Відео

Thank you so much. very informative 👏 keep going 👍

the marvel part was very distracting

Thank you!

Thank you!

This was very useful! Thanks for sharing. Personally, we've used a "days of usage" trial that expires after the customer has used a product for x amount of days. This replaced our "14 day trial" that most customers would only get to trial the product once or twice during that time (and I think customers appreciate the difference as they feel it's more generous).

This is a Startup Game Plan, that I always believed in. The go big and go broke strategy is one that is too much of a gamble. Whatever it takes, keep the burn rate low, with a nice stream of profits. SphereMotor, the future of electricity.

Underlying Magic = Secret Sauce, Correct me if im wrong!

Excellent & Unique content as always - Thank you, Mr. Lance Cottrell.

Get lost! Who do you think you are! You (folks like you, trusts, big monopols etc) are the real reason of poverty all over the world. Angel investor!!! What funny! Vampire İnvestor.

Awesome advice

🔥 wish I have seen this video 3 years ago

Lance winning

In my experience, hiring the wrong people and sharing equity too early is a suicidal strategy. I hired a graduate from MIT in my tech company as the CEO, only to discover he was unable (and perhaps unwilling) to complete any task. He was talkative, charming and caring, but devoid of any actual real world skills. His mother asked me, confidentially like, if I was sure about this? But I was blinded by his MIT credentials. Huge mistake. And very costly at that.

This is very good advice.

Excellent advice. Coincidentally I am working on an actual secret sauce. Like in dressing. 😀

Facts: Now that free money due to below inflation interest rates is over the startup space is toast. Don't waste your time in startup nonsense--you will regret it. The few winners do not offset the reality for the many.

Das war wirklich aufschlussreich!

I love your channel but wish you would invest in a microphone.

Awesome info. Wish I can speak to you

A great excercise in real world perspectives and context.need to know and find out what i dont know.

Clear enough, thank you!

*Creating an Effective Pitch Deck: Essential Components and Presentation Tips* When preparing to pitch your startup to investors, having a well-structured pitch deck is crucial. Here’s what your pitch deck should contain and some tips for presenting it effectively: Essential Components of a Pitch Deck 1. Title Slide - Company name, logo, tagline, and your contact information. 2. Problem Statement - Clearly articulate the problem your business addresses with relatable examples. 3. Solution - Present your product or service as the solution to the problem, highlighting key features and benefits. 4. Market Opportunity - Define your target market and its size, with data on trends and growth potential. 5. Business Model - Explain how your business will make money, including pricing strategy and customer acquisition. 6. Traction - Showcase evidence of progress, such as sales figures or milestones achieved. 7. Marketing Strategy - Outline your plan for reaching customers and gaining market share. 8. Competitive Analysis - Identify competitors and explain your competitive advantages. 9. Team - Introduce key team members and highlight their relevant experience. 10. Financial Projections - Present projected revenue and profitability over the next 3-5 years. 11. Funding Ask - Clearly state how much capital you seek and how it will be used. 12. Closing Slide - A strong conclusion with a call to action and your contact information. Tips for Presenting Your Pitch Deck 1. Practice: Rehearse multiple times to build confidence. 2. Keep It Concise: Aim for 10-15 slides to maintain focus. 3. Tell a Story: Create a narrative that flows logically. 4. Use Visuals: Incorporate images and graphs to illustrate key points. 5. Focus on Design: Maintain a professional and consistent design. 6. Engage Your Audience: Make eye contact and encourage interaction. 7. Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions and prepare responses. 8. Stay Passionate: Show enthusiasm for your business. 9. Control the Pace: Speak clearly and at a steady pace. 10. Follow Up: Send a thank-you note with your pitch deck after the presentation. Software Options for Creating a Pitch Deck 1. Canva: www.canva.com 2. Google Slides: slides.google.com 3. Microsoft PowerPoint: www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/powerpoint 4. Prezi: prezi.com 5. Slidebean: slidebean.com 6. Visme: www.visme.co 7. Pitch: pitch.com 8. Haiku Deck: www.haikudeck.com By including these components in your pitch deck and following these presentation tips, you can effectively communicate your business idea and increase your chances of securing investment. Feel free to copy and paste this reply directly into UA-cam!

