Evan Vitale

Accounting Professional

Evan Vitale – What’s Next If Your Crowdfunding Plan Fails?

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By Evan Vitale

You’ve researched, planned and prepared an awesome presentation for your crowdfunding campaign and then it bombs. Now what?

Get up. Brush the dirt off your pants and try again. Right?

Before you take the same plan and presentation and create a new campaign at a different crowdfunding site (which might also cause yet another failure), you should first step back a little and review the following:

  • Is your idea a great one? Everyone “thinks” they have an awesome idea, but is it really that great? If so, then why didn’t you reach your campaign goal? Was it something in the presentation or did others feel like perhaps your idea isn’t as hot as you think it is?
  • Review your plan. What’s missing in your project or idea plan? Did you offer enough details to your investors? Check and see if there were any unanswered questions during your campaign. Remember, as you create your plan and presentation think of all the questions someone might ask if you were making the presentation face-to-face. Then, make sure all of those questions are answered in your campaign presentation.
  • Review your financial goals. Are you dead-on with your requests or are you asking for too much money?
  • Review your presentation. Did it fail to wow your crowd? What’s missing? What can you do to make it better; keep people’s interest and make them become part of your financial crowd?
  • It could be that perhaps you presented your plan on the wrong crowdfunding website. They are all different and, perhaps, a change might be the key to reaching your campaign goal.

Once you have answered those questions and made the necessary edits, changes and updates, then it’s time to start your crowdfunding campaign again. A first-time failure doesn’t mean you’re finished. It means you’re gaining experience!

 

Evan Vitale – Working For A Startup

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By Evan Vitale

Working for a startup business can be exciting and risky at the same time.

For some, knowing that you’re helping a business work from the ground up is an adventure and it’s a thrill if the startup becomes a huge success (and it makes for a nice addition to your personal resume)!

However, working for a startup can be considered one of the most riskiest career moves that you will ever make. Your starting salary may be low and there may also be a lack of any benefit package. Plus, you never know when you’ll be handed a pink slip due to a cash shortage.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you accept a job offer from a startup:

  • Will working for a startup be of benefit to you? Remember, you might have to consider being a part of the startup for the experience and the potential “glory” of business growth. You’ll learn a lot, especially if you’re just starting a career. But, at the same time, you may not be paid your full value.
  • Will you be of benefit to the company? You must feel valued and there must also be some potential career advancement opportunities with a startup as well. As many employees have learned over the years, sometimes being valued by your employer goes a long way.
  • How is the startup financially secured? There’s nothing wrong in asking if the startup is backed by a venture capital company. If you don’t feel comfortable in asking, you can do some of your own research and learn more about the startup. Typically, a VC will publish a press release highlighting funding for startups. You need to feel secure that the startup is going to shutter its doors tomorrow if you decide to come to work for them today.

As you can see, working for a startup has it’s positives and negatives. Do your research, talk to your family and friends and make the right decision based on your goals and financial needs.

Evan Vitale – VC Money Tight in 2016?

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By Evan Vitale

The venture crystal ball, according to the Silicon Valley Business Journal, reveals that investors are predicting fewer unicorns and tighter purse strings for the upcoming year.

TechFlash Editor Cromwell Schubarth says most of the investors he interviewed at the conclusion of 2015, says the booming trend of venture capital funding is slowing down. Perhaps, we’ve been on a good ride for such a long time, that it’s likely things are going to calm down a bit.

You can read the entire article here:

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/techflash/2015/12/vc-crystal-ball-investors-predict-fewer-unicorns.html

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal says the Federal Reserve’s quarter-point rate increase will have very little immediate impact on the startup fundraising environment. However, gradual tightening is expected over the next 12 months. Will this leave companies short of startup cash before they start to see a profit?

Check out what capital investors are saying about this potential cash crunch here:

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/12/17/vc-mailbag-startup-funding-crunch-is-likely-in-2016/

However, once you dig down far enough, you’ll always be able to find some positive news from a venture capitalist.

