{"id":2933,"date":"2021-09-30T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moneymade.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=2933"},"modified":"2025-06-03T17:39:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T17:39:57","slug":"how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Follow the Green, Not the Dream: How to Pick Winning Startups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>Awesome product? Check. Driven founder? Double check. Growing customer base? Triple check. For that reason, I\u2019m in.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Money_Made_Followthe_Green_Main_MO_ad28cde2c0.png\" alt=\"Follow the Green, Not the Dream: How to Pick Winning Startups\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s 8 PM on a Friday night. But you\u2019re not out getting wasted with your friends. Instead, you\u2019re glued to the TV, watching Shark Tank entrepreneurs pitch like hell for a chance to become instant millionaires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every now and then, the five sharks even team up to secure a deal. Of course, Barbara isn\u2019t there to say \u201cI\u2019m out\u201d for whatever reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As they&#8217;re shaking hands and congratulating the founders, you can\u2019t help but wonder: Why was this deal a no-brainer for the sharks? How exactly do they pick their winners?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id='%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8bbest-practices-for-investing-in-startups' class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-practices-for-investing-in-startups\">\u200b\u200bBest practices for investing in startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you dive into a sea of high-risk startup investing, let\u2019s explore how successful investors manage to keep their heads above water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-to-niche-or-not-to-niche\">To niche or not to niche?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Too often, newbies assume that they have to jump on all the hottest trends\u2014like Cannabis, Machine Learning, No-Code and the DeFi\u2014to hit a home run. But you could choose to specialize in one sector, like Blockchain Capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The benefits of niching down:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Develop a feel for the valuable problems in your sector and a keen BS detector that is able to separate the wheat from the chaff.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spot small, promising startups before they pop up on most investors\u2019 radars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make your life easier because you don\u2019t have to start from scratch when learning about a new startup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The cons of niching down:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Betting your entire career on the belief that your investment will go mainstream is risky.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Might require 10+ years of experience to become an industry expert.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ll miss out on billion-dollar opportunities in newly developed industries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-due-diligence-will-do-you-good\">Due diligence will do you good<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since you\u2019re headed into uncharted territory, you\u2019ll want to make sure the treasure actually exists and is worth your while. So leave no stone unturned: from the product, customers and competitors to the finances, regulations and founders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-have-a-finger-in-many-pies\">Have a finger in many pies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For reference, VCs expect 20% to 30% of their investments to go belly up (and they\u2019re trained experts). That\u2019s reason enough to diversify your investments across two or more startups. You might even want to diversify by industry and startup age (e.g. early-stage, mid-stage, late-stage).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-optional-teach-a-man-to-fish\">(Optional) Teach a man to fish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Startup investing doesn\u2019t have to be a passive investment strategy either. Beyond money, you can invest your time in mentoring startups helping them establish new business relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id='how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in' class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\">How to pick a startup to invest in<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You might be tempted to listen to your gut when picking startups to invest in, but that\u2019s probably just the gas talking. When it comes to pre-IPO startup investing, it&#8217;s all about due diligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With over 100 million startups launched every year, you need a set of criteria to zero in on the best candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-the-big-idea\">What\u2019s the big idea?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Forget about holding hands and singing kumbaya with startups promising to \u201cchange the world\u201d. At the end of the day, great startup ideas are simply about solving problems that are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Urgent:<\/strong> Painful enough that the customer can\u2019t live or work without a solution, also referred to as painkillers in the startup scene.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Underserved:<\/strong> Lacking in competition, either because the solution is new or difficult to replicate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>(Optional) Unavoidable:<\/strong> Triggered by events outside a customer\u2019s control, like regulatory changes, natural disasters, financial crises and pandemics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-but-how-big-is-it-really\">But how big is it, really?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We answer this by evaluating our Total Addressable Market (TAM):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Size:<\/strong> You\u2019d ideally invest in a startup that captures a tiny slice of a huge market, or one that dominates a new, potentially huge market.