Capone & Associates’ Post

Since 2015, we’ve started over 40 companies at High Alpha, but our most recent venture holds a special place for me. For the past 9 years, we’ve provided critical finance and strategic support to those founders and companies, helping them realize their full potential. Often, finance and accounting are overlooked and under-invested in startups, yet the right guidance can be the difference between failure and success. Tim Page, CPA has been instrumental in this journey at High Alpha. When he proposed launching Topo Advisors to provide world-class finance & accounting support for software and services startups, we knew he was the perfect person to lead this business. I’m thrilled to watch Topo Advisors and Tim thrive by helping their clients succeed. A big thank you to the amazing people who have contributed along the way: Brigitte Hackler, Cort P., Madeline Cutler, Blake Leonard, Kyle Kaiser, and many others. And a heartfelt thanks to the companies and founders who have trusted us to provide exceptional support and guidance! Eric Christopher, Max Yoder, Scott McCorkle, Darin Brown, Elliott Parker, David Weissman, Jake Miller, R. J. Talyor, Dan Hanrahan, Michael Burton, Scott Burns, Ben Person, Jonathan Gandolf, Jim Goldman, Mike Preuss, Pankaj Prasad, Paige McPheely, Matt Blumberg, Lindsay Tjepkema, Jeff Reekers, Mark Josephson, Jason T. Konesco, Haley Altman, Matt Compton, Connor Kelley, CLMP, Steven Walchek, Debra Senra, Christina Brady, Mark Simpson, Chris Lucas, and more! https://lnkd.in/gyU5M8Zh

Awesome to chat about Team Equity with startup leaders today at William Buck. Equity can be a great motivator for startups and growth companies, when you have the right compliance structure, balanced with awesome communication and culture. A great team equity plan involves Founders and executives buying into and setting a winning strategy and culture, and finance, legal, and people operations bringing it all together! Thanks Jack Qi and 😎Alex Millar from Hudled for being awesome partners and putting this on! Cake Equity Callum Davidson Kim H.

The top reason I love being on the finance team at a startup is that you get to be part of every major milestone. Not only are you involved, but you often find yourself driving these milestones. As a finance leader in emerging companies, I have: • Led the launch of significant new revenue streams • Identified new partners and structured deals • Raised millions of dollars in funding • Acquired new businesses • Sold the company No other role in the company gets to experience all these opportunities. In my opinion, this is the best reason to be on the finance team at a startup.

Why do VCs often give *such* terrible advice to early-stage founders? Idk, maybe: - Few have operated at the early stage. Few have suffered through the 0-1 pain cave. Operating is tough, and the early stage is weird. It's not just VCs... basically nobody gives good early-stage advice. - Their entire day is spent getting pitched. Pre- AND post-investment. Honestly, it would be weird if your average VC was capable of giving good advice from that vantage point. - Their job really isn't to give advice, it's to find companies that don't need their advice. - Their advice is, obviously, geared towards building a venture-backed company: Get to $100M+ revenue as fast as possible, or run into a wall trying. If you're not all-in on doing this, why are you considering their advice? - And sometimes... their advice is right, but seems crazy, because they can see a few steps ahead of where you can see. None of this implies VCs are bad people, or aren't smart, or don't want you to succeed. There are many out there that give insanely good advice. It's just that... most software companies aren't a fit for VC advice, and most VCs are in a situation where it would be weird IF they gave good advice.

Rob certainly states really good points. Today's business environment is more investment centric than it is "business centric" To earn real revenue, create value, one still needs to resort back to the traditional sense of running a business i.e. Increasing Revenue, Cash flow optimization and profit analysis. Let's focus on creating real value.

I can talk for days about the importance of cofounder dynamics and how they can make or break a great startup. What’s often overlooked is how the *right* investors are also crucial ingredients. Founders can be so singularly focused on raising a round that they overlook whether they’re bringing investors into their family who will serve it well—or burden it. Our lead investors for Clay at Remagine Ventures were always there—not as a distraction or mental drain, but as a true support. In fact, we’ve been really fortunate to have had great investors at our previous companies Ivy.co (acquired by Houzz) and Dynamic Yield by Mastercard too. Find good investors who are also good people. The rollercoaster journey of highs and lows is so much easier to endure when you have a good people by your side. Like these investors as people, not just dollars. Find yourselves a Kevin Baxpehler and Eze Vidra!

Entrepreneurs raising capital, please read this wonderful post by Rob Snyder. Investors always watch out for their interests. Actually, many of them have never run a business or have only worked for large firms. As Rob points out, the ideal business for them is one that doesn't need their advice. This is to cover up for the many bad investment decisions they make. Solution: Always retain and pay for your own professional advice....

Meet The Team Feature with Tetelo Mashishi When did you join Dommisse Attorneys and what is your role? I joined Dommisse Attorneys in October 2023. I am part of the venture capital team, although no day looks the same, a critical part of my role is assisting startups, founders and venture capitalists with various legal aspects of their funding transactions. What are you enjoying most or feeling excited about? I’m excited about being part of the startup ecosystem and adding value to startups dedicated to innovative problem solving. I’ve learnt a lot so far, but I’m really excited to continuing learning and refining my skills as a lawyer in the startup ecosystem. What is one thing you appreciate about the firm? I appreciate working with kind and approachable people who have created an environment of collaboration and inclusivity. The culture here is one of teaching, collaboration and creative solving problem, every team member’s perspective is valued.

A wonderful review for our Specialist Childcare Sales Negotiator, Steph Quinn 👏 We're proud to have received over 500 Trustpilot reviews, with a 5 star average rating 🌟 Check out more reviews here: https://lnkd.in/exZNACYm #RDK #Testimonial #Review #Trustpilot

I've spoken to many founders with 8-figure exits. They always complain about the same thing. The first 2 years after the exit are the hardest. Not because they have to stay for the earn-out. It's when they feel most lost and without a purpose - and deeply unsatisfied. They miss the dopamine that comes with solving hard problems. Yet don't want the stress and sacrifices that come with it. So they do two things: angel investing and "venture building." And they hate it. Because you see, the joy that comes with building a company is because of the stress and sacrifice. You can't have one without the other. It's a broken duality, because they know starting another company is not going to bring lasting happiness.