AMA #1 Archives - Startups Anonymous A place for startups to share stories and ask questions anonymously Sun, 15 Jun 2014 22:18:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 As founder of a new startup should I dye my grey hair? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/founder-new-startup-dye-grey-hair/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/founder-new-startup-dye-grey-hair/#comments Sun, 15 Jun 2014 22:18:39 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=976 I’m a male in my late forties and founder of an early stage startup.  I’m starting to go grey and wonder what’s the best thing to do for my startup: just be natural or dye my hair?  Personally, I don’t mind the grey hair but I don’t want it to taint the perception of VCs […]

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]]> I’m a male in my late forties and founder of an early stage startup.  I’m starting to go grey and wonder what’s the best thing to do for my startup: just be natural or dye my hair?  Personally, I don’t mind the grey hair but I don’t want it to taint the perception of VCs or potenial employees. Of course, dying my hair isn’t going to fool anyone who thinks but I know many decisions have a strong emotional “sub-conscious” component. I have no problem with dying my hair. What do you think I should do?

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/founder-new-startup-dye-grey-hair/feed/ 32 Is it cool to provide updates to a potential angel that expressed interest early on but has been silent for a while? How best can we nurture relationships when folks are so busy and getting hundreds of emails a day? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/cool-provide-updates-potential-angel-expressed-interest-early-silent-best-can-nurture-relationships-folks-busy-getting-hundreds-o/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/cool-provide-updates-potential-angel-expressed-interest-early-silent-best-can-nurture-relationships-folks-busy-getting-hundreds-o/#comments Sun, 15 Jun 2014 14:53:18 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=974 The post Is it cool to provide updates to a potential angel that expressed interest early on but has been silent for a while? How best can we nurture relationships when folks are so busy and getting hundreds of emails a day? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> The post Is it cool to provide updates to a potential angel that expressed interest early on but has been silent for a while? How best can we nurture relationships when folks are so busy and getting hundreds of emails a day? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/cool-provide-updates-potential-angel-expressed-interest-early-silent-best-can-nurture-relationships-folks-busy-getting-hundreds-o/feed/ 17 Do you know of a lot of successful solo entrepreneurs? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/know-lot-successful-solo-entrepreneurs/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/know-lot-successful-solo-entrepreneurs/#comments Sun, 15 Jun 2014 14:49:21 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=973 I’m bootstrapping my startup myself. I know everyone says you need a team but it’s such a hassle to find a compatible co-founder. I’m a programmer – not so good on the biz dev side but am learning. Do you come across folks like myself who “made it”?

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]]> I’m bootstrapping my startup myself. I know everyone says you need a team but it’s such a hassle to find a compatible co-founder. I’m a programmer – not so good on the biz dev side but am learning. Do you come across folks like myself who “made it”?

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/know-lot-successful-solo-entrepreneurs/feed/ 23 Would you be interested in investing outside the States? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/interested-investing-outside-states/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/interested-investing-outside-states/#comments Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:41:35 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=960 The post Would you be interested in investing outside the States? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> The post Would you be interested in investing outside the States? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/interested-investing-outside-states/feed/ 27 Do you ever mentor entrepreneurs? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/ever-mentor-entrepreneurs/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/ever-mentor-entrepreneurs/#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:53:25 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=963 If so, what kind of things have you found to lead to the most fruitful relationship?

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]]> If so, what kind of things have you found to lead to the most fruitful relationship?

