Thanks for the article, and putting on a workshop on fundraising. Regarding the workshop -- it seems like the application's only substantial question is "what business metrics do you have to support your beliefs?"
Do you believe there are quality businesses out there who can, should, and will be able to raise an A that don't have obvious metrics? It seems like that sort of question only applies to website- or app-centric companies that have obvious and easily-anagrammable metrics (ARPUs, CAC, churn, etc).
It's my feeling that some of the best, most disruptive companies won't have those metrics if they're operating in another space. (Though I have my bias; my company is one of those, at the moment.)
I fear that spreadsheet-driven investing tends to overfund incremental companies, but won't make the foundational investments required to build new platforms. But again, that's my bias.
Sure - if you want to raise from US investors you will probably need to be a DE-company (outside of exceptional circumstances). In any case I am happy to help, just enter your info into the form here: https://atriumllp.typeform.com/to/uTAYKJ
Formal business plans (at least for internet or saas companies) are wildly over-rated and increasingly unnecessary.
They may provide more value in other industries (I have no/limited experience outside of internet/software).
Prototyping is so easy, quick, and inexpensive.
Why spend a week or two on a business plan when you can spend a week putting up a landing page, driving some ads at it, and then definitively get some data points on, "do people want what I'm about to do?"
Thanks for the article, and putting on a workshop on fundraising. Regarding the workshop -- it seems like the application's only substantial question is "what business metrics do you have to support your beliefs?"
Do you believe there are quality businesses out there who can, should, and will be able to raise an A that don't have obvious metrics? It seems like that sort of question only applies to website- or app-centric companies that have obvious and easily-anagrammable metrics (ARPUs, CAC, churn, etc).
It's my feeling that some of the best, most disruptive companies won't have those metrics if they're operating in another space. (Though I have my bias; my company is one of those, at the moment.)
I fear that spreadsheet-driven investing tends to overfund incremental companies, but won't make the foundational investments required to build new platforms. But again, that's my bias.
Curious for your thoughts -- thanks!