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Entrepreneurship
VC Cafe
2w
136
Image Credit: VC Cafe
Betting on People: What VCs Look for at the Pre-Seed Stage
- At the pre-seed stage, startups are evaluated based on pitch decks, founding team, and early signs of promise by experienced investors.
- Investors look for founder-market fit, clarity of vision, and potential for execution using mental shortcuts known as 'flags'.
- Green flags like scrappy traction, intellectual honesty, founder insight, 'why now?' clarity, bias to build and ship, and market command spark curiosity.
- Red flags including chasing trends without depth, fuzzy GTM strategy, fundraising over product, founder friction, lack of learning evidence, and missing critical talent make investors hesitate.
- Pre-seed investing focuses on backing people who can navigate uncertainty, learn quickly, and execute with urgency.
- Founders seeking pre-seed funding are encouraged to seek feedback, as there are no fixed rules for all cases.
- Eligible for Web Story: No
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Medium
2w
157
Image Credit: Medium
The Future of VC Liquidity: How Funds Can Finally Free Themselves
- VC fundraising has dropped sharply in 2024 due to low exit volume, reaching its lowest level since 2015.
- In 2024, only $76.1 billion was raised through 508 funds, making it one of the slowest years for new fund formation.
- Facing performance challenges and drying liquidity, GPs are exploring alternative strategies for value realization.
- Secondary transactions are being rebranded as strategic and necessary, accounting for 14% of global secondary volume in 2024.
- The shift towards secondaries offers a more flexible and controlled path to liquidity, providing options beyond waiting for a public exit.
- In 2024, the secondary market transaction volume reached a record-high of $162 billion.
- Venture capital firms like NewView Capital, StepStone, and Hamilton Lane are leading the trend towards secondary market transactions.
- New mechanisms such as continuation vehicles and structured secondaries are allowing GPs to actively manage portfolios and restore capital rotation.
- Secondary deals offer a way to generate DPI before the end of fund life, crucial for maintaining team morale and LP confidence in an industry where long-term holds can be challenging.
- In 2024, venture secondaries traded at a discount to NAV, offering liquidity opportunities despite the discount.
- The structured deals in the secondary market have become cleaner and more aligned, with bid-ask spreads narrowing to 2018 and 2019 levels.
- Secondaries are not just for aging unicorns; they are being used at the growth stage, allowing founders to sell parts of their stakes early on.
- The use of secondaries benefits various stakeholders, providing cash back to LPs, more control to GPs, and motivation to founders and employees.
- Experts predict the secondary market to grow another 15–20% in 2025, highlighting its increasing importance in the VC landscape.
- Secondaries address issues like messy cap tables, value unlocking, partial exits, better pricing, and smoother paths to IPO in a challenging exit environment.
- GPs, LPs, and founders need to rethink their fundraising strategies in light of the changing VC liquidity landscape.
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The Total Entrepreneurs
2w
165
Image Credit: The Total Entrepreneurs
Understanding Online Visibility in the Financial Sector
- Online visibility is essential in the financial sector for survival, akin to security systems for vaults, as it translates to trust and influences customer opinions and decisions.
- Financial institutions must communicate trustworthiness, competence, and customer-centric policies to establish themselves as industry leaders and attract clients and talent.
- Being visible online allows institutions to engage with customers, address concerns, and shape future financial services trends through dialogue and thought leadership.
- Search engine ranking, social media engagement, and content creation are key drivers of online visibility, necessitating strategy and adaptability for financial institutions.
- Challenges include misinformation, credibility damage, data security, audience segmentation, and the need for consistent messaging to strengthen reputation and trust.
- Online visibility not only attracts new clients but also sustains relationships by turning customers into brand advocates through memorable experiences and exclusive benefits.
- Maintaining and boosting online visibility is crucial for sustained growth and innovation in the financial sector, requiring a coherent approach aligned with the institution’s mission and values.
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Entrepreneurshiplife
2w
135
Image Credit: Entrepreneurshiplife
How to View MBOX Files in Windows Outlook?
- The MBOX file format is used by various email clients, but not supported by Microsoft Outlook.
- There are two ways to view MBOX files in Windows Outlook: manual and automated.
- The manual method involves importing MBOX into Thunderbird and transferring to Outlook via Gmail.
- An automated way is to use tools like Stellar Converter for MBOX to convert MBOX to PST.
- Features of Stellar Converter for MBOX include converting to PST, previewing data, and supporting multiple email clients.
- The manual method is suitable for small data amounts, while the automated method is faster for larger data volumes.
- The automated approach may incur a cost but offers professional-grade results and supports batch conversions.
- By using either method, users can overcome the lack of native MBOX support in Outlook and easily transfer files.
