Fake It 'Til You Make It: A Guide to Starting Up

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How to Look Professional When You’re Just

Starting Up#FakeItToMakeIt

Fake It … 'Til You Make It

About Your Hosts…

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There’s no shame in being in the early-stages of starting up…

But you need to look professional in order to: •Gain credibility•Earn investor confidence•Build your customer base•Attract talent

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Presentation Overview

• What is startup infrastructure?

• How to build your infrastructure

• Finding startup partners

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What Is Startup Infrastructure?

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• Solid foundation for a “real” company to grow on

• Practical and flexible• Systems to scale• Risk minimizer• Increase efficiency• Avoid mistakes

Building Your Startup Ecosystem

• Finding the right professional services firm

• Look for ancillary value: connections, early-stage experience, someone you like and trust

• Increase your network = increase your credibility

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Essential Areas for Startup Infrastructure

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Accounting Infrastructure

• Accounting platform• AP/AR system• Professional invoices• Expense reporting • Banking solution – separate

accounts• Integrated solution

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Financial Infrastructure

• Financial projections• Budgeting• Cash management• Financial controls• Financial reporting• GAAP compliance

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Regulatory Infrastructure

• Establish legal entity• Valuation• Understand tax obligations• Quarterly taxes• Payroll taxes

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HR Infrastructure – What is it?

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• Recruiting and employee retention

• Payroll• Employee benefits• Insurance (health and

workers’ comp)• HRIS• HR consulting & best

practices

Workplace Infrastructure – Big picture

Provide your team with a work environmentthat ensures

innovation & productivity while optimizing

capital efficiency and flexibility

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Workplace – The Questions to Ask • How predictable is our growth/headcount trajectory?• Where do my employees & contractors live?• How critical is innovation & creativity in our line of business?• Do I want my team to be integrated into a community of potential

partners, customers, and hires?• How hard will it be for me to attract the talent I need?• What are our privacy / technology needs?

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Legal Infrastructure

• Contracts• Documents and doc management• Tech licensing• Patents• IP• M&A

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Sales and Marketing Infrastructure

• Everything is brand• Design: website, logo• Email• Business cards• Logo

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Q&A and Thank You!

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Sirk Rohwww.earlygrowthfinancialservices.comsroh@earlygrowthfinancialservices.com415.234.3437@EarlyGrowthFS

Jesse Freesewww.trinet.comJesse.Freese@trinet.com415.480.4450Follow us @TriNet and @JesseFreese

Blair Golsonwww.crosscamp.usblair@crosscamp.us310.866.9425Follow us @CrossCampusLA