Here’s a list of reasons why companies often get eliminated from angel investment consideration, starting from the easiest to address to the more complex: 1. Incomplete Application - Missing essential information or documentation in the application process can lead to immediate rejection. 2. Not Meeting Investment Criteria - Companies that do not align with the specific investment criteria of the angel group, such as geographic location or industry focus. 3. Lack of Originality - Companies that present "MeToo" products or services, lacking a unique value proposition in a crowded market. 4. Not Venture Investable - Businesses that do not demonstrate the potential for significant returns (20-50 times) due to their nature, such as local restaurants or service-oriented companies with low margins. 5. Lack of Focus - Discussions that overly emphasize the product rather than the business model, growth metrics, and profitability can signal a lack of understanding of what drives business success. 6. Lack of Defensibility - Companies that do not have a competitive moat or unique advantages that protect against competitors can be seen as risky investments. 7. Inappropriate Valuation - Companies that present unrealistic valuations at early stages may deter investors, who are concerned about dilution and potential returns. 8. Not Being Registered as a C-Corp - Companies structured as LLCs or partnerships without a formal corporation can be eliminated due to the perceived complications in investment and stock issuance. 9. Lack of Market Demand - Companies that do not demonstrate a clear market need or customer interest for their product/service may be considered too risky. 10. Historical Bias of the Investment Group - If the investment group has a bias against certain industries or types of businesses based on past experiences, it may lead to an automatic rejection, regardless of the current business potential. By addressing these issues systematically, founders can improve their chances of being considered for investment.

Angel investors typically look for specific criteria to ensure that their investments have the potential for significant returns, often aiming for a return of 20 to 50 times their investment within a 5 to 7-year time frame. Here are the key factors they consider: 1. High Growth Potential - Market Size: Companies should address large and expanding markets. A startup should demonstrate that there’s a significant customer base that can drive revenue growth. - Scalability: The business model should allow for rapid scaling without a corresponding increase in costs. This is often seen in software and tech-driven companies, like SaaS (Software as a Service). 2. Unique Value Proposition - Differentiation: The product or service must provide a unique solution that stands out from competitors. This could be through innovation, technology, or a novel approach to an existing problem. - Intellectual Property: Having proprietary technology or patents can create barriers to entry for competitors. 3. Strong Business Model - Revenue Streams: A clear and viable plan for generating revenue, including pricing strategies and sales channels. - Unit Economics: Positive unit economics where the lifetime value of a customer significantly exceeds the cost of acquiring that customer. 4. Experienced Founders and Team - Track Record: Founders with previous success in startups or relevant industry experience are more attractive to investors. - Team Capability: A strong, well-rounded team with complementary skills can increase confidence in execution. 5. Defensibility - Competitive Moat: The business should have factors that protect it from competitors, such as brand loyalty, exclusive partnerships, or technological advantages. 6. Clear Exit Strategy - Acquisition Potential: Investors often look for signs that the company could be an attractive acquisition target for larger firms. - IPO Viability: The potential for the company to go public can be an attractive exit strategy. 7. Financial Projections and Valuation - Realistic Expectations: Financial projections should be ambitious yet realistic, showing how the company can achieve significant growth. - Appropriate Valuation: Valuations should reflect the growth potential and not be excessively inflated at early stages. A well-justified valuation can prevent excessive dilution for founders. 8. Engagement and Communication - Transparency: Founders should be open about challenges and how they plan to address them. Communication skills can indicate how well they might handle investor relationships moving forward. By focusing on these aspects, angel investors aim to identify startups that not only have the potential for exponential growth but also present a lower risk of failure, increasing their chances of achieving substantial returns on their investments.

Here’s an extended summary of the video presented by Lance Cottrell about the common mistakes that lead to companies being eliminated from the North Bay Angels investment funnel: Lance Cottrell hosts the video to help founders understand the key reasons why many startups get eliminated from the funding process at angel groups, specifically North Bay Angels. He aims to provide insights and actionable advice to increase the chances of securing investment. Key Points of Elimination 1. Not Meeting Investment Criteria: - North Bay Angels has specific investment criteria, including a preference for companies located in the North Bay area. Applications from foreign companies are immediately discarded. Founders should ensure their business aligns with the group's investment thesis before applying. 2. Not Being Venture Investable: - Companies must have the potential to deliver returns of 20-50 times the investment within five to seven years. Many companies that are safe or low-risk do not fit this profile. Businesses that cannot scale significantly, such as local restaurants or service-based companies with low margins, are typically not considered. 3. Providing Incomplete Applications: - Submitting an incomplete application can lead to automatic elimination. Founders need to include all required information, such as details about their team, the amount of funding sought, and the business structure. 4. Mismatch with Investment Interests: - Understanding the historical interests of the angel group is crucial. If a group has previously invested in similar businesses that did not perform well, they may be hesitant to invest again. Researching past investments can help founders avoid presenting ideas that do not align with the group's focus. 5. Lack of Competitive Advantage (Moat): - Investors look for companies with a strong competitive edge that makes them difficult to replicate. If a business idea is easily duplicated by competitors, it may not attract interest. Founders should demonstrate a clear strategy for maintaining market position and growth. 6. Lack of Focus on Business Viability: - Founders often focus too much on their product and not enough on the business model, customer acquisition strategies, and financial projections. A strong understanding of unit economics and growth metrics is essential for attracting investment. 7. Improper Business Structure: - Companies should be registered as C-Corps rather than LLCs or partnerships. Investors prefer the straightforward equity structure that C-Corps offer, so founders are encouraged to set up their business accordingly before applying for funding. Additional Considerations - Valuation Issues: - Many founders struggle with appropriate valuation. Overestimating a company’s worth can deter investors, especially when presenting pre-seed rounds. Understanding valuation methodologies is crucial to avoid being perceived as unrealistic. - Lack of Engagement: - Cottrell emphasizes the importance of engaging with potential investors and understanding their preferences and requirements. Conclusion Cottrell concludes by inviting founders to utilize resources available through his platform, including one-on-one advising and a newsletter. He encourages viewers to subscribe for more insights into fundraising and entrepreneurship. The video serves as a critical resource for entrepreneurs looking to navigate the complexities of attracting angel investment, emphasizing thorough preparation and alignment with investor expectations to improve chances of success.

That's why I always ask people around me... WHOS THE MAN? and only when they confirm pointing towards me... YOU ARE. Only then I modestly agree with them. 😊

U bullshit think you smart u all bullshit

What about a Delaware S Corp.? Why is a C Corp. preferred thanks.

Hi am from switzerland would like to become Angels investor but in USA

Can you explain "don't lead with team" does it mean no team slide in pitch decks?

How to find other local angel investors?

This was very timely as we are just getting ready to launch our B2B SaaS offering and have modified the freemium offering multiple times. You provide nice alternatives and potential pitfalls. Thanks Lance!

Hi Lance, Thanks for the informative video! What are your thoughts on the advice I've heard from other investors to leave valuation out of your pitch deck and wait to receive offers?

Don’t worry guys, he would have flat out turned down Facebook, Uber, Amazon, SpaceX, Tesla and probably Apple in the startup phase. This is very anecdotal and specific to this investment group, the only thing they all have in common is that they want to make money, period. How you convince them your idea does that is up to you and you can tailor your message to them

I can feel the boot! Mostly on my neck 😂Love your advice. Clear concise and to the point. In my experience, every individual wants to see different elements in a presentation deck in various orders. There is no standardized form. So the way I navigate around that Obstacle is by doing my research on each individual and restructuring my presentation accordingly before sending out. I have been following Feel the Boot long enough to get the impression you are interested in seeing more detail even in a teaser deck then most. Does that sound about right?

Those experienced co-founders could not see there is no way of keep in business? I really doubt. But I totally understand they will not be the kind of person that F solve things. That is not their thing

could you please remove the song? it's so annoying and we can't hear you clearly because of that song

I would have rejected this guy. 3 freaking minutes of saying nohing

Thanks for all the info. Certainly helpful for the future

Do you invest in a startup hair salon from the scratch and 0 clientele?

Suburb content!

This is great

I found this company “Seek Capital” are they a good option for a startup from the scratch?

Hey, where do we start looking for companies to invest in? Are there specific platforms we can use? Do we only count on networking and connections? Your advice is much appreciated.

Thanks for sharing your insights. Giving up control and freedom of making decision is what i m still skeptical

50 x in 5 years good goal 😁

Great video, one of the best ever on this topic. You should write a book on start-ups if you already haven't. I'm a founder of this amazingly simple solution that is so obvious in one of the largest and oldest industries in the world. The whole industry with or without my solution will see a big shift towards the future and the new wave of digital technology. I'm hoping my start up is the beginning of that wave and the clear winner in innovation and overall success when looking 30 years back. It has one of the lowest barriers of entry. One of the largest markets. How do we get in touch? I'm spending a lot of time thinking about raising money and developing a go to market strategy while developing the current version of the product and shipping that into the development. I'm all alone in this. I do believe I can raise quite a nice amount at a really good valuation in 6 months I think that an Angel Investor would make much more sense to me, and thinking who could potentially benefit this I kept thinking and while watching this video I though well it seems like you really know this space and you are very humble about it so I think there is a lot of value any entrepreneur could get from having an investor and a partner like yourself.

There is only a software with many bugs ~Riot games 2024

Great advice, thank you for taking the time to create the presentation.

What do you think about prove of concepts in software dev?