Showing posts with label angel investors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label angel investors. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Omega Destiny - Balkan Region, Omega's First International Business Accelerator

We are looking for the hottest business startups in Balkan Region and the surrounding area to join Omega Destiny Accelerator! Omega helps founders grow faster by investing time, money, and technology.



About Balkan Region

Located on what was once a war-torn peninsula, the Balkans stand out today as some of the world's most diverse, complex and cosmopolitan countries. Countries in this region include Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Republic of Albania, Republic of Kosovo, Slovenia, Republic of North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania.

Western Balkans is a term used in the European Union to refer to six countries in Southern and Eastern Europe that are covered by EU enlargement policy: Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Republic of Kosovo, Republic of North Macedonia, and Republic of Serbia.

Click Here to Apply Now



Are you looking for funding for an idea or business, send us your stuff and we will take a look, Funding@OmegaSeedFund.com

Are you interested in investing time or money into any of our businesses, info@omegaseedfund.com

Are you interested in promoting your product or service to our audience, contact Opportunities@OmegaSeedFund.com


Disclaimer: This is only for informational and discussion purposes. This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. 

For more information on the region visit https://webdosya.kosgeb.gov.tr/Content/Upload/Dosya/AB/KOB%C4%B0_Politika_Endeksi_2022_(SME_Policy_Index_2022).pdf 

Photo by Faruk Kaymak on Unsplash


Thursday, December 15, 2022

Do Core Values Attract or Scare Angel Investors?

A few years ago I learned about this Michigan-based angel investor group. Supposedly they were active seed investors so I decided to send them one of our investment opportunities. When going through our 1-Page Executive Summary, one of the investors scolded “why do you have a core values section on here? No one from the group invested in this project. Coincidence?



What Are Core Values?

Core values are an individual or organization's fundamental beliefs and highest priorities that drive their behavior. You can think of core values as an internal compass of principles that drive a person's or organization's decisions.

I have found that aligning your core values with everyone that touches your business in the beginning is very important. You set the tone for the future by building a team around a shared belief system. After that, like attracts like.

I once that you shouldn’t need to publish your core values, people should just know them by your actions. I think that’s true down the road, but in the beginning, I think you need to elaborate about establishing the core values that are important to you that way, you attract the right founders, investors, employees, contractors, customers, vendors, etc.

Here’s a link to our survey on LinkedIn about core values, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rencarlton_are-core-values-important-for-a-new-businsess-activity-7009185321401602051-0wLq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

My Core Values

Here is an example of some of the core values I believe are important. It is a work in progress.

  • Abundance versus scarcity mindset, there is more than enough for everyone 
  • Accountability take responsibility for our actions 
  • Action not just words 
  • Attitude of gratitude, thank and praise God for our blessings 
  • Be humble in our victories and gracious in our defeats 
  • Bless don’t curse
  • Bravery fortune favors the bold 
  • Collaborate instead of compete when reasonably possible
  • Create and build try not to destroy 
  • Discipline do your work and handle your responsibilities 
  • Excellence try a little harder and do a little better
  • Help and forgive others 
  • Honesty tell the truth 
  • Integrity do what you say 
  • Perseverance do not quit just because somethings may appear difficult
  • Positivity be happy


Are you looking for funding for an idea or business, send us your stuff and we will take a look, Funding@OmegaSeedFund.com

Are you interested in investing time or money into any of our businesses, info@omegaseedfund.com

Are you interested in promoting your product or service to our audience, contact Opportunities@OmegaSeedFund.com


Sources

https://www.scienceofpeople.com/core-values/#:~:text=What%20are%20core%20values%3F,a%20person%27s%20or%20organization%27s%20decisions.


Disclaimer: This is only for informational and discussion purposes. This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. 

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

How much money does a startup need? The Fifth Powerful Secret to Battling Giant Competitors - Resources - How Startups can Competing Against FAANG - Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Alphabet Google - David vs. Goliath


blackjack

This is part five of a series we are doing on David vs. Goliath and battling giants. I will talk about how startups can compete against the FAANG companies and other major, well-funded, legacy competitors. The FAANG are Facebook FB, Amazon AMZN, Apple AAP, Netflix NFLX; and Alphabet/Google GOOG.

