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November 17, 2018, 10:51:48 AM |
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Every entrepreneur is under the impression that he or she has the best idea for a business — nobody has ever come up with something so clever, so appealing, so needed. But there’s a big gap between coming up with a great idea and executing on it successfully. In fact, the failure rate of new businesses in the U.S. is downright demoralizing: About half of all startups fail within five years, and roughly 20 percent don’t even make it a year. One of the biggest factors in stumbling and falling is scaling too quickly. Entrepreneurs’ perspective of where the market could grow often doesn’t line up with where the market currently is, fueling moves and investments that are premature — and may not pan out. BOOSTING YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESSSo what can you do to increase your company’s staying power? For starters, hiring a diverse team has been shown to be a big indicator of success. That’s because having a variety of perspectives and backgrounds on your team can ensure you’re seeing the big picture, not simply what you’re familiar with or naturally attuned to. Financial acumen is also a strength many successful founders share. The simple truth is that if a business owner doesn’t know how to manage money, it really doesn’t matter how much he or she makes — it won’t last long. Learning about balance sheets, P&L statements, payroll, and business taxes is essential for running a successful business; gaining a basic understanding of how business credit scores are earned, as well as how valuations are achieved, can be vital to earning funding. But that’s not all your business needs to have a fighting chance — here are three other things you need to have locked down before your startup can grow. 1. DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR MARKETEntrepreneurs enamored with their own ideas can really get into the nitty-gritty of their offerings, knowing every color, size, or customization possible and carrying a laundry list of use cases. But knowing everything about your own product or service just means you’re an expert on what you do — you also need to become an expert on what the market’s doing and what your competitors are doing. “While some entrepreneurs occasionally switch industries and find success, venture capitalists are more inclined to fund a founder or team who has worked in a specific industry for years,” explains Promod Haque, senior managing partner at Norwest Venture Partners, a venture capital and growth equity investment firm. “Founders with deep domain expertise in a particular field are typically more aware of customer needs, market opportunity, and the competitive landscape, which makes them more credible to investors.” 2. A VISION THAT DARESWhen things get tough (and they will), the entrepreneurs who manage to make it through to the other side are the ones who have a deep passion for what they do, a vision of what they want — and a map for how they’ll get there. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, and it takes true dedication to a mission to make the ups and downs worthwhile. “Vision is the vital energy that drives the entrepreneur, the founder, the co-founder, and his immediate team. Vision is what makes them dare: dare to explore, dare to challenge, dare to insist, dare to keep pushing, dare to have the determination to succeed,” says Juan Jose de la Torre, IBM’s digital transformation leader for the Middle East and Africa. “And vision is what creates and establishes the culture, which is the key component that gets softly shared between people creating and establishing norms.” 3. DATA THAT MAKES THE CASE FOR YOUR BUSINESSTo earn VC funding, partnerships, or any other type of investment, you have to be able to show others that the market is as eager to see you succeed as you are. Establishing how much interest there is for your offering — as well as how much people would pay for it, how long they need your product or service, and how you might build upon your initial relationship with customers — can tip an investor’s assessment from “interesting” to “necessary.” Surveys, studies, and focus groups are all good ways to gather this data, but personalized conversations with people who’ve already bought into your concept can also yield great information. “Even if I went into a client and said this is not fully vetted yet, but I’d like your insight, they were always honored to have a first look,” says Anisa Telwar Kaicker, founder and CEO of Anisa International, a maker of applicators for high-end makeup brands like Laura Mercier and Estée Lauder. Their comments were valuable because “they would be the ones buying the product,” she adds. Having a great idea is the first step to startup success, but it can’t be the entire foundation. Invest in establishing a true vision for your business, learning about the market, and proving there’s demand for your idea. Without these things, you can’t succeed, but with them, you just might. https://www.investorlegends.com/blog/3-things-you-need-for-a-successful-startup
