Moroni Flake

Every Monday, my co-founder, Jake Guerrero and I sit down to review our goals for the week. We break them down into two categories: daily tasks and project-based objectives. This not only keeps us focused but helps us stay organized and accountable. They say a problem is cut in half simply by writing it down— and it’s true! By the time we hit Friday, we’re ready to check off tasks with confidence. How do you plan your week for success? #Entrepreneurship #GoalSetting #Productivity #Leadership #StartTheWeekRight

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How to pitch: The company has zero traction —> “We’re early” You only have 2 customers —> “We’re working with design partners” You currently have no revenue but hoping some pipeline finally closes —> “we’re on track to exit this year at $3M ARR” You’re in the natural kill zone of a FAANG —> “We view them as partners rather than competitors” There’s no way the tech can actually work —>“We’re manifesting the future” And of course: One of your developers uses Co-Pilot to write some front end code —> “We’re an AI company”

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Founders- don’t confuse your duties across your organization. I see too many founders mixing thier duties… Why this is important is because it inevitably costs them time, energy, money or worse…the stability of the company. -IF YOU HAVE A ROLE IN THE COMPANY (I’m not talking active founder) like CMO, COO, biz dev etc… you are an employee. Set your comp as any other in the company salary brackets. Sign an employment agreement. If it’s not you, you need to budget what that cost is to hire. Of course depending on stage there are variables to get paid, but this should be a running tally regardless how/if/when you get compensated for that. If you aren’t performing, you should be able to be fired like anyone else. If you don’t do this with all your employees, enjoy labor disputes and lost wage claims… so you should be treated the same way! -IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR, as in you did a personal loan to the company you need to put it on your financials and be treated like any other creditor. Now, again, of course there is a Pandora’s box here to explore, but just in any loan you need to determine based on the stage of the venture can it pay you back, can it handle current debt service, do you take any interest at all, do you get a pref… all of this needs to be documented and voted on by the board. If you don’t, then consider the cash gone. -IF YOU ARE A SHAREHOLDER AND VOTING MEMBER then you need to act like a shareholder and recuse yourself when needed, vote as a fiduciary and be a fiduciary for the company covering itself from liability, protect OPM, and make emotionless decisions about staffing etc. Bottom line you need to “grow up” in operations as a company, an individual and a founder. If you don’t, inevitably I promise it will cost time, energy, money or worse.

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Valuable insight from a founder turned investor 💡 Give ethan austin a follow - he regularly shares details surrounding fundraising hurtles founders may face and how to overcome them. Timing ⏱️ - the hurdle you may not even know you are facing. #fundraising #venturcapital #founders #startups #vcfunding

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21 Ways to Kill Your Company Day 9: Poor Fundraising Strategy This means two things - be realistic about the benchmarks you need to unlock your next raise and then raise enough money to hit those milestones. Be great (and realistic) with financial planning. Don't forget those extra five months you typically need to raise. #21waystokillyourcompany #fundraising #venturecapital

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Want to stand out in a VC screening call? Ask thoughtful questions. Why it matters: 1. Shows you've done your research 2. Demonstrates genuine interest 3. Helps you understand if they're a good fit Go beyond "What's your check size?" Get specific to that fund and even the person you’re talking to. Remember, it's not just about us evaluating you - you're evaluating us too. What's the best question you've asked (or been asked) in a VC meeting?

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To become a successful entrepreneur, one must be resilient, coachable, visionary, and more. But what makes a good investor? It's often overlooked how much learning and practice is required to become a successful investor. Those who understand the points made by Harry Stebbings in his three-step programme are on the right track. As a former VC, I can testify that pre-seed investment is the most people-centric business you can experience in any industry. If you have the right founding team with spot-on chemistry, you win - simple as that. I created ETA Technologies to help investors quantify and measure the people element, allowing them to benchmark teams as smoothly as they do EBITDA or ARR. #venturecapital #fundraising #startups

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