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Minimize the MVP

Minimize the MVP Many founders brainstorm a grand vision for their product. While vision is a must have, realize you’ll need to start small. Raising too much funding early in the business will cost the founder unnecessary dilution. In building the MVP think minimum and not maximum. Keep the team to a minimum. Focus on […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 18

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin discusses the challenges of fundraising with guest Scott. Scott shares his struggles in closing deals for his startup, highlighting the common issues of finding a lead investor and facing shifting goalposts from potential investors. He explores the difficulties of meeting investor expectations regarding product development and […]

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What Is Product Management

What Is Product Management Product management drives the development, launch, and ongoing support of the product. Here’s a list of duties and responsibilities: Research the market and customers for the proposed product. Identify the customers’ key care abouts and pain points.  Size the potential market for the product.  Develop a position in the market for […]

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Product Roadmap

Product Roadmap The product roadmap lays out the vision of the product at a high level. It shows where the product is going and what must be done at each stage. It’s a visionary goal to share with potential investors and customers. In building your product roadmap consider the following: Each version of the product […]

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Product Management Tools

Product Management Tools Product management requires many skills and tasks to complete. There are tools that help accomplish these tasks. Here’s a list of tools to consider: User tracking and analysis – there is embedded software that tracks and analyzes user behavior.  This tells you what part of the product users spend the most time […]

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Product Management Skills

Product Management Skills Product management requires several skills to succeed. Here’s a list of skills to consider: Communication skills — the product manager communicates verbally and in writing with prospective users, customers, developers, and management. This comes in the form of planning the product, gathering feedback on the current version, and proposing next step features. […]

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Product Management in the Launch

Product Management in the Launch The product manager plays a key role in the launch of the product. Before the launch the product manager prepares sales and marketing. This includes product training, competition analysis, and website content. The goal of the launch is to establish an initial set of customers and grow the user base. […]

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What Is a Certified Fraud Examiner

What Is a Certified Fraud Examiner A certified fraud examiner (CFE) is a professional with credentials in fraud detection, deterrence, and prevention. A CFE performs fraud examinations and reviews compliance. They gather evidence, capture statements from the persons involved, generate reports, and testify to the findings.  They coordinate the investigation with the authorities and work […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 17

How to Raise Funding 17   In this episode, host Hall T. Martin engages with Sherry, a seasoned professional supporting startup fundraising efforts in Austin, Texas. Sherry shares her background working with Elemental Accelerator and Green Biz, shedding light on the startup scene in Hawaii. The discussion touches on the challenges and opportunities in smaller […]

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How To Recover From a Bad Investment

How To Recover From a Bad Investment If you invest long enough you’ll make a bad investment. Here are some causes for a bad investment: Overpaying for the startup through too high a valuation. Making a snap decision on just a few factors such as the team or the market. Failing to perform thorough due […]

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How To Manage Retaliation

How To Manage Retaliation Retaliation is when a manager takes adverse actions against a whistleblower. This could be in the form of termination, reduction in salary or loss of benefits. Retaliation laws make it illegal for a manager to retaliate against an employee who blew the whistle. This includes potential, current and past employees. Retaliation […]

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How To Keep Your Job After Whistleblowing

How To Keep Your Job After Whistleblowing Keeping your job after whistleblowing can be a challenge.  Consider these steps to protect yourself: Retain an attorney to advise on the legal ramifications. Keep notes about calls, meetings, actions, and any retaliations from managers. Keep a copy of your performance reviews, work policies and procedures. Capture evidence […]

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Best Practices for Whistleblowers

Best Practices for Whistleblowers Many people have become whistleblowers. Here’s a list of best practices based on their experience: Find a lawyer before you become a whistleblower. Choose one carefully after proper research and one that works on a contingency basis. Maintain anonymity throughout the case and for as long as possible. Gather as much […]

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Investor Connect: Malkiat Judge of Roots Funding Inc.

