Wed, 31 January 2024
Red Flags Indicating Fraud Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Most fraud in businesses comes from employees and the management team. Here’s a list of employee red flags to watch for: Lifestyle changes show expensive new possessions such as new cars and homes. Substantial personal debt Addictions such as gambling or alcohol cause behavior change. Employees who don’t take vacation or sick leave. Employees in high turnover areas. Here’s a list of management team red flags to watch for: Failure to submit information to auditors. Business units with weak internal controls. Frequent changes in bank accounts. Frequent changes in auditors. Inexperienced accounting team. Excessive use of loans. Excessive compensation plans. Look for these red flags in your business for potential sources of fraud.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Tue, 30 January 2024
What Is Fraud? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Fraud is officially defined as “The use of one’s occupation for personal enrichment through the deliberate misuse or misapplication of the employing organization’s resources or assets.” Fraud occurs in startups and small businesses and is usually through the action of a founder or employee. There are five elements of a fraud as follows: It represents a material fact which is false That is made intentionally, Which is believed by the victim And acted on by the victim To the harm of the victim. For one to commit fraud there must be four elements: Opportunity Low chance of getting caught Rationalization in the fraudster's mind that it is okay And justifications that result from the rationalization. Investors will find startups are particularly susceptible to fraud due to their lack of information and controls.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. ________________________________________________________________________
For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Mon, 29 January 2024
How Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Work? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Chapter 13 bankruptcy reorganizes the debt and sets up a payment plan. The debtor can keep their house as long as they make the payments. The debtor has 3-5 years to pay off the debt in most cases. To use Chapter 13, the debtor must submit a reorganization plan which asks for debt forgiveness for some debts and a repayment plan for the creditors. Some debts are not dischargeable in any event such as child support payments, student loans, alimony payments, and taxes. To use Chapter 13, you must be current with your taxes, have a steady income, and have debt below prescribed thresholds. Chapter 13 puts a Stay on debt collections while the reorganization plan is developed. To file Chapter 13, the debtor must show a list of creditors and what is owed monthly living expenses, and proof of income. This type of bankruptcy is meant for individuals and not businesses. It is used to avoid liquidating personal assets such as a house.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 26 January 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin welcomes Ronan O'Hagan, President & CEO of Bectas Therapeutics Inc., a groundbreaking biotech company focused on revolutionizing precision oncology. Based in [City, State/Country], Bectas Therapeutics is committed to developing cancer therapies that target over 400,000 patients annually who do not benefit from the existing standard-of-care treatments. Connect with Ronan O'Hagan and Bectas Therapeutics: LinkedIn: Ronan O'Hagan; Twitter: @ohaganr
_______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 26 January 2024
How Does Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Work? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizes the company and sets up a debt repayment plan. Here is how Chapter 11 works: It starts with filing a petition with the bankruptcy court. The debtor must file a list of assets and liabilities and a list of income and expenses. The debtor stays in possession of the company and assets during the bankruptcy. The debtor creates a proposed plan for repayment of debts for review by the bankruptcy trustee. If the plan asks for any debt forgiveness from the creditors, then the creditors must approve the plan as well. The debtor continues to operate the business while awaiting approval from the creditors. The company that is a debtor in possession acts as the trustee of the company. The debtor in possession can retain accountants, attorneys and others to assist with the filings. For companies that are sole proprietors, the filings include both the assets of the owner as well as the business. A subchapter 5 under the Chapter 11 bankruptcy can speed the process of plan approval. The bankruptcy trustee monitors the progress of the plan filing and approval. During the process, all creditors are given a Stay which suspends any debt collections. The debtor has 18 months to file a plan.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Thu, 25 January 2024