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Growth:<\/strong> Make sure the product isn\u2019t part of a dying industry, like newspapers, but one that\u2019s poised for growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Competition:<\/strong> I know your Econ professor taught you that competition is good for capitalism, but PayPal founder Peter Thiel says competition is for losers. So I\u2019m siding with the billionaire. On the one hand, a lack of competition could be a red flag that the idea isn\u2019t a moneymaker. But sometimes a lack of competition is just due to complacency. Take Lemonade Insurance for instance. Customers love them because, unlike the old guard, they don\u2019t try to screw you out of your claims.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-it-pays-to-be-different\">It pays to be different<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If people are willing to pay for a product, then you can bet that it will eventually be copied. So invest in startups with sustainable competitive advantages like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Switching costs:<\/strong> When users rely on a product or trust it too much to switch to another provider. E.g. your personalized Netflix recommendations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Network effects:<\/strong> A product whose utility relies on having more users than competitors. E.g. hosts and guests on Airbnb.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost advantages:<\/strong> Building more efficient economies of scale to offer lower prices. E.g. Tesla\u2019s $25,000 Model 3 (California only)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Intellectual property:<\/strong> Intangibles that other companies are legally prohibited from copying. E.g. Coca-Cola\u2019s secret recipe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Top-of-mind awareness:<\/strong> When a brand becomes synonymous with a certain category of products. E.g. Gillette and safety razors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-money-in-the-bank\">Money in the bank<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though Silicon Valley likes to glamorize this idea of running companies at a loss to reinvest into growth, you\u2019ll probably sleep easier at night knowing that your startup is profitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But making losses in the first few years isn\u2019t always a red flag, particularly in capital-intensive industries. Just make sure that the startup has high margins (50% plus), so you could at least foresee a path to profitability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-s-running-the-show\">Who\u2019s running the show?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>VCs often say that they invest in people, not products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But don\u2019t just go looking for young, quirky geniuses in hoodies and flip-flops. Too much young blood isn\u2019t always B-compatible (see what I did there?) with a well-run startup. Ideally, a startup should have experienced executives and investors on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what makes a star founder?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Passion:<\/strong> Are they willing to work grueling hours with no vacation or salary for five to ten years? Only someone with an emotional connection to the startup\u2019s mission would be up for that.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Track record:<\/strong> They\u2019ve led successful projects in the past. Extra points if they\u2019ve exited a startup before.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agility:<\/strong> \u201cEveryone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth\u201d. Is the founder able to get things done and adapt quickly when something isn\u2019t working?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Skin in the game:<\/strong> Talk is cheap. Has the founder demonstrated their commitment by e.g. quitting their job to pursue this full-time, investing their own money into the business?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you\u2019re dealing with two or three co-founders, you\u2019ll also want to pick up on their:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Commitment:<\/strong> Are they all equally passionate and dedicated to the mission?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cooperation:<\/strong> Do they try to upstage one another, or do they complement each other\u2019s skillsets?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-point-startup-investment-checklist\">10-\u200b\u200bpoint startup investment checklist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The ideal startup investment checks these boxes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Solves a painful problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has a large addressable market.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Few competitors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sustainable competitive advantages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Part of a growing sector.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Already profitable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scalable product.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High margins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Low risk of legal troubles.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 id='where-to-find-promising-startups' class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-where-to-find-promising-startups\">Where to find promising startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find startups in need of funding by either: manually sourcing deals or leveraging a crowdfunding platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Assuming that you qualify as an accredited investor, you can source your own deals by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keeping up with startup news to discover funding rounds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building your business network by e.g. attending startup pitching events and getting in touch with organizations (banks, accountancies, incubators, accelerators) that service early-stage startups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Becoming a member of a syndicated angel list, where angel investors pool their funds to invest in private startups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But why get bogged down in deal sourcing and due diligence when crowdfunding platforms do a lot of the heavy lifting for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-republic\">Republic<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/discover\/republic\">Republic<\/a> lets you invest in vetted startups across industries like consumer goods, energy, gaming and transportation for as little as $100. Less than 3% of applicants pass their due diligence process, which covers everything from the founders and product to the market and financials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wefunder\">Wefunder<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond making money, <a href=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/discover\/wefunder\">Wefunder<\/a> is about supporting the startups you love to help them build the future you want to see. Invest $100 or more into everything from flying cars and cancer cures to minority-owned breweries and indie films.