According to CNBC, New Enterprise Associations general manager Rick Yang says 2016 will be a big year for companies working in virtual reality, edtech and e-commerce.

VC money might be tight, he says, in the first part of 2016 as compared to 2015, but he doesn’t see early-stage companies slowing down. Facebook and Apple, he predicts will look to “acquire more startups to maintain growth and obtain new technologies,” Yang says.

“I don’t think that any of the big tech companies are scared of acquiring companies right now, they still have quite a bit of cash on the balance sheets. And as I kind of mentioned in one of the previous questions, I do think they’re looking to other services outside of their core products for growth in the next year,” he said.

You can read the full article here:

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/31/one-venture-capitalists-predictions-for-2016.html

Evan Vitale – What Is An Investor?

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By Evan Vitale

(This is Part VI in our series on different types of capital, including debt capital, equity capital, private equity, venture capital, angel investors and investors)

An investor in your business can wear many hats and the term can mean different things to different business owners and types of businesses.

However, usually, an investor is a person who commits capital with the expectation of financial returns.

They are definitely looking to grow their money and, therefore, they generally prefer to minimize risk while maximizing their returns.

In most cases, investors want to call the shots with your business and become part of your team, which might not work for some startups and business owners who don’t want to give up a share of the company.

See also:

What is Equity Capital?

What is Debt Capital?

What is Venture Capital?

What is An Angel Investor?

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Evan Vitale is a multifaceted finance and accounting professional who provides Audit, Accounting, Tax, Due Diligence and Advisory services to Venture Capital Funds, Hedge Funds, Private Equity Funds, Family Offices, Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), Funds of Funds, Other Investment Groups and their management companies. 

Today’s market has made it extremely difficult to predict what the next day will bring.  For Funds and Other Investment Vehicles, the expectations remain to balance the different opportunities with a continued focus on value creation in existing portfolios.  The key to any successful organization is building and maintaining the trust of your investors. Evan has the expertise to help you shine in your investor’s eyes and stand apart from the competition.

Funds have special needs when it comes to finding an accounting firm to help them with their accounting, auditing, tax and financial due diligence projects. Managing a fund is complicated enough without having to build the infrastructure to have accounting and tax services handled also.

Connect with Evan Vitale via his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/evancvitale

Evan Vitale – What Is An Angel Investor?

by

By Evan Vitale

(This is Part V in our series on different types of capital, including debt capital, equity capital, private equity, venture capital, angel investors and investors)

While an “investor” is considered as someone who provides financial backing for small startup businesses or entrepreneurs, an “angel investor” is someone who is usually a family member or a friend (or a friend of a family member or friend). They are a little “closer” and connected to you in some way.

Typically, the capital they can provide can be:

A one-time injection of seed money.

Ongoing financial support.

Funds to help with expansion or to buy a piece of equipment.

Angel investors invest in the person rather than in the business. They do want your business to succeed, rather than be on the receiving on of huge profits from their investment(s).

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Evan Vitale is a multifaceted finance and accounting professional who provides Audit, Accounting, Tax, Due Diligence and Advisory services to Venture Capital Funds, Hedge Funds, Private Equity Funds, Family Offices, Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), Funds of Funds, Other Investment Groups and their management companies. 

Today’s market has made it extremely difficult to predict what the next day will bring.  For Funds and Other Investment Vehicles, the expectations remain to balance the different opportunities with a continued focus on value creation in existing portfolios.  The key to any successful organization is building and maintaining the trust of your investors. Evan has the expertise to help you shine in your investor’s eyes and stand apart from the competition.

Funds have special needs when it comes to finding an accounting firm to help them with their accounting, auditing, tax and financial due diligence projects. Managing a fund is complicated enough without having to build the infrastructure to have accounting and tax services handled also.

Check out Evan Vitale on http://about.me/evanvitale.