Not For Public Consumption

Once you’ve made the decision to start a business — or even if you’re still deciding — it’s all too easy to find yourself making excuses that you’re “too busy,” or you have this or that obligation, o…

If you listen to the media, it’s easy to get the impression that if you’re not in your 20s you’ve missed your chance and it’s too late to start a new business. 

While the media may put most of their f…

In this episode you will learn:

• How myths and biases influence your funding goals.
• So much of the advice out there is about the “right” way to raise funds — but that advice is only focused on a very sm…

It’s one thing to enter a new or underserved market where simply being there is enough. But to start a venture in a saturated market? How can you compete against dozens — or hundreds — of businesses …

When it comes to attracting investors, it takes more than painting a rosy financial picture. Investors need to be romanced. To do that, you have to connect with investors on two levels: the head and …

“There’s never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.”

When you’re starting a new business, one of the most basic human urges is to dive in without stopping to think, evalua…

To get the critical real-world data needed to build a thriving business, you have to get out of the building and talk with 3 key groups of people. 

Each group has valuable information that will ensure…

There are a few of those preventable mistakes that fall into the “greatest hits” category — and that don’t always reveal themselves until your doors are open and you find yourself struggling.

Why not …

Yes, writing a business plan is a lot of work. And it demands a healthy dose of legwork and critical thinking, especially in some areas of business that may be unfamiliar to you. 

But one thing is cer…

I think we can all agree that financial projections are a key tool for any startup. And good estimates are your secret weapon for heading off unpleasant “rookie mistakes.”

So instead of viewing them a…

Done right, a Sources & Uses of Funds will show you how much cash you’re going to need to (1) launch your business and (2) cover your expenses until you’re generating enough cash to cover your expens…

Confusing “profitability” with “cash flow” puts your startup at risk. Even the most profitable companies can fail — and when they do, they’re always caught by surprise.

Financial jargon is not only co…

Bootstrapping gives both you and your company advantages you can’t get with a huge cash infusion.

This is especially true for startups that take on an advisor to help guide them through tough decision…

If you’re like most founders, every day your job consists of putting out fires wherever they spring up. The big picture falls by the wayside as you scramble to keep up with the very real demands of g…

You don’t “need” investors to build a growing business. In fact, too much money can be a bad thing. Some of the most inspiring success stories have come from founders who had few resources at their d…

Most entrepreneurs write business plans because they have to — either to raise money from investors or to obtain a bank loan. 

But to successfully secure outside funding, your business plan has to be …

You can’t move forward if you’re spending your time looking behind you. 

Every move you make in reaction to the competition dilutes the essence of your business, and those are the things that are draw…

Everyone wants to grow their business over time, but not everyone necessarily wants to scale their business.

“Scaling” is a buzzword you hear all the time in startup circles (and the media). They talk…

There’s no denying we’re in the midst of worldwide financial uncertainty, with disruptions in nearly every industry and widespread confusion across the board. It’s natural to take a look around and d…

In a world where huge wins are so celebrated by the media, we often forget that no matter how far you’re going, you can only get there one step at a time. Baby steps may not be as glamorous as giant …