Founders First Capital Partners’ Post

Proud to #highlight our #ecosystem member Founders First Capital Partners and their CEO, Kim Folsom (She/Her), for her insightful article on sustainable business growth through the "Zebra" model. In "Want to Achieve Steady Business Growth? Take a Ride on a Zebra," Kim explains how zebra companies focus on manageable growth, offering founders the opportunity to build successful businesses without sacrificing control or balance. Check it out below and consider how the zebra model could be the key to your business's success! #businessgrowth #entrepreneurship #sustainablesuccess #foundersfirst

The age-old truth holds: money finds its way home only through the profitable doors of business. 🏡💰 It's not a magical occurrence; it's the result of strategic planning, relentless execution, and a keen understanding of the market. Profit is the lifeblood that nourishes your business, fueling growth, innovation, and the ability to give back. Are you ready to unlock your business's full potential? Let's build a financial fortress together! 💪 From startups to established enterprises, we've got the blueprint for success. Let's chat about your business goals and explore how to turn your vision into a profitable reality. #MoneyMakesTheWorldGoRound #ProfitDriven #BusinessIsBusiness #FinancialSuccess #EntrepreneurshipJourney #WealthBuilding #EconomicImpact #BusinessGrowthStrategies #FinancialFreedomIsReal #InvestWisely #BusinessMindset #FinancialLiteracyMatters #SmallBusinessOwner #StartupLife #BusinessCoaching #FinancialPlanning #MarketingStrategy #SalesFunnel

Starting a business is thrilling yet full of tough choices. And, equity is paramount. How much of your company should you retain? This decision can greatly influence your future and your company's path forward. Balancing control and hyper-ownership can hinder growth, and early equity decisions often have a significant future impact. It's crucial for founders to navigate through them strategically. Here's the truth:  The choices made in the early stages of a startup can shape its trajectory for years to come, influencing everything from funding opportunities to team dynamics. The Bootstrapping Hustle Starting out, you and your co-founders typically own 100% of the company, fostering strong ownership and alignment with success. The Growth Phase Here’s where dilution comes in the picture. As you grow and need outside funding, your ownership shrinks (dilution). Imagine raising funds every two years, losing 20% ownership each time. Over four rounds, that's a 64% decrease! It's daunting, isn't it? Hence, dilution isn't the rival but it's about finding the right partners to fuel growth. Aim for a larger stake for as long as you can, but play the game in terms of long run. Even a smaller share in a highly successful company will yield significant gains. Building the core team Your success is a product of the efforts from different individuals. So, share the gains with the employees, advisors and key holders. Offering a 12-15% equity stake is a fantastic incentive for assembling a top-notch team. Founder Ownership Aim for a 15-20% ownership stake post-dilution. It keeps you invested while enabling strategic growth. Takeaways to approach a strategic equity share: >Understand your capitalization table for clarity and transparency among stakeholders. >Make key equity decisions early to align with your long-term vision. >Know anti-dilution measures to protect against market challenges. >Flexibility in negotiations reflects a company's evolving value. By following these guidelines and staying adaptable, you can make informed equity decisions that enable real growth of a startup. What’s your perspective on equity ? #equity #business

"Did you know that small businesses make up 90% of all global companies? At CS Ventures, we recognize the vital role small businesses play in the global economy. Our mission is to support these businesses by providing expert consulting services that transform visionary ideas into actionable, strategic plans. Whether you’re a startup or an established small business, we’re here to help you navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve sustainable growth. Partner with CS Ventures and unlock your full potential. Explore our tailored consulting services today. #SmallBusiness #GlobalImpact #BusinessGrowth #StrategicPlanning #ConsultingServices #CSVentures #UnlockPotential #PartnerForSuccess #SupportSmallBusiness #BusinessConsulting

RE: The importance of partnering with a private equity firm that shares the same values as the company founder. When partnering with a private equity firm, aligning values between the firm and the company founder is crucial for long-term success. At its core, a values-driven partnership fosters trust, transparency, and collaboration—key elements for driving sustainable growth. This business development video addresses the importance of selecting a private equity partner that shares the same vision as the founder, as well as the obstacles faced if you're not aligned. If this short business development video resonates with you and you would like to discuss it further, reach out to me at mc@castelliconsulting.org or message me through LinkedIn or directly from my website at www.castelliconsulting.net. I’ll be happy to schedule some time to review your business issues and discuss ways that Castelli Consulting can help you achieve your business goals. Have a great day and as always, thank you for your support! -MC #tracygravestinlin #kimberlymazza #brettbeveridge #entrepreneurs #ceo #wireless #startup #careerdevelopment #kallieparchman #winstonshih #verizon #ATT #tmobile #marklclare #kenreevessr #rebeccajames #weisun #johnroush #mikeseivert

One of the hardest parts of running a growing business is making the leap from a small but respectable business to an established mid-market player. There’s plenty of opportunity in being a midsized company, but to get there, you’ll have to overcome all kinds of challenges. This article, from Harvard Business Review, outlines a series of strategies founders can put in place to fast-track their company’s growth. Read it now: https://hubs.ly/Q02yQMDM0 And if you need financial guidance along the way, contact G-Squared Partners – experienced advisors to fast-growing startups. #gsquared #gsquaredpartners #gsquaredCFO #chieffinancialofficer #cfo #accounting #fractionalcfo #ceo #virtualcfo #business #entrepreneur #parttimecfo #smallbusiness #chiefexecutiveofficer #finance

Pitch 📢 your business with your BP Executive Summary In the quest for startup investment, a powerful executive summary stands as your business plan's foremost asset. It serves as a potent pitch to entice potential investors. This succinct overview is the initial touchstone for investors, shaping their perception of your venture before they delve into the finer details of your business plan. Given the adage that first impressions are paramount, the executive summary essentially forms the cornerstone of investors' initial impression of your business. So the question is, how do you write a compelling exec summary to entice investors? Coming soon... Stay tuned !! #entrepreneurseries #businessplan #executivesummary

Unlocking explosive growth! Did you know C Corporations can issue unlimited shares? This attracts a wider pool of investors, fueling your business with the capital it needs to scale and dominate! Let's chat and turn your entrepreneurial dream into a booming reality! #FlipformAcademy #GrowthStrategy #BusinessGoals #ScaleUp #FundingSolutions #BusinessExpansion #ScaleYourBusiness #GetStartedToday #businessprotection

It's Friday, so a good time with fewer emails to knuckle down and concentrate. Speaking of which, here is a quick guide below on the often controversial topic of dilution (and anti-dilution), pitfalls and what this can mean for your shares in a company, whether as a founder, investor or share option holder. 🥤

For entrepreneurs who are guessing how to best manage their share dilution during a fundraise, check some interesting insights on our website! 🎗 Link in the comments