Sun, 8 December 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes David, the Vice President of Investments at Glidey Planet. Based in London, Glidey Planet is a company focused on enhancing its AI-based concierge service. The system allows users to book various services, from private jets to flowers, through a simple app interface. The company is looking to raise $10 million to scale its AI system from 1.4 million to 10 million active users. Currently, Glidey Planet has one corporate client with 1.4 million active users and is seeking to expand its capabilities further with this new investment round. David, who has been with the company since its inception in 2018, discusses the challenges of developing their AI system in-house, and highlights the benefits such as higher profit margins due to the elimination of middlemen. He explains that the AI system can charge the client's account directly, making the process seamless and efficient. David also points out that Glidey Planet faces no current competition in the AI concierge system market, which has primarily relied on traditional travel agents. Hall and David touch on the services offered by TEN Capital, emphasizing how the platform connects startups with a wide range of investors, from angel investors to VC firms and family offices. TEN Capital operates a unique retainer model rather than charging a success fee, allowing them to work with a broader network without the restrictions imposed by brokerage models. Hall highlights the importance of building relationships with investors, particularly through a mix of online and in-person meetings. David also asks about the flexibility of TEN Capital's in-person meetings, expressing his preference for virtual engagements due to his frequent travel schedule. Hall reassures him that while in-person meetings are beneficial, all stages of their program can be conducted online. They conclude with Hall promising to send a campaign proposal that details the services and past successes of TEN Capital, while also discussing the upcoming fee increase in January.
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, 6 December 2024
What Is Tokenomics Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Tokenomics is a combination of “token” and “economics” and encompasses the creation, distribution, supply and demand, and destruction of tokens in an ecosystem. It’s important to apply proper tokenomics or token management for the following reasons: Incentive -- provides incentives to move the community towards its goals. Distribution -- disburses the tokens to miners and stakers who validate the transactions, and users who provide value to the community. Stability -- create a stable price for the token so the community remains focused on the project at hand rather than the price volatility of the token. Yield -- create a token of value that can generate income through interest rate arbitrage. Dissolution -- a path for removing tokens from the ecosystem to foster a stable price and prevent inflation. Supply management -- maintain an adequate number of tokens to grow the community and meet its objectives. Vesting -- required hold time of the token to prevent short-term speculation and create cohesion in the community. Tokenomics fosters the economy of the community. A good tokenomics structure leads to a healthy community through proper management of the token economics.
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, 5 December 2024
How To Value a Token Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In valuing equity one looks at the revenue for high-growth companies and cash flow for low-growth startups. From this one can determine the valuation. Tokens bring additional features that impact the valuation. In addition to ownership, tokens can bring the following benefits: Voting rights -- gives the holder the right to vote to determine the policies of the community. Yield -- gives the holder the right to lend out the token in order to generate income through interest rates. Utility -- gives the holder additional capabilities such as access rights to resources. To value a token one must consider not only the revenue and profit streams but also the voting rights, potential gain through yield farming, and utility. To find a final valuation one must assign a value to each of these components and then sum them up. This gives the token several more levers with which to pull to increase the value. If the interest rates go up on yield farming, then the value of the token should rise commensurate with it. If the token holder has the right to vote to increase the value of the community, then the value of the token should increase with 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. |
Wed, 4 December 2024
Cap Tables With Tokens Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Web3 introduces tokens into the startup world. Tokens bring a new layer of incentives and must be accounted for in the cap table. This shows up in the form of community and treasury entries. It’s not uncommon for the community to be the majority of the cap table. The tokens provide incentive and must be kept as a separate component of the cap table until issued to the holder. In the Web3 world, the treasury is another newcomer to the cap table. In the Web2 world, the treasury value was spread across all investors as a component of their equity stake. The treasury must be set aside to compensate the token holders. The token can be treated as a warrant. Warrants give the holder the right to exercise an option to convert the warrant into cash. The holder may or may not convert the token. Tokens bring new value but require additional support structures for maintaining a pool of tokens, distributing the tokens, and redeeming them. This brings new entries to the cap table.
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, 3 December 2024
Using Tokens As Incentives Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Tokens bring a new layer of value to the internet startup. Startups can provide incentives to their prospective users to help grow the startup’s network and provide value. In the Web2 world, the startup founder must solve the chicken and egg problem by attracting users to the network before there’s a network to join. These companies offered free services and products in exchange for user engagement. Over time, this could grow into a bigger network providing more value to the user. Network effects and their benefits kick in after the network gains scale. In the Web3 world, the startup can provide tokens at no cost to the user to join. This accelerates the growth of the network by giving users something of value at no cost. Unlike the Web2 world, Web3 provides tokens in return for the user’s engagement. The token incentives give the user some value that they can retain and use after they’ve joined the network. The Web2 world depends on people giving their time, content, identity and other assets in exchange for a short-term use of the product. Web3 layers a new level of value into the process by giving a token which the user maintains even after they’ve joined.
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, 2 December 2024
Applications for Tokens Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Tokens work well in creating a digital representation of a physical asset. Here are four applications for tokens: Precious metals -- gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals can be difficult to handle in their physical form. Tokenization can represent a block of precious metals making it easier to buy, hold, and sell it. Fractionalization can break a large block into smaller pieces reducing the cost of entry. Real estate -- land and property are good use cases for tokens. Tokenization can represent the ownership of a property on a blockchain making it easier to track. Blockchains provide a permanent record of all transactions and ownership. Logistics -- supply chains are ideal use cases for tokenization. All information related to a set of source materials, goods, and history can be tracked on the blockchain. Everyone in the supply chain has visibility on all goods, transactions, and history. Non-fungible tokens -- creates a digital representation of a physical object such as art. The blockchain can facilitate the use of NFTs tracking ownership, rights, and other aspects of it. Everything is moving online. Tokens can track the ownership, fractionalize the asset, and provide information about it online, speeding up the transaction.
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, 29 November 2024
Designing Tokenomics Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In designing the tokenomics for your business there are four key areas to consider: Role of the token -- what role will the token play and what value will it bring. The token could be a store of value, provide access, or facilitate governance. Supply of the token -- how many tokens will be minted, used, and burned. The supply could be fixed or variable. It could increase or decrease based on a community vote. Utility of the token -- how does the holder of the token use it. What access does the token bring? What value could it have? What voting rights can the user hold? Incentive of the token -- what drives a user to obtain a token and use it? Does it represent ownership in which case the token acts as a security? Does it represent compensation in which case the user could exchange it for dollars and spend it. A good token design can keep up with the demand of the network. It can be repaired by votes from the community if there’s a fault in the design. Consider these issues in your tokenomics design.
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, 29 November 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Jonathan Loewenhar, Founder and Managing Partner of Enjoy The Work. Located in Austin, Texas, Enjoy The Work is a consulting firm dedicated to helping founders develop the essential skills needed to transition effectively into successful CEOs. With a focus on startups that are navigating the complex landscape of growth and management, the firm provides expert guidance that empowers business leaders to optimize operations and foster high-performing teams. Through engaging workshops and personalized coaching, Enjoy The Work aims to bridge the gap between mere entrepreneurial spirit and effective company leadership. Jonathan Loewenhar has had an impressive career, operating in various sectors and accumulating rich experiences in growing and managing businesses. Starting as an operator who successfully led a division generating a billion dollars, Jonathan has shifted his focus to empowering other entrepreneurs. He has worked with numerous startups, honing his expertise in what differentiates successful founders from those who struggle. Jonathan's passion for creating value and helping founders succeed led him to establish Enjoy The Work, where he emphasizes the need for skills development equating to a founder's entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, Jonathan discusses the unique challenges founders face as they transition into leadership roles, particularly the important shift from a founder's mindset to that of a CEO. He articulates the need for effective communication and management skills, which are often overlooked during the initial phases of a startup. Additionally, Jonathan shares insights into how his firm collaborates with startups, emphasizing a tailored approach that adapts to the specific context and dynamics of each company. His perspective aligns well with the evolving trends in entrepreneurship, particularly in the wake of recent economic changes. Visit Enjoy The Work at www.enjoythework.com, LinkedIn, and on Twitter. Reach out to Jonathan Loewenhar at www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanloewenhar and on Twitter.
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: riverside_hall_martin___nov_14_2024_001_jonathan_lowenhar_o.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 28 November 2024
How To Apply a Token Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Tokens bring a new level of incentives to your business. Consider these steps in tokenizing your business model. Define the characteristics of your token as follows: Determine the role of the token such as giving voting rights, acting as a store of value, or representing ownership. Determine the rules around fungibility, transferability, supply, and flow. Apply tokenization to your business model by asking these questions: What part of the business would benefit from decentralization? What part would work better with fractionalization? What part would improve with incentives? Focus on applying tokenization to your value proposition. Determine how many tokens to mint and what the token holder must do to earn it. Estimate the cost of running and managing a token process. Figure out how the token will be distributed, exchanged, and used. Choose a platform on which to run the token economy or discuss building your own. Create a sales and marketing plan to promote the token and engage users. Tokens bring a new layer to building a business.
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, 27 November 2024
When Is a Token a Security Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Tokens provide either utility or represent securities. Utility tokens give access, the right to vote, reputation, and more. Security tokens represent an equity ownership stake as an investment. These tokens come with regulatory oversight. Utility tokens have no regulation. Security tokens are similar to stocks, bonds, and other investment vehicles. Traditional securities laws apply to security tokens. They must be traded on regulated exchanges. Gains and losses must be reported, and taxes must be paid. Laws specific to security tokens are not yet fully defined so it’s best to wait for the final regulations. Security tokens bring additional advantages over traditional stocks such as fractionalization. One doesn’t have to buy an entire share but rather smaller slices of ownership. One can automate the investment process using security tokens. Security tokens provide greater liquidity to assets by representing the asset online. These tokens provide greater market access and allow for new innovation.
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, 26 November 2024
Social Tokens Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Social tokens represent individuals, in particular creators. Tokens capture the value a creator generates in the form of reputation. Some will buy the token to support the creator and belong to their community. A creator can build their own token network with governance, incentives, and more. Also called creator or community tokens, these tokens represent a new form of fandom. Tokens based on individuals may or may not outlive the individual. This has yet to be determined. Just as fame rises and falls so the value of the token will rise and fall with it. Social tokens are similar to social media in which individuals burnish their reputation through their postings. Creators pursue social tokens as a means to finance their activities. This applies to musicians, writers, and other creator types. If your fans could support specific projects then the creator can pursue more of them. The social token generates publicity for the creator as well. Consider a social token for mobilizing your community to support upcoming events and projects.
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, 25 November 2024
Types of Wallets Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are several types of wallets used in the blockchain space. They can be hot or cold wallets. Hot means the wallet is connected to the internet and can exchange digital assets directly. Cold means the wallet is offline and cannot exchange assets until reconnected to the internet. The cold wallet provides greater security as no one can hack it online. The hot wallet provides convenience as one can use it to exchange assets more freely. There are several types of wallets as follows: Online crypto wallets -- the wallet is provided by an online service. These are provided by exchanges to enable the flow of digital assets. Mobile wallets -- the wallet exists on the mobile device. These make it easy to pay for things using one’s digital assets. Hardware wallets -- the wallet exists on a hardware device such as a USB stick. These make it easy to take offline for security purposes. Desktop wallets -- the wallet resides on your desktop computer. This makes it easy to access from other applications. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages trading convenience for security.