Click here for part 1
Click here for part 2
Click here for part 3
Click here for part 4


The Fifth Powerful Secret to Battling Giant Competitors - Resources


Then he (David) took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Samuel 17

Although David did not have many resources, he had what he needed to win the battle.

When battling giant competitors, you will need resources. Resources are purchased with money, e.g. capital. Since you will have significantly less resources than your competitors, you will need to use those resources wisely.   


How much money does a startup need? 

Based on our research and personal experience, we find that most early-stage, pre-revenue companies raise between $25,000-$500,000. It is tough to ask for more without giving away your company.

When looking for funding, is important to create forecasts, showing your potential funding sources how you will use the cash. And even more importantly, when you will be profitable so you can pay it back.

Obviously you want to raise as much cash as possible. However, if your company is early stage and has a valuation under $1M, you cannot ask for a $5M investment. The investor would be buying your company five times over. If your valuation is around $1M, you can ask for $200K–$300K, and offer 20–30% of your company in exchange.

Valuing a company can be tough. One of my favorite methods is the development stage valuation approach. It is often used by angel investors and venture capital firms to generate a rough range of company value. Investors set these values based on their experience and values vary depending on the company’s stage of development. The further the company has progressed along the development pathway, the lower the company's risk and the higher its value. Here’s an example of a valuation-by-stage model:

Estimated Company Value,   Stage of Development
$250,000 - $500,000,  The business idea or business plan exists
$500,000 - $1 million,  The management team is in place to execute the plan
$1 million – $2 million,  A final product or technology prototype has been developed
$2 million – $5 million,  Strategic alliances, partners or customers are in place
$5 million and up,  Revenue growth and a pathway to profitability is imminent


Click here to learn more about business valuations


One of my favorite stories about resources


In 1971, Frederick Smith founded the company with $4 million of inheritance and $80 million in loans and equity investments. FedEx started out with eight planes, covering 35 cities, and it had plans to add more each month.

But in the first two years, primarily due to rising fuel costs, the company found itself millions of dollars in debt and on the brink of bankruptcy.

When FedEx's funds dwindled to just $5,000, Smith realized he didn't have enough to fuel the planes. The company had already gone to many extremes, from pilots using their personal credit cards to fuel planes to uncashed paychecks.

So what's a desperate founder to do? Smith impulsively flew to Las Vegas and played blackjack with the last of the company money.

Amazingly, when he came back the next week, he had turned the remaining $5,000 into $27,000 — just enough for the company to stay in operation for another week.

The $27,000 wasn't the solution to all of their problems, but Smith viewed it as a hopeful sign that things would go up from there. He used the money as motivation to obtain more funding, and eventually raised another $11 million.

FedEx, the world's first overnight delivery company, delivers more than 1.2 billion packages every year in over 220 countries.



Are you looking for investors for your business, contact us today, funding@omegaaccelerator.com.  



Are you interested in angel investing and helping us fund early-stage businesses? Email info@OmegaAccelerator.com



Sources and Links

https://www.businessinsider.com/fedex-saved-from-bankruptcy-with-blackjack-winnings-2014-7
https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/23/does-it-really-matter-how-much-your-startup-raises/
http://blog.gust.com/8-tips-on-how-much-money-to-ask-for-from-investors/
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17&version=NIV
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2020/02/superbowl-2020-angel-investors-valuing.html
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rencarlton
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

How to Turn $5,000 Into $4 Million, the First Three Rules of Angel Investing - Questions and Answers - Ren Cartlon

What is Angel Investing?


Providing Capital for a Business Start-up



When did Angel Investing Become Available to Most Investors?


Title III of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS) finally entered into force on May 16, 2016. 



Why Should I Care About Angel Investing?


If the first three rules of real estate are location, location, location. The first three rules of angel investing are invest early, invest in the founder(s) not necessarily the idea, and plan on holding long-term. Angel investing offer high risk, high reward potential opportunities.

Targeted Returns: 2.5X in four years, roughly 25% annually.

Which is worse, risk of loss or risk of missing opportunities?
Example: If you invest $5,000 and let it sit untouched for 30 years, here are some possible scenarios:
-Bank, 1% = $6,739
-CDs, Money Markets, Bonds, 5% = $21,610
-S&P 500, Large Cap Stocks, 10% = $87,000
-Real Estate, 15% = $331,000
-Angel Investments, 25% = $4 million



Who Else Cares About Angel Investing?


Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, made a $250,000 investment in Google in 1998. It was worth $1.6 billion in 2019



Where Can I Angel Invest? 


Equity Crowdfunding Portals
Private Placements
Business Accelerators and Syndicates



Are There Any Other Success Stories?


$10,000 investment in Uber in 2010 was worth $127 million in 2015
$100 investment in Bitcoin in 2010 was worth $28 million in 2017


Are you looking for funding for an idea or business, send us your stuff and we will take a look, Funding@OmegaSeedFund.com

Are you interested in investing time or money into any of our businesses, Invest@omegaseedfund.com

Are you interested in promoting your product or service to our audience, contact Opportunities@OmegaSeedFund.com


Sources and Links
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2020/04/hunting-unicorns-angel-investing-vs.html
https://metrostart.org/blog/2016/07/11/260-return-on-startup-investments/
https://techcrunch.com/2012/10/13/angel-investors-make-2-5x-returns-overall/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rencarlton
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are likely altered to protect the identity of the parties involved. The above figures are possibly estimates based on assumptions that may be proven to be inaccurate or subject to change.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Fourth Powerful Secret to Battling Giant Competitors - Speed - How Startups can Competing Against FAANG - Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Alphabet Google - David vs. Goliath


This is part four of a series we are doing on David vs. Goliath and battling giants. I will talk about how startups can compete against the FAANG companies and other major, well-funded, legacy competitors. The FAANG are Facebook FB, Amazon AMZN, Apple AAP, Netflix NFLX; and Alphabet/Google GOOG.

Click here for part 1
Click here for part 2
Click here for part 3

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."

George S. Patton

The Fourth Powerful Secret to Battling Giant Competitors - Speed


"He (Goliath) had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels (about 125 pounds or about 58 kilograms); on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels (about 15 pounds or about 6.9 kilograms.)

Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Samuel 17

David was small, fast, and not weighed down by heavy armor or weapons. Goliath was large, slow and carrying a lot of weight.


This is my favorite way to compete with large companies. Speed is a huge advantage when battling giant, large competitors. Startups can launch a business concept the day the founders hear about it. No approvals, meetings, bureaucracy, or oversight. You can just do it!

How to Grow Your Business Fast

-Outsource and hire - Make a list of the roles you need and focus on filling them as quickly as possible.
-Focus on driving cash - Build systems and process that keep cash flowing in. No cash = no business. Investment dollars, loans, or revenue can meet this requirement.
-Be ready to pivot - Don't fall in love with any ideas until you found a winning formula. Giants have the resources and time to over-commit to bad ideas. You must change early and often until you find the winning formula. YouTube was a video dating site. Twitter was a podcasting network. Flickr was an online role-playing game.
-Establish meaningful milestones - Meaningful means milestones that will either attract investors or create revenue. It's tough to grow when you do not have a target. Picture bowling blindfolded. Tough to hit the target (bowling pins) when you do not know where to aim.
-Manage risks - Create situations where you have unlimited upside and minimal downside. That way if a situation is under-performing you do not need to worry about abandoning it for better opportunities.
-Focus on win-win situations - When you create win-win situations, everyone has incentives to keep making progress

One of My Favorite Stories About Speed

Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger founded Instagram in a San Francisco co-working space in 2010. With only 13 employees, Instagram grew to 30 million users by 2012. Instagram was acquired by Facebook in 2012 for approximately $1 billion in cash and stock. Now that is fast!


Are you looking for investors for your business, contact us today, funding@omegaaccelerator.com.  


Are you interested in angel investing and helping us fund early-stage businesses? Email info@OmegaAccelerator.com


Sources and Links
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2015/07/02/the-7-greatest-pivots-in-tech-history/
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17&version=NIV
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Instagram
https://www.inc.com/business-insider/companies-startups-unicorn-1-billion-valuation-record-time.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2018/07/19/how-to-build-your-dream-team-and-grow-your-company-fast/#664e1cf54845
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7690-rapid-business-growth-tips.html
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Angel Investors - How Much Money Does a Startup Need to Launch or Grow? - Use of Funds - Ren Carlton

I was messaging a friend of mine earlier this week about launching a new business. When I asked her how much money she thought we needed she said:

"We can each invest a max of $500 each, as partners, and make a prototype, then we can both apply for further business grants or angel investors."

