Written by: Paul Jones

Originally posted on: www.venturebest.com on May 6, 2013

Many high impact entrepreneurs have out-sized personalities. They combine a big ego with incredible creativity, drive and energy. Pretty much all of them that I have known have had at least one serious personality… quirk. That said, there are quirks and there are flaws, the latter being defined, for my purposes here, as traits that rub most venture capital investors the wrong way. Herewith, some of the entrepreneur archetypes most venture investors try to steer clear of.

The Defensive Entrepreneur: Defensive entrepreneurs take everything personally. When an investor asks them a probing question, they assume they are being asked to justify their existence. And that tells the investor tha...Read More

By: Paul Jones

Originally posted on: www.venturebest.com May 2, 2013

In Part 1 of this post, I focused on issues entrepreneurs and angels should think about as a seed deal comes together. Today, I want to focus on how angels can engage with entrepreneurs after the money changes hands.

Foremost among post-closing advice for angel investors is this: never forget that as an angel investor, you are a coach, not an athlete. Many angel investors have been successful entrepreneurs themselves and one of the “value adds” that these angels can bring to a startup is the benefit of their own entrepreneurial and management experience. But good angels understand that their role is to give counsel, not orders. Few things make for a more unhappy and usually dysfunctional angel/entrepreneur relationship than an angel who thinks he is, or should be, making decisions rather than offering advice and counsel.

Good angels also remember that the business plan they invested in will likely change quite a bit, and often within months, ...Read More

Written by: Paul Jones

Originally posted on: www.venturebest.com April 30, 2013

UW-Oshkosh’s AeroInnovate and the Space Angels Network seek early-stage aviation companies to attend and apply to present at their fifth annual Pitch & Mingle event, scheduled during AirVenture on Startup Aviation Day – Tuesday, July 30, in the new Innovations Pavilion. Companies selected will have an opportunity to give an eight-minute pitch followed by a four-minute Q&A to a group of accredited investors, industry advisors, and fellow aviation/aerospace entrepreneurs.

Interested Pitch & Mingle applicants must apply online no later than May 24. Selected companies will be notified no later than May 31.

In addition to the company presentations, AeroInnovate’s Pitch & Mingle event provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors to mingle, network, and enjoy learning about emerging technologies and businesses in the aviation industry. To learn more, e-mail Meridith Jaeger, AeroInnovate director, at jaegerm@uwosh.edu.