132/ 


I hope you enjoy this episode.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/   

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Show_7_--_July_IP_--_Covid_Impact_on_Cannabis_Market_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:59pm CDT

In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. and is gaining rapid adoption. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. Cannabis investors and startup founders describe their outlook on the cannabis market.

Our featured guests are:

Matthew Nordgren - 00:44 - https://in/mattnordgren/  
David Hess - 02:32 - https://in/david-hess-tress/
Marcus Estes - 10:23 - https://in/popmechanic/ 
Narbe Alexandrian - 15:24 - https://in/narbe-alexandrian-a0168a4/ 

I hope you enjoy this episode.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org  

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ 
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ 
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ 
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ 
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/   

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Show_6_--_July_IP_Shows_--_Future_outlook_on_the_Cannabis_Market_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:47pm CDT

In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. and is gaining rapid adoption. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. Cannabis investors and startup founders describe COVID-19-proofing the cannabis market.

Our featured guests are:

Davis Hess - 00:42 - https://in/david-hess-tress/  
Marcus Estes - 4:45 - https://in/popmechanic/ 
Narbe Alexandrian - 7:39 - https://in/narbe-alexandrian-a0168a4/  

I hope you enjoy this episode.
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For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org   

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ 
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ 
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ 
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/  

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Show_5_--_July_IP_Shows_--_Covid-proofing_the_Cannabis_Market_24_aug.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:42pm CDT

In this episode, Hall welcomes Brendan Manley, Co-Founder of iCAMP.

iCAMP is a STEAM (approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking) program that focuses on transforming students from consumers to creators. Since launching in 2018, they have had thousands of students between the ages of 5-13 attend their programs both in-person and online. They leverage project-based learning to ensure students have fun and remain thoroughly engaged, while completing tasks and activities designed to build proficiency in the technologies that are posed to transform society.

Brendan’s background is in software development. He holds a BA in Philosophy, Marketing and Creative Writing from the University of Miami and he also attended the Flatiron School, which is a coding bootcamp with software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity courses, offered both online and on-campus. Brendan is an advisor to Rise Media Inc., and a board member of Cobbler Concierge. 

Brendan speaks with Hall about the “birth” of iCAMP, the services they offer, some of the challenges in the ed-tech space, and how COVID-19 is changing the landscape of the industry.

You can visit iCAMP at https://icamp.com/.  

Brendan can be contacted via LinkedIn at www.in/bcmanley/, and via email at brendan@icamp.com and info@icamp.com.   

Direct download: Brendan_Manley_of_iCAMP_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:04pm CDT

In this episode, Hall welcomes Dick Blanc, Chairman of Beyond Angel Network and Fund and Executive Director of the Beyond Entrepreneurial Accelerator at Cedarville University. 

Located in Cedarville, Ohio, Cedarville University is forming a Cedarville University Angel Network, comprised of alumni and friends of the University. The Cedarville Angel Network is an investor network providing early-stage capital to strong entrepreneurial teams with developed products or services and early customer traction. The Angel Network will operate as an annual renewable membership platform with confidential access to curated investable startup companies and related due diligence information on each company. 

The Beyond Entrepreneurial Accelerator is an invitation-only program for students and alumni looking to scale their business. This experience mentors student-generated businesses through a self-guided series of digital materials and expert mentorship with our Entrepreneurs in Residence (EiRs). Students enrolled in the entrepreneurship minor will automatically take part in the first installment of the accelerator experience, with validated student startups continuing on through the remainder of the program. Student-founders can earn course credit toward the entrepreneurship minor.

Dick is an advisor to multiple Fortune 500 and early-stage startup companies. Previously, he was managing partner with Accenture, LLP.

Dick shares his thoughts about the evolution of angel investing, the most significant changes he sees coming up, the faith-driven investment thesis of the network, and examples of companies that fit the thesis.