A bit shocked by her response, I turned to the internet for further guidance. When I googled "how much money does a startup need", this was the first result: 

"Estimate your costs. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, most microbusinesses cost around $3,000, while most home-based franchises cost $2,000 to $5,000 to start."


How Much Money Does a Startup Need?


Most technology startups, raising outside funding is a necessary step in the process of building a viable business. Not every business needs to be a technology company, but most of the businesses we see have some component of technology.

Most companies that reach a Series A round of funding Raise between $25,000 - $500,000.

That is a pretty wide range. Let's take a deeper look.


Common Startup Costs


Here are some common startup costs they may have:
-Office space
-Equipment and supplies
-Communications
-Utilities
-Licenses and permits
-Insurance
-Lawyer and accountant
-Inventory
-Employee salaries
-Advertising and marketing
-Market research
-Printed marketing materials
-Making a website


Make sure to add any other expenses that are unique to the business.

Stage

This is probably the biggest factor. Idea and prototype stage companies may have very lower costs, where a business that is producing and growing may have to support a full team, inventory, etc.

How Are You Going to Pay Your Bills?

One of my favorite questions I ask founder is "How are you going to pay your bills?
Almost everyone gets caught off guard. I am not sure why. When evaluating an angel investment, I want to make sure the founders are thinking through everything. 



Are you looking for investors for your business, contact us today, funding@omegaaccelerator.com.  


Are you interested in angel investing and helping us fund early-stage businesses? Email info@OmegaAccelerator.com


Sources and Links
https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/23/does-it-really-matter-how-much-your-startup-raises/
https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/calculate-your-startup-costs#section-header-10
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.




Friday, April 24, 2020

The Most Common Mistake Founders Make When Raising Money - Friction-Less Fundraising - Ren Carlton


If you have been following me for a while, you may remember my story about the guy in the desert,

As you probably already know, raising money can be tough. Investment dollars are are limited and less than 1% of small businesses successfully raise capital.

Let's talk about how you can beat the odds and find funding

Frictionless Fundraising

One of my main priorities when raising money is to make it as simple as possible. We call it Frictionless Fundraising. How can I make it very easy for someone to invest in my business?


The Most Common Mistake Founders Make When Raising Money


Around 20% of founders ask me to sign an NDA when I am evaluating their business for investment. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA), also known as a confidentiality agreement (CA), confidential disclosure agreement (CDA), proprietary information agreement (PIA) or secrecy agreement (SA), is a legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish to restrict access to. 

Founders frequently ask potential investors to sign an NDA before sharing some or all of the information that is available about their business. I think this is often a bad idea.

Reasons Why We Will Not Sign Your NDA

-We have thousands of other investment options.
-We don't have time to read your NDA.
-How can we promote you to other investors if we cannot talk about your idea?
-What if we are already working on a similar idea with another group?
-What if we receive a similar idea in the future?
-If secrecy is the only thing special about your business we are not interested anyways. Build your moat...
-You probably don't have the funding to protect your idea.
-You may not be able to legally protect your idea.

Ideas are a dime-a-dozen in the information age. Structure, process, and execution is what creates entrepreneurial success. Adding an additional layer of complexity to your search for investors is not a good idea.


Ways to Make It Easier for Angel Investors to Invest in Your Business

-Have basic information ready to send.
-Answer questions pleasantly.
-Don't answer questions with questions.
-Don't ask too many questions.

Are you looking for investors for your business? Contact us today, funding@omegaaccelerator.com


Are you interested in angel investing and helping us fund early-stage businesses? Email info@OmegaAccelerator.com


Click here if you would like me to personally consider investing in your business. If I do not personally invest, I will give you specific tips for finding funding for your business. 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.  https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html



Sources and Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-disclosure_agreementhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-disclosure_agreement
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rencarlton
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html



Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Is Now a Good Time to Invest? Angel Investing and More During Corona Virus, COVID-19, Ren Cartlon

Is Now a Good Time to Invest? 




Most investment advisors will tell you it is impossible to time the market.

The efficient market hypothesis states that all stocks are always perfectly priced because of the availability of information. Today, this is mostly because of the internet. 

Are their investment deals out there?

