Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Reverse due diligence on the investor is a comparable process whereby the entrepreneur seeks to validate the track record, operating style, and motivation of every potential partner.

Technical Review 138

Technical Review Startup Innocal Offshore 138

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2016

My partner Greg Bettinelli (worth following on Twitter) was recently named by The LA Business Journal as the “ Top deal maker in Los Angeles in Venture Capital.” I created an accelerator & mentor network (Launchpad LA). ” Numero uno. I was nowhere to be found. From 2007-2012 I scoured LA constantly.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Journal Invest Santa Monica 150

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

After all, I am no stranger to the publicly expressing the frustrations of dealing with the downside of this industry as I wrote about in 2006 when I was an entrepreneur. But VC is like congress. “I don’t know the exact math, but I hear it again and again: the top 2% of firms generate 98% of the returns in venture capital.”

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

I am thrilled to announce that we have added Hamet Watt as a Partner at Upfront Ventures. At every entrepreneur event I through between 2008-2012 I invite Hamet because he was a great mentor for entrepreneurs. Hamet started his career in Venture Capital working for the first post-apartheid VC fund in South Africa.

Invest 340

Invest Venture Capital Startup News 340

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 18, 2010

When I kicked off Launchpad LA a year ago I had a few objectives: Create an ecosystem where all Southern California VC’s had the chance to work together more actively outside of the boards on which we mutually sit. Find the best and brightest next generation of entrepreneurs and help them to be more successful.

Technical Review 259

Technical Review Venture Capital Southern California Tech Coast Angels 259

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2012

But honestly there are times when being a VC can feel like that, too. But a couple of people replied with responses of such lack of comprehension that I thought it was worth expanding on for first-time entrepreneurs. The most active person responding negatively said, “so an ENITRE industry is undervaluing their services?

Startup 363

Startup Venture Capital Coach Press 363

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

” It’s the most common refrain I hear from investors and even entrepreneurs these days. ” I hear it when I visit LPs (the people who invest in VCs) all across the country, “Yeah, I haven’t been out there for a few years but I keep hearing that something is going on there.” for $565 million to Excite.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Reverse due diligence on the investor is a comparable process whereby the entrepreneur seeks to validate the track record, operating style, and motivation of every potential partner.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Funding Innocal Offshore 124

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

Because my role as a VC requires me to take and endless stream of meetings I long ago decided I need to learn as much as I can from the meetings I attend so I often just ask tons of questions and assimilate knowledge. When I think about what defines us as a VC I think: Operationally knowledgeable / strong startup competence.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2012

These resources are definitely not limited to students, since every university seeks out and needs the real world exposure and experience of entrepreneurs who already are active in the real world marketplace. Collaborative efforts with local companies, like Siemens Venture Capital, are available for certain technology and focus areas.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Incubator Mentor Research 92

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. But, how successful have they been? Science Inc.

Southern California 222

Southern California Incubator Report Startup 222

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

Want to be an entrepreneur? In addition, Entrepreneur Magazine recently included UCSB in its Top 50 Schools For VC Backed Entrepreneurs at number 37. A decent showing, but well below a number of larger schools, as the ranking is based on the number of graduates who secured VC funding. Techpreneurs.

Santa Barbara 258

Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

and I thought if we brought the community together for common purpose we could create more of a sense of community to help new entrepreneurs get funded, assemble teams, raise profiles and help with biz dev, product, etc. Throughout all of these years I was a full-time VC so Launchpad really came out of evenings and weekends for me.

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2010

Mike Wolf is a mentor of mine, and a role model for many technology entrepreneurs and investors in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. More recently, he has invested in numerous local startups, while mentoring and advising hundreds of young entrepreneurs. Mike: Absolutely no question, raising outside capital for your venture.

Entrepreneur 84

Entrepreneur Angel Startup Mentor 84

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

In a bid to change that, there are a few groups working on helping women entrepreneurs, investors, and others, including the Pipeline Fellowship (www.pipelinefellowship.com), which recently launched itself into the Los Angeles market. My participation has been on the impact investing and education side, where I''ve been involved as a mentor.

Angel 276

Angel Invest Mentor Technical Review 276

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2010

Main Street Venture Fund LLC, an angel fund of about 25 private investors, was formed by Ruffolo Benson LLC in northeast Indiana with the intention of bringing together area entrepreneurs and private investors to create economic value for the region. Tags: angel investor entrepreneur process trophy business. Business wisdom.

Entrepreneur 83

Entrepreneur Mentor Invest Angel 83

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

These resources are definitely not limited to students, since every university seeks out and needs the real world exposure and experience of entrepreneurs who already are active in the real world marketplace. Collaborative efforts with local companies, like Siemens Venture Capital, are available for certain technology and focus areas.

Startup 95

Startup Incubator Resource Mentor 95

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Yeah, that was when I changed for me…” “…there was so much positive feedback on demystifying this one element of venture capital. Deal evaluations the Foundry way, which continues into a great discussion about VC decision-making processes. “So Brad’s start in Venture Capital. was starting.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 1, 2019

Vassallo and Sequeira prefer the term “sage” to describe the folks they’re looking to bring in to help mentor their companies. A “sage” is someone wise through reflection and experience and we thought that perfectly encapsulates what these active operating executives bring to Defy.

