The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to a Scalable, High–Growth Business

Praise for THE STARTUP CHECKLIST

"Finally! The indispensable instruction book that takes you from your Big Idea to a Big Exit. In his inimitable wise and witty style, David takes founders through the nuts and bolts of how to start a company that can successfully make it all the way to the finish line. I′m giving copies to all of my entrepreneurs!"
Barbara Corcoran, Business Expert and Star of ABC′s Shark Tank

"I work with hundreds of first–time entrepreneurs and The Startup Checklist is the clearest, most useful resource I have seen for someone considering starting a scalable, high–growth business.Experience may be the best teacher, but right behind her is David S. Rose."
Andrew Yang, Founder and CEO of Venture for America and author of Smart People Should Build Things

"This book is an absolute must for anybody looking to start a high–growth startup and get funding. David is an institution among high–tech angel investors, who brings his experience on both sides of it (as startup founder and angel investor) to play in this practical, realistic book."
Tim Berry, Author of Business Plan Pro

"Everyone knows that a great business starts with a great idea. But the journey from a great idea to a flourishing, profitable business is a lot longer and thornier than most people realize. I can′t imagine a more experienced, savvier, street–smart guide along the way than David S. Rose′s The Startup Checklist."
Howard L. Morgan, Co–founder, First Round Capital

"The Startup Checklist should be required reading for every entrepreneur. It walks you step by step through the entire process of building a seriously big company, and will save you from making all–too–common mistakes that can easily kill an otherwise promising venture."
JJ Ramberg, Host of MSNBC′s Your Business

"David S. Rose has seen it all, over many years and across thousands of companies, and then, to the great benefit of the rest of us, has distilled the essence of what it takes to succeed. I can′t say strongly enough how much I feel that following the checklist David has created will help you make your company more successful."
Bill Gross, Founder and CEO of Idealab

PREFACE Why Every Entrepreneur Needs This Book . . . instead of the other 93,210 books on Entrepreneurship

INTRODUCTION 25 Key Action Steps for Every Entrepreneur

PART ONE PREPARE TO LAUNCH

1. Translate Your Idea into a Compelling Business Model

2. Craft a Business Plan to Serve as Your Plan A Roadmap

3. Find and Know Your Competitors

4. Draft your Founding Dream Team

5. Allocate the Equity in Your Startup

6. Build a Minimum Viable Product and Validate Your Plan with Customers

7.  Establish Your Brand with Online Public Profiles

8. Network Effectively within the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

PART TWO LAUNCH AND BUILD YOUR COMPANY

9. Incorporate as a Delaware C Corporation for Protection and Investment

10. Lawyer Up the Right Way

11. Recruit your Boards of Directors and Advisors

12. Select an Accountant and an Accounting System

13. Establish and Manage your Credit Profile

14. Open Bank, Credit Card and Merchant Accounts

15. Choose Your Key Technologies, Platforms and Vendors

16. Measure Your Business with Data Analytics

17. Round Out Your Team with Employees and Freelancers

18. Establish a Stock Option Plan to Incentivize Your Team

PART THREE RAISE FUNDS; COLLABORATE WITH INVESTORS; PLAN FOR YOUR EXIT

19. Understand the Funding Process and What Investors Want to See

20. Nurture Your Investor Pipeline

21. Fundraise with Online Platforms

22. Survive the Term Sheet Negotiation and Investor Due Diligence

23. Get the Most from Your Investors, Now and in the Future

24. Understand Your Company s Valuation for Funding vs. Option Grants

25. Keep Your Eye on the Exit and Reap the Benefits of Success

Coda: The Gust All–In–One Solution

APPENDICES

Appendix A The Startup Reading List

Appendix B The Investment Due Diligence Checklist

Appendix C Starting a US Corporation from a Foreign Country

Appendix D Convertible Preferred Term Sheet

Appendix E Convertible Note Term Sheet

Appendix F The Founders Accord

Acknowledgments

Index

DAVID S. ROSE is the New York Times bestselling author of Angel Investing; founder and CEO of Gust; and founder of New York Angels. He is an Inc. 500 CEO, serial entrepreneur, and early stage investor who has founded or funded over 100 companies. Named a "world conquering entrepreneur" by BusinessWeek, and "New York′s Archangel" by Forbes, he was the Founding Track Chair for Finance and Entrepreneurship at Singularity University. David can be found online at davidsrose.com.