In this episode of 'Feel the Boot,' host Lance Cottrell delves into the strategic importance of targeting a niche market for startup success. He guides early-stage founders through the crucial process of focusing on specific customer segments that resonate with their products, illustrating how this can significantly improve customer acquisition and product development. Lance shares practical strategies for selecting a target niche, such as engaging early adopters, leveraging small communities, and identifying underserved markets. This approach not only helps in establishing a strong market presence but also lays the foundation for scaling into broader markets. Tune in to gain invaluable insights into effectively narrowing your focus for better startup execution.

Blog https://ftb.bz/112B

YouTube https://ftb.bz/112V

BootPrints https://ftb.bz/join

“Are you fundable?” tool https://ftb.bz/fundable

The freemium business model is popular, but is it right for your startup? In this video, I break down how freemium works, common mistakes founders make, and why it often leads to revenue problems. We’ll also explore an alternative approach—the reverse freemium model—that could be a better fit for your business.

Ideal for early-stage founders, this video provides valuable insights and practical advice on setting up a successful freemium model, complete with real-world examples and suggestions for effective customer engagement.

Blog https://ftb.bz/111B

Video https://ftb.bz/111V

Subscribe https://ftb.bz/join

Advising https://ftb.bz/advising

Testing Startup Ideas and Assumptions ⚖️ John Li of PickFu Interview

In this interview, John Li, the co-founder of startup PickFu, discusses the innovative concept of his company as a digital focus group for businesses. He walks us through their transition from a physical product to a software solution after observing a growing need for unbiased design feedback. John also shares interesting customer success stories attributing to their product's efficiency. He emphasizes on the importance of regular testing in business and discusses their company's decision to employ a fully remote work model, the challenges faced, the tools used, and the benefaction of current technology to their work. Towards the end, John yields advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on testing and patience in realizing a startup's success.

Read the transcript https://ftb.bz/102B

Watch the Video https://ftb.bz/102V

Follow John on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnli

Find PickFu at https://PickFu.com

PickFu.com discount code FEELTHEBOOT for 50% off your first paid test.

Guest Bio:

John Li is the co-founder of PickFu, a consumer research platform for getting instant feedback from target audiences. Thousands of global brands rely on PickFu to help them make better data-driven decisions about their products and marketing. John is passionate about building systems that help others succeed. He has degrees in computer science from UC Berkeley and the University of Washington. John and his family live in the San Francisco area, where he shuttles his kids around in his dream car (a minivan).

If you are launching a blockchain based company, I have some specific advice for you. Right now, I see many times more blockchain and Initial Coin Offering pitches than anything else. And most of them are bad. This creates additional hurdles that I want to help you navigate. The tsunami of blockchain pitches causes investors to set the bar very high. At the same time, the entrepreneurs are making a lot of unforced errors. Learn what these other founders are doing wrong and how you can deliver a pitch that will stand out and interest investors.

Video: https://youtu.be/jOAcvAyttJY
Blog: https://feeltheboot.com/blog/blockchain-pitching-mistakes

Your business is your baby. You don’t want anyone to take it. But holding on too tight could smother it. Understanding the dynamics of power and control in a startup will allow you to grow and succeed. 51% ownership is less important than you might think and the contortions required to hold that number can scare off the investors you need.

Video: https://bit.ly/51percent-video
Blog: https://bit.ly/51percent-blog

Founders and entrepreneurs need to understand the inner workings of stock options. Otherwise they can waste equity, disappoint key employees, and dilute their ownership. In this episode I cover: Why you should issue options How to create an option plan Setting up the initial option pool Negotiating changes to the option pool How many options to grant an employee How to vest options

Video: http://bit.ly/stock-options-explained-video
Blog: http://bit.ly/stock-options-blog

https://tools.ltse.com/sizing-the-option-pool-whats-normal-95e0f2bc0b88
https://gust.com/launch/blog/how-much-equity-should-you-offer-your-startup-team-members
https://firstround.com/review/The-Right-Way-to-Grant-Equity-to-Your-Employees/

Many times, when giving out stock options, I found that the recipient did not understand them. Options are one of the most important employee motivators and a big part of their compensation, and confusion substantially reduces their effectiveness. This episode is devoted to educating employee about the options they receive and helping founders explain them to their teams.

Video: http://bit.ly/options-explained-video
Blog: http://bit.ly/options-explained-blog

Founders are confused about all the different terms used for funding, and what they all mean. Are they ready for a seed round and what does it take to get an A round? Learn what each kind of investment round means, what to expect, and what investors will expect from the business. Making the right ask to the right people at the right time is one of the keys to startup fundraising.