- Manual method requires technical knowledge, while third-party tools like Stellar Converter offer user-friendly solutions.
- In conclusion, both methods have their pros and cons, providing options for users based on their data volume and technical expertise.
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Medium
2w
65
Image Credit: Medium
How to pitch products like a pro
- Products fail when they are pitched based on features rather than customer transformation.
- Customers buy solutions that make them better, not just products.
- Effective pitches focus on addressing customer pain points and offering a promise of a better outcome.
- Examples of revised pitches for Product Hunt launches were provided, demonstrating the importance of highlighting customer benefits.
- A method involving Pain, Promise, and Proof was shared to create compelling pitches.
- The article emphasizes the significance of communicating the 'why' behind a product, not just the 'what.'
- A framework of Why > What > How > Outcome was suggested to clarify product messaging.
- Strong pitches focus on explaining how a product solves a customer's problem and the positive outcomes it brings.
- Effective communication can lead to increased customer engagement and sales.
- Contact information was provided for assistance in improving pitching strategies.
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Entrepreneurshiplife
2w
117
Image Credit: Entrepreneurshiplife
How an Employment Agency Can Fast-Track Your Career Search
- Searching for a new job can be overwhelming, but an employment agency can help fast-track your career search by matching skills with job openings, providing access to hidden job markets, and offering resume guidance.
- Employment agencies act as strategic partners, connecting job seekers with employers and advocating on their behalf, handling logistics, and offering support for career pivoting or re-entering the workforce.
- They provide access to roles not publicly listed, accelerate job placements, offer resume and interview support, and have industry expertise and specialization that can benefit job seekers in competitive fields.
- The relationship with an employment agency should be treated as a strategic partnership, with clear communication, responsiveness, and professionalism from both parties for the best results.
- It's important to choose the right agency based on reputation, industry focus, and the level of support they offer, debunking common myths like agencies only offering low-level or temp jobs, or requiring payment from job seekers.
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Entrepreneurshiplife
2w
226
Image Credit: Entrepreneurshiplife
Is Your Startup Stock QSBS Eligible? The Founder’s Tax-Saving Checklist
- Startup founders can save significantly on federal taxes through Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exclusion.
- QSBS allows for up to 100% exclusion of capital gains on qualified stock sales, benefiting C-corporation shareholders.
- Founders may overlook the tax-saving potential of QSBS and lose eligibility with preventable errors.
- Criteria include being a U.S. C-Corp, acquiring stock at issuance, a five-year holding period, and <$50M gross assets.
- Eligible businesses include tech, biotech, manufacturing, while service-based firms are excluded.
- Founders must monitor ongoing eligibility amidst structural changes, business pivots, and financing rounds.
- Preserving QSBS status involves meticulous documentation, consulting advisors, and strategic tax planning.
- Founders are advised to assess QSBS qualification early to optimize tax benefits and avoid missed opportunities.
- Understanding and leveraging QSBS can lead to substantial tax savings for startup founders and early employees.
- Consulting legal and financial advisors is crucial to navigating QSBS eligibility and maximizing tax incentives.
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Seths
2w
289
Image Credit: Seths
Ecosystems come and go
- Ecosystems in business are constantly evolving due to changes in technology, customer behavior, and market dynamics.
- Historical examples like almanacs, DVD roms, and board games demonstrate how businesses have adapted or faded away with shifts in the ecosystem.
- Notable cases such as the decline in telegraph use and the impact of AI on search traffic highlight the unpredictable nature of ecosystems.
- It is essential for businesses to adapt to changing ecosystems and focus on finding opportunities in new environments to continue delivering value.
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Medium
2w
126
Image Credit: Medium
Raising Venture Capital in 2025
- In 2025, the venture capital landscape is more focused and disciplined, with investors being more selective across regions and sectors.
- To raise capital successfully, companies must demonstrate lasting advantages, strong execution, sharper narratives, and fundamentals.
- Traits shared by successful companies include leveraging AI effectively, establishing distribution partnerships, mastering global and local markets, focusing on financial user experience, and prioritizing regulatory compliance.
- The new standard for enduring fintech companies involves integrating AI responsibly, demonstrating consistency, resilience, and clarity in navigating complexity, and building sustainable businesses with sound economics.
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Entrepreneurshiplife
2w
331
Image Credit: Entrepreneurshiplife
What Grace Looks Like After Survival
- Iryna Aleshko's journey in the Eastern European fashion scene is a story of perseverance, not overnight success.
- Her rise was not dictated by trends but built on hard work, early mornings, and late nights, especially after divorce.
- Observant and precise, she gained recognition for her collaborative and disciplined approach in the industry.
- Aleshko founded a consultancy to support regional designers, offering guidance on refining collections and business strategies.
- She mentored young professionals, including single mothers, and prioritized legacy over credit for her work.