How Does Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Work? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidates the company. Here is how Chapter 7 works: When a company goes into Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, the bankruptcy trustee takes control of the company to liquidate the assets and pay the creditors. A Chapter 7 proceeding starts with a creditor filing a petition with the bankruptcy court. The debtor must provide a list of assets and liabilities along with tax returns. In the case of involuntary bankruptcy, a creditor can file to move to bankruptcy. The debtor must provide a list of all creditors and how much is owed, a listing of all properties, and all sources of income for the debtor. All debt collectors' actions cease. The debtor must provide all financial records and attend the hearings. All creditors must file a proof of claim. Once the bankruptcy trustee issues a discharge of the debts, the creditors can no longer pursue the debtor. Any act of fraud could remove the discharge order. Most bankruptcies take up to 180 days to complete. There are several alternatives to Chapter 7 bankruptcy which could be considered.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Wed, 24 January 2024
What is Bankruptcy? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Business bankruptcy is meant to protect the personal assets of the owners of a firm. It gives your company a fresh start by relieving the business of debts. There are several types of bankruptcies. Consider these options for your business: Chapter 7 -- Liquidation This shuts the business down and pays the creditors from the assets remaining. Use this type of bankruptcy if the business is no longer viable even with the debts removed. Chapter 11 -- Reorganization This reorganizes the business and shows a plan for how to repay the creditors. In most cases, the creditors will lose a portion of what is owed them. If they can recover a portion of the debt that is better than losing it all. Chapter 13 -- Personal bankruptcy This reorganizes a sole proprietorship business in which the owner's personal assets are mixed with that of the business. It creates a plan to repay the debt over the next three to five years. Bankruptcy does go on the business owner's credit report. Consider these options for your startup that is undergoing a turnaround.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Tue, 23 January 2024
Steps to Shutting Down a Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are several steps to shutting down a startup. Here’s a list of key steps to follow: Pay what is owed to employees such as accrued vacation. Pay all providers such as contractors, software vendors, and others. Collect invoices from any outstanding accounts. Notify all customers, partners, and vendors about the shutdown. Sell or distribute any assets leftover such as furniture and equipment. If you cannot pay all providers you may need to consider filing bankruptcy. If you can pay all outstanding debts then you can proceed with dissolution of the entity. File your tax returns -- this includes federal and state and any state franchise taxes. Once taxes have been paid you can file a dissolution with the IRS. You’ll need to report to the IRS any distributions made to investors. Dissolve the legal entity -- if you have a Delaware C Corporation then you’ll need to file a Delaware certificate of dissolution. If you have an LLC then you’ll need to file a dissolution of the LLC at the state level. Shutting down a startup is difficult but when done right can save future headaches.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Mon, 22 January 2024
Preparing To Shut Down a Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Sometimes the startup you launched does not make it and must be shut down. In shutting down a startup take the following steps: Give an early warning signal to the employees. Let them know what is happening such as we’re raising additional funding. Give them a few month's notice but make clear if things don’t turn around a shutdown may ensue. When it becomes clear a shutdown is going to happen, then set a closing date. Give notice to the employees about the shutdown date. The more notice you give employees the better. Inform the investors of the shutdown. Own the failure with investors and articulate the mistakes you made. If you have any customers, notify them of the shutdown. If you have meaningful revenue then you should consider selling the company. If you can’t sell the company then you should transition the customers to other solutions. Finally, close all contractors, bank accounts, and credit cards, and shut down the legal entity. File your taxes and leave nothing left standing as it could come back to bite you. It’s tough shutting down a business but there’s a proper way to do it.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 19 January 2024
In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin engages in a lively discussion with a seasoned entrepreneur in the tech industry. We discuss the groundbreaking opportunity for a product: a system interpreting brain responses for diagnostic testing, initially designed for ALS patients. We share the challenges and triumphs in securing funding as the guest shares insights into their Dutch company, which has secured 1.06 million in a syndicate at a 6 million valuation, with an additional need for 600,000. Gain a firsthand understanding of the financial landscape, including the initial investment procurement and preparations for future funding rounds. Explore how Martin's extensive network of US-based investors, Angel networks, and family offices can contribute to supporting the fundraising efforts. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the challenges and strategies of raising funds for tech startups - tune in to Investor Connect now! 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 Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 19 January 2024
