Scott Shane
Harvard Biz Review
United States
Contact Scott
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Past articles by Scott:
In Pitch Contests, Going First Is a Disadvantage
In a series of four competitions, researchers found that the first two contestants were consistently rated lower. → Read More
Distributions of Outcomes and Angel Investing
Want to invest in small business startups? Before you do, make sure you have what it takes to be an angel investor in the first place. → Read More
How Luck Affects Investing in Startups
One seemingly bizarre question highlights an important point about how luck affects investing in startups. Learn more after the jump. → Read More
Are Accelerator Funds a Better Way for Angels to Invest?
Is investing in accelerator funds better than joining an angel group? Here's three reasons why the answer to that question is yes. → Read More
5 Reasons Angels May Have Small Portfolios
The typical angel portfolio has 7 companies, too small to ensure an acceptable financial return at minimal risk. Here's why angels have small portfolios. → Read More
For Angels, Convertible Notes Beat SAFEs
Why do convertible notes beat SAFE? There are several important differences between the two, which make the former a better choice for most angels. → Read More
Academic Angels Focus on Former Students
We take a look at why faculty angel investors tend to focus on investing in ventures that emerged from their institutions. → Read More
Why Art Business Incubators are Boosting Startups
Entrepreneurial artists are finding the ability to grow and expand thanks to art business incubators like the one at Cleveland Flea. → Read More
Understanding the Online Platform Economy
One major change in the economy over the past two decades has been the rise of the online platform economy that facilitate peer-to-peer transactions. → Read More
What’s the Best Stage for Angels to Invest?
One of the most common questions would-be angel investors ask is, "What's best stage for angels to invest?" Several start-up investors suggested this one. → Read More
A Simple Economics Lesson for United Airlines
United has certainly learned an important economics lesson. Instead of forcing market choice, they should have relied on the power of markets. → Read More
What’s Behind the Growth of the Gig Economy?
Research reveals that the growth of the gig economy stems largely from employers’ interest in contract and other alternative work arrangements. → Read More
Why Pre-Seed Stage Valuations are Falling
While the valuations of companies at the Series A stage or later have risen, the pre-seed stage valuations of companies have fallen. Here's why this may be. → Read More
How Pre-Seed Stage Financing is Changing
In recent years, further declines in the cost of bringing new software products to market has wrought three changes in pre-seed funding. → Read More
How to Avoid Missed Opportunities in Startup Investment
In the angel investing world, you need to watch out for "false negatives" to avoid missed opportunities in startup investments. → Read More
Why You Should Always Talk to Strangers as an Entrepreneur
You should always talk to strangers as an entrepreneur. Sure there is risk in doing so but the value of the conversation is likely to exceed the risk. → Read More
Does It Make Sense for Investors to Pay Carried Interest?
For years, I resisted paying carry to accelerators to invest in startups. Then, I realized my thinking about carried interest in private equity was off. → Read More
How to Find Qualified IT Firms Fast
Proper vetting of IT firms can save your small business from a lot of future trouble including wasted time and money. Here's how to find qualified IT firms. → Read More
The Dark Side of Deal-by-Deal Carry
Deal-by-deal carry often yields very different returns from fund-level carry. Discover the benefits, and the downsides, of this investment vehicle. → Read More
When Things Go Bad in a Startup
When things go bad in a startup, the best response is to rationally evaluate your alternatives. Don't criticize the founders and ask for your money back. → Read More