Monthly Archives: October 2015

Your business: Grow it and hold it?

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Dave Berkus

Taking money from professional investors such as angels or VCs usually requires that you agree to seek an exit for those investors in your plan, often targeting five to seven years as the ideal period for growth before a liquidity … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Growth! | 2 Comments

Raise money on good news

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Dave Berkus

The first rule for raising money is to do it on good news – right when sales are increasing at an increasing rate.  Or when a major customer signs a significant deal.  Or when something happens that makes an investor … Continue reading →

Posted in Raising money | Leave a comment

The best advice startups will never follow

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Dave Berkus

Let me tell you a few short hair-raising stories of entrepreneurs who have raised money and regretted it later.  Here are some rules that entrepreneurs almost always ignore to their future peril. Don’t take money from relatives who can’t afford … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignition! Starting up, Raising money | 5 Comments

Entrepreneurs: Take the time to celebrate your exit.

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Dave Berkus

We come to the end of this cycle of insights with a thought about how you might view your successful exit from the company you have spent so much effort to build. You’ve worked hard for years to reach the … Continue reading →

Posted in The liquidity event and beyond | 1 Comment

Angels and VCs: Don’t be greedy even if you can.

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Dave Berkus

Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event for the early investors, including the entrepreneur or the founders.  Especially when outside investors, venture capitalists or angels have put in substantial money, and the sales … Continue reading →

Posted in The liquidity event and beyond | 2 Comments