In this insightful episode of "Venture Declassified," hosts Mike Kelly, Ben Pidgeon, and Jacob Spock tackle the often contentious topic of CEO compensation in startups. With an engaging and dynamic discussion, the trio delves into the intricate balance of aligning executive pay with company milestones and investor expectations.

Key Topics

• Budget implications of CEO compensation with regard to business longevity and milestones.

• Risk of misalignment with post-money valuation.

• Signs of bad salary practices.

• The harmful impact of exorbitant CEO salaries on a company’s future and investor alignment.

• Real-world examples of inappropriate executive compensation.

• Discussing salary disclosure upfront during investment conversations.

Adjusting founder compensations based on milestones.

Connect

Mike Kelly
LinkedIn - Start Something Ventures

Ben Pidgeon
LinkedIn - VisionTech

Jacob Schpok
LinkedIn - Elevate Ventures

Hear more interviews and stories like this one at www.VentureDeclassified.com

The information provided on the show is not intended to be investment advice and should not be relied upon as such. The investors on today’s episode are providing their opinions based on their own assessment of the businesses or topics presented. Those opinions should not be considered professional investment advice. If they start up pitched as a part of this episode, it is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities.

In this episode of "Venture Declassified," hosts Mike Kelly, Ben Pidgeon, and Jacob Schpok dive into various investment strategies and market dynamics affecting angel investors.

Key Topics

• Investment Strategies: Sticking to goals, but being flexible

• Benefits of Knowing CEOs or Board Members: Looking beyond just using deal platforms like AngelList.

• Emotional Engagement in Investments

• Importance of a Broad Investment Scope: Relying on a strong process and discerning team

• Balance Between Liquidity and Timing: Angel investors' mental preparation for potential losses.

• Considering Political Climate: National political climate and elections influencing market dynamics.

Connect

Mike Kelly
LinkedIn - Start Something Ventures

Ben Pidgeon
LinkedIn - VisionTech

Jacob Schpok
LinkedIn - Elevate Ventures

Hear more interviews and stories like this one at www.VentureDeclassified.com

The information provided on the show is not intended to be investment advice and should not be relied upon as such. The investors on today’s episode are providing their opinions based on their own assessment of the businesses or topics presented. Those opinions should not be considered professional investment advice. If they start up pitched as a part of this episode, it is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities.

Episode Summary

In this episode of "Venture Declassified," hosts Mike Kelly and Jacob Spock, along with special guest Nick Wangler, co-founer and COO of Orthodontic Details, delve into the intricate dynamics of venture capital and startup fundraising. The episode offers invaluable advice for founders navigating the challenging VC landscape, focusing on practical strategies to enhance their pitch and financial planning.

Key Topics

• Challenges founders face with discounted estimates
• Various financial reports: pro forma vs. financial forecast.
• Importance of accurate pipeline coverage and cost management.
• Red flags in founder behavior: overpromising and underperformance.
• Discussion on personalized vs. generic fundraising advice.
• Balance between terms, market opportunity, and founder qualities.
• Constructive criticism and the safe exploration of ideas.

Guest Bio

Nick Wangler is the co-founder and COO of Details, a company that simplifies orthodontic supply management by streamlining purchasing processes for practices. With prior experience as the Director of Special Projects at ID8 Innovation and Partner/Director of Marketing Services at DeveloperTown, Nick brings a wealth of expertise in operational efficiency and marketing strategy. He holds a degree from Olivet Nazarene University and is passionate about improving orthodontic practice workflows to enhance patient care.

LinkedIn | Website - Orthodontic Details

Hosts

Mike Kelly | LinkedIn | Start Something Ventures

Ben Pidgeon | LinkedIn | VisionTech

Jacob Schpok | LinkedIn | Elevate Ventures

Hear more interviews and stories like this one at www.VentureDeclassified.com

The information provided on the show is not intended to be investment advice and should not be relied upon as such. The investors on today’s episode are providing their opinions based on their own assessment of the businesses or topics presented. Those opinions should not be considered professional investment advice. If they start up pitched as a part of this episode, it is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities.