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    Attacking New Customers

    Many companies declare war on their customers, sometimes without realizing it. Customers are sometimes wrong, but too often businesses miss information about new markets, new…

    David May 30, 2021
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    Perspective, from Dot.com to Crypto

    In the movie Ratatouille, critic Anton Ego, reacting to “overheated puffery” says he craves “some fresh, clear, well seasoned perspective.” Perspective is often missing in…

    David May 23, 2021
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    Attacking New Markets

    My board wants me to expand my highly successful business into a number of somewhat related, but mostly peripheral areas. I am worried I will…

    David May 16, 2021
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    Building a Media Strategy

    Our company is creating a new category to sell to large enterprises and we need to build a PR strategy to help our business. Do…

    David May 9, 2021
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    Hurting Angel Investors

    I have a small angel fund with a few friends. We are not able to invest more in later rounds in all our best deals,…

    David April 25, 2021
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    Running from Regulation

    I am afraid that my industry is going to be regulated soon, as Congress is starting to hold hearings. How can I fight against this?…

    David April 18, 2021
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    Testing with Predators

    I need to test my product in the field before I can release it widely, but the companies where I need to test the idea…

    David April 11, 2021
    0 Comments

    Not Ready to Take the Leap

    I am not yet ready to leave my executive job to join my friend’s unfunded startup, especially since I am paying for two kids in…

    David April 4, 2021
    0 Comments

    Fraudulent Founder Claims

    A former friend is claiming to be a co-founder of my company who had nothing to do with my business or idea. I just told…

    David March 28, 2021
    0 Comments

    Finding Startup Advisors

    I am unsure how to build a strong group of advisors for my startup or how to weigh their advice. Do you have any suggestions?…

    David March 21, 2021
    0 Comments

    Surviving Board Dysfunction

    My Board of Directors is dysfunctional. We are always in conflict with each other and cannot agree on decisions. Is there anything I can do?…

    David March 14, 2021
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    Disclosing Startup Secrets

    My advisor told me not to bother having other companies sign NDAs because they are “worthless,” and not to have our lawyers review outside NDAs…

    David March 7, 2021
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    A Farewell to Startup Business Plans

    I was taught that I have to create a full business plan, ideally 50-100 pages, with a fully developed product and strategy before I can…

    David February 28, 2021
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    Advice for a First Time CTO

    I am leaving a large company as an IT exec to join a friend’s startup as the startup’s initial CTO. Do you have any advice…

    David February 21, 2021
    0 Comments

    Should I Sell My Business?

    Your rollup post was timely. We just received an acquisition offer. We have some other projects we think are higher value and this product is…

    David February 13, 2021
    0 Comments

    Should I Roll Up My Industry?

    My largest investor asked to me look at doing a “roll up” strategy in my space, buying out smaller players. Do these strategies make sense?…

    David February 5, 2021
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    The GameStop Dumpster Fire

    Do you think the GameStop market surge represents a new chapter in investing, as the masses finally can compete with the big Wall Street funds?…

    David January 30, 2021
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    Competition from Ex-Employees

    One of my ex-employees just started a new company to compete with my startup. My lawyer said I could not insert a noncompete in his…

    David January 24, 2021
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    Startup Culture Misfits

    I built my early stage startup with a few close friends who come from big company backgrounds. They are brilliant and successful, but are plodding,…

    David January 18, 2021
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    Renegotiating Bad Deals

    My co-founder and I gave up 75% to our Series A investor for just $1 million. Now that the company is taking off and needs…

    David January 11, 2021
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    Future of Technology Policy

    Innovative entrepreneurship drives the global economy, yet it is under attack. Silicon Valley’s success has drawn the wrath of populist outrage. We were never going…

    David January 4, 2021
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    Giving Back

    I am an undergraduate computer science student and was inspired by the recent webinar with Tim Connors when he said we should give some of…

    David December 14, 2020
    0 Comments

    Hiding Information

    My co-founder is handling the diligence process with our acquirer and I am not comfortable with how loose he is being with some of the…

    David December 7, 2020
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    A Startup Without Employee Stock

    I have worked crazy hours for a tech startup for the last two years, starting as the third employee. I have made sacrifices to make…

    David November 30, 2020
    0 Comments

    Bonus Plans for Startups

    We are setting up a bonus plan for my startup and making it cash only, as my employees do not want stock. Do you have…

    David November 23, 2020
    0 Comments

    Avoiding Harsh Pay to Plays

    I am looking to raise some money from insiders in a Series A-1 deal to see if we can get traction for a pivot we…

    David November 16, 2020
    0 Comments

    Hold Off On IP Holding Companies?

