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SOURCING STRATEGIC INVESTORS

by Larry Hayward – Large strategic corporations are playing an increasingly critical role in financing important technologies. A strategic, in many cases, wants just the opposite of the typical venture capital operation. What happens when an angel, a venture capital firm, and a strategic invest in the same company?

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TOO MANY FOUNDERS

by Seth Temko – There definitely can be too many founders. It affects the success of the company, the happiness of the founders and the financial results they may achieve personally. The nasty term DILUTION becomes many times worse.

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KILLER SHILLER

by John Jonelis – Loop slams his empty glass to the table. “Them guys never agree on nothin’. Fama gave us that crazy Perfect Market Hypothosis.” He spins his index finger around his temple—an unmistakable and insulting gesture.

Ludditis raises his voice a notch. “Perfect Market Theory—it settled science.”

Loop: “Well, I guess a guy’s gotta believe in somethin’. I hate t’ contradict a good Chicago boy but that theory is a load o’ bunk. Shiller proved it.” Loop stops. Cocks his head. Switches to a conciliatory tone. “Okay Don—Why doncha explain it to us in simple terms, so’s we understand?”

Don raises himself erect in his chair. “I try. With you, is not so easy. It go like this:”

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THE VENTURE CANOE

by John Jonelis – Out on the water, I sing THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD. I often belt that out when afloat. It never fails to elicit loud whining, accompanied by hands clasped to ears and impassioned shouts of, “Stop it—stop it!” What’s wrong with these people? Can’t folks face the inherent risks of investment? Let me explain…

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Twenty Questions You Will Be Asked By Venture Capitalists

by Laurence Hayward – Most likely you’ve played the game 20 questions. This game shares some common traits with a venture capital interview. So, in order to help you prepare, outlined below are 20 questions that venture capitalists most frequently ask entrepreneurs.

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APPLESAUCE AND APPLE

by Tom McBride and Ron Nief – The students who began college this past fall have a forty percent chance of graduating in four years, and a seventy percent chance of graduating in six. They are all too keenly aware of how easily a sophisticated algorithm can replace human beings in the performance of even high-tech tasks. They are more interested in money than in love…

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5 KEYS TO THE ZERO MOMENT OF TRUTH


Loop Lonagan – special correspondent – She says, on average, people search the Internet for 10+ sources BEFORE they make the buy. Consumers are a lot more proactive about gettin’ input FROM OTHER PEOPLE to make a decision. That’s a big switch. With that goin’ on, advertising as we know it might be a dinosaur. Can she prove it?

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HOW TO CHOOSE AN ANGEL GROUP

by John Jonelis – It’s crucial for an Angel Investor to leverage the strengths of a group. Great groups are out there but how do you identify them? Here are three key questions:

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THE ANGEL EDGE

by John Jonelis – Compare seed round, the angel round, and the venture round to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Notice that Angels make up the good stuff in the middle. And yes—according to studies by the Kauffman Foundation—Angels make the best money.

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FOUNDER’S PROCLAMATION

by George Washington – Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

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Albert EinsteinBOYCOTT WHO?

Tami Kolbe – guest writer – A short time ago, Iran’s Supreme Leader urged the Muslim World to boycott anything and everything that originates with the Jewish people. In response, a pharmacist, out of the kindness of his heart, offered to assist them in their boycott as follows: “Any Muslim who has Syphilis must not be cured by Salvarsan discovered by a Jew, Dr. Ehrlich. He should not even try to find out whether he has Syphilis, because the Wasserman Test is the discovery of a Jew.

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MEASURING THE FUTURE

by John Jonelis- You may ask, “Hey Jonelis, why all the harping on the word average?” Because average is a fantasy. It doesn’t exist for you. It doesn’t exist for me. It’s a composite of the whole crowd.

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THE SECRET OF HARD TIMES


John Jonelis—Here’s my secret: Hard times create a supply and demand imbalance. Innovation takes off, but at the same time investors run scared. Banks won’t lend. You end up with too many good ideas and not enough capital. That’s when I buy.”

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BE THE ONE THEY CAN COUNT ON

by Howard Tullman – Winners have a sense about other winners and you can’t miss the shift in their interest and attention when they encounter another of their own species. Wanting to win is fine – wanting to do the work that it takes to win and to keep at it until you do win is what makes the difference in the end.

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THE POLITICS OF INVESTING


John Jonelis—How can they give the 2012 Visionary Award to a politician? It spoils their perfect record. But politicians are what they picked, so that’s what they get.

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CHECKBOXES FOR FUNDING

by John Jonelis – Daniel DiLorenzo comes up with a concise list of what’s needed to succeed in fund raising. He fills in all the blanks before approaching venture capital. He’s highly successful at gaining great gobs money.

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WHERE IS CHINA’S STEVE JOBS?

John Jonelis – What China wants is found in Chicago. They know it and have been pursuing it for years.

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CHICAGO’S NEW SOUTH SIDE

John Jonelis – The City of Broad Shoulders is looking to the south. South of 119th street. South of Springfield. South of Mexico. Way south. They’re looking to Brazil where GDP

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THE QUICK NO

by Douglas Yau, PhD- When asked for funding, one of the most frustrating things investors do to a startup company is give them the “Slow No.”

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THE SUM OF THE WHOLE

Moises Goldman PhD – resident scientist – In today’s digital environment, the words entrepreneurship and innovation are the flavor of the day. Universities and even certain high schools believe they are preparing their students to go out into the world armed with the necessary tools to excel. But are they?

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IF WE BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME

Moises Goldman PhD – resident scientist – Many in industry believe that logistics is now THE important field of study. Nothing could be further from the truth.

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THE CLIFFS OF INSANITY

Joe Perogi – special correspondent – The Fiscal Cliff. Anybody’d think them bums in Washington could work this thing out. But Peter Orszag shows two simple charts that explain why it’s so hard to

fix.

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THE FISCAL CLIFF

John Jonelis – I’m at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to try and understand the situation in the good old USA. Since the topic is economics, I’ll translate it into

everyday language and reduce it to the points that impact you and me.

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DEATH SPIRAL IN EUROPE

John Jonelis – I’m at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to find out more about the financial crisis in Europe and why I should care. The topic is economics, but don’t let that scare you away. I’ll translate it into everyday language and reduce it to a few pertinent facts that mean something to you and me in a real way.

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