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The Importance of Realism in Startups

Both Sides of the Table

I made many classic first-time mistakes which serves both as my warning signal of which teams to avoid funding (if I perceive they will make critical mistakes often led by hubris) and also as my source for coaching others. Stop reading their press releases or hearing their founder talk about he is crushing it.

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Understanding the Politics of Tech Startups

Both Sides of the Table

Many startups these days are started by young, technical or product founders who are in the idealistic phase of their lives and careers. And it’s why many early-stage companies blow up. It’s why I called out the importance of “executive coaches” in this post.

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The Valuable Unsung Heroes of Startups

Both Sides of the Table

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. And that person has almost certainly chosen specifically to be a startup lawyer over serving other types of customers because he or she enjoys working with entrepreneurs.

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This is How Startups “Level Up” After Raising Money

Both Sides of the Table

In a VC business when you raise additional capital you need to “level up” and act the round you are. I’d say 20% of startups I see level-up early after their A round. These are important leveling-up activities but the CEO is often still up at 10pm f **g around with QuickBooks entries.

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Reflections on 2018: Anna Barber, Techstars LA

socalTECH

Editor's note: All this week, and into the start of next year, we'll be featuring reflections on 2018 from notable investors, entrepreneurs, and others from Southern California's technology community. Here in LA we continue to be excited about the growth of the startup ecosystem and the quality of the companies here.

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6 Marketing Specifics That Apply To Every New Venture

Startup Professionals Musings

You can have the best technology, but if customers don’t know you exist, or they don’t know how your technology solves a real problem for them, your startup will fail. In fact, this article was driven by a startup press release I saw a while back, highlighting a startup’s “geo-fencing technology” as a new basis for discount coupons.

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Why Your Startup Doesn’t Need a COO

Both Sides of the Table

It’s very common for startup companies to have COO’s. But … Startups don’t need – shouldn’t have – COOs. I have this conversation with every startup that comes to see me and has a CEO & a COO. I think usually a COO title at a startup is an ego thing. CEO’s run things.

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