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, 22 November 2024
What Is a Blockchain Wallet Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. A blockchain wallet is an online wallet with which users store and manage their digital assets. These assets could include cryptocurrencies, tokens, non-fungible tokens called NFTs, or more. The wallet maintains the links to networks, applications, and other systems. The wallet has a password for user access and can be recovered using a seed phrase in case the password is lost. The wallet does not physically hold the digital assets but rather holds the links to those assets. The wallet has a public key and a private key. The public key is an address for the wallet and can be used as a means of identifying the wallet. The private key acts as a password. The private key is used to ensure the security of the wallet to which the user is the only one who has access. Web2 applications use the login/password method to provide user access. The problem here is that the public key and the private key are the same. By placing a network token into your wallet you can gain access to that network. The user controls their data through the wallet rather than login/password access.
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, 22 November 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Alex Chompff, Co-founder and Executive Director of Evolution Ventures and Lead General Partner of MinervaFund. Located in California, Minerva Fund is an active early-stage venture capital firm that invests in women and traditionally underrepresented founders. They focus on identifying and nurturing innovative ideas that often go unnoticed in conventional funding environments. Minerva Fund is dedicated to creating a more inclusive venture capital ecosystem that aims to uplift diverse entrepreneurs and drive meaningful change in the industry. Alex and his team believe in the power of emerging managers and the necessity of supporting underrepresented groups in the startup landscape. By investing in companies led by diverse founders, they not only promote equity but also tap into a wealth of innovative ideas that have the potential to disrupt traditional markets. The fund emphasizes a unique investment thesis centered on the decomposition of monolithic industries, recognizing that there is considerable market opportunity within sectors that can be transformed through specialization and technology-driven solutions. Alex Chompff has been active in investing for many years, starting as an angel and then taking on roles leading various deals. His journey began as the Director of Technology for the world's largest venture capital firm in the late 1990s, an experience that provided him valuable insights into the investment landscape. Over the years, he has developed a keen understanding of the venture capital ecosystem, particularly regarding female and underrepresented founders who are often overlooked by traditional investors. In this episode, Alex discusses his investment thesis for Minerva Fund, focusing on the importance of innovation over invention and the role of technology in transforming industries. He emphasizes the significance of revenue generation as a key indicator of success for startups and the need for diversity in leadership within the venture capital community. Visit the website: https://evolution-accelerator.teachable.com/ and Linkedin: https://www.evolutionacceleration.com Get in touch with Alex here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexchompff/ and his email: alex@evfm.co 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, 21 November 2024
Blockchain Use Cases and Applications Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Blockchain brings transparency, governance, and security to the internet. Here’s a list of use cases and applications for blockchain. Smart contracts -- automates the execution of contracts online. Replacing paper contracts, these code units automate the contract and maintain an online record of the transactions. Cybersecurity -- secures the integrity of the data and systems. Blockchain distributes the data across the network making it more secure from hackers. Supply chain -- captures and stores the data from all participants in a supply chain. Blockchain maintains the record of all transactions in a supply chain network giving everyone visibility on the system. Cryptocurrency -- enables digital money. Blockchain removes the gatekeepers and creates an online system for supporting digital currencies through online “trust”. NFTs -- non-fungible tokens are unique digital assets. Blockchain enables the creation, storage, and transfer of digital assets online. Blockchain applications benefit from the online nature of the system in which manual steps, gatekeepers, and physical components such as paper contracts and physical coins and dollars are replaced with online equivalents. Applications include healthcare such as electronic medical record keeping. Governance such as voting for proposals and initiatives. Identity such as replacing passports and driver's license for proof of identity. Banking such as the use of digital currencies instead of physical ones. Blockchain creates a new level of network connectivity enabling higher levels of connectivity and performance.
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: 04.blockchain_use_cases_and_applications.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Wed, 20 November 2024
How To View the Blockchain World Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Blockchain brings a new technical paradigm to the internet. Here are the key players and components of the blockchain world Asset holders -- they acquire tokens, coins, and NFTs that represent value. This includes exchanges, wallets, banks, funds and lenders. Protocols -- these are computer protocols that manage the exchange of information and value. This includes using coins as a store of value, or tokens to gain access to an asset, or NFTs as collectibles. Smart contracts execute the transactions within the protocol. Exchanges -- marketplaces for trading digital assets. This includes traditional exchanges with a gatekeeper managing the process as well as decentralized exchanges with no intermediaries. Chains -- these are databases which store the transactions. Network effects impact the usefulness of chains. The more users on the chain, the more users will want to engage it. Miners -- they run algorithms to ensure the information across the distributed nodes remains accurate and consistent. Application software -- these are the applications that provide the user specific services such as a social network, managing real estate assets, or tracking insurance coverage.
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, 19 November 2024
What Is a Blockchain Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Blockchain is a way of recording information that is hard to hack or steal. It is a ledger of transactions that are distributed across a network of computers New transactions are added to each ledger throughout the network. Multiple players manage this distributed information called the Distributed Ledger. The blockchain can be programmed with smart contracts. These code units execute transactions across the blockchain. The records are immutable which means they cannot be changed. Those transacting on the blockchain can be anonymous. Every record is encrypted for security reasons. Each record is time and date-stamped. No single person or node controls the blockchain. But every node holding the blockchain collectively agrees to the content. The blockchain provides the mechanism for building “trust” into a network. This provides the technical basis for digital money. There no longer needs to be a gatekeeper for handling money. An online network of computers through a series of computer code executions can replicate the gatekeeper function. This enables online means to manage money.
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, 18 November 2024
Decentralization in Web3 Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Web3 brings a new level of decentralization to the internet. Web3 lets users build their own economic networks using open-source code and tokens to provide incentives. Web3 consists of several components to create the technical underpinnings that provide decentralization. This includes digital assets such as tokens that represent value, the blockchain which stores all the transactions for transparency purposes, and smart contracts for executing the transactions. Web3 brings a new level of governance to the entity. Control of the entity is shared among all and executed through voting mechanisms. Web3 decentralization separates the data from the core system so it’s portable and can be moved by the user to other platforms. The Web3 technical structure enables the transition from a Web2 platform to a Web3 platform. Traditional fintech companies can enable decentralization in the following ways: Move governance to a decentralized community that votes. Embed execution of the transactions into smart contracts. Separate data from the code base. Create digital assets to provide incentives for those working on the system. Consider moving your Web2 application to Web3.
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, 15 November 2024
Web3 CFO Skills Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Web3 brings new challenges to the startup leadership. Here are some key skills a Web3 CFO should have: In addition to basic financial skills, the CFO should also understand the technology and frameworks for DeFi, Crypto, and Web3. Web3 brings a new tech stack with multiple layers providing new functionality. CFOs need to understand the structure and the regulatory requirements. Web3 brings new ways to raise funding. CFOs will need those tools to fund the operations. Web3 brings new tools for financial reporting. The CFO will need to know the Web3 tools for managing the financial aspects of the operations. Web3 takes the treasury function to a new level. The CFO will need to know how the treasury works to maintain ongoing operations. Web3 interfaces with the traditional banking world. The CFO will need to know how to manage traditional banking relationships with the Web3 structure. Finally, converting crypto funds to traditional banking accounts require additional oversight from the CFO. Web3 CFOs should know these areas to be effective.
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, 15 November 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Andrew Romans, General Partner at 7BC Venture Capital Fund. Andrew Romans brings a wealth of experience, having begun his career as an entrepreneur in the enterprise software industry, spanning Silicon Valley, New York, and Austin. He has raised approximately $300 million for his startups, achieving significant milestones such as IPOs and M&As, while also navigating challenges along the way. His journey eventually led him into venture capital, where he has dedicated over 12 years to managing VC funds and assisting startups in securing funding. In this episode, Andrew shares insights from his extensive background in venture capital, discussing the evolution of his career and the challenges faced in raising capital as an emerging manager. He emphasizes the importance of networking, understanding market dynamics, and leveraging international perspectives in investments. Andrew outlines effective strategies for engaging with startups and how governments can support innovation through tax incentives. Andrew Romans discusses the nuances of raising venture capital, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the essential strategies for aspiring founders. He highlights the importance of building a robust network and obtaining feedback from fellow entrepreneurs to refine fundraising pitches. Visit 7BC Venture Capital at www.7bc.vc, LinkedIn, and on Twitter.
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: riverside_andrew__hall_-_take_02___nov_14_2024_001_andrew_romans_of_7b.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 14 November 2024
Web3 CEO Skills Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Web3 brings new challenges to the startup leadership. Here are some key skills a Web3 CEO should have: In addition to basic leadership skills, the CEO will need a strong grasp of financial terms. In particular, the CEO will need to understand tokenomics as it sits at the heart of a Web3 company. Marketing is another key skill for the CEO. Community building is the primary tool for growing the business. The CEO must be able to position and promote the company to find new participants including customers, investors, and partners. Hiring is a key skill as well. The CEO must be able to identify the right candidates and bring them up to speed quickly in the business. Technical skills are also important. A significant portion of the company’s business will be tied to smart contracts which are written in computer code. The CEO needs to be able to read and understand smart contracts in code form. Finally, systems thinking. The CEO must be able to build systems as a great portion of the Web3 world is automated.
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, 13 November 2024
Web3 Business Models Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Web3 brings new business models. Here are some key business models to consider: Native assets -- the value of the coin or token is valuable in and of itself. An example is Bitcoin in which the coin itself has value and as the community grows, the value increases. Infrastructure for native assets -- there’s value in building the exchanges, wallets, and custody solutions for holders of native assets who want to buy, store, and sell their tokens or coins. Payment tokens -- the holders of tokens will want to buy and sell their tokens with others. This requires exchanges and platforms that create a marketplace for those transactions. Token as a security -- the token represents the equity ownership of an entity that generates revenue or other value. Transaction fees for token activity -- similar to most fintech models, the user receives a transaction fee for buying and selling tokens. Network services -- those providing services around token management such as custody, security, and recovery would receive compensation. Yield farming -- those who hold tokens can lend their assets to others who pay an interest rate for it. Consider these business models for your Web 3 application.
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, 12 November 2024
Go to Market Strategies in Web3 Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In the Web2 world go-to-market strategies focused on free products and services. In the Web3 world, go to market strategies focus on tokens. Tokens incentivize the early users by compensating them for their work. In addition to users, developers, investors, and others can participate as well. The use of tokens allows a company to launch without a product. It puts the community and their mission at the center rather than the product and what it does for the customer. Some Web3 communities called DAOs focus on building the underlying protocol that ties the community together. Since revenue is not yet in the picture for many DAOs, they focus on TVL or Total Value Locked which measures the value of all assets associated with the protocol. Other metrics include number of token holders, community engagement, and developer output. Instead of offering free products the Web3 offers free tokens called airdrops. This gives potential community members something of value at no cost such as the ability to vote on the direction of the DAO. Communities can incentivize developers with bug bounties and quality testing. Web3 brings new tools and structures to the startup world to speed the launch and growth of the business.
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, 11 November 2024
Reputation, Credentials, and Identity in Web3 Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Reputation, credentials and identity are new use cases brought about by Web3. Since there are no longer gatekeepers to check credentials and identity, there must be some way to manage this online. There are several types of reputation. Social reputation captures one’s value based on user-generated content. Through likes, shares, and retweets there’s a score for one’s reputation. Contribution reputation captures what one has done and gives it a score. Credentials represent the achievement of a certification based on accomplishing tasks or activities. The system captures this in the form of avatars and badges. An example of this is a customer loyalty program. Finally, there’s identity in which the system verifies one's identity. This requires a verification process to determine if you are who you say you are. This gives rise to the identity provider use case. Web3 removes the intermediaries and uses online software tools to capture one's reputation, credentials, and identity. This gives rise to new functions that must be done online.