Here are my thoughts.
-Real estate, based on my research, pricing has not been greatly affected yet. This may be due to a combination of the time-of-year and stimulus money. I think there will be some interesting real estate investment opportunities coming soon.
-Restaurants, I heard that anywhere from 10%-30% of restaurants are expected to close because of the Covid-19 quarantine. Once things return back to normal, it may be time to purchase one of these businesses if you dreamed about owning a restaurant.
-Sports and entertainment, I think it will be a while before any large groups of people pack into any close-quarter venue. 
-Startups are being greatly impacted. Corona will likely serve a death blow to businesses already on the brink of failing. 

One of the worst stories I have heard so far is from a company that raised over $300,000 from over 1,000 investors on a crowdfunding platform before Corona hit. Because of the impact of Covid-19 impact on this business, the crowdfunding platform refused to release the money and has suggested that they may have to give the money back. 

The Good News?
Survivors will likely be rewarded by the elimination of competitors.

We are also promoting our White-Knight Accelerator to help good businesses that are being struggling because of Covid 19. Contact us today for more information or if you would like to be involved.

As always If you like this content, please share this with three friends and smash that like button.


Contact us today if you want to raise capital for your business, funding@omegaaccelerator.com.  


Are you interested in helping businesses while enjoying the potential high returns of angel investing? Email info@OmegaAccelerator.com


Click here if you would like me to consider investing in your business. If I do not personally invest, I will give you specific tips for finding funding. Unlimited follow-up meetings. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Sources and Links
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/04/022004.asp
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rencarlton
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.

Friday, April 3, 2020

How Your Business Can Thrive During Crisis - The Art of the Pivot - Corona Virus, COVID-19, and Ren Carlton


What do Starbucks, Twitter and Nintendo all have in common?



They all pivoted
-Starbucks started out selling espresso machines
-Twitter was a platform for finding podcasts
-Nintendo produced vacuum cleaners


Pivoting means changing your focus or strategy. There are a number of reasons to consider pivoting your business, including:

1. Introduction of new opportunities and restrictions: In today's Corona Virus environment, quarantine and stimulus money are two things that should be investigated. I


2. Pivoting can create opportunities to expand revenue.

Whether it’s exploring new markets, services or products, pivoting can help create opportunities to expand revenue. Research and analysis are key here.


3. It’s easier to stay relevant.

A services company may realize X service is no longer in demand, unlike Y service which is. Remember, business is about finding a need and filling it. Pivot toward the more relevant service.


4. Some of the best ideas come from testing different ideas.

I subscribe to the lean startup approach to building businesses. Entrepreneurs must investigate, experiment, test, and iterate as they develop. 


5. It can reinvigorate the business.

Pivoting is a great way to bring new life to the business. All businesses must evolve if they want to stay current with their audience and competitive within their industry. Being stagnant is boring and uninspired. 


One of the biggest competitive advantages for small businesses is the ability to pivot quickly. You need to be ready to do this early and often. The art of the pivot is knowing when to be persistent and when to pivot
- Persistent: Continue operating the current business model The art of the pivot is knowing when to be persistent and when to pivot
- Persistent: Continue operating the current business model 
- Pivot: Abandon or pause the current business model to pursue new opportunities that may be better



Contact us today if you want to raise capital for your business, funding@omegaaccelerator.com.  


Are you interested in helping businesses while enjoying the potential high returns of angel investing? Email info@OmegaAccelerator.com


Click here if you would like me to consider investing in your business. If I do not personally invest, I will give you specific tips for finding funding. Unlimited follow-up meetings. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Sources and Links
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238253
https://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/Lean-startup
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rencarlton
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Covid-19 Help for Small Business - Calculate Your Stimulus Check - Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - Stimulus Check Calculator

President Donald Trump has signed legislation that Congress approved this week that will allocate a massive amount in funding to support the U.S. economy and workers through the coronavirus outbreak.





Covid-19 Assistance - Stimulus Check Calculator - $2.2 trillion rescue package

The hallmark of the $2 trillion stimulus package were one-time $1,200 direct payments to adults making up to $75,000.

Click here to use the online calculator to find out how much you could get from the federal government as part of the relief package.

Covid-19 Help for Small Business

A $350 billion forgivable loan program designed to ensure that small businesses do not lay off employees

A 50% refundable payroll tax credit on worker wages will further incentivize businesses, including ones with fewer than 500 employees, to retain workers

Looser net operating loss-reduction rules that will allow businesses to offset more

A delay in employer-side payroll taxes for Social Security until 2021 and 2022

Sole proprietors and other self-employed workers could be eligible for the expanded unemployment-insurance benefits the bill provides

A portion of the $425 billion in funds appropriated for the Federal Reserve’s credit facilities will target small businesses

Click here to learn about some of the tax relief available for both businesses and individuals.

