Highlights for Entrepreneurs (03/07/24)

I'm writing this from?the?outskirts of?Ithaca,?NY as I settle in for a visit with my daughter after a short tour of my old NJ haunts and buddies (sorry for any attitude in this edition!). I also finally met my U of Delaware mentee?in person after 3 years of zoom calls. PLUS, I finally got to see Big Big Train in person; here's one of the songs they played:?Apollo by Big Big Train live at The Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands, September 2022?Modern prog at its best!

And...important public service announcement - Daylight Saving Time starts this weekend:

- Don't start with sleep debt.?Get in the habit of sleeping 7-9 hours every night.?

- Start going to bed 15-20 minutes earlier?every day leading up to Sunday.?

- Expose yourself to bright light?upon waking and minimize exposure before bed to reset your internal clock.?

I know that you are very busy, but I hope you enjoy the curated information and the?music selections?in the newsletter.?Get in touch if you have any feedback,?sources or other interested?readers - feel free to forward!??If you hear of any?upcoming events, please pass them along too! If the links speak to you, consider subscribing to the source! If you find a link particularly interesting, let me know so I can look for more like it.

Have a great week,?be safe and healthy...?and take some time to care for yourself!?Here are this?week's resources for you to check out.?

Paul?

1)?Founder Institute: How to Tackle the Gender Gap in Funding: Facts & Initiatives from Investors (Webcast Mar 11)

-??This event delves into the pressing issue of gender disparity in funding and explores actionable initiatives to create a more equitable future. Don't miss out on this fireside chat where you can also network with interesting startup founders, investors, and mentors.

2)?Founders Network: 2024 Startup Fundraising Trends with Carta’s Peter Walker (Webcast Mar 12)

-?Join us for an insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of startup fundraising in 2024 with Carta’s resident expert. Peter will provide founders and investors with insight into the current challenges and opportunities in startup fundraising.

Founders Network: Mastering Startup Finances: A Roadmap to Growth with Alyona Mysko (Webcast Mar 19)

- Alyona Mysko is the CEO and Founder of Fuelfinance, a cloud-based financial services provider. Fuelfinance is a financial planning and analysis solution that allows startups to easily manage their finances and focus on growth

3)?Venice Tech Happy Hour (In Person Venice Mar 20 $$)

- Another LA Tech Happy Hour event on Abbot Kinney. Come enjoy the sunset from the rooftop overlooking Abbot Kinney, and mingle by the bar on the patio.

4)?Access Silicon Valley: Startup Fundamentals #2/3: Developing A Funding Strategy (Webcast Mar 20)

- In this second workshop of the Startup Fundamentals series, Roger Rappoport, a former entrepreneur and currently a partner and the leader of the Emerging Growth & Venture Capital Practice Group at Procopio, an AMLAW 200 law firm in Silicon Valley, will conduct an interactive, informative session with great takeaway materials and actionable items, with in depth content on how successful Silicon Valley startups develop and implement successful funding strategies, securing funding from angel, seed and VC investors.

5)?Plug-in Ventures: Equity, Capitalization, and Fundraising Insights Featuring Carta (Zoom Mar 21 - Registration Approval Required)

- An interactive session where members of the Carta team will delve into crucial insights, empowering you to navigate the complex landscape of startup finance and elevate your company's financial strategy to new heights

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6)?Women Founders Network: Trailblazing Women Investors (In Person Santa Monica Mar 26 $$)

- Join us for an insightful panel discussion that addresses startup fundraising:?Ashley Balla, Halogen Ventures; La Keisha Landrum Pierre, Emmeline Ventures;?Debra Fine, Investor; Moderator:?Laurel Mintz, CEO and Founder, Elevate My Brand and General Partner, Fabric VC.

Women Founders Network: WFN Next Generation Investors Program (Applications due through April 30)

- The mission of Next Generation Investors is to raise awareness, inspire and prepare the next generation of women venture capitalists and investors through education and real-life experiences. There are applications for two different programs at the link

7)?Sequoia: How Startups Build Investor Confidence with a Smart Total Rewards Strategy (Webcast Mar 26)

- They’ll walk you through the key factors for startups when developing a successful total rewards strategy and ?getting the most out of your people investment is more critical than ever

8)?L.A. Tech Events: Pitch Purpose (In Person Los Angeles Apr 3 $$)

- "This experience will feature impactful founder pitches and expert feedback and Q&A from a panel of active angel and VC investors. An evening that celebrates the spirit of innovation, impact, and the limitless possibilities that arise when visionary investors and passionate founders come together."

9)?Pepperdine: Most Fundable Companies (Applications due May 21 - early notice!)

- "Our goal is to bridge the gap to get startup companies funded. Are you an early-stage U.S. company seeking private capital? Does your business generate between $0 and $10 million in annual revenue?"

10)?Hustle Fund: How to write a good business email | Ep 37 | Uncapped Notes (Video)

- An older video from the Hustle Fund series for founders: ?On this episode of Uncapped Notes, Eric and Janel take a bite of the “call to action sandwich” and show us what makes a bad business email, and how you can make your business emails better.

11)?Saas Barometer: SaaS Performance Metrics Framework (Article)

- This edition focuses on?5 Pillars of Enterprise Value for a SaaS Company and the Primary Metrics per Pillar of Enterprise Value

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12)?Founders Network: Ultimate Guide to Startup Idea Validation: Test, Learn, and Launch with Confidence (Article)?

- Startup idea validation is a critical process in the entrepreneurial journey that involves assessing the feasibility and potential success of your business concept before investing heavily in development.

13)?Chris Neumann: WHY DO SOLO FOUNDERS MAKE VCS NERVOUS? (Article)?

- If you're considering?going it alone, here are some of the pitfalls you may face, besides missing out on all you gain from having "partners" along

14)?Saastr: What Venture Capitalists Look For in Leaders: Tips from a Founder-Turned VC with Ridge Ventures (Article / Video)

-?As a founder, you may wonder what venture capitalists are looking for these days.?So what drives that decision? Let’s find out with Akriti Dokania, Partner at Ridge Ventures

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15)?Crunchbase: The Anna Karenina Principle For Tech (Or, How To Cultivate A ‘Happy Family’ For Your Startup) (Article)

- Specifically, make sure that your co-founding team are all on the same page, especially on an investor call!?

Musical Diversions:

Jesse Colin Young - Ridgetop

Flashback of the week

A Circle Of Friends: Youth Was Never Wasted On The Young

Jesse Dayton - Night Brain

I loved how this went from a slow blues to a real rocker

Britti - Nothing Compares To You

Not the Prince/Sinead song

Kendra Morris - Fine Right Here [LIVE AT PORTAGE LOUNGE]

This Week's Cover:

Maren Morris - Dancing with Myself

Maren dropping the country for Billy Idol

___________________

Paul G. Shapiro, CPA

Startup Consultant

Santa Monica, CA

#StartupLeadership?#startupadvice?#startupfunding??#vcfunding?#Startups?#StartupEquity