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: 01.reputation_credentials_and_identity_in_web3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Fri, 8 November 2024
Treasury Function in Web3 Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Web3 brings a new function the startup must manage: the treasury. The treasury function exists in the Web2 world but typically has no impact until later in the life of the startup. For the Web3 company, the treasury has an important role from day one. The Web3 world introduces the concept of the token which provides value to the members of the startup. Those holding tokens have the option of converting those tokens into dollars. The treasury must be able to handle the conversion to fiat currency. There are also tax implications with tokens. Using tokens as incentives for sales and other activities triggers taxable events. Tokens can fluctuate in price dramatically. As tokens rise, it increases in value to the holder. As tokens fall, it decreases. Taxable events must be paid regardless of the current value of the token. Tokens bring a new level of complexity to the startup which must be managed early on. Consider how to handle the treasury function for 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. |
Fri, 8 November 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Mike Partsch, Chief Venture Officer at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). Located in Madison, Wisconsin, WARF serves as the designated tech transfer office for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For nearly a century, WARF has played a crucial role in advancing groundbreaking discoveries from the university's research labs to commercial markets. They manage the intellectual property generated by university researchers, license it to various industries, and allocate royalties back to the university to support ongoing research and innovation. With a strong commitment to fostering a collaborative ecosystem, WARF has successfully partnered with numerous startups, driving impactful advancements across various sectors. Mike Partsch is a seasoned professional with a rich background in venture capital and entrepreneurship. Having spent years honing his skills in the startup landscape, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to WARF’s investment strategy. Mike’s journey led him to work closely with the university’s entrepreneurial community, identifying promising technologies ready for commercialization. His insights into building a robust portfolio of startups around health, wellness, and technology have positioned WARF as a leader in the field, particularly in the health care sector. In this episode, Mike discusses the mission of WARF Ventures and its unique approach to investing in startups that stem from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He shares how WARF's structure as a separate nonprofit organization allows for a more agile and focused investment strategy, enabling them to support early-stage companies effectively. Mike also highlights the importance of collaboration with entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to ensure that innovations can thrive and address significant challenges within the healthcare landscape. He emphasizes WARF’s commitment to wellness and preventative care, aiming to shift the conversation away from reactive healthcare solutions. Visit WARF at https://www.warf.org/, LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wisconsin-alumni-research-foundation/. Reach out to Mike Partsch at Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepartsch/. You can also contact him via email at MPartsch@warf.org.
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: riverside_mike__hall___oct_29_2024_001_mike_partsch_of_warf.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 7 November 2024
Difference Between Web2 and Web3 Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are several differences between Web2 and Web3. Web2 centralizes the control of information kept by gatekeepers while Web3 decentralizes control and removes the gatekeeper. Web2 requires one to give their content and information to another entity, while Web3 lets the user maintain control of their content and information. Web2 focuses on reading and writing content while Web3 focuses on creating content. Web2 uses fiat currency such as the US dollar while Web3 uses cryptocurrency such as tokens. Web2 uses JavaScript and HTML while Web3 uses open source blockchain technology. Web2 stores data on centralized servers, while Web3 stores data in a distributed manner across the internet. Web2 gave users access to the system through logins and passwords. Web3 gives users access to the network through their own online wallets. Web2 provides basic content while Web3 provides the semantic web using artificial intelligence and machine learning. Web2 provides basic application to application communication while Web3 provides composability or the ability for one application to call another application. Web3 continues to grow and evolve and holds the promise of creating a more democratic internet available to all.
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, 6 November 2024
Composability Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Web 3 brings software composability to a new level. Composability is the ability to select and combine components to meet specific requirements. An example is the smart contract on the blockchain. Any smart contract can call any other smart contract to execute it. Web 3 uses open source components to build systems. This allows the developer to use the tools and systems of others without having to reinvent them. Some level of standardization must be applied to ensure the compatibility and reuse of modules and components. This enables access to multiple applications and systems. For example, one can cast a vote on a DAO, which triggers a token award and then deposits that token into a yield farming system to earn additional money. Composability is the next generation of application software as it connects across company boundaries. As we digitize more things to represent on the internet, the greater the opportunity for composability. For example, an art object can be captured on the web as an NFT. This NFT can now be used as part of a composable system. Composability has been around for a long time and as Web3 brings new physical components online, the ability to combine each component into a new system is endless.
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, 5 November 2024
Benefits of Web3 Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The next generation of the web, called Web3 seeks to decentralize the internet and give control back to the users. This brings several benefits to content creators using the internet. Here are some examples: The current web lets anyone copy anything and share it with others. This provides no compensation for the creators. Web3 through NFT or non-fungible tokens prevents copying and distributing content and installs a payment mechanism for their work. Web2 used the advertising model almost exclusively. Web3 will enable other business models and will allow content creators to capture more of their share of the revenue. New payment mechanisms will let content creators raise investment funding for their work rather than donations. This provides a greater revenue opportunity for the content creator. Tokenization lets every creator earn a share of the revenue unlike current ad models that reward only the most popular. Finally, Web3 gives the user control of their data and content rather than the platform. Content creators can move to other platforms and take their data with them. This gives them the power to negotiate better terms and greater revenues.
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, 4 November 2024
Web3 Innovations Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Web 3 brings new innovations to the internet. Here are some key innovations: Web 3 uses blockchain technology which captures permanently all transactions and list of ownership available for all to access. Web 2 had siloed records based on the platform or the company and only a limited number were able to access it. This standalone record provides portability. One's content, data, and identity are always accessible. Web 3 provides a secondary monetary system called tokens which compensates users of the platform for their contributions. This provides incentives to those building the system. Web 3 brings increased interconnectivity of systems. Web 2 systems had limited data exchange while Web 3 takes data and application exchange to the next level. Web 3 reimagines the company as a group of people with a common cause rather than just a legal entity. One can build a community using software to manage and execute the policies of the group. Web 3 brings new innovations to software, entity formation, and connectivity.
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, 1 November 2024
What Is Web3? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The current internet is controlled by a few players with concentrated power over the users. The next generation of the web, called Web3 seeks to decentralize the internet and give control back to the users. Web3 promises to give creators a larger share of the revenue from their work. It also promises to give users control back over their own data and content. Web3 uses blockchain technology which enables decentralized control and removes the gatekeepers. The current web lacks a layer for handling payment transactions. Cryptocurrencies provide technical solutions to enable Web3 by providing tokens to incentivize users and compensate those who work on it. Web3 brings a new approach to software that takes it to the next level. It brings composability which lets one build new capabilities on existing software modules. This speeds up the software development and increases the capabilities of the system as well. Web3 also defines the interface between systems to enhance the exchange of data and interconnections among companies. Web3 is the next generation of software.
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, 1 November 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Matt Duomo, CEO and AI Strategy Expert at Fifth Advantage. Located in Austin, Texas, Fifth Advantage helps businesses become future-ready by leveraging AI and digital technologies to drive growth and efficiency. This innovative company is renowned for its "anti-consulting" approach, which focuses on delivering fast, actionable results that empower clients to thrive autonomously. With a team of experts known as the "Avengers of AI," Fifth Advantage emphasizes the collaboration and adaptation necessary for companies to navigate the rapidly evolving technological landscape and successfully implement AI strategies. Matt Duomo has a rich background in technology, having worked with industry giants like Microsoft and Amazon. As a founding general manager of Amazon Web Services’ database division, he played a crucial role in developing products like Microsoft Dynamics and the speech infrastructure that became Cortana. Matt has a wealth of experience in leading projects to successful exits, including companies that achieved a combined $1.6 billion in exits. At Fifth Advantage, he is driven by a desire to provide guidance and support to businesses embracing AI during the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, aiming to empower organizations for autonomous growth and success. In this episode, Matt shares his insights on the importance of understanding AI demands within businesses and how to deliver growth in a matter of weeks. He discusses the evolving landscape for family offices to invest in AI and the need for practical, value-based investments. Matt emphasizes a collaborative approach to working with clients, ensuring that they can navigate challenges and embrace opportunities in AI. Matt delves into how both Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates have influenced his views on innovation and AI. He explains the necessity of working backward from the customer needs and setting realistic goals to ensure AI projects succeed. The conversation also covers how family offices are uniquely positioned to invest in AI, especially during a time when traditional venture capital models are changing. He underscores the importance of creating value, enhancing employee experiences, and leveraging AI as a tool for efficiency and innovation in business. Visit Fifth Advantage at www.fifthvantage.com, LinkedIn, and on Twitter.
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: riverside_mat__hall___oct_29_2024_001_matt_domo_of_fifthv.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 31 October 2024
How To Write a DAO Constitution Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In setting up a DAO it’s important to write a constitution defining the governance and establishing the rules. Here are some key steps in writing a constitution for your DAO: Start with the vision of the DAO by stating its mission and values. Describe the governance structure including roles and responsibilities. Define the guidelines for the members including rewards for adding value and penalties for causing harm with mechanisms for enforcement. Include rules for protecting the members, the treasury, and other key assets and stakeholders. Invite input from the members to review and comment on the draft. Add new rules as the need arises. Set up a process for updating the rules. There are many other DAO constitutions available. Review and consider what can be drawn from them. All of this must work within the software framework for running the DAO. Consider these steps in setting up your DAO.
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, 30 October 2024
Delegated Voting in DAOs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs bring many benefits to online communities such as member control over the direction of the DAO. One of the challenges with current DAOs is member voting. Just as voters in political elections are susceptible to apathy and lack of engagement so members of DAOs suffer the same challenges. Voter participation is a problem. One solution is the delegated voter in which the members give their proxy to another to vote on their behalf. Delegated voters can solve the time problem in that not every member has the time to follow each issue. The political system uses delegated voters in which the citizens elect someone to vote on their behalf for each issue. There are challenges with delegated voters. Once someone becomes a delegated voter it’s difficult to remove them. Potential solutions are term limits. Each delegate can serve only for a limited time period. Another is limiting the number of votes a delegate can control. This reduces the chance of concentration of power in too few hands. Finally, there’s bribery in which members give their tokens to delegates in return for support for the member’s initiatives. Consider these issues in setting up delegated voters.
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, 29 October 2024
VC Usage of DAOs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs bring many benefits to the startup fundraise. These include a community focused on supporting a common cause. And software to track the results and execute the policies of the group. Venture capital will find both aspects appealing for startup fundraising. Since the regulatory laws behind DAOs are not yet defined in the US, it is difficult to use a DAO directly for raising and deploying funds. Other tools such as Special Purpose Vehicles or SPVs can be used. DAOs can be used to support a fundraise such as harnessing the community to invest in the startup. Since investors fund causes they support, the DAO is an ideal tool for raising funds. The software tools based on blockchain technology can also be used to track the community’s interest and actual engagement in a fundraise. Smart contracts for fundraising can also be reused by the VC industry to raise and deploy funds into startups. There are several DAOs that track the newly formed DAOs. This makes it possible to identify the appropriate communities to pursue for startup fundraising. DAOs provide not only potential investors but also software to track the community of investors and smart contracts to execute the fundraise.
