Master The Art Of Fundraising With Inner Circle

Colleen Cutcliffe has proven that when you have a passion for solving a big problem and are willing to let others help, anything is possible. So far Colleen’s startup has raised nearly $60M from amazing investors like Khosla, Sequoia and True Ventures. They’ve just released the world’s first and only microbiome intervention for type 2 diabetes, which has been clinically proven to lower A1C and post-meal glucose response.

Mauria Finley maybe one of the few female entrepreneurs who really helped give birth to the internet and mobile experiences. She has since launched two successful startups of her own. After working for some of the most notable tech companies Finley started and sold her first company for $50M, giving her investors a 10x return. Now she’s raised at least $10M for her latest fast-growing marketplace startup.   

Learning about venture capital terms can take a while and I have never come across a venture capital dictionary. There are a lot of terms to get your head around, especially when you are trying to get the best deal as an investor or startup founder. With this in mind, I’ve put together a go-to list of the most important venture capital terms you need to know on your journey as an entrepreneur.

Sean Harper and Lucas Ward ran into each other in a local coffee shop. That chance meeting has resulted in a startup that is disrupting one of the largest industries on the planet, and a business worth as much as $500M. Lucas and Sean have taken on the inefficiencies and inconvenience of the insurance industry with a fast-growth company that just keeps doubling. They now have hundreds of employees and were valued at between $100M and $500M when they raised another $47M in funding last summer.

What are the best ways to learn about startup fundraising? You can have the best startup business idea in the world, but it may not go anywhere without the funding to make it happen. Unfortunately, raising capital is rarely as simple as it is often made out to be. Some struggle with it for months and years and get turned away by investors hundreds of times.

Startup accelerators and incubators help businesses during their infancy to reach their initial goals. This is done in a number of ways including by offering finances, advice, and even facilitating networking with potential investors. In this article, we are going to delve deep into what startup accelerators and incubators actually are. By the end of this article, you’ll understand what they are and whether you should be involved in them as either an investor or a startup founder.

What is a 409A valuation? It isn’t as easy as you might think. Public companies are valued by their share price. What the public is willing to pay for a share is what it’s worth. But how do you value a private company that isn’t listed on any exchange? 

Michelle Cordeiro took her first fashion startup from launch to exit in just four years. She got funded even before opening an office and raised $50M to give women their own brand. We caught up on a new episode of the Dealmakers Show. Michelle shared her journey as a woman entrepreneur, what she has learned about brand building, raising capital and exiting a venture. Plus, her top advice for new entrepreneurs looking to start their own companies.

How do the different stages of startup fundraising work for entrepreneurs and their businesses? The big numbers thrown around in the media might make you think that one big fundraising campaign or two is enough finance your business idea for life. It doesn’t work like that. Startup funding in done through a series of stages of ‘rounds’.  Each round typically targets a different type of investor, for different amounts of capital. Investors will have differing expectations of entrepreneurs and their startups at each stage. While there are always exceptions, these round often come 12 to 18 months apart. 

Arad Levertov has raised tens of millions of dollars to innovate in the fin-tech space to make access to credit more efficient. We recently got together for an episode of the Dealmakers Podcast. Arad shared how his venture was born out of the Startup Nation, the keys to successful fundraising, the importance of picking the right investors, plus the future of banking.  

Non-dilutive methods to fund your startup comes with distinct pitfalls and rewards. In this article, we are going to explore how to fund a start-up through non-dilutive financing, while outlining the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.

Andrew Feldman is a true serial entrepreneur. He has already created and exited over $1 billion in startups and has raised $200M for his next venture. We got together for a recent episode of the Dealmakers podcast. Andrew shared his unique start in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the challenges, and successes of raising capital in a bear market, how to pick investors, the art of listening and the biggest mistakes he’s made.   

Jeff White is a true serial entrepreneur. With two successful exits under his belt, he is now on his next big data startup.  As an entrepreneur, Jeff has certainly pulled off some enviable feats. As a founder and investor, there is plenty to learn and get inspired by his story. We got together for a recent episode of the dealmakers podcast. He shared why he made the leap from the 9-5, tips for making it through the tough days, and what’s possible when you go all-in on your ideas.  