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November 17, 2018, 07:04:35 PM |
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Website: https://verifer.io/Industry: KYC, AML, PEP and compliance verifications Stage (idea, ready business, pre-startup, etc): Ready business with turnover of approx. 5 million usd . in 2018 Type of investment, proposed share for investors: Needed amount: hard cap 6 million usd. / soft cap 720.000 usd reached. https://www.investorlegends.com/forum/topic/verifer-io
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November 18, 2018, 01:59:14 PM |
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Lots of fundraisers get worried about making fundraising asks… they’re not sure the best way to do it, they feel under-prepared for making in-person asks, and they get nervous when it comes time to “pop the question.” Making asks in-person (and on the phone) is one of the most valuable skills any non-profit fundraiser can possess… and nothing moves a non-profit forward like sitting down with your donors to ask them for major gifts to your organization. If you’re not quite sure whether or not you are making the best asks possible… or you get nervous whenever you have to make an ask… here’s a quick, 5 minute guide to making better fundraising asks: Always Ask a QuestionIf there’s one change you can make to your asking strategy that will have the most impact, this is it. Far too many fundraisers “make asks” without every really asking a question. Have you ever found yourself making statements instead of asks? If you say things like, “I really hope you’ll consider making a gift to our organization,” or, “Please think about making a donation, we could really use your help,” then you are not making asks, you are making statements. In order to be effective, asks need to be questions. After you make an ask, the donor should feel like he or she needs to respond with “yes” or “no.” If you’ve gotten into the habit of making statements, instead of asking a real, honest to goodness question, making this change could double the number of donations your organization receives through in-person asks. Always Give a NumberA second key component of making strong fundraising asks is always giving a number. This means that when you make an ask, you should be asking for a set amount… an actual dollar amount. Far too many fundraisers will ask a question like, “Would you be able to make a donation to our organization today?” This is good, because it is a question (not a statement) but because you aren’t asking for a set amount, chances are that when donors say yes they will end up donating far less than you had hoped. Instead, say something like, “Would you be able to make a $5,000 gift to our organization?” This is a strong ask, and offers a suggested giving amount that is in line with your goals for the meeting. How much should you ask for? That depends on your non-profit and what you know about the donor and his or her financial capacity. Stop Talking After Your AskHere’s a little secret from the business world: after you make your ask, stop talking. Don’t say a word. Let the donor be the next person to speak. In fundraising, as in sales, the next person to talk after the ask usually “loses.” This means that if the donor is the next person to talk, they will usually say “yes,” even if it is to a lower amount or to making a gift over time. If the fundraiser is the next person to talk, they will usually start talking themselves out of a gift by backpedaling on the ask. Remember – when a donor doesn’t immediately say something after an ask, it isn’t because they are mad or trying to squirm out of it. As a rule, they are almost always thinking about a way to say “yes.” They are thinking about whether they can afford the gift, whether or not they need to check with their spouse or business partner, where the money will come from, etc. After you make your ask, stop talking, even if it seems uncomfortable, and let the donor think and answer. Practice, Practice, PracticeMy final tip is that if you feel nervous when making asks in-person or on the phone, the best way to get more comfortable is to practice. This means running through ask conversations in your head, practicing in front of a mirror, and holding practice conversations with your friends or other staff members. Consistent practice is the only way to get comfortable with making asks. by Joe Garecht
Source: thefundraisingauthority.com
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November 18, 2018, 02:43:00 PM |