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Malkiat Judge, CEO and Founder of Roots Funding Inc., based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.   Malkiat Judge leads Roots Funding Inc with over 20 years of experience in the financial and technology industry. His team at Roots Funding offers financial services at RBC Wealth Management, utilizing cutting-edge […]

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What You Should Know About Whistleblowing

What You Should Know About Whistleblowing Whistleblowers provide information to the authorities to help stop fraud. Here’s what you need to know about whistleblowing: There are multiple laws around whistleblowing so you should know the relevant laws for your situation. Whistleblowers are portrayed as downtrodden outcasts by the media which is rarely the case in […]

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How To Report Fraud

How To Report Fraud Fraud sometimes arises in the startup world. Here’s how to report fraud should it happen to you. If you discover fraud don’t pay any more money into it. Collect the relevant information and documents. This includes names of the suspected perpetrators and their contact details. Any information indicating the suspected fraud. […]

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How Do Whistleblower Laws Protect You

How Do Whistleblower Laws Protect You Whistleblower laws protect those who report fraud, waste, and abuse to the authorities. Here’s a list of cases of protections provided to federal employees: Disclosures made to those engaging in bad acts. Employees motive for reporting the bad acts. Disclosures made while the employee was off duty. Disclosures made […]

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Filing a Complaint With the SEC

Filing a Complaint With the SEC The Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC oversees the securities industry in the US. Here’s a list of sources of fraud related to securities: Ponzi and pyramid schemes in which funds collected from one investor are paid to another investor with no actual investment. Theft or misappropriation of funds […]

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Claiming Whistleblower Status

Claiming Whistleblower Status There are three Whistleblower programs, False Claims, SEC Whistleblower, and IRS Whistleblower. One can file multiple claims under each of the programs. One must file within a time limit of the act of fraud which in most cases is 10 years. Some IRS and SEC claims require a filing within three years. […]

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Investor Connect: Gale Wilkinson of VITALIZE VC

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Gale Wilkinson, Managing Partner at VITALIZE Venture Capital located in Chicago, IL. VITALIZE is an early-stage VC firm founded in 2018 by Gale Wilkinson. Fund 1, with a total capital of $16.3M, is fully deployed with 26 portfolio companies, including notable names like The Mom Project, Elevate […]

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Team by Stage of Funding

Team by Stage of Funding At each stage of funding the startup will need a team to accomplish the goals. Here’s the team configuration at each stage: PreSeed – Founder and technical cofounder. The early-stage team needs someone building it and someone selling it. Seed — Founder and technical cofounder. The founder sells the product […]

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Success Rate by Stage of Funding

Success Rate by Stage of Funding The success rate of startups declines as one moves from seed to Series A and so forth. Success is defined as a successful exit for the investors through an acquisition of the company. Here’s the rate of success of startups at each stage of funding. Seed — 9% Series […]

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Primary Work by Stage of Funding

Primary Work by Stage of Funding At each stage of funding the startup team takes on a new set of tasks. Here’s the primary work at each stage: PreSeed — Define the market and identify the target customer. The early-stage team researches the market and talks with potential customers about product needs. Seed — Build […]

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Investors by Stage of Funding

Investors by Stage of Funding Each stage of funding brings a different set of investors. Here’s a list of investors to pursue by stage. Pre-Seed — Founders fund their initial startup research and market development. It’s too soon to take outside funding for what is not yet a formed business plan.  Seed — Family and […]

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Boards and Advisors by Stage of Funding

Boards and Advisors by Stage of Funding Each stage of funding brings a different set of advisors and board members. Here’s a list of advisors and board members to pursue by stage. Pre-Seed — Informal advisors and board members. They provide domain knowledge about target industries. Seed — Informal advisors and board members. They provide […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 16

In this episode, Hall T. Martin engages with Cheryl from Torgan to explore effective fundraising strategies for startups. Torgan, part of the Keiretsu program, specializes in investor relations and introductions, with a focus on the life sciences sector. Cheryl sheds light on Torgan’s unique approach to fundraising, emphasizing the increasing interest in the biotech and […]

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Financial Work by Stage of Funding

Financial Work by Stage of Funding Each stage of funding requires financial work to be done by the startup. Here’s a list of financial goals to consider for your startups fundraise: Pre-seed — identify locked value in a customer segment. The output of this stage is a target market that is ripe for disruption with […]

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Valuations by Stage of Funding