Are you wondering how to build a fundraising story for your business? In essence, you should never try fundraising for your startup without a great story. If you want to rocket your chances of converting investors, secure the best terms when you do get and turn every contract into a brand ambassador, you need a strong story. Where do you start with creating one that will pave the way for you?

Sammy Dorf has set the bar pretty high for entrepreneurs and startups. His cannabis company raised $100M after many months of effort, over the course of one extraordinary weekend, and went on to be acquired in the largest transaction in the industry (at the time), at $850M. Whatever your opinions about marijuana, Sam Dorf has proven it’s serious business. We caught up for a special episode of the Dealmakers Show where he broke down his incredible entrepreneurial journey. We talked about legal cannabis, the strategy involved in winning licenses, the struggles and big wins of fundraising, choosing your exit, and what lies ahead in the industry.  

Convertible notes are one of many fundraising options for start-up entrepreneurs making it essential to understand the pros and cons of convertible notes. The way that convertible notes work is that an investor loans an agreed amount to a company which is then converted to equity during a later investment round. While convertible notes are becoming increasingly popular with entrepreneurs because they are a great bargaining chip to entice investors, they do have distinct advantages and disadvantages like any financial agreement. 

Marco Zappacosta has raised $400M for his marketplace startup that is unlocking the largest industry digital hasn’t fully solved yet. If you think a billion dollars is big business, Zappacosta’s already successful business is still just at the beginning of revolutionizing the trillion-dollar-plus human services industry.   

Alex Friedman is an experienced businesswoman, who has brought a wealth of knowledge to make millions of lives easier. So far LOLA has raised millions of dollars to fund her mission, and the brand is only growing. Having a few daughters myself, I was excited to have Alexandra appear on a new episode on the DealMakers Show. We talked about getting equipped to be an entrepreneur, what investors look for in funds and VCs to give their money to, the advantage of consumer products as a founder, and fundraising for your startup.  

Cybersecurity expert Fred Kneip has raised almost $60M for his startup so far. It all started with a winning PowerPoint that has drawn the attention of a host of the most enviable investors. Fred recently made an appearance on the Dealmakers Show. In our interview, he shared his journey, what he’s learned, the keys to raising millions in funding, and how his company is transforming one of the fastest-growing markets we’ve ever seen.  

Want to know the skills top founders master when fundraising? These are the skills you’ll need in order to land that funding. The media can often make it sound incredibly easy and simple to land hundreds of millions of dollars in funds for just about any startup idea. In reality, many stumble around for years and even have to face hundreds of investor rejections before getting a single check. 

Nathan McCauley lives and breathes cybersecurity. He’s been involved in some of the best-known tech startups and has now launched his own. His crypto company has already attracted some of the best-known investors, and they’re just getting started. Nathan showed up for a recent episode of the DealMakers podcast, where I had the opportunity to interview him on his journey. We talked about digital security, being a part of popular tech rocket ships, and what’s next in cryptocurrency.   

Need a business plan template? Check out this step by step plan to crafting one that will work for your venture. Every startup business needs a business plan template. You know the saying, “failing to plan means planning to fail.” Going into business for yourself is exciting, empowering and probably one of the best things you can ever try in your life. It can also be risky.

As a startup, your competitor analysis is one of the most important and influential parts of getting off the ground. Here’s what to include in your competitor analysis template. Every startup has competition. If you don’t see it, it is even more of a threat. If you don’t acknowledge it, prospective investors won’t take you seriously.

What do entrepreneurs need to include in an executive summary for it be successful and effective? The executive summary is a crucial and pivotal document for all startup businesses, and even over the years as you reach and stretch to new stages.

Reuven Moskowitz has started and sold multiple companies. His latest venture has raised over $50 million to advance technology for law firms. They’ve got some incredible case studies and are changing what’s possible for lawyers. Moskowitz recently joined me for an episode of the DealMakers podcast. We talked about buying and selling companies while still in college, the top challenges for entrepreneurs, balancing your optimism, and the future of law.  