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, 28 October 2024
Fundraising With DAOs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs bring a new level of community engagement to startup fundraising. The community within the DAO can support the startup not only with investment dollars but also by promoting and supporting the startup. Here are some key issues with using DAOs for your startup. The DAO in most cases is not a legal entity but rather an unincorporated partnership. This means the members of the DAO are personally liable for any damages the DAO may cause. DAOs use a network of people to constitute the DAO rather than a formal hierarchy of leadership. This means there’s no one person to go to for a decision. All decisions are made by community votes. A startup fundraising campaign must be able to engage the community as a whole. Most DAOs transact with their native token. This means the value is not tied to a fiat currency such as the dollar and can swing in value drastically. To fund a startup there needs to be a mechanism for moving the tokens into dollars for the startup to deploy for hard costs such as paying taxes. Charitable organizations raising funding must also consider that distributing tokens for donations may not qualify as a charitable contribution. Consider these issues with fundraising through a DAO.
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, 25 October 2024
DAOs Bring a New MVP Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs or Distributed Autonomous Organizations are communities with a purpose using software platforms to coordinate and execute the policies of its members. Startups traditionally bring an MVP or Minimum Viable Product to the market to test interest and demonstrate they can build and deliver a solution. In the Web3 world, the startup is part of a community and must test interest with that group. This shifts the focus of building something that someone wants to building something that a particular group of people want. DAOs bring a community together for a common purpose. Their requirements are more specific and in some cases more demanding. Those within DAOs are more collaborative and supportive and can be not only users but also investors and potential employees. This creates a new dynamic in building an MVP. It must not only solve the problem but also appeal to the people who have a stake in a cause and want to see it grow and develop. The MVP in a DAO must be more compelling and aligned with the interests of the group. The connection among members of a DAO provides more information and feedback than traditional communities. Consider what your MVP must achieve to be successful in a DAO.
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, 25 October 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Mario Vasquez, Founder and CEO at Vest Social. Located in Georgetown, Texas, Vest Social is a newly launched platform aimed at connecting individuals and businesses in the construction industry. The company addresses the significant challenge many face in hiring skilled labor by leveraging technology to create a user-friendly environment where contractors and job seekers can find each other easily. With the app recently launched, the focus is on building a strong user base and refining the platform's offerings to better meet the needs of the construction sector. Mario has dedicated his career to the construction industry, and his extensive experience led him to identify the growing need for a dedicated hiring platform in this field. With a background in tech and construction, he saw firsthand the difficulties in recruitment and decided to create a solution that not only simplifies the hiring process but also caters specifically to the construction trades. Over the past year, he has assembled a talented team to develop and launch Vest Social, showcasing his commitment to innovation in the industry. In this episode, Mario discusses the initial launch of Vest Social, the challenges of building a user base, and the strategic decisions made regarding marketing and funding. He shares insights into the importance of targeted regional marketing within Texas, highlighting his desire to create a community where tradespeople can connect effectively and efficiently.
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: HTRF_EP_30_-_How_to_find_anchor_clients.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 24 October 2024
DAO Use Cases Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs or Distributed Autonomous Organizations are communities with a purpose using software platforms to coordinate and execute the policies of the members. Here are some key uses cases: Form a charitable group to pursue nature conservancy. Create a political action group to pursue a political agenda. Set up an education initiative to foster new learning. Build a services firm such as legal support to carry out legal activities on the blockchain. Gather a group of people to bid on an historic artifact. Support those who are victims of war and plague. Set up a lending fund and use the DAO to disburse and collect the funds. Use a DAO to raise funding for a community of startups. Employ a DAO to buy a piece of artwork. Create a DAO to specify, build, and offer a software platform for various uses. Use a DAO to set up a fund to disburse grants to projects in a sector. Create a DAO as a membership organization for reputation purposes. Setup a DAO to keep track of all the other DAOs as directory resources. Join a DAO that supports an influencer and helps promote their values. DAOs can be used for many purposes including social, governance, political and economic.
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, 23 October 2024
The Challenge With DAOs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs or Distributed Autonomous Organizations are communities with funding resources. A DAO is a network of people coming together to pursue a joint cause. It’s easy to start a DAO by creating a mission statement, setting up a software platform, and inviting people to join. Then offer tokens to incentivize users to further the mission. Now comes the hard part -- growing the community. Here are some key challenges: Growing the DAO with new members who believe in the cause. Building out the community with processes and policies. Setting up accountability to ensure the members adhere to those policies. Identifying strategies to incentivize the members to continue working on it. Similar to any community interest wanes over time. As the DAO grows it’s important to set up bots and other software tools to manage the community. Despite the use of software to execute the policies, member engagement remains the key challenge. In setting up your DAO consider how to maintain interest and engagement with the members.
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, 22 October 2024
Benefits of DAOs for Fundraising Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs or Distributed Autonomous Organizations can be used for startup fundraising. Traditional ICO fundraises were susceptible to scams as they were controlled by a small number of people who made decisions on their own. DAOs bring many benefits to fundraising as follows: DAOs are controlled by all the members and not just a handful of people. All funds are stored with the DAO. DAOs deploy the funds based on the votes of its members. This removes the scams that were prevalent with ICOs. The members can choose to continue funding a startup project or not. This motivates the startup team to achieve their promised milestones. DAOs bring additional benefits such as transparency as all transactions are stored on the blockchain and made accessible to the members. DAOs make the project available to fund by everyone as anyone can join as a member. DAOs can also bring a network of suppliers, vendors, customers, and other stakeholders to support the startup. DAOs provide a major improvement to the startup fundraising process over traditional fundraising models. Consider using a DAO for your next fundraise.
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, 21 October 2024
Liabilities in Setting Up a DAO Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs or Distributed Autonomous Organizations bring people together to pursue a common goal. Here are some liabilities in setting up a DAO: Traditional companies use a corporate hierarchy for defining the company and making decisions. Decisions are made by the leadership and people within the organization execute those decisions. DAOs are network organizations that use software code in the form of smart contracts to execute decisions and track the results on the blockchain. DAOs use a voting mechanism with its members to make decisions and determine policies. Traditional corporations limit the liability of its leadership and employees. DAOs are unincorporated partnerships that provide no such protection. In most DAOs, the members are anonymous which complicates KYC/AML requirements for financial institutions. DAOs should consider registering as a legal entity to gain such protection. Each state treats DAOs differently as unincorporated entities. Look for a state or country offering recognition of DAOs as an entity to register your DAO
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, 18 October 2024
How To Setup a DAO Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs or Distributed Autonomous Organizations bring people together to pursue a common goal. Here are the steps to set up a DAO: Create the DAO from an existing platform that provides DAO structures. Choose a template that best fits the function of the DAO such as membership, company, or fundraising. Set a name for the DAO. Configure the template for your DAO. Adjust the settings for the performance. Launch the DAO. Attach a wallet for managing funds and transfers. You can either attach directly to a network such as Ethereum or set up a testbed. Invite others to join the DAO and contribute to the cause. DAOs give everyone the opportunity to vote on the direction and policies of the group. DAOs range from small-group initiatives to large-scale movements. Start with a small group and test out your idea before setting it up for scaling into a large network.
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, 18 October 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Gabe, CEO of Gunter Medical. Located in Houston, Texas, Gunter Medical is focused on developing innovative medical devices aimed at improving surgical outcomes. Their flagship technology aims to enhance surgical precision while reducing recovery times for patients. Gunter Medical has made significant strides in its development, exploring partnerships and seeking funding to bring its transformative product to market. The company operates with a strong team, leveraging experience in medicine and entrepreneurship to navigate the complexities of the healthcare landscape effectively. Gabe is a seasoned entrepreneur and medical professional with extensive experience in the healthcare sector. With a background in surgery and medical device development, Gabe has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by both healthcare providers and patients. Before founding Gunter Medical, he worked with various startups, applying his practical knowledge to innovate and improve surgical technology. His leadership and vision for Gunter Medical have positioned the company to address pressing needs in surgical care, aiming for significant impact across the healthcare industry. In this episode, Gabe discusses Gunter Medical's unique pricing strategy, its capital and disposable components for the medical device, and how the company approaches hospital procurement. He highlights the importance of securing a strong physician champion to facilitate the sales process within healthcare institutions. Additionally, Gabe shares insights into the company’s pre-sale efforts and their plan for FDA submission through a 510(k) pathway, as well as their commitment to supporting surgeons and addressing pain points in surgical procedures.
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: HTRF_EP_29_-_how_to_adjust_your_pricing_for_Hospitals_varying_requirements.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 17 October 2024
Forming Capital With DAOs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs or Distributed Autonomous Organizations align a group of people toward a common goal. Forming capital is often part of the process of achieving that goal. Here are some key points in forming capital with your DAO: The DAO should coordinate the members of the community and help achieve their goals. The members should control the code and not the developers. There needs to be tokens distributed for work performed in addition to capital invested. A fundraiser for a DAO must include the amount to be raised, the tokens to be offered, and the rights those tokens bring to investors. Determine in advance what type of tokens will be used such as stablecoins or your own coin. Stablecoins remove the risk that comes from your own coin. The cap table is formed when the funds are raised and the tokens are distributed. Once the funds are raised they must be allocated between the treasury, yield farming and operations. Raising for a DAO is no different than raising for a startup. First, access your network. Second, draw the circle wider and access those related to your network. Use the success of the first raise to fuel the second.
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, 16 October 2024
DAOs As the Next-Generation Crowdfunding Platform Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAO stands for Distributed Autonomous Organizations. DAOs hold the promise as the next generation of crowdfunding platforms. Crowdfunding lets anyone raise funding from anyone else through online means. Here are some key benefits of using DAOs for crowdfunding. The blockchain provides access to anyone to post and raise funding. It removes any censorship or gatekeeping. DAOs provide the promise of building bigger, more complex networks for fundraising. Current platforms are general platforms in most cases with no incentives for the members to fund startups. DAOs can provide incentives to those who fund startups of their members. By providing tokens, the startup can give additional benefits such as the use of the product, access to the team, or additional compensation for helping the startup. The startup can find additional support through the DAO by accessing the members to buy their product/service, providing support, or enabling the growth of the startup. It’s the network the DAO brings to the startup that makes DAOs superior to current crowdfunding platforms. The regulatory aspect of selling ownership stakes into an entity must still be worked out. Just as it took several years for crowdfunding to gain regulatory approval with clearly defined rules, DAOs must undergo the same process with the SEC. Consider using a DAO for your fundraising.
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: 03.daos_as_the_next_generation_crowdfunding_platform.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Tue, 15 October 2024
DAOs Are Like Gaming Communities Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs or Distributed Autonomous Organizations are like gaming communities. A gaming community forms around a mission or challenge. There’s a software platform that brings the participants together. There are rules about how the game is played. Those who play well receive rewards for their participation such as avatars which is a form of recognition or tokens which is a form of compensation. The software platform prescribes the rules in advance and uses software to execute those rules automatically. DAOs take the gaming concept and apply it to any group with a mission or purpose. Any group of participants who want to pursue a common goal can create a DAO. They can engage on the software platform to further the proposed goal. DAOs are decentralized in that there’s no one person or group that controls everything. DAOs are autonomous in that they use software platforms to encode the rules of the engagement without gatekeepers or intermediaries. Participants can vote on how the DAO grows and evolves over time. DAOs can be applied to social, political, or business objectives. The lessons learned from building gaming communities apply to those building DAO communities. Consider using a DAO to engage others to achieve a goal.