Video: https://bit.ly/investment-rounds-explained-video
Blog: https://bit.ly/investment-rounds-explained

Media and popular culture focuses excess attention on flashy “big ideas”, but it is excellent “execution” that separates the massive successes from the failures. Too many founders focus on finding that perfect idea, rather than making a great business out of a good idea. Investors need to know how you are going to grow. Focus on the things that you are going to do more than on the big picture.

Video: http://bit.ly/execution-over-ideas-video
Blog: http://bit.ly/execution-over-ideas

Trying and failing to raise funds for your startup business? In this episode I answer a viewer question asking for suggestions. Learn what it takes to get funding from early stage investors.

Video: http://bit.ly/finding-investors-vid
Blog: http://bit.ly/finding-investors
Links mentioned in the podcast:
The Angel Capital Association https://www.angelcapitalassociation.org
Blog on Why Angel Investors need high returns https://www.feeltheboot.com/blog/greedy-angel-investors
Two lists of Community Development Financial Institutions https://fitsmallbusiness.com/community-development-financial-institutions-cdfi-list/ https://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/partnering-locally/cdfi-list.html
My previous video on how to build a presentation: https://www.feeltheboot.com/blog/2019/4/1/bad-presentations-can-scuttle-your-startup-make-yours-soar

Your investor pitch may be failing because you are using the wrong deck! I have seen many otherwise good investment pitches fall flat because the speaker used a deck that was not optimized for the environment. Sometimes you will pitch in person, and sometimes your deck will be read alone. In this episode I cover how to triumph in both scenarios.

Blog: https://www.feeltheboot.com/blog/startups-need-two-pitchdecks

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-QhA47gWmg

Asking for an NDA up-front can kill your chances for investment. Non-disclosure agreements have their place but they can stop a conversation with angels or VCs before it starts. Handle this situation correctly and you will have nothing to fear.

Blog: https://www.feeltheboot.com/blog/no-nda-before-pitch

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyI34GCDUj4

Angel investors demand massive potential returns. Understanding why is the key to a successful pitch. Entrepreneurs in startups need to know the economics that drive angel investors and the harsh reality of how many startups fail.

Blog: https://www.feeltheboot.com/blog/greedy-angel-investors

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7tnKZW7TXg

In this discussion, Michael Regnier, founder of Sales Design & Delivery, shares vital insights into sales strategy tailored for startup founders, particularly those with a technical background. He explains that a company's sales strategy must encompass every aspect of the go-to-market message, including the target audience and the route to reach them. Smith articulates the importance of defining value propositions, pricing, and delivery models while underlining the necessity of iteration. He emphasizes the need to think from the customer's perspective and pitches the idea of 'if I were you selling'. Smith discusses adopting a sales strategy that proves one's belief in their product, building credibility for the customers. He also covers key points like avoiding paralysis and the significance of designing and delivering the sales process in a controlled manner for effective market feedback.

Mike Regnier has been an executive sales manager for small companies for twenty-five years and has helped many entrepreneurs "crack the code" in unlocking their rapid and sustained growth.  As a result of his successful exits, he was encouraged by several Private Equity and VC groups to create Sales Design & Delivery, his sales-scaling consulting firm, in 2012 and has been helping small companies achieve their potential ever since.

Engineer entrepreneurs love their technology, but that can be their downfall. In an investor pitch, when and if you talk about your technology can make a huge difference. Leading with, and focusing on, technology is the biggest mistake I see many engineer entrepreneurs make. The technology is often what they are most passionate about and was the reason they created the company. Technology is also where they feel most comfortable and can speak most confidently. Unfortunately that comes at the expense of focus on customers and their pain points.

Read the blog version of this episode here: https://www.feeltheboot.com/blog/angel-pitch-deck-not-technology

Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLpHXWGQsrE

Are you having trouble getting your big project off the ground? I had a hard time finding the time to launch Feel The Boot. Eventually I realized that I would have to take some time away from my day job to just make it happen. I suspect that this is a very common experience. If you have a question, topic suggestion, or feedback, message me on Twitter @LanceCottrell or contact me through the https://FeelTheBoot.com website

Blog: https://www.feeltheboot.com/blog/unsticking-your-passion-project

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apK2eGBiiOY

In this milestone episode, host Lance Cottrell dives deep into several critical topics inspired by his recent heart attack. First, he compares a heart attack with a financial crisis in a startup, emphasizing the need for recognizing early warning signs and taking immediate actions. He discusses how to identify critical situations where your venture is at risk and how to handle them effectively while sharing his personal experiences with his own startup. Then, he talks about the need to reassess one's priorities and the importance of aligning personal goals with the way we spend our time. He urges all founders to question their inherited societal goals and reflect on their passions. Lastly, as a public service announcement, he shares early warning signs for heart attacks and strokes, drawing parallels between them and potential dangers facing startups. He ends by stressing the urgency of immediate medical attention and action in such health crises.

