Archive: First Stage Investor
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Startup Insider: The Need for Equal Access
By Early Investing on November 9, 2020
We’re entering a new era in startup investing. Starting next year, startups will be able to raise $5 million from investors like you and me (instead of $1.07 million). That means we’re going to see even more high quality startups to invest in. But the new rules also create new (and solvable) problems. And one of the biggest problems is equal access to information. In this edition of Startup Insider, Vin Narayanan and Andy Gordon talk…
What the New Reg CF Limit Means for Founders
By Andy Gordon on November 5, 2020
I’m doing something different today. I want to give founders some advice. I’ve been alerting every founder I talk to about this. And I’m shocked that just a handful of them are aware of the biggest boon that has come their way in a very long time. So,…
New Portal Joins the Crowdfunding Scene
By Andy Gordon on November 2, 2020
As early investors, we’ve seen dozens of exciting high-upside companies raising funds from the crowd this year. Deal flow has never been better. And crowdfunders have responded by backing these companies with record dollar amounts. It’s a good time to be an early investor (and a…
New Pick: Invest in Modernizing an Industry
By Andy Gordon on October 29, 2020
Deal Details Startup: SampleServe Security type: Common equity Round size: Up to $250,000Â Valuation: $7,022,431 Share price: $1.00 Minimum investment: $99.00 Raise: Seed Investment Portal:…
Startup Insider: Check Out the Competition
By Early Investing on October 26, 2020
When we evaluate startups, one of the key factors we look at is competitors. Who are the company’s competitors? Is the startup competing against other startups or against legacy companies? How does this competition affect its chances of success? And…
What Went Wrong With Quibi
By Andy Gordon on October 22, 2020
In calling it quits, Quibi proved the adage that nothing guarantees success except success itself. The company seemed to have everything going for it. A massive pool of capital — $1.75 billion worth. An A+ roster of investors that included Alibaba, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and…
Portfolio Update: Winc Making Rapid Progress
By Andy Gordon on October 19, 2020
We have good news on Winc, which we recommended last December. Winc is thriving. We recommended Winc because we loved its business model and traction. Winc collects data from its hundreds of thousands of customers and uses that data to make wines its customers love. Of…
New Pick: Invest in Efficient Energy Use
By Andy Gordon on October 15, 2020
Deal Details Startup: COI Energy Security type: Crowd SAFE Discount: 20% Valuation (cap): $18 million Minimum investment: $100 Where to invest: Republic Deadline: December 1, 2020…
Startup Insider: The Importance of Traction
By Early Investing on October 12, 2020
As angel investors, we’re told to look for startups with traction. We’re told that startups with real revenue, customers and growth are the best startups to invest in. But when investors don’t like a startup, they find reasons to ignore traction. Some of them are good…
Big Merger Indicates Crowdfunding Sector Is Changing
By Andy Gordon on October 8, 2020
In the last 12 months, we’ve sourced our startup recommendations from seven different portals. Eight were from Republic… five from SeedInvest… two each from Wefunder, StartEngine and Equifund… and one each from MicroVentures and Netcapital. Each of these portals has unique strengths. The companies raising on…
New Pick: Invest in Cheaper Energy for Everyone
By Andy Gordon on October 1, 2020
DEAL DETAILS Startup: Neighborhood Sun Security type: Future equity Agreement (Wefunder SAFE) Round size: Up to $1.07 million Valuation cap: $15 million Minimum investment: $100 Investment portal: Wefunder Deadline:…
Update: Yahyn Looks Stronger Than Ever
By Andy Gordon on September 24, 2020
We recommended Yahyn back in May. It lets you shop for your favorite bottles of wine online and have them shipped directly to your home. Whenever I talk to Yahyn Founder and CEO Pierre Rogers — like I did…
Startup Insider: Assessing Founder Risk
By Early Investing on September 21, 2020
Last week, StockX cofounder Josh Luber left the company he started in 2016. Luber helped build StockX into a $1 billion startup. It hasn’t gone public yet. StockX is probably in good hands. But Luber’s departure illustrates a problem that faces…
New Pick: Invest in Smart Cities
By Andy Gordon on September 17, 2020
DEAL DETAILS Startup: Cityzenith Security type: Common stock Valuation: $27.4 million Price per share: $1.15 Minimum investment: $500.25 Where to invest: StartEngine Deadline: July 1, 2021…
Update: Digital Brands Group’s Big Holiday Plans
By Andy Gordon on September 14, 2020
DBG (Digital Brands Group) has been busy. DBG holds a special place in our hearts — and in our portfolio. It’s the only startup we’ve recommended three times. We originally recommended DBG in 2016. Back then, the company went by…
Startup Insider: Evaluating Raise Pages
By Early Investing on September 10, 2020
One of the trickier aspects of startup investing is evaluating raise pages. For investors, these pages are often the only source of information available on a startup. But for companies that are raising funds, these pages are a marketing exercise. The goal is to present the company in…