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, 14 October 2024
Background of DAOs Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAOs or Distributed Autonomous Organizations define the rules for coordinating a group of people in pursuit of a common goal. Consider a group of people coming together with the goal of reducing pollution in their local area. A DAO focuses and coordinates their efforts. It provides a governance framework for how decisions will be made and by whom. Software is used to track the rules, the members, and their contributions. This provides transparency to all the members about who did what and why they received compensation. The results are posted on a blockchain which keeps track of all activities, decisions, and results. The rules are encoded into the form of Smart Contracts which respond to the actions of the members. In our example, if a member picks up trash in the local area, then they receive tokens which are digital assets that give the member rights, access, or an asset of value. If the members want more activities such as picking up trash they can vote to provide more tokens to those who do so. All members have access to the data as to what each member did and how many tokens they received. DAOs are a good way to coordinate a group effort and compensate them fairly for their work.
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, 11 October 2024
What Are DAOs For? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAO stands for Distributed Autonomous Organizations. DAOs facilitate people's coordination toward a common goal. DAOs give collective ownership to the members including decision making. A DAO uses Web3 software to provide the coordination, voting, and governance rights of the members. DAOs can be used for many types of goals including social, economic, and political. Here are some example use cases: A DAO can be used as a legal entity instead of an LLC or C-Corporation. A DAO can provide compliance for meeting certain requirements such as environmental standards. A DAO can be used to launch a social initiative to raise people out of poverty. A DAO can be used to create an artistic movement and propagate the creative output of its members. A DAO can be used to create a political action committee to further a group’s political agenda. There are many more use cases for DAOs. Consider using a DAO for your next project.
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, 11 October 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Alice Loy, General Partner at Relevance Ventures. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Relevance Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to investing in startups that promote social, environmental, and individual wellness. With over $125 million in assets under management, the firm strategically invests between $250,000 and $2.5 million across various sectors, including fintech, edtech, healthcare, and consumer packaged goods (CPG). The company is committed to supporting innovative entrepreneurs who aim to create positive change while delivering financial returns. Alice Loy is an accomplished entrepreneur and thought leader with a strong academic background in entrepreneurship, holding both a master's and a PhD from the University of New Mexico. Before joining Relevance Ventures, Alice founded Creative Startups, the world's first accelerator focused on creative entrepreneurs, where she worked to empower artists and innovators worldwide. Throughout her career, she has cultivated deep connections with Native American communities, championing economic development and sustainable practices within those networks. Her unique perspective on impact investing has been shaped by years of experience working with diverse entrepreneurs and organizations. In this episode, Alice discusses the mission of Relevance Ventures and its commitment to investing in wellness-driven startups. She highlights the firm's focus on transitioning from a traditional sick care system to one that promotes preventative health and well-being. Alice emphasizes the importance of supporting entrepreneurs who are motivated to solve significant issues within their communities while also building successful businesses. She shares her vision for cultivating a supportive network of investors and entrepreneurs who can drive impactful change in the wellness landscape. Visit Relevance Ventures at www.relevanceventures.com, LinkedIn, and on Twitter. Reach out to Alice Loy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceloy/ and on Twitter. You can also contact her via email at aloy@relevanceventures.com.
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, 10 October 2024
What Are DAOs? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. DAO stands for Distributed Autonomous Organizations. A DAO is a group of people who join together for a common purpose. A DAO is run by its members and uses tokens to incentivize and reward the members for their contributions. Tokens give the members rights such as voting, governance, or access. DAOs are different from crowdfunding portals in that they create a group that has the ability to determine the policies and direction of the DAO. The laws around securities for DAOs are not yet finalized so it’s unclear how the SEC will treat a DAO that raises capital for an ownership interest. DAOs can be considered the next generation of companies with a new legal form, governance, and compensation structure. DAOs can move faster than traditional companies, and serve the needs of its members more effectively by giving them control over the direction of the entity. DAOs can be used for social, political, and economic initiatives. In the early days, many DAOs were scams in which the members lost money. DAOs hold the promise of providing an internet that serves everyone and not just a few. It can provide a fairer place for doing business and providing content creators a fair wage for their work.
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, 9 October 2024
Capturing Their Attention Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching an investor it’s important to gain the investors' attention. The timespan for a pitch continues to shrink. Here are some key points for how to gain their attention: Get to the point fast. Avoid spending time building context and use only what is necessary. Start with something unexpected. This makes them do a double take and focus on your presentation. Involve them in the pitch by asking questions. This generates interactivity which increases attention. Make it about them. People are always interested in how it impacts them. Use interesting stories to make your point. Again, keep the story short and to the point. Make sure the pitch is relevant to as many people as possible including both experts and novices. For complex topics use analogies that people are familiar with to explain how it works. Connect with first principles as these stand the test of time. Help the listener see the problem in a new way and change the way they think about 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. |
Tue, 8 October 2024
Preacher Prosecutor Politician Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In pitching your startup you can frame the pitch in several ways. Consider the preacher, the prosecutor and the politician as a framework for how to position your pitch. Preacher mode is when your basic beliefs are in jeopardy. You deliver a sermon to protect and promote your ideals. In the startup world this viewpoint is used in pitching an impact investment. Your thesis is that the world needs to be improved and your startup is a part of that movement. Prosecutor mode is used to prove something wrong. You make the case that your solution is better than the existing standard. In the startup world this viewpoint is used in pitching in a competitive market. You need to make the case that the competition is not succeeding but your startup’s solution will do so. Politician mode is used to win over the audience. You play to their interests. In the startup world you show how your startup will be successful and make a great return for the investor. This technique is most often used with startups that are in a growth sector. One in which the investors believe the sector will continue to grow. Consider how to position your startup and which of these frameworks will work best.
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, 7 October 2024
Research Question Frameworks for Biotech Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Biotech startups must show the efficacy of their solution. Here are several research frameworks that biotech and medical device startups can use: PICO P -- Population/Problem I -- Intervention/Exposure C -- Comparison O -- Outcome This is useful for quantitative research. Here’s an example: Our prosthetic limb (intervention) compared to the competition (comparison) improved mobility by 2X (outcome) for elderly amputees (population). SPICE S -- Setting P -- Perspective I -- Intervention C -- Comparison E -- Evaluation What are the benefits (evaluation) of preventing pneumonia (intervention) for elderly patients with cancer (perspective) in the hospital (setting) compared to no support (comparison)? Finally, SPIDER S -- Sample PI -- Phenomenon of interest D -- Design E -- Evaluation R -- Study Type What are the outcomes (evaluation) of children (sample) undergoing COVID vaccinations (phenomenon of interest) using multiple vaccines (design) in a double-blind clinical trial (study type). Consider using these frameworks to present your results to investors.
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: 01.research_question_frameworks_for_biotech.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Fri, 4 October 2024
Mistakes in Synthesizing Answers Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In providing synthesized answers to the investor, here’s a list of key mistakes to avoid. The most common mistake is summarizing instead of synthesizing. Summarizing is not synthesis. In this case, one recounts what was said but doesn’t create any new information. The second most common mistake is citing facts, telling stories, and recounting general information without any particular point. Synthesis creates a new concept from the facts and contextual stories that was not known before. The third most common mistake is reciting the history of the startup rather than giving a synthesized answer. The founder mistakenly believes that telling the backstory provides enough information to let the listener draw what conclusions they want. Stories take a great deal of time and don’t answer the questions directly. In a fundraise the main point is to show the company solves a significant problem with a meaningful solution and the founder has built a fundable company to deliver it. Instead of summarizing, focus on the main point and show the support for it. Instead of citing facts, combine them into a coherent case that supports the main point. Investors look for short and to the point answers to their questions. Finally, avoid using the story form for most answers.
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, 4 October 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes the CEO of Vimers. Located in San Jose, California, Vimers is a Y Combinator-backed startup focused on transforming static images into engaging animated videos. The company aims to help brands, creators, and designers connect better with their target audiences by providing an innovative solution that enhances storytelling through visually dynamic content. Vimers allows users to animate their photos effortlessly, thus improving engagement across social media platforms and reaching potential customers in a more compelling way. Basil is an ambitious entrepreneur with a strong background in technology and digital content creation. He has been pivotal in leading Vimers since its inception, focusing on product development and market fit while ensuring the company meets the growing demand for more interactive digital media. His leadership has helped Vimers achieve significant milestones, such as generating over 100,000 videos monthly and securing partnerships with major platforms like Canva, Adobe Express, and Shopify. These integrations position Vimers to be a leader in the animated content space for both B2C and B2B markets. In this episode, Basil discusses Vimers' innovative approach to animation and its competitive advantages over rivals in the industry. With an attractive pricing model and unique features like batch processing capabilities and API integration, Vimers differentiates itself by offering customized motion controls that cater specifically to the needs of B2B clients. Basil also shares insights into the current funding round, aiming to raise $3 million to support the company’s growth and marketing efforts, and discusses the valuation criteria that potential investors should consider.
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: HTRF_EP_28_-_How_to_use_warrants_to_close_an_investor.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 3 October 2024
Synthesizing the Components for a Fundraising Pitch Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In formulating a pitch for a fundraise, you must synthesize several sources of information. Here are the steps to synthesizing the components for a fundraise pitch: Start with the topic stating you have a fundable startup. State the problem you are solving. The problem must be big and compelling. Small problems don’t justify funding. State the solution. The solution is what the company will use to solve the problem. This is often the basic technology or approach to solving the problem. Show the product you will bring to market. The product shows the solution in action. Show the team you have assembled and why each of the top level people are the right ones for the task at hand. Outline the business model showing how the business makes money. Show the current traction with customers. It helps to state a customer ROI with the product. List the nearest competitors and how the startup's solution is superior. Show the financial projections at a high level, showing revenue, cost, and profits. Show the fundraise amount with the deal terms. Finally, show the proposed path to an exit. Use synthesis to combine the information from several sources to show the startup is fundable.
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: 04.synthesizing_the_components_for_a_fundraising_pitch.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Wed, 2 October 2024
More Best Practices in Answering Questions Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Here are more best practices to consider in answering investor questions Take a moment before answering the question to show you are giving a proactive response. Watch your body language and make sure you are not giving non-verbal cues. Repeat the question back so you confirm you heard the question correctly. Offer to find the answer if you don’t have it already. If you can’t answer the entire question, then break it down into parts and answer what you can. Ask for clarification on words that can have multiple meanings. Keep your answers short and to the point so they can ask more questions. Inject some humor into the response to lighten the mood. Prepare answers to commonly asked questions so you have those ready to go. Ask questions in return to help guide the conversation such as “What is your primary concern about the deal?” “What do you like best about this deal?” The more information you can gather the better you can answer the questions. Use these best practices to respond to investors.
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: 03.more_best_practices_in_answering_questions.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Tue, 1 October 2024
Best Practices in Answering Questions Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders answer many questions during the fundraise process. Here are some best practices in answering the investors questions. Answer the question asked directly and to the point. Avoid long winded stories. Anticipate what questions will be asked and have a response ready. If the question is unclear then rephrase the question to see if that’s what they are looking for. For example, “When you ask about margin are you asking about gross margin?” Find out what they already know. For example, “How familiar are you with AI generation systems?” Avoid using acronyms in answering questions but rather spell out all the terms. Ask if your response answered their question giving them an opportunity to refine their question. Turn weak questions into good ones by expanding the answer to provide new and relevant information. Adjust the answer for the skill level of those asking. For example, if the investor is not a technical person, then provide a non-technical answer to questions using plain English. Use these best practices in answering investors questions.