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The takeaway: Many not-for-profit groups struggle to match their income with their expectations. This might be due to over-expectations, but, in most cases, it will be because of the fundraising mistakes they are making. 1. Being scared of ‘the ask’People can get shy when it comes to asking for money, but if you believe that your organisation’s work is both important and valuable it should be easy for you to tell others about it – and then ask them for a donation. If an organisation has motivated you to get involved, then there's a high chance it will do the same to others – but they can't get involved in sharing the passion if you don't give them an opportunity to do so. And it should go without saying – if you don’t ask for donations, you won’t receive any. 2. Having non-donating board membersThe board will need to lead the way when it comes to donations – even if it’s just a small donation from each board member. If a board isn’t fully committed to the giving process it will be hard to expect anyone else to be. Don’t be afraid to approach the board for donations. Rich or poor, large or small donations – all board members should give. 3. Poor or non-existent record keepingIf you don't keep records of all contact made with potential givers (donors, clients, customers, audiences, correspondents, suppliers) you're practically throwing money away. People who have been in contact with your group are much more likely to donate to you than those who have never been involved with your group. Keeping a database of past givers helps you to know whether they've given in the past, how much they gave and how often they give, and tailor your communications with them accordingly. 4. Skipping homeworkIt doesn’t take much more than access to the internet to help improve your fundraising expertise. With so many resources available to help your group further develop its fundraising skills there should be no excuse for you to lag behind and stick to the same old boring fundraisers. Have you checked out the material available on the internet, your local library, or in the bookshop? 5. Lacking goalsBeing a not-for-profit group without any fundraising goals is like being a hiker without a map– you might move forward, but you have no idea where you’ll end up or how long it’ll take you to get there. Successful fundraising relies on tight monitoring at all stages, which involves having fixed goals and strategies that can be assessed, achieved, or modified. 6. Sending out one-size-fits-all requestsSending out a one-size-fits-all request for donations can be a recipe for a fundraising flop. Identify the particular details and interests of whoever you’re approaching (see point three above) and home in on them. For instance, a business and an individual will need separate donation requests. Personalise your pitches to the prospective donors who will receive them. Concentrate on the areas where their values and yours meet. 7. Not applying for grantsAround $80 billion in grants is given out each year in Australia – but so many groups miss out on getting their share. Identify six to seven key grants each year and get the dates on your calendar so you don’t miss the submission deadline. Also spend some quality time doing your homework in the Funding Centre’s Grants Help Centre. 8. Not building relationshipsOnce a supporter makes a donation to your group it is important to build a relationship with them – if you don’t treat your donors well they’ll either end the relationship as a one-off donor, or they’ll find someone else to support. As a rule, the bigger the donor, the more fuss you should make over them. By building significant, lasting relationships, a supporter can go from being a once-off donor to someone who makes multiple pledges year after year. Building this relationship is a matter of not only valuing their contribution, but reinforcing how their donations are used for the benefit of the community – and what else you could do with more resources. 9. Not embracing changeHaving the same event year after year can be effective, but if it is failing to grow in income or participants it should be time to re-evaluate. If an event has become stagnant don’t be scared to reinvigorate it with some slight changes, or try something completely different to help build some excitement around the event. 10. Forgetting your mannersManners will get you everywhere in the world. Your donors are not being forced to give you anything, so when they do you’d better thank them. Send your thank you emails or letters promptly, and where possible ensure that they are individually specific, and preferably hand signed. For big donations send a hand-written note and think about inviting the donor to an event – this might encourage them to give another donation in the future. No matter how much was given, make the donor feel good about their donation. Make them believe that they have entered into a rewarding relationship with a group that appreciates them. Say thank you because it's the right thing to do, and because donors who feel valued are much more likely to donate again. Source: fundingcentre.com.au
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November 18, 2018, 03:35:49 PM |
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Website: https://www.smart-city.net/Industry: Energy, IT, Environment Stage (idea, ready business, pre-startup, etc): ready business Type of investment, proposed share for investors: 1. A franchise, 2. Working - prototype 3.JV Needed amount: 1. 500.000 EUR(initial stock) 2. 50.000 EUR (100 Smart houses) 3. 5.000.000 EUR (10.000 Smart Homes) Description (if you have video or text presentations, you can also attach them to this description). Video of our ICO project https://youtu.be/yAWXmbA_Mrchttps://www.investorlegends.com/forum/topic/smart-city