Valuations by Stage of Funding At each stage of funding there’s a valuation range for the startup. This changes over time with fluctuations in the market and by sector. Here’s a list of ranges to consider for your startups fundraise: Pre-seed — $50K to $100K The output of this stage is market research and an […]

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Fundraise Amount by Stage of Funding

Fundraise Amount by Stage of Funding At each stage of funding, there’s a standard amount to raise. Here are the fundraising amounts by stage: Pre-seed — $250K to $500K This funding sets up the business and launches the customer discovery and product development process. Seed — $500K to $1M This funding starts the MVP product […]

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Product Work by Stage of Funding

Product Work by Stage of Funding The founder works on the product throughout the life of the business. Here’s the product work to be done at each stage of funding: Pre-seed — research the market to identify the customer careabouts and product features. Check the competition for their positioning and what market positions are left […]

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Purpose of Family and Friends Funding

Purpose of Family and Friends Funding Family and friend funding is often used to start a business. Here are some key uses of funding at this stage: File the legal entity paperwork for an LLC, not a Delaware C corporation.  You can file for a Delaware C later if the business takes root. This gives […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 15

In this episode of Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding, Hall T. Martin explores the mission of Juggle Apps with founder John, tackling the pressing issue of social isolation. Juggle Apps aims to combat this challenge by fostering connections in a world influenced by social media and the effects of COVID-19. John discusses the bootstrap […]

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Stages of Funding for Startups

Stages of Funding for Startups Startups go through a series of stages from launch to growth to scale. Each stage brings funding to the startup that serves the needs of its stage. Here’s a list of stages for startup funding: Pre-seed — this funding helps develop an idea, research the market, and build a core […]

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What Is a Whistleblower?

What is a whistleblower? Internal fraud is often caught by an employee. The employee who sounds the alarm is called a whistle-blower. The whistleblower is someone who reports fraud to the authorities. Whistleblowers fear retaliation for outing a manager or other employee. Those who want protections for keeping their job or avoiding criminal charges must […]

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More Ways To Prevent Fraud in a Startup

More Ways To Prevent Fraud in a Startup There are several types of online fraud. Here is a list of attacks to watch out for: Bots — these automated tools can infect your website and emails with viruses. Denial of service attack — this disables your website by sending too many requests for service. Cross-site […]

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How To Avoid Fraud

How To Avoid Fraud Fraud can be costly to a startup. Take these steps to avoid fraud in your business. Separate accounting duties — have at least two people handling the accounting and separate their functions. Know your team — run background checks on new hires and know your business partners’ history and background.   Oftentimes […]

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Types of Financial Fraud

Types of Financial Fraud There are several types of financial fraud related to startups in the investment industry. Here’s a list to consider: Misrepresentations — fraudsters can lie about the value, risks, and costs of financial investments. This also includes misrepresenting the financial condition and omitting key facts. Regulatory violations — this includes securities law […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 14

In this Investor Connect episode, Hall T. Martin explores a medical device startup’s journey with Marcus, a visionary founder. Marcus, a medical school graduate, envisions a handheld device for diagnosing eye conditions, aiming to enhance at-home healthcare. The company, having validated demand, plans to kickstart production through a $300,000 Kickstarter campaign after a successful WeFunder […]

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External Sources of Fraud

External Sources of Fraud There are several sources of fraud from outside a business. External sources of fraud pretend to be someone you trust. They create a sense of urgency and then demand payments. Here’s a list of common sources of external fraud: Fake invoices — the invoices show services rendered for work that was […]

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Internal Sources of Fraud

Internal Sources of Fraud There are several sources of fraud within a business. Here’s a list of internal sources to review: Identity theft — the capture and selling of personal information for illegal uses. This is done by fraudsters capturing employee information through bank accounts and tax returns.  Asset misappropriation — this is basically theft. […]

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Red Flags Indicating Fraud

Red Flags Indicating Fraud Most fraud in businesses comes from employees and the management team. Here’s a list of employee red flags to watch for: Lifestyle changes show expensive new possessions such as new cars and homes. Substantial personal debt Addictions such as gambling or alcohol cause behavior change. Employees who don’t take vacation or […]

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What Is Fraud?

