Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2018

Millennials have come a long way in business since I started writing about them almost ten years ago. They started out as that spoiled generation of kids, born between about 1982 and 2004, who had everything, and could care less about business. Build more determination by capitalizing on values.

Mentor 60

Mentor Coach Guide Startup 60

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

In an unprecedented surge in startup support activity in Los Angeles this morning, another venture startup accelerator, Start Engine , formally launched this morning, applying the accelerator model to startup in the Los Angeles area. READ MORE>>.

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Startup Southern California Activision Mentor 219

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2022

Starting and running a business requires many different skills and interests, and not many of us have all of them. Thus, in my mentoring of potential technical entrepreneurs who have a real passion for their technology, I often recommend that they find a co-founder who can manage the marketing and execution elements of the new venture.

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Mentor Startup Customer Custom 133

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

Millennials have come a long way in business since I started writing about them over ten years ago. They started out as that spoiled generation of kids, born between about 1982 and 2004, who had everything, and could care less about business. Build more determination by capitalizing on values.

Mentor 134

Mentor Coach Guide Startup 134

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2021

An underutilized, but valuable resource, every startup should investigate is a formal or informal connection to your alma mater, including any local university. Start by contacting the university outreach liaison, or a professor in your area of interest or expertise. Start by contacting the law school organization.

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Incubator Mentor Class Resource 172

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

No matter how smart or experienced this person may otherwise be, things must change or they will kill your startup. Your brain has leveled all events and activities into a desert of sand dunes, where just getting from one to another is a struggle, and there is nothing new to see over the next hill. Ask a mentor for support.

Startup 129

Startup Mentor Satisfaction Writing 129

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2022

Most people I know in business begin by capitalizing on technical strength or passion for change , such as engineering, or focus on saving the environment. I recommend a proactive approach to get you thinking and acting like a leader today, starting with a focus on these key strategies: Push back on your fear of taking a leadership position.

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Startup Mentor Conference Networking 114

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2012

We’ve grown accustomed to a professionalism where we know when a work issue comes up we can count on each other for a quick Sunday call between family time. The most active person responding negatively said, “so an ENITRE industry is undervaluing their services? They often won’t stick up their hands to be recognized.

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Startup Venture Capital Coach Press 363

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 6, 2014

David Carter and Allen Hurff are two startup veterans, who believe they have a new formula to help create early stage, technology companies, through their new "startup studio", Zuma Ventures (www.zumavc.com). We sat down with David and Allen to learn more about how the company wants to change how startups are created.

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Startup Technology Incubator Silver Lake 231

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2019

Millennials have come a long way in business since I started writing about them nearly ten years ago. They started out as that spoiled generation of kids, born between about 1982 and 2004, who had everything, and could care less about business. Build more determination by capitalizing on values.

Tips 127

Tips Mentor Coach Guide 127

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2022

During my many years of mentoring professionals and entrepreneurs in business, I more often see people focusing on how to get their ideas heard , than how to promote themselves. Your challenge is to fully promote your value in contexts like the following: Start with quantifying your results before ideas.

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Tips Social Media Mentor Technical Review 121

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2022

With the cost of entry at an all-time low, and the odds of success equally low, more and more entrepreneurs are starting multiple companies concurrently. Other prolific entrepreneurs, like Richard Branson and Elon Musk , simply have several startups on the table at any given moment. Advisors and mentors are busy people.

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Entrepreneur Startup Resource Course 145

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2016

Committees don’t create successful startups. Some will argue that people leadership is a skill you have to be born with, but I’m convinced that it can be learned from experience, mentoring, and failures. They reach to find mentors who have been there, read books on the subject, and participate in leadership development programs.

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Mentor Entrepreneur Demand Coach 59

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

It really is possible for an introvert to succeed as an entrepreneur, even though you can’t expect to start and build a business alone. Asking someone to be your mentor is not a sign of weakness, and most mentors love to help. Actively expand your business networking activities.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Mentor Activity Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

As an investor in startups, I most often see entrepreneurs who are technologists, or at least have a real passion for a specific product. Here is my list of key drivers that I find critical to thriving in big businesses, as well as startups: Networking to build and maintain key relationships.

Startup 113

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 113

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2013

There''s been a lot of activity over the past two years in the Southern California accelerator/incubator market, with numerous groups (Amplify, EvoNexus, K5, LaunchpadLA, MediaCamp, Science, StartEngine, and many, many others) looking to help entrepreneurs start and fund their companies. where we totalled up $33.85M in funding.

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Southern California Incubator Report Startup 222

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

He first came to see me in 2008 when we was raising money for his 1st startup – NextMedium. As more consumers were skipping commercials the idea of authentically integrating brands into media seemed obvious to me and ended up informing a lot of my investments in 2009 and 2010. Startup DNA. The idea immediately resonated.

Invest 340

Invest Venture Capital Startup News 340

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

As a result I didn’t write my first venture capital check until March 2009 – exactly 5 years ago. I divided success into the phases of venture capital and 18 months into writing my first check here was my view (details on each in the link above). Sourcing high-quality leads : 9/10. How is my scorecard looking?

Venture Capital 387

Venture Capital Downey Writing Press 387

LATechDigest

MAY 22, 2016

EXPERT DOJO is launching its Q2 Investor Festival this Thursday and Friday, in which member startups gain a live audience with area Angels, Accelerators, and Venture Firms. Says Expert DOJO founder Brian MacMahon, “We are totally focused on getting startups funded or smarter about what funding is needed.

