Archive: Founders

Early investors have few metrics to go by when evaluating potential startup investments. Here are five metrics, in particular, that investors often misconstrue.
In this week’s Mailbag, the Early Investing team explains why altcoins are underperforming and how today’s startup deal flow is better than ever.
When seeking funding, a startup founder needs to sell their vision to investors. And investors need to challenge that vision. Here are some specific points both parties need to talk about in order to succeed.
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Startup Investors: Watch Out for These Five Red Flags

By Adam Sharp on September 10, 2019

Adam Sharp lists his top five red flags to watch for when evaluating startup investments.

Mailbag: Three Essential Questions to Ask Startup Founders

By Early Investing on August 18, 2019

In this week’s Mailbag, the Early Investing team provides the first three questions they always ask founders and describes how to transfer ownership of startup shares.
This week, the Early Investing team explains its favorite kind of startup and the best startup investment deal terms.
The Early Investing team answers questions about what startup accelerators do and why weed users leave the black market.

Seven Reasons Why Startups Fail

By Andy Gordon on March 20, 2019

Startups can fail for a number of reasons. And for founders, clarity often comes late.
The number of immigrant entrepreneurs is growing in the U.S. But the removal of a rule that welcomes them means American investors could miss out on those startup opportunities.
In this week’s Mailbag, the Early Investing team is covering alternative portfolio construction and the most important quality of a successful founder.

Founders, Steer Clear of These 19 Mistakes

By Andy Gordon on February 20, 2019

There are a number of big mistakes founders can make. Here are Andy Gordon’s top 19.
In this week’s Mailbag, the Early Investing team tackles the top mistake founders make and what’s behind the Fed’s pausing rate hikes.

Startups Are Ready for Private Equity Crowdfunding

By Vin Narayanan on November 3, 2018

The founders of startup companies are ready to hop off the venture capital train and try private equity crowdfunding. But there’s one thing holding them back.

Wunderkinds Aren’t the Only Successful Founders

By Allison Brickell on October 1, 2018

Investors, take note: Youthful enthusiasm certainly has its advantages. But it’s not everything.
Andy sits down with the founder of Pixilated, a photo booth startup, to learn about the ways the company is tackling its market.

Founders Who Rewrote the Rules

By Andy Gordon on April 25, 2018

Some of the businesspeople (and their companies) I admire most are the ones who didn’t obey... who didn’t pull in their wings and “make do”... but who changed the rules that held them back.