Ron was born privileged, he’s always had security, but who doesn’t want that. But then, Ron has always been a risk taker and slugs that aren’t willing to do it on their own rely on the Ron’s of the world. Fortunately, Ron doesn’t have sense enough to be cautious, he just shoots for the hoop, not knowing if it will drop in. He’s a risk taker. If you don’t want him to take a risk with your money, then don’t give it to him.

Ron didn’t want his Angels Inc. investments to fail, just the opposite. But, everyone was caught up in the “idea on a napkin” craze during the dot.com boom. When things went bad for Ron et al, so did it for everyone in that market. The major mistake that investors made during the boom was investing in youth. The “youth” spent all their cash on marketing and used not to build revenue streams!

Henry Ford took a big risk on his black-only car. Bill Walsh took a risk in the skinny kid Joe Montana. Al Davis took a risk in an aging Jim Plunkett. Nolan Bushnell took a risk trying to sell the first great electronic games. IBM took a chance with Bill Gates and Paul Allen. A bunch of Omaha citizens took a chance on a guy named Warren Buffet. All risk takers.

Ron is a rich huckster. But, that is part of why I like him. He acts like he always needs to make a few bucks just to eat.

Ron also has a beautiful wife, inside and out, named Gail. He has beautiful kids. And they all read. I hope they didn’t read these negative comments.

I worked for Ron many years ago at Altos. I often felt I was a better salesman and manager than he was. But, I bought in to his enthusiasm and continued to learn from him, as did many of his friends who followed him into the unknown.

There is Ron the guy who made some bad investments and took the hit. And then there is Ron the good guy who loves his family, his friends, and is always trying to make another buck for himself and someone else. I guarantee you that people will still line up to take the next risk with Ron and pay for the privilege.

Lastly, I’ve seen Ron take the hits since the dot.com bust, especially with the sock puppet investment attacks. It’s sad that none of these critics know the man Ron. He’s basically a good guy. Privileged, wealthy, confident, caring, and even a bit arrogant. All the things that the less well off often wish for. But, in the end, Ron’s still a good guy and undeserving of the attacks.

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!”

A Solution for Managers and Boards Right Now:
I have founder friends who complain about the Bay Area poverty of being a founder and I don’t fully buy it. I do agree however that creating more value and having that expressed in a new financing round is a clear milestone that the Board can compensate the manager for. What I did as an entrepreneur on this is to make cash bonus (and option grant) compensation tied to tangible performance milestones and have these cash bonus payments approved by the Board. Of course raising a new round with a big step up in valuation is not the end game, but it is clearly a milestone that can be compensated for.

Executive summary of business plan for buiding FUTURE

COMPANY’S OBJECTIVES
The vision of the company is to build name rights and a strong brand name identifying unique products, markets, services, and industries with special focus on inventions and ideas to build markets around those sectors. The goal is to build name rights in any marketing sector, to accrue franchising rights to identify the large marketing sector. The main goal is to build and to launch new industries, to test people’s ideas in any marketing sector, and to launch and invest these new ideas.
By identifying with the name FUTURE, the purpose is to build a major brand with a huge market where people can test their ideas in any marketing sector. Benefits are significant with a brand name that can include any industry, service and products. FUTURE is unique because of its ability to invest in consumers ideas and to launch new products and service industries identifying with the new industries. The name will be unique in identifying with the future, we will capture the market with people who want to identify themselves with the future. Other companies would not test their ideas in any marketing where their own brands don’t identify with every sector as FUTURE.

MARKET
The amount of dollars will capture in the millions because of FUTURE’S ability to own name rights, to have franchising ability, to have the ability to invest and market people’s ideas in any marketing sector; as well as, to build markets and to promote licensing of its own property and others who wish to be identified with the FUTURE name.
FUTURE rights are pending in the financial sector, retail sector, transportation services, entertainment, hotel and motel casino sector, museum, publication services, toys sector, industrial sector, research sector, health care sector, restaurant food sector, radio/TV broadcasting, online services, goods products sector, etc.
The target sector is for consumers, industries and markets of the world.

PRODUCT
The name FUTURE identifies many services, products and industries. Rights are pending. The name would represent new products, services and markets in restaurants, foods, designs, entertainment,etc. Franchising rights are being looked at; franchises must represent the goals, values, and the image of the foundation of FUTURE. The ownership will remain with the company. To be successful, revenues will come from franchising, licensing, marketing, partnering, patent rights, licensing rights and all services and goods that FUTURE will identified with as a means of revenue.

MANAGEMENT
Founder, CEO and managements if Kent G. Anderson, myself, at this time. The sole proprietor is Kent G. Anderson. The financier is myself and prospective
partners.

EXECUTION AND MILESTONES
I am a prolific thinker, inventor who holds may patents and many trademarks. My leadership, honesty and entrepreneurship qualities have cornered the market for the name of FUTURE in the Unites States.

FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS
Everything at the present is on paper and the development is at the starting stage with a strong foundation in securing legal rights. Financial projections are excellent with bring the company public in the future.

COMPETITION
I look at competition as potential partnering in selling services and products.

FUTURE COMPETITION ADVANTAGES
By securing the rights to the name of FUTURE in any marketing sector and identifying services which would include new products and services, the market for the name of FUTURE would corner the market by identifying with industries and services where inventions or ideas can be tested in any marketing sector. The advantages of FUTURE is the identification with the new not the old trademarks with concentrating efforts on people who don’t have the financial means but do have the ideas and ability to partner up with the companies. The reason for my existence is my forward thinking in that I have cornered the market with honorable goals. I have the belief in this huge dream and what it could accomplish with the launching of new product and with services that would benefit all people.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
A hundred-thousand to one million would be a start to keep paying ongoing trademarks, fees and protection of legal claims active to the large portfolio of FUTURE, to enforce the trademark rights, to stake claims in other countries, and to file for partners. The money would also be used to hire and find partners/investors. The money would be used for start up, legal fees associated with the indept marketing study and other expenses a business such as this would incur. The key is to hire a key management team, legal team and trustworthy professional people who have a fascination with the future and who understand the consumer’s needs.

PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION

I will contribute the leadership of this vision, my ideas, values of honesty, knowledge and goals. Can Move

CONTACT INFORMATION
http://www.futurevisionaries.com
Contact name: Kent G. Anderson
925 North Griffin
Bismarck, North Dakota 58501
701-223-0639
FAX NUMBER: 701-223-0639
milmntec@btigate.com

I think what is really needed is some form of what Alan Greenspun calls Banker’s Instinct.

What I mean is it is the VC’s job to ascertain through whatever means he has if the founders are only in it for the money or the joy of making something approaching greatness. I believe when this is the case, early financial success wouldnt mean less hard work from the founder.

Too many times, the VCs take an adversarial role that actually affects outcome of the deal IMO — not taking the entrepreneurs needs into account.

A manifestation of portfolio management — too much herd instinct — it takes a special VC to nurture a deal. I know there’s a trend to reduce board participation. Maybe that will produce more of a “we’re all in this to make money” attitude.

The bottom line is that whatever works best for both parties and ensures the best chance of success of the venture is what should be done.

As startup entrepreneur I see both sides of the fence; and sometimes the financial hardship that entrepreneurs suffer through and the havoc it can wreak on their spouses is sometimes a huge distraction.