What startup investors should start doing is actual recruitment, not another business strategy plan levels of competition. Enough time is ripe for startup investors to come in and utilize the talent that academia and government have failed to do.The simple truth is that entrepreneurs should like convertible debt because savvy startup investors love convertible debt. TripLingo not only received $15,000 in startup services but also found the ear of some of Atlanta's startup investors.
Still, it is better than attempts by several universities that hold business plan competitions that in terms of rewarding the entrepreneur (i.e. the PhD talent) are terribly conceived. The universities will often take an enormous equity and/or IP stake, far more than what is standard in regular startup environments relative to the seed money raised. Again, startup investors should be pouncing on this opportunity.
