John Prendergast

Why Buying Your First Business is the hardest & Financing The Fear is Being seen as too risky by lenders and investors. The Solution: Prepare a solid business plan with detailed financial projections. Work with a financial advisor to enhance your credibility. Consider alternative financing options like SBA loans or seller financing.

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That's why it's often very difficult to recognize new leaders – their ideas go beyond the conventional frameworks we're accustomed to. Keep your mind open. Don't let yesterday's templates define your future. #Leadership, #Innovation, #OpenMind, #FutureThinking, #venturethinking,   https://lnkd.in/eASPGsuu

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For your weekend reflection: The generosity of advice deepens relationships. In a fantastic podcast episode, Jennifer Prosek delves into key insights essential for private investors and leaders alike: 1. The necessity of consumer branding for private investors. 2. The significance of crafting a unique narrative. 3. The empowerment that comes from bringing people together. 4. The rising trend of branding within private markets. 5. The democratization of access to alternative investments. 6. How to maximize relationships at conferences. 7. Leadership strategies to inspire and motivate talent. 8. The importance of thought leadership on LinkedIn Narratives are powerful in driving connections, for innovators and investors, everywhere.

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Want to build wealth faster? Skip startups. Buy Boring Old Businesses. Here’s why: 1. They’re already making money. 2. They come with customers, systems, and momentum. 3. They’re undervalued – 2.5x profits is standard. 4. SBA loans or seller financing make them accessible. 5. Easy profit boosters: raise prices or add new products. 6. They’re easier to scale than startups. Startups fail 65% of the time within the first 5 years. But "boring" businesses? They’re built to last. Don’t build from scratch. Buy something proven. If you could buy a "boring" business, what type of business would you buy?

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Is a CFO expensive? That depends. How many dollars are at stake? If making better money decisions will save you tens or hundreds of dollars - wait. For brands on a steep growth trajectory with $$$$ at stake, a good fractional CFO will SAVE you money by providing much more value than their monthly retainer. - Cash flow forecasting - Cash cycle improvement - Myriad finance/accounting/technology expertise Many fractional CFOs will work with you on a project basis, versus a retainer, until you can afford it. Most businesses fail not because they have a bad idea, but because they run out of cash. ------------------------------------- I help innovative and #betterforyou #CPG founders scale their emerging brands with #finance leadership. Please reach out for a free call if you think I can help!

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TWO Tuesday Thoughts: Before you 1) venture into unknown woods have a guide that does know 2) enter the complexities of raising capital have experienced advisors. You don't want to get lost, or take the wrong turn in either scenario. The results can be BAD. Reach out to learn more about Private Capital Coaching from Stony Hill Advisors, Inc.

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Clients don't know (and don't care) what "advisory services" are ❌ They care about how it will solve painful problems their business ✅ But with so much that encompasses CAS, how do you communicate the value to prospects? 🤔 (or not scare them off with the "CFO" acronym which sounds 💰 💰 💰 ) Summit Virtual CFO by Anders, Jody Grunden, CPA and Kelly Schuknecht talked about a "win booklet" which included A) Problems clients came to them with and B) How they solved the problem 👆 everyone should have this! Amy Vetter, MBA, CPA, CITP, CGMA, CSP, RYT talks about the need to get out of spreadsheets and "showing everything" and more into visualizing value through dashboards. Tons of nuggets in this video, take a watch! #accounting #advisory #CPAFirm

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🌱 For founders taking on venture debt, covenants are the fine print you cannot afford to ignore. 📃 They set the boundaries for how you can operate and manage your company’s finances. If you don’t play by these rules, the consequences can be pretty dire. It’s all about negotiating terms that align with your startup’s financial health. Be sure to read the original post by Kruze Consulting to get the full breakdown. Link in the 1st comment. 👇 #StartupFinance

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Thinking of running an equity crowdfunding campaign? This may help you (I hope!). After successfully raising over $2.4M from 2 equity crowdsourced funding campaigns on the Birchal platform for my business Whole Kids, I'm happy to share everything I've learned to help other startups, founders and entrepreneurs who may be thinking of raising capital this way. I had very little idea about equity crowdfunding before our first campaign, yet we raised over $1.2M in our first round. Lots of lessons learned (the do's and the don'ts) that we took into our following rounds. Honest, no BS info. The tips, tactics and traps! All for FREE. Just leave a comment if you're interested and we can set up a private 1:1 chat soon. Thanks. #equitycrowdfunding #crowdfunding #fundraising #capitalraising #startups   

