One of the tests I frequently use with startups is the “bus stop test”. This is a good way of removing confusing drivel from your pitches, which prevents people understanding your proposition. Far too many decks I see are full of jargon, long sentences and obscure words. Resorting to pompous or technical language is often […]
Whatever marketing you’re doing, there’s a common trap you risk falling into. At the start, it seems so simple. Spend a few quid, acquire a few users. One simple division sum and – Hey Presto! You have your cost-per-acquisition. But sadly, it’s really not that simple. When campaigns scale, it’s very common to see significant […]
Many businesses rely on hype and unreliable free methods to promote and sell their products and services. Don’t get sucked in to this trap. The boring rainy Tuesday test is a critical test, which all businesses should be able to pass. It’s all about how you acquire new customers – even on a bad day.
You […]
Many entrepreneurs wonder when’s the right time is to start raising money. There are two simple answers worth considering:
The first, rather glib answer is that if you’re asking the question, then it’s probably too early. Generally speaking if you *can* avoid raising and continue, then you should. You will almost always get a better valuation of your […]
If you speak to many investors about what’s important, a common response is ‘team’. It’s all about teams, apparently. At best, this is a half-truth – and here’s why.
At early stage, most investors are shooting in a dark room. They can take a guess at what might work, but that only gets them so far. […]