PinnedIntroducing Sterling Road Fund 3: Deploying $20M through early-stage founder coachingToday we’re introducing Fund 3, a $20M fund backing pre-seed stage founders of B2B startups, that have gone through our coaching program. Since day one, we’ve taken a different approach to early-stage venture investing. Rather than investing first, then offering to help, we partner closely with founders before making an…Founder Coaching3 min readFounder Coaching3 min read
PinnedHow to Build a DeckFor most founders, the deck is a cornerstone of their seed fundraising process. Unfortunately, most decks are terrible. They’re often difficult to understand, too detailed, or missing key details. …Founders5 min readFounders5 min read
21 hours agoDecember ProductivityToday, we’re talking about being productive in December. The holiday season is challenging when it comes to getting things done, so what’s realistic for the last month of the year? 1. Close out your top goals You’re still a startup, so we need to make progress. Prioritize the achievable annual goals, planning around just 2 full…Founder1 min readFounder1 min read
Nov 30Seed vs Pre-seed vs Idea StageToday, we’re talking about how investors categorize your startup and the key differences between the seed, pre-seed and idea stage. 1. Idea stage This category is for teams just getting started. The idea may change significantly, any demos will be basic, but the founders should be full-time or about to commit full-time. 2. Pre-seed stage This…Fundraising1 min readFundraising1 min read
Nov 10Star Trek Inches Closer with AI — Friday ThoughtsThe computers in Star Trek are perfect: instantly available, easy to operate, and very powerful. However today, we’re still mostly restricted to entering information in a device we carry, like a phone or laptop, and to communicating complex tasks to a computer in a particular programming language, e.g. …AI2 min readAI2 min read
Nov 93 Criteria for Sales QualificationToday we’re talking about qualifying a sales lead, i.e. assessing the potential customer’s genuine level of interest. Remember, it’s often someone’s job to engage with lots of potential vendors, so they might seem excited even if they’re just kicking the tires. So, here’s the 3 criteria you can use to…Startup2 min readStartup2 min read
Nov 2Startup Branding for $100Today we’re talking about branding as an early-stage startup. Many founders want to use their first cash to spend big on an agency. But nowadays, you can get started for under $100. Here’s how: 1. Logo You can try AI-based services like Looka for $50, or low-cost freelancers on Fiverr and Upwork…2 min read2 min read
Oct 303 Key Differences of Convertible Notes vs SAFEsToday we’re talking about the differences between convertible notes and SAFEs. Although SAFEs are the common standard here in Silicon Valley, I do see plenty of convertible notes if companies are fundraising elsewhere. Here are the 3 key differences, and why I always suggest using a SAFE, if the company…1 min read1 min read
Oct 19Sales Success: Start Small, Close FastToday, we’re talking about a common issue in enterprise sales: scope creep before the close. It’s tempting to let a project expand when a potential customer gets excited, but we want to avoid this, in favor of speed. 1. Bigger deals take longer. Large contracts need extensive approvals, slowing them down. …Startup1 min readStartup1 min read
Oct 10Accelerator Prep: How to Ace the InterviewToday, we’re talking about how to prepare for your accelerator program interview. Getting selected is competitive, so make the most of your opportunity through preparation. 1. Use Online Resources You can find lists of practice questions, detailed guides and even interview simulators online. Make use of these tools. 2. Model Answers Make a list of expected questions…Accelerator1 min readAccelerator1 min read
