Archive: startups

The Early Investing Podcast: Ray Dalio Misjudges the Eurozone

By Early Investing on November 23, 2022

According to Ray Dalio — owner of the largest hedge fund in the world — the Eurozone is in trouble. The Eurozone comprises 19 countries, including Spain, France and Germany. And Dalio thinks it’s in gradual decline. “Its weaknesses are its people’s lower than average work ethic and low self-sufficiency and its relatively poor allocation of labor and capital,” Dalio said. But if you ask us, Dalio is dead wrong. This isn’t about work…
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Crypto Insider: Linking the Present and the Future

By Early Investing on November 7, 2022

As early investors, we often find ourselves looking to the future. We want to find the next revolutionary crypto project or startup — the companies that will change the world as we know it.  But sometimes the world isn’t ready for those changes. As a result,…
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Note: This recommendation was co-authored by KingsCrowd Investment Research Analyst Teddy Lyons. When you evaluate consumer packaged goods (CPG) startup investment opportunities, you need to focus on three critical components: Traction Brand Team.

Twitter and the Fight Against Fake News

By Allison Brickell on November 2, 2022

Well, it finally happened. After several legal snags and a full-blown trial, Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion.  One of Musk’s first priorities as the owner of the social media giant is to change Twitter Blue. Twitter Blue is an optional $4.99-per-month subscription that Twitter…
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Angel Insider: A New Way for Startups to Exit

By Early Investing on November 1, 2022

Two of the most common ways startups exit is via initial public offering (IPO) or acquisition.  But what about an “exit to community”? That’s what a growing number of founders are pushing for. It’s a new way…

A Sweet Way to Identify Your Investment Style

By Allison Brickell on October 28, 2022

Halloween is nearly upon us. And investors have experienced their share of spooks this month. I shared a scary investment story. Inflation grew and sent the markets tumbling. And Mark Zuckerberg continued to use his…

The Trick to De-Risk Startup and Collectibles Investments

By Vin Narayanan on October 19, 2022

The baseball card universe has changed quite a bit since I was growing up. People don’t just buy cards for the bubble gum or trade doubles to complete their sets like I did. Instead, they seek out unique or scarce cards that can grow in value. They keep…
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Angel Insider: Africa’s Red-Hot Startup Scene

By Early Investing on October 18, 2022

African startups are on fire right now. According to the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, venture capital deals on the continent reached $3.5 billion from January through June this year. That’s more than double the amount in the same period in 2021. If the…
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Startup Insider: Air Travel Innovations Take Off

By Early Investing on October 3, 2022

In December 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first successful flight with a self-propelled craft. And while airplanes have become much more advanced since that first flight, their engines haven’t actually changed much since the 1960s.  That’s a big problem. Aviation emissions are one of…

The Early Investing Podcast: Adobe’s Pricey Figma Acquisition

By Early Investing on September 28, 2022

It’s a tale as old as time. A startup creates a great product, generating lots of sales and happy customers. A corporate behemoth tries to compete with the startup by launching its own version of the product. The corporate behemoth fails miserably and decides to buy the startup…
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Why You Need a Metaverse Startup in Your Portfolio

By Vin Narayanan on September 27, 2022

I recently recommended a metaverse play to our Crypto Asset Strategies members. I’m not sold on the metaverse. But I still believe gaining exposure to this space is critically important. Here’s an excerpt from that piece that explains my logic: VR and…
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I love companies that make me think, “Why didn’t I think of that?” These are almost never pure technology plays because the technology is already there. It’s merely waiting for a clever company with a clever idea to make profitable use of it.  The technology-in-waiting here…

Why Competition Is Critical for Startup Investors

By Vin Narayanan on September 7, 2022

I had a chance to play poker with some founders a few weeks ago at LA Tech Week. I mostly kept my mouth shut at the table. Between the game and flowing drinks, the founders were in a chatty mood. And I didn’t want to interrupt the flow.
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Startup Insider: Inside LA Tech Week

By Early Investing on September 1, 2022

LA Tech Week is an event for founders, investors and all manner of tech enthusiasts to connect and learn. This year’s event, which ran from August 15 to August 21, was expected to draw a small number of people. But thousands showed up.
Things are only impossible until they are not.  These inspiring words were spoken by Captain Jean-Luc Picard, a character from “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” And I’m not quoting him just because I like Star Trek. (Though I really do.) Star Trek shows us…
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Angel Insider: SoftBank Warns Investors About Startup Winter

By Early Investing on August 23, 2022

SoftBank is worried. Earlier this month, SoftBank founder and chief executive Masayoshi Son said unicorn founders are refusing to accept lower valuations in fresh funding rounds. As a result, “startup winter” — or the funding crunch startups are currently facing in…