Feel the Boot

How to create an angel investment portfolio for maximum returns.Learn what drives the returns for your angel investments. Read this as an article: https://ftb.bz/92BWatch the Video: https://ftb.bz/92VSubscribe to BootPrints: https://ftb.bz/JoinAngel Investing 101 series: https://ftb.bz/angel  In episode, I delve into the economics of angel investing, emphasizing the need for a significant number of investments to increase the chances of success. Research shows that most angel investments result in losses or minimal returns, but a small percentage can yield substantial profits. To improve the likelihood of hitting those winners, you should make at least 20 angel investments. Diversification across different sectors is also crucial to mitigate risks associated with market fluctuations and sector-specific downturns. I then discuss the importance of planning an investment budget. Startups typically prefer pre-seed investments of at least $25,000 to avoid numerous small investments on their cap table. For investors with smaller check sizes, you might explore options like crowdfunding or syndicates. Syndicates involve a lead investor selecting an investment, while crowdfunding platforms allow for lower minimum investment requirements, enabling diversification through multiple smaller investments.

Non-monetary Startup Rewards and Recognitions.Eight employee incentives that work better than cash.  In this episode of "Feel the Boot: The Science of Startups," I, discuss seven highly effective motivators and rewards for employees that founders can use to attract and retain top talent. These motivators include having a strong vision, giving employees equity, providing public recognition, delegation and employee empowerment, giving personal attention, tailoring rewards to the individual, and unique “wow” rewards. I emphasize the importance of understanding what motivates individual employees, as what works for one may not work for another. I share two examples of "wow rewards" that have had a significant impact on employees, such as handmade plaques and giving solid gold coins to employees who have put in a "gold medal performance." Access all my content on Running your Startup https://ftb.bz/running Get this content at an article https://ftb.bz/91BWatch the Video https://ftb.bz/91V Sign up for advising https://ftb.bz/advising

How to quickly eliminate the losers,and identify companies worthy of further due diligence. As an angel investor, you will need to look at many startups.This guide provides a framework for quickly analyzing deals to see if digging deeper is worth your time. This is part of a series on Angel Investing https://ftb.bz/AngelSubscribe to Boot Prints and access office hours https://ftb.bz/joinLearn about advising from Feel the Boot https://ftb.bz/advisingWatch the Video https://ftb.bz/90VRead as an article https://ftb.bz/90B Make a Quick First CutIs the Company Angel Investable?CompetitionValuationProblem/Solution ValidationBusiness EconomicsDefensibilityIntellectual PropertyNeed for Additional FundingWhat is There?ChurnAssumption ValidationIs This Possible?(bonus) Team

Non-Dilutive Fundraising 💰 SBIR Grants for InnovationGet cash for your startup without giving up ownership.Government grants can fund your development from idea to MVP and beyond. Read the transcript: https://ftb.bz/89BWatch the Video: https://ftb.bz/89V Subscribe to Boot Prints: https://ftb.bz/JoinGet FTB Merch: https://ftb.bz/merchJoin the Founders Alliance: https://ftb.bz/Alliance  In this interview, Caroline Arzoo, Director of Partnerships at OmniSync, and I discusses the different options for funding a startup. She emphasizes that federal grants and contracts can be a great alternative to conventional angel and VC investment. However, she notes that the application process can be difficult, with over 80% of people who apply for federal funding on their own getting rejected for non-compliance. To help founders access non-dilutive funding, OmniSync has created an AI-powered platform that simplifies the process of finding and applying for federal funding. In addition to federal grants and contracts, Caroline also suggests considering crowdfunding and pitch competitions as creative funding avenues.  She highlights the importance of community, transparency, and being open to change in order to navigate the complexities of growing a startup. We also also touch on the emotional toll of the founder journey and the importance of building a support system. Caroline Arzoo Bio:Caroline Arzoo is a passionate advocate of innovation, supporting early-stage founders through her community-building work at OmniSync Inc and as a mentor for Founder Institute. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara’s Technology Management program, Caroline has supported hundreds of early-stage startups in accessing non-dilutive capital from the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. In addition to her work supporting founders, Caroline also works to empower and build innovation ecosystems, partnering with universities, small business development centers, accelerators, and more to support their entrepreneurial initiatives. Find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinearzoo/ Check out OmniSync’s grant application tools at https://www.turbosbir.com/

Your earliest investors are probably unsophisticated.You must help them understand how startup investing works. When you are at the idea stage, almost no angel or VC investors will back you, but people who know and care about you might.Unfortunately, this is usually all new and very confusing to them.You must ensure they understand what they are doing and paint a realistic picture of the possible outcomes.This video is for you, the founder. It explains your options for structuring the deal and how to communicate with them about this opportunity.I created another video to share with your potential investors that tells them what they need to know. https://ftb.bz/friends-and-family-explainer Read this as a blog: https://ftb.bz/88BWatch the video: https://ftb.bz/88V

💸Get Angel Investor Dealflow You need to look at a lot of startups to find good investmentsLearn several ways to uncover quality startups  Our Angel Investing 101 series teaches new Angel Investors how to invest in startups.This episode focuses on Angel Investor dealflow. You need to source a lot of potential deals to identify those few worthy of investment. Where to list yourself as an angel investors:https://LinkedIn.com/ https://signal.nfx.com/https://www.angellist.com/https://www.crunchbase.com/hub/angel-investors Syndicate sites:https://AngelList.com https://TheSyndicate.com Crowd Funding Sites:https://Wefunder.comhttps://Republic.comhttps://Seedinvest.comhttps://Fundable.comhttps://StartEngine.comhttps://MicroVentures.com Read the blog version: https://ftb.bz/87BWatch the video: https://ftb.bz/87V Get access to Boot Prints & Office Hours: https://ftb.bz/JoinFeel the Boot Merch: https://ftb.bz/Merch

Who decides what between the board and shareholders?How to handle the BoD and Shareholder meetings as a founder. Read the blog: https://ftb.bz/86BWatch the Video: https://ftb.bz/86V Get access to office hours and Boot Prints: https://ftb.bz/Join In this episode, I explain the board of directors and shareholders roles and responsibilities.Some votes require both groups to approve. Others are specific to the BoD or shareholders.Running shareholder and board meetings as a startup is easier than you think.Having those meetings is essential, even if you are the only participant!

VCs destroy more startups than they make unicornsLearn how to identify and avoid that trap The reason is the “marginal dollar problem”Understanding that will help you choose whether to accept venture capital investment with open eyes. Read the blog: https://ftb.bz/85BWatch the video: https://ftb.bz/85V Join Boot Prints for access to free office hours: https://ftb.bz/JoinMeet other founders in the Founders Alliance: https://ftb.bz/Alliance

How to Start Angel Investing 💰What you need to know to start investing in early-stage startup companiesBest practices for new angel investors This is the second in a series of videos on angel investing.It explains the best way to begin as a new angel investor, and some critical pitfalls to avoid. Read the blog: https://ftb.bz/84BWatch the Video https://ftb.bz/84V  Subscribe to Boot Prints https://ftb.bz/joinHere’s the episode on dangerous investment terms https://youtu.be/LCCXSS2ubn8Merch! https://ftb.bz/merch

Angel Investing 101 💰What is angel investing?How to invest in pre-IPO companies Angel investors put their own money into early-stage startup companies.This is the first in a series of episodes on becoming an effective angel investor / venture capitalist Read the article: https://ftb.bz/83BWatch the Video: https://ftb.bz/83VSignup for the mailing list and office hours: https://ftb.bz/join