How to sell your company for hundreds of millions, in 4 easy steps
STEP 1: Have a great team. At an early stage, investors are taking a chance on how great the team is, not the market, not the product, or even your traction
The ONE thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
After I read ‘The ONE thing’, it completely changed how I think about goals…
I wrote a screenplay, that no one read, but it helped me in fundraising
When I was at Wharton, I took a screenwriting class and wrote a screenplay. It wasn't great, no one read it ☹️ but I learned lots of things that I later applied to VC fundraising. Here it is…
Are accelerators really worth it?
Startup accelerator programs have experienced remarkable growth, popularity, and influence within the venture ecosystem over the past two decades.
Lead to win by Carla Harris
What I learned as a founder from Carla Harris...
In 2005, I had the pleasure of seeing Carla Harris at an SEO event. She's the vice chairman at Morgan Stanley and has, for many years, been the torchbearer for diversity on Wall Street.
It took me 8 years to get a 4-year degree. Here’s what I learned
It was June 2006, and I was ready to graduate from Baruch College. However, I had actually started college (College of Aeronautics) in 1999 while doing the US Air Force ROTC. My dream was to be a fighter pilot.
Brown Enough by Christopher Rivas
I recently had a chance to read Brown Enough by fellow dominicano Christopher Rivas. This memoir explores the complexities of identity and race in America through the lens of a first-generation Latino growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood.
You’re setting goals the wrong way. Try this instead
🤓 Set goals that are S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound)
✅Break it down - Figure out a single goal for one year. Then figure out what's ONE thing you have to do this month, so that getting to that 1-year goal is way easier.
What I learned about entrepreneurship from the Air Force
What I learned about entrepreneurship from the Air Force.
In 1999, I joined the U.S. Air Force ROTC, a college program that prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. military. My dream was to become a fighter pilot. ✈️ 🧑✈
What I did not know about making a first impression
In June 2005, I started my internship at UBS, while I was part of the SEO program. As part of our SEO training, we were each paired with a mentor. Mine was Juan, from Puerto Rico, who was a senior banker at UBS Investment Bank.
Diversity is all about economic impact, not social impact
Shifting the Discourse: From Social Impact to Economic Influence
It's high time we reframe the dialogue around investing in underrepresented founders, transitioning from focusing solely on its social impact to highlighting its exceptional economic potential.
How I pivoted from Aircraft Mechanic to Investment Banker
In May 2005, I made the career pivot of going from aircraft mechanic to investment banker, thanks to SEO. A few days after I hung up the coveralls, I walked into an auditorium at Columbia University wearing a new suit and tie. I had officially begun my journey as a paid intern on Wall Street.
5 steps to fundraise without losing your mind_Pt 5
Step 5: Be formidable
So by now, you know how much money you need, you have your 60-second pitch locked, you have your deck on point, and you have your investor process game plan.
5 steps to fundraise without losing your mind_Pt 4
Step 4: Prepare a process
In fundraising, time is your enemy. This is because your startups’ attractiveness to investors has an expiration date. The longer you’re out fundraising, the lower your chances.
5 steps to fundraise without losing your mind_Pt 3
Step 3: Build a killer deck
Once you’ve nailed your 60-second pitch, building a deck is easy. That's because the deck should reflect your 60-second pitch. Let's go slide by slide:
5 steps to fundraise without losing your mind_Pt 2
Step 2: Nail your 60 second pitch
The constraint of having to pitch your company in 60 seconds, is a forcing function for actually defining what you actually do.
Closing the Equity Gap by Mitch Kapor
I had a chance to read “Closing the Gap”, by someone I've always considered a mentor, Mitch Kapor. As a former entrepreneur, I've always been passionate about bridging the equity gap in our society.
5 steps to fundraise without losing your mind_Pt 1
Figuring how much you need to raise is crucial, because you may need less capital than you think. You will have a Plan A (how much you need) and Plan B (the bare minimum).
Look at life in decades not years
Today I turn 42. Feel blessed.🙏🏽
At age 12, I was selling guavas in my barrio in Santo Domingo. I immigrated to the U.S., but my parents were struggling financially, and we were on welfare, so I got a job at C-town packing groceries
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Excited to share some of the valuable entrepreneurship lessons that I've learned from The Alchemist. At its core, this book is all about following your dreams and pursuing your personal legend.