‘What moves the needle’: The Vertical unveils Immigrant Founders Report
On March 21, The Vertical announced the Immigrant Founders Report at ‘What moves the needle,’ an inaugural event
SAFE for VCs, not so safe for startups
In recent years, “SAFE” notes have become one of the most common ways for early-stage startups to raise capital in the U.S. Still, most international founders have never heard of them. Lifelong entrepreneur and innovation consultant Michael Burtov explains the challenges these notes present to startups and angel investors.
Using Middle-out innovation strategy, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos became tech moguls
Rather than trying to break into their target markets with limited resources, immigrant founders can “build bridges” — create platforms, communities, and shared tools. According to lifelong entrepreneur and mentor Michael Burtov, this “middle-out” approach empowers broader innovation. That’s what Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos did, turning obstacles into opportunities.
The Arrow Information Paradox: How to sell without giving away your secrets
To explain their technology, many startup founders have to reveal proprietary information. This puts their intellectual property at risk and sometimes leads to a loss in its value. How to manage the delicate balance of pricing your product and sharing information about it?
Why Uber is actually a law firm: How stealth business models shape the U.S. tech industry
In the highly saturated U.S. market, hidden narratives are shaping the competitive landscape. Many innovative tech companies are not what you think they are. Immigrant founders should learn to rewrite the rules of the game, recommends lifelong entrepreneur and startup consultant Michael Burtov.
Failing is good: Why a high failure rate is a sign of a healthy startup ecosystem
In the U.S., about 90% of startups fail, and only 1.5% of tech companies have a successful exit. In a mature startup ecosystem, failure is the expected and necessary outcome. And yet, it’s benefits are seldom ever discussed. Lifelong entrepreneur and consultant Michael Burtov elaborates on the taboo topic of failure and lessons for immigrant founders.
She who rules the data: 3 immigrant female entrepreneurs in Big Data
These immigrant women entrepreneurs are leaders in one of the world’s most significant, fastest-growing industries. The global big data market is projected to reach more than $473 billion by 2030.
Innovation in disguise: How “off-label” thinking fuels success
Most people are familiar with “off-label” drug use. Applying the same concept, with its ingenuity and problem-solving capabilities, to innovation could help immigrant entrepreneurs to succeed. But this mindset has potential drawbacks, says serial entrepreneur Michael Burtov.
The voice of leadership: How can immigrant fempreneurs improve their communication style?
Since the world of Tech has been historically male-dominated, the “voice of leadership” tends to be male. Women entrepreneurs – and immigrants in particular — should look for their own unique style, writes Lisa Patti, communication coach and founder at C3Speech.
The second mouse gets the cheese: The myth of “first-mover advantage.”
Startups from Asia and Eastern Europe have been borrowing and successfully localizing ideas from their U.S. counterparts for years. In fact, there are advantages to being a “second mover”, says serial entrepreneur Michael Burtov. This strategy can be especially beneficial for startups founded by immigrants.
Do investors steal the ideas you pitch them? Yes, all the time, and here’s why.
Tales about devious investors conniving to take advantage of aspiring entrepreneurs have been circulating in the tech community for a while. Most founders dismiss such stories as urban legends, but in fact, some VCs do steal ideas from early stage startups in order to boost their own struggling portfolio companies. Immigrant entrepreneurs, who have limited access to capital and are often overly eager to find an investor, should approach fundraising with caution, warns Michael Burtov, a star mentor and lifelong entrepreneur.
Are startup accelerators a bad idea for immigrant tech entrepreneurs?
Accelerators assist founders with fundraising and help foster relationships with fellow entrepreneurs and mentors. But many also have toxic cultures, unrealistic expectations, relentless focus on fundraising, and simply waste your time with unproductive activities. This begs the question: Are accelerators bad for you? Mike Burtov, a star entrepreneur and founder, reflects on the dark side of the innovation ecosystem in the U.S.
What immigrant founders should know about raising capital in the U.S. post SVB apocalypse.
The recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has sent shockwaves across the startup world. How will panic in the VC industry impact international founders raising capital in the U.S.? Mike Burtov, a star entrepreneur and the author of Evergreen Startup, believes it’s time for founders to get out of the high valuations trap.
This LatAm anti-bullying solution went where it’s needed — to Texas.
Young LatinX entrepreneurs created an anti-bullying platform to reduce the risk of violent and aggressive behavior in children. So far, their solution, available in 165 U.S. schools, detected around 1000 risk situations, including cyberbullying.
New immigrants aren’t connected within VC networks. Where do they get funding?
Although at least one third of U.S. tech startups were launched by immigrant entrepreneurs, these founders are often
Global scaling for startups: How to build a multibillion-dollar business?
The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on the importance of global scaling for entrepreneurs. Most of the top performing companies are operating in multiple markets: global businesses are better able to weather the storm.
Lessons from the ups and downs of investing in international startups
Marvin Liao, a former partner at 500 Startups, has been a pre-seed and seed stage investor for more than seven years. In this article for The Vertical, he shares some tips for international founders on how to succeed in the U.S.
Pitching in the time of corona: How to succeed on Zoom
The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the traditional ways in which businesses raise investment and acquire new clients. Although tech savvy founders are likely to have adjusted quickly, online communication isn’t always easy. How can you make the most of this time?