All posts by Todd Crosland

Entrepreneurship

Venture Capital Firms Bring in Money

Todd Crosland EntrepreneurshipVenture Capital firms have been in existence for years, yet they do not always bring in as much money as they would hope. This year, however, is different. Since 2016 began, these types of firms have been able to collect money at a rate greater than they have in fifteen years. More surprisingly, they are managing this feat even as the valuation of many startups begins to drop. Even as ‘unicorn’ startups become less enchanting in Venture Capital, investors are still reaping rewards.

Venture Capital firms have been able to raise over ten billion dollars since the beginning of the new year, at an astonishing rate. It turns out, while investments in startups are slowing, investments in Venture Capital firms are not. Of course, this was predicted last year. When polled, the majority investors in these funds announced that they would continue to match or increase the amount of money they were giving to firms. The firms, however, are the reason startups are having more trouble raising money.

Why is this, exactly? Well, IPOs did not have a good year in 2015. The market was unpredictable, and new companies focused on technology were not as impressive as they have been in previous years. The Venture Capital firms have chosen to dole out money more slowly because startup valuation keeps going down. They are simply not sure which companies are going to make money, and which will remain stagnant or fail. Entrepreneurs who take the billions in Venture Capital raised as a good sign must keep this in mind.

Venture Capital firms that are amassing this money have a few options for where to go from here. They seem to have given up on pouring money into late-stage startups, but may continue to focus on early-stage companies. At least early-stage investments have the ability to give investors a portion of return, therefore this may be the most viable option for Venture Capital firms.

However, this also calls into question how this will affect the slowing entrepreneurial boom in the United States. Of course, if Venture Capital firms choose to invest in early-stage startups, fresh faces in the startup world need not worry. However, that leaves later-stage startups out to dry. If the funding continues to shrink for these late-stage companies, which I suspect it will, we may see an increase in startups trying to exit more quickly than they would normally, or than others have in the past.

Now, entrepreneurs must focus on generating a positive cash flow. This is the only way to make sure that startup companies stay afloat, which may bring in additional funding along the way.

Entrepreneurship

Everything you Need To Know About Title III of the Jobs Act

Todd Crosland Entrepreneurship

In a previous blog post, I spoke about a government policy called Title III of the JOBS Act which would make equity crowdfunding available to startups and small companies. While the law has not yet come to pass, it will open the door for a number of aspiring entrepreneurs to partake in crowdfunding on the equity level, rather than simply doing regular crowdfunding. Equity crowdfunding is more beneficial because, when an investor gives money to a business, said investor will then have ownership of a small portion of the business. Equity crowdfunding has become very popular due to its mutually beneficial nature. It has been met with some incredible results and it is exciting to think that soon a law will allow small companies to invest as well. Here are a few things to keep in mind about Title III of the JOBS Act:

1) What information is required of a company that is gaining investors?

When a company gains investors, there is a certain amount of information that, by law, this company must reveal. It must tell investors the price of securities, the method by which they determined the price, the target offering amount, the deadline by which to reach that target, and whether or not the company will be willing to accept investments that exceed their target. This information must also be filed with the SEC. In addition, a company must provide a description of the product or business and have a discussion regarding the financial condition of the company. Lastly, companies must provide information about directors, officers, and owners of 20 percent or more of the company, as well as yearly financial statements.

2) What can we as the “crowd” invest?

One legal restriction placed on investors is that if either the net worth or the annual income of the investor is less than $100,000, investors are limited to the greater of $2,000, or 5 percent of the lesser of their annual income or net worth. In the case that both the net worth and the annual income of the investor are greater than or equal to $100,000, there is a different restriction. In this case, investors are limited to one tenth of the lesser of their net worth or annual income. 

3) Under equity crowdfunding, what liability will a company and its officer have?

Unlike Kickstarter, equity crowdfunding involves selling securities rather than simply the pre-sale of a product. There are both state and federal laws in place that restrict the sale of securities. If you do something against these laws, it is possible for your company, along with its directors and officers, to be sued. In some cases, people have even gone to jail for breaking these regulations. Essentially, telling the truth is absolutely mandatory because, if you lie, you can get in some serious legal trouble. 

These are just a few pointers to keep in mind when Title III of the Jobs Act comes into play. This law will play a large role in the growth of equity crowdfunding by opening the playing field to small businesses rather than just large companies.

