This presentation summarizes 8 common mistakes a startup can make that will prevent funding, or prevent success. I also present a model for organizing the information you find online and via seminars. It was originally presented at the F50.io conference on June 23, 2014. To learn more, come to our events in SF Bay Area. Signup for the newsletter and see the schedule at www.StartupReady.NET

1. Presented at F50.io conference June 23, 2014
© StartupReady.NET

2.  Stan Knutson was the technology leader behind two successful
startups, with combined exits of $85M and sales over $140M. He was
also part of a startup that failed to raise funding as well multiple other
startups that successfully raised funds. Mr. Knutson has been actively
studying the process of getting funded for more than 15 years. He
has two degrees from MIT.
 StartupReady.NET is a premier content provider for EFactor and
delivers education and support to entrepreneurs through seminars,
one-on-one coaching and consulting.
 EFactor.com is a platform for entrepreneurs. We provide inspiration
support and a network of over 1 million other entrepreneurs to help
you turn your ideas into successes.

3. 70% of businesses fail within 3 years
Fund
Raising

5. Where fundraising goes wrong:
8 Common mistakes

6. Ingredients for Success

7. Common Mistakes: Team

8. Good but not Awesome Team
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T E AM

9. Insufficient “Relationship Capital”
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T E AM

10. Common Mistakes: Market

11. Bad Timing
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M AR K E T

12. Wrong Beachhead
within a large total addressable market
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M AR K E T

13. Common Mistakes: Business

14. Vanity Metrics / Traction
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B U S I N E S S
Which is the right prediction?

15. Unproven Growth Engine
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B U S I N E S S

16. Common Mistakes: Product

17. Not enough product validation
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P R O D U C T

18. Where is the “WOW”?
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P R O D U C T

19. Reasoning

20. Reasoning: Strategy
WHEN?

21. Reasoning: Execution

22. Reasoning: Execution
People

23. Reasoning: Execution
Operations

24. Range Finding + Pitch

25. Deliberate Practice is Required
From

26. Deliberate Practice is Required
From To

27. Deliberate Practice is Required
From To Vision & Goal

28. If you want to learn more
about these topics
 The first meetup about pitching will be on July 14, 2014
you can sign up now: www.EFactor.com/PitchForFunding
 The first Skill Salon will be about fundraising, you can
preregister at StartupReady.NET
 Both StartupReady.NET and EFactor.COM will be hosting
other events and have online resources.
 For more information about upcoming events, check the
websites or email WhyNot@StartupReady.net
F
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29. Now Take Action

30. The 5+2 “Why’s” of being “lucky”:
How opportunity meets preparation
 Why this product & market?
 Why this team?
 Why now?
 Why can’t customers live without it?
 Why will it scale from this beachhead?
 Why will it make a lot of money?
 Why will it make history?

31. The 5+2 “Why’s” of being “lucky”:
How opportunity meets preparation
 Why this product & market?
 Why this team?
 Why now?
 Why can’t customers live without it?
 Why will it scale from this beachhead?
 Why will it make a lot of money?
 Why will it make history?
WhyNot@StartupReady.netTell us:

32. Preparation
Leads to Opportunity
Producing Luck
Vision
Pitching
Strategy
Execution
Team
Market
Business
Product