What Is Fraud? Fraud is officially defined as:  “The use of one’s occupation for personal enrichment through the deliberate misuse or misapplication of the employing organization’s resources or assets.” Fraud occurs in startups and small businesses and is usually through the action of a founder or employee. There are five elements of a fraud as […]

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How Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Work?

How Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Work? Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso — your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Chapter 13  bankruptcy reorganizes the debt and sets up a payment plan. The debtor can keep their house as long as they make the payments. The debtor has 3-5 […]

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Investor Connect: Ronan O’Hagan of Bectas Therapeutics Inc.

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin welcomes Ronan O’Hagan, President & CEO of Bectas Therapeutics Inc., a groundbreaking biotech company focused on revolutionizing precision oncology. Based in [City, State/Country], Bectas Therapeutics is committed to developing cancer therapies that target over 400,000 patients annually who do not benefit from the existing standard-of-care treatments. […]

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How Does Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Work?

How Does Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Work? Chapter 11  bankruptcy reorganizes the company and sets up a debt repayment plan. Here is how Chapter 11 works: It starts with filing a petition with the bankruptcy court. The debtor must file a list of assets and liabilities and a list of income and expenses. The debtor stays […]

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How Does Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Work?

How Does Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Work? Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidates the company. Here is how Chapter 7 works: When a company goes into Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, the bankruptcy trustee takes control of the company to liquidate the assets and pay the creditors. A Chapter 7 proceeding starts with a creditor filing a petition with […]

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What is Bankruptcy?

What is Bankruptcy? Business bankruptcy is meant to protect the personal assets of the owners of a firm. It gives your company a fresh start by relieving the business of debts. There are several types of bankruptcies. Consider these options for your business: Chapter 7 — Liquidation This shuts the business down and pays the […]

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Steps to Shutting Down a Startup

Steps to Shutting Down a Startup There are several steps to shutting down a startup. Here’s a list of key steps to follow: Pay what is owed to employees such as accrued vacation. Pay all providers such as contractors, software vendors, and others. Collect invoices from any outstanding accounts.  Notify all customers, partners, and vendors […]

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Preparing To Shut Down a Startup

Preparing To Shut Down a Startup Sometimes the startup you launched does not make it and must be shut down. In shutting down a startup take the following steps: Give an early warning signal to the employees. Let them know what is happening such as we’re raising additional funding. Give them a few month’s notice […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 13

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin engages in a lively discussion with a seasoned entrepreneur in the tech industry. We discuss the groundbreaking opportunity for a product: a system interpreting brain responses for diagnostic testing, initially designed for ALS patients. We share the challenges and triumphs in securing funding as the guest […]

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Shutting Down a Startup

Shutting Down a Startup Not all startups succeed. For those that don’t, there may come a time to shut it down. Here are some key points to consider in shutting down a startup: Before announcing the shutdown collect all accounts receivables. Sell any inventory left on hand. Notify investors first so they are aware. Notify […]

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Best Practices for Building a Company Culture

Best Practices for Building a Company Culture In building your company culture consider these best practices: Measure your company culture — review indicators that show how the company culture is performing such as employee engagement. Create rituals — establish activities you repeat consistently throughout the year to foster employee engagement and have fun. Storytelling — […]

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How To Foster Your Company Culture

How To Foster Your Company Culture A good company culture takes time and effort to build. Here are some steps to build out your company culture: Give outstanding benefits to the employees. Run team-building activities to encourage employee interactions.  Participate in community activities as a give-back. Promote wellness among employees and make it a part […]

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Signs of a Good Company Culture

Signs of a Good Company Culture Company culture is important for the success of a startup. Here are signs you have a good company culture: Employees feel they are respected and are treated with dignity. Leaders support the employees and help them succeed. Poor leaders are called out and removed from the organization. Leaders and […]

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How To Setup a Company Culture

How To Setup a Company Culture In building your company culture, realize you already have one for your startup. The initial hires have brought a culture to the company.  You can grow the company culture to a greater place. Consider these steps to grow and develop your company culture: Continue to hire people who share […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 12

Welcome to Investor Connect! I’m Hall T. Martin, and today we dive into the world of fundraising with a candid conversation between a startup founder and me. At Ten Capital, our expertise lies in investor relations, particularly in the thriving life sciences sector. Learn about our strategic approach, crafting impactful pitch materials, and targeted distribution […]