Read as an article https://ftb.bz/100B

Watch the video https://ftb.bz/100V

Schedule advising with Lance https://ftb.bz/Advising

US Government Subsidized Health Insurance https://www.healthcare.gov/

The 10x rule 🌟 Why better is not enough

Having a superior solution is not good enough.

The special barriers startups face force you to build at least ten times better products.

Why Your Startup Needs to Be 10x Better

In this episode of 'Feel the Boot', host Lance Cottrell breaks down why startups need to be substantially better than their competition, particularly in the B2B context.

He explains the elements such as the high cost of switching, the immaturity of a startup product, and the typical risk of a startup failing, that force a startup to deliver a solution ten times better than the competitors.

Read the article https://ftb.bz/99B

Watch the video https://ftb.bz/99V

See the rest of the Founder Insights https://ftb.bz/Insight

Schedule advising with Lance https://ftb.bz/advising

Startup Fundraising Facilitators 🐍 Surviving the Pit of Serpents!

You might want to ask for help when you need to raise capital.

Take care, most of those people are useless or actively harmful.

Quoth the AI describing this episode:

In this episode, Lance Cottrell, an experienced startup advisor, shares insights on the challenges of fundraising, focusing on the role of fundraising facilitators in the process. He offers a candid look at the pitfalls of working with unskilled or unethical fundraisers. The episode provides crucial pointers about operational red flags and underlines the importance of maintaining realistic valuations. Additionally, it explains the logistics of fee models and advises on how successful fundraising can be approached. Moreover, it includes a brief discussion on the regulations surrounding fundraising and the need for facilitators to be registered. The episode concludes with advice on selecting the correct people to work with and setting adequate standards for partners.

Read the article: https://ftb.bz/98B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/98V

The episode on the Startup Fundraising Paradox: https://ftb.bz/94B

🤯 Exposing the top reasons for fast angel investment rejections

Investors only take a few seconds to decide if a startup is worth a serious look.

These eight factors lead to most of the fast NOs ☠️

In this episode, I discuss the screening process for companies seeking funding from angels and VC.

Out of over a hundred applicants to my angel group, we only select about 20 for detailed consideration.

We drop the rest after only a few moments' consideration.

A handful of reasons dominate why investors eliminate companies in under a minute.

If you can avoid those traps, you can force investors to take the time to understand your startup.

At worst, you will get feedback to improve your business and your pitch.

At best, you will get the funding you need to grow.

Read this as an article https://ftb.bz/97B

Watch the Video https://ftb.bz/97V

Get advising for your startup https://ftb.bz/Advising

Subscribe to Boot Prints https://ftb.bz/Join

Check out the whole Fundraising Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgMU_ie96T-LoIvSK3hHFF0AmySuQjbKe

Watch the video on valuation methodologies https://ftb.bz/66V

Startup Privacy Policies 🥷 What you need to know about GDPR, CCPA and beyond!

In this interview, Sabir Ibrahim, an attorney and entrepreneur, provides valuable insights on the implications of privacy and privacy policies for startups.

He emphasizes the importance of privacy laws, particularly highlighting the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and explains that these laws apply to all companies, regardless of their size.

Sabir advises startups to prioritize privacy policies, starting with a comprehensive privacy policy that includes information about data collection, usage, and sharing.

He also recommends engaging an attorney to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

Sabir highlights the potential risks and consequences of non-compliance with privacy laws, such as regulatory enforcement actions and lawsuits.

He suggests implementing a plan for data privacy as companies grow, including the concept of privacy by design.

The discussion also explores the relevance of privacy issues in specific sectors, such as Medtech, Fintech, and AI applications, mentioning the need to consider industry-specific regulations.

The interview concludes by emphasizing the importance of engaging legal counsel, budgeting for legal expenses related to privacy policy creation and compliance, and treating privacy compliance as an investment rather than a cost.

