Every investment committee in the world is looking at each opportunity with the thought process of 'How can I de-risk this investment as much as possible?' If you're a business considering a fundraiser for your current venture, you need to apply that mindset and look at your own business through their eyes.
Invisible barriers to organizational growth are those critical challenges that do not appear in investment decks, annual strategies, or balance sheets but are nonetheless pivotal to your company's development. These barriers include shifts from product orientation to commercialization, transitions in company culture and strategy, and the evolution from founder-led sales to scalable models...
Often marketing for companies that are trying to grow and particularly grow fast can be a bit like a cork bobbing in the ocean. While your efforts may appear active and productive, they lack direction and efficiency. This is why it's extremely important to base your marketing on a rigorous, research-based strategy...
Hiring brilliant minds to bring fresh, disruptive ideas is always beneficial - or is it? While this approach might work for large corporations with substantial balance sheets, it presents a significant risk for startups where every day counts against their runway. That means you need to be super judicious about what people can reinvent and what not...
Be careful when importing culture by making sure new hires fit your identity and don't import their own cultures from other businesses. That massively de-risks your growth and prevents you from falling down the inertia trap.
While large multinational companies may struggle for market share during economically tough times, small to medium enterprises and startups have a unique advantage. The macroeconomic climate should not be seen as an impediment but rather as an opportunity to capitalize on unmet needs, particularly against larger incumbents who may be slow to adapt...
'Lions' in the business world are visible, ambitious, and straightforward in their intentions, making them easier to approach in sales negotiations. In contrast, 'crocodiles' are the more covert, behind-the-scenes stakeholders who can unexpectedly derail deals if their territory (such as job security or position within the company) feels threatened...