Shutting Down a Startup Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Not all startups succeed. For those that don’t, there may come a time to shut it down. Here are some key points to consider in shutting down a startup: Before announcing the shutdown collect all accounts receivables. Sell any inventory left on hand. Notify investors first so they are aware. Notify employees and their last pay date. Notify your customers with the transition to a new service or program. Liquidate all assets. Pay off outstanding debt as much as possible. Pay taxes and payroll withholding. File IRS forms related to employment tax. Close the bank account. Dispose of any remaining assets. This may include patents, trademarks and other intellectual property as well as physical assets. Dissolve the legal entity. The shutdown process can take some time as each of the steps above requires time to process. Consider these steps in shutting down a startup.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Thu, 18 January 2024
Best Practices for Building a Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In building your company culture consider these best practices: Measure your company culture -- review indicators that show how the company culture is performing such as employee engagement. Create rituals -- establish activities you repeat consistently throughout the year to foster employee engagement and have fun. Storytelling -- use stories to share experiences and create a common history with the employees. Demonstrate the values -- employees look at what you do for guidance and not just what you say. Embrace the paradox of the startup world -- early-stage companies have tremendous work to do but with limited resources. Focus on what is right not who is right -- there are many decisions to be made in a business environment so focus on fostering better decision-making. Promote fairness -- make sure each decision is fair to all involved. Involve others in decision-making -- give others the opportunity to weigh in on the discussion and use their input. Build skills -- encourage the development of the employees through developing new skills. Consider adding these steps to your company program to build a better culture.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.
Direct download: Best_practices_for_building_a_company_culture.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT |
Wed, 17 January 2024
How To Foster Your Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. A good company culture takes time and effort to build. Here are some steps to build out your company culture: Give outstanding benefits to the employees. Run team-building activities to encourage employee interactions. Participate in community activities as a give-back. Promote wellness among employees and make it a part of the benefits package. Write down your company culture and promote it. Gather feedback from the employees on how well the company is doing. Show the importance of the company culture through leader activities. Call out successful examples of the company culture having an impact. Consider adding these to your company goals for the coming year to improve your company culture.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Tue, 16 January 2024
Signs of a Good Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Company culture is important for the success of a startup. Here are signs you have a good company culture: Employees feel they are respected and are treated with dignity. Leaders support the employees and help them succeed. Poor leaders are called out and removed from the organization. Leaders and employees act with integrity. The company provides perks and benefits to its employees. The company provides training and skills development. The employee feels their job is safe from layoffs. The organization maintains stability and avoids frequent reorganizations. Look for these signs in your company culture.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Mon, 15 January 2024
How To Setup a Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In building your company culture, realize you already have one for your startup. The initial hires have brought a culture to the company. You can grow the company culture to a greater place. Consider these steps to grow and develop your company culture: Continue to hire people who share the values the company holds true. Set goals for the company that tracks the vision. Highlight the meaning behind the work to be done. Align your brand with a cause. Provide rewards to those who promote the values of the company culture. Foster a fun working environment. Promote flexibility in the workplace to foster work-life balance. Recognize employees who demonstrate the values of the company culture. Gather feedback from employees and customers about the company culture and act on the responses. Consider these steps in building your company culture.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 12 January 2024
Welcome to Investor Connect! I'm Hall T. Martin, and today we dive into the world of fundraising with a candid conversation between a startup founder and me. At Ten Capital, our expertise lies in investor relations, particularly in the thriving life sciences sector. Learn about our strategic approach, crafting impactful pitch materials, and targeted distribution to our extensive network of 20,000 investors. In this episode, we embark on a fundraising journey. We navigate the competitive markets, engage with angel groups, and explore unconventional avenues like tapping into dentists' networks. We uncover the challenges and triumphs on their quest for $2 million in a Series A round. Discover how we recommend involving physicians in fundraising efforts, leveraging their expertise and networks. From tailored events to continuous engagement strategies, we unveil key tactics to maintain and grow investor interest.