Invest 109

Invest Legalzoom Los Angeles Blogging 109

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2013

Despite a growing technology industry here in Southern California, local investors and entrepreneurs tell us there''s still a shortage of local, venture capital. What''s the best way for entrepreneurs to approach you? Any advice you would give entrepreneurs? This is what I''m focused on for the foreseeable future.

Invest 159

Invest Technology Startup Venture Capital 159

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Reverse due diligence on the investor is a comparable process whereby the entrepreneur seeks to validate the track record, operating style, and motivation of every potential partner.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

socalTECH

OCTOBER 24, 2011

One of the biggest complaints you hear from both entrepreneurs and investors in Los Angeles, is the lack of a credible, visible startup accelerator in the Los Angeles area. You were most recently in venture capital, what drove you to move down here to Los Angeles and start this up? Where did the name MuckerLab come from?

Technical Advisors 176

Technical Advisors Startup Southern California Los Angeles 176

LATechDigest

MAY 22, 2016

Throughout the day, Expert DOJO members will be pitching their ideas to three active Angels, as well as CrossCut Ventures, CAA Ventures, and Fund 21, a new Venture Firm based in Indonesia. Each startup will be able to choose up to three mentors to meet with for 7-minute sessions each.

Startup 45

Startup LAVA Mentor Venture Capital 45

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

One of the great joys of doing the web series This Week in VC every week is that I get to spend time with great people debating the issues of our day including how our industry is evolving as well as insights into how companies got started, got their initial traction and dealt with adversities. Oh, yeah. And when there is a spark, go for it.

Startup 286

Startup Venture Capital Web Ideas 286

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 7, 2013

Today’s announcement will go a long way to help us foster innovation and help entrepreneurs create wearable technologies that will define a new era in tech.”. Entrepreneurs will also be able to communicate with the Bloggerati and showcase their products to the world. Comprehensive App Directory. Over 100 Applications.

Google 87

Google Technical Review Press Software Review 87

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2014

Many startups now go through accelerators and have mentors passing through each day with advice – usually it’s conflicting. Of course triangulation is a mathematics term that is used in sailing and other activities to help you better navigate when you don’t have your bearings. What is a founder to do?

Startup 407

Startup Framework CTO Coach Sales 407

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.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Reverse due diligence on the investor is a comparable process whereby the entrepreneur seeks to validate the track record, operating style, and motivation of every potential partner.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2012

I’ve been advising and mentoring startups and growth companies for years, and find myself always pushing them to try something new, for the sake of growth and survival. Look for the thoughtful challenge to your ideas, and practice active listening, when you are selling your vision. Only hire people who like you or think like you.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Help 109

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 30, 2011

The panel is comprised of Southern California’s Top VC’s, Angels, and Startup Accelerator founders. Mike is actively involved with early-stage start-ups as an investor, advisor and board member. Sangster is a serial entrepreneur and M&A executive with experience both founding and acquiring businesses.

Tech Coast Angels 105

Tech Coast Angels Startup Angel Southern California 105

Tech.Co

MARCH 2, 2018

Organizations like digitalundivided, Black Tech Week, Global Entrepreneurship Week, and more will be on hand to showcase their entrepreneurial activity within their communities. The Kauffman Foundation believes that everyone everywhere has a fundamental right to become an entrepreneur, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

Startup 70

Startup Organization Networking Venture Capital 70

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/).

El Segundo 100

El Segundo Southern California Startup Santa Monica 100

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

Trust me – your chances of selling are much lower if you’re talking rather than actively listening. YOU Selling – My wise old friend & mentor, Ameet Shah, once told me after a meeting we had with clients (when I worked at Accenture), “there are two ways to run a meeting: asking or telling.

Sales 314

Sales Startup Venture Capital Custom 314

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2019

In the entrepreneur world, it’s still a popular misconception that the “idea” is everything. Even though investors, like myself, have long made it clear that we invest in people, not ideas, new venture owners insist on talking about their latest “ million dollar idea ,” rather than their “ million dollar team.”

IBM 87

IBM IBM Ideas Technical Review 87

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

As the markets went down, just like any other investor, they were very conscious of investing more carefully--but, that said, it also meant that there seemed to be more entrepreneurs, for various reasons, were newly interested in starting companies. We actually saw lots of startup activity in Los Angeles last year.

Tech Coast Angels 182

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 182

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. And I had been telling my partners for a couple of years that I thought Ethan was one of the more talented entrepreneurs I had come across in San Francisco. And I certainly didn’t want him having to trapse up-and-down Sand Hill Road informing every VC of his next idea.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Tech.Co

MARCH 8, 2018

The program has been so successful that the startups have leveraged $48M in private capital to further their development. She has created a successful model to bridge entrepreneurs, investors and the federal government. Today, Joanne works with passionate entrepreneurs who use data assets to disrupt business functions and verticals.

Technical Review 70

Technical Review Startup Software Review Entrepreneur 70