9. @paulsingh
#
TRACTION IS THE NEW
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
PLATFORMS (SEARCH, SOCIAL & MOBILE) PRIMARILY DRIVING THE CHANGE.
NO LONGER “GOOD ENOUGH” TO DEPEND ON TECH DIFFERENTIATION.
19. @paulsingh
#
“
TWICE A WEEK A SMALL
HELICOPTER CIRCLES
OVER CUSHING’S TANK
FARMS ON AN
INDUSTRY SPYING
MISSION
20. @paulsingh
#
WALL STREET
ISN’T ALONE
THESE TECHNIQUES ALREADY USED TO UNDERWRITE IN-VITRO
FERTILIZATION LENDING, PAYDAY LOANS, SUBPRIME AUTO
LENDING, HOME/PERSONAL/AUTO INSURANCE AND MORE.
37. @paulsingh
#
(500) CHECKLIST
Product solves a problem for a specific target customer
Capital-efficient businesses - operational @ <$1M funding
Primarily internet-based distribution - search, social, mobile, local
Simple revenue models - transactions, subscriptions or affiliate
Functional prototype before investment (or previous success)
Small but measurable usage - some customers, early revenue
Small but cross-functional team - engineer, design/UX, marketing
38. @paulsingh
#
(NEW) FINANCINGS
Standardized terms
No fixed amounts, no closings, no leads
Continuous, not discrete rounds
Prices beginning to float
No Board seats at the earliest stage
Herd mentality and oversubscriptions
39. @paulsingh
#
THE BUSINESS OF INVESTING
IS ABOUT CHOOSING THE
LEAST-WORST OPPORTUNITY
NOT TRYING TO PREDICT THE NEXT GOOGLE, FACEBOOK OR LINKEDIN.
40. @paulsingh
#
THE FIRST CHECK SHOULD
BE SMALL AND FAST
DOUBLE DOWN HEAVY IF THE COMPANY SURVIVES INTO THE NEXT ROUND
41. @paulsingh
#
“
BY ITS NATURE, THE
INTERNET UNDERMINES
ANYONE WHOSE STATUS
DEPENDS ON
PRIVILEGED ACCESS TO
INFORMATION.
-- MICHAEL LEWIS
47. @paulsingh
ALSO...
#
Distribution > Product
Tactics > Strategy
Notability > Credibility
Get on AngelList
Raise 12-18+ months of funding
Learn the basics of VC economics
Don’t confuse due diligence with progress & probability...
Shameless plug: dashboard.io