Business PlansEvan Fisher Most Founders Get the Cost to Acquire a Customer Wrong. Here's How to Do It RightWhich CAC you show investors-- and why-- says more about you as a founder than you think
Icons & InnovatorsFran Velasquez Steve Wozniak Says to Focus on These 3 Things When You Pitch Your Startup to InvestorsHere's what you need to do to impress the co-founder of Apple.
Venture CapitalJoe Procopio The Venture Capital Burn-Rate Trap and How to Avoid ItWhen you accept outside investment, it can be tempting to throw money at growth to see what sticks. Resist the urge.
Founder-Friendly InvestorsEvan Fisher Saying this Single Sentence to a Venture Capitalist Can Be a Deal-Breaker for FundraisingDon't fumble because you're not ready yet. Instead, build VC relationships early by following this playbook.
Founder-Friendly InvestorsEvan Fisher How to Tell If a Venture Capitalist Will Actually Add Value to Your StartupAsk yourself these questions to nail down the elusive VC value-add with your company.
Venture CapitalBharat Kanodia 5 Factors VCs Look at When InvestingGet all of these right and your company is a rocket ship
StartupBharat Kanodia The Pitfalls of Venture Capital ValuationsDetermining the real worth of a company can be difficult, especially with the often-imperfect information startups provide.
Venture CapitalSophie Downes Report: Startups Are Receiving Record Financing, Thanks to Nontraditional InvestorsDeep-pocketed funds are outpacing traditional venture capitalists on startup investment, and founders are reaping the benefits.
Diverse in BusinessGabrielle Bienasz Black Entrepreneurs Are Raising Record Amounts of Venture Capital in 2021In the first half of the year, Black founders have already outpaced funding totals for each of the previous two years. Will the momentum last?
Venture CapitalChristine Lagorio-Chafkin Global Startup Funding Retains Remarkable PaceWith deal flow high through the first half of 2021, the year could finish with mind-boggling investment totals, new reports find.
Founder-Friendly InvestorsEntrepreneurs' Organization 11 Questions Founders Should Ask Potential InvestorsInvestors are known for bombarding founders with questions, but you should be the one asking the questions.
Founder-Friendly InvestorsCarey Smith How to Avoid Giving Up Too Much Equity, Too EarlyDon't waste your equity. Hang onto it by developing a business plan that will preserve cash, build sales, and keep majority ownership of your startup in your own hands.
Venture CapitalKimberly Weisul Women-Run Health Care Startups Finally Break Through With Venture Investors2020 was a year of disruption--and that's been good for women raising money for health care companies.
Vision SummitBill Saporito Steve Case Has Bet on Rust Belt Startups for Years. In the Pandemic, More VCs Have Joined HimVCs used to view the heartland as an investment desert. But the pandemic has altered the whole idea of place.
Vision SummitKimberly Weisul Backstage Capital Founder Arlan Hamilton Eyes Another Milestone: A $5 Million Crowdfunding CampaignManagement fees are not enough to sustain a small fund in its early days. Hamilton's Backstage sees another way.
Venture CapitalMay Habib 11 Words and Phrases to Take Out of Your VC Pitch DeckWith only a short amount of time to impress investors, you'd better make it count by using the right words.
StartupEntrepreneurs' Organization What You Need to Know About Structuring Your Startup's Fundraising ProcessAn angel investor and startup coach shares the critical factor that separates those who fundraise successfully and those who don't.
Founder-Friendly InvestorsBusiness Insider Venture Investors Condemn Rioters at Capitol and Call for a Lock on Trump's Twitter AccountTech industry leaders join voices around the world expressing alarm and anger on Twitter at the violence in Washington.
Best in BusinessKimberly Weisul 5 Venture Capital Deals That Signal Major Trends for 2021Each of these investments shows what the next year may hold for entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers.
Founder-Friendly InvestorsCarey Smith Most Entrepreneurs Don't Need More Funding. Here's What They Really NeedMost entrepreneurs are too focused on valuations and on raising gobs of money. They are completely misguided. We try to help them actually run a business.
What I KnowChristine Lagorio-Chafkin Kombucha CEO Daina Trout: 'Investors Are Not Your Friends'The co-founder of Health-Ade explains how she learned to work more intelligently with venture capital investors.
