Founders’ guides to equity, valuations, and company growth.
In this edition of the founder spotlight interview, we’re featuring Alessandro Maggi, founder of Ecate LLC, a medical technology company established in 2020 that focuses on developing neural interfaces to help paralyzed patients regain lost functions. Alessandro is working to create a bi-directional, closed-loop spinal cord machine interface to bridge the communication gap between the …
Companies often rely on convertible instruments such as Convertible Notes and SAFEs to raise capital. These instruments provide an efficient way for startups to secure funding without a formal valuation. However, when it comes to issuing stock options companies must comply with IRC Section 409A. While convertible instruments do not require a 409A valuation, they …
Measuring the vitality of subscription-based software businesses has become increasingly important. While various metrics measure the business performance, one has emerged as a telling barometer of a company’s momentum. This powerful measurement serves as a guidepost, helping to distinguish between excellent acceleration, moderate progress, and concerning decline in an increasingly competitive digital marketplace. Investors can …
Industries have evolved distinct liquidity patterns in the financial ecosystem based on their unique operational demands, cash conversion cycles, and market pressures. A manufacturer stockpiling inventory will present a different financial profile than a subscription-based software company, though both might be equally robust. Whether you’re an investor seeking stability, or a manager gauging liquidity, understanding …
Consider you are a small manufacturer and are faced with leasing a warehouse for an extreme seasonal sale event. Due to short notice, the owner demands a high security deposit and excessive rent. Without proper warehousing, you may lose significant profits. At this juncture, you need to assess whether you can pay the rent and …
When you feel you’ve reached the end of your journey with a venture, it’s crucial to make a graceful and profitable exit. This ensures a smooth transition and opens the door to new opportunities and ventures. For many entrepreneurs, buying a business can be just as strategic as selling one, offering a pathway to growth …
In this edition of Founder Spotlight, we’re featuring a prominent figure in the tech industry –Susan Hion-Jarvis, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Matched. This revolutionary platform is transforming how we access knowledge and achieve our goals. With a background in leading product development at fintech and education giants, Susan brings a wealth of experience …
When looking at a company’s acid test ratio, it’s important to compare it not only to the general benchmark but also to industry-specific averages and the company’s historical performance for a more comprehensive assessment of its liquidity position. The acid test ratio is widely used across various industries for financial analysis and decision-making. Its application …
In the startup ecosystem, it is common to secure external funding and scale expenses, with the ultimate goal of achieving massive profitability. Many startups such as MailChimp, Atlassian, and 37signals choose to be self-funding startups, proving that there’s more than one path to success. Bootstrapping allowed these companies to retain control over their vision and …
Welcome to the latest Founder Spotlight edition, where we introduce Michelle Adelman, founder and CEO of Crossover Meats, a pioneering food technology company specializing in producing all-natural, sustainable ground meat products. The natural, sustainable ground meat product market is experiencing significant growth, was valued at USD 1,165.84 million in 2023, and is projected to reach …
Did you know that there are about 75,600 tech startups in the US as of 2024? In comparison, by the end of 2023, there were only 3,417 venture capital firms. A limited pool of VCs is tasked with evaluating and shortlisting startups for investment. Because of all this competition, securing funding from VCs is extremely …
Founded in 1977 by Chuck Newhall, Frank A. Bonsal, and Richard Kramlich, New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is a stage-agnostic venture capital firm that primarily invests in startups from the sectors of life sciences, digital health, enterprise tech, consumer, and fintech. The firm believes in taking an active role in supporting its portfolio companies. Its support …
Whether you own a business at its early stage or a well-developed stage, you will always look for better opportunities to scale. And those opportunities need proper financing to take shape. Some companies require funds to run their routine operations whereas others need cash sources to expand their operations. It is important to remember that …
We feature a young, prominent entrepreneur and product leader in this edition of the founder spotlight: Rhim Shah, the Co-Founder and CEO of Arva AI, an AI-enabled business verification platform designed for banks and fintech. Arva AI is pioneering AI-driven solutions for compliance workflows, particularly in Know Your Business (KYB) processes. The platform automates business …
Picture this: It’s 2025, and the pace of change in the business world is not just fast, it’s a whirlwind. Markets are shifting, customer expectations are evolving at breakneck speed, and competition is fiercer than ever. For founders, the challenge isn’t just about keeping up; it’s about staying ahead. Here’s some good news. Growth is …
In 1976, Apple started as a partnership between Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. To attract investors and scale its operations, the budding tech company soon became a corporation, a pivotal move that set the stage for its rise to become one of the largest companies in the world. Today, many small businesses find …
Welcome to another edition of the founder spotlight interview with Nicolò Mazzocchi, the CEO and Co-founder of Skillvue, an innovative AI-based skills analysis platform based in Milan that utilizes AI for skills assessment. Together with Simone Patera, Nicolò founded Skillvue in 2021. The demand for AI-related skills is surging, with a reported 866% year-on-year increase …
As a founder, you must be extremely wary of inaccurate valuations since they can deter investors, set unrealistic growth expectations, and lead to suboptimal decisions in key areas such as mergers and acquisitions (M&As). A great example of this would be Yahoo! passing on Microsoft’s $44.6 billion acquisition offer and then, in 2016, having to …
In one of McKinsey’s Global Survey, they found that less than 1/3rd of companies that underwent corporate restructuring could sustainably improve their performance. However, when companies implemented comprehensive actions in goal-setting, design, and implementation, the success rate shot up to as high as 78%. Once again, we are reminded that the devil resides in the …
In this Founder spotlight edition, we introduce Nasha Fitter, Co-Founder and CEO of FOXG1 Research Foundation and the Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Citizen Health. Nasha Fitter is deeply passionate about supporting children and families affected by FOXG1 syndrome. Nasha’s commitment to this cause is not just professional but deeply personal, driving her to …
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