Hey there! Are you an aspiring entrepreneur looking to kickstart your startup journey? Well, you’re in the right place! With over a decade of experience as a serial entrepreneur myself, I’ve been through it all – founding multiple tech startups, overseeing product development projects, and even writing countless business plans. And now, I’m here to … Read moreStartup & Business Coach: Your Guide to Success
The role of a venture investor is complex and multifaceted, requiring a combination of skills and experience. While there are many components to the job, four key areas stand out: sourcing, judging, winning, and impacting portfolio companies. 1. Sourcing: Finding the Right Fish in the Right Pond Sourcing involves identifying promising investment opportunities and building … Read moreThe Venture Capitalist’s Role
Exiting a business is a major milestone that requires careful planning and execution. The first step is to define your exit goals, including your desired financial outcome and level of involvement post-sale. Once you’ve established your objectives, it’s crucial to evaluate your business’s readiness for sale. This involves assessing financial health, operational efficiency, and employee … Read moreA Comprehensive Prep Guide to Startup Exit
In the world of startups and entrepreneurship, venture capitalists (VCs) are often seen as not only a source of funding but also as strategic partners who can guide new ventures to success. But do VCs really add value beyond their financial contributions? A study followed VC-funded startups over a ten-year period to see how these … Read moreEverything You Know About VC Value Add Is WRONG!
As someone deeply passionate about the field of robotics for the past 15 years, I want to share my insights, delve into the current state of robotics, the challenges faced by startups in the hardware industry, and explore the future of this sector. As a warning, this post may seem too pessimistic, a tangent from … Read moreWhy VCs and Hardware Founders Clash
Many times in my interactions with founders I get asked – what are the traits which make a good founder or CEO? what can I work on improving? what do investors look for in a founder? Over the years a lot of qualities have come up in these conversations such as trustworthiness, visionary, resilient, problem … Read moreAdvice to Founders: Be Undeniable
I’ve been predicting the future of Hardware for about 10 years now which started with: Predictions that came true Following are my new predictions (new for the public but I’ve seen them coming for a long time) and reasons. Predictions for the Future 1. Retrofitting Household Devices that allow people to automate their existing homes … Read morePredictions in Hardware and AI
In the world of venture capital, entrepreneurs and startups often find themselves in a constant struggle to stand out amidst the sea of emails flooding the inboxes of potential investors. It’s common knowledge, among the VC community, that things run majorly on email and spreadsheets, and when it comes to emails or any other textual … Read moreCrafting the Perfect Cold Investor Email: Inigo Montoya Style
In the journey of entrepreneurship, a clear sense of purpose is the driving force behind successful companies. This sense of purpose is encapsulated in a company’s mission statement – a succinct declaration of its reason for existence and the positive impact it aims to create. Whether you’re just starting out or have already set foot … Read moreCreating a Mission Statement for Your Startup
Starting a company is an exhilarating journey that demands a clear sense of direction. Among the first steps in this process is creating a compelling Vision Statement, a roadmap that shapes your startup’s path, influences your decisions, and fuels your team’s dedication. Let’s dive into the significance of a Vision Statement, its impact on your … Read moreCreating a Vision Statement for Your Startup
You’re an early-stage founder working on bringing an idea you had into the world. Did all your market research, put all the time and effort into bringing your friends in, and have been working together for months to get it to a point where you think you need an investor. And so you go looking … Read moreWTH Actually Matters to Investors?!