You can visit the Cedarville University Beyond Angel Network and Beyond Entrepreneurial Accelerator at www.cedarville.edu/beyond

Dick can be contacted via LinkedIn at www.in/dick-blanc-bb23802/, and via email at dblanc@cedarville.edu.

Direct download: Dick_Blanc_of_Beyond_Angel_Network_and_Fund_at_Cedarville_University_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:59pm CDT

In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. and is gaining rapid adoption. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. Cannabis investors and startup founders describe the status of regulatory approval for cannabis.

Our featured guests are:

Matthew Nordgren of Arcadian Capital - 0:44 - https://in/mattnordgren/ 
Ben Larson of Vertosa - 3:55 - http://in.blarson.com/  

I hope you enjoy this episode.

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For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org  

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ 
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ 
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ 
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ 
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ 

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Show_4_--_July_IP_Shows_--_Regulatory_Trends_in_the_Cannabis_Market_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:54pm CDT

In this episode, Hall welcomes David Weaver, Partner & Chief Investment Officer at City Side Ventures.

With its headquarters in Birmingham, Michigan, City Side Ventures is a venture group that manages various venture funds and represents investor syndications across the U.S. Their group is committed to being a catalyst in growing the startup ecosystem in Michigan, and in connecting Israeli early-stage companies to U.S. investors.

David is a highly-accomplished business executive, results-driven leader, and innovative problem solver with an entrepreneurial spirit and sense of urgency. He has over 35 years of diversified management experience, including global profit/loss responsibility (Johnson & Johnson), turning around troubled business operations (Warner-Lambert), and directing major market shift for clients to achieve new growth. He is an expert at building management teams and setting and exceeding milestones. David has also helped raise private (angel), venture (VC) and public (IPO) capital of over $35 million. He is a former Captain in the USAF and a founding member of the Michigan Venture Capital Association and the Angel Capital Association.

David shares his advice with Hall about running and investing in startups. He speaks about the state of angel investing, how he sees it evolving, and the investment thesis of the company.

You can visit City Side Ventures at www.citysideventures.com/.

David can be contacted via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/davidpweaver/, and via email at dweaver@citysideventures.com.

Direct download: David_Weaver_of_City_Side_Ventures_2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:35pm CDT

In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. and is gaining rapid adoption. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. Investors and startup founders discuss product and technology trends in the cannabis market.

Our featured guests are:

Ben Larson http://in.blarson.com/ - 0:49
David Hess http://in/david-hess-tress/  - 11:44
Marcus Estes http://in/popmechanic/ - 14:29

I hope you enjoy this episode.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org 

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ 
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ 
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ 
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ 
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ 

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group 


In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. and is gaining rapid adoption. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. Cannabis investors and startup founders give an update on the sectors in the cannabis market.

Our featured guests are:

Tiby Erdely - 0:42 - https://in/tiby-erdely-iii-ba4ab332/
Kim Rael - 7:01 - https://company/azuca/
Scott Greiper - 12:49 - https://in/scott-greiper-12614014/
Ryan Hoggan
- 17:37 - www.motaventuresco.com/
Ford Smith - 20:12 - https://in/ford-smith-6b4ba6132/ 

I hope you enjoy this episode.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org 

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ 
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ 
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ 
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Show_8_--_July_IP_--__Sectors_in_the_Cannabis_Market.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:35pm CDT

In today’s show, you’ll hear investor perspectives on the COVID-19 impact on the cannabis market.

This is Investor Perspectives, I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. 

It’s the time of COVID-19. Cannabis is currently gaining regulatory approval across the U.S. The lockdown has declared certain sectors, including cannabis, to be an essential service. We have investors and startup founders describe the impact of COVID-19 on the cannabis market.