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 Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 12 January 2024
Before Building Your Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Before building your company culture consider the following: Know your purpose Search for why your company exists. Identify your values Understand the core values of the company and what the company stands for. Hire the right people. Choose people who bring value to the company and fit the culture. Establish positive communication. Create a positive environment with good communication with employees, customers, and others. Treat everyone with respect. Make sure everyone is heard and understood. Review your current company culture. Know your company culture and where you stand. With this in place, you have the building blocks to create a great company culture.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Thu, 11 January 2024
Characteristics of a Good Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. A good company culture will manifest itself in several ways. Look for these signs of a good culture: Stable workforce -- the employees stay with the company a long time and there’s minimal turnover. Friendly atmosphere -- relationships among employees go beyond that of colleagues. Engagement -- employees are engaged not only in their work but also in their workplace. Mission buy-in-- the employees buy into the mission of the company and internalize it. Celebratory -- the employees celebrate wins, new hires, and other positives. Engaged leaders -- the leaders are engaged in the business and with the employees. Minimal politics -- politics are kept to a minimum. Employee growth -- employees are given the opportunity to increase their skills. Transparency -- the organization and how it works is transparent to the employees. Trust -- the employees trust the leadership and vice versa. Fun -- the employees have fun in addition to being productive. Look for these signs of a good company culture in your startup.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.
Direct download: Characteristics_of_a_good_company_culture.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT |
Wed, 10 January 2024
The Startup Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The startup company culture brings a unique set of characteristics. Here’s a list of qualities to consider: Passion -- the company is based on a driving passion to solve a problem or pursue a cause. Startups exude passion and everyone strives to work towards it. Personality -- each startup has its own unique personality based on the founders, their experiences, and their mission. This gives the company a unique culture based purely on the founders. Agility -- startups have speed and technology that large companies cannot match. Startups can move fast and adopt new business models and technologies to pursue their goals. Authenticity -- startups don’t have a long history or tradition to carry and so can pursue their mission unencumbered. Large companies come with bureaucracy that distracts from their goals. Energy -- startups give off energy and excitement. Based on the potential of the idea and the newness of the company, startups energize the market with the promise of change and improvement. The startup culture to some appears to lack rigor and accountability. It can attract and retain employees for a period of time. Eventually, the startup culture will be replaced with a big company culture as the startup moves to be an established business. Consider the startup culture of your company.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Tue, 9 January 2024
Types of Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are several types of company cultures. Here is a list to consider in building out the culture at your startup: Clan culture -- this puts the team first and places everyone on the same level. This promotes equality rather than hierarchy. Customer culture -- this puts the customer first. This promotes strong customer relationships and experiences. Hierarchy culture -- this puts the organization first. This promotes tradition, structure, and ranking. Market culture -- this puts the target market first. This promotes getting products to market and leading the market. Purpose culture -- this puts serving the community first. This promotes a give back to a cause. Innovation culture -- this puts innovation first. This promotes generating new ideas and technologies to serve the customer. Creative culture -- this puts creativity first. This promotes generating new ideas and stories to create experiences. Consider these approaches in setting your company culture.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Mon, 8 January 2024
Components of Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are several components to building a company culture. Consider these elements in building out the culture at your startup: Purpose -- the purpose of the company is the foundational element. The purpose motivates employees and drives the group toward a common goal. Growth -- the company culture should provide for employee growth. Employees should be able to learn new skills and acquire new experiences. Success -- the company culture should foster and reward employee and company success. The company culture should foster healthy competition. Respect -- the company culture should ensure respect for all employees and customers. It should imbue a positive outlook for diversity. Leadership -- the company culture should be driven by the top leaders. The leadership sets the example for the rest of the company. Consider how to build these components into your company culture.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 5 January 2024
Welcome back to Investor Connect, and happy 2024! I'm Hall T. Martin, your host, and today we have two insightful segments lined up, exploring the practicalities and challenges startups encounter when seeking funds for their ventures. In the first part, we explore the dynamic startup scene in India. Our guest shares his mission to revolutionize the Indian retail landscape through a mobile server cloud solution. We discuss the funding challenges, online-offline shopping dynamics, and strategies to navigate India's diverse retail market. Shifting gears, our second segment focuses on climate tech. Keon, the founder of a climate tech startup, shares his experiences in raising funds, particularly from the National Science Foundation (NSF), and goals for additional private funding. The funding journey is intricate but worthwhile. Stay tuned for more insights on Investor Connect. Until next time, happy investing!