Small to FastMatt Cooper Raising Your Next Round? Here's What You'll Hear From Venture Capitalists TodayAmid the Covid-19 pandemic and virtual meetings, this is what's top of mind for venture capitalists.
Featured VideosJames Atamian03:24 LL Cool J on Building a Brand, Hip-Hop Culture, and Pitching Mark CubanThe rapper, actor, producer, and author discusses raising money, pitching investors like Shark Tank's Mark Cuban, and building his Rock the Bells brand as founder and CEO.
Cash FlowKimberly Weisul The Essential Funding Guide for Entrepreneurs of ColorVenture capitalists have voiced their support for Black founders since the killing of George Floyd. These investment firms--and some grantmaking institutions--are walking the walk.
Venture CapitalPeter Cohan Why You Shouldn't Take Venture Capital Right NowYou'll never have to worry about being whipsawed when the economy turns down.
Company CultureMatt Haber VC Firm Launches Fund to Back Covid-Crisis InnovationsNew Media Ventures, backers of Upworthy, Crowdtangle, and others, is funding companies helping communities bounce back from the hit of Covid-19.
Tips From The TankInc. Video Staff04:10 How This Founder's Quick Thinking Helped Her Land a Deal on 'Shark Tank'Jenny Goldfarb is the founder of Mrs. Goldfarb's Unreal Deli, a line of plant-based corned beef. She was seeking $100,000 for 10% of her business, but thanks to some clever negotiations and quick thinking, she left with possibly an even better investment from Mark Cuban.
BorrowingGuadalupe Gonzalez The Number of Latinx-Run Startups Is Rocketing. Their Funding Is Not. Here's Why That's a Big ProblemUnless we solve the "scaling gap," we're missing out on the opportunity to grow employment and GDP.
MoneyPeter Cohan 5 Financial Steps This Leading Venture Capitalist Is Telling Portfolio Companies to Take NowIf demand for your product is not strong enough, careful cost cutting could be in your startup's future.
Venture CapitalLeigh Buchanan New Legislation Would Pour $2 Billion Into Promising Startups Outside of Traditional Tech HubsMinnesota senator Amy Klobuchar's New Business Preservation Act would help startups based in underserved parts of the country by matching VC funding dollar for dollar.
Tips From The TankInc. Video Staff04:22 This Founder's Incredible Survival Story Brought the Sharks to TearsAmber Leong, the founder of light therapy startup Circadian Optics, appeared on "Shark Tank" to share her story of immigrating to America, overcoming a deadly illness and creating a company with a $7.5 million valuation. Here are three takeaways from her incredible pitch.
Venture CapitalHillel Fuld 5 Tips to Avoid Common Fundraising Mistakes for Your StartupRaising money for your startup is a must for many small-business owners. Here's how to figure out what works best with investors and align yourself accordingly. It will save you time and money.
Tips From The TankInc. Video Staff04:12 This 'Shark Tank' Pitch Teaches a Critical Lesson in Responding to CriticismAfter Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner criticized Sarath Malepati's pitch for EZC Pak, an immune system booster, the founder struggled to get his 'Shark Tank' appearance back on track. Here are three important takeaways from this intense exchange.
Venture CapitalKimberly Weisul A Decade-Long Scorecard for Women Raising Venture Capital Shows Progress, But Is It Enough?Women are raising more money than ever. But that doesn't actually mean they're getting ahead.
Venture CapitalGabrielle Bienasz Need Investors? 3 Tips to Improve Your Pitch to VCsVenture capitalists share what startups need to know before they pitch investors so they have the best chance of securing funding.
Venture CapitalSara Mauskopf Why a Major Venture Capital Firm's Focus on Misleading Metrics Sets a Deceptive StandardUsing GMV to measure your company's success can ultimately kill your business
How I Pitched ItJames Atamian01:15 The Secret to a Perfect Pitch, According to Hello Alfred's CEOMarcela Sapone is the co-founder and CEO of Hello Alfred, an on-demand personal assistant service. She shares the secret to pitching any innovative product: Know your audience and listen to their feedback.
MoneyHillel Fuld Why Raising Too Much Capital or Raising It Too Early Can Lead to the Failure of Your StartupRaising too early or too much, while tempting, can be the biggest mistake you make as a startup founder.