Entrepreneurship

Choose Equity Crowdfunding over Crowdfunding

Todd Crosland

Any company that has thought about raising money knows about websites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, which fund company startups through online donations by regular citizens. This crowdfunding practice is popular among small companies and online sensations. It works because the person(s) raising money offers a small incentive for donation. In The Oatmeal’s campaign, for example, everyone who donated was sent a copy of their game before it was officially released on the market. For others, the gift is a t-shirt or some other type of trinket. However, many companies are, instead of going to open crowdfunding websites, getting involved in equity crowdfunding. There are many benefits involved in equity crowdfunding that are not present in a regular crowdfunding campaign.

The founder of Spacefy, for example, wanted to raise a large amount of money for his company that would have been very difficult through regular crowdfunding. So, he tried equity crowdfunding for his company and ended up raising more money than he had initially needed. Spacefy decided to try equity crowdfunding before Title III was passed, meaning that it was not a more popular means of fundraising. However, they took the chance because they wanted the extra money and publicity that could come from equity crowdfunding.

They are, of course, not the only company to choose equity crowdfunding over regular crowdfunding. Many investors are excited by the chance of being able to gain equity in a company when investing. This would mean, if the company did well, the return on their investment would grow, rather than remain stagnant in something like a t-shirt.

I believe equity crowdfunding is the next big stage of crowdfunding, poised to become even bigger than regular crowdfunding. With companies backed by regular civilians on Kickstarter doing so well, more and more people who gave money wish they got a return on the company’s success. Of course, there are risks that everyone putting money in equity crowdfunding needs to take into account. Like any investment, those that invest need to make sure they truly understand and believe in the company that they give their money to. Take into account that many startups are not successful, and therefore there is a high chance of losing money, or not gaining a return on investment at all.

However, there will be a few companies that succeed. There will be more companies such as Oculus that become worth billions of dollars. Those companies will create a large return on investment, and equity crowdfunding will make sure investors get rewarded for their efforts.

United States

Equity Crowdfunding Legal in 2016

On May 16, 2016, Equity Crowdfunding for non-accredited investors will become legal. This was, of course, a part of the JOBS act that was passed in April of 2012, but the equity crowdfunding provision has been on hold and in debate for over three years. The Securities and Exchange Commission published extra regulations that finally got the provision passed.

This equity crowdfunding provision, also known as Title III, was in debate for such a long time because of the fear that it could invite more fraud. Title III, in its simplest form, is a provision that allows non-accredited investors into equity crowdfunding. Basically, the average Joe will now have the ability to invest in a young company. Title III was initially thought of as a way to keep up the incredible equity crowdfunding growth rate that has been seen for the past five years and now, with its implementation, this growth rate may even get larger.

Of course, there will be regulations. Title III is being implemented through broker-dealers and internet portals specifically designed to host public offerings. This means that anyone can invest in a company, but there is less of a chance of fraud and illegal activity. Additionally, there are limits on the amount of money that can be raised through one investor, which depends on the income of each individual investor. There are also limits on the amount of money that a company can raise through these portals within a 12 month period.

The companies raising money are required to submit detailed answers to investment questions before accepting any offers. This includes, among other items, the risk of investing in their company. There are many other requirements the startups must meet, and questions they must answer, before entering these secure channels to accept investments. However, the payoff in the end will be much greater, as now there is a wider population from which to accept investments.

Title III is a great way for new companies to find investors. It allows companies to advertise their offerings to the public, which was before illegal, and to freely discuss business with investors through secure portals. Although there is dissent, I believe that the implementation of Title III will do great things to the startup investment space. Although the significant regulations imposed on companies within Title III could be a barrier to progress, this provision will surely help more startups become successful.

For more information on the passing of Title III, read this article on Mondaq.

Entrepreneurship, United States

Military Spouses in Entrepreneurship

There are many different subgroups within the umbrella of ‘entrepreneur.’ A few examples would be social entrepreneurs, tech entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, and, most recently, military spouse entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship within the community of military spouses has been growing for a good reason. The careers of the husbands and wives of those in the military are usually put on hold due to constant movement and the responsibilities of caring for their children as single parents. Entrepreneurship has given these individuals a way to delve back into their preferred career paths from remote locations.

Of course, being a military spouse with a business to run is not easy. Business owners have to deal with the challenge of managing a remote workforce, and engaging their target audiences, in the midst of busy days and weeks. This is why nonprofits such as The MilSpo Project have been formed. They educate military spouses on how to manage their time, and provide support to any who require it.

Very recently, an article came out in Forbes about the company R. Riveter, which was begun by two military spouses. Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruse founded this company of handmade products in lieu of taking jobs below their experience levels because their husbands were in the military. R. Riveter is a company based on female empowerment, and Cruse and Bradley are making it work in spite of their busy schedules.