Read this as an article https://ftb.bz/96B

Watch the Video https://ftb.bz/96V

Subscribe to Boot Prints https://ftb.bz/Join

Get personal advising https://ftb.bz/advising  

00:00 Introduction to Sabir Ibrahim

02:24 Evolution of privacy laws and regulations

04:43 Implications of privacy laws for startups

07:14 FTC enforcement actions on smaller companies

08:08 Importance of starting with a privacy policy

08:58 Key elements of a privacy policy

11:15 Considerations for international users and GDPR

14:22 Key data privacy laws to be aware of: GDPR and CCPA

17:54 Planning operations to ensure compliance

19:28 Privacy by design and value proposition

23:43 Privacy concerns in specific verticals

25:54 My Health, My Data Act and regulatory gaps

32:22 Cost considerations for early-stage startups

37:48 Privacy compliance on a limited budget

38:34 Avoiding conflicts in privacy-related terms

Sabir Ibrahim’s Bio:

During his 15-year career as an attorney and technology entrepreneur, Sabir has advised clients ranging from pre-seed startups to Fortune 50 companies on a variety of issues within the intersection of law and technology. He is a former associate at the law firm of Greenberg Traurig, a former corporate counsel at Amazon, and a former senior counsel at Roku. He also founded and managed an IT managed services provider that served professional services firms in California, Oregon, and Texas.

Sabir received his BSE in Computer Science from the University of Michigan College of Engineering. He received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was an article editor of the Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review.

Sabir is licensed to practice in California and before the USPTO. He is a Certified Information Privacy Professional.

His website is: https://www.optimedge.legal

You can also find him at:

https://linkedin.com/in/sabir-ibrahim-a9505b1

https://medium.com/@optimedgelegal

https://youtube.com/@optimedgelegal

https://tiktok.com/@optimedgelegal

https://instagram.com/optimedgelegal

You’re delivering your pitch deck ask slide wrong! What you should say instead.

Learn the right and wrong thing to ask for.

How to handle hard questions during your ask.

I was listening to several founders deliver their pitches. Most of them did their “ask” wrong and seriously damaged their chances of success.

In this episode, look at their mistakes and how they could improve this critical step in their pitches.

You need to understand the whole angel and VC investment process. You pitch to get the next meeting, not for an immediate investment in your startup.

Read this as an article: https://ftb.bz/95B

Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/95V

Subscribe to Boot Prints: https://ftb.bz/Join

Get Advice for Your Startup: https://ftb.bz/Advising

Escape the Startup Paradox 😬 MVP Without VC

Can’t Build Your Product Without Funding

But Can’t Get Funding Without a Product

In the newest episode of Feel the Boot, we're diving headfirst into the world of product development sans angel investment.

I provide strategies for startups to navigate the challenges of raising funding pre-MVP.

Consider the paradox that most startups face: they need money to build their product, but struggle to obtain funding without a product.

I lay out three strategies to overcome this challenge.

The first is to build a cheaper version of the product by using off-the-shelf tools and proving its success.

The second strategy is to validate the business by conducting interviews, surveys, and gathering evidence of customer interest.

The third strategy is to explore alternative funding sources beyond traditional equity investors like: friends and family, grants, partnerships, or bootstrapping.

By following one or more of these strategies, you can find alternative ways to build your minimum viable product (MVP), enabling you to progress towards your business objectives.

Read this as an article: https://ftb.bz/94B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/94V

Subscribe to Boot Prints: https://ftb.bz/Join

Get Advice for Your Startup: https://ftb.bz/Advising

Branding is far more than just a logo and color scheme.

Learn how to leverage both positioning and branding in your startup buisiness

In today's fiercely competitive business landscape, effective branding and positioning strategies are crucial for startups to stand out from the crowd. However, many founders underestimate the true scope and importance of these concepts. In this interview, we heard valuable insights from branding and positioning expert Mara Rada, shedding light on why these elements are vital for emerging companies. By understanding the multi-faceted nature of branding and the emotional factors that drive purchasing decisions, founders can create stronger connections with their target audience, ultimately leading to long-term growth and success.

In the interview, Mara mentioned a few resources that will help founders learn more about branding and positioning:

-       42Courses.com has many lessons on these and related topics.

-       Anything written by George Tannenbaum formerly with Ogilvy, and R/GA https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgetannenbaum/

-       Anything written by Manoj Jacob Creative Director at Crayons. Formerly at Ogilvy, DDB Mudra, Soho Square, & Havas https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobwriter/

Get this as an article: https://ftb.bz/93B

Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/93V

Join Feel the Boot: https://ftb.bz/Join

Get advising from Lance: https://ftb.bz/Advising

Mara Rada is a feral thinker, a brand whisperer, and a category positioner. She helps companies create the beast brands of the future without selling their souls. She has worked with some of the world's most remarkable startups, Fortune 500 corporations, and the world’s best advertising agencies (Ogilvy). She is also a veteran public speaker and keynote presenter who talks about topics such as brand naming, category design, perceptual positioning, and nin-cliche-istic branding. She is the founder of FERAL, a strategic consultancy that specializes in untamed thinking and identity commercialization. Mara is not a guru and detests the word. Maybe as much as the dreaded “digital transformation”. But she sure knows how to transform lemons.