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November 18, 2018, 08:57:04 PM |
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Creditcoin ( http://www.cointoken.io) is the decentralized affiliate and content marketing protocol allowing any 3rd party marketplace, retailer & publisher to leverage a token based system for affiliated smart product listings and content marketing campaigns on the network. It's immediately leveraged as a utility on Flatlay ( http://www.theflatlay.com), a social marketplace Dapp and publishing platform allowing any content creator to build a digital storefront in seconds. Flatlay's middleware amplifies campaigns on 3rd party premium publishers such as CondeNast, Hearst & Refinery29 working with +100k content creators and millions of products offered from Amazon, Shopify, Linkshare, WooCommerce, VigLink. https://www.investorlegends.com/forum/topic/creditcoin
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November 19, 2018, 12:46:31 PM |
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There are signs that American investors are more prepared than ever to back overseas businesses, which could be to the advantage of UK firms The road to investment can be an arduous one for entrepreneurs. Many recall tales of countless rejections, wild goose chases and tortuous grillings at the hands of venture capitalists (VCs). Some businesses seek more sympathetic ears by heading to the United States to meet investors there. There’s some sense to this; pockets tend to be deeper and some feel US investors are more entrepreneurial and ambitious than “stuffy English VCs”. There are also increasing signs that American investors are more prepared than ever to back overseas businesses. However, before UK entrepreneurs head across the Atlantic they should ensure they are prepared for the challenges that US money markets pose. POST CRASHFor US fund managers the pain of 2008 is still fresh in their minds. Many saw portfolios wiped out and will be keen not to make the same mistakes again. Alexander von Welczek, a managing partner at Clean Power Capital, which finds businesses for US venture capitalists (VCs), says investor behaviour has altered post-financial crash. He says investors that backed businesses in their earlier stages never got the chance to in later rounds and may now be wary of long-term projects. “Most of the investors got blown out and never got the chance to re-invest again in businesses. So now nobody wants to invest in a bridge to nowhere. They don’t want to invest $2m in a business to make a demo product, they want to invest in a business all the way,” he says. The pain of the financial crash has meant that US investors are rethinking their strategies and this could be to the advantage of UK businesses. Dr Mike Pitts, lead specialist at government agency Innovate UK, which works with British technology businesses and funds trade missions abroad, such as the Cool and Clean Mission to the US. He says there’s a lot of interest in UK entrepreneurs as US angels and VCs widen their nets. “I’ve been struck by how much US investors have expressed an interested in UK and European businesses. They are now trying to improve the resilience of their portfolios and see the potential to do this by moving outside of their region.” GETTING READYBusiness owners should be aware that US investors are typically looking for very similar things to UK backers: a strong management team, scalable proposition, large addressable market, a solution to a problem, and a personal rapport with an entrepreneur they can believe in. Businesses need to have spent time honing their pitches, learning their numbers and, of course, must have decided how much money they need. However, this final figure can be a problem as often British entrepreneurs don’t always display the required ambition for US backing. “British companies tend to be a little more humble in their approach and in the funds they are seeking. This is understandable because outside of America the capital markets for growth funding are small,” says von Welczek. “To be successful, for the most part, they need to be asking for more money; a lot of these funds only make so many investments.” Alex Tew came to global attention when he launched the Million Dollar Homepage, bringing in investors from across the world. Following its success he headed to San Francisco and is now the founder and CEO of meditation site Calm.com. So far, the business has raised $1m dollars from angel investors. “US Investors want you to have a bigger vision. They all hope they are investing in a billion dollar company. Having ambition is important, there are a lot more billion dollar companies in the US. In the UK it’s a bit different, as there are less examples,” he says. INTRODUCTIONSCold calling investors is probably not advised. They are too busy and tend to rely on their networks to filter out the better ideas. But the US business eco-system is very inter-connected and for many businesses, their professional advisors, assuming they have offices in the US are a good route in. Marc Gottschalk is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP based in Silicon Valley and also sits on the board of the Cleantech Open