—Brandon Clarke of StartupAZ Foundation and CRADL I did stand-up comedy for eighteen years. Ten of those years were spent learning, four years were spent refining, and four were spent in wild success. ~ Steve Martin, Born Standing Up Where are you in your journey? I started my first company with no preconceived notion of being an […]
Four Key Considerations for Your Investor Pitch — Michael Toney, Founder – Conquest Training Systems, Inc As I have coached entrepreneurs in preparing for presenting their concepts and companies to investors in order to try to raise capital, I’ve seen time and again that they all suffer from the same disease. They want to share too […]
—by Chuck McLane at CBIZ MHM, LLC As you grow your business, new opportunities and risks may emerge. You need to be aware of key areas that any investor will want to examine before they put money into your organization. An experienced business advisor can help you maximize your benefits and minimize the liabilities. They can […]
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 […]
On behalf of Invest Southwest, thank you, Tom Curzon, for your leadership and service on the Board of Directors from 2007-2016. Tom’s contributions have fostered the entire Arizona startup ecosystem. Tom is a martial arts master, so he brings that discernment to the table. He has been the connective-tissue on the Board and is well known for his leadership and promoting […]
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 […]
The strength of your startup team and the magnitude of your startup opportunity are major factors in determining your startup success. When starting up your business, getting together the right players is a must. It starts with the coach. Your CEO must have leadership skills to inspire the right action at the right time with […]
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 […]