https://LinkedIn.com/in/mararada

https://ThinkFeral.com

How to Pivot Your Startup Before You Launch 🚀 Pre-Pivot Strategies for Entrepreneurs

In this episode of Feel the Boot, host Lance Cottrell dives into the concept of pre-pivoting for startups. Avoid the common pitfalls and wasted resources of traditional pivots by learning how to identify potential problems before building your product. Lance shares three effective ways to foresee issues, focusing on customer conversations, systematic testing of assumptions, and conducting a pre-mortem. Perfect for early-stage founders looking to navigate the complex journey of launching a successful business.

Blog https://ftb.bz/110B

Video https://ftb.bz/110V

Newsletter https://ftb.bz/join

Advising https://ftb.bz/advising

How to create an angel investment portfolio for maximum returns.

Learn what drives the returns for your angel investments.

Read this as an article: https://ftb.bz/92B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/92V

Subscribe to BootPrints: https://ftb.bz/Join

Angel Investing 101 series: https://ftb.bz/angel

In episode, I delve into the economics of angel investing, emphasizing the need for a significant number of investments to increase the chances of success. Research shows that most angel investments result in losses or minimal returns, but a small percentage can yield substantial profits. To improve the likelihood of hitting those winners, you should make at least 20 angel investments. Diversification across different sectors is also crucial to mitigate risks associated with market fluctuations and sector-specific downturns.

I then discuss the importance of planning an investment budget. Startups typically prefer pre-seed investments of at least $25,000 to avoid numerous small investments on their cap table. For investors with smaller check sizes, you might explore options like crowdfunding or syndicates. Syndicates involve a lead investor selecting an investment, while crowdfunding platforms allow for lower minimum investment requirements, enabling diversification through multiple smaller investments.

Non-monetary Startup Rewards and Recognitions.

Eight employee incentives that work better than cash.

In this episode of "Feel the Boot: The Science of Startups," I, discuss seven highly effective motivators and rewards for employees that founders can use to attract and retain top talent. These motivators include having a strong vision, giving employees equity, providing public recognition, delegation and employee empowerment, giving personal attention, tailoring rewards to the individual, and unique “wow” rewards. I emphasize the importance of understanding what motivates individual employees, as what works for one may not work for another. I share two examples of "wow rewards" that have had a significant impact on employees, such as handmade plaques and giving solid gold coins to employees who have put in a "gold medal performance."

Access all my content on Running your Startup https://ftb.bz/running

Get this content at an article https://ftb.bz/91B

Watch the Video https://ftb.bz/91V

Sign up for advising https://ftb.bz/advising

How to quickly eliminate the losers,

and identify companies worthy of further due diligence.

As an angel investor, you will need to look at many startups.

This guide provides a framework for quickly analyzing deals to see if digging deeper is worth your time.

This is part of a series on Angel Investing https://ftb.bz/Angel

Subscribe to Boot Prints and access office hours https://ftb.bz/join

Learn about advising from Feel the Boot https://ftb.bz/advising

Watch the Video https://ftb.bz/90V

Read as an article https://ftb.bz/90B

Make a Quick First Cut

Is the Company Angel Investable?

Competition

Valuation

Problem/Solution Validation

Business Economics

Defensibility

Intellectual Property

Need for Additional Funding

What is There?

Churn

Assumption Validation

Is This Possible?

(bonus) Team

Non-Dilutive Fundraising 💰 SBIR Grants for Innovation

Get cash for your startup without giving up ownership.

Government grants can fund your development from idea to MVP and beyond.

Read the transcript: https://ftb.bz/89B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/89V

Subscribe to Boot Prints: https://ftb.bz/Join

Get FTB Merch: https://ftb.bz/merch

Join the Founders Alliance: https://ftb.bz/Alliance

In this interview, Caroline Arzoo, Director of Partnerships at OmniSync, and I discusses the different options for funding a startup. She emphasizes that federal grants and contracts can be a great alternative to conventional angel and VC investment. However, she notes that the application process can be difficult, with over 80% of people who apply for federal funding on their own getting rejected for non-compliance. To help founders access non-dilutive funding, OmniSync has created an AI-powered platform that simplifies the process of finding and applying for federal funding.

In addition to federal grants and contracts, Caroline also suggests considering crowdfunding and pitch competitions as creative funding avenues.

She highlights the importance of community, transparency, and being open to change in order to navigate the complexities of growing a startup.

We also also touch on the emotional toll of the founder journey and the importance of building a support system.