Our featured guests are:

Tiby Erdely - 0:42 - https://in/tiby-erdely-iii-ba4ab332/ 
Kim Rael - 5:11 - https://company/azuca/
Scott Greiper - 6:25 - https://in/scott-greiper-12614014/ 
Ryan Hoggan - 8:55 - www.motaventuresco.com/ 
Ford Smith - 11:21 - https://in/ford-smith-6b4ba6132/ 


I hope you enjoy this episode.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at:
http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/   

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Show_7_--_July_IP_--_Covid_Impact_on_Cannabis_Market.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 9:32am CDT

In this episode, Hall welcomes Spencer Graff, Co-founder and CEO of NFuzed.

With its headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, NFuzed is a cannabis manufacturer with licenses in Colorado and California specializing in value and innovative products. In the first ten months of production, NFuzed has grown to over $1.7M in total revenue, $300K in March 2020 alone, with products available in over 260 dispensaries in two states while achieving EBITDA breakeven.

NFuzed has shifted their focus from water-soluble powder to a tincture. By changing the platform from powder to a small amount of liquid, they are able to bring the same technology to market with significantly less capital. 

With NFuzed’s advanced operations producing high-quality, consistent products while minimizing inefficiencies, NFuzed will continue to lead the pack as an innovator and dependable company. 

The low-cost, value structure is re-establishing the edible retail price floor for the end-consumer, providing products at 40-50% less than current market rates. 

NFuzed is the first company to offer a cannabis inhaler along with gummies and soluble powder, whereas others only offer one type of product.

Spencer is a finance executive with over 20 years of financial and operational management experience in public mid-cap companies. Spencer streamlined processes that reduced COGS by 20% in a 12-month period and developed and oversaw multi-million dollar M&A deals. He also managed a full-scale accounting department as well as their regulatory and internal audits. Spencer holds an MBA from the University of Colorado.

Spencer shares his thoughts with Hall on the sector's growth rate and how COVID-19 affected it, the challenges the cannabis industry faces, what is 280E, how a company can COVID-19-proof their business and shares some of the new applications for cannabis that he sees coming up in the next 6-12 months.

You can visit NFuzed at www.nfuzed.com

Spencer can be contacted via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-graff/, via Twitter at www.twitter.com/n_fuzed?lang=en, and via email at spencer@nfuzed.com.

Direct download: Spencer_Graff_of_NFuzed.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:28am CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

After funding, you need to keep your family and friends investors informed on the status of the startup.

Consider the following:

Be transparent about the results and share both bad news as well as good news.

Stick to facts about the current state of the business and not just forecasts and plans.

Provide an update in writing on the following:

Lead off with short status updates about major initiatives, milestones missed or hit, and major customers or partnership opportunities.

Share the status of product development including test results, beta tests, and setbacks or breakthroughs.

Cover the key financial metrics, including actual versus forecasted revenues, cash on hand, current burn rate, and monthly and year-to-date revenues.

If additional fundraising rounds are underway, provide the status of fundraising goals.

Share details about new employees, finding a great co-founder, or securing an experienced advisor. 

Detail key customers landed, important opportunities, and major marketing initiatives.

 

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
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For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_How_to_keep_your_family_friends_informed.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:35pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In raising funds from family and friends, you could take it in the form of a gift.  

Most family and friends want to help you out rather than make a return.  

A gift is an ideal way of taking the funds without going through valuations, loans, and other funding mechanics.

The tax laws allow anyone to gift up to $15,000 per year, without triggering the gift tax which can be as much as 40%.

While the IRS has established the $15,000 basic limit per person, wealthy gift givers can choose to exceed the annual limits and gift even more money to anyone up to a total of $5.3 million.

It’s not a good idea to gift the funds directly to the startup. The IRS expects that in exchange for the money, the gift donor would normally receive stock in the corporation.

You may want to return the favor someday to those who provide the funds as a gift. 


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Gifts_from_Family_and_Friends_1.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:27pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

The elevator pitch is the short-form version of your presentation for investor opportunities that give you a limited amount of time.

The key to an elevator pitch is not to talk faster, but rather to choose your words more carefully.

