--- title: Bizplan Academy | Startup description: Startup | Bizplan.com | Modern business planning software for entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses --- # BizPlan Academy ## In-depth lessons on business ideation, pitching, and planning [![](https://blog.bizplan.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Garry_Bizzo-6_mistakes_startup_founders.jpeg)](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/6-mistakes-startup-founders-make-asking-investor-money) ## [6 Mistakes Startup Founders Make When Asking for Investor Money](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/6-mistakes-startup-founders-make-asking-investor-money) ![Gary Bizzo](https://blog.bizplan.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Garry_Bizzo.jpg?width=80&name=Garry_Bizzo.jpg) By [Gary Bizzo](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/author/gary-bizzo)   May 31, 2017 I recently attended an Angel [investors group in Vancouver](https://www.equities.com/news/vancouver-startup-week-and-the-rise-of-silicon-valley-north). It’s fascinating to hang out with a bunch of zillionaires for the day and listen to startup pitchers trying to wrestle money from them. The [Keuretsu Forum](http://www.k4northwest.com/cpages/homepage) is based in Seattle and with over 2500 accredited investors is the largest investor network in the world. The great thing about Keuretsu investors is that they regularly come to Vancouver to meet with startup entrepreneurs at the Vancouver chapter. They are well known for sharing opportunities with three or more chapters in different cities in order to close a deal. [Read More  ](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/6-mistakes-startup-founders-make-asking-investor-money) [![](https://blog.bizplan.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Garry_Bizzo-Why_Didn%27t_Someone_Tell_Me.jpg)](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/why-didnt-someone-tell-me-all-this-when-i-started-my-first-business) ## [Why Didn't Someone Tell Me All This When I Started My First Business](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/why-didnt-someone-tell-me-all-this-when-i-started-my-first-business) ![Gary Bizzo](https://blog.bizplan.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Garry_Bizzo.jpg?width=80&name=Garry_Bizzo.jpg) By [Gary Bizzo](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/author/gary-bizzo)   May 30, 2017 We encourage you to tap into the wealth of information around starting your first business and the people willing to help guide you along the way.  Gary Bizzo is one of those people and here are a few key insights from Gary that he wished someone would have given him. [Read More  ](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/why-didnt-someone-tell-me-all-this-when-i-started-my-first-business) [![](https://blog.bizplan.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Aaron_Lee-Social_Proof.jpg)](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/how-leverage-social-proof-for-more-leads-and-sales) ## [How to Leverage Social Proof for More Leads and Sales](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/how-leverage-social-proof-for-more-leads-and-sales) ![Aaron Lee](https://blog.bizplan.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Aaron_Lee.jpeg?width=80&name=Aaron_Lee.jpeg) By [Aaron Lee](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/author/aaron-lee)   May 18, 2017 Fun fact! [Reddit](http://reddit.com/) grew their website using FAKE users. They did that to populate the sites and make it seem as though it was popular. [Read More  ](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/how-leverage-social-proof-for-more-leads-and-sales) [![](https://blog.bizplan.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Gary_Bizzo-8_Factors_That_Help.jpg)](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/8-factors-that-help-you-raise-startup-capital) ## [8 Factors That Help You Raise Startup Capital](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/8-factors-that-help-you-raise-startup-capital) ![Gary Bizzo](https://blog.bizplan.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Garry_Bizzo.jpg?width=80&name=Garry_Bizzo.jpg) By [Gary Bizzo](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/author/gary-bizzo)   May 16, 2017 I’m not saying these are the right ways to think about gathering more resources, but it makes sense to some people to have a cushion. [Read More  ](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/8-factors-that-help-you-raise-startup-capital) [![](https://blog.bizplan.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Ken_Evoy-How_To_Make.jpg)](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/why-every-solopreneur-should-succeed) ## [Why Every Solopreneur Should Succeed](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/why-every-solopreneur-should-succeed) ![Ken Evoy](https://blog.bizplan.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Ken_Evoy.jpeg?width=80&name=Ken_Evoy.jpeg) By [Ken Evoy](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/author/ken-evoy)   May 11, 2017 Ken and his company, [SiteSell](http://www.sitesell.com/), have been working with solopreneurs longer than anyone else online today. This is their 20th year in business. That’s a century in Internet years! [Read More  ](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/why-every-solopreneur-should-succeed) [![](https://blog.bizplan.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Steve_Blank-Entrepreneurs_as_Dissidents.jpg)](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/entrepreneurs-as-dissidents) ## [Entrepreneurs as Dissidents](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/entrepreneurs-as-dissidents) ![Steve Blank](http://info.zirtual.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Steve_Blank.jpeg) By [Steve Blank](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/author/steve-blank)   May 09, 2017 Countries that put their artists and protesters in jail will never succeed in building a successful culture of entrepreneurship.  They will be relegated to creating better mousetraps or cloning other countries’ business models. [Read More  ](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/entrepreneurs-as-dissidents) [![](https://blog.bizplan.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Garry_Bizzo-The_2_Distinct_Startups.jpg)](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/the-2-distinct-startups) ## [The 2 Distinct 'Startups'](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/the-2-distinct-startups) ![Gary Bizzo](https://blog.bizplan.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Garry_Bizzo.jpg?width=80&name=Garry_Bizzo.jpg) By [Gary Bizzo](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/author/gary-bizzo)   May 08, 2017 I keep being asked what I mean by a ‘startup’ business. My first book, [“How to Start a Successful Business – the First Time”](https://www.amazon.com/Start-Successful-Business-First-Time/dp/0992098807/) was about the sole proprietor who had a great idea, had always dreamed of being a business owner and quit a good job to risk everything to go on his own. He’s determined to be independent and like 78% of all the businesses in the US (according to [Census.gov](http://census.gov/)), it will start out as a sole proprietorship that will eventually grow into a microbusiness.  [Read More  ](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/the-2-distinct-startups) [![](https://blog.bizplan.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Steve_Blank-Too_Young.jpg)](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/too-young-to-know-it-cant-be-done) ## [Too Young to Know It Can't be Done](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/too-young-to-know-it-cant-be-done) ![Steve Blank](http://info.zirtual.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Steve_Blank.jpeg) By [Steve Blank](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/author/steve-blank)   May 04, 2017 Ask people what makes entrepreneurs successful and you’ll hear a familiar list of adjectives; agile, tenacious, resilient, opportunistic, etc. [Read More  ](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/too-young-to-know-it-cant-be-done) [![](https://blog.bizplan.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Steve_Blank-10m_Photo.jpg)](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/the-10-million-photo-and-other-vc-stories) ## [The $10 Million Photo and Other VC Stories](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/the-10-million-photo-and-other-vc-stories) ![Steve Blank](http://info.zirtual.com/hubfs/Bizplan_Academy/Steve_Blank.jpeg) By [Steve Blank](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/author/steve-blank)   May 02, 2017 While on vacation I had a phone interview with Kevin Ohannessian of Fast Company who wanted a few “funding stories.”  Here are two of them. Apologies for the rambling stream of consciousness.  The original interview in Fast Company can be seen here. [Read More  ](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/the-10-million-photo-and-other-vc-stories) [All posts](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/all) [Next](https://blog.bizplan.com/academy/topic/startup/page/2)