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/ever-mentor-entrepreneurs/feed/ 21 I’m a student in Canada and I want to do an internship in San Francisco, but nobody wants to hire from across the border. How can I make this happen? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/im-student-canada-want-internship-san-francisco-nobody-wants-hire-across-border-can-make-happen/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/im-student-canada-want-internship-san-francisco-nobody-wants-hire-across-border-can-make-happen/#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2014 15:04:17 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=951 The post I’m a student in Canada and I want to do an internship in San Francisco, but nobody wants to hire from across the border. How can I make this happen? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> The post I’m a student in Canada and I want to do an internship in San Francisco, but nobody wants to hire from across the border. How can I make this happen? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/im-student-canada-want-internship-san-francisco-nobody-wants-hire-across-border-can-make-happen/feed/ 25 What to do when the CEO doesn’t want to hire a bookkeeper? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/ceo-doesnt-want-hire-bookkeeper/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/ceo-doesnt-want-hire-bookkeeper/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2014 21:28:37 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=950 Over the last 6 months, we have missed rent, missed billing customers, and missed paying all sorts of other things, including people. He refuses to hire a bookkeeper. Several other employees have approaches him as well, with similar results.

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]]> Over the last 6 months, we have missed rent, missed billing customers, and missed paying all sorts of other things, including people. He refuses to hire a bookkeeper. Several other employees have approaches him as well, with similar results.

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/ceo-doesnt-want-hire-bookkeeper/feed/ 19 How significant is the age of founders in your investment decisions? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/significant-age-founders-investment-decisions/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/significant-age-founders-investment-decisions/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2014 18:56:34 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=948 The press loves stories of younger founders getting big investments but some data seems to point at a successful founder age spread from early 20s to late 30s. Obviously the young founder press is good but us older kids can be good bets too. How much of a factor is founder age in your investing next to […]

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]]> The press loves stories of younger founders getting big investments but some data seems to point at a successful founder age spread from early 20s to late 30s. Obviously the young founder press is good but us older kids can be good bets too. How much of a factor is founder age in your investing next to the big issues like idea, execution, and a solid team?

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/significant-age-founders-investment-decisions/feed/ 22 What can I do at startup school event to connect with staff and increase chances of getting in next YC round? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/can-startup-school-event-connect-staff-increase-chances-getting-next-yc-round/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/can-startup-school-event-connect-staff-increase-chances-getting-next-yc-round/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:46:17 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=952 The post What can I do at startup school event to connect with staff and increase chances of getting in next YC round? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> The post What can I do at startup school event to connect with staff and increase chances of getting in next YC round? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/can-startup-school-event-connect-staff-increase-chances-getting-next-yc-round/feed/ 23 If you add up all your venture investments and sweat over the years and look at your overall returns, would you have been better off just investing in the stock market and use your time for a job with increasing regular income? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/add-venture-investments-sweat-years-look-overall-returns-better-just-investing-stock-market-use-time-job/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/add-venture-investments-sweat-years-look-overall-returns-better-just-investing-stock-market-use-time-job/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:39:38 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=956 I am not even talking about pain and worry and sleepless nights (which can be counterweighted with the increased feeling of self worth by being a company leader, being asked for advice, etc).   Just from a financial stand point.

The post If you add up all your venture investments and sweat over the years and look at your overall returns, would you have been better off just investing in the stock market and use your time for a job with increasing regular income? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> I am not even talking about pain and worry and sleepless nights (which can be counterweighted with the increased feeling of self worth by being a company leader, being asked for advice, etc).   Just from a financial stand point.

The post If you add up all your venture investments and sweat over the years and look at your overall returns, would you have been better off just investing in the stock market and use your time for a job with increasing regular income? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/add-venture-investments-sweat-years-look-overall-returns-better-just-investing-stock-market-use-time-job/feed/ 20 I launched a consumer app. There are other apps that my target users are using. Some say get funding so I can buy ads to grow the users base fast. Others say take the time to get traction, then ask for money. What’s the better approach? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/launched-consumer-app-apps-target-users-using-say-get-funding-can-buy-ads-grow-users-base-fast-others-say-take-time-get-traction-ask-fo/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/launched-consumer-app-apps-target-users-using-say-get-funding-can-buy-ads-grow-users-base-fast-others-say-take-time-get-traction-ask-fo/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:41:05 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=943 Target users are already on Instagram, foursquare, yelp, etc

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]]> Target users are already on Instagram, foursquare, yelp, etc

