Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re in a group that is debating something–such as whether to take on a new investment–for a very long time? Let’s say your group is healthy and high-functioning. Normally decision making feels natural and strong, and you have a rhythm going for how you make decisions. …
We’re living at a time when valuations are very high, as Fred Wilson and Ari Newman have both recently pointed out. When valuations rise, so do the caps on notes, which are upper limits on valuation at conversion. In many cases the caps are very high because the entrepreneurs are telling the investors that they’re …
What makes an effective Key Performance Indicator (KPI)? How do you design your metrics to help your company achieve its objectives? First off, a good KPI will actually help you make a decision. The information should clearly tell you where you’re at and give you something actionable to do. Secondly, a useful KPI will typically …
Of course nobody wants their startup to fail, but the fact is that it happens and it’s a completely normal part of company building. Investors understand this and realize that failure is often a part of the process. If your company has failed, make sure you go out of your way to let all of …
It’s an unfortunate fact in our industry that people (mostly women) still regularly deal with harassment and assault in the workplace. Not only is this tragic for the individuals involved, but it is also driving talented women away from what is often a male-dominated tech and startup culture. Adding to the problem is that the victims …
There’s a lot of advice out there for new (and experienced) investors, and it can be hard to sift through it all to find the best stuff. So when I find something particularly helpful, I like to pass it along. Paige Craig, a founder and managing partner of Arena Ventures, has some excellent blog posts in …