A marketing campaign template will help your startup breakout your individual campaigns, gain more focus and improve the accuracy and outcome of your efforts.

Every startup needs a marketing strategy template to get things going. Without a written plan it is going to be virtually impossible to stay on track, keep the team focused and really enable your business to achieve its potential.

What is the right path when evaluating the pros and cons of different sources of startup funding for your venture? There’s more than one way to fund your startup. Each has its own pros and cons. Which is right for you?

Valentin Stalf has raised $670 million to disrupt the banking world. His fintech startup is now valued at $3.5 billion, making it one of the largest in Europe today.   

What are some of the reasons to start your own business? Is starting your own business the best path forward at this point in time for you? Here are at least twenty reasons why you should dive in and launch your own startup.

Michael Wystrach was born into the farm to table movement, even before it was a thing. He was raised to be an entrepreneur, and since school and a stint in investment banking has launched one of the most successful startups in the food space. I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing Michael on the DealMakers Podcast. He shared how his entrepreneurial spirit was incubated from an early age, what he learned from the world of investment banking, his tips on hiring and cofounders, as well as what it takes to get through the dark days and create a hyper-growth startup that attracts millions of dollars in capital.  

What were the ages of successful entrepreneurs when they started? Age is one of the top excuses that would be entrepreneurs use as a crutch not to pursue their visions.

Looking for the best markets to launch a hyper-growth startup? Want to know which sectors could offer the best growth potential for making startup investments? These are ten of the largest markets that have been lagging in innovation, disruption, and implementation of new technologies. 

Bhavin Turakhia is a man on a mission. He’s been building and selling companies since he was just 17 years old. His macro approach to starting businesses and proven startup acumen make him one of the most capable of disrupting and transforming the payments space. Bhavin is a true serial founder with multiple starts and exits. We caught up for a special episode of the Dealmakers Podcast. He shared his early journey of becoming an entrepreneur, how he sold his first company, his top advice to new founders, how to validate your business idea and the three-step formula for startup success.  

Immad Akhund is a true serial entrepreneur who has been on both sides of the table and many times. His latest startup has raised tens of millions of dollars to become the Google of the banking world through new Fintech applications. During our recent interview on the DealMakers Podcast, Immad shared his journey from being a young entrepreneur to multiple exits and becoming an active angel investor himself. We talked launching back to back startups, the patterns of success, how to take the pain out of entrepreneurship (as best you can), Fintech and M&A.

Austin Russell began his first real startup at just 16 years old. He got paid $100k to drop out of college to go all-in on making fully autonomous driving a reality. He’s already raised $250 million to make it happen and counts the world’s top auto manufacturers as customers.  

You’re not going to get far in business or stay in business for long without a good marketing plan template to start building your own pln. So, what should be in yours? Even if you never write a full business plan or put together a pitch deck, you need a marketing plan template. Without one you’ll just be blowing around in the wind. Do that and there’s more than a 90% chance you are going bankrupt within five years. Probably far sooner.

This startup pitch deck delivered a 100x return to investors and helped this uber competitor to go on to raise hundreds of millions of dollars. Careem was an Uber alternative based in Dubai. They’ve since gone on to spread to 14 countries and raise over $421 million in funding.

How to find buyers for your business? Selling a business is unlike selling anything else. This is especially true when it comes to achieving an exit for your startup. So, where are they, buyers? How do you connect with them and get offers to buy you out? 

What do you need to know about startup advisors before you launch and to get to the next level? Startup advisors can make a huge difference in your venture. Though there can be a substantial difference in the outcome or bringing them in based on a variety of factors.

A clear action plan can be one of the most valuable assets you have as a startup entrepreneur. So, what should it look like? There’s nothing that can bog you down more as a startup than a dinosaur of a business plan. Or derail you more than having not clear written plan. There’s nothing better for curing a slow grind or getting out of the weeds than a clean, simple and powerful action plan. 

Rebecca Minkoff is well known for not only her line of designer bags and accessories but her high tech shops that blend interactive technology with tailored experience and fashion. If you’ve visited Rebecca Minkoff’s store in Soho you’ve found interactive mirrors to help you pick the perfect outfit, along with your choice of drinks delivered right to your dressing room, where you are matched with the latest styles. 

