Thu, 30 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Mike Audi, Co-Founder and CEO of TIKI Inc. You can visit TIKI at http://mytiki.com, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/mytiki/, and via Twitter at http://twitter.com/my_tiki_. Mike can be contacted via email at mike@mytiki.com, via LinkedIn at http://linkedin.com/in/maudi/, and via Twitter at http://twitter.com/tiki_mike. Music courtesy of Bensound. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. |
Thu, 30 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Revenue-based funding makes a startup investment and pays back the investor at the rate of top-line revenue. This aligns the investor and founder to the same goal, to create a business and grow sales. The higher the sales, the faster the payback to the investors and the higher the compensation to the founders. Revenue-based funding typically sets the payback rate at 1-3% of top-line revenue. In revenue-based funding, the investors receive a revenue share until they reach a predetermined payback amount. This is different from a loan which sets the payout rate regardless of the seasons or cycles within the business. Revenue-based funding keeps early-stage investors off the cap table so it’s clean for future investors. Once the payback amount is reached, the investors are finished and are no longer in the picture. It works well for businesses that have recurring revenue and healthy margins. It’s a good way to reduce dilution for the founders. 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 subscribe, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound |
Wed, 29 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes angel investor Richard Teideman. Richard is an accredited MCIM former marketer, and during his marketing career gained the following awards: Winner London International Advertising Awards, Snapshot OTC (digital) Winner Travel Marketing Awards X3, (TV / Digital), (Digital),(Integrated), (Marketing / Social) Franchise Marketing Awards (Retail) Judging Panel of the New York Festivals X3 promoted to the New York Festivals Grand Jury, Freeman of the City of London, a member of the Company of World Traders, and the Worshipful Company of Marketors. During his career, he also has been involved with the launch of over 40 motion pictures (credit list available) and 10 computer games. He is also a well-established professional voice-over with two international agents over the past 20 years. Richard can be contacted via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/richardteideman/. Music courtesy of Bensound. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. |
Wed, 29 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Salary-based funding makes a startup investment and pays back the investor at the rate of compensation the founders take. This aligns the investor and founder on the same goal, to create a business that can sustain itself and pay the team. The investors receive an agreed-upon percentage of any salary or profit the business takes in. In salary-based funding, the investors receive payback until they reach a predetermined payback amount. This is different from revenue-based funding which is a debt instrument that pays out based on a percentage of top-line revenue. This keeps early-stage investors off the cap table so it’s clean for future investors. The investor can choose to take their payback in cash or they could convert to equity. This is a good way to run an initial raise when it’s not clear if additional funding will be required. 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 subscribe, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound |
Tue, 28 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Davron Karimov, CEO of FunderHunt. Funderhunt specializes in getting capital to business owners across America who are doing $5,000 and above in monthly revenue. Typical funding amounts range from $5,000-$2M, depending on factors like monthly revenue, number of deposits, industry, amount of NSF's/negative days, and credit score. Business owners can expect to get a business loan or an advance of 1-2 months of their monthly revenue. You can visit FunderHunt at www.FUNDERHUNT.CO, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/funderhunt, and via Twitter at www.twitter.com/funder_hunt. Davron can be contacted via email at dave@funderhunt.co, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/davronkarimov, and via Twitter at www.twitter.com/sweetdaddydev. Music courtesy of Bensound. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. |
Tue, 28 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. As your company grows and the equity becomes worth more, there comes a time to switch over to debt funding. There are several forms of debt to consider. Each one is used for a different application. The primary options are as follows:
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 subscribe, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound |
Mon, 27 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Ross Darwin, Principal at Owl Ventures. Founded in 2014, Owl Ventures is the largest venture capital firm in the world focused on the education technology market with over $1.3 billion in assets under management. The Silicon Valley-based firm was purposely built to partner with and help scale the world’s leading education companies across the education spectrum including PreK-12, higher education, and the future of work (career mobility/professional learning). They invest in companies at all stages from early, growth, and later stages and across all geographies around the world. You can visit Owl Ventures at www.owlvc.com, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/3855155/, and via Twitter at https://twitter.com/owlvc?lang=en. Ross can be contacted via email at ross@owlvc.com, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/rossdarwin. Music courtesy of Bensound. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. |
