Venture Capitalist, Robert Antoniades reveals the factors he considers when evaluating an investment round and highlights the qualities that set Founders apart in today's competitive business landscape. #LeadershipInsights #VentureCapital #Recruitment #Hiring #TechStartups

Former founders becoming venture capitalists has now become more and more common. And even though it is overall extremely positive to have been in the driver's seat oneself before investing, being a founder and being a venture capitalist are two very different jobs requiring very different skills. It's something I have thought a lot about before making the switch from Founder to VC. As a founder I put all I had including all of my money (and sometimes more) into my company. As a VC, you have to be calm and cool and keep a birds eye view of all of your portfolio companies As a founder, in the first years, you never have to think about capital allocation and portfolio construction. As a VC, it is something I am thinking about every day. As a founder, you are used to hearing rejection after rejection after rejection. As a VC, you have to say no to a lot of amazing founders. As you can see: two very different job descriptions. How I square this for myself? Everything we do is to make our founders as successful as they can be — since this will mean that we will be successful. Since we only invest in impact driven companies, this also means we will maximize our impact. In the end — I was not the best at everything I had to do as a founder, and built an amazing team around me to compliment myself. And we have done the same here at Oyster Bay Venture Capital – even though sometimes I am not the best at everything I have to do as a Venture Capitalist 🙂. Saying no to great founders that just do not fit our investment thesis or scope will probably never be my favorite thing to do. #Founding #VentureCapital

What separates the best corporate–start-up collaborations from those that get stuck in “pilot purgatory” is a clear and aligned strategy, the selection of the right candidates, and a shared road map for execution and scale....

The best bootstrapped & venture companies have something in common no one talks about.   There’s a bogus narrative the paths are always poles apart.   But not if you’re trying to build an unbreakable business.   As someone who spent a decade plus in venture, I never bought into “growth at all costs.”   I’d rather have a tense board meeting than light money on fire.   I could live with angry investors, but not gross negligence.   I always aimed a) to grow as fast as possible b) so long as the unit-economics made sense.   Last year, I ran growth for a bootstrapped co. in the Inc 5000 Top 100.   While we didn’t have a bunch of investors, we lived by the same mantra:   a) Grow as fast as possible b) so long as the unit-economics make sense.   If you’re trying to build a durable, differentiated business, just do this.

🚀 Decoding the Venture Capital Game! 🤝 Ever wondered how venture capital investors make the big decisions? 💼💰 Here's the inside scoop on what makes them tick and how they choose their next investment! 🔍📈 1️. Team Matters: Investors bet on people as much as ideas. A strong, passionate, and capable team can turn any idea into a success story. 🙌 2️. Market Potential: Investors love a scalable market! They look for startups addressing real problems in sizable markets, ensuring room for growth and impact. 🌐💡 3️. Unique Value Proposition: What sets your startup apart? Investors seek innovations that stand out in a crowded space. Your unique value proposition can be a game-changer! 🚀🌟 4️. Traction and Milestones: Numbers don't lie! Investors are keen on measurable progress. Solid traction and achieved milestones give them confidence in your business trajectory. 📊📈 5️. Clear Business Model: A well-defined and scalable business model is crucial. Investors need to see how your company plans to generate revenue and sustain growth over the long haul. 💸📝 6️. Exit Strategy: Investors want to know how they'll get their returns. A solid exit strategy demonstrates foresight and commitment to investor returns. 💼💵 7️. Risk Mitigation: Investors are risk-averse, and they appreciate founders who have a clear understanding of potential risks and a strategy to mitigate them. 💪🛡️ 8️. Networking and Relationships: Building relationships in the startup ecosystem is key. Investors often rely on referrals and industry connections, so network wisely! 🤝🌐 Remember, it's not just about the idea but how you execute it. Nail these factors, and you might just find yourself with a VC partner on your exciting journey! 🌈💼💡 What's your experience with venture capital? Share your thoughts below! 👇💬 #VentureCapital #StartupLife #InvestmentInsights #BusinessStrategy