Click here to apply for disaster relief loans.



Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

Click here to read F.A.Q. on Stimulus Checks, Unemployment and the Coronavirus Plan.

Click here to read the $2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill - Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.




What Appears to be Missing From the Federal Disaster Package

Independent contractors and gig economy workers may not be able to delay payments on self-employment taxes.

It appears there are no benefits specifically for helping healthcare workers. There is also nothing included specifically designed to help people start new businesses.



Am I Missing Anything?

Is there other money out there designed to help small business? If so, message me so I can add it to this article.



Are you looking for investors for your business, contact us today, funding@omegaaccelerator.com.  


Are you interested in angel investing and helping us fund early-stage businesses? Email info@OmegaAccelerator.com


Click here if you would like me to personally consider investing in your business. If I do not personally invest, I will give you specific tips for finding funding. Unlimited follow-up meetings. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


https://www.linkedin.com/in/rencarlton
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Why the Coronavirus May Not Be Bad for Your Investments or Business - Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act





During the last 30 days, the DJIA reached it's record high of almost 30,000. It has also lost over 20% in value during some violent swings down because of all the concerns around the Coronavirus. Some claim that the recent volatility has erased over $7 trillion in wealth in the last 30 days.


Why the Coronavirus May Not Be Bad for Investments

If you look at history, epidemics are typically good for investments. The markets actually recover much quicker than you would think.

Take SARS for example. SARS resulted in a total of about 8,100 people being sickened during the 2003 outbreak, with 774 people dying, according to data from WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Separately, the S&P 500 rose 11.66% in the roughly six months following reports of the 2006 Avian flu virus — a fast-moving pathogen also known as H5N1. The market gained 18.36% in the following 12-month period.

Data are similar for equity performance across the globe based on data from Charles Schwab, tracking the MSCI All Countries World Index 892400, -3.64%. The index has gained an average 0.4% in the month after an epidemic, 3.1% in the ensuing six-month period and 8.5% a year later (see graphic below):


SARS, Avian Flu, Swine Flu, and Measels all produced significant market gains as quickly as 3 months after the initial outbreak.

My comments:

- $7 trillion in wealth in the last 30 days was erased? Nothing was erased, the stock market is a zero-sum game. Wealth is neither created nor destroyed, it is transferred.
- Punctuated by recent events, I would argue that angel investing is actually less risky than investing in publicly traded stocks. I would also argue that entrepreneurship is less risky than working for someone else. I will be hitting both of these topics hard in future videos.



Are you looking for investors for your business, contact us today, funding@omegaaccelerator.com.  


Are you interested in angel investing and helping us fund early-stage businesses? Email info@OmegaAccelerator.com


Click here if you would like me to personally consider investing in your business. If I do not personally invest, I will give you specific tips for finding funding. Unlimited follow-up meetings. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/10/dow-futures-point-to-a-loss-of-more-than-400-points-after-tuesdays-surge.html
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-how-the-stock-market-has-performed-during-past-viral-outbreaks-as-chinas-coronavirus-spreads-2020-01-22
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rencarlton
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.





Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Live Pitch Event - Up Close and Personal - Royal Oak, Michigan - Money for a Startup - Find up to $5 Million of Funding from Angel Investors - Ren Carlton



Pitch Your Business to Angel Investors!




Location
Royal Oak, Michigan
The exact location will be disclosed to our guests.

Date and Time
Thursday, March 5, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Eastern Standard Time

Format
Casual, private networking event


Our Up Close and Personal pitch events are small, focused networking events designed to quickly build relationships between angel investors and entrepreneurs. There are no formal presentations. Meet, mingle, and watch magic happen.


Note: This is a private event. Space is extremely limited. The exact location will be disclosed to our guests.


Attendees Will Include






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Join Us!




Investors - Email, info@OmegaAccelerator.com, subject: Investor - Royal Oak Pitch Event


Entrepreneurs - send us your 1-page executive summary today - Email funding@omegaaccelerator.com, Subject: Looking for Funding - Royal Oak Pitch Event


Sponsors - are you interested in supporting some of our red-hot business startups? - Email, info@OmegaAccelerator.com, Subject: Sponsor - Royal Oak Pitch Event




Sources

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rencarlton
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegalegacyacceleratorx.com/924-2/https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html



Disclaimer: This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service. We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice. Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties. All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.

