How to raise money and build innovative start-ups

Date5 MAY 2016

ALEX CIRCEI, CEOCOPIMAJ

2008 - liveMag.ro (IT&C online store)

2009 - WON BEST STARTUP, UI/UX, ONLINE STORE

2011 - SOLD TO DEBO.RO

2009 - Copimaj Interactive (eCommerce agency)

Founding Partner - Cristallini, Tudor Tailor, Consiglieri, Bebetex, Silver Decor

Clients - UNICEF, Realitatea.net, Asbis, Gucci, Paul & Shark, Sport Couture,

Mengotti, Raiffeisen Informatik

AWARDED ECOMMERCE AGENCY

2010 – Live2c (eCommerce SaaS Platform)

2011 - SOLD TO ASESOFT

2011 – Storebeez (eCommerce Marketplace Platform)

2011 – Founded in Brimingham by Oxygen Accelertor – Failed

2013 – Lupsale (SMB’S Email Marketing Platform)

2013 – Launch at TC Disrupt in San Francisco

2014 – Copimaj ERP (Cloud ERP Platform)

2016 - SOLD TO ONE ERP

2015 – Billme (Invoicing App)

2015 - Launch at TC Disrupt in San Francisco

About me - 29 / Entrepreneur & Triathlonist

I would like to start by asking you 3 questions?

1. Are you really an entrepreneur?

2. Do you have the right product or service?

3. Are you ready to receive founding?Image Source: www.500px.com

ARE YOU REALLY AN ENTREPRENEUR?

Image Source: www.500px.com

THIS IS THE REALITY

OF BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR

Image Source: www.500px.com

● Passion - Do you love what you do?

● Trust and Balls? - Do you have the courage to risk everything?

● Vision - Do you know where are you going?

● Able to sale? - Are you ready to sale your dream?

● Able to learn? - Are you ready to learn all the time?

● Long relation - Are you able to build a network?

● Opportunity - Are you able to hustle all the time?

● Focus - Are you able to do this 24/7?

● Being patient. Do you have the next 10 years to reach your vision?

What are the right skills of being an entrepreneur?

Image Source: www.500px.com

Do you have the right product or service?

● PROBLEM: Do you solve a problem?

● SOLUTION: Do you have the best solution?

● VALUE: What is your value? Your USP’s?

● TEAM: Do you have the best team?

● MARKET: Is the market big enough?

● FINANCIALS: How are you financials?

What do you need for a good product or service

Are you ready for founding?

Start Bootstrapping

● Keep your expenses at minimum (survive mode)● Share the office space / the equipments● Move in a business incubator● Use your own personal computer● Avoid spending money on fancy useless things● Force your suppliers to give you credits● Save money with Skype, don’t travel for meetings● Remember: CASH IS OXYGEN

Why bootstrapping?

● To get TRACTION, TRACTION, TRACTION!

○ with an Awesome Product○ right personal Brand - Brand Yourself○ right mentors - Connect With Influencers○ right USP’s - Do Things That Don’t Scale○ right network - Leverage Your Email List○ right partnerships -Partnerships○ right product - Test everything○ right content - Create unique content

Always!!! Think Outside The Box

And if you get TRACTION you get OPTIONS!

● OPTIONS FOR:○ Fund your startup yourself. ○ Pitch your needs to friends and family. ○ Request a small-business grant. ○ Start a crowdfunding campaigns online. ○ Seek venture-capital investors. ○ Seek a bank loan or credit-card line of credit.

Image Source: www.500px.com

“If you're going

through hell, keep

going.”

Winston Churchill

If not! :(

KEEP GOING!!!

THANK YOU!

● facebook.com/alex.circei● snapchat.com/add/alexcircei● twitter.com/alexcircei● medium.com/@alexcircei

Date5 MAY 2016

ALEX CIRCEI, CEOCOPIMAJ