How to compensate startup employees without money during the early stages of a venture is an art. Cash for salaries is one thing you may not have a surplus of as a young startup. Even if you are funded, you need to be very careful about how you spend it. Yet, you know that the survival and ability of your venture to survive relies almost 100% on recruiting and retaining the best talent in your space. So, how do you do it?

Eric Kinariwala has revolutionized the pharmacy industry with his latest venture, Capsule. In a recent exclusive interview on the DealMakers podcast, he provided an insider’s look at what it takes to cultivate one of the fastest-growing companies in the world.  

Getting ready to raise money for your startup? Here we will be breaking down the pitch deck as well as the digits you need to know about creating and presenting the presentation that will get you funded.

Thinking about selling your business? This piece covers the 100 questions potential buyers will ask startups… Selling a business is often the best move. Maybe you receive an offer too good to refuse. It may be foolish or negligent not to accept offers you are receiving. You may be in a personal situation that is demanding more of your time. Exiting may be better for the business than raising another round of money.

Thejo Kote knows a thing or two about building startups. Two of the ventures he has cofounded were accepted by Y Combinator. One sold for over $100M. He is now working on his third venture. A startup aiming to simplify spending and accounting for other growing businesses.

Wondering how startup financing rounds get oversubscribed? Ready to launch your first fundraising campaign and want to make sure you bring in enough money? How do some startups seem to attract more money than they asked for while others struggle with hundreds of investor rejections for years?

Need a startup business plan template for your new venture? What’s the best layout for a business plan? What role should it play in your small business startup? How do you best make it work for you? The Role Of The Business Plan In Startups Every business needs a...

Will investors fund my startups? Does your startup really have a chance of getting funded? Whether you are still debating whether fundraising is the right path right now, or you’ve had some rejection and want to know whether it’s worth continuing, these questions will help you evaluate your startup, and improve your game to increase your odds of getting funded. Or you might find it’s time to make a quick pivot to give your vision the best chance of success.

Who are the 10 most famous entrepreneurs and what made them insanely rich? There may be only a dozen or so truly iconic entrepreneurs that stand out for their wealth and accomplishments. How much are they worth? What really made them so much money?

Are you wondering how to start a business with almost no money and if it is even possible? Why should you, even if you just sold your last startup for millions and have plenty of cash?

Ready to build a highly successful business? In this article, you will find the 10 tips for building a successful business.  Here are the steps to take to create a valuable and growing business that will last and see your idea through.

Dimitri Sirota has been on both sides of the table as a founder and investor. He is now on his third venture of his own and has invested in at least eight other startups as an angel. What has he learned about the patterns of success along the way?  In a recent exclusive interview on the DealMakers Podcast, Dimitri Sirota shared his story, and his learnings of what patterns and factors can increase the likelihood of success for startups and entrepreneurs.  

Today, Chuck Cohn’s EdTech startup enables you to connect in about 20 seconds to an expert in just about any subject. His startup is now probably one of the most popular and best-funded, but a few years ago, most people just didn’t get it. I caught up with Chuck for an episode of the DealMakers Podcast where he downloaded his knowledge and experience to our audience. 

Due diligence is no fun for entrepreneurs who are selling their startups. So how important is due diligence in acquisitions. This is the least fun part of being an entrepreneur. Even if it wasn’t essential, it can certainly teach you a lot about business. It will definitely make sure you are prepared next time and will ensure your next business is much more tightly organized than the first.

Ben Sigelman is redesigning the fabric of how software is developed. Some of the most notable VCs are backing his mission with tens of millions of dollars. Sigelman has a love for deep technology and making an impact. His application is making its way into many of the things we interact with every day while empowering developers in their own work.  

One of the biggest challenges in acquisitions for entrepreneurs is making sure the employees are taking care of. What happens to employees after your company gets acquired is one of the areas that negotiations tend to focus with potential acquirers during the M&A process. 

Having spent time on both sides of the table, Shoaib Makani has learned a lot about the patterns of successful startups and how to find a unicorn opportunity to harness and ride. Shoaib has not only worked with hot and fast-growing tech startups, but he’s funded them and raised hundreds of millions of dollars to build a billion-dollar venture of his own.   