In sixty seconds you can cover the same number of topics as you do in a full ten-minute presentation with a pitch deck.

The key is to reduce your pitch to key words and phrases.

For the problem, say it in five words or less. For example, “diabetes will afflict one out of three people.”

For the solution say, “we help cure diabetes.”

For financials, draw a key number from your financials slide such as, “we’ll be cash-flow positive in 18 months.”

For the target market say, “our total available market is $1.2B”.

To create your elevator pitch, write out what you are going to say and then replace filler words with more descriptive ones.

By crafting short phrases and using keywords you can cover the same topics but with less detail.

After some practice you should be able to deliver your elevator pitch and adjust it to the time you are given.


Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: EG_June_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_Elevator_Pitch.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:44am CDT

In this episode, Hall welcomes Smoke Wallin, CEO of Vertical Wellness.

Vertical Wellness is a leading, vertically integrated, consumer-focused health and wellness brand company with innovative hemp cannabinoid solutions. Their mission is to help people by bringing the most innovative and effective portfolio of cannabinoid (CBD and others) brands to the market. Initial VWEL brands include Kathy Ireland Health & Wellness, Taos, Lap Dog, Par5, Halogenix, Wingra Farms, Neutrate, USMCC, and Hemp-Moji. 

VWEL Services leverages their extensive investment and team knowledge by helping the entire industry with strategic, financial, branding, sales and hemp processing solutions. Vertical Wellness has operations in California and Kentucky and has cultivated over 1,800 acres of hemp on partner farms in 2019. The Company is one of the largest processors of Hemp globally with over 20 million lbs processed or contracted in 2020. 

Smoke is a chairman and multifaceted CEO and industry leader in beverage, distribution, hemp and technology. He built >$1 billion alcohol beverage distribution company before merging into now $11+billion company. Smoke was the Chairman & President of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, industries. 25+ acquisitions, multiple successful turn-around situations, and startups with successful exits. Successfully raised $500+ million in debt & equity for direct ventures. Served(s) on multiple public and private boards. YPO, EY Entrepreneur of Year, Distinguished Alum Award Vanderbilt, MBA Vanderbilt University, BS Agricultural Economics Cornell University.

Smoke shares with Hall how he sees the cannabis industry evolving, the sector’s current growth rate - despite COVID-19 - the challenges in the space, what accelerated and decelerated during COVID-19, and much more.

You can visit Vertical Wellness at www.vertical-wellness.com.

Smoke can be contacted via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/smokewallin/, via Twitter at www.twitter.com/smokewallin?lang=en, and via email at swallin@vertical-wellness.com.

Direct download: Smoke_Wallin_of_Vertical_Wellness.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:32pm CDT

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In your pitch deck, the tenth slide is the Value Proposition slide.

The Value Proposition slide shows what value your product/service brings to the customer. 

It should answer the question, ‘what benefits does it offer’ and ‘why customers will choose you over competitors’. 

If you haven’t already identified your value proposition, then make a list of key benefits your product offers.

Prioritize them from the most important to the least.

Take the top one or two benefits and write out a simple statement that describes how your product is better and why someone would use it.

The value proposition can focus on the product, the service, the brand, or the team.

Over time, you can tighten it into a 5 to 7 word tagline.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group


Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In your pitch deck, the fifth slide is the monetization slide.

It answers the question on how you make money. 

Show the business model you are using such as recurring revenue, transaction fees, or other.

Highlight recurring or repeat revenue where used in your business. 

Show the average revenue per customer as well as the CAC/LTV ratio if relevant.

Show the last four months of revenue and highlight Quarter over Quarter growth rates.

The goal is to show you have predictable revenue from your operations.

 

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let’s go startup something today.
-----
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Direct download: EG_June_2020_Startup_Funding_Espresso_--_5_Pitchdeck_-Monetization_slide.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 9:51am CDT

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