Creating an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) is a strategic exercise that helps businesses define and target the most valuable and compatible customers for their products or services. An ICP is a detailed description of the type of customer who is most likely to benefit from and engage with your offerings, driving higher conversion rates and … Read moreCrafting Your Ideal Customer Profile
In the context of startups and businesses, a “moat” refers to a sustainable competitive advantage that sets a company apart from its competitors and creates a barrier to entry for new entrants into the market. Just as a moat around a castle provides protection and makes it more difficult for adversaries to breach the walls, … Read moreGet a Winning Moat
In the world of startups, angel investors or venture capitalists not only inject much-needed capital but also provide valuable expertise, networks, and guidance. However, standing out in a sea of startups and convincing investors to commit requires more than just a brilliant idea; I posted previously about some key metrics they look for, but it … Read moreCrafting an Irresistible Investment Deal
Investors in startups typically consider several exit scenarios when evaluating potential investments. An exit scenario refers to how and when investors can realize a return on their investment. Here are some common exit scenarios for investors in startups: It’s important to note that the exit scenario can vary based on factors such as the startup’s … Read moreStartup Exits: What Investors Look For
BATNA stands for “Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement.” It’s a concept that’s particularly important in negotiations, including those that occur during startup-related discussions, such as fundraising, partnerships, and collaborations. In the context of negotiations, BATNA refers to the course of action that you would take if the current negotiation fails to reach an agreement. … Read moreFigure Out Your BATNA
When founders are faced with the question “Who is your competition?” from investors, especially if they believe they have no direct competitors, it’s crucial to respond in a way that showcases their understanding of the market and their unique value proposition. Here’s how founders can handle this situation: Determining both direct and indirect competition is … Read moreHow to Find Your Competitors
In a world inundated with complexities and challenges, finding effective problem-solving methods is paramount. Enter the “5 Whys” technique—a time-tested approach that has proven to be a simple yet incredibly powerful tool for unraveling the root causes of issues. Originating from the Toyota Production System, this method has found its way into various industries and … Read more5 WHYs: The Inquisitive Toddler Technique
When we think of startups, the image of the hacker, the hustler, and the hipster often comes to mind, each playing a crucial role in the early days of a new venture. However, the dynamics change significantly when it comes to the ideal team at a venture capital (VC) firm. In this blog post, we’ll … Read moreUnderstanding VC Archetypes
Founding a startup requires a myriad of skills, from sales and marketing to technology and finance. While these skills are undoubtedly essential, there is a critical factor that surpasses them all in importance—the founder’s self-awareness. Knowing oneself, understanding strengths and weaknesses, and adapting to different roles as the company evolves is the secret sauce that … Read moreUnderstanding Founder Archetypes
Welcome to Part 3 of the Pitching series! In this edition, I’ll share the art of creating a concise elevator pitch – a powerful tool when time is limited, and attention spans are short. The elevator pitch is your chance to make a lasting impression on potential investors, customers, or co-founders. Let’s dive in and … Read moreMastering the Pitch: Elevator Pitch
Welcome back to Part 2 of the Pitching series! In this installment, I’ll explore the art of creating a concise 2-3 minute pitch for events where you’ll have a Q&A session at the end. This time constraint demands a focused approach, so spend the most time on the Pain & Gain and Solution slides, which … Read moreMastering the Pitch: 2-3 Minute Pitch with Q&A
Welcome to Part 1 of the pitch series, where we explore the art of conveying your full story to the audience in a concise and impactful 5 to 10-minute presentation. Why is Learning to Pitch Important? A random Pitch once led to a whole article in Entrepreneur Magazine featuring me and my businesses Whether you’re … Read moreMastering the Pitch: Telling Your Full Story
When developing a new product or technology, entrepreneurs often encounter various terms that describe different stages of their progress. Three common terms in the startup and innovation world are Proof of Concept, Prototype, and MVP (Minimum Viable Product). While they share similarities, they serve distinct purposes and are crucial in the development and validation of … Read morePoC, Prototype, MVP: Product Lifecycle
I’ve already talked about my detailed 10 years of experience building multiple hardware-related startups, why I love helping early-stage founders, what kind of investors to target, key factors that most investors consider before they invest, what they do when they are considering a startup for a potential investment, how much they typically invest in the … Read moreWhat I Look for When Investing
In recent years, the hardware industry has witnessed an explosion of innovation in fields like robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, wearables, and extended reality (XR) devices. But hardware startups face unique challenges and opportunities due to the complexity of their products and the diverse markets they operate in as well as funding … Read moreCreating Hardware Startups that Investors Love
Starting a business from scratch is like embarking on a wild roller-coaster ride, filled with ups and downs, twists, and turns. The success of a startup largely hinges on the vision, tenacity, and decision-making prowess of its founder. In this blog post, we explore the crucial signs that distinguish a successful startup founder from an … Read moreFounder Journey: Bullshit to Brilliance
When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I believed that the source of funding didn’t matter but the choice of investors can significantly impact the trajectory of a startup. So we will explore the pros and cons of two common funding sources for startups: angel investors and venture capitalists (VCs). Raising from Angel Investors Angel investors … Read moreAngels or VCs: Choosing the Right Investors
We all have guilty pleasures, and one of mine happens to be watching the reality show Shark Tank, analyzing the pitches, and witnessing the negotiation tactics employed by the sharks. One particular strategy utilized by Mark Cuban, one of the formidable sharks, has always left me with mixed feelings. While it may be an effective … Read moreMaking Sound Decisions Quickly: Time Constraint Dilemma
Some tips on how to build a robotics startup that lasts and can be backed by investors.