Taking a look at the journey’s of the most successful entrepreneurs, companies and founders with amazing exits, it is clear that startup success is a lot less about what you know and your coding skills when you take the leap than about leveraging resources, learning as you go and find the best help. Here’s where you’ll find access to many of the things you’ll need and find of value on your own mission.

Shishir Mehrotra knows a thing or two about disrupting things in a really big way. Despite trying to fight his destiny to be in tech, he has raised millions of dollars to launch startups, and has worked on some of the projects that have changed our culture the most over the past decade.

Lior Elazary is a true serial entrepreneur. He sold his first business while still in school, and is now heading up a robotics startup worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Whether he intended to or not, Elazary has become a real dealmaker, building and exiting at least three companies, and is now on his fourth venture. Lior recently graced the Dealmakers podcast sharing his approach to building companies, his early entrepreneurial spirit, his methods for funding his startups, and why more founders should look forward to failure.  

When you look at the list of startup founders who dropped out of college and went on to make millions or even billions, or to just disrupt the world, it’s like a who’s who of entrepreneurship. So how these founders went from college dropout to millionaire entrepreneurs?

Sujai Hajela and Bob Friday took their own journeys before landing at the same company. Then they joined forces to raise $90 million to build a tech company that was recently acquired for over $400 million. I recently caught up with cofounders Bob and Sujai for an episode of the Dealmakers Podcast. They shared how their unique paths led them to work together, how they selected an amazing lineup of tier-one investors, what makes a great CEO, selling their company to Juniper, and the advice they’d give themselves before starting another business. 

Stuart Landesberg has raised millions in startup capital to create a new consumer-driven experience that puts more products in homes that are good for them and the environment. As a founder Landesberg has learned a lot about leadership, teams and scaling startups. We caught up on a new episode of the DealMakers podcast, where he shared how he got started, what he’s learned about partnering and working with the best investors and perseverance it takes to build a venture that really makes it.

Ready to sell your startup business? Make sure you’ve covered these bases if you are wondering what to do when selling your business in an all stock acquisition. Selling a startup is a big moment. Perhaps the only thing bigger than your payday is going to be everything you’ve got to do to get through the finish line and how complex taking stock is going to be.

Thinking of selling your startup? Here’s what you need to know about startup acquisitions… Having sold my own company, interviewed dozens of the most successful founders with big exits on the DealMakers Podcast, and through my work advising entrepreneurs at Panthera Advisors, the following factors really stick out as what you need to know before you think you can hang up a for sale sign and cash out of the business you built.

Sanjay Shah bootstrapped his technology startup from nothing to $250 million in revenue before accepting private equity funding. Bootstrapping may not be as common as raising big money these days, but it certainly worked out for this entrepreneur. When you can pull it off, it puts you in a much stronger position to choose strategic investors later and can provide a great sense of accomplishment.  

Ready to raise millions of dollars for your next startup fundraising round? You may be wondering what are the slides you need in your pitch deck? Below is an in-depth commentary on a pitch deck template that I put together some time ago. It includes the slides you need in your pitch deck and that are necessary to pass the pitch test with potential investors and get the money you need to take your business to the next level.

Looking for some empowering reading material. It’s no secret that leaders read. Today’s billionaire investors and entrepreneurs are among the most hungry readers. So what are the favorite books of billionaires every entrepreneur should read?

Vivek Ravisankar has raised tens of millions of dollars for a tech startup with an admirable goal: his venture, HackerRank, is making resumes obsolete while unlocking an enormous amount of tech talent, busting the notion of a technical skills gap and helping companies speed up innovation.  

How entrepreneurs get paid after an acquisition? There’s plenty to think about and keep you busy without even considering trying to navigate an exit for your startup. The acquisition process alone is like a whole new MBA of hustle and hard knocks and street smarts crammed into a few months. Though how do you actually get paid if you make it through the finish line to the closing?

What are the steps to an effective elevator pitch? An elevator pitch is one of the most important assets for every entrepreneur. It can open up many doors, referrals, and funds, or send them running. Even if you never plan to do any active networking in person, you...