The amazing thing about this company, besides the high-quality handbags, is that it works to employ other military spouses as well. Once Bradley and Cruse realized they would have to put their professional careers on hold because their husbands were in the military, they wanted to make a company to help themselves and other women. All of the products of R. Riveter are handmade by military spouses who live in different locations in the country.

Additionally, of course, everything in R. Riveter can be accomplished in a remote location. Bradley and Cruse have formed the company with the knowledge that their employees will be moved around, so they have made everything flexible. Furthermore, all of their materials are made from recycled military equipment. Even their products are the embodiment of the life of a military spouse.

In order to be a happily employed military spouse, a creative business model has to be put into play. Bradley and Cruse realized this early on in their careers, however I doubt they will be the last. I expect to see a rise in the military spouse entrepreneur community as more people realize they do not have to give up their career goals for the career of their spouse.

Entrepreneurship

Is All Entrepreneurship Social?

The term ‘social entrepreneurship’ has become popular in the small business world. It’s a buzzword that is defined as utilizing entrepreneurial techniques to find solutions to social issues. A ‘social entrepreneur’ is a business owner who connects their company with some philanthropic cause. For example, Jordan Kasselow runs the company VisionSpring, which sells inexpensive reading glasses in developing countries.

So far, this makes sense. Social entrepreneurship is about solving social problems, which equates to making philanthropy part of a company’s mission. However, Ray Hennessey, a writer for Entrepreneur Magazine, does not agree. In a recent article, Hennessey postulates that all entrepreneurship is social entrepreneurship, and separating the definitions of the two is harming the entire startup industry.

In his opinion, all business brings good to society, whether or not the business is philanthropic in nature. He is not wrong. Entrepreneurs start companies based on a problem they want to solve. Whether it is a problem that affects an entire country, or perhaps just an individual, a company can only succeed if it has a product that people want to buy. Namely, a product that solves some sort of problem.

Does it matter if social entrepreneurship is defined as being separate, and somehow bigger, than regular entrepreneurship? Hennessey thinks so. He writes that CEOs of companies, big or small, are thought of as being greedy money-hoarders. This is why stories of companies doing any good, whether it be donating to charity or treating employees well, go viral. People are surprised when CEOs care, but are not surprised when a company hurts the environment or cheats employees out of money and benefits.

The term ‘social entrepreneur’ has become a loophole to this stereotype. Rather than being an actual entity, it has become a marketing tactic for starting a business. Social entrepreneurs are looked upon more kindly, and therefore are able to raise more money, but the nature of a marketing tactic is that it is only that. Social entrepreneurs are no different from regular entrepreneurs, save in how they define themselves.

Hennessey makes a good point in his assertion that companies known for bad deeds have contributed to social good, and conversely companies known for their philanthropy have, at some point, harmed society. There is no black and white between ‘good’ companies and ‘evil’ companies, as CEOs are faced with having to make a profit while solving social problems.
Entrepreneurs that want to be successful in the long run are focused on solving a problem in society, and on treating their employees and customers well. That sounds like doing social good to me.

Entrepreneurship

10 Highest Grossing Crowdfunding Campaign

A couple of weeks ago Pebble smart watch launched the most successful crowdfunding campaigns in history, raising over $16.5 million in crowdfunding revenue.  Over 60,000 individuals backed the campaign, and the launch date is set for May of this year. This crowdfunding campaign beat the previous record holder, the Coolest Cooler that was able to raise $13.3 million. Below is a list of the 10 most successful kickstarter projects of all time.

 

1)   Pebble Time raised $16.5 million

2)   Coolest Cooler raised $13.2 million

3)   Pebble 1st gen smartwatch raised $10.2 million

4)   Exploding Kittens card game raised $8.7 million

5)   OUYA games console raised $8.5 million

6)   Pono Music player raised $6.2 million

7)   The Veronica Mars movie raised $5.7 million

8)   Bring Back Reading Rainbow raised $5.4 million

9)   Torment: Tides of Numenera game raised $4.1 million

10)  Project Eternity game raised $3.9 million

 

United States

Draper University of Heroes: School for Entrepreneurs

Todd-Crosland-entreprneurship-university-Draper-UniversityFounder of the successful venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Tim Draper, recently developed an entrepreneurship boarding school in Silicon Valley called Draper University of Heroes. As the education industry is changing due to increased technology, education developers must innovate to increase student achievement in the classroom. While multiple people told Tim that entrepreneurship cannot be taught, he tried to find a way to make this possible through education.

Tim thought that something was missing from his formal education: the ability to fail. In modern day education, students are rewarded by following directions and not making mistakes. In entrepreneurship, it is important to make mistakes so that you can learn from them and move forward.