Mon, 27 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Growth startups can raise not only funding for equity but also funding for debt called venture debt. Venture debt doesn’t dilute the founders and provides capital to continue the growth. Here are some key terms and conditions to know when looking for venture debt: There are term loans and revolving lines of credit with maturity dates and interest rates. The lender will look to secure assets for the loan. Check to see if the intellectual property will be required. If they do tie to the IP, then they will want a negative pledge in that they don’t want you to pledge the IP to any other lender. Many lenders will require you to move all your banking to their firm. If so, understand the account transfer period. The amount of funding and timing is a key issue. Will the funds be transferred in one go or in tranches? Check to see the requirements for each tranche. Check for fees on early payoff and exits. The default rate is the increase in the interest rate in case you default on the payments. Finally, warrants are often part of the terms. A warrant is the right to buy stock at a specified price. What is the price of the warrant and what is the timeframe it is active? Check for these key points in a discussion about venture debt. 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 subscribe, share, and leave a review. |
Fri, 24 September 2021
Thank you for joining us today for our TEN Capital Fundraise Launch Program. We'll kick off the session with a short overview on a fundraising topic, then we’ll answer questions from the founders. Thank you for joining us for the TEN Capital Fundraise Launch Program where we help startups prepare for a fundraise. For more episodes, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group |
Fri, 24 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Nikita Demidov, Venture Associate at the Houston Angel Network. HAN’s members have invested more than $96M in more than 366 deals since its inception in 2001. The typical individual HAN member is an accredited investor seriously interested in providing capital and coaching to early-stage companies. HAN also has institutional members such as seed funds, accelerators, universities, and other networks within the innovation ecosystem. After graduation, Nikita worked in corporate finance helping to develop commercial solar plants at travel stops and gas stations. He worked on a variety of alternative fuel projects such as hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and renewable diesel. Last year, Nikita joined the venture ecosystem in Houston to help startups access more funding opportunities. He leads a team of venture associates at HAN and drives the monthly deal cycle for the network. Fun Fact: Nikita also lived in Boston, Peru, and is currently finishing his MSF at the University of Houston. Nikita suggests some good opportunities for investors to pursue, shares some of the challenges startups and investors face, and discusses his investment thesis. You can visit the Houston Angel Network at www.houstonangelnetwork.org, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-houston-angel-network/, and via Twitter at www.twitter.com/Houston_Angels. Nikita can be contacted via email at nikita@houstonangelnetwork.org, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-demidov/. Music courtesy of Bensound. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review.
Direct download: Nikita_Demidov_of_Houston_Angel_Network.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Fri, 24 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture debt is not for every startup or for all fundraises. It is best used in conjunction with an equity raise. The equity funding provides ongoing working capital that doesn’t need to be paid back. It works well between equity raises from institutional investors. The business must be up and running with stable revenue. Those with recurring revenue are a good fit. Those with healthy gross margins also do well. Investors will look at the cash flow of the business, so it’s important to have a healthy cash flow statement. It doesn’t work well for seed startups that are still looking for product-market fit. Established businesses will find it easier to raise venture debt as the investor will look at the company’s traction, track record, business model, and previous fundraises. Venture debt raises are typically limited to 25% of the equity raises, so a $3M fundraise most likely will not exceed $750K of venture debt. Most loans last around four years, so it’s not often used for working capital but rather for specific projects. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Thu, 23 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Neil Senturia, CEO at Blackbird Ventures. Prior to his technology adventures, Neil was a real estate developer, building more than two million square feet of commercial and residential space. Preceding that, he labored in the slough of despond, writing television and movies in Hollywood. Neil details his very diverse background, explains what he thinks the future of startup investing will look like and shares his investment thesis. You can visit Blackbird Ventures at www.blackbirdv.com. Neil can be contacted via email at neil@blackbirdv.com, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/neilsenturia/, and via Twitter at https://twitter.com/itfyb?lang=en. Music courtesy of Bensound. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. |
Thu, 23 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture debt can reduce dilution and give your startup more runway. Here are a few pointers to see if venture debt is a good fit for your fundraise: It’s often used with equity funding for purchasing equipment, making acquisitions, or making up for funding not acquired through the equity raise. If the company is in a difficult cash position, then venture debt will come with higher interest rates. If the proposed debt payments are higher than 20% of operating expenses, then it may not be a good fit. If the company has stable revenue and predictable receivables, then a line of credit may be a better choice than venture debt. Some tie venture debt to the company’s cash or accounts receivable. Covenants around venture debt such as ‘material adverse change’ can trigger a recall of the debt early. It helps to understand how the lender performs. Check their past history to find out more. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Wed, 22 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Ron Thompson, CEO of CAIL. Headquartered in Winnetka, Illinois, CAIL successfully enables organizations to leverage the considerable investment in current systems and services with solutions that provide an evolutionary strategy to evolve and improve information services. This approach provides clients with immediate and important advantages with products having extensive flexibility, scalability, and being cost-effective. In conjunction with this, the CAIL emphasis is on delivering a great user experience, quick gratification with the fast deployment of new services, providing solutions with advanced capabilities that build on the familiarity with current systems and processes, and realizing a rapid return on investment. CAIL’s IoT department provides “Smart Facilities Solutions” for the new-normal with Contact Tracing, Occupancy Monitoring, Predictive Cleaning, Asset Tracking, Environmental Monitoring, Air Sanitization, etc. To better ensure building safety and wellness, these solutions provide real-time data, analysis, and reporting to make smarter decisions, extend services, provide more value, better assess business risk, and respond to feedback quickly. By connecting buildings, assets, people, and devices through a range of ready-to-deploy IoT solutions, this results in improved tenant satisfaction and property management as well as reducing operating costs and health risks. Ron describes the types of companies he likes to invest in, discusses the state of startup investing, and advises entrepreneurs and investors. You can visit CAIL at www.cail.com, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/cail_2/, and via Twitter at www.twitter.com/cail_systems. Ron can be contacted via email at rthompson@cail.com, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/ron-thompson, and via Twitter at https://twitter.com/ronthompson. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Wed, 22 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Venture debt is on the rise in the startup world as more startups find it a useful part of their fundraise strategy. It’s a form of debt financing for venture-backed companies that lack the assets for traditional debt funding. Venture debt has been around for as long as venture capital has been writing checks for equity investments. It’s often used in conjunction with an equity fundraise. It typically runs for three years and is secured by the company’s assets. Venture debt reduces dilution and gives the startup more runway before the next fundraise. It lets the startup acquire more capital without setting a valuation for the company which is advantageous in advance of a new round of equity funding. Venture debt does not take board seats and is often cheaper than bank loans. Venture debt is a more quantitative decision than equity capital which is more qualitative so the closing is typically faster. The disadvantage is that it must be paid back in the near term and interest rates are typically higher than bank debt. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Tue, 21 September 2021
Investor Perspectives – How to Solve the Biotech/Life Sciences Problem: Changes Expected in the Sector in the Coming 12 Months
This is Investor Perspectives. I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. In our new Investor Perspectives series entitled “How to Solve the Biotech/Life Sciences Problem”, you’ll hear about changes expected in the Biotech/Life Sciences sector in the coming 12 months. As the COVID pandemic passes, we emerge into a new world. The biotech space is now undergoing tremendous change as we shift back to a normal way of life. The process for designing and approving vaccines demonstrated a new protocol. Biotech now moves into a new era. We have investors and startup founders describe the changes coming up. Our guests are: 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 Music courtesy of Bensound
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Tue, 21 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There’s an old saying in the angel world: If you want money, ask for advice. If you want advice, ask for money. In raising funding, most founders spend their time selling the idea to the investor. An alternative approach is to collaborate with the investor. The selling approach uses the entire ten-minute pitch talking about all the great points in the deal. The collaborative approach saves half the time to ask questions. This approach turns your meeting into a strategy session and engages the investors to collaborate on how better to run the business. After setting the stage with a short introduction of the business, follow up with questions to engage the investors on sales strategy, marketing strategy, and product strategy. The collaborative approach is far more engaging than the pitch approach. It makes everyone in the room a peer and gives everyone a chance to contribute. This approach helps the startup learn from the investor engagement. Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “You’re not learning when you’re talking.” 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 Music courtesy of Bensound
Direct download: the_collaborative_approach_to_fundraising.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Mon, 20 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Bradley Aelicks, Co-founder and President at Pyfera Growth Capital Corp. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Pyfera Growth Capital Corp. is an investment corp specializing in investing in private technology companies with a near-term objective of accessing the public markets. The Pyfera Capital team is comprised of investors, operators, and proven entrepreneurs. They draw from extensive capital markets experience to provide their portfolio companies with clear, calculated, and actionable advice. Pyfera has funded over 2 dozen companies and assisted in over $70 million in funding from co-investors and the finance community. Brad advises startups and investors, discusses some of the challenges they face, and shares some good opportunities for investors to pursue. You can visit Pyfera Growth Capital Corp. at www.pyferacapital.com, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/10822616. Brad can be contacted via email at brad@aelicks.ca, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-aelicks Music courtesy of Bensound.
Direct download: Brad_Aelicks_of_Pyfera_Growth_Capital_Corp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Mon, 20 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders need to bring startup mental models to bear on their business. Here’s a list of key mental models to know: Least worst option -- use this model when all options are not ideal. Jobs to be done -- use this model to discover how your product fits into the customer’s workflow. Minimum viable product -- understanding the bare essential features a customer will pay for. Product-market fit -- shows your product meets a set of customer requirements in a market. Network effects -- the value of the network grows exponentially with the number of participants, so your product value grows with the size of the network. Economies of scale -- costs decrease as the quantity of units increases by spreading the cost over more customers. Disruptive innovation -- an innovation that displaces competitors and redefines the industry. North star -- the one metric that guides decision-making and drives actions by the team. These are key mental models startup founders need to know.
