5 ms·

I wouldn't talk to angels at this point, if I were you. If you're able to bootstrap your way through your private beta, do it. If possible, I'd hold off talki

I wouldn't talk to angels at this point, if I were you. If you're able to bootstrap your way through your private beta, do it. If possible, I'd hold off talking to angels until you've found a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition processes. If you manage to do so, you'll be in a much stronger position with the angels, and you'll also have a clear idea on how to effectively use the money raised.

steilpass 16y ago
I agree. But I wonder if an angel could help me find a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process?
- trevelyan 16y ago
  It doesn't sound like you're looking for funding. It sounds like you're looking for external validation.
  - steilpass 16y ago
    External validation would be good. But I am also thinking about marketing, launch buzz ...
petervandijck 16y ago
Disagree. Talk to them. It doesn't mean you need to raise money right now.
- michael_dorfman 16y ago
  Then why talk to them? Remember opportunity costs-- the time the OP spends (wastes) talking to angels when he doesn't need money is time taken away from more productive pursuits (building the product, acquiring customers, etc.)
sendos 16y ago
This may be a stupid question, but if a startup has found a "repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process" why would they need to talk to angels? Presumably your repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process will be bringing in lots of customers, who in turn will bring in income. So, you won't much need angels for money. Also, the fact that you have a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process means that you've solved one of the most, if not the most important problems a startup faces. So, you won't much need angels for the connections and advice on how to increase your traction. Of course the above is over-simplifying a bit. Even with income and more and more customers signing up, you may still need money to expand at the rate you want. Still, once a startup finds a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process, it's hard to see much need for angel investors.
- michael_dorfman 16y ago
  Still, once a startup finds a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process, it's hard to see much need for angel investors. I disagree. What's more, I think you do, too. You said as much a sentence earlier: Even with income and more and more customers signing up, you may still need money to expand at the rate you want. If you've got a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition strategy, more money in means more customers (and profit) out. In other words, you've built the money machine-- now you use angel money to get it running full speed.

steilpass 16y ago

I agree. But I wonder if an angel could help me find a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process?

trevelyan 16y ago
It doesn't sound like you're looking for funding. It sounds like you're looking for external validation.
- steilpass 16y ago
  External validation would be good. But I am also thinking about marketing, launch buzz ...

petervandijck 16y ago

Disagree. Talk to them. It doesn't mean you need to raise money right now.

michael_dorfman 16y ago
Then why talk to them? Remember opportunity costs-- the time the OP spends (wastes) talking to angels when he doesn't need money is time taken away from more productive pursuits (building the product, acquiring customers, etc.)

sendos 16y ago

This may be a stupid question, but if a startup has found a "repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process" why would they need to talk to angels? Presumably your repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process will be bringing in lots of customers, who in turn will bring in income. So, you won't much need angels for money. Also, the fact that you have a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process means that you've solved one of the most, if not the most important problems a startup faces. So, you won't much need angels for the connections and advice on how to increase your traction. Of course the above is over-simplifying a bit. Even with income and more and more customers signing up, you may still need money to expand at the rate you want. Still, once a startup finds a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process, it's hard to see much need for angel investors.

michael_dorfman 16y ago
Still, once a startup finds a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition process, it's hard to see much need for angel investors. I disagree. What's more, I think you do, too. You said as much a sentence earlier: Even with income and more and more customers signing up, you may still need money to expand at the rate you want. If you've got a repeatable, scalable customer acquisition strategy, more money in means more customers (and profit) out. In other words, you've built the money machine-- now you use angel money to get it running full speed.