Highlights for Entrepreneurs (12/05/24)
It's the first edition of December and it's hard to believe that 2024 is almost over...wonder what we all remember from this year? Hopefully some good things! And I hope you're well into your 2025 planning and updating your models and assumptions!
Thank you for checking out my newsletter. As someone who enjoys sharing information with friends and colleagues, I started this as a way to help early stage founders find out about events, videos and articles that help serve as a guide and a reference. Even if you're not a founder, the content could be engaging for you. I hope you agree.
Have a great week, be safe and healthy... and take some time to care for yourself! Here are this week's resources for you to check out and thank you again for reading, subscribing and sharing! Welcome to all the new and recent subscribers! If someone forwarded this to you, please reply to me to subscribe (or subscribe on LI)
Best,
Paul
Here are this week's links:
- Founders Friday is a unique opportunity to meet and engage with like-minded individuals who are building the next wave of groundbreaking businesses. Whether you're a seasoned founder or an aspiring entrepreneur, this event is your chance to connect with potential co-founders, employees, investors, and mentors.
- Are you a local startup founder eager to connect, collaborate, and innovate? Join us for an evening connecting with the vibrant Ukrainian startup community right here in Los Angeles!
- The title omits many of the topics discussed; • How valuation caps have been changing over time since Q1 2022; • The percentage of seed rounds that are priced, by raise amount; Along the way, Peter and Mendel share insights and perspectives on countless issues in venture — from how often founders should update their investors, to what Mendel looks for in a company valuation-wise, the mentality of pre-seed VCs, and more.
- It's so important to have a solid understanding of your Cap Table, and the implications of fundraising and dilution. This article explains it all for you, and includes some resources.
- "If you are inside a rapidly scaling company, the only thing I can GUARANTEE you is that NOTHING will be the same in 1 year....Your job is to change and grow as fast as you can — to try to keep up and stay on top of the bubble. "
- “We were both willing to set aside some dilution, some pride and some sense of control to make this one cohesive thing that will actually create what we wanted to create for our customers in the first place”
- Saastr has some ideas on controlling and reducing churn. They say: "90% of SaaS companies I work with and have invested in don’t get these basics right for a long, long time."
- Sometimes an investor just doesn't get what your business is all about. "Crafting a clear, compelling pitch takes practice, feedback, and iteration. But when done well, it’s a game-changer for your fundraising process.
- Approaching investors can be a daunting task, but with the right strategy, you can make a lasting impression and build meaningful connections.
- Bookings data is important for sales team performance tracking, commissions calculations, forecasting revenue accurately, and calculating our sales and marketing efficiency metrics....and so much more. Be sure you understand how it's calculated
11) Crunchbase: Startup Speed Is Sine Qua Non For Startup Success. Here’s How To Achieve It (Article)
- "Speed drills" can prove to a team that it’s possible to move quickly and, once they know they can, they’ll start doing it without prodding. This mindset transforms speed from an abstract concept into daily actionable decisions.
Recommended by LinkedIn
-When you're still figuring out your product-market fit, your ICP, and your go-to-market strategy, how can you possibly predict a customer's lifetime value? The writer suggests looking at monthly customer cohorts to track sales efficiency and assess customer value accretion over time. CCAC: Cohort Customer Acquisition Cost Payback
- Learn how to use the most powerful branding tools and techniques to elevate your brand equity and connect to your target audience. Featuring Thought Leader Chuck Pettis, President of Brand Solutions
- For some time, ARR has been a key metric for SaaS companies, but due to differing Gross Margins, ARR may not be the right stat for you. Read along for more info
- Along with controlling churn, Saastr has some things to say about managing Auto Renewals and deadlines
Musical Diversions:
This Week's Cover:
Highlights Newsletter Soundtrack All of 2024 music picks on Spotify
I know that you are very busy, but I hope you have time to enjoy the curated information and the music selections in this newsletter. Get in touch if you have any feedback, sources or other interested readers - feel free to forward! If you hear of any upcoming events, please pass them along too! If the links speak to you, consider subscribing to the source! If you find a link particularly interesting, let me know so I can look for more like it.
Paul G. Shapiro, CPA (Retired)
Startup Consultant
Santa Monica, CA
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Paul G. Shapiro, CPA [Retired]
Startup Consultant
Santa Monica, CA
Entrepreneur/Innovator/Leader of Exceptional Teams
2wThanks, Paul! Great content!