DQventures

Updates

How does DQventures work?

DQventures helps experienced professionals to launch a startup while remaining employed full-time. Our team cofounds your business alongside you, helping you avoid many of the pitfalls that await first-time entrepreneurs.

Start a Company

How to come up with a winning startup idea.

Don't solve random problems. Instead, work out where the overlap is between what you're good at, what you know better than almost anyone else, and what you're passionate about. If there is no obvious overlap, take a breath and work out how to create one.

Start a Company

Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

If any founders out there are thinking about quitting, please don't automatically assume it's the worst possible option for you. Only you can decide when this chapter ends, so don't forget to look after number one.

Start a Company

Solo founder or cofounder - what's better?

If you're thinking about launching a company, you may be debating whether to go it alone or try to find a cofounder. So what's the best option?

Early-Stage Capital

This guy raised $400K for his first startup, aged 41.

Richard Hannaford believed he had a good idea, but he had no clue how to start his own software company, let alone how to raise startup funding. Little did he know how well suited he was to becoming a founder...

Build a Product

Everything you need to know about launching a B2C app.

23 tips on launching fast-growing B2C apps from the guy who spent 10 years perfecting his skills at Meta, before selling Gas to Discord for $7m after just 6 months.

Start a Company

How to avoid a startup train-wreck.

There are many different ways to launch a startup, and, unfortunately, most of them lead to failure. In this article we've tried to distill the process our founders go through into 15 steps.

Early-Stage Capital

8 ways to guarantee you raise a Series A.

Peng Ong is co-founder and managing partner at Monk’s Hill Ventures in Singapore. Previously he co-founded companies including Electric Classifieds (today known as Match.com), which today generate over USD$1 billion in annual revenues. These tips are his.

Early-Stage Capital

Do you REALLY want VC funding?

Attracting funding from a VC seems like the first major milestone many startup aim to achieve, but this is rarely the best approach. Non-dilutive capital, like grants and revenue, are better for the business, the founder, and are generally easier to come by.

Start a Company

9 tips for struggling CEOs by Eric Partaker.

From creating predictable sales growth to fundraising, here are nine of the most frequently discussed business challenges, described by leading CEO coach, Eric Partaker.

Build a Product

Why listening is a startup founder's superpower.

For any startup founder, understanding your target market is a not just a superpower, it is an essential skill required to gain traction and overcome the competition. Here are some examples...

Updates

Update: July 2023

Here's an update for DQ investors, supporters, founders and anyone interested in investing and entrepreneurship. Please share and give feedback. If it's not for you, please unsubscribe.

Start a Company

How to build high-performing teams.

"We hire you for your opinions." How Reed Hastings, Marc Randolph, Ted Sarandos and the Netflix executive team created a winning culture of performance.

Build a Product

How to price SaaS and build a moat in the age of AI.

You may be wondering whether generative-AI is going to disrupt your software business, but you have one invaluable resource giving you an advantage AI can never overcome.

Build a Product

Practical tips for user interviews.

It's never too early to start interviewing potential users of your product, and most founders place far too little emphasis on doing so. Aim to build user interviews into all aspects of your business, and throughout the customer journey. Here's how we do it...

Build a Product

What every early-stage SaaS founder needs to know.

If there's one resource every SaaS founder should have saved, it's this article by Jason Lemkin. It's half-a-lifetime of investing in some of the world's best SaaS companies compressed into 20 top tips. Enjoy.

Early-Stage Capital

What are the most critical factors to startup success?

If you’re a founder, who spends every waking hour at your computer, don’t underestimate the importance of random opportunity. You don’t need to be at a desk for it to count as work. Get out and talk to people.

Start a Company

What is burn rate and how do you manage it?

The importance of managing burn rate and implementing effective budgeting practices cannot be overstated for early-stage startups. These are fundamental skills for anyone operating a business. Here are some practical tips on what it is and how to do it.

Start a Company

Everything you need to know about selling a sub-$50 million SaaS company.

Chris Kern has been doing M&A deals for the last 20 years. In a recent podcast with entrepreneur and show host, Greg Head, he gave a brilliant summary of the do's and don'ts for SaaS founders working towards a sub-$50m acquisition.

Start a Company

If you could incorporate your company anywhere, why pick Singapore?

Thanks to a thriving international business ecosystem, we believe companies incorporated in Singapore have a head start through access to regional markets, funding, talent, and a favourable regulatory environment. For anyone willing to relocate, it's also a fantastic place to call home.

Updates

Is this the best startup job application ever?

Here's the story of how and why we came to be working with the amazing Leanne Beesley. It's far from a standard recruitment process and Leanne's approach taught us a lot about how to land a job you really want.

Early-Stage Capital

I want to invest in startups, should I pick deals or invest in a VC fund?

For anyone thinking about getting into early-stage investing, don't just look for startups to back. Consider investing in an emerging VC fund, and letting a professional invest on your behalf. Here's why...

Start a Company

Meetings should create value not be a distraction. Here's how.

if you're running a startup or small business, you may be wondering how you create systems to create efficiency and reduce distraction. How you manage internal meetings can be a great place to start. Here's how we do it.

Updates

DealerDoc funding secured!

Happy to announce the first successful fundraise for DealerDoc - our eighth portfolio company, and the first to raise an institutional round in the United Kingdom.

Early-Stage Capital

Investor cold email template.

Do investors read cold emails? Sure, many of them do. Thanks to the power law, most investors' biggest concern is missing out on the next big thing. So they have a vested interest to look at EVERYTHING that comes their way, just to be sure...