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Before Building Your Company Culture

Before Building Your Company Culture Before building your company culture consider the following: Know your purpose Search for why your company exists. Identify your values Understand the core values of the company and what the company stands for. Hire the right people. Choose people who bring value to the company and fit the culture. Establish […]

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Characteristics of a Good Company Culture

Characteristics of a Good Company Culture A good company culture will manifest itself in several ways. Look for these signs of a good culture: Stable workforce — the employees stay with the company a long time and there’s minimal turnover. Friendly atmosphere —  relationships among employees go beyond that of colleagues. Engagement — employees are […]

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The Startup Company Culture

The Startup Company Culture The startup company culture brings a unique set of characteristics. Here’s a list of qualities to consider: Passion — the company is based on a driving passion to solve a problem or pursue a cause. Startups exude passion and everyone strives to work towards it. Personality — each startup has its […]

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Types of Company Culture

Types of Company Culture There are several types of company cultures. Here is a list to consider in building out the culture at your startup: Clan culture — this puts the team first and places everyone on the same level. This promotes equality rather than hierarchy. Customer culture — this puts the customer first. This […]

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Components of Company Culture

Components of Company Culture There are several components to building a company culture. Consider these elements in building out the culture at your startup: Purpose — the purpose of the company is the foundational element. The purpose motivates employees and drives the group toward a common goal. Growth — the company culture should provide for […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 11

Welcome back to Investor Connect, and happy 2024! I’m Hall T. Martin, your host, and today we have two insightful segments lined up, exploring the practicalities and challenges startups encounter when seeking funds for their ventures. In the first part, we explore the dynamic startup scene in India. Our guest shares his mission to revolutionize […]

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The Importance of Company Culture

The Importance of Company Culture Company culture shows the values, decisions, and behaviors of the founders and employees in a company. It’s important for founders to actively build the company culture. This is done primarily through the people you hire and the decisions you make. Building the right culture will go a long way to […]

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What Is Company Culture?

What Is Company Culture? Company culture is the attitude and behavior of the employees and its leadership. This comes out in the form of decisions the company makes and the values the people hold. You can see it in how the employees act and work. In early-stage companies, the company culture is established by the […]

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Legal Issues Around Equity

Legal Issues Around Equity There are several legal issues surrounding equity to consider: You must have a legal entity to establish equity ownership. There are several types of legal structures including LLC, C-Corp, and more. The LLC is easy to set up and launch the business.  Delaware C-Corporation is the preferred legal structure by investors. […]

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Best Practices for Founders’ Equity

Best Practices for Founders’ Equity There are many decisions to be made with founder equity. Here are some best practices in handling those decisions.  The founder-co-founder split of equity can be anything except 50/50. A 50/50 split leaves no one in a position to make a final decision for the company. In splitting the equity […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 10

What it takes to turn a travel startup from zero income to a staggering $100,000 in just one year? In this episode of How to Raise Funding, Hall T. Martin, the host of Investor Connect, engages in a detailed discussion with a travel startup founder. They discuss the origin of the travel venture, the struggles […]

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Best Practices for Equity

Best Practices for Equity Equity is a key component of startup compensation for founders and employees. While cash may be king in the short term, equity will be worth more in the long run. Here are some best practices for founders to follow: Treat equity as the scarce commodity it is and deploy it strategically […]

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Equity Vesting

Equity Vesting Vesting is conveying the ownership of equity to the holder. Vesting schedules show the rate at which equity is vested over time. It is used to ensure founders and employees stay with the company till the proposed milestones are achieved. Investors will look for standard vesting schedules on all equity given to founders, […]

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Equity Dilution

Equity Dilution In the early days of the startup, the founders should raise only the amount of funding necessary to achieve the next milestone. The valuation of the company is low but will rise when adding products, revenue, and team members. Raising too much early on will cause the founders to suffer dilution. Pursue the […]

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Equity Distribution Over Funding Rounds

Equity Distribution Over Funding Rounds As the startup raises funding the founder’s and employees’ ownership stake will fall and the investor’s stake will rise.  This is due to the fact that more investors are added to the cap table over each round of funding. Both founders and employees undergo dilution throughout this process. After a […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 09