accelerator programme. He says the legal aspect of his work is just part of the services which law firms offer entrepreneurs. “In Silicon Valley lawyers are part of the eco-system and provide connections between businesses, investors and partners. They don’t just do paperwork, they have to bring something else to the equation, and helping businesses make connections is really part and parcel of what they do.” For businesses seeking angel investment life got easier recently with the growth of AngelList. Founded in 2010, and now in partnership with CrunchBase, the site brings accredited investors together with start-ups. Alex Tew used the site with great success when raising money $1m through two rounds for Calm.com. “AngelList was a big help. I set up a profile and investors asked for introductions. It’s an amazing platform, I’d recommend it to anyone looking for investment in the US. We got about 30 introductions from it.” CASE STUDY: HUDDLEAndy McLoughlin co-founded collaborative software business Huddle with Alastair Mitchell in 2006. The business first took institutional investment from UK-based Eden Ventures in 2007, but later turned to US venture capitalists for a further three investments totalling $85.2m. McLoughlin moved to San Francisco in order to seal the deal. “We felt that we had the potential to be an international business so we went to the US and did a deal with Matrix Partners. They said it was certainly preferential for them that one of the founders was on the ground in the US. “There’s nothing wrong with UK VC scene but we found that US investors move faster, provide better terms, are more ambitious and want to get things moving. “You have to dance the dance with investors and hopefully end up in a place which is good for everyone. VCs are keen to suggest that you are getting access to their network and experience. That’s certainly true but there can be a bit of a play in that. For any entrepreneur raising finance its good to spend time getting to know the landscape and the names. There are good and bad firms, and good and bad in those firms. “You don’t have to accept the first term sheet, we always pushed back. We would also play one against the other, you don’t have to accept the first deal. Alastair and I always went as a pair and you feel stronger than going in by yourself.” https://www.investorlegends.com/blog/how-to-secure-funding-from-us-investors
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November 19, 2018, 12:54:54 PM |
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Company name: Fracture Labs Website: https://www.decimated.netIndustry: computer games, online games, blockchain Stage: MVP/prototype Type of investment, proposed share for investors: 7.5% equity for each €500,000, up to €2,000,000 for 30% Revenue streams: cryptocurrency exchange token sales & in-game microtransactions (€2 monthly revenue per user) target of 12% growth in number of players per month Profit and Loss Forecasts (EBITDA): Year Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Revenue € 75K € 4,5M € 10M € 17,6M € 47M Expenses € 68,5K € 2,5M € 4M € 6,8M € 17M Profit € 6,5K € 2M € 6M € 10,8M € 30M For more information, including links to recent interviews and articles, please visit https://www.decimated.nethttps://www.investorlegends.com/forum/topic/fracture-labs-decimated-a-multiplayer-online-game-with-a-play-to-earn-business-model
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November 19, 2018, 01:14:32 PM |
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November 19, 2018, 01:56:13 PM |
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Charm and self-belief comes easily to some, but all entrepreneurs can teach themselves to win over clients and attract new customers. What do entrepreneurs Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson and Elon Musk have in common? Apart from their huge net worth, they are all highly charismatic. But what exactly is charisma? The charismatic can infect others with their own enthusiasm. They convince us, not only of their own self-belief, but make us feel more confident in ourselves too. As an entrepreneur, charisma is a winning formula for your personal brand. If you exude self-belief, angel investors, prospective clients and the press will see your potential and be more inclined to invest in your story. Perhaps because it is hard to describe, there is a popular misconception that charisma is an innate quality. In fact, a lead researcher in charisma, Richard Wiseman, estimated that it is 50% innate and 50% learned. This would mean that just about anyone can bolster their charisma to help achieve their professional – and personal – goals. Charisma is a set of behaviours that each of us can integrate into our personality. We may already embody some of its qualities, such as presence, warmth or gravitas. Tweaks to body language, the way you speak or how you listen, if practiced regularly, can soon become habitual and greatly improve your perceived charisma. But the first step is building self-awareness. Here are a few classic rapport-breaking behaviours to watch out for: - Breaking eye contact to soon – may denote untrustworthiness, nervousness or disinterest.
Nodding too much – repeated nodding dilutes the impact of the message and generally implies nervousness or inauthenticity. If you agree with what is being said, nod once and then remain still. Crossing your arms – can appear defensive. Fidgeting – may imply nervousness or impatience. Failing to smile – this can make people feel uncomfortable and question your enthusiasm. Go for a genuine smile (especially when first meeting someone). Stepping back when you’re asking for a decision – implies fear or uncertainty. Checking your phone or watch – suggests impatience or disinterest.
Simply by enhancing your awareness of your behavioural quirks, you can start to become more purposeful and credible in how you project yourself. MAKING NEW CONNECTIONSAs entrepreneurs often have to network, pitch ideas and proposals as part of their work, they are invariably meeting new people all the time. Often this involves attempting to forge effective relationships in a minimal amount of time. The way in which you imagine situations beforehand can have a bearing upon your charisma levels on the day. If you have convinced yourself that a meeting will be uncomfortable this will be unconsciously reflected in your body language, meaning that others are less likely to be drawn to you Instead, approach networking events or meetings with the primary aim of learning more about others and putting them at ease, this should have a profound, positive effect on the overall outcome of such encounters. At first glance, this approach might seem counter-intuitive. However, by actively listening to the other person, not only do you undermine the immediate pressure on yourself to perform but you also create a deeper bond. Charismatic people often purposely touch a person on the shoulder or arm while they are making specific points. This helps them to control the conversation and make the other person feel at ease. This of course must be done with caution. Some people will not want to be touched, so use your discretion and adjust your approach accordingly. As cliched as it might sound, handshakes, initial eye contact and an open body stance represent immediate ways of showing authority, warmth and overall trustworthiness. You can galvanise these initial impressions in a number of ways above and beyond the content of a pitch or discussion. This includes demonstrating: - Authenticity – take a genuine interest in people, ask questions, listen to their needs and concerns. Remember their names and details about conversations.
Clarity – practice good enunciation, use pauses, metaphors, stories and anecdotes to create a visual component (in other words, make yourself easy to follow and understand). Conviction – speak passionately and believe in what you say. Humour – enjoy yourself during conversations, smile and where appropriate, be lighthearted.
All of these suggestions can be put into practice very quickly. However, it is important to progress slowly and relative to your individual circumstances, allowing you to rehearse and refine your charisma in small increments. This will mean that the process not only becomes far less daunting but also naturally becomes a fully integrated part of your everyday behaviour.
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November 20, 2018, 01:23:42 PM |
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As the economy continues to rebound from the recession, foundations, the government, and corporate funders are still dealing with uncertainty regarding how much they can invest philanthropically. However, wealthy individuals have the resources and freedom to give more. According to Giving USA 2014, individual giving represents 73% of the growth in total giving from 2011 to 2013. These “major donors” are different for every nonprofit—at a small service organization, it could be anyone who gives more than $500. At a large national group, it might be folks who can give more than $10,000. However you define it, any good development strategy will include major donor cultivation. Whether you are new to the nonprofit game or just haven’t worked with a major donor before, here are a few tips for what to do in your first dealings with a new prospect. 1. GET A GOOD INTRODUCTIONIf you work in nonprofits, someone in your life has surely suggested that you meet with Bill Gates or Oprah to ask for a donation. That would be great—if you had a way to get an introduction to them. In reality, your best prospects already have a connection to your organization in some way. They might be personal or professional contacts of your board members, former volunteers, or in some way connected to a business that has supported you in the past. Such a connection to your organization will make it easier to get in front of these donors—and ensure they’re in a more receptive mood when you do. 2. KNOW YOUR PROSPECTOnce you get the introduction, make sure you get on Google and do your research. If your prospect doesn’t have a big footprint on the internet, go back to the person who