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Awesome product? Check. Driven founder? Double check. Growing customer base? Triple check. For that reason, I\u2019m in. It\u2019s 8 PM on a Friday night. But you\u2019re not out getting wasted with your friends. Instead, you\u2019re glued to the TV, watching Shark Tank entrepreneurs pitch like hell for a chance to become instant millionaires. Every now [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[27,61],"post_authors":[81],"class_list":["post-2933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-startups"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.1 (Yoast SEO v25.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Pick Winning Startups to Invest in | MoneyMade<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Startup investing can make you a lot of money, but you can also lose it all. Here&#039;s how to pick a startup to invest in.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Follow the Green, Not the Dream: How to Pick Winning Startups\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Startup investing can make you a lot of money, but you can also lose it all. Here&#039;s how to pick a startup to invest in.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MoneyMade\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-09-30T15:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-03T17:39:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Money_Made_Followthe_Green_Main_MO_ad28cde2c0.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"nick@klaymedia.com\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"nick@klaymedia.com\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/#\/schema\/person\/8c0c0c37e0c31b81a77ea024f0085a4b\"},\"headline\":\"Follow the Green, Not the Dream: How to Pick Winning Startups\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-09-30T15:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-03T17:39:57+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/\"},\"wordCount\":1403,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Money_Made_Followthe_Green_Main_MO_ad28cde2c0.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Entrepreneurship\",\"Startups\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Articles\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/\",\"name\":\"How to Pick Winning Startups to Invest in | MoneyMade\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Money_Made_Followthe_Green_Main_MO_ad28cde2c0.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-09-30T15:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-03T17:39:57+00:00\",\"description\":\"Startup investing can make you a lot of money, but you can also lose it all. 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Check. Driven founder? Double check. Growing customer base? Triple check. For that reason, I\u2019m in.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p><strong><em>Awesome product? Check. Driven founder? Double check. Growing customer base? Triple check. For that reason, I\u2019m in.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/columns","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/column","attrs":{"width":"10%"},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/column","attrs":{"width":"80%"},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Money_Made_Followthe_Green_Main_MO_ad28cde2c0.png\" alt=\"Follow the Green, Not the Dream: How to Pick Winning Startups\"\/><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Money_Made_Followthe_Green_Main_MO_ad28cde2c0.png\" alt=\"Follow the Green, Not the Dream: How to Pick Winning Startups\"\/><\/figure>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\"><\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">",null,"<\/div>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/column","attrs":{"width":"10%"},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/div>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>It\u2019s 8 PM on a Friday night. But you\u2019re not out getting wasted with your friends. Instead, you\u2019re glued to the TV, watching Shark Tank entrepreneurs pitch like hell for a chance to become instant millionaires.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>It\u2019s 8 PM on a Friday night. But you\u2019re not out getting wasted with your friends. Instead, you\u2019re glued to the TV, watching Shark Tank entrepreneurs pitch like hell for a chance to become instant millionaires.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Every now and then, the five sharks even team up to secure a deal. Of course, Barbara isn\u2019t there to say \u201cI\u2019m out\u201d for whatever reason.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Every now and then, the five sharks even team up to secure a deal. Of course, Barbara isn\u2019t there to say \u201cI\u2019m out\u201d for whatever reason.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>As they're shaking hands and congratulating the founders, you can\u2019t help but wonder: Why was this deal a no-brainer for the sharks? How exactly do they pick their winners?<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>As they're shaking hands and congratulating the founders, you can\u2019t help but wonder: Why was this deal a no-brainer for the sharks? How exactly do they pick their winners?<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-practices-for-investing-in-startups\">\u200b\u200bBest practices for investing in startups<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-practices-for-investing-in-startups\">\u200b\u200bBest practices for investing in startups<\/h2>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Before you dive into a sea of high-risk startup investing, let\u2019s explore how successful investors manage to keep their heads above water.