In this episode, we dive into the world of fundraising, exploring different strategies for securing funds. We also talk about Ten Capital, a specialized firm in investor relations, and introductions, with a notable track record in life science and tech investments. We unravel the nuances of 10 Capital’s flat fee structure and extensive investor network, […]

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Why Give Equity to Employees

Why Give Equity to Employees Employees are a key factor in the success of startups. Here’s a list of reasons why you should give equity to employees: Recruiting — the market is competitive, especially for quality candidates. A startup offering equity to employees will find it a competitive advantage over other companies. Retention — equity […]

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How To Give Equity to Employees

How To Give Equity to Employees Equity is an important compensation tool for employees. Startups that don’t provide equity must provide all compensation from the cash flow in the form of salaries and bonuses. This can be difficult on the finances of the business. Equity compensation doesn’t require any cash outlay. Consider these methods of […]

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Evaluating Employee Equity

Evaluating Employee Equity Employees joining a startup will often receive equity as part of the compensation package. Investors know that only one out of ten startups will generate an outsized return. The rest turn in a modest return or fail outright. Employees should consider these factors in evaluating equity compensation: What is the exit strategy […]

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Employee Equity

Employee Equity Equity compensation for employees varies greatly based on the location, type of startup, and job to be done. An overall allocation for employees is around 15% of the total equity. The first five hires receive 1% to 2% each. Later employees receive 0.25% to o.5% each. You can also apply a multiplier against […]

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Advisors Equity

Advisors Equity Startup advisors can help a startup establish the business and find the right track to grow. Some informal advisors help the business without any compensation. Some formal advisors help the business but require compensation. Advisors seeking compensation look for a small piece of equity. Most advisors are not paid cash in the very […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 08

Curious about the startup hustle?  Embark on a journey through the intricacies of startup funding and business strategy in the latest episode featuring Hall T. Martin. In this insightful dialogue with a seasoned guest, we unravel the challenges and triumphs of the startup ecosystem, ranging from crowdfunding endeavors to the profound impact of AI on […]

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Co-founders equity

Co-Founders Equity Running a startup requires a complete team. Someone is building it and someone is selling it.  In the early stages of a startup, the founder is doing one of these and the cofounder is doing the other. Founders should look for cofounders whose skill complements their own. Since there’s no revenue, equity is […]

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Types of Equity

Types of Equity There are several types of equity in a business. Here’s a list to consider when engaging a startup: Authorized shares — the maximum amount of shares the company can distribute. Outstanding shares — the number of shares actually distributed. This determines the current valuation of the company. Subscribed shares — the number […]

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Founders Equity

Founders Equity Founders of the startup receive equity to generate loyalty to the firm. Cofounders also receive equity. In splitting equity between the founder and cofounder, avoid the 50/50 split as this puts no one in a position to make final decisions. There are many tough choices to make in a startup and one founder […]

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Key Equity Terms

Key Equity Terms Equity represents the ownership stake in a startup. Here are some key terms to know about equity. Vesting — the transfer of equity ownership from the company to the employee.   A typical vesting schedule is four years. Each month a portion of the promised equity is vested which gives the employee ownership […]

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Startup Equity Basics

Startup Equity Basics Equity is an ownership stake in a company represented by shares. The three stakeholders are the founders, the employees, and the investors. Founders start with all the equity and then create and give shares to investors and employees in return for funding and labor. This additional equity reduces the value of the […]

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Investor Connect: Joy Schoffler of Distinctive Edge Partners

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Joy Schoffler, Founder and Principal at Distinctive Edge Partners. Located in Austin, Texas, United States. Distinctive Edge Partners is a full-service communications, marketing, and events management firm serving clients across the aerospace and defense industry. They specialize in pairing deep aerospace and defense expertise with creative and […]

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Brand Equity

Brand Equity Brand equity is the value that comes from customer recognition of the brand. Startups with brand equity command a higher price for the product and differentiate from the competition. Here are the key elements of brand equity: Brand recognition Customers recognize the visual identity of the brand and value it. This differentiates your […]