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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Fri, 17 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching your business, investors will ask questions about metrics such as customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, and churn rates. The purpose of the question is to discover what systems you have built into the company and how robust they are. In the early stages of a startup, the CAC, LTV, and revenue growth metrics are not impressive. Instead of focusing on the metrics in the very early stages of the startup, talk about the fundamental systems already in place. Describe your system for acquiring customers and how it works. Detail how you deliver the product/service. Show how many of the users so far continue to use the product/service. Instead of relying on numbers, go to the next level and describe the systems you have. Investors are not expecting big numbers but instead, look for a company with systems installed and working for the core functions. The core functions are acquiring customers, delivering the product or service, and providing support to retain those customers. Look at your business as a series of systems. Present your business to investors in that manner as it gives a clearer picture of how far along you are. 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 |
Fri, 17 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Rohit Gupta, Managing Director at Future Communities Capital. Headquartered in Berkeley, California, Future Communities Capital looks for technology entrepreneurs focused on disrupting legacy industries such as government, healthcare, finance, and real estate. Portfolio companies are tackling problems ranging from smart city infrastructure to disease outbreak management. Rohit discusses his background and what excites him now in the venture capital sector. He shares with Hall how he sees the sector evolving, and advises startups and investors. You can visit Future Communities Capital at www.FutureCommunities.vc. Rohit can be contacted via email at rohit@futurecommunities.vc, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-gupta. Music courtesy of Bensound.
Direct download: Rohit_Gupta_of_Future_Communities_Capital.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Thu, 16 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In running a startup, time management is a key skill for the founder. Here are some key steps in managing time:
Encourage your team to follow the same practices. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Thu, 16 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Julio Moreno, Partner and Co-Founder of Santa Cruz Angeles (SC Angeles). |
Wed, 15 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching your business, focus on the benefits your product or service provides rather than listing out the features. Features answer the question -- what, or what is it? Benefits answer the question -- why, or why do you want it? In pitching your business, go beyond the features of the product to show why customers need it. To capture the benefits, start with the pain the customer feels. If your customer has too many to-dos on their schedule, then pitch your product as a simpler schedule. If your customer lacks knowledge in a subject, then pitch your product as mastery over the subject. If your customer has low revenue, then pitch your product as finding more customers and generating more revenue from existing customers. Start with the pain point to determine the needs and then show how your product supplies those needs. Once you’ve captured the audience’s interest, you can dive deeper into the features. Lead with the benefits and follow up with the features if needed. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Wed, 15 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Dr. Neal Vail, angel investor and Chief Technical Officer/Co-founder at Progenerative Medical. Progenerative Medical is a pre-commercialization stage medical device company focused on expanding clinically proven reduced pressure therapy into spinal and orthopedic indications. Their initial clinical application is to significantly improve clinical outcomes and satisfaction in patients undergoing spinal fusion procedures, a new annual revenue opportunity of $1.6B in the US market. They have the opportunity to expand the clinical use of their product into other orthopedic indications such as trauma, joint arthroplasty, and revision surgeries, all significantly larger markets than their initial indication. Neal has 25+ years of medical device and pharmaceutical product R&D and commercialization experience. He has held positions of increasing technical, program management, and organizational leadership responsibilities at NEC America, Inc., DaimlerBenz Central Research, Southwest Research Institute, and Kinetic Concepts, Inc. Neal has assembled cross-functional teams to develop and execute successful product development programs funded through corporate, private and public stakeholders. He has experience in M&A and technology licensing. Neal has been an angel investor for about 15 years, reviewed 100s of investment opportunities, and invested in several startups. He has been a business strategy and technology advisor to several medical device start-ups. Neal graduated from UT-Austin with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and has business training from the Sloan School at MIT. Neal shares with Hall what led him to start working in the medical device and product development space. He discusses the state of startup investing, its evolution, and some of the challenges entrepreneurs face. You can visit Progenerative Medical at www.progenerative.com, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/progenmed/, and via Twitter at www.twitter.com/progenmed?lang=en. Neal can be contacted via email at nvail27@gmail.com, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/neal-vail-phd. Music courtesy of Bensound.
