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OUR BLOG
The Era of the Apex Predator
Just like in the animal world, enterprises stand at one step of their industry “food chain”, at the top of which industry giants dominate. In the broad ecosystem of any industry, enterprises compete against their peers and prey upon weaker ones when they can extract an advantage from it.
Adapt or Perish
Venture capital firms, particularly those with non-stellar returns, experience hard times to raise financing for their upcoming funds. First tier VCs who until 2021 were pouring loads of cash on startups are holding their hoard of money close to their chest.
Budgeting Process in a Startup
Startups, from growth startups down to early-stage startups have to assess and quantify the steps required to accomplish their goals in the period to come.
The Revenge of Discipline
Whatever changes are being precipitated in the economy in quarters to come, no startup entrepreneur must remain indifferent.
Startup Entrepreneurs as Investors
This blog, unlike other J&M blogs, is written in reaction to a piece of news that circulated in Europe last week among the startup investment community, the foundation of Plural, a €250 million fund and investment platform.
Mergers & Acquisition Exit
I would advise that entrepreneurs cut any link with their previous enterprise after the transaction, even as a consultant to the new owner. For the company, for the new owner and for the ex-entrepreneur, a clean slate frees each party of discomfort and emotion.
The Morphing of Venture Capital
From a few hundred firms at the dawn of the digital economy, managing less than $15 billion, to a broad community of more than 5,000 firms and approximately $1.8 trillion under management.
The Tradeoff Between Growth and Profitability
Good planning avoids many costly pitfalls. Throwing money at an issue is never a path to success.
Stating the obvious as a sanity check. Why not?
Now that the crazy 2021 year is over, it is a good time to remind yourself of the basics. All non-IT, non-biotech startup entrepreneurs must keep in mind what the survival kit contains.
All IPOS are not equal
There is no parallel to the wealth a well-run public company can generate: no sale to a large corporation will ever achieve a similar feast.
Startups, Beware! Cybersecurity cannot be ignored
In general, most startups are vulnerable, as unequipped to protect themselves against experienced hackers.
Execution, Execution, Execution
Just like the three components of real estate value are location, location, location, the three pillars of a startup value are execution, execution, execution.
Financial Projections
When tempted to pursue a business idea, common sense calls for more than sheer faith, and evaluating whether a venture based on this idea can survive is an exercise worth its while.
The Value of Time
Time is an important factor of production at the same level as labor and capital. Contrary to appearances, time is as scarce as talent and capital. It is so scarce that no one can measure the present.
Measuring the CEO Performance
It is not a waste of time. A good, genuine approach to the evaluation and an open dialogue between the parties make wonders to lead startups to a growing success.
Overlooking Talent Through Hiring Standardization
In the last twenty-five years, online recruiting platforms have mushroomed. All businesses with ongoing recruiting needs are using at least one platform to attempt to automate and standardize the recruiting process.
Serial Entrepreneurs: The Delusion of a High Probability of Repetitive Success?
Serial entrepreneurs have been around for centuries, yet when observing how many times they are mentioned in the media dealing with technology businesses, one would believe it is a phenomenon that emerged some thirty years ago only.
Deep Tech Startups and freedom to operate
More than other startups, their differentiation is founded on the result of research and development that must imperatively yield a highly valuable intellectual property as the basis for their sustainable business.
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPAC)
For entrepreneurs and major private investors in a technology company, it represents an alternative to the traditional IPO, with the same achievement, i.e., listing the company on a stock exchange, and making its stock tradable and liquid.
Consultants and Startups
It is important that startups follow a reasonable process to hire the right consultant. Ultimately, it saves management time and money. Selecting a consultant who best fits the mission is not an easy task.
Building Your Board
High-tech startup entrepreneurs with an ambitious goal are bound to move quickly from the individual enterprise or the LLC structure created with their co-founders to that of a stock company with a required governance structure, as they invite investors to fund their business.
The Temptation to Contract Debt
Is your startup cash-strapped? To pursue your plan and keep growing, you need to find ways to finance the acquisition of assets, fixed and current. Considering debt as the solution? Maybe you should. But also, maybe not.
Incentivizing Technology Startup Team Members
Having the right team is where a tech startup can have a competitive edge. Incentivizing team members is the main tool of this strategy.
Unicorns: the end of the Momentum?
Today (March 2020) there are more than 620 unicorns worldwide, whose aggregate value on paper surpasses $1.8 trillion.
Accepting Strategic Investors: Pros and Cons
Getting your startup off the ground is never as easy as anticipated.
Timing Exits: Entrepreneur's Exit and Investors Exit
Startup entrepreneurs as well as startup investors generally do not spend a lifetime in the same startup.
A Business Plan, What For?
Startup business plans became a necessity about fifty years ago. They have proliferated ever since.
Your business model is more important than your technology
Too little time is dedicated to crafting a good, differentiated business model in tech startups. The obsession for the product seems to leave no time for it.
The difficult alignment of interests between entrepreneurs and investors
Each side needs the other one to be successful, and a clear understanding of expectations is the rule.
Customer Retention, The best way to free cash and fund growth
Our focus at J&M Lab is B2B startups. Churn in B2B is an order of magnitude lower than in B2C. It is not a linear phenomenon.