Ashish Thusoo believed in the cloud long before most thought it would ever catch on. Now, his company Qubole is empowering other startups to scale and grow fast with self-service AI, machine learning and data analytics in the cloud. Thusoo’s venture has raised almost $100 million from heavy hitters like IVP, Norwest Venture Partners and Harmony Partners, and he’s enabling a new level of data processing and efficiency for their clients. 

Given that big exits and valuations appear to be one of the factors that are really inspiring all the media attention around the startup ecosystem and billions in venture capital investments, it’s a part of starting a company that every entrepreneur needs to understand. Still, there seems to be a lot of persuasive myths and misconceptions about this eventual milestone among entrepreneurs so here is what every entrepreneur should know about acquisitions…

What are the most common business acquisition mistakes that you may encounter during the process of selling your business? An acquisition with a lot of zeros attached to it is the ultimate end game for most of today’s entrepreneurs and their investors. Even if that...

Vijay Balasubramaniyan has raised millions of dollars for his tech startup, Pindrop, that is shaping the future of how we communicate and do business. His venture has been funded by some of the most enviable investors, and your life may soon be a lot easier thanks to those who believed in him when most thought voice was dead. 

Have a great business idea? What are the different ways to finance your business? These are some of the questions that you will certainly ask yourself once you are building your own venture. There are actually a wide variety of ways to fund your business from initial launch to scaling your company through to an IPO. Speak with a fundraising consultant and determine the best method for you and your idea at each stage.

How to develop your brand strategy? This is certainly one of the key questions that entrepreneurs should ask themselves. Brand strategy can be everything for a startup business. Your brand can make or break you, and not only mean the difference between failing and thriving, but also in terms of hundreds of millions of dollars in company value. 

Jennifer Fitzgerald has raised tens of millions of dollars for her Insurtech startup. They are taking on a space worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year. While she is now seen as one of the first pioneers of this space, it hasn’t always been an easy flight with clear skies. I recently caught up with Jennifer on the Dealmakers Podcast to find out more about her journey with her startup Policygenius. She shared her lightbulb moment, the steps to quitting her job for her and her co-founder, Francois de Lame, the fun of fundraising, the advice she wishes she had when she started and how to scale as a leader in a fast-growth company.

The M&A market is very active today. Yet, history suggests that very few mergers and acquisitions are successful. Ultimately, at least 60% are expected to fail. So, what are the different types of successful acquisitions? The outcome of M&A deals is important for many different stakeholders. The founders who launched the companies being bought, the buyers, the teams involved, investors and of course the customers. Although buyers may often never intend to continue to invest in certain business units, no one likes failure. 

Momentum is key when pushing a startup financing round. No matter which stage you are at, it can be real work and take strategy. Here’s how to build momentum in a financing round to get the funds and close the round. 1. Get Your Data in Order Be prepared. Be ready to...

Saeju Jeong is a repeat entrepreneur, driven to deliver a more proactive approach to healthcare. He’s already raised $120 million for the mission, and the data suggests their method is working. Driven by his father and inspired by NYC’s growing startup scene this entrepreneur is now on his third venture. One which has become the largest of its type in the world.  

It may be simply being struck by an opportunity, seeing where the business puck is headed, or a gaping void in the markets that you have a solution for. More often, startup ideas the actual start of the startup journey initiate from getting frustrated about inefficiencies or lack of good service and solutions in antiquated markets. It’s that friction that creates highly valuable business pearls.

Thinking about selling your startup? What are your next steps when you are thinking about how to sell your startup company? It would be nice if Google called while you are reading this with a nice outsized offer to buy your business, and were willing to close with cash next week. I’ve interviewed some founders on the DealMakers podcast who pretty much had that experience. Though it is typically far less common than you think. 

What is an earnout and how earn-outs in acquisitions work? Should you have one in your term sheet? What key terms do you need to watch and negotiate as a founder selling a startup?  If you thought selling your own product was a challenge, welcome to a whole new world of selling fun. You’ll never sell anything as complicated as a startup.

