Category Archives: General

Four ways to create marketing excellence

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Dave Berkus

First, let’s recall the four “P’s” of marketing Marketing is a science devised to help drive customers to your door.  There are lots of ways to define how to market well, including the four P’s of marketing (1): product, price, … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Positioning | 6 Comments

Can you defend your plan without being defensive?

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Dave Berkus

When meeting with investors or even your board, during the period devoted to feedback after your presentation, you will hear comments and recommendations that don’t resonate with you. Some will be from a misunderstanding of your explanation. Some listeners will … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Growth!, Raising money, Surrounding yourself with talent | Leave a comment

Don’t get hung up on early stage valuation.

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Dave Berkus

Here’s the “what.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked away from deals where the entrepreneur insists on a start-up pre-money valuation that is so high, no angel could expect to make a return upon the investment, even … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Ignition! Starting up, Raising money | 1 Comment

Please don’t overestimate your audience’s knowledge

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Dave Berkus

Ask the important question first When making a presentation to a new audience, the smart thing to do, if there is an opportunity, is to ask your audience by show of hands, if they have some knowledge of your industry … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 1 Comment

Raising money? Find your champion.

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Dave Berkus

Increasing your chances of success If you seek funds from an organized investment group such as an angel fund, venture capital entity, or even an investment club, the first thing you want to do is to find one person to … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Raising money | Leave a comment

Have you heard the rule of the thirds?

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Dave Berkus

It starts with sharing the opportunity and upside Think of startups and early stage businesses whose entrepreneurs you know. How many of them, particularly in technology, were able to start a company, supply all the funding, and share no management … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 2 Comments

Financing with grants, not equity or debt

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Dave Berkus

First, an example of grant-based financing           I was chairman of a company that, for twelve years never took a dollar of outside investment.  The company was funded entirely by grants from the National Institute of Health, amounting to millions … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Raising money | 1 Comment

Use creative fundraising instead of equity or debt?

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Dave Berkus

Use creative fundraising instead of equity or debt? By Dave Berkus First, my story as an example Let me tell you the story of how I raised $100,000 to fill a gap needed to purchase a new home for my … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 1 Comment

Three Important Issues for Your Business Plan

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Dave Berkus

Some professional advice            Here’s more advice from professional investors for aspiring entrepreneurs.  Each of us has a list of things we look for early on when identifying whether we want to go to the next step in analyzing a … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Ignition! Starting up, Raising money | 2 Comments

What is your biggest error in company planning?

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Dave Berkus

The biggest error in planning may not be spreadsheet calculation error.  Or cost estimation.  It is most often missed assumptions about the market, the competition, the speed of adoption, or other critical metrics you’ve researched, or selected, or even just … Continue reading →

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