How Startups Can Make Better Forecasts

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Forecasting is a key skill founders need for raising funding.

Investors want to know the founders' expectations for the business with the funds raised.

Here are some key steps to make better forecasts:

Start with a baseline.

If the startup has revenue, then use that as the starting point.

If the startup is pre-revenue, then look to similar startups to set a baseline.

Determine the drivers behind the revenue.

This could be leads generated, clients viewing a demonstration, or other.

Determine how much can be done with the team proposed.

Focus on the customers signed up rather than a percentage of the available market.

Use the sales cycle for the product to determine lead times.

The more you know about your customer buying cycles, the more accurate your forecasts.

This is called a bottom-up analysis.

For predicting explosive growth, look for trends in the market that can drive hyper sales growth.

Look to other startups for their sales forecast to calibrate your own.

Consider these points in making better forecasts.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

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How To Build an Elevator Pitch

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

The elevator pitch is the short form of your startup pitch.

It introduces the deal to an investor and gives the key highlights.

The goal is not to tell them everything but rather to intrigue them to learn more about it.

Here's how to build an elevator pitch:

State in five words or fewer what the startup does.

Show two examples of the impact of the startup using numbers.

This could be exploding revenue, such as "We're seeing 50% month over month growth."

It could have an impact on the community, such as "We help feed 5000 children a week."

State the goal of the startup, such as "We're looking to reach a break-even in 4 months."

Choose three words that best describe your startup and work them into the pitch.

Choose three phrases that best describe your startup and build them into the pitch.

The keywords will help the audience understand the context.

The catch phrases will help the audience understand what the startup does.

Consider these steps in building your elevator pitch.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

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The Nuances of Pitching

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In pitching investors, there are key nuances that can make or break the pitch.

Here is a list of nuances to consider when pitching:

Use the pitch to build a collaboration.

Funding is a part of it, but not the only thing.

Start your pitch with your core value proposition.

State in plain language what your company does.

If you have revenue numbers, build the pitch around them.

Showcase the growth story with a graph showing a curve going up and to the right at 45 degrees.

If you don't have revenue, then build the pitch around the key insight you have into solving the problem.

Don't avoid the risk factors.

Instead, focus on how you are mitigating those factors.

Don't avoid the competition.

Instead, show how the competition validates the market.

Show how this raise will set up the business for the next round and is a part of an overall strategy.

Consider these nuances in building your pitch.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
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Key Skills for a Startup Founder To Have

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Successful startup founders share several key skills.

Here are the key skills for a startup founder to have:

They have access to the networks that are vital to their startup success.

This includes investor networks for funding and customer networks for buying the product.

They are flexible.

They can pivot the business when the market changes or they discover a better one.

They are persistent.

They stick with it during the down times as well as the up times.

They take calculated risks.

They understand the downside cost as well as the potential upside reward.

They know their numbers.

They know their key numbers that are critical, such as cash runway.

They have focus.

They know what the must-dos are and focus on them.

They constantly learn.

They are always learning new things and find it a part of the startup life.

Consider these skills in a startup founder before investing.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
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Launching a Startup in a New Domain

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Markets shift and change, creating new startup opportunities.

Founders seek new markets in which to launch a startup.

For those launching a startup in a new domain, here are some key steps:

Read several books describing the domain and how it works.

Talk to domain experts in the space to learn the details of the market.

Look for unmet needs that must be addressed.

Identify experts in the domain who can advise you.

Ask one or two to be a mentor.

Create several ideas for a business and test them out.

Try dressing up the solution as a ready-to-buy product and see what reaction you get.

When you find several people ready to pay for your solution, sign up three of them as anchor customers.

Use the revenue from these customers to fund the initial product.

Experiment with entering the market at different places in the value chain.

Look for the position that provides the most revenue and costs the least for the value offered.

New markets provide new opportunities to launch a business.

Consider these steps for launching a startup in a new domain.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
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Revenue Solves All Problems

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In a startup, revenue solves all problems.

Funding can help, but only for so long.

As long as you have cash, you can run the startup.

When you run out of money, then it's over.

Revenue can fix any problem.

If you need more sales support, you can hire them.

If you need to fix a product, you can bring in a developer to do the job.

If you need more leads, you can hire a marketer.

Funding can solve many problems, but it's limited.

There's only so much funding a founder can raise.

Funding only goes so far before it runs out.

Funding jump-starts the business, but revenue carries it the distance.

Develop your long-term plans around revenue generation.

Use funding to fill the gaps.

Whatever you do, make sure you don't run out of cash.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
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Signs of a Good Founder

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Anyone can be a founder of a startup.

Here are signs of a good one:

They have an innovative mindset.

They look for how to innovate on the product, the business model, and more.

They are self-aware.

They know their strengths and weaknesses.

They have a vision for their business.

They know where they want to go with it.

They have passion.

They exhibit this in their work, communication, and time spent.

They are resilient.

They can endure setbacks and carry on.

They can plan and forecast.

They know how to set plans for the company and forecast the numbers.

They have good communication skills.

They can communicate well both verbally and in writing.

They can make decisions.

They know how to decide and carry through.

Look for these attributes in a founder.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

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How To Find a Cofounder

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

A founding team includes someone who is building it and someone who is selling it.

It's important that the startup has two founders.

Here are some steps to find a cofounder for your startup.

Figure out which role the founder is taking and look for a cofounder to fill the other.

The key to finding and recruiting the co-founder is to show how the business will be successful.

This typically starts with a customer or market ready to pay for the product to be produced.

Show the key insight you have into the market and how you can use it to create a successful business.

Validate with customers who are ready to buy the product and place them on a waitlist.

Sign up customers who are ready to pay and provide the service manually till you have an automated solution.

Gain agreement on the goals of the company for the coming three years.

Negotiate compensation based on what each founder is bringing to the table.

Use the negotiation process to test out the other's skills.

Go on joint sales calls to see how each performs.

Work on the product development to see what progress can be made.

Consider these steps in finding a cofounder.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

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