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9 Common Startup Mistakes  + Things to Know About Venture Capital MICHAEL GAISS Senior Vice President, Highland Capital Partners [email_address]  | @michaelgaiss Startup Weekend University of Michigan January 23, 2011
Background ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
We back entrepreneurs with  big  ambitions.
We back  young  entrepreneurs.
We back  young  entrepreneurs.
We back  young  entrepreneurs.
We back  young  entrepreneurs.
We back  young  entrepreneurs.
We love  early  stage.
 
We look to build  relationships  early. ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],www.hcp.com/signup
Joshua Feast MIT Sloan School of Management Alain Chuard Stanford Graduate School of Business Motomu Shimaoka & Ann DeWitt  Harvard Medical School & HBS Mike Sullivan Harvard University Matt Lauzon Babson College Victoria Ransom Harvard Business School Jeff LeBrun & John Rice University of Michigan Ross School of Business Will O’Brien MIT Sloan School of Management
If you’re not starting a company,  join  one of ours. www.hcp.com/careers
9 Mistakes  Entrepreneurs Often Make on their First Startup Less of   this More of   this
#1:  Didn’t research & understand the competition.
#2:  Haven’t talked to customers.
#3:  No repeatable customer acquisition strategy.
#4:  Don’t tell a good story.
#5:  Know nothing about the investors they’re pitching.
#6:  Make stuff up instead of saying “I don’t know.”
#7:  Seek only confirming, not  dis confirming evidence.
#8:  Pick advisors that are easily accessible, not relevant.
#9:  Treat fundraising like it’s an end, not a means.
What  First-Time  Entrepreneurs Should Know about Venture Capital ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
VC is just one of many ways to finance your startup. ,[object Object],Bootstrap Loans Friends & family Angels / seed firms Venture capital Growth equity Public markets Non-equity Risk Size of check Grants / Prizes
We get paid from a few home runs (are you one?).  TOTAL $100.0 $315.0 $215.0 2 deals, 10x 3 deals, 3x 5 deals, 0.5x All 10 deals, 3.2x
What are the most important things to us? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
We like good ideas, but prefer great execution. Good idea Great execution
We love numbers (are you measuring everything?). Check out blogs by  David Cancel  and  David Skok  for more: www.davidcancel.com   www.forentrepreneurs.com
It’s easier to get our advice than our money.
We’re here to help ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Startup Mistakes to Avoid  + Things to Know About Venture Capital MICHAEL GAISS Senior Vice President, Highland Capital Partners [email_address]  | @michaelgaiss Startup Weekend University of Michigan January 23, 2011

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9 Common Startup Mistakes + Things to Know About Venture Capital for First-Time Entrepreneurs (Startup Weekend)

  • 1. 9 Common Startup Mistakes + Things to Know About Venture Capital MICHAEL GAISS Senior Vice President, Highland Capital Partners [email_address] | @michaelgaiss Startup Weekend University of Michigan January 23, 2011
  • 2.
  • 3. We back entrepreneurs with big ambitions.
  • 4. We back young entrepreneurs.
  • 5. We back young entrepreneurs.
  • 6. We back young entrepreneurs.
  • 7. We back young entrepreneurs.
  • 8. We back young entrepreneurs.
  • 9. We love early stage.
  • 10.  
  • 11.
  • 12. Joshua Feast MIT Sloan School of Management Alain Chuard Stanford Graduate School of Business Motomu Shimaoka & Ann DeWitt Harvard Medical School & HBS Mike Sullivan Harvard University Matt Lauzon Babson College Victoria Ransom Harvard Business School Jeff LeBrun & John Rice University of Michigan Ross School of Business Will O’Brien MIT Sloan School of Management
  • 13. If you’re not starting a company, join one of ours. www.hcp.com/careers
  • 14. 9 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Often Make on their First Startup Less of this More of this
  • 15. #1: Didn’t research & understand the competition.
  • 16. #2: Haven’t talked to customers.
  • 17. #3: No repeatable customer acquisition strategy.
  • 18. #4: Don’t tell a good story.
  • 19. #5: Know nothing about the investors they’re pitching.
  • 20. #6: Make stuff up instead of saying “I don’t know.”
  • 21. #7: Seek only confirming, not dis confirming evidence.
  • 22. #8: Pick advisors that are easily accessible, not relevant.
  • 23. #9: Treat fundraising like it’s an end, not a means.
  • 24.
  • 25.
  • 26. We get paid from a few home runs (are you one?). TOTAL $100.0 $315.0 $215.0 2 deals, 10x 3 deals, 3x 5 deals, 0.5x All 10 deals, 3.2x
  • 27.
  • 28. We like good ideas, but prefer great execution. Good idea Great execution
  • 29. We love numbers (are you measuring everything?). Check out blogs by David Cancel and David Skok for more: www.davidcancel.com www.forentrepreneurs.com
  • 30. It’s easier to get our advice than our money.
  • 31.
  • 32. Startup Mistakes to Avoid + Things to Know About Venture Capital MICHAEL GAISS Senior Vice President, Highland Capital Partners [email_address] | @michaelgaiss Startup Weekend University of Michigan January 23, 2011