Money vs Din € ro

I've a few days wanting to write for money and the din € ro, it may seem the same, but it is not.
A few days ago, an entrepreneur and that I continue to recommend whose blog, Jaime Estevez, commented in a post on this blog, Why I am not going to invest in your project, something very interesting and I hope that has developed in his, "The reasons that I do not want your money. "

I have been fortunate in my dual role of investor and entrepreneur to be my own investor in the moments needed. That is a plum. Out there have been many valid entrepreneurs with good teams and good projects that have fallen on the road because the financial partner was not to be.

It is very important, especially in the early stages of the project, where financial needs are limited by the funds needed to go no more (tempting), nor less, but values and allow you to choose who brings the necessary money. The entrepreneur should -- Yes, sometimes it is something utopian-power to elect their first investors.

We are talking about early stages, in the long term if the project grows and continues, not only will you be able to allow that luxury initial, but the money becomes impersonal.

What is money?

It is the gasoline, is a necessary evil. It is something that evening to early you need but you should not dump all your efforts in achieving. But it comes with added value, it comes with the know-how. If you're looking for money in a Business Angel sector, you'll need to refuel the gasoline, but to look out at the gas station because it will be the additional value and the key that opens doors for you and you will win a lot of time.

- Work: get under way, you're not standing 6 months because there is no funding. There are a thousand and one thing that can possibly be doing in those months: test, development, to create a business structure, a team ... Take advantage of the opportunity cost, gaining time, the Internet is a sector immediately, not create a power point "and the pasta , "Because if you see an investor sees that and that's what you've done, not going to believe in yourself as an entrepreneur.

- Invest: We must sweat shirt, literally. Do not you come with an investment of € 0 to xxx.xxx without asking anything you've invested. On your way you think you should pass on the project and that you, in your capacity you have invested in it. For me it makes far more value the entrepreneur who has invested part of their savings, or has requested an appropriation for the project. You can not pretend that the money you put others, you have to be the first to mojarte if you want to be created in you.

- Select: Not all business angels, investors in general and venture capital funds and Family Office are for everyone. Plantéate stages, especially put your focus on profiles of people, not all the money is the same! Personally, it is best to start with an investment of one or more business angels in the sector, you will be able to help not only grow but with its know-how, networking and synergy with other projects to be able to shoot the project.

If you like this capital contribution as the Venture Capital (almost impossible in the initial phase), a Family Office or a Business Angel, you have a problem, are things that have nothing to do, all useful and valid and all led to a different time of the project.

- Permítete a luxury: Do not accept the first proposal of investment you arrive. The goal is not to get money, get to attract money is a necessary evil for the good of the project, permítete reject abusive conditions or profiles that are not ideal and does not bring value to your idea or company.
And what is the din € ro?

- The din € ro is money but a brutal, dizzying, but no more value added. A refueling of gasoline to the beast and then "bye Lucas," again soon, you do well and get me revenues. That's not disrespectful!, Is a phased project and will need them if you go too far.

- On stages in which to shoot the growth of a mature, you will need to din € ro beast, even at the international level. Rate it solely as a financial investment, is another criterion for selection, are purely financial transactions.

- Do not be intimidated money. The money is superb at times and often intimidating. Saca quítate chest and that pressure will prevent bad times. A few years ago, an average company, which wanted to buy one of my companies, which in the end it is not sold, the food started reunion-ending in a tender with a "we have 500 million euros for acquisitions in the sector." Laugh, tell them the truth "only you have that; din € ro, and that they have many, not just you." Take off the pressure if you're at that stage and especially if you come to find, to bring it to them. Do not lose your thinking, keep a cool head and not get mad at you not ask lame or more of what you need, at times, it loses the entrepreneur and always ends up repenting.

Tags: Business Angel, Business Angels, Venture Capital, money, entrepreneurs, family office, investment, investor

But how Where the hell are the JASPE?

I always did that grace in the 90 of Jasper, that of Young Although ample preparations. It seems that now call JASPI (adding the "I" undervalued). He had not ever heard; me I should be doing more.

I've been thinking months, where the hell are they?. (pardon me)

We complain a lot of little support to entrepreneurs who is in Spain and in general in the Spanish-speaking countries, but if somebody oddly, I was in this case, look for an entrepreneur to put in front of a computer, a project and a budget is not easy to find what you want.

One of our major projects to develop the project in 2009 is Madrid.net. We bought the domain for months by about 30,000 €, and I do hope this special project in the first place because I wanted to do something in my city, secondly I think We have a formula business as a transplanted franchises or opening themselves in a second phase in a few years to other major cities.

