Tag Archives: venture capital

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 →

Cash Doesn’t Equal Customers, Part 2

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Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/76657755@N04/

Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/76657755@N04/

I’ve coached a wide variety of businesses, and it’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to reach out to me directly when they need help. In my current Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneur-in-Residence role, I’m often contacted by companies looking at the possibility of bringing in some form of outside funding. One day, out of the blue, I was contacted on LinkedIn by a small educational technology company in my home region of Western North Carolina.

After talking with the founders, a husband-and-wife team, I realized the company had good potential for growth. They have great products, they had done their homework, good traction, and they were both dedicated to making their company succeed. But everything wasn’t perfect. They wanted to grow the company, and they needed money to pay for that growth. Continue reading →

Ep. 066 – The Pros and Cons of ABC’s “Shark Tank” Reality TV Show

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Shark TankWith the high-drama of a business pitch and razor-sharp commentary by celebrity-level investors, it’s no surprise that Shark Tank is a popular show among entrepreneurs. It’s good reality TV, but how does it stack up against the real-world process of pitching a business to investors?

As it turns out, host and business coach Tom Ryan has advised two companies that got pretty far into the Shark Tank selection process. In this episode, Tom shares his thoughts on this entertainingly vicious show with co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 043 – The Importance of Traction

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350x350-5In this episode, host Tom Ryan discusses the importance of traction for startups seeking investment. But what is traction, exactly? And how can a young, vulnerable business gain traction to increase their business momentum?

Joined by co-host Jason Pyles, Tom takes listeners through a step-by-step examination of traction, from understanding its importance to investors to exploring some of the most common indicators that a business is gaining real momentum. Continue reading →