I was talking with a venture capitalist the other day about how he deals with an entrepreneur with a great idea that they have developed into a burgeoning market offering and who has little to no experience growing a successful company. My curiosity stems from our new Intentional Culture offering, which is designed for just such a situation. He said he would "bring somebody in" to fill that role. This person has led a successful company before, so he knows how to do it. I like to call people like this heroes. Bringing in a hero can absolutely work, especially for the VC. Sometimes, it doesn't work out well for the founders. While they may not have the skills to execute a growth plan successfully (or even develop one), they likely have a vision for how the company they set out to build will look when it's bigger. Sadly, heroes' ideas for that vision can sometimes diverge dramatically from the founders'. With the greater experience and the mandate from the financial backers, these heroes typically get their way. Nobody can ever know what the path not traveled would have looked like. Our message to founders is that we can help you keep control and grow your company successfully without heroes. By leveraging a clearly designed set of mission, vision, values, and structures, with the right set of ceremonies, you can bring systems thinking to the whole organization. Heroes may or may not know how to leverage the full talent of the organization to define and refine their own future, but experience tells us that doing so is the most effective way to build a great company. The earlier you start this process in your growth phase, the less disruptive it will be. I'm looking forward to hearing how this hero experiment turns out.

5 tips on raising venture capital in 2024 👇 Actionable insight from: ➡ Paul Hsu 🔌 Founder at Decasonic ✏ “How to Partner with a Venture Investor who Values Technology Innovators” 1️⃣ Search for Lead Investors: 🔥 "In most fundraising, identifying and closing a lead investor can catalyze the entire round... When you pitch an investor, especially in 2024, one of the first questions is whether they have the capacity and capability to lead your financing round." 2️⃣ Utilizing Professional Networks: 🔥 "This includes entrepreneurs, investors, ex-colleagues, attorneys, CPAs, contract finance professionals, marketers, PR firms, and other consultants for warm intros to venture partners... The more resistance barriers you can lower, the better." 3️⃣ Balancing Cold and Warm Outreach: 🔥 "Venture partners are generally less discriminating when it comes to taking intro calls and meetings from entrepreneurs who can demonstrate durable use cases and revenue... LinkedIn outreach may suffice and has the potential to yield conversions." 4️⃣ Clear and Prompt Communication: 🔥"Completing things promptly and accurately at the beginning of your relationship with a new investor is critical to building credibility and trust... When you get back to a VC in less than a day with well-thought-out responses, you show your commitment." 5️⃣ Leverage Associates: 🔥"The associates who originate deals are evaluated on their ability to find and close high-quality deals and are predisposed to saying yes... They are your champion, not your gatekeeper." ---- 👉 Follow me, Alexander Small, for actionable tactics and strategies from top founders, operators and investors on building startups 👉 Founders who want to master their game: subscribe to the newsletter on my profile for 3-5 daily (or weekly) insights

Over my 25 year executive career, I've been the CEO of a venture capital fund, a private equity fund, a private equity backed enterprise, some small businesses, startups and then worked as an executive inside large publicly traded companies. What I've seen is diverse and I suppose I can start to look back on this and make some conclusions on what works and what doesn't. While VC-backed startups get a lot of attention, when it comes to starting a new venture, there is an often under-represented story of incubating a new venture inside a major company as part of their growth strategy. McKinsey profiles why this is a major part of CEO plans in the near future and I couldn't agree more. It is way easier to launch a venture inside an organization that already has infrastructure. What we have to keep in mind is that a large company isn't always nimble or risk tolerant like a startup, but they make up for it with resources and influence. https://lnkd.in/g94q4nQf

3 differentiators between Bootstrapping & Angel investing in the early stages: 1️⃣ Ownership & control 🥾 As a bootstrapper, you maintain full ownership and control of your business. This autonomy allows you to make decisions without external influence. 💸 Opting for Angel investment means giving up a portion of your company in exchange for capital. While you gain financial support and potentially valuable expertise, you might have to compromise on full control over strategic decisions. 2️⃣ Financial risks & resources 🥾 Bootstrapping requires relying on personal savings or revenue generated by the business. This approach involves higher personal financial risk, as Founders might have to cut back on personal expenses to fund the Startup. 💸 With angel investment, you have access to external capital, reducing the immediate financial burden on Founders. This can provide resources for marketing, hiring, & product development. 3️⃣ Speed of growth & scale 🥾 Bootstrapped Startups often experience slower initial growth due to limited resources. However, the gradual pace allows founders to validate their business model, refine strategies, & maintain a lean operation. 💸 Angel funding injects capital into the business, enabling faster growth & scale. The infusion of funds allows Startups to invest in marketing, technology, & talent acquisition, potentially reaching a larger market quickly. The choice between Bootstrapping & Angel investing depends on the Founder's risk tolerance, financial situation, growth objectives, & willingness to trade ownership for external support. Each approach has its pros & cons, & the decision should align with the unique needs & circumstances. If you want to find potential Investors, create your dynamic profile on PitchSee & start scrolling through our vast database. #PitchSee #startupbusiness #bootstrapping #angelinvestor