    I have an IP holding company which owns all my patents and licenses them to my startup. I am deep in diligence with a potential…

    David November 9, 2020
    0 Comments

    Founder Deadlock

    My co-founder and I each own 50% and we are deadlocked on everything. We have no investors or anyone else involved. What should we do?…

    David November 2, 2020
    0 Comments

    Selling in a Den of Thieves

    A large company in our space says they want to acquire my startup and wants to do diligence on us. This company has a reputation…

    David October 26, 2020
    0 Comments

    Don’t Panic

    Instead of answering a specific question this week, I wanted to summarize a common discussion I am having lately with many companies: remaining steady in…

    David October 19, 2020
    0 Comments

    Getting Exercised About Stock

    I got stock at my startup on Friday, which I am exercising this weekend, but to my understanding nothing can he exercised until funding comes…

    David October 12, 2020
    0 Comments

    Patently Unguaranteed

    I am negotiating to buy a small company that will not provide any guarantees that it validly owns the IP I am buying or that…

    David October 5, 2020
    0 Comments

    Actionable Investor Reporting

    One of my primary responsibilities is to gather monthly reports on our portfolio companies…. The founding partners are a close group of six serial entrepreneurs…

    David September 28, 2020
    0 Comments

    Second Tier Talent

    I finally fired my head of engineering, who was dragging us down. Now, the company is aligned, energetic, flying through development, and, well fun… as…

    David September 21, 2020
    0 Comments

    Helping Each Other in Crisis

    We live in a world where selfishness often reigns, so it is worth reflecting one critical factor that makes entrepreneurship work: the everyday willingness of…

    David September 14, 2020
    0 Comments

    Protecting Oneself in Chinese Deals

    My company is negotiating a deal with a Chinese company. I hear that it is difficult to enforce contracts in China against Chinese companies. How…

    David September 7, 2020
    0 Comments

    How Hard to Negotiate

    How hard should I fight with my potential investor for the best valuation? I am inclined to take the term sheet offered, but my friend…

    David August 31, 2020
    0 Comments

    Must I Incorporate in the U.S.?

    My business and team are based in South America. We have no U.S. sales or operations but are looking to raise money from U.S. VCs.…

    David August 24, 2020
    0 Comments

    Spouses and Friends As Co-Founders

    I was told by an advisor that I should never start a company with a friend or my husband because no investor will invest. Is…

    David August 17, 2020
    0 Comments

    Keeping Your Head Up During Down Rounds

    I am an angel investor in a company that is looking at doing a down round “pay to play.” How can I protect myself from…

    David August 10, 2020
    0 Comments

    Should I Push Back On My VC?

    I just got a term sheet for a Series A financing. The VC accepted the valuation I proposed, which was aggressive, but added a 2x…

    David August 3, 2020
    0 Comments

    Don’t Panic Over Franchise Taxes

    David, help! Delaware says I owe almost $100,000 in corporation franchise taxes. I just started the company last year and I don’t know what is…

    David July 27, 2020
    0 Comments

    Strategic Investing: Pros and Cons for Startups

    One of the startups I am working with is looking at taking money from a strategic investor. What are some of the pros and cons…

    David July 20, 2020
    0 Comments

    Entrepreneurship For All

    Silicon Valley has a long history of biases in whose startups get funded… Rich white male tech entrepreneurs who can access the generational wealth of…

    David July 13, 2020
    0 Comments

    Choosing a Board of Directors

    I am curious about the best recommendations about how to build a board. My last board, foolishly was a group of well intended friends. However,…

    David July 6, 2020
    0 Comments

    Startups and Customer Feedback

    When startups receive (hopefully) lots of customer feedback and suggestions on product improvements/features they wish to add, how do you go about deciding which suggestion/feedback…

    David June 29, 2020
    0 Comments

    Convertible Notes vs. SAFEs

    Is a SAFE the same as a convertible when raising funds? Many first time founders typically raise their first few funds either way, so I…

    David June 22, 2020
    0 Comments

    UPCOMING DSV EVENTS

    Current Month

    Recent Posts

    • Attacking New Customers

    • Perspective, from Dot.com to Crypto

    • Attacking New Markets

    • Building a Media Strategy

    • Hurting Angel Investors

    Released Courses

    • 5.106 Doing Business Globally

    • 5.105 Litigation for Entrepreneurs II

    • 5.104 Litigation for Entrepreneurs I

    • 5.103 Trade Secrets and NDAs

    • 5.102 Contracts for Entrepreneurs II: Startup Issues

    • 5.101 Contracts for Entrepreneurs I: The Basics

    • 4.112 How Not to Raise Money

    • 4.111 Other Funding Sources, Securities, and Bad Deals

    • 4.110 Down Rounds

    • 4.109 How Venture Funds Work

    • 4.108 Strategic Investment and Venture Debt

    • 4.107 Diligence and Disclosures

    • 4.106 Creating Cap Tables

    • 4.105 Venture Terms: Control and Protections

    • 4.104 Venture Terms: Economics

    • 4.103 Angels and Early Investors

    • 4.102 Preparing for Fundraising

    • 4.101 Fundamentals of Startup Investing

    • 3.104 Best Governance Pratices

    • 3.103 Founders and Early Talent

    • 3.102 Common Stock and Options

    • 3.101 Set Up Step By Step

    • 2.103 Driving Innovation Through IP Strategy

    • 2.102 Patents

    • 1.104 Agile, Pivots, and Lean

    • 1.103 Design and Data

    • 2.101 Copyright and Trademark

    • 0.2 Special Course: Common Startup Mistakes (FREE)

    • 0.1 Innovative Entrepreneurship Is For Everyone (FREE)

    • 1.102 Creating Lean

    • 1.101 Secrets of Innovative Companies

    © 2023 Demystifying Silicon Valley
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