Caroline Arzoo Bio:

Caroline Arzoo is a passionate advocate of innovation, supporting early-stage founders through her community-building work at OmniSync Inc and as a mentor for Founder Institute. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara’s Technology Management program, Caroline has supported hundreds of early-stage startups in accessing non-dilutive capital from the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.


In addition to her work supporting founders, Caroline also works to empower and build innovation ecosystems, partnering with universities, small business development centers, accelerators, and more to support their entrepreneurial initiatives.

Find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinearzoo/

Check out OmniSync’s grant application tools at https://www.turbosbir.com/

Your earliest investors are probably unsophisticated.

You must help them understand how startup investing works.

When you are at the idea stage, almost no angel or VC investors will back you, but people who know and care about you might.

Unfortunately, this is usually all new and very confusing to them.

You must ensure they understand what they are doing and paint a realistic picture of the possible outcomes.

This video is for you, the founder. It explains your options for structuring the deal and how to communicate with them about this opportunity.

I created another video to share with your potential investors that tells them what they need to know. https://ftb.bz/friends-and-family-explainer

Read this as a blog: https://ftb.bz/88B

Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/88V

💸Get Angel Investor Dealflow

You need to look at a lot of startups to find good investments

Learn several ways to uncover quality startups

Our Angel Investing 101 series teaches new Angel Investors how to invest in startups.

This episode focuses on Angel Investor dealflow. You need to source a lot of potential deals to identify those few worthy of investment.

Where to list yourself as an angel investors:

https://LinkedIn.com/

https://signal.nfx.com/

https://www.angellist.com/

https://www.crunchbase.com/hub/angel-investors

Syndicate sites:

https://AngelList.com

https://TheSyndicate.com

Crowd Funding Sites:

https://Wefunder.com

https://Republic.com

https://Seedinvest.com

https://Fundable.com

https://StartEngine.com

https://MicroVentures.com

Read the blog version: https://ftb.bz/87B

Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/87V

Get access to Boot Prints & Office Hours: https://ftb.bz/Join

Feel the Boot Merch: https://ftb.bz/Merch

Who decides what between the board and shareholders?

How to handle the BoD and Shareholder meetings as a founder.

Read the blog: https://ftb.bz/86B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/86V

Get access to office hours and Boot Prints: https://ftb.bz/Join

In this episode, I explain the board of directors and shareholders roles and responsibilities.

Some votes require both groups to approve. Others are specific to the BoD or shareholders.

Running shareholder and board meetings as a startup is easier than you think.

Having those meetings is essential, even if you are the only participant!

VCs destroy more startups than they make unicorns

Learn how to identify and avoid that trap

The reason is the “marginal dollar problem”

Understanding that will help you choose whether to accept venture capital investment with open eyes.

Read the blog: https://ftb.bz/85B

Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/85V

Join Boot Prints for access to free office hours: https://ftb.bz/Join

Meet other founders in the Founders Alliance: https://ftb.bz/Alliance

How to Start Angel Investing 💰

What you need to know to start investing in early-stage startup companies

Best practices for new angel investors

This is the second in a series of videos on angel investing.

It explains the best way to begin as a new angel investor, and some critical pitfalls to avoid.

Read the blog: https://ftb.bz/84B

Watch the Video https://ftb.bz/84V  

Subscribe to Boot Prints https://ftb.bz/join

Here’s the episode on dangerous investment terms https://youtu.be/LCCXSS2ubn8

Merch! https://ftb.bz/merch

Angel Investing 101 💰

What is angel investing?

How to invest in pre-IPO companies

Angel investors put their own money into early-stage startup companies.

This is the first in a series of episodes on becoming an effective angel investor / venture capitalist

Read the article: https://ftb.bz/83B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/83V

Signup for the mailing list and office hours: https://ftb.bz/join

In this episode of Feel the Boot, host Lance Cottrell delves into the concept of 'secret sauce' for startups. Learn why identifying and protecting your unique differentiator is crucial for attracting investors and maintaining a competitive edge. Cottrell shares insights on developing a valuable and defensible secret sauce, using trade secrets and patents, and the importance of articulating it effectively in your pitch deck. This video is a must-watch for early-stage founders seeking to innovate and secure their business's future.

Blog https://ftb.bz/109B

Video https://ftb.bz/109V

Newsletter https://ftb.bz/join

Advising https://ftb.bz/advising

📉Startup Funding in a Bear Market

Adapt your fundraising strategy to succeed in a downturn

Raise angel investment and venture capital in challenging times

When the economy is rough, investors become cautious.

Learn how to position your company to survive these times and appeal to angel and VC investors.

