Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2014

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over 60 times as many companies, according the Center for Venture Research. Individual angel investors have been filling the gap, and now match VCs in total amount invested.

Angel 104

Angel Funding Startup Venture Capital 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Online or evening entrepreneurship classes for anyone. Find technical and legal guidance and advisors.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Berkonomics

APRIL 4, 2019

On the other side, entrepreneurs and CEO’s usually have a natural fear of giving too much information to us investors after the initial investment is received. Requirements created by investment documents. They worry that we will not keep the information confidential and that financial data will find its way into competitors’ hands.

Class 120

Class Course Report Competition 120

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2013

We saw an extraordinary opportunity, in general, and in LA in particular, to really focus in on technology in Los Angeles. There is a really genuine and real opportunity in the intersection of media and entertainment technology here in Los Angeles, and people are focused here on that for a legitimate reason.

Invest 159

Invest Technology Startup Venture Capital 159

Berkonomics

JULY 5, 2018

Most businesses fall into the class of those that can be sold someday to a willing buyer. Accepting venture or angel money is to create a contract between the investors and the entrepreneur that the business will someday be sold or even go public to create an exit for the investors. What creates value in a business? .

Class 226

Class Competition Email Entrepreneur 226

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2014

The speaks to the continued confidence in the venture capital markets and as I had predicted some time ago the VC markets right now are a great place to invest – especially relative to other places to put one’s money. Our last fund we raised was in 2012 and we began investing it in April of 2012. But that’s it.

Venture Capital 396

Venture Capital Funding Technical Review Startup 396

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 9, 2022

This round is being led by Point72 Private Investments, with previous backers Toba Capital, Index Ventures, Bonfire Ventures, BoxGroup, and VMG Partners also participating. But at the same time, Los Angeles–based Boulevard got this funding infusion at a boosted valuation because it has been on a roll. Focusing on the U.S.

Help 195

Help Startup UCLA Tool 195

Berkonomics

APRIL 14, 2012

There is a natural fear of giving too much information to investors after the initial investment is received. That burden is an ongoing cost of taking the investment, much as a public company takes on the additional burden of governmental reporting, both adding to costs over time.

Class 202

Class Report Competition .Net 202

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2015

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. That says you are competitive today, have a real barrier to entry, and the potential to remain ahead of the competition for a long time.

Startup 118

Startup Competition Patents Resource 118

socalTECH

JUNE 20, 2012

There is a large menu of startup accelerators in the Los Angeles, but one of more established efforts in the area is LaunchpadLA ([link] The effort actually started as an informal mentoring program, but has grown and expanded to follow the accelerator model. Our current class has performed incredibly well.

Class 261

Class Mentor Startup Santa Monica 261

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2018

Anna Barber , the Managing Director of Techstars LA (www.techstars.com), one of the startup accelerators run by Techstars in the Los Angeles area. And a host of interesting companies in last mile have cropped up to give the Amazon ecosystem some competition, like two companies from the last Techstars LA class - Shipsi and PRZM.

Startup 124

Startup Press Commerce Southern California 124

socalTECH

OCTOBER 23, 2012

One of the biggest complaints that local entrepreneurs have with Los Angeles has been a dearth of local sources of venture capital. We sat down with TX Zhuo , who is heading up the firm's venture investments, about the fund and his path here after a recent stint at Eric Schmidt's Innovation Endeavors fund in Palo Alto.

Funding 253

Funding Startup Invest Commerce 253

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2014

They often create the biggest tensions between investors who are investing at different stages in the business. These tensions seep out in some angels or seed funds publicly or semi-privately deriding later-stage VCs for their “bad” behavior. would you want to give up the right to invest in subsequent rounds?

Guide 336

Guide Venture Capital Startup Writing 336

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2014

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. That says you are competitive today, have a real barrier to entry, and the potential to remain ahead of the competition for a long time.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Competition Patents Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2018

As a startup advisor and angel investor, I tend to focus on the much longer list of ways your startup can fail, based on my own experience and inside knowledge from peers who you will never see highlighted on the Internet. If there is no competition, there is likely not a market. Building and running a business is not a solo operation.

Startup 99

Startup Competition Examples Ideas 99

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2019

This was a big year for Crosscut because were finally delivering on our promise of implementing a full-scale investing platform after 11+ years in business. Growing our practice from 3 original partners who would meet at coffee shops into a full institutional investing platform is a constant evolution.

Southern California 100

Southern California News Platform Class 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Sam’s vision was to build a world-class “reverse logistics” company that could be as ambitious as Amazon has been in delivering goods to our houses. We have well financed competitors whom despite competing with we respect deeply and when you see your competition launching in many markets it’s tempting to follow suit.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Custom Customer 286

Berkonomics

JUNE 17, 2011

Most businesses fall into the class of those that can be sold someday to a willing buyer. Accepting venture or angel money is to create a contract between the investors and the entrepreneur that the business will someday be sold or even go public to create an exit for the investors. What creates value in a business?

