Ask: I am researching how to build a version of the Stanford 2020 fund. Read more here and here. The biggest blocker I am identifying is access to a sufficiently skilled fund lawyer who can emulate what Stanford’s legal fund was able to do. Do you know a lawyer who can help? If so, drop a comment or send me a note at mail@muhanzhang.com. Prose aside, poetry below:

On calls that I have with premium subscribers, I often joke that I have the most preposterous job ever. Great people, with healthy wallets, pay me, to meet other great people, with equally healthy wallets, and give my $0.02 on outlandish proposals to build the future. Most proposals will then return pennies on the dollar back on the initial investment, while a few of these proposals’ founders will go down as the “Great People who Built America” (e.g. Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford of the 21st century. …

Understanding My Identity as a Creator, Entrepreneur, and Investor

Originally posted on muhanzhang.com

For my mother, the iron woman:

In your triumphant, battered hymn, I now sing the song of history.

Miami Tech House

The first business I started was with Airbnb in Miami, FL in the fall of 2015. I was a 22 year old fresh college graduate, starting my first job in a startup. At the time, I had been gainfully employed as a software engineer for all of six weeks when my employer started missing payroll. In a panic, I called my mother and conspired an emergency plan: I would rent out my bedroom in Miami (rent basis: $873/mth)…

Want to see the complete rich format deal memo? Read the original post at: https://muhanzhang.com/Automatic

Deal Abstract

Fintech platform that connects independent auto dealers and lenders.

Financials

1. Fundraising Target? $1070000
2. Fundraised So Far? $557154
3. Pre-Money Valuation? $13000000
4. Previous Year’s Annual Revenue: $24790
5. Previous Year’s Annual Net Income (+ Profitable, — Burning Cash): $4495

Six Calacanis Criteria

1. A startup that is based in SV? False, Vernon, CT
2. Has at least 2 founders? True, Two
3. Has product in the market? True, Modest revenue and profit
4. 6 months of continuous user growth or 6 months of revenue? False, Also, very modest revenue
5. Notable investors? False, David Weisburd from The…

Want to see the complete rich format deal memo? Read the original post at: https://muhanzhang.com/Swift-Rails

Deal Abstract

Engineers from Buffalo, NY are teaming up together to deliver a light rail mobility solution. Pre-product, pre-revenue, and eager to see what the innovation is.

Financials

1. Fundraising Target? $1070000
2. Fundraised So Far? $347118
3. Pre-Money Valuation? $8950000
4. Previous Year’s Annual Revenue: $0
5. Previous Year’s Annual Net Income (+ Profitable, — Burning Cash): $-19454

Six Calacanis Criteria

1. A startup that is based in SV? False, Lancaster, NY
2. Has at least 2 founders? True, Two
3. Has product in the market? False, Doesn’t look like it
4. 6 months of continuous user growth or…

Want to see the complete rich format deal memo? Read the original post at: https://muhanzhang.com/Drink-Monday

Deal Abstract

Alternative meat industry meats (heh) alcohol — alternative alcohol industry is creating mocktail liquor and going d2c. Doesn’t even have to go through Drizly!

Financials

1. Fundraising Target? $1070000
2. Fundraised So Far? $281879
3. Pre-Money Valuation? $7000000
4. Previous Year’s Annual Revenue: $22090
5. Previous Year’s Annual Net Income (+ Profitable, — Burning Cash): $-21859

Six Calacanis Criteria

1. A startup that is based in SV? False, Carlsbad, CA
2. Has at least 2 founders? True, Two
3. Has product in the market? True, Revenue generating
4. 6 months of continuous user growth or 6 months of…

Thanks for publishing this piece, Tian. I'm embarrassed to acknowledge as an Asian-American that the gravity of the situation hadn't registered to me until I read your piece and did more digging.

For anyone else whose just getting caught up to speed, I also watched ABC News segment on the state of things after Tian's article: https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/stop-hate-rise-violence-asian-americans-76263573

I shouted out this piece on my podcast that should be going live on Mon, so hopefully that'll raise awareness from our small-but-mighty platform. Keep up the good work!

Want to see the complete rich format deal memo? Read the original post at: https://muhanzhang.com/COI-Energy

Deal Abstract

SaaS company wants to sell an energy monitoring solution to businesses to help reduce their utility bill.

Financials

1. Fundraising Target? $1070000
2. Fundraised So Far? $453209
3. Pre-Money Valuation? $18000000
4. Previous Year’s Annual Revenue: $191935
5. Previous Year’s Annual Net Income (+ Profitable, — Burning Cash): $-793777

Six Calacanis Criteria

1. A startup that is based in SV? False, Tampa, FL
2. Has at least 2 founders? False, One founder
3. Has product in the market? True, Revenue generating
4. 6 months of continuous user growth or 6 months of revenue? …

Want to see the complete rich format deal memo? Read the original post at: https://muhanzhang.com/VIVEKA

Deal Abstract

B2C2B Company wants to build the next professional learning/coaching marketplace. Can it learn from Coursalytics, whom I covered in summer 2019?

Financials

1. Fundraising Target? $1080000
2. Fundraised So Far? $53050
3. Pre-Money Valuation? $7500000
4. Previous Year’s Annual Revenue: $43196
5. Previous Year’s Annual Net Income (+ Profitable, — Burning Cash): $-144973

Six Calacanis Criteria

1. A startup that is based in SV? False, Marina del Ray, CA
2. Has at least 2 founders? False, CEO has 85% voting power
3. Has product in the market? True, Revenue generating
4. 6 months of continuous user growth or…