In Part I of this article we addressed trends in VC fundraising, the roles played by GPs and LPs, and key questions fund managers should expect during the prospecting process. In Part II we looked at the primary elements of a fund prospectus and the critical skills every fund manager should possess. Now let's dive into fund size and sources of capital.
Geokey recently closed a $2M round of seed funding that the company will use to expand its mobile access control platform to more apartment complexes around the U.S. over the next 18 months.
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Part 2 of the Venture Capital Guide introduces the multiple funding stages that high growth startups progress through. It covers what matters to founders and funders at each stage along with milestones.
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Part 1 of the Venture Capital Guide gives an overview of the venture capital funding model. It outlines key terms and concepts. Continue on to Part 2 to learn about funding stages.
The post Venture Capital Guide | Part 1 appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
It’s impossible to predict where technology will go in the future. But it is possible to train students to think critically about emerging technologies and how to leverage them in an innovative and ethical way. That's exactly what the first graduates of UNL's Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts intend to do.
The post Forging a path at the intersection of emerging technology and media appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
Omaha-based Alan Tipp was one of SPN’s first interviews way back in 2009 when he was designing performance eyewear for Under Armour. Since then he’s accumulated dozens of patents and launched an innovation consultancy to help other inventors turn their ideas into retail-ready products.
The post This Omaha designer is 3D printing the future of eyewear appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
The NMotion Growth Accelerator is a 12-week investment-for-equity accelerator that provides selected startups access to experienced entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors who can help them refine their business models, develop their products, and prepare to fundraise. Keep reading to meet the 2023 cohort.
The post Six Nebraska companies among the NMotion Growth Accelerator 2023 cohort appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
There is a lot of confusion amongst new entrepreneurs on the subject of advisory boards versus corporate boards of directors. Some of that confusion is justified because there is some conceptual overlap. But they are very different animals.
When should you start hiring at your startup? What qualities are important in your early hires? How can you tell if a candidate will be a good fit? Check out the answers to these questions and more in the launch of SPN Startup Office Hours.
The post Startup Office Hours on Hiring – Audio Replay appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
Omaha startup Maxwell recently completed the prestigious Techstars accelerator. They're only the third company from Nebraska ever to participate in the program. Read about their experience and takeaways.
The post Maxwell joins the elite ranks of Nebraska-based Techstars alums appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
Startup Office Hours is our version of mentoring at scale. With this new monthly series we’ll feature guest experts who dig into a specific topic relevant to folks in the startup ecosystem. Join us April 25th to discuss startup hiring with advice for both hiring managers and job candidates.
The post Increasing access to information and community appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
What’s it really like to work for a startup in Nebraska? We talked to a startup advisor, a recent college grad, a director of software engineering and a former startup employee to find out. Collectively the group has more than 20 years of experience working in startups in roles ranging from entry level to executive.
The post Behind the scenes: startup life in Nebraska appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
In Part I of this article we addressed why setting a fair valuation on a startup company is so hard and treated with such great importance by both the investor and the entrepreneur, along with what kinds of constraints are placed on these valuation discussions. Now let's take a look at four of the most common methods for valuing early stage companies.
Andy Stoll shares insights from 20 years of building programs and communities to help entrepreneurs and creatives turn their ideas into reality.
The post How do we intentionally build communities that foster entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity? appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
You know that many startups fail to take advantage of one of the best kept secrets of product management and company strategy, the customer council. If you’re invested in a growing company that does not yet have a customer council, you may want to encourage the founders to create one. Here is how to operate one and some important traps for the unwary that you can use as a framework when you talk to your CEOs about the concept.
Omaha native and startup veteran Stefanie Monge will lead Silicon Prairie News into the next era under the stewardship of the Nebraska Journalism Trust. She was recently named SPN editor after the publication was acquired from AIM.
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This profile is the ninth in a series of interviews highlighting the work of interesting fund investors. Matt Johnson is the founder and Managing Partner of Johnson Venture Partners, a micro venture capital fund investing in seed and early-stage startups. Matt has invested in over 40 venture-backed companies throughout 15 years of early-stage investing experience. Matt is an active member of many regional and national venture investor networks and serves on the selection committee for Venture Atlanta. He is a frequent guest lecturer and panelist on the topics of startup investing, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and has been a mentor and advisor to numerous startups.
Over the years, Christopher and I have interacted with hundreds of startups. Whether as an advisor, mentor, investor or just as an observer, the issue of valuation has been a major part of our conversation with each of these companies. And, given how widely reasonable people can differ on this subjective topic, I have to admit, it can be one of the most difficult, contentious conversations you will have as an investor. So what is so hard about valuing a startup company?
This article is the fourth in a series of interviews highlighting the work of interesting family offices. Donatas Dailide is the Chairman and CEO at DOJUS group, a leading provider of agricultural and heavy equipment in the Baltic region that has been in business for over 30 years.
It’s inevitable. Members of senior management leave or retire. To maintain consistent leadership andhigh performance, it’s necessary to develop and implement succession and knowledge-transfer plans forsenior management positions.As disconcerting as changes in leadership can be, perhaps it’s a bit more concerning when that changeinvolves a critical part of the company’s information technology operation – information…
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It’s inevitable. Members of senior management leave or retire. To maintain consistent leadership andhigh performance, it’s necessary to develop and implement succession and knowledge-transfer plans forsenior management positions. As disconcerting as changes in leadership can be, perhaps it’s a bit more concerning when that change involves a critical part of the company’s information technology operation…
The post The Inevitable Change appeared first on Silicon Prairie News.
In CYA: Liability Insurance for Directors we talked about some high-level concepts relating to Directors & Officers insurance. Here we are going to go into a bit more detail. This will get you well-grounded, but as we noted previously, there is no substitute for a good D&O broker to help you wade through your options. Without the help of a broker, it is very easy to pay more money for a lesser policy, when, with some help, you could have purchased better coverage for your needs for less money.
Every early stage investor strives to have a full pipeline of startups in which to invest. But how do they manage all the dates and details of each prospect and ensure nothing slips through the cracks while determining if a deal is right for them? Organization tools, of course! Here’s our guide to what you should look for in a professional deal flow management system designed for venture funds, angel groups, family offices, and other early stage investment organizations to streamline their pipeline management process.
In our previous article on recruiting new board directors, we discuss the importance of adding key skills to your board. Most early stage companies have a 3 or 5 member board. It’s not unusual for one or two of these board seats to remain unfilled after a company raises an early round of financing. It is important to make sure all board seats get filled. We developed this guide to help you evaluate your current board’s experience, skillset and diversity.
This profile is the third in a series of interviews highlighting the work of interesting family offices. Rashaun Williams is the Founder and Chairman of Value Investment Group (“VIG”) is a private equity firm specializing in influencer-backed private equity investments in tech, media and consumer products.