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Before you dive into a sea of high-risk startup investing, let\u2019s explore how successful investors manage to keep their heads above water.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-to-niche-or-not-to-niche\">To niche or not to niche?<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-to-niche-or-not-to-niche\">To niche or not to niche?<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Too often, newbies assume that they have to jump on all the hottest trends\u2014like Cannabis, Machine Learning, No-Code and the DeFi\u2014to hit a home run. But you could choose to specialize in one sector, like Blockchain Capital.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Too often, newbies assume that they have to jump on all the hottest trends\u2014like Cannabis, Machine Learning, No-Code and the DeFi\u2014to hit a home run. But you could choose to specialize in one sector, like Blockchain Capital.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p><strong>The benefits of niching down:<\/strong><\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p><strong>The benefits of niching down:<\/strong><\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Develop a feel for the valuable problems in your sector and a keen BS detector that is able to separate the wheat from the chaff.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Develop a feel for the valuable problems in your sector and a keen BS detector that is able to separate the wheat from the chaff.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Spot small, promising startups before they pop up on most investors\u2019 radars.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Spot small, promising startups before they pop up on most investors\u2019 radars.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Make your life easier because you don\u2019t have to start from scratch when learning about a new startup.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Make your life easier because you don\u2019t have to start from scratch when learning about a new startup.<\/li>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n","innerContent":["\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/ul>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p><strong>The cons of niching down:<\/strong><\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p><strong>The cons of niching down:<\/strong><\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Betting your entire career on the belief that your investment will go mainstream is risky.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Betting your entire career on the belief that your investment will go mainstream is risky.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Might require 10+ years of experience to become an industry expert.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Might require 10+ years of experience to become an industry expert.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>You\u2019ll miss out on billion-dollar opportunities in newly developed industries.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>You\u2019ll miss out on billion-dollar opportunities in newly developed industries.<\/li>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n","innerContent":["\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/ul>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-due-diligence-will-do-you-good\">Due diligence will do you good<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-due-diligence-will-do-you-good\">Due diligence will do you good<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Since you\u2019re headed into uncharted territory, you\u2019ll want to make sure the treasure actually exists and is worth your while. So leave no stone unturned: from the product, customers and competitors to the finances, regulations and founders.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Since you\u2019re headed into uncharted territory, you\u2019ll want to make sure the treasure actually exists and is worth your while. So leave no stone unturned: from the product, customers and competitors to the finances, regulations and founders.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-have-a-finger-in-many-pies\">Have a finger in many pies<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-have-a-finger-in-many-pies\">Have a finger in many pies<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>For reference, VCs expect 20% to 30% of their investments to go belly up (and they\u2019re trained experts). That\u2019s reason enough to diversify your investments across two or more startups. You might even want to diversify by industry and startup age (e.g. early-stage, mid-stage, late-stage).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>For reference, VCs expect 20% to 30% of their investments to go belly up (and they\u2019re trained experts). That\u2019s reason enough to diversify your investments across two or more startups. You might even want to diversify by industry and startup age (e.g. early-stage, mid-stage, late-stage).<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-optional-teach-a-man-to-fish\">(Optional) Teach a man to fish<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-optional-teach-a-man-to-fish\">(Optional) Teach a man to fish<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Startup investing doesn\u2019t have to be a passive investment strategy either. Beyond money, you can invest your time in mentoring startups helping them establish new business relations.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Startup investing doesn\u2019t have to be a passive investment strategy either. Beyond money, you can invest your time in mentoring startups helping them establish new business relations.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\">How to pick a startup to invest in<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-pick-a-startup-to-invest-in\">How to pick a startup to invest in<\/h2>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>You might be tempted to listen to your gut when picking startups to invest in, but that\u2019s probably just the gas talking. When it comes to pre-IPO startup investing, it's all about due diligence.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>You might be tempted to listen to your gut when picking startups to invest in, but that\u2019s probably just the gas talking. When it comes to pre-IPO startup investing, it's all about due diligence.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>With over 100 million startups launched every year, you need a set of criteria to zero in on the best candidates.