There is one key to ensuring your best chance at startup success: “Brutal Honesty.” Without that, you likely will not succeed.

Entrepreneurs tend to be arrogant. This sounds rather like a criticism, but it’s more a statement of fact and a caution.

One or two of every ten investments bring most of the returns to the portfolio of an angel investor, and it’s difficult to determine which of the companies will provide the returns.

I am amazed at the number of privately held business partnerships that do not have a formal buy-sell agreement in place. This one is absolutely essential. When forming your business, you chose your partner; make sure you have some rights when it comes to who your partner will be as time goes on too.

Another level of Intellectual Property (IP) safeguard focusses on the name, look and function of your company. These Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are covered by Trademark protection.

We’ve all done it as children when working out a maze. Start from your endpoint and work backwards to the start. This same approach works for mapping out the path to startup success – Start from your endpoint and work backwards to the present.

How do we get there? Remember that your organization’s vision is the destination.

It is essential to understand your organization’s dreams for the future, prior to coming up with the pretty words you put on paper and hang in conference rooms. So, how does an organization create an effective vision statement?

“Sweat equity is the best kind of startup capital.”— Mark Cuban
This is a huge question for startup founders. If you are a founder, you know what I am talking about: how much of my startup should I give away?

I can confirm that not only will you increase your network with more successful individuals, you’ll form great relationships, learn from others about what it takes to become a great investor, and (maybe) get an early entry into the exciting and inspiring world of venture investing. You’ll also get a better sense of the big picture of the whole investment cycle.