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.
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 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...
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 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.
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 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.
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 Founders, what fundraising tricks are you missing? Although founders spend an inordinate amount of time raising capital, most spend very little researching and deciding on a fundraising strategy. While they're busy sending emails and LinkedIn requests to random investors, many are missing opportunities that could make the whole process much easier.
Start a Company What do 2nd-time founders do that 1st-time founders don't? What do second-time founders do differently from first-time founders? Here's a list of 6 differences in approach between those who've been there and those who haven't.
Early-Stage Capital "How much money did you invest yourself?" said the investor. Sometimes investors will ask a question you weren't expecting, like this one. No matter what it tells you about the investor, you need to provide a convincing answer. Here's how to answer this one.
Start a Company Startups: no-budget sales and marketing on LinkedIn. Every founder knows that, when they get started, they have no budget for marketing. So how do you go from zero to one? How do you get the first users for your product? Here's how we've done it.
Early-Stage Capital What is the role of a startup investor? Being a founder is as lonely as it is difficult. Investors who think like coaches, rather than creditors, can make a massive difference.
Early-Stage Capital How can a pre-revenue startup show traction? What exactly is traction, and how on earth can you build traction if you're pre-launch? Don't make the mistake to think this isn't possible, or investors will run a mile.
Updates How can you help? At DQventures we're always on the lookout for professionals who yearn to work for themselves, but that's not all. We also collaborate with early-stage investors worldwide, and we're looking for entrepreneur investors who can help us scale.
Early-Stage Capital No, actually you don't need a VC. Take time to plan your raise. Define your investor base by researching who is most likely to invest in your space, stage, and market. If someone doesn't fit, don't waste time on them. Or at least qualify why they want to meet. It may not be what you think.
Early-Stage Capital What should I do with $5m? Take a breath, create a plan, and start doing. Assemble the right team, who can build while keeping you honest. And don't spend it too fast! Experiment and find what works, before you try to scale. $5m is surprisingly easy to waste.
Start a Company I was an MD of a global business and loved my job. So why did I launch a startup? Rob Bryson was Managing Director of global recruitment agency, Robert Walters, based in Singapore. Why did he give it all up to start his own business?
Early-Stage Capital How investors think according to Australia's most successful VC. Niki Scevak provides some great insights into the workings and thought processes at one of Australia's most successful venture capital organisations. Plus links to some recommended podcasts.
Early-Stage Capital Should I take $5m as an early-stage investment? An investment – whether it’s $5m or $50k – is an accelerant. It’s about getting your company to a later stage more quickly. Sometimes it's well timed and valuable, other times it burns you out rather than propelling you forwards. What are the key things to consider?
Early-Stage Capital What do investors want to see in a pitch deck? Understanding how investors think and work will dramatically improve the results you get when reaching out for your funding round.
