Can Product Market Fit (PMF) be measured objectively
The final piece in these Product/Market fit essays seeks to argue that a framework does exist to objectively identify and measure your startups level of attainment of PMF. Paul Graham coined what it feels like to have PMF “And you can always feel product/market fit when it’s happening. The customers are buying the product ju
What makes for a great market for a startup
I recently posted an article that argued how uncertainty is among the key factors that create the market conditions for a startup to thrive. Earlier in this product-market fit series of posts, I delved into key observations made about how baking value into the product is essential prior to exploring growth. This article explores
Back to basics: value proposition before growth
This article is part of a series of thought pieces essentially about product-market fit. I read through what I believe to be seminal articles and blogs on the topic. At its core, this series is an attack on Vanity Metrics and attempts to be a love letter to searching for value for your customer. Any […]
Open Innovation: Time for Maltese Family Business to build relationships with startups
I was naive to think that the Maltese business ecosystem will take to startups seamlessly. Over the last 5 years, it has become so easy to start-up a new company with a big idea and software development skills, I simply believed that the amount of novelty will excite the incumbent players to seek new opportunities. […]
Uncertainty is where profit lies, not risk
It is such a pleasure to come across a thought-provoking piece about startup investing. Jerry Newman´s series of posts is just that. Here are my notes from that piece: `The Necessity of Uncertainty’ Startups that aim to create value can’t have a moat when they begin, uncertainty is what protects them from competition until
Startup Board Governance needs to be discussed more often!
Startups are sexy. If that sounds true to you, that is a sure fire sign that you ́ve never been involved in one. The sooner a startup founder accepts that building a business is not just about building product, the better it is for all stakeholders involved. Ben Horowitz, The Hard Thing About Hard Things: […]
Angel investors cannot rely solely on experience and intuition: Reports from the US and Europe
The old joke in angel investing is that the best way to end up with $1Mln from a startup portfolio is to invest $5Mln. It is therefore best to avoid this. So, just like it is critical to have a strategy when developing a startup, it is likewise critical for angel investors to have an […]
What are some big mistakes that startups make after receiving money from an investor?
So you spent the last 6 or so months completing your fund raising exercise. You exhausted your full network reach and then some, but hit your target and closed the round. First of all, bravo! Learn to celebrate your wins. You will quickly become aware that your journey has now just begun: Remember, you don’t […]
How can I invest in a startup´s equity story?
This is a topic I generally shy away from due to the regulatory implications attached to the question. Also, different jurisdictions treat the question differently. Yet, it is a question I receive alot and interested persons seem to go ahead and invest anyhow so I believe it welcome to at least provide a primer on […]
The quintessential founder attribute: GRIT
“You spend months trying to convince the authorithies to finance this initiative, and once the funds are available, they give it to someone else. I could not let it happen, you need to get your nails out and take what you deserve”. This was our founder explaining how she secured a long term contract for […]
Why human interactions are the centre of any fund raising story
I received a classical corporate finance education. SWOT analysis, cash management and unit economics, marketing 7Ps. I also used to beleive that a business was defined by its profit and loss statement and balance sheet. As a young and eager professional, I set out to apply these theories but nobody was listening…Boy did I
How to get introductions to investors?
There are three buckets you should target to provide intros to investors: Investors who have confidence in you and your abilities (you probably don´t know many) Founders, in your network, who have received an investment (these make for strong warm introductions). Trusted network contacts with working or perosnal relationships w
The case for startups adopting a strategy
Startups need to be strategic and purposeful in their approach. Although they may at times appear to be whimsical and intuitive in nature, so much has been said and done in the startup world that the business world must take them seriously. I received a traditional and classic academic formation in business and finance. To [&hel
What are the best strategies for creating a business plan?
You will find a plethora of resources about writing a solid business plan online. If you are familiar with it, you can set out by starting with the business canvas appraoch which will deliver a core set of thoughts for you to build out from. My comments will attempt to tackle what it takes to […]