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Such a great story, with great press coverage and product! It was only during my MBA at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business that I fully learned about investment strategy. Up until that point I had only some knowledge on equities as I advised listed companies on financial PR. I knew I needed to fill the knowledge gap! With the emergence of firms such as Female Invest and gaining successful funding, this validates not only the female category, but will hopefully change culture and community to encourage early conversation about investment. That in turn will help to change the gender income gap and build a new funnel for capital for future ventures! 👏👏👏 #investment #genderequity #levelingtheplayingfield #startups #privatemarkets

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🔥How do you build a successful co-founder relationship?💥 65% of start-ups that fail, fail because of a dysfunctional co-founder relationship. You may compare starting a business to entering a marriage, and you wouldn't be that far off. And that's why when Annie Garofalo decide to launch Confidante, a firm specialized in helping co-founders develop successful relationships and avoid dysfunction, she integrated her experience as a founder and her formal business training with techniques used in couples therapy. In this episode, Annie's journey between consultant at Innosight | Strategy and Innovation at Huron, co-founder at My Merkata and academia at Stanford University, Stanford University Graduate School of Business and among others the Harvard Innovation Labs and how it informed her design of her company. Plus: ✅ Do you really need a co-founder? ✅ If you do, how do you find the right one? ✅ Once you find the right one, what do you need to do to set up the right relationship? ✅ If things don't go right, how do you know when it's time to break the partnership and how do you "consciously uncouple"? Find the episode here: https://bit.ly/al4ep135 #al4ep #authenticleadership #leadershipodcast #leadership #cofoundercommunication #startupculture #entrepreneurship #conflictresolution #businesspartnerships #teambuilding #communicationskills #startupleadership #businessrelationships #cofounderconflict #cofoundersynergy #foundersdilemmas #entrepreneurialsuccess #teamdynamics #interpersonaldynamics #leadershipdevelopment #businesscoaching #strategicpartnerships #leadershipstrategies #entrepreneurialjourney #businessfounders #cofounderstrategy #startupchallenges #leadershipinsights #leadershipandauthenticity

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Scaling your business doesn’t always look the way you’d expect. In my year-end breakdown, I explore how entrepreneurs are harnessing the power of AI, focusing on legacy-driven leadership, and adopting unconventional strategies to reach sustainable 8-figure success. Curious about these insights? Watch the full episode on YouTube and start building smarter in the new year! 💪 https://lnkd.in/eMhKVi_i

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Attention Agencies: Do you have overflow clients that you don't have time to help? Maybe you don't offer all of the services they need? Or do you want to help, but you're tired of dealing with unreliable partners? Well, I have great news! We're now offering website development along with our SEO growth sprints and PPC offerings! Full white labeling available as well. DM me for details! #entrepreneurship #webdesign #SEO #PPC #revenue #digitalmarketing

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From near-death experiences to becoming a Fintech powerhouse. Abdon Nacif Co-Founded NEXU, the leading auto financing and dealership software platform in Mexico and one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in Latin America. Nexu is growing fast, approaching $50 million in net annual revenue, and has been profitable for nearly two years. They have raised just over $30 million in equity and over $150 million in debt from Altos Ventures, Valor Capital Group, Wollef, HSBC, Y Combinator, FinTech Collective, Clocktower Ventures, FJ Labs, and Gilgamesh Ventures. I’m a big fan of Fernando & Abdon and I love getting a shot of inspiration after every conversation with them. Not only have I known Abdon for over a decade, but at Gilgamesh Ventures we have been investors in NEXU for the past three years, with a front-row seat to their incredible story. In this episode, we discuss:   - Developing mental toughness as an entrepreneur   - Near-death experiences and a pivotal decision that resulted in a shift of the business model - Principles and discipline that led them to build a profitable business at a very early stage   - Abdon's leadership philosophy and focus on authentic, selfless leadership… and a lot more!

