Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

Ep. 184 – Seed Funding: Angel Investment Criteria, Part 1

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-2Angel investors generally have a focus. Sometimes their focus is on a geographical area or customer demographic, other times it’s on a market niche or specific industry. Some groups even go as far as distinguishing between true startups and other early stage companies. Because these groups don’t want to waste time talking to founders whose businesses don’t fit within the scope of their interests, they almost always make this information easy to find. This means the first step for finding angel investment money is often finding the right angel group to talk to.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about investor criteria using a group that’s close to home, local angel investment group Asheville Angels. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 183 – Seed Funding 101: Equity Valuation Example

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-1For angel investors and small venture capital firms, investing is about hitting a very specific target. They want to invest a carefully weighed amount in a startup that has the potential for very high growth. They also want to know that when it’s time for them to take their money back out of the business, there will be plenty of interested buyers. If your startup doesn’t fit within that strike zone, odds are that these kinds of investors will politely pass on the opportunity to fund you.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about the angel investor’s checklist, and the priorities from their side of the table. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 182 – Seed Funding 101: How Equity Valuations Work, Part 3

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-5If you have an early-stage company that is looking for seed funding, you’re going to be talking to a lot of investors. Understand what those venture capital firms and angel investors need to see from you, and your odds of reaching a funding deal increase dramatically. Fail to find that alignment, and getting the financial backing you’re looking for will be virtually impossible. Thankfully, you always have at least one thing in common: Money.

In this episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan continues his explanation of the valuation process, shining a light on it from the investor’s point of view. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 181 – Seed Funding 101: How Equity Valuations Work Part 2

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-4If there’s one thing both keen-eyed investors and funding-hungry startups have in common, it’s their interest in making money. It’s this common interest that allows a company that is little more than an idea to find the seed capital needed to become a real-world business. But how does this process of discovering the value of a yet-to-exist business actually work?

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan explains the alignment of interests between people with money and the entrepreneurs who need cash. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 180 – Seed Funding 101: How Equity Valuations Work Part 1

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-3When you’re talking about equity-based funding, valuations are where the rubber meets the road. In order to buy a piece of a business, you first have to establish an overall value for that business. That can be tricky, because equity-based valuations aren’t always as scientific as you might expect. How can a business that has not yet done much of anything have a measurable value?

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan explains the basic concepts behind equity valuations. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 179 – Seed Funding 101: Equity Basics

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-2Equity-based finance is the most common instrument used in seed-stage funding. It’s also one of the trickiest kinds of funding, because equity is all about ownership. Selling equity may be a relatively easy way raise some much-needed funds, but it comes at a cost. When someone buys a piece of your company, they also gain a legally enforceable right to have a say in the direction of the business. A great business can suffer, or even fail, due to a bad equity partnership.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan further explores the topic of seed funding, focusing on the major considerations for equity-based fundraising. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 178 – Seed Funding 101: Common Methods

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-1Raising money is a roadblock most early stage companies will encounter sooner or later. It can be a confusing topic, with a wide variety of competing models and expert opinions muddying the waters. To understand how fundraising works — particularly the “seed stage” funding that’s relevant to most startups — we need to get back to basics.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan outlines the fundamental stages of fundraising, discussing what they mean in purely practical terms for first-time entrepreneurs. Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 177 – Seed Funding 101: Overview

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-5When you work with a wide variety of startups and early stage companies, it’s not the differences in business models or industries that stand out most. What stands out most are the similarities. As they grow, every business goes through roughly the same stages of development. No place is this phenomenon more evident than when it comes to fundraising.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan launches a new series discussing the fundamentals of fundraising. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 176 – Selling Through Storytelling, Part 6

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-4It’s late in the initial sales meeting. You’ve told the prospect about how your business was able to help a company that was in a situation very similar to the one your prospect is facing. You explained how the results you delivered were worth every penny of the investment. You’ve even helped to prospect to visualize how your products or services could help them overcome their own challenges. Now, it’s time to see just how serious they are about moving forward.

In this final installment of the Selling Through Storytelling series, host and business coach Tom Ryan explores the likely prospect responses to a narrative-based sales approach. Learn what reactions indicate that it’s time to move forward, and which suggest that it’s time to “cut bait” and move on. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 175 – Selling Through Storytelling, Part 5

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-3Applying storytelling techniques to your sales process means taking your prospects on their own version of the Hero’s Journey. You can think of it as the prospect’s individual story arc, allowing them to see how your products or services can help them overcome the challenges they need to be successful within the context of their own tale. To be effective, you not only need to cast the prospect as the central character of the tale, you also need to get them to see your product as the solution they’ve been looking for.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about turning your company’s “unfair advantage” into a powerful sales tool through storytelling. Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →