This Week in Startups 1M fewer college students: is it a problem? + Ask an Angel with Zach Coelius | E1360
Jan 13, 2022
Zach Coelius, an angel investor famed for his straightforward advice, joins to tackle the nation’s surprising drop of one million college students. They explore shifting attitudes towards education, especially the rise of two-year degrees and gig economy jobs. In the 'Ask an Angel' segment, Zach answers burning questions about being an investor, the significance of MVPs, and common pitfalls in startup pitches. They discuss how bad reputations can impact investments and weigh the pros and cons of top-line versus bottom-line strategies.
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Handling Founders' Mistakes
- Communicate concerns to founders heading in the wrong direction, but respect their autonomy.
- Founders bear the ultimate responsibility, so give them space to learn and make decisions.
Common Pitch Failures
- Founders often flub pitches by lying due to inexperience and desperation.
- Investors can detect lies by asking seemingly gentle questions that reveal inconsistencies.
Top Line vs. Bottom Line
- Prioritize distribution if customers strongly desire your product, even if it means initial losses.
- Focus on profitability when competition is fierce and you need resources to acquire customers.