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Is COST a big objection for you when starting to make acquisitions? Do you want to start making acquisitions, but the COST stops you? We have a FREE 7-day Video Learning for you to get a feel of what we do as a team with 100+ acquisitions and 15 years of experience. https://lnkd.in/eS43AWsg Make sure you also join our M&A Community where we talk about acquisitions and opportunities, we network with other like-minded people 👉 https://lnkd.in/dxAuscEm #mergersandacquisitions #companyacquisitions #businessmodel

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💰Contour Venture Partners Raises $42M for Fifth Fund 💼 Introduction: Contour Venture Partners, a New York-based seed investor known for early investments in companies like Datadog and Movable Ink, has raised $42 million for its fifth fund. The firm is targeting $90 million for this flagship fund and has been actively fundraising since May 2023. 💡Key Points: - **Fundraising Progress**: The firm closed on $42 million from 64 backers, aiming for a total of $90 million. It had previously raised $20 million as part of a parallel fund. - **Market Context**: Fundraising has been challenging for venture funds recently, with overall venture fundraising down more than 50% last year compared to 2022’s record-breaking numbers. 📝Investment Strategy: - **Check Sizes and Focus**: Contour writes checks between $500,000 and $1.5 million, primarily leading rounds in seed and early-stage companies. It focuses on sectors like SaaS, digital media, and financial services, with a preference for companies based in New York or the Northeast. - **Track Record**: Despite not having a massive war chest, Contour has a strong investment track record. Notable successes include:  - Datadog: Early investment in 2011, which IPO'd in 2019 with a $7.8 billion valuation.  - OnDeck: Invested in 2006, went public in 2014 with a $1.3 billion valuation.  -Pendo: Active portfolio company, raised over $460 million, valued at $2.6 billion.  - Movable Ink: Content personalization startup, raised nearly $100 million, valued at $1.3 billion. 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦Firm Background: - **Founders and Leadership**: Contour was founded in 2005 by Matt G. and Bob Greene, who continue to lead the firm. - **Capital Raised**: Over its nearly 20-year history, the firm has raised more than $370 million across four flagship funds and three opportunity funds. 🕯Conclusion: Contour Venture Partners continues to make significant strides with its fifth fund, demonstrating resilience and strategic prowess in a challenging fundraising environment reported TechCrunch. ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #VCfund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments (Series A/Series B)?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VentureCapital #ContourVenturePartners #StartupFunding #Datadog #MovableInk #InvestmentStrategy #SeedFunding #TechInvesting

We've smashed through 2 million listeners of The Exit Podcast - brought to you by Flippa.com and the stories we are sharing are beautiful and brilliant. This is the story of Luke Cooper, Founder at Latimer Ventures From humble beginnings to selling his tech firm Fixt for 11x its revenue, Luke's journey is nothing short of inspirational. 🎙️✨ 🌟 About Luke Cooper: Founder & Managing Partner at Latimer Ventures: A venture capital firm dedicated to empowering Black and Hispanic tech entrepreneurs. Serial Entrepreneur: Successfully exited multiple tech startups, including Fixt and Caldwell Technology Solutions. Investor & Mentor: Committed to raising $50 million to support minority-founded enterprise SaaS startups. Notable investments include Pienso, AI Squared, Meter Feeder, and CyDeploy. 🌍 Impactful Mission: Luke founded Latimer Ventures to bridge the gap in venture capital for Black founders, inspired by the innovative spirit of Lewis Latimer. He believes in creating wealth through tech entrepreneurship and demonstrating the power of diverse perspectives in building cutting-edge products. 🎧 Tune In: Discover Luke's insights on navigating the challenges of the venture capital world, his vision for Latimer Ventures, and his commitment to uplifting underrepresented founders. Don't miss this episode filled with wisdom and motivation! 🔗 Listen now on The Exit Podcast. #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #TechInnovation #LatimerVentures #TheExitPodcast #Inspiration #DiversityInTech #BlackExcellence

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#Entrepreneurs often ask me how to reach out to #angel investors. Here are my top 3 tips: 1️⃣ Instead of a generic outreach, send personalized, one-on-one messages to a select group of angels in your area. 2️⃣ Let them know you're a passionate entrepreneur in their region, seeking valuable insights. 3️⃣ Ask about the best events to attend or inquire if they'd be open to sharing their expertise to refine your pitch. Building relationships with a less transactional approach fosters more meaningful and enduring connections. Remember, it's not just about seeking funding; it's about cultivating relationships that go beyond the boardroom. #Entrepreneurship #AngelInvestors #StartupAdvice

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