Another powerful reason is that I believe strongly in the sector of the local guides and themed markets in large high-level business, is still a big niche with great potential for exploitation on the Internet and mobile internet. We have moved "the fashion of dating," "the fashion of social networks" and handsome clearly 2 sectors, an immediate one, the music that I think will be the key sector in the coming months and will see much movement, hence our adventure with yes.fm, and the other area in my opinion will be in 2009 and especially 2010 micro content, e-commerce and advertising in local media and local guides, and we want to position ourselves Madrid.net launching in 2009.

We want our thematic portal is a social network dedicated to cultural, tourist and leisure in Madrid, with news and thematic forums targeted at people, neighborhoods, districts and even streets and focused on developments in electronic commerce, with many advertising opportunities and business. We have certain commitments plus the investment and public support for the project, which would be developed in English and Spanish, and possibly Japanese.

Some months ago I began the search for an enterprising captain for this project. The idea is to build a team around him and publishing business and find a person with a very definite profile; young, even insulting young!, Living for years in Madrid and meet the Commonwealth, which has some experience and / or commercial knowledge and marketing, including Web 2.0 and above all have a special initiative and enthusiasm in developing their own project with financial support and secured our structure.

Unfortunately I have not even given to this person, and what I wanted, trying to come up with this profile in the coming months. I'm looking for someone with much excitement; wanting to eat the world, and offer significant financial incentives as an important stake in the project, and increased as the same goals. Unfortunately not many people with such enthusiasm and initiative enough, or at least I'm not finding and even many people who appreciate, when I know more deeply, I see that what they seek is a quiet and easy life, a table and a salary to make ends meet without complicated life. A get around fast and get so quiet, smooth, without having to think and find things to the loops and without costing too much effort.

It is a pity, but really every time I see more young people looking for a job mileurista, soon to be rich without much effort, working from 9 to 15 hrs, or morning and afternoon, but smoothly, without many illusions, without compromise without complications, no demands for extra hours, that is an easy and comfortable life, and pay the mortgage off over the weekend. Few people are willing to that extra plus, that sacrifice, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial initiative that I'm looking for.

I continue my search so if you know my Jasper, be sure to recomendármelo!

Tags: entrepreneur, to launch, guide local initiatives, Jasper, Madrid, Madrid.net, entertainment, Web 2.0, Yes.fm

Valuing a startup 2.0

I have met through the blog of Paul L. Renaud the Web Bizak.com, it is an initiative that aims to bring order and value of a more or less a coherent and successful startup 2.0.

This is an issue that I find very interesting for several reasons. First, because the valuations of Internet companies have been a complex and recurring. At the end of the 90 were simply a messing around. I've been in meetings at investment banks in Madrid to the highest level, where the guru in-house bank valued a company mine between 6 and 9 million Euros to eye, without any objective criterion, and wondering "if it looked good," for about download or upload your opinion about 50% this assessment.

With the stamp of the bank did not dispute that if anyone was real or just a messing around, what was taken as the tablets of the law. Although the time of the technology bubble ended, and today it is discussed on valuations in a constructive manner. But in some ways even today remains the same thing happening to a lesser extent: it is difficult to assess a startup and easily valuations can vary by 100%, depending on who the set.

As an entrepreneur and investor in technology, every time I have in mind the profile of an entrepreneur, my opinion of him and his abilities. If you really have a project and need investment, your Business Plan may be impeccable, but today, if I like the idea, the sector has potential, and I've heard the market and I do not see a venture aimed at the same niche with most potential to yours, the key to my decision to invest is going to lie in the enterprising person.

THE IDEA every day, as a concept, is less important (although many do myth of it), and passes to second place after the entrepreneur. You can send me your wonderful business plan in which he showed me know whether or not to make a powerpoint credible, and if your numbers seem to me, but in the end, I, if the idea convinces me, so I would want is to spend some time you, and talks to eat a couple of times, and not only see if you Draft, but you are credible and have a projection as to accompany you, and you have the ability to make good decisions and people-to rodearte your team at that - same line.

This season in September 2007 to summer 2008, which now is finished for us has been that of certain investments and acquisitions, companies that once were the responsibility of ours, buying some websites and blogs, infrastructure through a powerful datacenter itself in Madrid , And launch our network of blogs. In this new season, starting in September I want is to invest in projects that seem interesting to us, accompanying entrepreneurs to contribute and we can not just look for money but also a technical structure and human know-how; grow laterally "out house" and for that one key is going to be as simple as an analysis of the feeling with the entrepreneur of the project, as simple as the human factor.

Tags: bizak, Entrepreneurs, investment, Pablo l. Renaud