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Startup LAVA Mentor Venture Capital 45

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2021

Accept the fact that change is normal, and is probably the reason you saw an opportunity to start your business in the first place. Seek input from the team, as well as mentors. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from peers, your advisory board, and outside experts and mentors. Don’t become the victim you fear with no control.

Mentor 127

Mentor Satisfaction Customer Custom 127

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

I admit that I haven’t yet read it but I’ve had numerous discussions with Brad over the years about board structure & conduct and consider him a mentor on the topic. When you first start your company and raise initial venture capital your board probably consists of 1-3 founders and 1-2 VCs. In the Early Days.

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Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Tech.Co

JULY 12, 2017

Other Disney startups such as Atom Ticket , a new movie ticketing app, partnered with the next Star Wars movie and will continue to work with Walt Disney Studios on major film releases. This corporate partnership has proven well for these startups in helping them launch their products and services into another galaxy.

Artificial Inteligence 109

Artificial Inteligence Startup Entertainment Press 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 10, 2013

No matter how smart or experienced this person may otherwise be, things must change or they will kill your startup. Your brain has leveled all events and activities into a desert of sand dunes, where just getting from one to another is a struggle, and there is nothing new to see over the next hill. Ask a mentor for support.

Startup 101

Startup Mentor Satisfaction Writing 101

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2015

The smart ones get some extra support early on critical decisions, and work a bit harder on issues that are common startup killers. The objective is not to delay payments, but to avoid the expense or capital payment altogether, by working in house, bartering for services or just doing without. Cushion your investment requirements.

Startup 96

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Social Media 96

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

No matter how smart or experienced this person may otherwise be, things must change or they will kill your startup. Your brain has leveled all events and activities into a desert of sand dunes, where just getting from one to another is a struggle, and there is nothing new to see over the next hill. Ask a mentor for support.

Startup 61

Startup Product Mentor Satisfaction 61

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

An underutilized, but valuable resource, every startup should investigate is a formal or informal connection to your alma mater, including any local university. Start by contacting the university outreach liaison, or a professor in your area of interest or expertise. Start by contacting the law school organization.

Startup 95

Startup Incubator Resource Mentor 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2023

Therefore, I often recommend to entrepreneurs and business professionals that they not get too frustrated with initial failures or give up too soon. If you are into instant gratification or overnight stardom, then starting and growing a business may not be for you. Success comes to those who never give up, and adapt most quickly.

Artificial Inteligence 101

Artificial Inteligence Course Startup Tool 101

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

He had joined a young startup in LA called HauteLook and was interested in getting to know the local tech community. So I started introducing him to portfolio companies. He co-founded a prominent accelerator in Los Angeles called MuckerLab , that has produced a number of impressive companies and he mentored more than 20 of them.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2022

In my experience as a mentor to entrepreneurs, I find that self-doubt and lack of confidence are the primary constraints people have to overcome to move ahead. He writes from first-hand experience, and is now a recognized business leader, motivational speaker, and mentor to many entrepreneurs. You avoid making plans too far in advance.

Mentor 134

Mentor Slides .Net Writing 134

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

With the current volatile economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. Is your startup really ready to play in the corporate world? A classic survey from a while back sets the burden at up to $2.5M

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Funding Summary Entrepreneur Acquisition 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Even though the color of their money is always green, all startup investors are not the same. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan. It’s no fun for either side.

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Technical Review Funding Innocal Offshore 124

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2019

No matter how smart or experienced this person may otherwise be, things must change or they will kill your startup. Your brain has leveled all events and activities into a desert of sand dunes, where just getting from one to another is a struggle, and there is nothing new to see over the next hill. Ask a mentor for support.

Startup 82

Startup Mentor Satisfaction Writing 82

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

What's the latest craze in startups in Southern Califonia? It looks to be startup accelerators. In just the last few weeks, at least five different incubation/acceleration efforts have booted up in the region. The group is a member of the TechStars Network, and boasts a who's who of successful local CEOs and investors.

Southern California 216

Southern California Orange County Incubator Tech Coast Angels 216

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

Let me start with the obvious baseline that most people probably know instinctively: Los Angeles is the 3rd largest technology startup ecosystem in the US. Given how efficient markets are when a large market like LA starts to blossom it attracts capital pretty quickly. LA By The Numbers. But even this is changing.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Tech Coast Venture Network

MARCH 9, 2011

Last year, venture capitalists and angels who co-invested with them placed $7 billion into seed and early-stage deals, an 11 percent increase from 2009, according to the most recent PricewaterhouseCoopers/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree report. “Most have a strong desire to mentor and help build companies.”

Tips 100

Tips Capital Tech Coast Angels Screening 100

socalTECH

MAY 10, 2018

Behzad Kianmahd is the co-founder of Los Angeles coworking space Cross Campus , which is one of the major centers of startup activity in Silicon Beachand also involved as co-founder and lead investor in a brand new, venture capital fund, TAU Ventures (www.ideasimmersion.com/tau-ventures/). Behzad Kianmahd: Absolutely.

El Segundo 100

El Segundo Southern California Startup Santa Monica 100

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

My good friend Adam Lilling and I started Launchpad more than 5 years ago . I had witnessed a number of early-stage tech startups in LA raise seed capital from the Bay Area and relocate. By 2011 the market had started to change dramatically. When we started talking to Sam Teller we knew we had the perfect person.

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Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290