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Common Branding Mistakes

Common Branding Mistakes In developing the brand for your startup avoid these common mistakes: Spending too much on an agency. Most of the work comes from you, your team, and a graphics design professional. Take ownership of your brand building and outsource key elements of the project such as logo design. Designing a logo that […]

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Best Practices for Rebranding

Best Practices for Rebranding Most startups will at some point need to rebrand their business. In rebranding your startup consider these best practices: Just as you start with a minimum viable product so you can start with a minimum viable brand. This allows you to test out your brand to see what resonates with your […]

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When To Rebrand Your Startup

When To Rebrand Your Startup There are times when you need to rebrand your startup. Here’s a list of reasons: You’re attracting a larger customer base. You’re changing the target market to reach a new audience. You’re updating the brand to represent the current product offering. Your startup is merging with another company. Customers confuse […]

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How To Rebrand Your Startup

How To Rebrand Your Startup There are several reasons for rebranding your startup. A new name may be required due to trademark issues. You may need to differentiate the company from the competition. Before rebranding your startup, build a team to review the brand and create a new one.  In rebranding your startup there are […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 07

How to turn a startup idea into a multi-million dollar investment? Welcome to another episode of Investor Connect – How to Raise Funding Series, with Hall T. Martin. In this episode, we venture into the world of genuine connections, funding strategies, and the transformative power of AI in healthcare. If you’re a startup enthusiast or […]

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Why Rebrand Your Startup

Why Rebrand Your Startup There are times when a startup should rebrand itself. Here’s a list of good reasons: Your current brand no longer reflects the values and mission of your startup. Your startup changed position in the marketplace and the brand no longer matches the promise you made. Your startup has grown and is […]

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Managing Your Brand

Managing Your Brand Once you have established your brand it’s important to manage it ongoing. Here are some key steps to consider in managing your brand: Assign a team member to manage the process. Budget resources for managing the brand. Review how well the brand is doing in recognition, awareness, and positioning. Discuss the brand […]

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Key Elements of a Brand

Key Elements of a Brand A strong brand that resonates with the audience has several key elements. Here’s a list of elements to build into your brand: Authenticity: Customers look for brands that are trustworthy in that they deliver on the promise. Decide what promise you make and stick to it. Distinctiveness: Your brand cannot […]

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Steps to Building Your Brand

Steps to Building Your Brand In building a brand from scratch follow these steps: Start with purpose. Identify the reason behind the company and why it exists. Research the competition. Find out what other companies are doing to avoid duplicate messaging. Identify the target customer. Get specific about who you want to reach. Choose a […]

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Best Practices for Creating a Brand

Best Practices for Creating a Brand In crafting your brand consider these best practices: Research your competition to see what type of branding they use. This gives you an idea of what customers are seeing now and what may be an opportunity to do something different. Identify the buyer persona you serve. This tells you […]

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Investor Connect: How to Raise Funding 06

Welcome to another episode of Investor Connect: How to raise funding series, with Hall T. Martin. In this in-depth conversation, a tech startup founder details their journey from an idea to a flourishing business. They share their experience of raising capital, tackling market research, overcoming challenges, and reaching a revenue of close to $200K. Along […]

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Types of Branding

Types of Branding There are several types of branding strategies. Here’s a list to consider for your startup: Company name — this strategy builds the brand around the name of the company. High-end products and luxury brands often use this strategy. Individual products — this strategy builds a brand around key products in addition to […]

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Brand Metrics

Brand Metrics After launching your brand, track the performance with metrics. Here are some key metrics to consider: Awareness — use surveys to gauge how many people are aware of the brand. Associations — see what key attributes people associate with it. Linkage — see how many people associate your brand with a characteristic unaided. […]

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Branding Positioning Statement

Branding Positioning Statement A brand positioning statement describes your product, what it does, and how it’s different from your competitors. In crafting your brand positioning statement consider the following: Start with your ideal customer and address their needs. Contrast your solution with products currently available. Give your solution a product name. Identify the key value […]

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Branding Positioning

Branding Positioning Brand positioning is the place your brand holds in the customer’s mind. It should associate your brand with a positive experience. Here are some key strategies to consider for building your brand positioning: Quality — this showcases the quality of your product.   Use customer success stories, a long history in the business, and […]

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