Jonathan Cherki has raised millions of dollars for his venture, without ever going to work for someone else. He began by bootstrapping his startup, Contentsquare, and then took it global with the help of some great VCs. I interviewed Jonathan in this recent episode of the DealMakers Podcast. He shared why he made the move to NYC, the reasons to start fundraising, who to pick as partners, and how to manage when you are a global company with offices on different continents.

Are you really ready to begin a fundraising round for your startup? Before going for it there are certain questions that entrepreneurs must ask before seeking funding. Who doesn’t want more money for their startup? The media even makes it sound simple and like the...

How startups are valued during an acquisition? While billion-dollar startup stories seem to be everywhere, the average exit is still really only around $150 million. Where on this scale will your startup acquisition land? It’s important to know what your company is worth. You don’t want to throw out a ridiculously low offer and sell yourself short by a billion.

How to avoid getting attached to your business is one of the most difficult challenges that you will need to handle over the course of building and scaling a company as an entrepreneur. 

Selling your business will be one of the most critical decisions you will ever make. As seen on the list below there are plenty of mistakes to avoid when selling your business. Whatever you do, don’t make these big regrettable blunders. Whether you’ve already received an offer for your company, or you are just staying ahead of the curve, these are the things you should take into consideration and be discussing with your M&A advisor before signing anything.

Rajaie Batniji is a lifelong learner with a passion for having a tangible impact. His titan of a startup, Collective Health, has been disrupting the healthcare industry and is now valued at over $1 billion. It’s no secret that our healthcare system is seriously flawed. It’s dominated by a massive $250 billion incumbents who haven’t been moved to change things. As well as politicians who have failed to find a happy medium. 

What’s in the secret sauce and what are essentially the top reasons why startups succeed? Having interviewed over 100 over the most successful startup founders and investors on the Dealmakers Show, these appear to be the shared ingredients for building billion-dollar companies.

Steve Loughlin has gone from being involved in the operational side of very successful startups to now sitting on the other side of the table making investments in early-stage ventures with one of the most respected firms. In his first venture founding a startup, Loughlin created a $390 million company that was acquired by Salesforce. Now as an investor, he’s looking for others to fund. 

It’s inspiring to read stories of other entrepreneurs who are offered crazy sums of money for their young startups. You’d think every deal is just a slam dunk, putting an enormous amount of money in your bank account, after signing a few pieces of paper. I’ve interviewed some of the most successful founders with big and fast exits on the DealMakers Podcast who seem to have stories like this. Of course, in reality, most deals can take a lot longer, be far more complex, and take a lot of detailed negotiation. So, how does it usually work? How can you get the best deal? What should you pay attention to negotiating?

Cofounders Ara Mahdessian and Vahe Kuzoyan have raised millions of dollars to change the lives of home & commercial service & replacement professionals. They’ve built a $1.67 billion business in the process. Starting out as a project to simply help their parents’ businesses become more efficient, these entrepreneurs struck on a winning business idea worth billions of dollars.

Leaders read. Founders of billion-dollar fast-growth startups and businesses that last read even more. Keep your reading list full with these one hundred books for entrepreneurs.

Mike Serbinis has started and sold an incredible portfolio of companies. He’s raised over $100 million and enjoyed exits all the way up to $3 billion. What drives someone to this level of entrepreneurship? What empowers them to not only build one hyper-successful fast-growth startup but to do it again and again? What’s the one thing they wish they could tell their younger selves about what’s coming?

We recently celebrated producing over 100 episodes of the Dealmakers Podcast. During this process, I have collected the most important lessons learned from entrepreneurs that have built billion-dollar companies. On the podcast, we’ve featured many great entrepreneurs and investors who have raised hundreds of millions for their startups as well as many that have exited for $1B. These are some of the key takeaways…

Ali Ghodsi loves coding and creating things that have a massive impact on the world. One famous VC made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Ali is now co-founder and CEO of Databricks which is worth almost $3 billion. In our recent interview on the DealMakers Podcast, Ali Ghodsi shared how he got started in tech, what made him leap into business, what it takes to raise half a billion dollars and become the CEO of a successful hyper-growth company.