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>With over 100 million startups launched every year, you need a set of criteria to zero in on the best candidates.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-the-big-idea\">What\u2019s the big idea?<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-the-big-idea\">What\u2019s the big idea?<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Forget about holding hands and singing kumbaya with startups promising to \u201cchange the world\u201d. At the end of the day, great startup ideas are simply about solving problems that are:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Forget about holding hands and singing kumbaya with startups promising to \u201cchange the world\u201d. At the end of the day, great startup ideas are simply about solving problems that are:<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Urgent:<\/strong> Painful enough that the customer can\u2019t live or work without a solution, also referred to as painkillers in the startup scene.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Urgent:<\/strong> Painful enough that the customer can\u2019t live or work without a solution, also referred to as painkillers in the startup scene.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Underserved:<\/strong> Lacking in competition, either because the solution is new or difficult to replicate.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Underserved:<\/strong> Lacking in competition, either because the solution is new or difficult to replicate.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>(Optional) Unavoidable:<\/strong> Triggered by events outside a customer\u2019s control, like regulatory changes, natural disasters, financial crises and pandemics.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>(Optional) Unavoidable:<\/strong> Triggered by events outside a customer\u2019s control, like regulatory changes, natural disasters, financial crises and pandemics.<\/li>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n","innerContent":["\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/ul>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-but-how-big-is-it-really\">But how big is it, really?<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-but-how-big-is-it-really\">But how big is it, really?<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>We answer this by evaluating our Total Addressable Market (TAM):<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>We answer this by evaluating our Total Addressable Market (TAM):<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Size:<\/strong> You\u2019d ideally invest in a startup that captures a tiny slice of a huge market, or one that dominates a new, potentially huge market.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Size:<\/strong> You\u2019d ideally invest in a startup that captures a tiny slice of a huge market, or one that dominates a new, potentially huge market.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Growth:<\/strong> Make sure the product isn\u2019t part of a dying industry, like newspapers, but one that\u2019s poised for growth.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Growth:<\/strong> Make sure the product isn\u2019t part of a dying industry, like newspapers, but one that\u2019s poised for growth.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Competition:<\/strong> I know your Econ professor taught you that competition is good for capitalism, but PayPal founder Peter Thiel says competition is for losers. So I\u2019m siding with the billionaire. On the one hand, a lack of competition could be a red flag that the idea isn\u2019t a moneymaker. But sometimes a lack of competition is just due to complacency. Take Lemonade Insurance for instance. Customers love them because, unlike the old guard, they don\u2019t try to screw you out of your claims.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Competition:<\/strong> I know your Econ professor taught you that competition is good for capitalism, but PayPal founder Peter Thiel says competition is for losers. So I\u2019m siding with the billionaire. On the one hand, a lack of competition could be a red flag that the idea isn\u2019t a moneymaker. But sometimes a lack of competition is just due to complacency. Take Lemonade Insurance for instance. Customers love them because, unlike the old guard, they don\u2019t try to screw you out of your claims.<\/li>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n","innerContent":["\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/ul>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-it-pays-to-be-different\">It pays to be different<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-it-pays-to-be-different\">It pays to be different<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>If people are willing to pay for a product, then you can bet that it will eventually be copied. So invest in startups with sustainable competitive advantages like:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>If people are willing to pay for a product, then you can bet that it will eventually be copied. So invest in startups with sustainable competitive advantages like:<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Switching costs:<\/strong> When users rely on a product or trust it too much to switch to another provider. E.g. your personalized Netflix recommendations.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Switching costs:<\/strong> When users rely on a product or trust it too much to switch to another provider. E.g. your personalized Netflix recommendations.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Network effects:<\/strong> A product whose utility relies on having more users than competitors. E.g. hosts and guests on Airbnb.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Network effects:<\/strong> A product whose utility relies on having more users than competitors. E.g. hosts and guests on Airbnb.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Cost advantages:<\/strong> Building more efficient economies of scale to offer lower prices. E.g. Tesla\u2019s $25,000 Model 3 (California only)<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Cost advantages:<\/strong> Building more efficient economies of scale to offer lower prices. E.g. Tesla\u2019s $25,000 Model 3 (California only)<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Intellectual property:<\/strong> Intangibles that other companies are legally prohibited from copying. E.g. Coca-Cola\u2019s secret recipe.