Angel Investors Durham’s Post

🚀 Entrepreneurship as a Calling – Inspiration from Steve Blank 🚀 At BFC’s Stanford Alumni Founders & Investors Mixer on Oct 30, we were inspired by Professor Steve Blank as he delved into the essence of entrepreneurship. Steve reminded us that being a founder is more than a job—it’s a calling. He said, “Being a founder is a calling, it’s not a job… a calling is something you do out of passion and belief and an idea you just can’t get out of your head and want to bring to life.” This resonates deeply with those of us who feel driven by a mission that goes beyond conventional employment. For all aspiring entrepreneurs, Steve’s words are a powerful affirmation that the journey of founding a startup is fueled by passion and conviction. As he warmly welcomed us, “So welcome to the calling. Glad you could join us.”

This week at SCALEUP Maryland, the focus was the critical aspects of FINANCE for scaling businesses. Thank you Douglas Zeisel, MSF, CTP, of TCV Growth Partners for leading the discussion on financial forecasting, budgets, bookkeeping, cash flow management, lines of credit/lenders, metrics, funding options, and strategic financial planning at different stages of growth. Participants gained invaluable insights to help them make informed financial decisions and drive their companies toward long-term success. SCALEUP Maryland is made possible by the generous support of our program sponsors: Maryland Department of Commerce, T. Rowe Price, Baltimore County, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County - THANK YOU! Henry Mascot Nathan Nimbargi Thomas Morey Gordon Long Caner Kuzkaya Justin Seung Ho Y. Femi K Dada, Author, CMMC-RP Abdullah Karasan, PhD Marjie Cota Aaron Miscenich Hillel Glazer David Fink Fehmida Kapadia, PhD Richard Chipkin Chris Haug Chris Ewing Chris White Christina Wrobel-Holt Will Anderson, MS #scaleupmd #entrepreneurship #leadershipdevelopment #marylandjobs #startups #entrepreneurs #finances #financegoals #strategicplanning #professionaldevelopment #revenue #businessgrowth #ceo #founder #incubator #accelerator #marylandbusiness #businessgrowth #professionaldevelopment #scaleup #entrepreneurship #startupgrowth #scaleupmaryland #business #businesssuccess

We had the incredible opportunity to host Mr. Nitin Bassi , the Regional Head at YES BANK, for a lively session on fundraising and corporate funding at the JECRC Incubation Centre. With his wealth of experience in banking and corporate finance, Mr. Bassi shared some truly valuable insights that resonated with our entrepreneurs. Here are some key takeaways from his talk: Believe in Your Vision: Mr. Bassi stressed the importance of having confidence in your ideas. Investors are more likely to get on board with passionate and determined founders. Build Strategic Partnerships: He highlighted that it's not just about securing funds; it's also about aligning with the right partners who share your long-term vision and can offer strategic value to your journey. Overcoming Challenges: Fundraising can be tough, but Mr. Bassi provided practical strategies for overcoming hurdles, from perfecting your pitch to negotiating favorable terms. Understanding Investor Expectations: He also shared what investors typically look for in startups-market potential, scalability, and a strong founding team are all critical factors. Mr. Bassi's friendly style and real-life examples made complex funding concepts feel much more approachable. The energy in the room was contagious, and everyone left feeling motivated and ready to take their ventures to the next level. A huge thank you to Mr. Nitin Bassi for his time and insights. This session has truly inspired our entrepreneurs, and we can't wait to see the amazing journeys that follow! #JECRCINCUBATIONCENTRE #ENTREPRENEURSHIP #STARTUP #INNOVATION

🎉It's National #SmallBusinessWeek🎉 celebrating companies with <500 employees, including individual #entrepreneurs & #startups. (In Maryland, these smallest businesses account for more than 84,000 of those in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector.) And while half of all small businesses have 5 employees or less, they create most of the nation's jobs. #FITCI helps emerging entrepreneurs become the backbone of our economy💼