All offers will be contingent upon passing our due diligence process.


Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Are you an entrepreneur? Take Ren Carlton’s test and find out!

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt, Citizenship In a Republic

Are you an entrepreneur? 

The term entrepreneur gets thrown around pretty freely these days. At the time of writing this article, there are 2,262,442 individuals that consider themselves an entrepreneur according to their Linkedin profile. But how do you know? How do you earn this title? Does working from home twice a week for a Fortune 500 Company make you the next Travis Kalanick? Let’s find out. Time to separate the wanntrepreneurs from those in the arena…

Quick Test

First, a quick test, since real entrepreneurs don’t have time to take the full test. If you answer any one of these questions correctly, congratulations, you are an entrepreneur. By the way, skip this section if you are being paid by your employer while taking this test… and subtract 5 points...
-You responded to a spam email, trying to sell the sender something
-You knew who Travis Kalanick was without googling him
-You started a business knowing you were 99% likely to lose money and fail, but did it anyways
-You have been threatened by someone that invested in one of your businesses
-You have been visited by an IRS agent at your office
-You signed a forbearance agreement from a bank
-You are familiar with the three comma club and you are working towards being a member

Note, if you were offended by any of those questions, you automatically failed the test. You may want to look into some MLM opportunities to get a taste of entrepreneurship.

Full Test

Now for the long-form test. Give yourself 1 point for every yes answer:

-Doing cools stuff and creating things is more important than making money
-Your fear of boredom outweighs your fear of economic loss
-You expect to invest time and MONEY when starting a business or joining a team of founders
-You have worked more than 30 days without getting paid
-You believe there is more risk in working for a single employer then relying on yourself for your income
-You have worked for 100% commission for at least 30 days as your single source of income
-You prefer to work on a 1099 basis
-You expect to be paid based on results, not based on how much time you spend
-You own any form of cryptocurrency
-You cannot imagine working without huge upside potential
-You don’t remember what it feels like to receive a steady paycheck or employee benefits
-You sold someone something while practicing your pitch
-You understand why blockchain, AI, and AR are exciting

How did you do?


Are you looking for investors for your business, contact us today, funding@omegaaccelerator.com.  



Are you interested in angel investing and helping us fund early-stage businesses? Email info@OmegaAccelerator.com. 



https://rencarlton.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/RenCarlton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxQWgUDlPJo0IHCIa6SzrQ
https://omegaaccelerator.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheOmegaAccelerator/
https://www.instagram.com/omega.funding/
https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html


Disclaimer:  This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service.  We are not offering any legal, investment, tax, or medical advice.  Please consult the appropriate professional before doing anything you learn from the content posted on any of our digital properties.  All stories are based on true events, but are altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.

Monday, February 3, 2020

Superbowl 2020 - Making Money as an Angel Investor, Valuing Angel Investment Opportunities, and the San Francisco 49ers

Superbowl 2020 brought us Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers, Hummer EV vs. Genesis SUV, Jennifer Lopez with Shakira, and Tom Brady vs. potential retirement. It also brought us some interesting facts for angel investors and valuing angel investment opportunities.  


Angel Investors, Valuing Angel Investment Opportunities, and the San Francisco 49ers 


The York family bought the San Francisco 49ers in 1977 for $17 million. Forbes estimates the 49ers’ value at $3.5 billion, making it one of the 10 most valuable sports teams in the world. The San Francisco 49ers have not won a Super Bowl since 1995.


Why is this business so valuable? 


The NFL has 32 teams. Every team gets an equal cut of the national revenue that includes money from TV rights, sponsorship, licensing, and merchandise sales. It doesn’t matter how many games each team wins or loses. National revenue is estimated to be more than $8 billion, with each team receiving more than $250 million. This is on top of local revenues, including ticket sales.

These teams obviously have expenses. Player salaries are probably the biggest expense. For the 2019 season, there was a salary cap of $188 million per team, and owners have to spend at least $167.5 million. 


How do we get to a $3.5 billion value?