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Intellectual property:<\/strong> Intangibles that other companies are legally prohibited from copying. E.g. Coca-Cola\u2019s secret recipe.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Top-of-mind awareness:<\/strong> When a brand becomes synonymous with a certain category of products. E.g. Gillette and safety razors.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Top-of-mind awareness:<\/strong> When a brand becomes synonymous with a certain category of products. E.g. Gillette and safety razors.<\/li>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n","innerContent":["\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/ul>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-money-in-the-bank\">Money in the bank<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-money-in-the-bank\">Money in the bank<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Even though Silicon Valley likes to glamorize this idea of running companies at a loss to reinvest into growth, you\u2019ll probably sleep easier at night knowing that your startup is profitable.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Even though Silicon Valley likes to glamorize this idea of running companies at a loss to reinvest into growth, you\u2019ll probably sleep easier at night knowing that your startup is profitable.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>But making losses in the first few years isn\u2019t always a red flag, particularly in capital-intensive industries. Just make sure that the startup has high margins (50% plus), so you could at least foresee a path to profitability.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>But making losses in the first few years isn\u2019t always a red flag, particularly in capital-intensive industries. Just make sure that the startup has high margins (50% plus), so you could at least foresee a path to profitability.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-s-running-the-show\">Who\u2019s running the show?<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-s-running-the-show\">Who\u2019s running the show?<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>VCs often say that they invest in people, not products.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>VCs often say that they invest in people, not products.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>But don\u2019t just go looking for young, quirky geniuses in hoodies and flip-flops. Too much young blood isn\u2019t always B-compatible (see what I did there?) with a well-run startup. Ideally, a startup should have experienced executives and investors on board.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>But don\u2019t just go looking for young, quirky geniuses in hoodies and flip-flops. Too much young blood isn\u2019t always B-compatible (see what I did there?) with a well-run startup. Ideally, a startup should have experienced executives and investors on board.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>But what makes a star founder?<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>But what makes a star founder?<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Passion:<\/strong> Are they willing to work grueling hours with no vacation or salary for five to ten years? Only someone with an emotional connection to the startup\u2019s mission would be up for that.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Passion:<\/strong> Are they willing to work grueling hours with no vacation or salary for five to ten years? Only someone with an emotional connection to the startup\u2019s mission would be up for that.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Track record:<\/strong> They\u2019ve led successful projects in the past. Extra points if they\u2019ve exited a startup before.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Track record:<\/strong> They\u2019ve led successful projects in the past. Extra points if they\u2019ve exited a startup before.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Agility:<\/strong> \u201cEveryone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth\u201d. Is the founder able to get things done and adapt quickly when something isn\u2019t working?<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Agility:<\/strong> \u201cEveryone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth\u201d. Is the founder able to get things done and adapt quickly when something isn\u2019t working?<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Skin in the game:<\/strong> Talk is cheap. Has the founder demonstrated their commitment by e.g. quitting their job to pursue this full-time, investing their own money into the business?<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Skin in the game:<\/strong> Talk is cheap. Has the founder demonstrated their commitment by e.g. quitting their job to pursue this full-time, investing their own money into the business?<\/li>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n","innerContent":["\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/ul>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>And if you\u2019re dealing with two or three co-founders, you\u2019ll also want to pick up on their:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>And if you\u2019re dealing with two or three co-founders, you\u2019ll also want to pick up on their:<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Commitment:<\/strong> Are they all equally passionate and dedicated to the mission?<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Commitment:<\/strong> Are they all equally passionate and dedicated to the mission?<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li><strong>Cooperation:<\/strong> Do they try to upstage one another, or do they complement each other\u2019s skillsets?<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li><strong>Cooperation:<\/strong> Do they try to upstage one another, or do they complement each other\u2019s skillsets?<\/li>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<\/ul>\n","innerContent":["\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/ul>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":3},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-point-startup-investment-checklist\">10-\u200b\u200bpoint startup investment checklist<\/h3>\n","innerContent":["\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-point-startup-investment-checklist\">10-\u200b\u200bpoint startup investment checklist<\/h3>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>The ideal startup investment checks these boxes:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>The ideal startup investment checks these boxes:<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list","attrs":{"ordered":true},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Solves a painful problem.