How to raise money and build innovative start-ups | Founder Institute Chisinau

1. How to raise money and build
innovative start-ups
Date
5 MAY 2016
ALEX CIRCEI, CEO
COPIMAJ

2. 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

3. 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

4. ARE YOU REALLY AN ENTREPRENEUR?
Image Source: www.500px.com

5. THIS IS THE REALITY
OF BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR
Image Source: www.500px.com

6. ● 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

7. Do you have the right product or service?

8. 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

9. Are you ready for founding?

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. “If you're going
through hell, keep
going.”
Winston Churchill
If not! :(
KEEP GOING!!!

14. THANK YOU!
● facebook.com/alex.circei
● snapchat.com/add/alexcircei
● twitter.com/alexcircei
● medium.com/@alexcircei
Date
5 MAY 2016
ALEX CIRCEI, CEO
COPIMAJ