Direct download: Neal_Vail_Angel_InvestorProgenerative_Medical_Inc.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Tue, 14 September 2021
Investor Perspectives – How to Solve the Biotech/Life Sciences Problem: Participation in the Biotech/Life Sciences Segment and What Investors Look For
This is Investor Perspectives. I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. In our new Investor Perspectives series entitled “How to Solve the Biotech/Life Sciences Problem”, you’ll hear about participation in the Biotech/Life Sciences segment and what investors look for. As the COVID pandemic passes, we emerge into a new world. The biotech space is now undergoing tremendous change as we shift back to a normal way of life. The process for designing and approving vaccines demonstrated a new protocol. Biotech now moves into a new era. We have investors and startup founders describe the changes coming up. Our guests are:
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Tue, 14 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching investors, there are many ways to blow the pitch. Here’s a list of common mistakes startups make: Losing your temper and letting emotions get the better of you. Investors want level-headed people they can work with. Building the company only for the exit. There must be a “why” behind the business. Inability to present the idea or business in a smooth way. Lack of clarity in the pitch will translate into a lack of clarity regarding the business plan. Not answering the investors’ questions, such as failing to give revenue numbers. Lack of direct answers frustrates the investors and leads many to believe the answer is not attractive. Not knowing your industry or market. It’s best to demonstrate knowledge of the market with some key numbers. Not knowing your team well. It’s best to have some history with the team members and demonstrate how you work well together. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Mon, 13 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Josh Chodniewicz, Founder and CEO at Fundify. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Fundify is a tech-driven equity crowdfunding marketplace that enables anyone to invest in next-gen startups alongside industry experts. They work closely with experts in a wide variety of industries to review and comment on investment opportunities. Fundify makes it simple for anyone and everyone to invest in startups and build a portfolio, with as little as $10 per investment. Josh previously co-founded and served as CEO of Art.com/Allposters.com, where they built the world’s most successful online art retailer selling more than $3 billion in posters and framing services and satisfying more than 20 million paying customers. The experience of co-founding Art.com showed Josh how difficult and time-consuming it can be to raise capital for a business. In fact, in the early years, he bootstrapped the business on just $35,000 and was continually told “no” by potential investors. Josh and his team went on to raise a $58M Series A for Art.com before it was acquired by Walmart. Josh began angel investing to help other founders build their dreams. He founded his own venture company and incubator called Mach 10 Ventures and has invested in dozens of startups including Mixbook.com ($11m+ in follow-on funding), Collectrium (acquired by Christie’s), Moolala (acquired by Ncrowd), Pixowl (acquired by Animoca), True Impact Media and others. As an early-stage investor, he once again found a time-consuming, inefficient process, especially when considering investments in industries outside of his expertise. Josh founded Fundify to simplify startup funding and investing. Josh has won numerous awards and honors, including Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, 40 Under 40, among others. While Josh was CEO of Art.com, the company earned recognition from Inc. Magazine as the 2nd fastest-growing company in the nation. Josh lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife Natalie and three sons: Beckham, Asher, and Edison. Josh shares with Hall what excites him now and how he sees the industry evolving. He discusses his investment thesis and some of the companies in his portfolio which fit the thesis. You can visit Fundify at www.fundify.com, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/fundify-inc/, and via Twitter at www.twitter.com/fundify?lang=en. Josh can be contacted via email at josh@fundify.com, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/jchod/. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Mon, 13 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In running a business, it’s important to use written contracts. It’s easy to negotiate an agreement verbally, but this often leaves loose ends that become a problem later. A written contract makes clear the responsibilities and duties of both parties and what each owes the other. It’s often the case that both sides make assumptions underlying the agreement and those assumptions conflict with each other. A contract includes both the agreement and the consideration. Consideration is some value that is paid for the services rendered or the product delivered. If there’s no consideration, then the service is considered a gift. Written contracts are required for any sale over $500, any lease over $1000, and anything that creates a security interest such as pledging real estate. There are several advantages to written contracts. It is easier to enforce a written contract. Signing a contract indicates that both parties have agreed to it. Verbal contracts are often nullified when one side or the other claims they didn’t agree. Written contracts provide better recourse than verbal contracts with the courts and arbitration. Make sure you put it in writing. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Fri, 10 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Nicolas Colin, Co-founder and Director at The Family. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in London, The Family nurtures entrepreneurs through education, unfair advantages, and capital. Moving at startup speed, The Family is transforming a portfolio of non-linear companies, special projects, and virtual infrastructures into a connected community of entrepreneurs, operators, and fellow investors who inspire and support each other. Nicolas is the publisher of European Straits, a research newsletter dedicated to the Entrepreneurial Age viewed from Europe, a columnist at Sifted, and an author (more recently of Hedge: A Greater Safety Net for the Entrepreneurial Age). He's a member of the board of directors of Radio France, the French national radio broadcasting corporation, and of Mettle, the digital branch of Natwest/Royal Bank of Scotland. Nicolas previously served as an advisor with the OECD, a member of the board of the French personal data protection authority, and a senior civil servant at the French ministry of finance. He lives in Munich, Germany, with his wife and their two children. Nicolas advises investors and entrepreneurs and shares some of the challenges they face. He also discusses some good opportunities for investors to pursue. You can visit The Family at www.jointhefamily.co, and at europeanstraits.substack.com, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/thefamily/. Nicolas can be contacted via email at nicolas@jointhefamily.co, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-colin-the-family, and via Twitter at www.twitter.com/Nicolas_Colin. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 10 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In raising funding, you must have a growth story. Investors want to know your business is in motion with momentum and traction. Investors look for activity in four areas: sales, team, product, and fundraise. These are the factors under the control of the startup. Other factors such as competition, market size, and growth are not interesting. Investors want to know what you are accomplishing, not what the market is accomplishing. In every contact with the investor, bring up a key result in sales, team, product, or fundraise. Most startups spend their air time with investors focused on the forecast. Instead, show how your company is executing today. Make sure you follow up to demonstrate how the growth story continues. It takes about four updates before the investor becomes convinced there’s a growth story underway. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Thu, 9 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Darren King, Fund Manager and General Partner at Unbridled Ventures. Unbridled Ventures’ fund consists of accomplished angel investors who provide funding and expertise to help entrepreneurs fulfill their American dream. Darren has spent a lifetime working for and consulting with small businesses in Indiana and Kentucky. The son of a small business owner, Darren has also had a passion for small businesses and has worked in various roles as a CEO, CFO, and CPA (inactive) to analyze, invest, and consult on various investment and acquisition opportunities. During the past ten years, Darren has been an active angel investor and mentor to startups and small businesses throughout the Commonwealth. He has personally invested over $1 million in startups. He also has extensive experience with angel funds as a board member and as an investor. Successful angel investments include Hosting.com, Gun Media, Poseida (PSTX), and First Care. Prior to Hosting.com, Darren was a CFO and CPA. Darren holds a B.S. in Accounting from Indiana University where he graduated with honors in 1992. He resides in Prospect, Kentucky with his wife and two children. Darren discusses his investment thesis, the financial risk-reward, and some of the non-financial benefits of investing as an angel. He also advises investors and entrepreneurs and shares some of the challenges they face. You can visit Unbridled Ventures at www.unbridled.vc, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/unbridled-ventures/about/. Darren can be contacted via email at darren@unbridled.vc, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/darren-king-295b2a2/. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Thu, 9 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are basic principles around fundraising that apply in every situation. First, the most important step in fundraising is to build a relationship with the investor. The more you know the investor and the more they know you, the better the outcome. Second, demonstrate results in every contact. Never show up without a currently relevant result or a proof point. Third, be honest at all times. It only takes one deception to ruin the relationship. Fourth, it’s the number of touches and consistency that counts, not how long the discussion or pitch deck runs. It takes four touches for an investor to understand what you are doing and seven touches before they make a final decision. Fifth, include the “Why?” -- why are you doing this startup? 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Wed, 8 September 2021
Investor Connect - 603 - David Blackledge - Angel Investor (Grand Canyon University/Davis Miles Law Firm)
In this episode, Hall welcomes David Blackledge, Angel Investor, Professor at Grand Canyon University, and Attorney at Davis Miles Law Firm. David is full-time faculty at Grand Canyon University’s College of Business and 2020-21 Teacher of the Year. Fall 2021 will be his seventh year teaching at the school which quickly became a second calling for him. David is an active investor in multiple angel groups as well as a mentor and judge in many Arizona-based business competitions. He is currently a board member on various volunteer groups whose mission is to educate, accelerate and invest in entrepreneurs who are creating solutions to business and social problems. He has provided thousands of hours mentoring and advising students, startups, and others in professional matters such as interviewing, business formation and ownership, and fundraising. David is also Of Counsel (a fancy phrase for part-time) at Davis Miles McGuire Gardner, a full-service law firm operating in the southwest US. He focuses his practice on startup and emerging businesses, particularly in various technology markets. The first thirty years of his professional career were in sales and operations management of high technology startups giving him a unique perspective on advising business owners, investors, and others in the business world. David received his degree in Business Management from Penn State Smeal College of Business, an MBA in Finance from George Washington University, and his J.D. from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. David discusses what excites him now in angel investing, some of the challenges angel investors face, and the state of angel investing post-COVID-19. David can be contacted via email at dblackledge1@cox.net, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/david-blackledge-7829a23/. Music courtesy of Bensound.
Direct download: David_Blackledge_of_Grand_Canyon_University.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Wed, 8 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Many entrepreneurs fail to build a financial forecast claiming they cannot predict the future. The purpose of the financial forecast is not for future predictions, but rather for communicating the business plan to the investors. From the forecast, the investor learns what growth rate the entrepreneur is considering. The forecast shows where break-even may come in. The investor can also gauge how much the entrepreneur knows about the costs and revenues of the business. Big round numbers in the forecast indicate little knowledge of the costs and revenues. Most financial forecasts can be driven by specific product quantities. Finally, the forecast shows the interdependence between revenues and costs. Increased revenues will drive variable costs higher leaving the fixed costs unchanged. A financial model is helpful for managing the business. If revenues double, the model shows what will happen to the costs. If revenues get cut in half, the model shows what costs will drop and what will not. It’s important to create a 3-5 year financial forecast to share with investors to inform them of the plan and demonstrate the startup’s credibility. 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 |
Tue, 7 September 2021
Investor Perspectives – How to Solve the Biotech/Life Sciences Problem: Primary Trends and What Makes for a Successful Company
This is Investor Perspectives. I’m the host of Investor Connect, Hall T Martin, where we connect startups and investors for funding. In our new Investor Perspectives series entitled “How to Solve the Biotech/Life Sciences Problem”, you’ll hear about primary trends and what makes for a successful company in this segment. As the COVID pandemic passes, we emerge into a new world. The biotech space is now undergoing tremendous change as we shift back to a normal way of life. The process for designing and approving vaccines demonstrated a new protocol. Biotech now moves into a new era. We have investors and startup founders describe the changes coming up. Our guests are: Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ Music courtesy of Bensound.
Direct download: IP_Biotech-Life_Sciences_2021_-_Show_2_-_Primary_Trends_and_What_Makes_fo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Tue, 7 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. If you successfully raised your seed round you will find that Series A funding to be a new challenge. Series A funding is different from seed funding in several ways. In seed funding, the entrepreneur must convince the investor that they can sell the product. In Series A funding, the entrepreneur must convince the investor they can grow the overall business. In seed funding, product-market fit and traction are the key drivers pointing to success. In Series A funding, repeatable processes and systems installed are the key drivers. In seed funding, investments come in bits and pieces and anything helps. In Series A funding, larger portions must be raised to carry out the plan. In seed funding, family, friends, angels, and others, are the primary source of funding. In Series A, venture capital and institutions take the lead in funding. Make sure you don’t use your seed deck for a Series A funding as you will find the presentation will fall flat. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound
Direct download: how_series_a_funding_is_different_from_seed_funding.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Mon, 6 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Carolyn Lowe, CEO & Founder of ROI Swift. Founded in 2015, ROI Swift is an agency made up of fun and approachable digital marketing experts who are passionate about growing small and medium businesses. They offer expert management in Google Adwords, Google Shopping, remarketing, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Pinterest - pretty much every digital platform - and take pride in their results. Fun facts about Carolyn: She once won $10,000 on the radio and wished she saved it to invest in Google or Amazon two decades later. After leaving Dell, she ran Global marketing and events for an NPD company and consulted for many brands including DirecTV, Callaway Golf, and others. She founded ROI Swift to follow her passion of helping emerging businesses grow. Brands like Tecovas, Howler Brothers, LemiShine, Incrediwear, UpSpring, and many more can attribute successes due to ROI Swift. She lives in Austin, TX, and is married with two children. Carolyn has her pilot’s license, though no time to actually fly anymore. Carolyn discusses the state of investing in the e-commerce industry. She also speaks about the evolution of it, the number of companies engaged in it, and some of the challenges companies face. You can visit ROI Swift at www.roiswift.com, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/roi-swift. Carolyn can be contacted via email at carolyn@roiswift.com, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/carolynbyronlowe. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Mon, 6 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. So, who does the Venture Capitalist serve? The VC raises funds from the Limited Partner and invests in startups. In talking with entrepreneurs, they make clear the VC serves the Limited Partners first. Many founders talk about how helpful the VC is to their company and personal growth. Entrepreneurs are important to the VC and vice versa. The VC needs the business in which to invest, and the entrepreneur needs the funding. The VC to entrepreneur is more of a partnership than a customer/vendor relationship. They both share a common goal. They must work together and remain aligned to the mission and vision of the business. For VCs funding startups, consider it a partnership and look for entrepreneurs you can work with. For entrepreneurs raising funding, consider it a partnership as well and ask if you want them as a partner for your business? This brings some clarity to the funding process. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Fri, 3 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Eric Thome, Director at VentureSouth. VentureSouth is an early-stage venture firm that provides capital and expertise to Southeastern startups through their angel investment network and funds. Eric is the Managing Director of Business Development for Charles Towne Holdings, a boutique investment bank headquartered in Charleston. He is also the founder of Death Valley Ventures where he acts as a consultant and operator for businesses large and small. Through DVV, he is part owner of Barre3 Charleston and formerly acquired the folding Kayak company, Folbot, and launched GameDayBlazers.com. Eric and his wife, Eloise, live in Charleston, SC with their daughters, Anna, Landon, and Virginia. Eric advises startups and investors and shares some of the challenges they face. He also discusses his investment thesis and what he thinks will be the biggest change we will see in the next 12 months. You can visit VentureSouth at www.venturesouth.vc, via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/venturesouth-vc/, and via Twitter at www.twitter.com/VentureSouth_VC. Eric can be contacted via email at eric@venturesouth.vc, and via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/ericthome. Music courtesy of Bensound. |
Fri, 3 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are many metrics for determining how well your SaaS business is doing. Net dollar retention is a key metric that indicates the health of the business. To calculate it, take the revenue at the beginning of the month, plus upgrades, minus downgrades and churn. Divide this by the revenue at the beginning of the month. If the formula is above 100%, then your business is growing. If it’s below 100%, then it’s shrinking. The key to a high net dollar retention rate is strong customer service. Low net dollar retention rate comes from poor service. Market-leading companies often have a net dollar retention rate well above 100%. Know your numbers and use them to guide your execution.