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: 02.best_practices_in_answering_questions.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Mon, 30 September 2024
Good vs Bad Answers to Questions Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In fundraising the investor will ask the startup many questions. The investor is often limited in their time and must go through a series of questions quickly. It’s best to answer the question directly and only the question asked. It’s not a good idea to give the full story to every question as that takes time and limits the number of questions the investor can ask. Use the PREP model in answering investors questions. PREP stands for Point, Reason, Example, and Point Here’s an example: Point: Our startup is the first to market with a product to solve the throughput problem in data analytics. Reason: We have a superior team that has been working on this problem for five years. Example: Our algorithm increases data throughput by a factor of 10X. Point: We’re able to provide answers to queries at an order of magnitude faster than the competition. This answers the question directly and provides not only the answer but why it’s valuable. Consider using the PREP model in your pitch to investors.
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, 27 September 2024
How To Answer Questions Using Synthesis Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Synthesis can help in answering questions. Here are some key steps to answer questions: First, understand the question. If you don’t understand it, ask for clarification. Try paraphrasing what was asked to ensure you understand the question. Determine what form the answer will take. For example, if the question starts with “How many”, then the answer will be a number If the question starts with “Why”, then the answer will be a reason starting with “because”. If you don’t know the answer, then admit to the limitations of your knowledge and give what information you can. When you finish answering the question, then stop and wait for the next question. Don’t start your answer until the question is completed. In fundraising, keep your answers short and to the point. Avoid telling a story for every question as this form takes a great deal of time. If an investor asks how much revenue you have, then give the number, $10K MRR, $100K since inception, or we are pre-revenue. Don’t tell the story about how you started the business. Synthesis helps you tune your answers to the questions asked.
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: 05.how_to_answer_questions_using_synthesis.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 26 September 2024
What Are Critical Thinking Skills? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Critical thinking understands the connection between multiple ideas and concepts. In building a pitch deck a founder needs critical thinking skills to create a logical flow throughout the pitch that highlights the main points to the investor. Here are some key critical thinking skills to employ: Ability to consider different viewpoints and see the business from other perspectives. Ability to create a solid argument based on evidence. Ability to draw logical conclusions from the evidence to make the case for the startup. Ability to separate fact from fiction which creates a well grounded startup premise. Ability to analyze the thinking process to find the flaws. Consider applying these skills to your startup pitch: Avoid bias in the pitch such as leaning to the technical side rather than the business side. Apply solid research to your startup pitch rather than guesstimates. Identify the problem you are solving not only on the surface but also other factors that influence the problem. Approach the market with curiosity to learn more. Consider the relevance of information by how it helps to make your case or detracts from it. Apply these critical thinking skills to your pitch deck presentation.
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, 25 September 2024
What Is Critical Thinking? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Critical thinking is defined as the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. It’s a skill that determines what is true or false. It involves cognitive biases and logical fallacies. Cognitive biases cause a bad decision when one thinks it is a good one. Logical fallacies sound true but are in fact false. Startup founders should practice critical thinking skills in developing their startup as it will help avoid mistakes. Critical thinking helps you make better decisions. It makes your proposal and pitch to investors more compelling. Critical thinking is based on evidence. The investor will review your pitch based on the evidence provided. Solid evidence and logical conclusions will help convince the investor your startup will succeed and should be funded. The goal of any startup pitch is to convince the investor that your startup will succeed with or without the investor. Investors support those startups because the success is assured and does not rely upon the investor to provide heroic actions to achieve it. Consider applying critical thinking skills to your pitch deck before presenting to investors.
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, 24 September 2024
How To Use Market Research With Investors Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Market research not only informs the founder about the industry and how to build a startup. It also informs the investor about making an investment into that startup. Market research answers the questions investors will pose to startups such as the following: How big is the market and what are the most profitable market sectors to pursue? Who are the competitors and how are you different from them? What do the current customers think about the competitors? Use the market research to convince the investors to fund your startup. Here are some key steps to follow: After researching the market, build a slide deck showing the results of the market research in full. Describe in detail the size, growth rate, sectors, and composition of the market. Show the current industry trends and state of technology. Highlight the next generation of technology coming up. Show the current competitors with their strengths and weaknesses. Show the current distribution channels used in the industry and upcoming new ones. Identify your target sector in the market and show how your company fits in. Describe the product you are going to build. Contact investors and indicate you have been researching a market segment. Offer to share the results with them without any ask of them. Investors find cogent, concise market research interesting as it informs them about the industry. Show them the presentation and ask permission to keep them informed. When it comes time to raise funding, you’ll have a group of investors educated about your market and your approach to 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.
Direct download: 02.how_to_use_market_research_with_investors.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Mon, 23 September 2024
Industry Analysis for Market Research Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In researching a market for your startup it’s important to analyze the overall industry. Analysis will help you forecast sales and growth rates for your startup. It shows the competition in the industry. It shows the life cycle of the industry which informs the type of startup to build. It highlights missing elements that a startup could fill. It forecasts the potential returns a startup could make. It shows the current industry trends to use for building and selling a product. Here are some key steps to analyze your industry: Collect data from the industry by reviewing industry reports. Analyze the data for the current players, the regulatory environment, and customer preferences. Review the current state of technology in the industry. In particular, notice the next stage of technology development. Summarize your findings in a report showcasing the challenges and opportunities of the industry. Once completed, use the report to select a position in the industry and a product to offer. Design the product and delivery to effectively compete against the competition.
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: 01.industry_analysis_for_market_research_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Fri, 20 September 2024
Primary vs Secondary Market Research Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Market research falls into two categories: Primary and Secondary research Primary market research consists of gathering information directly from people through a variety of means. Secondary market research consists of examining existing research through reports. Primary market research can be done in the following ways: Interviews -- talking with people directly about their experience. Focus groups -- gathering a group of people together and asking for their opinions. Surveys -- sending out a list of questions for people to answer. Observation -- watching what people are doing. Secondary Market research can be done in the following ways: Industry analyst reports -- reports written about an industry segment. Studies -- research reports written on a specific topic. Market reports -- reports written about a specific market segment. Primary research yields greater detailed information than secondary research. It is useful for answering specific questions. Secondary research can be reviewed more quickly and at a lower cost. It is useful for identifying the key questions to ask. Consider using both primary and secondary market research in your project.
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: 05.primary_vs_secondary_market_research.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 19 September 2024
Segment the Market Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Market segmentation divides your target market into logical groups based on needs, location, or other factors. The purpose of market segmentation is to identify the most profitable customer segment to pursue. This becomes your ideal customer profile. Segmentation also lets you customize your product for the customer based on their needs. Market segmentation can be based on psychographic factors such as activities, interests, beliefs, and opinions. Luxury brands use these factors to find customers who aspire to a higher lifestyle. Demographic factors can be used. Banks target customers based on their income, education, and marital status. Behavioral factors can be used. Online consumer sites look for buying patterns, brand loyalty, and location of purchase. Finally, geographical factors can be used. Those selling outdoor lawn equipment will segment based on geography, climate, and size of city. Consider these factors in segmenting your market to find the ideal customer profile.
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, 18 September 2024
Identify the Ideal Customer Profile Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In researching a market it’s important to identify the ideal customer profile. The ideal customer is the one who is best suited to buy your product or service. A startup should focus on finding and selling to ideal customers instead of selling to anyone. Here are the steps to identify your ideal customer profile: Review your customers to identify the characteristics of the best ones. List out their characteristics including: What problem are they solving? What size budget do they have to solve the problem? What else do they bring such as education, experience, or training? What position do they hold in their company? Interview ideal customer candidates for the following: What do they read? Where do they hang out? What are their overall goals? What attracts them to events, content, or networks? What do they not want? What networks do they join? What other activities do they engage in? Combine the answers into an ideal customer profile that you can use for your sales and marketing activities.
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: 03.identify_the_ideal_customer_profile.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Tue, 17 September 2024
How To Size the Market Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Sizing the market is a key step in researching an industry. Follow these steps to size the market for your startup. Define the total available market which is anyone you can sell your product to. Next, define the total serviceable market which is the segment of the market you can reach. Then define the total serviceable obtainable market which is the portion of that market you can win. With this information, you can calculate your market volume which is the number of transactions you can generate. First, calculate the penetration rate which is the number of customers divided by the market size times 100. For example, if you sell to grocery stores in a state, then your penetration rate is the number of stores you currently sell divided by the total number of stores in the state times 100. Now calculate market value which is found by multiplying the average sale per grocery store by the number of stores you have. If you sold $20K per year to a store and you are in 100 stores, then your market value is $2M. Finally, segment your market into logical groupings. In our example, we could divide the stores by geography and treat the stores in each direction such as north, south, east, and west as a separate segment. Use these steps to calculate your market size, volume, and value.
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, 16 September 2024
Analyze Industry Trends Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. When conducting market research for your startup, it's crucial to differentiate between primary and secondary research. Primary research involves gathering data directly from individuals, which provides firsthand insights into customer experiences and needs. It helps you understand the target audience through methods such as interviews, focus groups, surveys, and observation. Secondary research relies on existing studies and reports, enabling you to quickly gather industry information. It allows you to analyze trends, benchmark competitors, and identify gaps that your startup could address. Here are some key steps for conducting your market research: Start with primary research by interviewing potential customers to gather their insights. Conduct focus groups to obtain deeper opinions on your product concepts. Utilize surveys to quantify customer preferences and behaviors. Complement this with secondary research by reviewing industry analyst reports and studies relevant to your market segment. Analyze the combined data to identify key trends, challenges, and opportunities that inform your business strategy. Once you've gathered and analyzed the information, develop a dual approach using both primary and secondary research to refine your product and go-to-market strategy.
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, 16 September 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Merom Klein and Louise (Yochee) Klein, co-founders of Courage Growth Partners. Located in San Francisco, California, Courage Growth Partners specializes in helping startups cultivate a strong company culture to drive adoption and success. They work closely with emerging companies to develop techniques that enhance the pitching process and improve communication with investors. Their insights on organizational culture aim to create environments where innovation can thrive and align interests among all stakeholders. Merom Klein is a business psychologist and leadership expert with extensive experience guiding startups in effective leadership and innovation practices. His partner, Louise Klein, brings expertise in strategic partnerships and organizational development, enriching their approach to supporting startups in navigating the complexities of early-stage growth. Together, they focus on building cultures that foster collaboration, engagement, and shared goals among teams, allowing startups to approach their pitches with authenticity and confidence. In this episode, Merom and Louise share valuable perspectives on the importance of nurturing a strong enterprise culture from the very beginning of a startup's journey. They emphasize that as soon as a few individuals come together, a company culture begins to form—and being intentional about it can lead to significant advantages down the line. Among the highlights discussed are the five key strengths of a healthy culture that can resonate positively with investors, the need for a "win-win-win" mindset, and the concept of cultivating work as a service to enhance employee engagement and performance. Visit Courage Growth Partners at www.couragegrowthpartners.com, LinkedIn, and on Twitter. Reach out to them at www.linkedin.com/company/courage-growth-partners and on Twitter.
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, 13 September 2024
Identifying Competitors Through Market Research Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In researching a market segment for launching a startup, identifying competitors is a key component of the work. Competitors tell you a great deal about the customers, challenges, and composition of the market. To find the competitors approach the market as a prospective customer and search for solutions online. This includes searching both the web and social media for a solution to one of the problems you’ve identified in the market. Capture the results in a competitor map. In reviewing competitors look for their positioning in the market. Are they trying to be a differentiated solution or the lowest cost? This will help define the careabouts of the market. Map out the value chain of the market and notice where customers and competitors sit. In a value chain, there are often multiple customers one could pursue. Look where the competitors are clustered and where they are not. Check the competition's business model by how they make money. Examine the amount of money each type of customer has to spend. Compare the competitor map with the value chain map to see where opportunities may lie. Look for open spaces that no competitors are directly targeting. Capture the results in a value chain and competitor map.
