Investor Connect Podcast
Hall T Martin interviews angel and venture capital investors on how they invest and talks with CEOs who discuss their sector and what to look for. Hall T Martin also leads the Startup Funding Espresso series in which you can learn about startup funding and investing in the time it takes to have an espresso. https://investorconnect.org/
Episodes
Stages of Technology Adoption
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Technology adoption goes through several stages over the life of that technology.
Here are the steps of adoption:
Unknown -- no one knows the technology.
Awareness -- some hear about it but don't know what it i...
Acid Test for Startup Valuation
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Valuation is a key negotiating factor in startup investing.
There are many valuation models available.
The most common is the use of comps or comparables to see if the valuation is at market rate.
Consider us...
Innovation Looks Trivial in the Early Days
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
In the early days of a startup, innovation can look trivial.
Innovation is often applied to the lower end of the market.
New technologies often start as simple devices or applications.
These device...
Hiring a Professional CEO
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Startup founders take the CEO position because they bring the vision and passion to launch the company.
They know the domain and are building the core product and go-to-market strategy.
They are the ultimate authority at the ...
How Startups Can Make Better Forecasts
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Forecasting is a key skill founders need for raising funding.
Investors want to know the founders' expectations for the business with the funds raised.
Here are some key steps to make better forecasts:
How To Build an Elevator Pitch
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
The elevator pitch is the short form of your startup pitch.
It introduces the deal to an investor and gives the key highlights.
The goal is not to tell them everything but rather to intrigue them to learn more about it.
The Nuances of Pitching
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
In pitching investors, there are key nuances that can make or break the pitch.
Here is a list of nuances to consider when pitching:
Use the pitch to build a collaboration.
Funding is a part of it, but not the only th...
Key Skills for a Startup Founder To Have
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Successful startup founders share several key skills.
Here are the key skills for a startup founder to have:
They have access to the networks that are vital to their startup success.
This includes in...
Launching a Startup in a New Domain
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Markets shift and change, creating new startup opportunities.
Founders seek new markets in which to launch a startup.
For those launching a startup in a new domain, here are some key steps:
Read several b...
Revenue Solves All Problems
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
In a startup, revenue solves all problems.
Funding can help, but only for so long.
As long as you have cash, you can run the startup.
When you run out of money, then it's over.
Revenue can fix any pr...
Signs of a Good Founder
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Anyone can be a founder of a startup.
Here are signs of a good one:
They have an innovative mindset.
They look for how to innovate on the product, the business model, and more.
They are self-aware.
How To Find a Cofounder
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
A founding team includes someone who is building it and someone who is selling it.
It's important that the startup has two founders.
Here are some steps to find a cofounder for your startup.
Figure out which role th...
Key Attributes of a Good Angel Investor
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Anyone with an accredited investor status can become an angel investor.
Here's a list of key attributes of a good one:
They know their industry well and how to invest in it.
They know people and can s...
How To Calculate Warrant Coverage
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
A warrant is the right to buy a company's stock at a specific price or range over a certain time period.
The warrant acts like an option, but it issues stock, which dilutes the cap table.
Founders raising funding offer ...
In this episode of Investor Connect, host Hall Martin welcomes Darcy Bachert, Founder and CEO of Prolucid Technologies. Darcy shares the journey of Prolucid Technologies, a software engineering firm that specializes in designing and developing mission-critical systems for highly regulated industries such as med tech, nuclear, and industrial applications.
Darcy explains how the company pivoted from industrial automation to focusing...
The Downside of VC Funding
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Venture capital can enable a startup to reach the next level through funding.
There are downsides to VC funding.
Here's a list:
The founders' ownership goes down by 20-25% on each fundraising round.
T...
The Failure Rate for Startups
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
The failure rate for startups is high at almost 90%.
Here's a list of reasons why startups fail:
The founders underestimate how long it will take to gain traction in the market.
The startup runs out of cash.
Six Months To Build, Six Months To Sell
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Building a minimum viable product or MVP is a key step in a startup launch.
After some market research, there's an ideation step on what to build.
The rule of MVPs is that it should take no longer than six months ...
Founder Dilution
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
Founders raising funding incur dilution.
Their ownership stake goes down as they raise more funding.
Founders start with 100% ownership.
Each round of funding dilutes them by 25% or more.
On average, founders o...
Sizing Your VC Fund
Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.
In raising a VC fund, the size of the fund is a key component.
Here are the factors that impact the size:
The stage of startup.
The later the stage, the larger the fund size.
Sectors targeted.
S...
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