Read the article https://ftb.bz/82B

Watch the Video https://ftb.bz/82V

Founders Alliance https://ftb.bz/Alliance

Mailing list for office hours https://ftb.bz/join

My worst day as a founder 😭 how we pivoted, survived, and eventually thrived

Startup Stories: angel investor quits, acquisition falls through, & personal tragedy

What to expect as a founder.

Creating and growing a company can be an incredible experience, but you will have days that seriously suck. You will probably experience situations that challenge your determination to carry on.

Because I frequently talk about how challenging launching a startup can be, I want to share my worst day as a founder. I hope it helps prepare you for some of the trials you will experience on your journey.

Read the article https://ftb.bz/81B

Watch the video https://ftb.bz/81V

Founders Alliance https://ftb.bz/Alliance

Mailing list for office hours https://ftb.bz/join

Fire the Founder? 🔥 Take the initiative and replace yourself as CEO

Startup typically outgrow their founding CEO

It’s better find your replacement then be replaced

My board of directors wanted to replace me as CEO. This episode explains how I handled that with fantastic results.

If you recruit the new CEO, you can find someone you want to work with, and who will respect you.

They can help drive the company’s success and give you the exit you want.

Read the article https://ftb.bz/80B

Watch the video https://ftb.bz/80V

Founders Alliance https://ftb.bz/Alliance

Mailing list for office hours https://ftb.bz/join

Cofounder Vesting 😭 Handling founder shares when things go wrong

Stock vesting can save you in multi-cofounder startups

Investors may require founder vesting before investing

This episode looks at the issue of founder vesting through the lens of a fictitious company founded by Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor and Loki.

Read the article https://ftb.bz/79B

Watch the video https://ftb.bz/79V

Founders Alliance https://ftb.bz/Alliance

Mailing list for office hours https://ftb.bz/join

Term Sheet Red Flags ☠️ Venture Capital

Abusive terms cause dilution, loss of control, & sabotage future deals

Learn what they mean and when to push back

Read the article https://ftb.bz/78B

Watch the video https://ftb.bz/78V

Founders Alliance https://ftb.bz/Alliance

Mailing list for office hours https://ftb.bz/join

Article on pre-revenue startup valuations: https://ftb.bz/66B

Article on why high valuations can be bad: https://ftb.bz/70B

Here are the standard term sheets I mentioned:

Y Combinator https://ftb.bz/Y-Com-TS

National Venture Capital Association https://ftb.bz/NVCA-TS

Angel Capital Association https://ftb.bz/ACA-TS

Have you ever tried to deliver a pitch deck or other presentation, and the technology just won’t cooperate? Either your computer won’t talk to their projector, or there is some issue with the PowerPoint.

How can you handle these situations in a way that leaves you looking as good or better than you would have if everything had gone perfectly?

Video: https://ftb.bz/77V

Article: https://ftb.bz/77B

Join: https://ftb.bz/Join

Get more from your investor updates

What to include and an easy template

Get the template here: https://ftb.bz/investor-update-template

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/76V

Get the podcast: https://ftb.bz/Podcast

Visit the website: https://ftb.bz/

Join the mailing list: https://ftb.bz/Join

A regular investor update email is the best way to keep existing and prospective investors in the loop on your startup’s progress.

Use it to ask for investments, introductions, advice, assistance, and more.

In this episode I share how to craft an update that people will read and will keep them engaged and supportive.

Lance Cottrell has been an active startup advisor and startup mentor for over a decade.

He has helped countless startups navigate the key decisions of their journey, like when to take venture capital investment and negotiating term sheets.

He works with many companies in accelerators like Y Combinator and Founder Institute.

He provides help with startup funding including raising venture capital and angel investment.

He can help you achieve liquidity for your company at a high valuation.

Feel the Boot is a startup vlog of tips and advice for early-stage founders.

Low on cash with no imminent funding?

Here’s how to keep your startup alive

Read this as a blog: https://ftb.bz/75B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/75V

Visit the website: https://ftb.bz/

Join the mailing list: https://ftb.bz/Join

When things get tough and cash is short, you need to manage your startup cash flow to survive. If things are particularly difficult, you might be forced to pivot or sell the company.

Lance Cottrell has been an active startup advisor and startup mentor for over a decade.

He has helped countless startups navigate the key decisions of their journey, like when to take venture capital investment and negotiating term sheets.

He works with many companies in accelerators like Y Combinator and Founder Institute.

He provides help with startup funding including raising venture capital and angel investment.

He can help you achieve liquidity for your company at a high valuation.

Feel the Boot is a startup vlog of tips and advice for early-stage founders.