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: 05.identifying__competitors_through_market_research.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 12 September 2024
Questions To Use in Market Research Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In researching a market use these questions to find out more: Who are these people in the market? Where can you find them? What are their challenges? What do they aspire to achieve? What do they read? What do they buy? Who are their thought leaders? Use these questions to find out more about their customers: What dollar level do they deal in? How do you reach them as customers? How do the transactions flow? Would you like them as your customers? What do the customers complain about? Use these questions to find out more about their competitors: Who are the primary competitors? What do they offer and what is their value proposition? Use these questions to map out a potential solution for your target market.
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: 04.questionsto_use_in_market_research.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Wed, 11 September 2024
How To Perform Secondary Research Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Secondary research provides additional information about a market. Typically the information is free and accessible online. This includes web searches, market reports, and industry news. This research is easier to perform since you don’t have to reach out to people for interviews or surveys. It helps define overarching trends which may not be clear from customer interviews. It can inform your market research plan and help define what primary research may be needed. Here are some key steps to perform secondary research: Start with online searches using keywords around your product, industry, or problem to be solved. Capture key documents available such as market reports, industry studies, and articles discussing the problem. Build a list of competitors and research each one to learn more about their offering. Capture the results into a competitor map. Compare the information from multiple sources to gain a better understanding of the space. Analyze the data and draw conclusions from it such as current challenges the customer faces, and trends showing where the industry is headed. Make sure to verify the sources of the secondary data.
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, 10 September 2024
How To Research a Market Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Market research provides many benefits including identifying your target market and your ideal customer. Here are the steps to research your market: Size the market by looking at it from three levels. Total Available Market is the size of the market of everyone related to it. Total Serviceable Market is the size of the market you intend to pursue with your startup. Total Obtainable Market is the size of the market you can reach. For example, you may want to only reach the US portion of the market. Review the competitors in the space for their product offerings. Look at the price, feature sets, distribution channels, and leadership. Note what channels competitors are using. Research the available marketing channels and test to see what works for your startup. Run trials and tests in each channel to check performance. Identify keywords and phrases for SEO and conversion. Test out various landing pages for signups. Understand your target audience, in particular your ideal customer profile. Find out what they care about, where they are located, what they read, and what channel reaches them. Review social media to understand the topics, issues, and players in the industry. Identify the industry leaders and their content profiles. Gather the results of this research into one report to share with the team and investors.
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, 9 September 2024
Types of Market Research Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are several types of market research one can use in studying a market segment. Consider these types of research: Primary research -- gathers information directly from the customer and industry-related contacts. This can be useful in identifying key problems the customer is trying to solve. It’s also helpful in identifying the ideal customer profile for a potential startup. Secondary research -- gathers information by reviewing existing data on the subject. This includes market reports, public data sets, industry trend reports and more. Public data sets include the US census report, trade association reports, and private market research reports. This helps size and segment the market. Interviews -- first-hand encounters with customers in the market segment. This can be useful in identifying the customer's workflow and how the problem impacts it. Focus Groups -- a group of people in the target segment provide feedback on the current challenges. Usability research -- shows how the customer currently uses a product and their impressions of it. Observation research -- this research simply views the customer using the product. This yields insight into what features are used and how the customer uses it. Consider these types of market research for 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. |
Fri, 6 September 2024
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Fri, 6 September 2024
Why Do Market Research Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Market research is a key step in preparing to launch a startup. Here’s a list of reasons why it’s important to give it proper time and attention. Quality market research will help you avoid spending time on startup ideas that have no significant market demand. It will help you find product-market fit faster. Quality research shows the changes in a market and what the market needs. It shows what customers to pursue and how to promote the product. Market research will help you find more investors. After completing your market research, take the findings and build a slide deck showing the size, growth rates, and trends. Reach out to potential investors and invite them to learn more about the market segment. In general investors look for quality research and take the opportunity to learn more. Tell the investor you are not raising funding now but only researching the market and you want to show them the results. Present the information to the investor and indicate you are going to work on a startup in the space. Offer to give them updates on the market. There’s no ask to the investor so it’s easy to gain access to them. When the time comes to raise funding, you’ll have a group of investors who are educated on your market segment.
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, 5 September 2024
Closing the Raise Without a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are more startups than there are lead investors. Not every fundable startup will find a lead investor. Here’s how to close your round without one: Start your fundraise with a convertible note. Make sure there’s a market-relevant valuation cap on the note. The convertible note is a debt instrument that converts to equity later. The valuation cap sets the upper limit of the valuation upon conversion. There are many investors who are not lead investors but rather follow on investors. Show how the valuation and final terms will be set on the next round and invite investors to join the fundraise. The investments into the convertible note will help fuel the growth of the startup which in turn can lead to more investors joining. Be on the lookout for a lead investor. Look for an investor that wants equity and will invest at least $100K into the business. For those investor prospects, discuss with them about leading the round. Even if there’s no lead, the startup can raise the entire fundraise amount to carry on the business. In the next round of funding continue in the same way. Use convertible notes to fund the business till you find a lead investor.
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: 04.closing_the_raise_without_a_lead_investor.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Wed, 4 September 2024
Closing a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. A lead investor is important for raising funding. They negotiate the terms and valuation of the deal and bring other investors to join the round. Here are some key steps in closing a lead investor for your fundraise. Identify the right investor for your startup. Look for one that fits your sector and stage. Generate interest from other investors to show the lead investor there is support for your deal. Introduce the proposed lead investor to these investors. Gather all the diligence documents into one place so the process doesn’t turn into a paper chase. Provide background information about comps in the market to show the range of valuations in the sector. Design an initial set of terms and a proposed valuation to provide a starting point. Offer additional incentives to the lead investor such as warrants for leading the round. Offer a paid advisory board position to the lead investor upon completion of the round to compensate for the work. In short, reduce the workload and provide incentives to the lead investor. Consider these steps in closing a lead investor for your round.
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, 3 September 2024
Characteristics of a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Startup founders are looking for lead investors. Good lead investors exhibit these characteristics: They believe in the founder and they tell other investors why they should too. They are not trying to take over the company but rather support the founder. They are easy to work with which is important since they will be there to the exit. They exhibit a strong sense of ethics. They have a strong reputation in the startup space. They show their experience in leading rounds. They have a track record of successful investments. They know the investor networks and have access to them. They invest in other deals aside from the founders giving them diversification. Look for these characteristics in a lead investor for 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: 02.characteristics_of_a_lead_investor.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Mon, 2 September 2024
How To Find a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Most investors do not lead the fundraise round but rather follow-on. There’s a great deal of work and most investors are not signing up for it. Some will express interest in investing after you have a lead investor. Here are some steps to help find a lead investor for your fundraise: Start with a convertible note for your fundraise. Convertible notes bring investors into the deal without setting the valuation. The founder can start picking up funding which helps fuel the growth of the business. This validates the fundraise to the follow on investors. Look at other startup fundraisers to see who led the round. Make contact with startups who raised from that lead investor and ask for a warm introduction. Reach out to those who are known to lead investment rounds and show the fundraising traction already in place. You may be able to attract a lead investor to lead your round. Another approach is to take two to three investors who are interested and gather them together into a group with a regularly scheduled meeting. In the meeting they each share their questions and feedback. Document the results of the meeting and share with the follow-on investors. By gathering the three investors together you can create a lead investor group. Once the lead investor group comes to agreement with the founder on valuation and the deal terms, you have a led deal. Consider these steps in finding your lead investor.
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, 2 September 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin has an engaging conversation with Paul, the founder of a pioneering AI-driven platform designed specifically for the restaurant industry. Paul shares his unique journey into tech after a promising career in professional hockey was derailed by an injury. His passion for innovation led him to create a comprehensive suite of solutions that enables restaurants to optimize operations using artificial intelligence. Together, they explore the fascinating landscape of the AI market today, especially within the context of hospitality—a sector that, as Paul describes, is ripe for technological disruption. The discussion dives deep into the challenges faced by restaurant owners, particularly in managing marketing efforts and reducing operational costs. Paul explains how his platform alleviates these pain points by automating functions that have traditionally consumed excessive time and resources. With capabilities ranging from payroll management to real-time inventory tracking, he's built a system that not only simplifies restaurant management but also drives customer engagement and repeat business through intelligent, data-driven marketing strategies. Hall humorously notes the struggles of conventional restaurant marketing and the opportunity for Paul’s AI solution to drastically improve this crucial aspect of the business. As they shift gears, Hall inquires about Paul’s recent fundraising efforts. Paul reveals that they raised $3.6 million in a friends-and-family round but quickly realized that more funding was necessary to achieve their goals. Currently, they’re in the midst of a seed round, having raised $1.7 million and looking to close the remaining $400,000 needed. The conversation reveals the importance of strategic investor relationships and how building a solid foundation of stakeholders can help propel startups to the next level. Hall’s insights into connecting with angel investors reflect his practical approach to securing needed funding. Finally, the episode emphasizes the notion that having proprietary data can serve as an essential competitive moat in the AI landscape. Paul elaborates on the uniqueness of their data bundle, which combines various aspects of restaurant operations to generate actionable insights. Hall underscores the significance of integrating data for creating value and enhancing processes, ensuring that a startup like Paul’s can stand apart from competitors. The episode wraps up on this note of optimism and exciting potential in the AI-driven restaurant space, leaving listeners with a sense of the transformative impact technology can have on traditional industries.
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, 30 August 2024
What Is the Value of a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The lead investor can be an important resource to a startup. Here’s a list of values lead investors can bring to their fundraise: They help increase the chance of success of the fundraise. The presence of their leadership shows investors the startup has support. They bring other investors into the fundraise. Finding additional investors is the ongoing challenge. Many investors will not invest without a lead investor. The presence of a lead investor solves that problem. The lead investor can help progress the fundraise process. The lead investor typically invests 20% to 50% of the round which takes care of a sizable portion. The lead investor leads the diligence which is oftentimes the biggest hurdle in closing the round. The lead investor manages the legal process in papering the deal. The lead investor oftentimes forms an advisory board if there’s no formal board. Finally, the lead investor negotiates the deal with the startup which is a time saver.
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: 05.What_is_the_value_of_a_lead_investor.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 29 August 2024
Role of the Lead Investor After the Fundraise Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The lead investor has a role before, during and after the fundraise. Here are some key activities for the lead investor after the fundraise. Takes a board seat to help guide the company. Often helps recruit the other board members. Provides oversight for reporting and compliance. This includes tax and regulatory filings as many startups haven’t done this before. Helps prepare the company for the next round of funding. This includes building the appropriate business results as well as lining up outside investors. To raise follow-on funding the company will need to meet specific metrics and milestones. This requires putting processes in place to achieve the goals. As for outside investors, it’s best to engage them early in the process so they can track the progress of the company. The more the investors know about the company the easier it is to raise the funding when the time comes. Consider these activities as a lead investor.
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: 04.role_if_the_lead_investor_after_the_fundraise.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Wed, 28 August 2024
What Are Co-Lead Investors? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The lead investor typically takes up to half of the round in return for leading the diligence and setting the valuation. When there is a great deal of work to be done and no single investor will take the lead then one can recruit a co-lead investor. A co-lead investor will join to help with the diligence. In this case it’s best to build a lead investor team. It’s important to divide the diligence tasks among the members so everyone does their share of the work. Some consider the co-lead investor as lacking in interest or commitment. But with the amount of work to be done, it’s not uncommon for investors to look for other ways to accomplish the work. Startups can build lead investor teams to facilitate their funding round. Founders can pull several investors together into one group to perform the diligence and share the results. This often speeds up the funding process as investors look to others for feedback and experience. Consider building a lead investor team on your next fundraise.
