The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to Scalable, High-Growth Business. Foreword by Gross, Bill

Foreword Bill Gross xiPreface Why Every Entrepreneur Needs This Book . . . Instead of the Other 93,210 Books on Entrepreneurship xiiiIntroduction 25 Key Action Steps (Plus One) for Every Entrepreneur 1Part I Prepare to Launch 151. Translate Your Idea into a Compelling Business Model 172. Craft a Lean Business Plan to Serve as Your Venture's Road Map 253. Find and Know Your Competitors 354. Build Your Dream Team 455. Allocate the Equity in Your Startup 556. Build a Minimum Viable Product and Validate Your Plan with Customers 637. Establish Your Brand with Online Public Profiles 698. Network Effectively within the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem 77Part II Launch and Build Your Company 859. Incorporate Your Company for Protection and Investment 8710. "Lawyer Up" the Right Way 9511. Recruit Your Boards of Directors and Advisors 10512. Select an Accountant and an Accounting System 11313. Establish and Manage Your Credit Profile 12314. Open Bank, Credit Card, and Merchant Accounts 13115. Choosing Your Key Technologies, Platforms, and Vendors 13916. Measure Your Business with Data Analytics 14917. Round out Your Team with Employees and Freelancers 16318. Establish a Stock Option Plan to Incentivize Your Team 175Part III Raise Funds; Collaborate with Investors; Plan for Your Exit 18319. Understand the Funding Process and What Investors Want to See 18520. Nurture Your Investor Pipeline 19721. Crowdfunding and Online Platforms 20722. Survive the Term Sheet Negotiation and Investor Due Diligence 21523. Get the Most from Your Investors, Now and in the Future 22524. Understand Your Company's Valuation 23325. Keep Your Eye on the Exit and Reap the Benefits of Success 243The Startup Checklist Online: Gust.com/Checklist 251AppendicesAppendix A The Startup Reading List 253Appendix B Sample Due Diligence Request 257Appendix C Starting a U.S. Corporation from a Foreign Country 265Appendix D Sample Convertible Preferred Stock Term Sheet 269Appendix E Sample Convertible Note Term Sheet 285Appendix F Sample Founder Accord 291Acknowledgments 295Index 299