HD TV 1080i vs. 720p: True Blogosphere Story

OK, so it took me a year to care about the great HD TV 1080i vs. 720p wars that were fought back in 2005, but the answers are no less important or funny to me today. When planning my family's Black Friday parking lot campout, I spent much of Thanksgiving evening trying to decide if $1499 for a 1080i 50" flat screen was worth braving the elements for. I don't need the latest and greatest (1080p or better is really where it's at), but I do like to know relative value. After reading a variety of 1080i vs. 720p comparisons from interlaced and progessive ninjas, I found my favorite here. If you're doing the same research, I think you'll enjoy finally reading the definitive review.

Good luck and happy holidays!

The $64,000 Answer to "What's Your Valuation?"

This post isn't about how early-stage companies are valued by investors, nor is it about how entrepreneurs value their babies. No, this post is about answering the inevitable fundraising question: "What's your company's valuation?" or "How much of the company are you prepared to sell for this round?"; particularly when asked in the first in-person presentation.

Here's my advice and, yes, I expect to hear it come back at me the next time I ask for a valuation. Resist the urge to say a number. Resist with all your strength. I know it's hard because I've seen entrepreneurs blurt out a number even within 5 minutes of receiving this advice. Don't say a dollar figure and don't say a percentage. I repeat, don't say a dollar figure and don't say a percentage.

The $64,000 Answer

Instead, share the following (after you've convinced yourself you believe them):
1) We are looking for great partners beyond the dollars and valuation;
2) We understand that valuation is a market concept so valuation is a result of creating an interested market of investors for our company;
3) If we both decide we could be good partners and excited about each other, I'm confident we will find a valuation that works for everyone;
4) Then be quiet and listen (clamping down on your urge to follow-on with a number).

From there you'll probably get one of the following responses:
a) That's great to hear, because we're all about partnering; or
b) That's a load of crap, tell me the valuation you're really thinking.

Even if you get response b), I'd suggest reiterating your primary goal is finding the right partners to build your world-changing company. If you can't leave investors happy with that answer, then, and only then, reference other specific company comparables (not "my friend got X") and how your research uncovered a range of attractive X to acceptable Y values (reiterating that it's about partnership first).

Why do I say this?

Because the reality of fundraising is much more fluid and dynamic than saying a number that could immediately kill investor interest. I have seen meetings turn from hot to frozen when a pre-revenue entrepreneur boldly claims he expects a $20M valuation -- only because he hadn't been through the process long enough to realize anything beyond single digits was a deal killer for any quality fund.

If you give yourself and your investors time to learn each other a couple things happen. First, you get a better feel for who you're partnering with, and great partners could lower valuation requirements that could have killed you earlier. Second, investors spend more cycles learning you and researching your business. You'd prefer valuation conversations to happen after investors have grown their excitement and vested their time/energy into you. That is the better time to discuss numbers that could work for all parties.

Exception Cases

Have I seen it turn out OK by saying a number? Yes. Could this approach waste time? Yes, if you don't vet the partner expectations along the way. My advice isn't focused on the exception cases, I'm recommending a path that has the highest likelihood of getting you good VC partners and a termsheet. Because valuation is a relationship and market concept, your biggest levers for affecting valuation are interpersonal and termsheets. Getting VCs to like you first or getting multiple termsheets will reap better results than demanding $20M valuation in the first meeting. If you can resist the temptation to blurt a number, you will be way ahead in building the strongest funding partnership for your company.

Whaddya think readers -- any pearls of wisdom from experiencing this process firsthand?

Florida Collegiate Business Plan Competition

Congratulations to student entrepreneurs Ryan Tseng (left) and Alex Nogueras (right) who won Florida's inaugural statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition.

I've judged plenty of schoolwide business plan contests, but this statewide effort was the best I've been a part of. The two-day competition at the Gaylord Palms Resort (cool place) in Orlando featured 12 teams from nine Florida colleges and universities. The teams delivered written business plans and gave live presentations to a panel of judges interested in start-up business investments. Nearly 100 business, government and academic leaders attended the competition.

The track I judged included everything from alternate energy businesses, to a jet taxi service, to a new in-line game for amusement parks. The winner was Alex Nogueras, graduate of Florida International University, and his G-Force line of ergonomic garden tools. The other track was taken by University of Florida graduate Ryan Tseng and his PowerPad patent-pending wireless power transmision system.

Wireless power is an area I've been researching independently so I'll be following up with Ryan. I'm also trying to recruit one of the entrepreneurs to join a company I've funded.

I'm hoping this is just the first of many years for the competition. If you're a student entpreneur, consider entering next year. If you're an investor that reviews student-founded businesses, consider volunteering. The competition is well run and great for entrepreneurship across the state.