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Startups and investment

Posts from experts at Innovation Works, AlphaLab Gear, AlphaLab, and 412Build.

Double Take: Bloomberg Law: Tech Sector Pushes for Fewer Crowdfunding Restrictions

Double Take: Bloomberg Law: Tech Sector Pushes for Fewer Crowdfunding Restrictions

As anticipated, the fundraising landscape continues to evolve on the legislative and regulatory fronts. With the magnitude of the changes…

Aug 5

I’m leaving, but not really.

I’m leaving, but not really.

Today was my last day as Program Coordinator at AlphaLab, but … tomorrow is my first day as Digital & Community Engagement Manager at…

Jul 14

Avoid the Labels — Understanding the Changing Funding Landscape

Avoid the Labels — Understanding the Changing Funding Landscape

A piece of advice that we often give startups is to be more specific when describing the round they’re raising. We’ll meet a founder who…

Jul 13

Hardware Startup Mistakes

Hardware Startup Mistakes

I’ve spent the past 4 months looking for the best and brightest hardware startups around the country for the AlphaLab Gear National…

May 27

It’s not your father’s funding environment

It’s not your father’s funding environment

If you are over 40, like me, your world of investing has been turned upside down. If you’re under 40, the laws and regulations for private…

Innovation Works

May 18

The Pros and Cons of Taking Investment from Corporate VCs

The Pros and Cons of Taking Investment from Corporate VCs

The NY Times recently published a great article on the increasing number of corporate venture capital groups. Per a recent USA Today…

May 16

Pittsburgh as a Startup

Pittsburgh as a Startup

When I first moved to Pittsburgh in 2002 and joined Innovation Works to help build the technology community, one of my early mentors framed…

May 13

A Note of Thanks

A Note of Thanks

It’s been a week since our joint AlphaLab Gear / AlphaLab Demo Day and I wanted to share some reflections and thanks.

May 5

Two Tips to Improve Your Financial Forecasts

Two Tips to Improve Your Financial Forecasts

This is part two of a two-part post. Last week I talked about the importance of building a cash flow forecast. This week, I want to spend…

Apr 12

Hardware Startups: You Need to Understand Cash Flow

Hardware Startups: You Need to Understand Cash Flow

I’ve spent a lot of time recently helping companies with their financial projections. This is the first of two posts I’m going to write…

Mar 30

Getting off the fence

Getting off the fence

Still have some questions about whether to apply for AlphaLab as our deadline approaches? We wanted to share some final thoughts and…

Apr 1

Some Thoughts on Equity Crowdfunding

Some Thoughts on Equity Crowdfunding

Historically, investment in private companies has been limited to Accredited Investors (i.e. people who makes more than $200K annually …

Mar 15

DoubleTake: First Round Capital: The Watney Rule for Startups — and the Return to the ‘Old Normal’

DoubleTake: First Round Capital: The Watney Rule for Startups — and the Return to the ‘Old Normal’

In this sporadic series of blogs, when I find a particular article or blog that impresses me as being important for entrepreneurs, I have…

Mar 15

Double Take: Bloomberg Business: How Startups Learned to Love Debt

Double Take: Bloomberg Business: How Startups Learned to Love Debt

Bloomberg reporter, Ellen Huet, has written an article describing the increase in convertible debt being used by venture-backed companies…

Feb 29

Paul Singh’s Tech Tour: Pittsburgh stop

Paul Singh’s Tech Tour: Pittsburgh stop

We are excited to partner with Paul Singh on his 2016 Tech Tour visit to Pittsburgh. Paul is a nationally known investor/entrepreneur who…

Feb 19

Working With Your (Non) Technical Co-Founder

Working With Your (Non) Technical Co-Founder

Whenever I give a presentation or sit on a panel I often introduce myself as a recovering English major. This serves two purposes: 1) as a…

Feb 19

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