introduced you and ask him or her about the donor. You’ll definitely want to learn more about the donor’s previous philanthropic giving and net worth, but anything that could help you in a conversation is worth filing away. That could be information about the donor’s kids, if he or she has any hobbies, or what’s happening in his or her company or industry. Then, think of the ways that you can use these possible conversation topics into a way to hook the donor on your mission. For instance, I once had a donor who was really into racing cars (a thing I know absolutely nothing about). I asked him how he got into it, and it turns out that his favorite uncle was a mechanic. He spent his summers with his uncle tinkering with cars. At the time, I was working for an organization that offered job skills training and summer programs to at-risk kids—so I was able to connect his experience with learning a vocational skill and having an enriching environment out of school to the experience of our clients, who otherwise seemed very different. He was able to see our mission in a new light and became a long-term donor. 3. KNOW WHAT YOU WANTBefore any meeting, realize this: No first meeting with a donor will result in a significant donation. Major donor cultivation is a long-term strategy. Knowing that, what do you want to happen in this first meeting? If it’s a brand new prospect, you might simply want to end the conversation confident that you’ll be granted a second meeting. If it’s a former volunteer, you may want to get him or her on an event committee or arrange an agreement that he or she will introduce you to another prospect. But before you go into your meeting, you should also know what your long-term goal is. Figure out if you think this is going to result in a $10,000 donation or $100,000 donation. This will help you determine how you want to approach the donor and establishes some reasonable expectations with your boss or board of directors. 4. BRING A BUDDYUnless the donor specifically says that he or she only wants to meet with one person, always come with to the first meeting at least two people (but no more than three). For example, if a board member introduced you to this prospect, ask the board member to join you. That will help everyone feel a bit more comfortable and allow you to start with a casual conversation. Or, if the donor is interested in a particular initiative, bring the manager of that project along to explain it in more detail. As you get to know donors, you want to figure out what they are interested in and what kind of personality they have. If you go into meetings solo, you risk turning the donor off if the two of you aren’t suited to connect on a personal level. If you bring a colleague along, there’s a better chance that the donor will have a personal connection with one of you. It’s also good to have multiple perspectives in the meeting to create the best strategy for the donor. 5. FOLLOW UPThe only hard-and-fast rule I have for major donors is that they get a thank you email from you within 24 hours of your meeting with them. Start by thanking them for their time, of course. Then, if they had lingering questions for you after the meeting, provide the answer or a timeline for you to get those answers in the note. https://www.investorlegends.com/blog/5-tips-for-your-first-meeting-with-a-major-donor
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November 20, 2018, 01:31:42 PM |
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Parkres ( https://parkres.org/) is the decentralized parking reservation platform that leverage a token based system over ethereal blockchain and IoT based sensor network for smart parking solution and providing spot bookings to the drivers. The Parkres Network provides benefit to the parking providers, software/hardware manufacturers, app developers and drivers. Parkres streamlines payouts between parties when booking a parking spot on Parkres app. - Successfully fulfilled soft cap of 1,000,000 USD during pre-sale (August 2018) scoring in the 90% percentile ratings on ICO Bench, TrackICO, FoundICO, VerifiedICO's and many more. https://www.investorlegends.com/forum/topic/parkres-park-coin
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investorlegends (OP)
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November 20, 2018, 08:02:17 PM |
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Company name: iLINK Location: Singapore Industry: Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, E-Commerce, E-Commerce Platforms, FinTech, Mobile Apps, Mobile Payments, Private Social Networking, Social Network Stage: Pre-Public Sale of Community Based Creation(CBC) Token 2 Billion Total Supply, 1 billion in Ethereum blockchain and 1 billion in NEO blockchain. Target Hardcap 50,000,000 USD Distributed in the TGE: 59% Website: https://cbc.ilink.networkhttps://www.investorlegends.com/forum/topic/ilink-cbc-geosocial-hyperlocal-social-commerce-ecosystem
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investorlegends (OP)