🚀 Exciting News for Ohio's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem! 🚀 Lightship Foundation and JobsOhio are deepening their collaboration to fuel innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth across Ohio. Together, they’re empowering diverse founders, driving cutting-edge ideas, and positioning Ohio as a thriving hub for startups. This partnership focuses on providing critical resources like funding, mentorship, and tailored programming to entrepreneurs statewide, with special emphasis on underserved communities. As part of their ongoing commitment, they will continue offering the Lightship Bootcamp—a series of educational and networking-rich events for founders to grow and scale their businesses. The partnership will also target key growth sectors, such as technology, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability, ensuring Ohio remains at the forefront of innovation. Here’s to supporting Ohio’s next generation of visionary entrepreneurs! 🌟 Read more about this exciting collaboration: https://ow.ly/i2jt50UuZl7 #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Ohio #StartupEcosystem #EconomicGrowth #LightshipFoundation #JobsOhio #DiversityInTech #SmallBusinessSupport #InvestInOhio

Ready to Boost Your Business? The Cadence Cash Thrive Grant application is now open! Small businesses are the heart of our communities. They drive innovation, create jobs, and make our neighborhoods thrive. We know it's tough out there, and we're here to help you succeed. Here's why your business matters: - 42% of all businesses in the U.S. are women-owned. - 21% of businesses in the U.S. are minority-owned. - Nearly 20M workers are employed by minority-led and women-led businesses. - Nearly $4T in annual revenues are generated by minority-owned and women-owned companies. Our Thrive Grant offers $5,000 each quarter to support small businesses making a real difference in their communities. We’re on a mission to close the funding gap for all business owners. Want to be part of something bigger? Learn more about the Thrive Grant and apply now on our website (link in comments). ==> 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬?  👉🏾 Be the first to know when Cadence InsightAI™ and Ask Angel™ go live.  Check my featured section to get on the list. --- Feel free to tag us and share your success stories. Let's inspire each other to keep growing and thriving! #startups #entrepreneurship #innovation gener8tor Black Ambition The Roddenberry Foundation NC IDEA CED (Council for Entrepreneurial Development) Project W

For those who've been curious about what actually happens when a county and a comprehensive online entrepreneurship ecosystem collaborate, we're sharing our story. 📖 Over the last three years in Westchester County, we've witnessed remarkable transformations: small ventures growing into brick-and-mortar businesses, contractors expanding beyond the 9-to-5 grind, retirees launching income-generating passion projects, and tech startups advancing to more intensive accelerator programs. 📈 If you're interested in how these developments can enhance economic resilience and growth, we're hosting a webinar to unpack what we have learned. Entrepreneurship is a practice that builds the economic resiliency of any community. 📆 Join us to explore how we can collectively build the economic muscle of our regions, starting from the ground up. This session is especially relevant for stakeholders in economic development looking to replicate or understand these achievements. 🔗 Link to the event in the comments.📍 #EconomicDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #Webinar #CommunityGrowth #Innovation #EntrepreneurReady #WestchesterCounty #Launch1000

🎉 Five events, 48 hours, countless connections. I couldn’t be prouder of my amazing team at CED (Center for Entrepreneurial Development) for successfully executing a series of events that brought together #founders, #operators, #investors, and the broader #ecosystem to celebrate innovation in our region. I firmly #believe our ability to create #impact stems from the dedication, passion, and commitment of each team member. Together, we delivered five high-impact experiences that advance our mission to connect #startups with the #resources they need to #accelerate #business #growth. This wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of our partners and community members who consistently #showup, #invest, and #champion the incredible companies that call the #Triangle home. Your involvement drives #collective #progress, making our region the best place to start and scale a high-growth company. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this milestone—40 years of innovation and impact! 💡 Here's to an even brighter future ahead. 🥇 #teamwork #innovation #startupcommunity #ecosystembuilding #entrepreneurship #startuplife #impact #TriangleNC Karl Rectanus Scott Uknes Bill Spruill Galen Robertson Susan Cook Michelle Egger Annalise Perry Susan Wall Elizabeth Kelly Timothy McLoughlin Tim Wilson Michael Crooke

To be a true state of opportunity, North Carolina needs to close its productivity gaps. Here is how small businesses can help. More productive MSMEs would help North Carolina foster the sustainable and inclusive economy it wants to be. And it would be good for business, too, write David Pralong and Kevin Russell in Charlotte Business Journal. #Startup #Business #Management https://www.rfr.bz/lb878c2

It's always exciting to see individuals taking the leap into entrepreneurship. According to The Economist, America is experiencing an extraordinary startup boom. At Milestone Bank, we love seeing this kind of passion and innovation, and we want to help prospective entrepreneurs get there. Let me know how I can help. Let's discuss your SBA Lending options for start-ups, franchises, and business acquisitions. kthornton@milestonebank.com 702-704-3437 #MilestoneBank #entrepreneurship #SBALending