Yitz Stern

A donor and school staff review metrics for student learning progress. The best education donor metrics connect your grant to verified changes in student learning, persistence, and cost per result, rather than stopping at money spent or people reached. A useful philanthropy scorecard  separates activities from outcomes, sets a baseline, checks data quality, and establishes clear rules for renewing, adjusting, or ending support. A literacy grant report may say that hundreds of students attended workshops and thousands of books were distributed. Those figures confirm activity, but they don’t tell you whether students read better, attended school more consistently, or completed the program. A focused donor scorecard helps you ask better questions without burying grantees under reporting work. How Do You Know If Your Education Donation Is Making a Difference? You know your donation is making a difference when students achieve measurable gains that align with the grant’s sta...

Founders and an investor review startup financial model assumptions. Investors look for a   startup financial model  that converts your strategy into traceable assumptions, realistic operating drivers, and a credible plan for using capital. They don’t expect perfect predictions, but they do expect you to understand how growth, costs, cash, and milestones connect. A strong startup financial model lets an investor examine the reasoning behind your projections rather than focusing only on the headline revenue figure. It also shows whether you know which variables drive the business and how much funding you need to reach the next meaningful milestone. The quality of your thinking matters more than spreadsheet complexity. A simple, well-structured model with defensible assumptions usually communicates more than a crowded workbook filled with formulas you can’t explain.  Continue Reading...  

An investor compares private market investments with public stocks. Private markets  let you invest in companies, loans, real estate, and infrastructure that aren’t traded on public stock exchanges. Compared with stocks, these investments are usually harder to sell, priced less frequently, held for longer periods, and available through more restrictive investment structures. Understanding those differences helps you avoid treating a private investment like a stock that can be sold with a few clicks. You need to compare liquidity, valuation methods, fees, access rules, and manager quality before committing money. This guide explains how private markets work and where they may fit within a long-term portfolio. What Are Private Markets? Private markets are investment markets where assets aren’t bought and sold through a public exchange. Transactions are generally arranged between companies, investment managers, lenders, institutions, and eligible individual investors....

A founder evaluates revenue-based financing options for growth capital. Revenue-based financing  is gaining ground because it gives companies with predictable sales access to growth capital without giving up ownership, and repayments adjust with revenue. It fills a funding gap for founders who want to avoid dilution but may not qualify for a traditional loan with fixed monthly payments. This funding model has become more relevant as raising equity has grown harder and recurring-revenue businesses have become more common. If you run a subscription, software, direct-to-consumer, or ecommerce company, your revenue history may support financing without a lengthy equity round. Understanding the repayment mechanics, true cost, and qualification rules will help you decide whether the model fits your cash flow. What Is Revenue-Based Financing? Revenue-based financing (RBF) provides an upfront sum in exchange for a fixed percentage of your future revenue. You continue making payments u...

Founder and investor reviewing dilution, cap table, and control terms before a funding round. Founder dilution  is the reduction in your ownership percentage when your company issues new shares to investors, employees, or lenders that convert into equity. You can raise capital without losing control by separating ownership economics from decision rights, modeling every round before you sign, and negotiating voting, board, and financing terms with care. This guide explains how dilution works, what levels are common across startup funding rounds, and how you can protect your upside without starving the company of capital. You’ll learn how to compare Simple Agreement for Future Equity(SAFE) notes, priced rounds, option pools, board seats, dual-class shares, and non-dilutive funding so you can raise money with fewer surprises. What Is Founder Dilution? Founder dilution happens when new equity is issued and your percentage ownership goes down. If you own 70 percent before a financ...

An investor reviews direct lending terms, fees, covenants, and portfolio risks. Direct lending  is growing because borrowers need flexible non-bank capital and investors want income that can differ from public bond markets. Before allocating, you should check the manager, loan quality, fees, covenants, liquidity terms, and portfolio fit. This guide helps you move past the headline growth story and assess whether a direct lending fund deserves capital. You’ll see what to review before committing, where risks tend to hide, and how to compare private credit exposure with other income options in your portfolio. The Rise Of Direct Lending: A Structural Shift Direct lending refers to loans made directly to companies by non-bank lenders, often through private credit funds. These loans commonly finance middle market companies, sponsor-backed transactions, acquisitions, refinancing needs, or growth plans. The lender negotiates terms directly with the borrower or sponsor, rather than b...