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November 21, 2018, 12:30:50 PM |
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There are several contenders for the “most important” factor to a business’s success, including the strength of the idea, the timing of the company and the cohesive force of your employees. But my money’s on experience — the industry and entrepreneurial experience of the person in charge and the cumulative experience of the team. The trouble is, all entrepreneurs are inexperienced the first time they launch a business. And there’s only one way to overcome this inexperience quickly: by engaging in a mentorship or advisor program, thereby drawing on someone else’s experience. If you’re sufficiently insightful and humble, you’ll recognize the importance of asking for help and being open to external feedback. Mentors are the way to achieve this. But, how do you find mentors? There are dozens of ways, but these 10 have my highest recommendation: 1. NETWORKING EVENTSNetworking events are designed to put people in contact with one another, making these events perfect opportunities to expand your professional network. Try to talk to as many people as you can, and don’t be too forward with your goals; instead, wait for a potential partnership to make itself evident to you. 2. ENTREPRENEUR ‘HOT SPOTS’If you live in a city with a thriving startup scene, there are probably several entrepreneurial “hot spots” in the area — I use that ambiguous term because they vary so wildly. For example, there might be a startup incubator with an open workspace where you can get some work done and still meet some new people in the industry, or else a weekly brainstorming meeting among creative minds at the downtown library. Keep your eyes peeled, and attend whatever you can. 3. LINKEDIN AND TWITTERI’m tempted to put “social media” here, but Twitter and LinkedIn are the big players for connecting with professionals. Find potential candidates based on your industry and/or demographic area, and be sure to introduce yourself casually and unassumingly before asking for a more significant engagement. 4. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERSSmall Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are independent organizations that provide resources, expertise and advice to emerging entrepreneurs in major cities across the country. Drawing on Small Business Administration federal funds, state and local government funds and resources from the private sector, you should be able to find free consultation at an SBDC near you. 5. SCORESCORE is an organization dedicated to helping individuals start, run and grow their own businesses. There are currently more than 11,000 volunteers in the program, with 320 chapters around the country; you can check here for a chapter near you. Through SCORE, you can request a free face-to-face meeting with a mentor to discuss your business idea — and you may be able to form a more lasting partnership. 6. INDUSTRY CENTERSAre there any industry expos coming up in your surrounding area? Conferences or speaking events regarding your industry? If so, these are perfect places to find someone more experienced than you — and you can learn more about your industry during the search. 7. INDIRECT COMPETITORSObviously, your direct competitors will be reluctant to give you practical advice on how to succeed. Instead, seek out your indirect competitors, such as companies in the same industry targeting a different segment of the market, or companies across the country with no bearing on your local relationships. If these companies have been in business longer than you have, their leadership will have considerable wisdom to dispense. 8. VOLUNTEERINGVolunteering is a surprisingly good way to make new connections. You’ll meet all kinds of people, from college students to retirees, all of whom will be able to teach you something new. Plus, you’ll be giving back to the community in the meantime and possibly improving the reputation of your business in the process. 9. FRIENDS AND FAMILYHave you asked around your circle of friends and family? Someone in your contacts list might know a cousin or former roommate who went on to become a successful entrepreneur. These types of connections are usually the easiest to build once discovered. 10. ANYWHERE ELSEThe truth is, if you’re open to new experiences and new contacts, you could potentially meet a mentor anywhere. Talk to strangers. Get to know your acquaintances better. You never know who will lend you the next major insight or give you the next landmark introduction in your life. There’s no “secret” when it comes to finding mentors: Look in the places you’d be if you were a mentor; remain patient and open to new contacts; and eventually you’ll meet someone who can help you take your business off the ground. https://www.investorlegends.com/blog/10-places-to-find-mentors-and-advisors-for-entrepreneurs
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