Equity 209

Equity Class Email Competition 209

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

Through these student and faculty interactions, I have gathered empirical (but non-scientific), first-hand evidence of the factors that contribute to a world-class undergraduate entrepreneurial program. Practitioners, Not Professors – classes should be taught by people who have fought hand-to-hand combat in the startup trenches.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Venture Capital Class Patents 100

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

The poor performance of the asset class (this analysis has largely been wrong as I pointed out here –> most analyses were clumsy rear-view mirror looks at the data). The VC market has right-sized (returned back to mid 90′s levels & less competition). On the surface the narratives have been.

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

If you haven’t raised any money or if you raised a small round from angels or friends & family I would suggest you avoid setting up a formal board unless the people who would join your board are deeply experienced at sitting on startup boards. This is the norm and unless you have a hugely competitive round it’s not worth fighting.

Startup 236

Startup Venture Capital Tips Capital 236

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. It always amazes me how an entrepreneur can define his market opportunity so broadly, and then assess his competition so narrowly in the next breath. Competition and sustainable advantage. Executive team.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2018

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. That says you are competitive today, have a real barrier to entry, and the potential to remain ahead of the competition for a long time.

Competition 51

Competition Patents Resource Entrepreneur 51

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

This is class four for Launchpad LA. Meet the Graduates: · Connectifier, which connects recruiters to potential job candidates, consists of 4 ex-Google employees and local angel investor, Terrence Yang, has dubbed Connectifier one of the best startups of 2012. The teams have accomplished an incredible amount in the past four months.

GRP Partners 96

GRP Partners Startup Tech Coast Angels Bertelsmann 96

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 30, 2011

The result was a massive increase in startups & a whole group of new funding sources: both angels & “micro VCs&#. With more competition in early-stage many VCs are investing smaller amounts at earlier stages. Brick wall = lost money for early-stage capital primarily concentrated on angels.

Venture Capital 289

Venture Capital Capital Cloud Computing Marketing 289

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Online or evening entrepreneurship classes for anyone. Find technical and legal guidance and advisors.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Capital Class Startup 55

Berkonomics

JANUARY 20, 2010

Email readers continue here.]. Bootstrapping: This term describes your ability to start a business with little investment and grow it using internally-generated funds. Better yet, the valuation of your enterprise is often higher than if the same investment were taken from a professional investor.

Venture Capital 174

Venture Capital Invest Class Entrepreneur 174

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

The VC industry grew dramatically as a result of the Internet bubble - Before the Internet bubble the people who invested in VC funds (called LPs or Limited Partners) put about $50 billion into the industry and by 2001 this had grown precipitously to around $250 billion. So the people who invest in VC funds have two problems.

Venture Capital 311

Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding Rustic Canyon 311

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 16, 2010

We talked with Noah about how the company grew out of a business plan competition at the University of Southern California, his recent funding from the Maverick Angels, as well as how the firm hopes to stand out among a crowded list of comparison shopping sites. Noah, thanks for the interview. So, we decided to go out and do it.

USC 207

USC CPC Sites Startup 207

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Middle Market Investment Banking. Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies. Tech Coast Angels Fast Pitch - February 24th - UCLA. www.pitchtheangels.com) Join Tech Coast Angels members and other start up investors at the 5th Annual Los Angeles Fast Pitch Competition. Advertisers.

Southern California 113

Southern California Tech Coast Angels IP Orange County 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. It always amazes me how an entrepreneur can define his market opportunity so broadly, and then assess his competition so narrowly in the next breath. Competition and sustainable advantage. Executive team.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

Would they build a world class team. Meredith Perry came up with the idea for uBeam while still in college at University of Pennsylvania and like many great inventors won her school’s business plan competition. Note: Company headquarters is in Los Angeles with major R&D also happening in Northern Virginia.

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2016

People are even talking about “decacorns" -- investable companies with net worth now exceeding $10 billion -- like Dropbox and Pinterest. Seed-round investment. This term refers to an initial venture-capital investment, often wrongly sought to seed early product development. Super-angel investors (micro-VCs).

Startup 57

Startup Software Review Equity Invest 57

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Understanding where your VC partner sits in their respective fund and where their fund is in the cycle of its investment lifecycle will help you understand your VCs behavior. In addition to helping manage the board Chris also helps represent the interests of the angel investors / common stock holders.

Tips 365

Tips Email Venture Capital Blogging 365

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. It always amazes me how an entrepreneur can define his market opportunity so broadly, and then assess his competition so narrowly in the next breath. Competition and sustainable advantage. Executive team.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

InfoChachkie

JULY 21, 2011

Messenger : Paige Craig, CEO BetterWorks, Angel Investor, former Marine. You decide how much you want to invest in your employees and then you give your employees the control to build a custom perk package for themselves. And we hired folks who had previous leadership positions and proof points of being competitive.

Summary 246

Summary Tips Sales Entrepreneur 246

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Over the last few years, there''s been an explosion in startup accelerators in Southern California, and in particular along "Silicon Beach" on the Los Angeles westside. We continue to see a ton of interest not only from great companies in Los Angeles, bu companies from all over the world and the country.

Southern California 187

Southern California Incubator Startup Ideas 187