Draper University will be a much freer institution where students are encouraged to take risks and learn from their mistakes. There will be no standard curriculums, as successful entrepreneurs will come to the classroom and speak towards their experiences and what allowed them to become successful. There will be no history taught, as the only focus is towards the future, so the first part of the program is called “future.”

The second part of the program is survival. This is both an urban and rural survival course that contains militaristic aspects and potential mental anguish. There will be a lot of activities coming at you at a fast pace that will come together in a two-minute presentation to a panel of venture capitalists.

Draper University is a completely different form of schooling that most professors would not agree with. The students learn by doing and creating their own failures. This sort of shake up and real life training to suppose to stir up the students creativity and force them to do rather than to analytically think about every possible outcome. Businesses become successful by entrepreneurs actually making and running their businesses rather than trying to perfect it in the beginning stages. When a business makes a mistake, the entrepreneur will find a way to adjust and move forward. This is what Draper University stands for, and hopefully successful entrepreneurs will come out of the program.

United States

Lessons Learned from Being an Entrepreneur

Todd Crosland entrepreneurship blogThree years ago, Maja Svensson left her big corporate job to create her own business. She created Elsa and Me, a fashion business based out of New York City. In the three years since she started the endeavor, she has learned many things from the various periods of up and down. As a result, she recently completed an article for Huffington Post Women to accumulate her tips, in the hopes of helping others who seek to become entrepreneurs.
First, Svensson says that it is important to remember that anyone can become an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs don’t act, dress or talk a certain way. There is no mold that must be fulfilled. To be an entrepreneur, it is really only important that the individual know who they are, what they are good at, and what keeps them motivated. Beyond this, there are three very crucial traits every entrepreneur must have to preserve and survive the other business endeavors that fail—persistence, passion and patience. Persistence marks the success stories from those who quit too early on. Passion helps fuel this persistence, as the individual must truly enjoy what they do to continue to work towards their ultimate goal. Finally, many entrepreneur success stories are reported as if they happened overnight. This is not the case, as it often takes a solid decade to really establish a business. Therefore, patience is key; again, passion should assist in maintaining this particularly problematic trait for some.
There is a conception that, to start a business, one must first have a brilliant new idea. This can often serve as a bit of a hang-up for those interested in starting a business, as it can become frustrating to fester on this idea. However, Svensson offers a solution for this problem; instead of focusing on creating, first focus on a product or service the individual enjoys and work to make the product or process used to create it better, smoother. This allows for a unique service to offer, without the reliance on complete creativity needed to find a new product. In addition to this, another hang-up can be prolonged for a bit as well; a business plan isn’t necessary directly from the start. First, make the product and welcome feedback from consumers. From there, the business plan can become more direct and finite. However, one thing that is completely necessary from the start is an understanding of the individual’s finances and financial goals. It is crucial to know how much it costs to run the business, how much the product costs to make and, therefore, how much needs to be charged for the product to make a profit.

United States

Mayors Focusing on Entrepreneurial Growth in their Cities

Todd Crosland US EntreprenerushipWhat are the public policies needed for a city to increase their entrepreneurship growth? In a recent article done by Entrepreneruship.com, they discuss actions taken by different mayors from their respective cities, and the policies and actions that they are taken to improve local economic growth.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, Mayor Nancy McFarlane has started an initiative to increase the city’s public partnerships with local entrepreneurs. She recently hired an Entrepreneurship Manager to follow up with local businesses and business owners. The Mayor also injected $100,000 into Citrix’ new accelerator program to aid local businesses with capital connections and local resources.

In Cincinnati, Ohio, Mayor John Cranley is funding a 30,000 square foot building that will house a large percentage of the city’s startup ecosystem. Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem includes Cintrifuse, a mentoring organization, Brandery, a startup accelerator, and CincyTech, a seed stage venture capital firm.

Mayor Andy Berke from Chattanooga, Tennessee is taking the route of offering direct incentives to startup companies. The incentives for these small businesses come as a $500 credit for each employee that they hire. Mayor Berke is also pushing an Open Data Policy, which will create a more transparent startup community in the hopes of more innovation based on statistics and big data. The city is also in the early development stages of building an Innovation District.

Next we have Mayor Mike Duggan from Detroit, Michigan. Detroit’s startup environment is on the rise as Microsoft Ventures recently announced their plans to build an office in downtown Detroit to perpetuate their increasing startup interests. Mayor Duggan also hired an entrepreneurship manager for the city as well as injecting $3 million into an accelerator program for entrepreneurs.