Founders are regularly told they need to network like crazy in order to be successful. On the surface, that sounds like going to a bunch of events and meeting a…
Read MoreFounders are regularly told they need to network like crazy in order to be successful. On the surface, that sounds like going to a bunch of events and meeting a…
Read MoreStartups build solutions that either solve problems or unlock opportunities for a particular user or paying customer. But the solution can only provide value if it gets into the hands…
Read MoreI often talk about the “we’re big, you’re small” phenomenon that often exists when startups are seeking or negotiating a strategic partnership. While that phenomenon certainly gives the big partner…
Read MoreImagine this scenario. You decide to pay $2,500 for the cheapest exhibit option at your industry’s big annual trade show. You know you’ll spend another $2,500 on cheap travel, lodging…
Read MoreI didn’t invent this quote (can’t remember where I heard it) but what a great one to help remember that with most business-related transactions, price is definitely not the only…
Read MoreSome startups build core technology with the sole purpose of making money by licensing it to others while other startups later discover they have something that could be licensed as…
Read MoreIt usually takes a huge effort to get the attention of a big strategic partner and impress them enough to get a formal partnership. In fact, might have you read…
Read MoreMost startups desperately crave a partnership with a big, strategic player that could offer them significant leverage and credibility. Just think about the giants in your particular industry. That’s who…
Read MoreThe courtship almost always starts with the small company approaching the HQ of the big company they desire as a strategic partner. Usually, the big company is too distracted or…
Read MoreIt finally happened. You’ve been trying to get the attention of a huge prospective strategic partner and finally they gave you a chance to explain the value you can bring…
Read MoreYou have a product that is ideally suited for a channel-based distribution strategy. But every time you approach a prospective channel partner, they expect you to already have landed some…
Read MoreThanks to HubSpot for this valuable explanation of what co-marketing is and what some of the common forms are (article here). One of my blog categories is devoted to business development (BD). BD…
Read MoreThe term “business development” can mean a variety of things for a company, but the one that relates to securing strategic partnerships is the one related to this article. It…
Read MoreI recently heard Dr. Robert Wiltbank from Willamette University use this analogy and loved it so much I had to share it with others. Entrepreneurs are, by nature, very optimistic. …
Read MoreI love what a well-run business development function can do for a startup. But I also have a lot of pet peeves with it, having run the function for multiple…
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Use Storytelling to Describe the Problem You Solve
Typical Pitch Deck Flow (Topic Order)
How to Part Ways with a Co-Founder
Shakespeare – Cowards, Valiants & Death
Approached for Acquisition – Now What?
The 8 Personas of Successful Entrepreneurs – Which Are You?
Your Initial Business Plan is a Huge List of Assumptions
Major Milestones Along the Path to $100M Nikola Tesla – Foretelling a Wireless, Connected Future
Comparing the SAFE to Convertible Notes
Common Causes of a Messy Cap Table
Mastering the 30-Minute Meeting
Explaining the Land-and-Expand Sales Strategy
Startup Advisor & Board Compensation Guidelines