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 Music courtesy of Bensound |
Thu, 2 September 2021
In this our 600th episode, Hall welcomes Paul Glover, Author of “WorkQuake” and Executive Coach at Paul Glover Coaching. Paul is the “no BS work performance coach”, a "recovering trial lawyer", an ex-felon, an unabashed Starbucks addict, a Chicago Bears fanatic, the author of WorkQuake, a speaker on business and leadership topics, and a member of the Forbes Coaching Council. In 2001, based on his personal experiences as a federal court trial lawyer and a set-back survivor, Paul created a unique coaching program, recognizing the primary reason why convincing successful leaders to engage in the hard work necessary to improve their leadership skillset was so difficult was that leaders seldom know the truth about the weaknesses in their leadership skill set. This lack of knowledge exists because of the inherent nature of positional authority which eliminates the psychological safety necessary for others in the organization to tell leaders the unfiltered truth. This lack of truthfulness about their leadership skill set restrains both the leader and their organization from reaching their full potential. For the last 20 years, he has used a coaching program based on a measurable improvement process that holds leaders accountable for eliminating the filters and stuff that surrounds them. But, more importantly, it also requires leaders to discover their blind spots and their propensity for producing self-inflicted injuries which constrain their organizations and themselves from realizing their full potential. And, finally, it requires that they take the corrective action necessary to eliminate those constraints. Paul discusses the inspiration behind his book, the primary audience, what surprised him the most whilst writing it, and the most important takeaway. You can purchase his book from his website or from Amazon, at ww.amazon.com/Work-Quake. |
Thu, 2 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Investors look for certain things in the pitch to decide whether or not to pursue. In pitching VCs, make sure you cover the following points: Say what your company does in 10 words or less. This provides context so the investor knows how to understand the rest of the pitch. Show how your team is great. Give examples demonstrating how sharp they are, how fast they execute, and how they learn from mistakes. Mention the size of the market and include not only the total available market and serviceable market but also the beachhead market. The beachhead market is the first 20 customers you will pursue. This shows you know where you are going to start with your go-to-market plans. Discuss the monetization model. If you have recurring revenue, highlight that aspect as that will appeal to them the most. Show recent milestones accomplished such as a product launched, or a customer closed. Discuss current traction. Forecasts must rest on top of historical numbers. Investors will look for where you are today in order to understand your forecast. Show how much funding you have so far. Have one fundraise target, not several, as investors can’t manage multiple scenarios in the initial meeting. Know what you are going to accomplish with the fundraise. Again, focus on clear milestones and avoid multiple scenarios. In the end, it’s one team, one product, one business model, one fundraise, and one outcome. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound
Direct download: what_vcs_want_to_know_about_your_startup.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Wed, 1 September 2021
In this episode, Hall welcomes Avetis Antaplyan, Founder & CEO of HIRECLOUT.
Direct download: Avetis_Antaplyan_of_Hireclout_version2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |
Wed, 1 September 2021
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Pitching is an important skill in fundraising. Consider these key points in your next pitch: Tell a compelling story, not just any story. Use the pitch deck to communicate the “Why” behind your business. Time is short, so make sure you hit the key points of the business -- team, product, fundraise, in a logical order. Include meaningful numbers that demonstrate you know what you are talking about. Market size, revenue, growth rate, customer acquisition rates are important numbers to include. In building your pitch, involve your team and others as it will be a great way to reinforce the strategy with those who are helping execute it. Pitching skills also help in recruiting employees, fostering partnerships, and selling customers. The deck is there to help you, not take your place. Remember, you are the presentation, not the slides. 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 Music courtesy of Bensound
Direct download: are_you_able_to_communicate_your_story.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CST |