Tips From The TankInc. Video Staff04:00 How This Entertaining Shark Tank Pitch Started a Bidding WarAfter a successful 'Shark Tank' pitch, the founders of Knife Aid, a mail-away knife sharpening service, were ready to make a deal. A bidding war ensued--and it continued beyond the tank.
Venture CapitalSara Mauskopf Your Fundraising Deck Is Killing Your Chances. 4 Things You're Doing WrongWhen you're pitching VCs for early investment in your company, avoid these rookie presentation mistakes.
How I Did ItInc. Video Staff03:22 How This Founder's Bold Strategy Helped Her Find the Perfect InvestorDuring the Series A round, Alice's co-founder and president Elizabeth Gore was denied funding more than 50 times. Here's how one phone call turned everything around.
Tips from a VCInc. Video Staff01:53 4 Things Every Founder Must Do Before Choosing an InvestorAlexa von Tobel, founder of LearnVest and Inspired Capital, shares four things every entrepreneur should consider before taking investment money.
Venture CapitalChristine Lagorio-Chafkin ClassPass Kicks Off 2020 by Becoming a UnicornOn rocky standing with its users not long ago, the fitness-wellness subscription startup announces a funding round that values it at more than $1 billion.
Tips from a VCInc. Video Staff01:13 3 Things Every Founder Must Do Before FundraisingAlexa von Tobel, founder of LearnVest and Inspired Capital, shares three important steps every founder must take before fundraising.
Tips From The TankInc. Video Staff04:19 This Founder's Powerful Pitch Helped Him Secure a 'Shark Tank' DealAs a senior in high school, Bryan Perla founded Little Elf, a company which makes a tool for cutting gift wrap. Here's how he won over the Sharks and landed a deal.
Tips From The TankInc. Video Staff04:13 This Founder Scored a 'Shark Tank' Deal by Refusing to Take No for an AnswerLisa Nguyen is the co-founder of Baubles + Soles, a line of interchangeable footwear for kids. After all five 'Shark Tank' judges rejected her company's pitch, Nguyen still walked away with a deal. Here's how she did it.
Open FutureKimberly Weisul Rise of the Rest Founder Steve Case Takes a Radically Different View of Gender EqualityA look at this seed fund's portfolio of companies reveals a surprising link between gender and geographic diversity.
Venture CapitalCameron Albert-Deitch You Should Think Twice Before Taking a Huge Amount of VC Money. SoftBank's Very Bad Year Is ProofFrom WeWork to Wag, SoftBank's biggest bets aren't paying off this year--and that should matter to every entrepreneur.
How I Pitched ItJames Atamian02:37 After 75 Rejected Pitches, Here's How This CEO Finally Scored a 'Yes'Out of 75 pitch meetings to raise Series A funding, Grove Collaborative co-founder and CEO Stuart Landesberg received all "nos" in return. Here's why Landesberg says he's so grateful for the rejection--and how one half-"yes" eventually put the company on a totally different trajectory.
Tips from a VCInc. Video Staff02:14 3 Things Your Company Must Have to Secure VC FundingAlexa von Tobel, founder and managing partner of Inspired Capital, shares the three most important things she looks for when she invests in a company.
Tips From The TankInc. Video Staff04:03 These Founders Landed a 'Shark Tank' Deal By Not Taking Themselves Too SeriouslyThe founders of Saucemoto, a clip that holds fast food dipping sauce in your car, made the Sharks laugh with a hilarious pitch. But knowing the company's numbers and viral potential helped them secure the deal.
Venture CapitalKimberly Weisul How Steve Case Thinks Venture Capital Can Bring Together a Divided NationThe former CEO of America Online tiptoes into political territory at an appearance in New York.
Founders ProjectGuadalupe Gonzalez Inside the Startup Topic No Founder Wants to ConfrontHaving to raise money at a lower valuation couldn't be more taboo in startup circles. The ones who have gone through a down round, though, say it doesn't have to be a death sentence.
InnovateRana el Kaliouby The 5 Emotional Phases of Raising Startup FundingAs any entrepreneur will tell you, raising capital is an emotional roller coaster. Here are lessons to help navigate each phase of the process: from the anxiety and disappointment to exhilaration, hope, and optimism.