Espresso Archives - Investor Connect https://investorconnect.org/tag/espresso/ Where Investors Come Together Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:21:16 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://investorconnect.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/cropped-Investor-Connect-Favicon-32x32.png Espresso Archives - Investor Connect https://investorconnect.org/tag/espresso/ 32 32 Challenges of the Venture Studio Model https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-challenges-of-the-venture-studio-model/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-challenges-of-the-venture-studio-model/#respond Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-challenges-of-the-venture-studio-model/ The Venture Studio model is a form of venture capitalism that brings numerous startups together and fosters their growth through shared resources and learning. Not all startups make it. The Venture Studio model takes the best of each failed startup and finds a place within a successful startup in the...

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]]> https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-challenges-of-the-venture-studio-model/feed/ 0 Building Advocates for Your Fundraise https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-building-advocates-for-your-fundraise/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-building-advocates-for-your-fundraise/#respond Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-building-advocates-for-your-fundraise/ In raising funding, it’s best to have a network of accredited investors to pursue. For those who do not, one can start building that network. Figure out where the angel investors in your area hang out. Find out what they read, listen to, and talk about. Based on this information,...

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]]> https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-building-advocates-for-your-fundraise/feed/ 0 The Risks in Family and Friends Funding https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-the-risks-in-family-and-friends-funding/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-the-risks-in-family-and-friends-funding/#respond Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-the-risks-in-family-and-friends-funding/ Raising investment from family and friends is often a key step in a startup’s fundraise. In the early days, there’s no team, product, or customer traction. The founder has only an idea but lots of enthusiasm. It’s a sign of validation that a founder’s family and friends will invest money....

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]]> https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-the-risks-in-family-and-friends-funding/feed/ 0 The Go-to-Market Slide https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-the-go-to-market-slide/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-the-go-to-market-slide/#respond Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-the-go-to-market-slide/ The Go-to-Market slide is important for seed-stage companies pitching for funding. It shows how the startup will enter the market.  Consider setting up an initial target market. List the top twenty customers who will buy your product and gather them into a group called the beachhead market. This shows a...

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]]> https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-the-go-to-market-slide/feed/ 0 Alternatives to an MVP https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-alternatives-to-an-mvp/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-alternatives-to-an-mvp/#respond Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-alternatives-to-an-mvp/ Building a full-blown product is unwise at the early stage, as the startup will inevitably build the wrong thing. It’s best to test the market first.  Minimum viable products or MVPs are a better solution than a product, as it’s cheaper and easier to do. The goal of the MVP...

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]]> https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-alternatives-to-an-mvp/feed/ 0 Customer Intimacy in Fundraising https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-customer-intimacy-in-fundraising/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-customer-intimacy-in-fundraising/#respond Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-customer-intimacy-in-fundraising/ Customer intimacy is a strategy in which one builds a relationship with the customer about their care abouts and expectations. The more one knows about the customer, the better one is able to support and meet their needs. In fundraising, customer intimacy can be a compelling value proposition for the...

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]]> https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-customer-intimacy-in-fundraising/feed/ 0 Founders Who Got Lucky https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-founders-who-got-lucky/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-founders-who-got-lucky/#respond Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-founders-who-got-lucky/ Some founders get lucky and achieve a successful exit of their business. They were in the right place at the right time with the right solution. Investors should be wary of founders who got lucky. Their luck may have come early in the life of the startup. It’s often the...

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]]> https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-founders-who-got-lucky/feed/ 0 Your First Round Should Have an Investor-Friendly Valuation https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-your-first-round-should-have-an-investor-friendly-valuation/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-your-first-round-should-have-an-investor-friendly-valuation/#respond Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-your-first-round-should-have-an-investor-friendly-valuation/ In raising funding, the first round is always the hardest. Here’s why it’s so difficult: There’s often no product or revenue to prove traction. The team, in most cases, is unproven. The market is not yet well defined. The ideal target customer has not yet been identified. How the business...

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]]> https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-your-first-round-should-have-an-investor-friendly-valuation/feed/ 0 Mitigate the Risks https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-mitigate-the-risks/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-mitigate-the-risks/#respond Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-mitigate-the-risks/ In a pitch, founders focus on the opportunity while the investors focus on the risk. Founders who raise funding have successfully shown how they mitigate those risks. Here are some key risks to mitigate: Team risks — show how the team works well together. Cite a substantial project the team...

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]]> https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-mitigate-the-risks/feed/ 0 Keys to a Successful Preseed Fundraise https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-keys-to-a-successful-preseed-fundraise/ https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-keys-to-a-successful-preseed-fundraise/#respond Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://investorconnect.org/startup-funding-espresso-keys-to-a-successful-preseed-fundraise/ Raising pre-seed funding is one of the bigger challenges in startup fundraising. This round comes at the idea stage, so there are no metrics around traction or product-market fit. Here are the keys to a successful pre-seed round. The current team must have strong experience in the domain and a...

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