What is a Cap Table? 🧐 Tracking VC Investments and stock option grants

Understand startup capitalization, preferred stock, and angel investments

Track ownership, options, SAFE, Convertible Notes, and dilution.

Startup equity and cap tables can be confusing to many founders.

The CEO needs to understand startup equity well enough to talk to their lawyers and negotiate with investors. This episode will teach you all you need to know.

Subscribe to Boot Prints: https://ftb.bz/Subscribe

Join Founders Alliance: https://ftb.bz/Join

Read this: https://ftb.bz/74B

Get the video: https://ftb.bz/74V

Lance Cottrell has been an active startup advisor and startup mentor for over a decade.

He has helped countless startups navigate the key decisions of their journey, like when to take venture capital investment and negotiating a termsheet.

His advice and mentoring can supplement or replace startup accelerators or startup incubators like Y Combinator.

He provides help with startup funding including raising venture capital and angel investment.

He can help you achieve liquidity for your company at a high valuation.

Feel the Boot is a startup vlog of tips and advice for early-stage founders.

Startup Survival 🤕 Quit, Pivot, or Persevere

When your startup hits hard times what should you do?

Make this high stakes decision with confidence

When your startup is in a dark place with no path forward, what should you do?

This episode explores how to analyze your options objectively to choose the best option for you and your startup.

Subscribe to Boot Prints: https://ftb.bz/Subscribe

Join Founders Alliance: https://ftb.bz/Join

Read this: https://ftb.bz/73B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/73V

Lance Cottrell has been an active startup advisor and startup mentor for over a decade.

He has helped countless startups navigate the key decisions of their journey, like when to close their startup vs. persevere or pivot.

His advice and mentoring can supplement or replace startup accelerators or startup incubators like Y Combinator.

He provides help with startup funding including raising venture capital and angel investment.

He can help you achieve liquidity for your company at a high valuation.

Feel the Boot is a startup vlog of tips and advice for early-stage founders.

In this episode of 'Feel the Boot,' I address a common frustration among startup founders: investors who show strong interest but delay their commitment. I explain the reasons behind this behavior, such as risk minimization and strategic leverage, and provides actionable techniques for founders to expedite investor commitments. Key strategies discussed include structuring funding rounds in tranches, leveraging social proof, and utilizing time-critical events to encourage quicker investments.

Blog https://ftb.bz/108B

YouTube https://ftb.bz/108V

Fundraising playlist https://ftb.bz/fundraising-playlist

Subscribe to BootPrints https://ftb.bz/join

Startups 🧐 business advisor value

Get more value from your startup advisors

How to use mentors more effectively

If you have not recruited your advisors yet, watch this first: https://ftb.bz/68V

The video on Founder Time Management for Strategic Thinking is here: https://ftb.bz/65V

Read the blog: https://ftb.bz/72B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/72V

Join us to access free one-on-one office hours: https://ftb.bz/Join

Meet other entrepreneurs at the Founders Alliance: https://ftb.bz/Alliance

In this episode I share best practices for working with your advisors and mentors.

Advisors should be more than just a pretty face on your pitch deck. You give them equity, so you should maximize their value to you.

Advisors can help you with startup funding, angel investors, venture capital, pitch decks, growth hacking, startup marketing, product sales, PR, mergers and acquisitions, and more.

Lance Cottrell has been an active startup advisor and startup mentor for over a decade.

His advice and mentoring can supplement or replace startup accelerators or startup incubators like Y Combinator.

He provides help with startup funding including raising venture capital and angel investment.

He can help you achieve liquidity for your company at a high valuation.

Feel the Boot is a startup vlog of tips and advice for early-stage founders.

Feel the Boot 🤓 Mentoring & Advising

How our free mentoring office hours work

Establishing formal advising relationships

Subscribe to Boot Prints: https://ftb.bz/Subscribe

Join Founders Alliance: https://ftb.bz/Join

Read this: https://ftb.bz/71B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/71V

Lance Cottrell has been an active startup advisor and startup mentor for over a decade.

His advice and mentoring can supplement or replace startup accelerators or startup incubators like Y Combinator.

He provides help with startup funding including raising venture capital and angel investment.

He can help you achieve liquidity for your company at a high valuation.

Feel the Boot is a startup vlog of tips and advice for early-stage founders.

In this episode I explain why a very high valuation can cause trouble for your startup.

It can demotivate your employees by hurting their payout at exit.

It can derail your next funding round my making your last investors hostile and demanding.

Read this as a blog: https://ftb.bz/70B

Watch the Video: https://ftb.bz/70V

Join the Founder’s Alliance: https://ftb.bz/Alliance

Subscribe to Boot Prints for free office hours: https://ftb.bz/Join