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Solves a painful problem.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Has a large addressable market.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Has a large addressable market.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Few competitors.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Few competitors.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Sustainable competitive advantages.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Sustainable competitive advantages.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Part of a growing sector.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Part of a growing sector.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Already profitable.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Already profitable.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Scalable product.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Scalable product.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>High margins.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>High margins.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Strong management.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Strong management.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Low risk of legal troubles.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Low risk of legal troubles.<\/li>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ol>\n","innerContent":["\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/ol>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-where-to-find-promising-startups\">Where to find promising startups<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-where-to-find-promising-startups\">Where to find promising startups<\/h2>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>You can find startups in need of funding by either: manually sourcing deals or leveraging a crowdfunding platform.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>You can find startups in need of funding by either: manually sourcing deals or leveraging a crowdfunding platform.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Assuming that you qualify as an accredited investor, you can source your own deals by:<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Assuming that you qualify as an accredited investor, you can source your own deals by:<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Keeping up with startup news to discover funding rounds.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Keeping up with startup news to discover funding rounds.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Building your business network by e.g. attending startup pitching events and getting in touch with organizations (banks, accountancies, incubators, accelerators) that service early-stage startups.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Building your business network by e.g. attending startup pitching events and getting in touch with organizations (banks, accountancies, incubators, accelerators) that service early-stage startups.<\/li>\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/list-item","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<li>Becoming a member of a syndicated angel list, where angel investors pool their funds to invest in private startups.<\/li>\n","innerContent":["\n<li>Becoming a member of a syndicated angel list, where angel investors pool their funds to invest in private startups.<\/li>\n"]}],"innerHTML":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n","innerContent":["\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">",null,"\n\n",null,"\n\n",null,"<\/ul>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>But why get bogged down in deal sourcing and due diligence when crowdfunding platforms do a lot of the heavy lifting for you?<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>But why get bogged down in deal sourcing and due diligence when crowdfunding platforms do a lot of the heavy lifting for you?<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":4},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-republic\">Republic<\/h4>\n","innerContent":["\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-republic\">Republic<\/h4>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/discover\/republic\">Republic<\/a> lets you invest in vetted startups across industries like consumer goods, energy, gaming and transportation for as little as $100. Less than 3% of applicants pass their due diligence process, which covers everything from the founders and product to the market and financials.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/discover\/republic\">Republic<\/a> lets you invest in vetted startups across industries like consumer goods, energy, gaming and transportation for as little as $100. Less than 3% of applicants pass their due diligence process, which covers everything from the founders and product to the market and financials.<\/p>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"level":4},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wefunder\">Wefunder<\/h4>\n","innerContent":["\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wefunder\">Wefunder<\/h4>\n"]},{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n","innerContent":["\n\n"]},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>Beyond making money, <a href=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/discover\/wefunder\">Wefunder<\/a> is about supporting the startups you love to help them build the future you want to see. Invest $100 or more into everything from flying cars and cancer cures to minority-owned breweries and indie films.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>Beyond making money, <a href=\"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/discover\/wefunder\">Wefunder<\/a> is about supporting the startups you love to help them build the future you want to see. Invest $100 or more into everything from flying cars and cancer cures to minority-owned breweries and indie films.<\/p>\n"]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2933"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2933\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2933"},{"taxonomy":"post_authors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_authors?post=2933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}