Invest Southwest Executive Director, Karen Katzorke, talks with Invest Southwest Board Treasurer, Dave Bittner. Dave played volleyball at Penn State University, so he brings that energy and teamwork to the floor to rally support for Invest Southwest and to set many plays in motion. When he is not counting beans, Dave coaches and serves on […]
There are so many business plan templates to prompt the presentation of your map to success. Some are tailored to one industry or another. Others are boiler-plate MBA outlines. Still, at the center of every business plan are three key points—your purpose, your plan, and your progress indicators. PURPOSE Your first challenge is to define […]
From the minute you hit the dirt to hoe the rows for your startup, keep your exit strategy in mind. As you rush to execute, do so with future vision. Assemble a strong startup team, attract customers, drive revenue, ever mindful of the ultimate evolution of the business—your exit strategy. Your vision for a successful exit […]
Whatever your startup business, it is critical that you determine a revenue model to support it. Your business model is the plan your startup will implement to generate revenue and make a profit from operations. While there is room for creativity and customization, there are core areas that must be clear. Every model requires these […]
It is energizing to listen and learn as Gary Vaynerchuk gets real with the Venture Madness startup crowd. Here are some of the top tweets reflecting his point of view as he gave his keynote presentation, Q&A style. AZVenture Consulting @Arizona_VC “Not every great company is started in Silicon Valley.” -@GaryVee at @VentureMadness. #VM16 #YesPhx […]
Are you thinking of taking your Arizona startup to Venture Madness? Here is sage advice from the judges to assist you in preparing for the competition. STUDY OTHERS. Take a look at the applications for Arizona Startup companies that did well—and even won—Venture Madness 2016 (they are available on the Venture Madness website here). Use […]
Resoundingly, Venture Madness 2016 judges agree that there were a lot of good presentations this year. And, in the end, only 16 startups made it to the competition. How did the best emerge in bracket style, head-to-head pitch contests? Here are some insights from the panel. And, in the end, it all comes down to […]
Over a hundred twenty applicants put their startup in the game for Venture Madness 2016. There was a lot of talent and potential brewing as these were narrowed to 64 participants. Over the course of eight weeks, these startups pitched in bracket style matches to place in the top 16. The sweet 16 startups went […]
Every startup hopes for an offer of funding. Plans are great but without resources, it’s tough to get off the ground. As your startup takes root, while you toil with early stage development, make sure you are not vulnerable to an investment storm. Whether you are courting a bank, a venture capitalist, or some type […]
Getting out the word about your business is essential to gaining awareness among your target audience. It is also critical that your story is known, and embraced, internally. To support success, every employee, sub-contractor, supplier, and customer must know exactly what your business stands for and what you do for them — that one essential thing. Zoom […]