- Navigating challenges as a single mother herself, she aimed to become unshakeable rather than a star.
- Her style is characterized by being exact, noticing details, and not seeking validation or relevance.
- As a member of the Council of the Eurasian Beauty Guild, she influences industry standards and supports women over thirty in the field.
- Iryna Aleshko's impact is described as making others better without diminishing them, guiding without overshadowing, and truly seeing individuals.
- Her career is driven by a desire to set an example for her children about owning one's choices and taking oneself seriously.
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Medium
2w
240
Image Credit: Medium
The Middle Path: A Sustainable Route to Startup Success:
- The Middle Path in startups emphasizes balance, awareness, and disciplined action, translating to a hybrid model of growth.
- The Middle Path is not about indecision or playing it safe, but intentional entrepreneurship focused on scaling with substance.
- In today's market, the Middle Path is more relevant than ever due to factors like capital efficiency, consistency building trust, and combating burnout.
- To walk the Middle Path, startups should focus on building lean but not starved, raising money on their own terms, scaling culture alongside teams, being revenue-conscious from day one, and creating systems instead of fire drills.
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Medium
2w
244
From Scribe to Strategist: The Evolution of Content Creation
- Content creation has evolved from being a grind to a more strategic process with AI tools revolutionizing the workflow.
- From spending hours creating content, content creators now utilize AI assistants for faster, more efficient output.
- AI tools like Claude, Jasper, and Copy.ai have transformed content creation by increasing output while maintaining quality and consistency.
- While AI handles the mechanical aspects of content creation, human input is crucial for strategic decisions, authenticity, emotional connection, creativity, and moral reasoning.
- The transformation from being a mere writer to a strategic content creator requires new skills like managing AI tools effectively and distinguishing great AI output.
- Challenges of maintaining authenticity while leveraging AI efficiency include avoiding the 'uncanny valley' and ensuring transparency in the content creation process.
- Future content strategy trends include real-time adaptive content, multimedia experiences, interactive content, and collaborative creation with AI tools.
- Successful content creators will be those who embrace AI to enhance their insights and reach larger audiences while maintaining quality.
- The future of content creation values human strategic thinking in harmony with AI assistance, highlighting the importance of evolving from a scribe to a strategist.
- Embracing incremental change and experimenting with AI tools can help content creators adapt and thrive in the evolving landscape of content creation.
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Medium
2w
148
Image Credit: Medium
How Do I Buy Bitcoin Anonymously In The UK?
- Zach Olstrom Desk offers OTC services for buying and selling Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in voluminous manner, with over 500,000 active miners globally.
- OTC Trading in the crypto and Bitcoin space provides increased privacy for buyers and sellers, making it highly intimate and individual.
- OTC traders maintain a network of investors and sellers, constantly looking for good prices and capable of determining the best time for transactions.
- Buying or selling large amounts of crypto can be challenging, but OTC desks like Principal or Agency desks help in resolving this issue by allowing stress-free transactions of any amount.
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Blackenterprise
3w
39
Image Credit: Blackenterprise
Ring The Alarm! BeyGOOD Announces New Cécred Grants For Salon And Barbershop Owners
- BeyGOOD and Cécred are offering $10,000 grants to salon and barbershop owners facing financial hardship.
- Applicants must have at least two years of experience and provide proof of shop ownership or lease agreement.
- The initiative, in partnership with NMSDC, includes access to business development resources and is open nationwide.
- The fund is part of Beyoncé's efforts to support the beauty community and has a deadline of June 13 for applications.
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Hackernoon
3w
0
Image Credit: Hackernoon
Should I Quit My Job? The Psychology of Knowing When It's Time to Leave
- It's natural to question if your current job is fulfilling in the long run and worth staying for the next decade.
- Jobs are often designed to ensure financial stability, but may not provide room for real personal growth or fulfillment.
- Taking time to reflect on what you truly desire in life without the influence of external expectations is crucial for making informed decisions.
- Acknowledging any feeling of restlessness or discontent at work is the initial step towards meaningful change.
- Creating a peaceful environment to think about your aspirations and writing down your true desires can provide clarity on your next steps.
- Evaluate whether your current job serves as a bridge to your future goals or acts as a limitation that hinders your personal and financial growth.
- Avoid getting trapped in financial burdens that consume a large portion of your income, limiting your ability to progress or save for the future.
- Slow and steady change is more sustainable and realistic than expecting immediate transformation towards your dreams.
- Discussing your thoughts and plans with close ones, especially your partner, can provide valuable support and guidance during challenging times.
- Building a new path for yourself often involves making gradual choices, learning, and adjusting over time to create better opportunities.
- Maintaining awareness of your financial situation and setting long-term goals can help in making informed decisions about career transitions.
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