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, 27 August 2024
Disadvantages to Being a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. While there are many advantages to being a lead investor there are also disadvantages. Here’s a list of disadvantages to consider: The lead investor must convince the other investors to agree on the proposed terms. Not everyone will agree with the terms and the valuation set by the lead investor. The result of the investment will be placed on the shoulders of the lead investor. If the outcome is not a positive one, the lead investor will receive the blame. There is a time commitment. The role of the lead investor includes negotiating the terms and valuation and recruiting other investors. Closing the round will take considerable time as the other investors will go through their own diligence process. Providing diligence to other investors often leads to investors not doing diligence. Each investor is responsible for their own diligence result. There’s an expectation that the lead investor will join the next round. By not joining it will put the startup in a difficult position. Consider these disadvantages before assuming the lead investor role.
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: 02.disadvantages_to_bring_a_lead_investor.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Mon, 26 August 2024
Advantages to Being a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. While the lead investor has many responsibilities there are also advantages. Here are some advantages to being a lead investor: Gain a better understanding of the startup through diligence work. Gain a position in the startup or on the board. Better understand the performance of the startup over time. Have more influence over the direction of the company. Have more say in key decisions and strategy. Can help the startup avoid major challenges and disasters based on poor decisions. Can protect the investment by helping negotiate the terms and provide follow-on oversight. Can identify poor decisions and take steps to correct them. Successful startup investments come from a strong team, proper mentorship, and sufficient funding. The lead investor is in a key position to provide these elements to the startup. Consider leading a funding round.
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: 01.advantages_to_bring_a_lead_investor_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Fri, 23 August 2024
Attributes of a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The lead investor leads the process of negotiating the terms of a deal with a startup. Here are some key attributes of a lead investor: Has a strong interest in funding the startup. Has previous experience with venture capital investing. Is familiar with venture terms sheets and terminology. Has experience with investors and early stage funding. Understands the due diligence process and what needs to be done. Understands the legal aspects of startup funding. Approaches the work to be done as a professional. Has time available to engage in the diligence process as a lead investor. Takes responsibility for the outcome of the process. Can work well with others both on the startup side and investor side. Has good communication and negotiation skills. Can provide leadership through difficult situations. The lead investor must be organized and efficient in their work. Consider these attributes for a lead investor for your fundraise.
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, 23 August 2024
On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Rob Johnson, CEO at MotionAI Technologies. Located in San Francisco, California, MotionAI Technologies is pioneering the development of a Small Motion Model (SMM) that focuses on biomechanics using proprietary sensor data to train AI models. The company is specifically targeting the consumer fitness market with an innovative approach that incorporates wearable technology, such as wrist and finger sensors, to gather motion data and create actionable insights for fitness enthusiasts and professionals alike. With a patent in place and promising letters of intent from potential customers, MotionAI is laying the groundwork for a groundbreaking solution that could redefine how motion data is leveraged in fitness applications. Rob has a robust background in AI systems and biomechanics, having collaborated with the University of Michigan Kinesiology Lab to validate the capabilities of his technology. With a hands-on approach, he has successfully bootstrapped the company to this point, raising $700k to date. Rob's vision is to create a sophisticated AI-driven model tailored to tracking human motion, which, with the right funding, can be developed into a market-ready product within a few months. His experience spans various domains, making him a knowledgeable leader in the tech space who understands the strategic necessity of securing investment and partnerships to advance the company's mission. In this episode, Rob shares insights into his fundraising efforts, the unique technology behind MotionAI, and the importance of partnerships with corporate VCs in the fitness industry to propel the company forward. Visit MotionAI Technologies at www.motionaitech.com, LinkedIn, and on Twitter. Reach out to Rob at www.linkedin.com/in/robjohnson and on Twitter.
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, 22 August 2024
Responsibilities of a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The lead investor leads the diligence and negotiations with the startup. Here’s a list of responsibilities of a lead investor: Recruits investors to join the diligence team and divides up the work. Engages in the process of diligence as well. Organizes meetings with investors and the startup team. Keeps the investors informed of the progress of diligence and deal terms negotiations. Brings in an attorney to paper the investment transaction. Helps select the board of directors if a board will be formed. Keeps the startup team informed of the investors concerns and care abouts. Provides mentorship to the startup throughout the diligence process. Negotiates the valuation and key terms of the deal such as liquidation preferences. Helps find additional investors if needed. Represents the interests of all the investors throughout the process. A lead investor makes it easier for the startup by negotiating the terms directly rather than dealing with multiple investors. Consider these responsibilities before taking on the role of a lead investor.
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: 04.responsibilities_of_a_lead_investor.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Wed, 21 August 2024
What Is a Lead Investor Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. A lead investor is an individual or a group that leads the startup funding round by performing the diligence and setting the valuation. The lead is an investor who represents the investors in the terms negotiations with the startup. The lead is typically the first investor funding the startup. The lead investor typically invests a substantial amount of the fundraise but not all of it. The lead investor needs to have knowledge of the startup, the investors’ interests, and funding terms as well as deal structures. A lead investor has experience with funding startups and a track record in startup investing. The lead investor will need to dedicate substantial time to the process of negotiating the terms and conditions of the deal. A lead investor often knows other investors who are interested in joining the round. The lead investor has access to legal resources for papering the deal. The lead investor lends credibility to the fundraise through their reputation. The lead investor is someone other investors trust. Startups seek lead investors who can help negotiate and set the valuation for the investment such that other investors will join the round.
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, 20 August 2024
Managing the Grant Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. After winning the grant, the work begins. The research must be carried out and the grant providers must be kept informed. Here are some key points to consider in how to manage your grant. Review the rules of the granting program and set up a plan to comply. Check the grant plan to ensure that all requirements are being met. Maintain a calendar of key dates including meetings, reports due, and audit deadlines. Keep track of all financial invoices, receipts, and contracts in one place. Match each expenditure with the use of the funds. Ensure proper financial management over the funds with backups and security. Track all relevant documents from the grant proposal and ongoing research performed. Setup a budget for the use of funds and check monthly to ensure everything is on track. Gain permission to change the proposal from the granting program before making the changes. If there are partners in the grant then set up a meeting to build the calendar with meeting schedules, report deadlines, and how to maintain communication throughout the process. Announce the grant to the public.
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, 19 August 2024
Best Practices for Writing a Grant Proposal Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The grant proposal will be read by many people of varying background and technical skill. Here’s a list of best practices for writing a grant proposal. Make sure your proposal aligns with the goals and objectives of the granting organization. Establish context by writing an introduction that establishes the basic problem to be solved and the current solutions. Educate on the key care abouts and challenges in the space. Separate your goals - what you plan to accomplish, from your hypothesis -- what you believe to be true, and theories -- which are a system of ideas intended to explain something. Define a core fundamental goal and build the proposal around it. Stay focused on the goal and avoid complicated arguments that distract. Define your goals and develop a set of hypotheses to prove out. Show why you want to pursue these goals and how the outcome is important. Make sure the underlying research is solid and feasible. In writing the proposal state the problem and goal up front so it’s clear. Less is more. The more you can focus on a clearly defined problem, the more realistic your proposal becomes.
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: 01.best_practices_for_writing_a_grant_proposal.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Fri, 16 August 2024
___________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: www.investorconnect.org |
Fri, 16 August 2024
How To Write a Compelling Abstract Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. In applying for a grant, it’s important to include a compelling abstract. Not everyone involved will read the entire grant proposal but most everyone will read the abstract. Here are some key steps in writing an abstract: State clearly what you plan to do. Include why this is important. Show what you have already done. Propose how you plan to carry out the work. State your hypothesis and how you plan to prove it. In writing the abstract it helps to start with what you want to achieve and then fill out the supporting science, and the steps you will take. In the abstract describe not only what you want to accomplish but how you will do so. Abstracts come with word limits so it’s important to wordsmith and polish it so it becomes concise. Write out potential problems and how you will solve them. Remind the reader of the overall problem you are trying to solve. The abstract will be read by both technical and non technical people so it should be written in plain English. Consider these points for writing your abstract.
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: 05.how_to_write_a_compelling_abstract.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
Thu, 15 August 2024
Mistakes in Applying for a Grant Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Grant applications are complex and come with many challenges. Here is a list of common mistakes in applying for a grant: Failing to make clear the purpose of the study. Failing to support the hypothesis with facts, studies, and evidence. Not planning for obstacles by having back up plans. Lack of data to support the proposal. Failing to display knowledge of the current research and how your study fits into it. Using acronyms and jargon rather than plain English. Failing to define the research methodology and how you plan to carry out the research. Not connecting your project to the current list of topics the granter is seeking. Using a title that is misleading or uninteresting. Failing to succinctly summarize the research to be done in the abstract. Avoid these mistakes in writing your grant proposal. In writing a research grant proposal it is important to know your audience and what they are looking for. Spend time researching the granting institution including their goals and objectives.
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, 14 August 2024
Sources of Grant Funding Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are numerous sources to search for grants. Here’s a list of sites to consider for your grant: Grants.gov -- this site lists all the SBIR grants available from the US government. National Institute of Health grants -- lists all the NIH grants. National Science Foundation -- lists all the NSF grants Grantforward -- funding opportunity database built by academics for researchers Researchresearch - a London-based research grant site. For non-profits here’s a list of funding sources from family offices and foundations. Instrumentl - grants available from family offices. Foundation Directory Online -- database of federal and private grants. Grantstation -- searchable database with tools for submitting grants. Grantwatch -- grants for nonprofits and small businesses. Some sites require a subscription. Many foundations do not have a website listing their grant offerings so it’s important to have resources available to find them.
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, 13 August 2024
How To Write a Grant Proposal Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. There are many sources of grants beyond the government such as family offices and foundations. These private organizations seek to further their mission through grants to those who can advance the technology or the cause. Here are some key steps in writing a grant proposal: Develop a cover letter that describes the purpose of the grant and why the grantor should consider it. Build an executive summary that captures the problem, your solution, the team, and current activities. The purpose is to provide an overview of the proposal highlighting key details. Write a full proposal that shows the firm seeking the grant. Include the current state of the business, the team, and its capabilities. Write out the problem to be solved. Show the solution you offer. Make clear the actions and results proposed to achieve the solution. Show how you measure success and will track the progress of the program. Show funding gained from other sources. State the ask for the funding including the amount. Show the use of funds for the project. Include these elements in your grant proposal.
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, 12 August 2024
How To Prepare a Grant Application Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The grant application process can take over three hundred hours to complete. Take these steps to prepare to complete a grant application: Review the eligibility criteria to ensure you qualify for the grant. Setup an account on grants.gov Download the application and other relevant documents and read through them. Review the instructions on completing the application. Write in a concise and cogent manner using plain English. Avoid jargon and spell out acronyms. Provide a logical ordering to the description so the grant reader can follow it. Connect charts and graphs to the body of the report with a clearly defined reference. Review the deadlines for grant submissions. Set a target date for completing the application and plan out the work. Line up additional support to review your grant application before submitting it. Submit the grant registration on grants.gov which can take up to two weeks to complete. Capture the unique identifier for your application for future reference. Consider these steps for preparing your application.
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: 01.how_to_prepare_a_grant_application_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CST |
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