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 Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 5 January 2024
The Importance of Company Culture Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Company culture shows the values, decisions, and behaviors of the founders and employees in a company. It’s important for founders to actively build the company culture. This is done primarily through the people you hire and the decisions you make. Building the right culture will go a long way to achieving startup success. Here are some key areas impacted by company culture: Employee engagement -- employees in a strong company culture that matches their values have a higher level of engagement. This translates into higher-quality work. Productivity -- engaged employees generate a higher level of output. This translates into higher profitability. Reduced turnover -- engaged employees stay with the company longer and typically leave only for non-work reasons. This translates into a more stable workforce. Recruiting -- engaged employees make it easier to recruit new employees as they look for those who match their values. This translates into a lower cost of hiring. Consider these benefits in fostering your company culture.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Thu, 4 January 2024
What Is Company Culture? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Company culture is the attitude and behavior of the employees and its leadership. This comes out in the form of decisions the company makes and the values the people hold. You can see it in the way the employees act and how they work. In early-stage companies, the company culture is established by the founders and the first five hires. In later-stage companies, the company culture is established by the decisions taken over time. A strong company culture will guide employees in decision-making. Company culture helps attract and retain employees who share the same values. Company culture can come together organically over time or the leadership and employees can foster it. You can learn more about a company’s culture from their website and employee reviews. Word of mouth also presents the company culture. Check your company culture to see if it matches the values you hold true.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Wed, 3 January 2024
Legal Issues Around Equity Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are several legal issues surrounding equity to consider: You must have a legal entity to establish equity ownership. There are several types of legal structures including LLC, C-Corp, and more. The LLC is easy to set up and launch the business. Delaware C-Corporation is the preferred legal structure by investors. Start with an LLC and move to a Delaware Corporation when investors require it. Be careful promising equity as they will come back to claim it at a later date. Issuing equity falls under the domain of securities law. It’s important to have a lawyer review terms sheets and other legal documents impacting equity issuances to ensure compliance. Make sure options provided to employees are properly documented. Review the tax implications of equity with your accountant so you understand the impact on the business. Be careful with convertible notes and other deal structures so you understand the impact of the fundraiser on your cap table. Watch out for key terms in the terms sheet such as “most favored nation.” This term can give investors the same terms as provided to other investors. Watch out for these legal issues with your equity.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Tue, 2 January 2024
Best Practices for Founders’ Equity Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are many decisions to be made with founder equity. Here are some best practices in handling those decisions. The founder-co-founder split of equity can be anything except 50/50. A 50/50 split leaves no one in a position to make a final decision for the company. In splitting the equity between or among the founders, consider the business needs first. What skills and experience must be brought to bear on the business? Who on the team will be responsible for each aspect of the business? Put this discussion on the table early on. Have an open and frank discussion among the founders about what each team member can contribute to the business. It’s important to vest any equity offered so a founder leaving early doesn’t take an outsized number of shares. Consider the tax implications and use IRS tax code 83B which gives the shareholder the right to pay tax on the options issued rather than when they vest. Consider whether or not to buy back the shares of any founder who leaves. This could be expensive for the company. Gain agreement on the growth strategy of the company. Will it grow organically over time or will you raise funding to accelerate it? Organic growth takes longer but offers less dilution. Funding will speed up the growth but will reduce the founders' ownership stake. Alignment in the growth strategy is important for founders and co-founders.
Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Investor Connect Podcast
Categories
generalfinance
Archives
AprilMarch
February
January
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
January
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
February
August
May
April
March
February
January
November
October
August
July
June
May
April
March
January
November
October
September
August
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||
Syndication
