Recently, I have had to immerse myself into studying about viral marketing in order to understand some challenges faced by startups I am studying or assisting as part of my responsibilities at work. This series of posts on Viral Marketing is my attempt to document some of what I have learned. 1Any errors in appropriately […]
How and Why
In Early Stage Investing, Should Investors Bet on the Jockey or the Horse?
The horse is too small, the jockey too big, the trainer too old, and I’m too dumb to know the difference. – Charles Howard, owner of Seabiscuit addressing comments about his horse, Seabiscuit and the team of people he had assembled to train and race Seabiscuit. Red Pollard was Seabiscuit’s jockey and Tom Smith was […]
Ceteris Paribus: When A Startup’s History Really Matters
Once in a while I meet a startup that makes me scratch my head in bewilderment. At first glance everything looks fine, but I can’t help but wonder if I might be missing something. In such instances I think to myself; Is there some important detail that is not so obvious, and that is concealed […]
After Our First Meeting, How To Help Me To Quickly Learn About Your Startup and Maybe Say Yes
Let’s be open. I am not going to make up my mind about investing in your startup after just one meeting. And, I definitely am not making my decision wholly based on looking at your pitch deck. I like to do my own homework. So I think of your pitch deck as only a starting […]