Calculating a reasonable price, or valuation, for a business can be a challenge for angel investors. Notice I stated that the angel investor should be determining the price. This is the opposite of how most angel investment transactions are taking place. Early-stage businesses typically establish the value and sales price. Some avoid the valuation discussion by delaying the conversation until later using a SAFE note. 

However, angel investors are the ones in control. I estimated there are approximately 30 million angel investment opportunities, but less than 1 million active angel investors. The 21st Century version of the Golden Rule applies here… He (or she) who has the gold, rules…. 

There is no “one size fits all” approach to determining the value of a startup. However, there is a wealth of ideas on how to accomplish this, thanks to a wide array of methodologies created by experienced entrepreneurs and angel investors. It makes sense to consider the most credible methods and define your own approach to valuation. Here are the methods I consider.


Scorecard Valuation Method


The Scorecard Valuation method, created by Bill Payne, is one of the most popular methodologies used by angels. This method compares the startup seeking funding to other funded startups by creating an average valuation based on factors that include region, market, and stage. 

The purpose of Scorecard Valuation is to compare the startup to the perception of other startups within the same region. Payne recommends using these factors:

Strength of the Founder(s) (0–30%)
Size of the Opportunity (0–25%)
Product/Technology (0–15%)
Competitive Environment (0–10%)
Marketing/Sales Channels/Partnerships (0–10%)
Need for Additional Investment (0–5%)
Other (0–5%)


Berkus Method


The Berkus Method was developed by super angel investor David Berkus. His approach assigns a number, a financial valuation, to each major element of risk faced by all young companies and credits the entrepreneur some basic value for the quality and potential of their business idea.

The Berkus Method uses five qualitative and quantitative factors to calculate valuation: 
Sound Idea (basic value)
Prototype (reduces technology risk)
Quality Management Team (reduces execution risk)
Strategic Relationships (reduces market risk)
Product Rollout or Sales (reduces production risk)

The Berkus Method also assigns a monetary value to each factor. The maximum value that can be assigned to each factor is $500K, meaning that the pre-money valuation can total up to $2.5M. Berkus sets the “hurdle” number at $25M, achieved in the fifth year in business, to allow the investment to achieve a ten-times increase in value over its life.


Market Multiple 


This approach is popular with venture capitalists because it gives them a good indication of what the market is willing to pay for a company. The market multiple approach values the company against recent acquisitions of similar companies in the market.

While most established corporations are valued based on earnings, the value of startups is commonly determined based on revenue multiples. Placing a value on young companies requires extensive forecasting to assess what the sales or earnings of the business will be once it reaches maturity. 

The intent of the market multiple approach is to deliver value estimates that come close to what investors are willing to pay. The challenge is that comparable market transactions can be difficult to find, especially in the startup market. Companies that often represent the closest comparisons are early stage, unlisted companies. 


Development Stage Valuation 


The development stage valuation approach is often used by angel investors and venture capital firms to generate a rough range of company value. Investors set these values based on their experience and values vary depending on the company’s stage of development. The further the company has progressed along the development pathway, the lower the company's risk and the higher its value. Here’s an example of a valuation-by-stage model: 

Estimated Company Value Stage of Development
$250,000 - $500,000 The business idea or business plan exists
$500,000 - $1 million The management team is in place to execute the plan
$1 million – $2 million A final product or technology prototype has been developed
$2 million – $5 million Strategic alliances, partners or customers are in place
$5 million and up Revenue growth and a pathway to profitability is imminent

Oftentimes, private equity firms will create milestones for providing additional funding. For example, the first round of financing may be dedicated to employee wages while a subsequent round of funding is designated to mass produce and market the product or service. 


Conclusion


The startup valuation process is as much art as it is science. Determining the value of a young company is challenging because the factors contributing to success are uncertain. The good news is that the startup community offers many talented and well-established investors who have accumulated very valuable experience and are willing to share their knowledge. New angel investors will benefit from doing their research and listening to the more experienced investors they meet along the journey. 


Contact Info@omegaaccelerator.com if you are interested in making angel investments.



Are you looking for investors for your business? Contact us at funding@omegaaccelerator.com.




Sources:

https://rencarlton.blogspot.com/2019/09/funding-session-with-ren-carlton.html




Disclaimer:  This does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service.  We are not offering any legal, investment, or tax advice.  All stories are based on true events, but are significantly altered to protect the identity of the individuals involved.