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/launched-consumer-app-apps-target-users-using-say-get-funding-can-buy-ads-grow-users-base-fast-others-say-take-time-get-traction-ask-fo/feed/ 22 When is the right time to seek out funding? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/right-time-seek-funding/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/right-time-seek-funding/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:40:31 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=941 I’m someone without a hoity pedigree building a company with limited connections in the funding space. Thus far I’ve put my head down and focused on building and proof of concept through intreviewing people and “selling” companies/people on to the services offered on my platform – which has gone incredibly well. In your opinon, when […]

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]]> I’m someone without a hoity pedigree building a company with limited connections in the funding space. Thus far I’ve put my head down and focused on building and proof of concept through intreviewing people and “selling” companies/people on to the services offered on my platform – which has gone incredibly well. In your opinon, when is the right time to seek out funding? I’ve commited 20k so far. Could committ 10k more. I can stretch my runway but some funding would help things along. My vertical is a 2.5B national market and there is a peer-to-peer component which is not represented in the market which I’m going to change and then grow the vertical cap. I’m in the final stages of releasing the beta version.

Additional questions …

With a market size of 2.5B & 80M in my metro (which is what we’re going after for beta) what kind of growth would you like to see month-over-month? Any thoughts on a 6 month goal for users/income?

Is there another metric that investors like to see in their analysis?

 

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/right-time-seek-funding/feed/ 22 What are the most important things you look for when making an investment decision? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/important-things-look-making-investment-decision/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/important-things-look-making-investment-decision/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:40:01 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=935 As an angel investor you typically invest at an early stage of the startup, where there may not be much traction, customers, revenue and/or data yet. With so little information available to you at the time, what are the most important things you look for when making an investment decision?

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]]> As an angel investor you typically invest at an early stage of the startup, where there may not be much traction, customers, revenue and/or data yet. With so little information available to you at the time, what are the most important things you look for when making an investment decision?

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/important-things-look-making-investment-decision/feed/ 16 How do I get started in Angel investing? I have a decent chunk of change that I would like to put toward more aggressive/risky endeavors. I’m in the midwest as well if that matters. https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/get-started-angel-investing-decent-chunk-change-like-put-toward-aggressiverisky-endeavors-im-midwest-well-matters/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/get-started-angel-investing-decent-chunk-change-like-put-toward-aggressiverisky-endeavors-im-midwest-well-matters/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:39:49 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=934 The post How do I get started in Angel investing? I have a decent chunk of change that I would like to put toward more aggressive/risky endeavors. I’m in the midwest as well if that matters. appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> The post How do I get started in Angel investing? I have a decent chunk of change that I would like to put toward more aggressive/risky endeavors. I’m in the midwest as well if that matters. appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/get-started-angel-investing-decent-chunk-change-like-put-toward-aggressiverisky-endeavors-im-midwest-well-matters/feed/ 20 Role of sysadmins in early stage startups https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/role-sysadmins-early-stage-startups/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/role-sysadmins-early-stage-startups/#comments Tue, 10 Jun 2014 21:37:15 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=942 Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. I’d like to know how startups usually hire sysadmins, specifically early stage startups? Most of the early employees in startups are software engineers. How can sysadmins get in early?

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]]> Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. I’d like to know how startups usually hire sysadmins, specifically early stage startups? Most of the early employees in startups are software engineers. How can sysadmins get in early?

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/role-sysadmins-early-stage-startups/feed/ 23 Are there rumblings of a bubble bursting? https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/rumblings-bubble-bursting/ https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/rumblings-bubble-bursting/#comments Tue, 10 Jun 2014 21:24:16 +0000 https://startupsanonymous.com/?p=933 From your insider connections, do you hear that the “end is near”? What are the two or three biggest complains about the investment/exit environment you’re hearing that Pando or Techcrunch isn’t reporting on?

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]]> From your insider connections, do you hear that the “end is near”? What are the two or three biggest complains about the investment/exit environment you’re hearing that Pando or Techcrunch isn’t reporting on?

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]]> https://startupsanonymous.com/ama/rumblings-bubble-bursting/feed/ 16