Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

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 twice as many companies, according to a classic Crunchbase article. Here are a couple of concerns and possible negatives to avoid: More startups left in the funding gap.

Guide 136

Guide Venture Capital Funding Class 136

socalTECH

MAY 4, 2021

Irvine-based e-commerce software developer Kajabi said this morning that it has raised a massive, $550M funding round, which values the company at over $2 billion. The investment round firmly vaunts the company into unicorn territory. The investment round firmly vaunts the company into unicorn territory.

Commerce 113

Commerce Coach Course Equity 113

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2017

We've summarized the funds that have announced new funds in the last nine months or so, or that are in the midst of raising funds--a total of more than $1086 million in total funds. List ordered by fund size). Fund size: $230M fund. Fund size: $100M fund. Fund size: $100M fund.

Southern California 178

Southern California Venture Capital Artificial Inteligence Capital 178

socalTECH

OCTOBER 2, 2012

Santa Monica-based ShoeDazzle , the online e-commerce and celebrity site that is back in the hands of Brian Lee, and whose co-founders include Kim Kardashian, has raised $6.0M in a combination of equity and debt, according to a regulatory filing from the firm Tuesday.

Funding 150

Funding Santa Monica Commerce Equity 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

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 twice as many companies, according the Crunchbase. Twenty years ago, it cost several million dollars to launch an e-commerce startup, which can be done today for a few thousand dollars.

Funding 125

Funding Venture Capital Startup Class 125

socalTECH

MARCH 2, 2018

Los Angeles-based venture capital investment firm First Beverage Ventures , which specializes in investing in beverage brands, has made an investment in vitamin-infused coffee and tea company VitaCup. Size of the equity funding was not announced. READ MORE>>.

Commerce 113

Commerce Venture Capital Equity Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

MAY 11, 2017

San Diego-based Miva , the developer of e-commerce shopping cart software, has received a growth capital funding from private equity investor Bison Capital Partners, the companies said this week. Miva said that the investment is the first time in its history that it has accepted growth capital funding.

Capital 113

Capital San Diego Commerce Equity 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Join a startup incubator.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

socalTECH

AUGUST 9, 2018

The investment came from private equity investor Blackstone Group. According to TaskUs, the funding round values the company at $500M. TaskUs said that the company will continue to be led by CEO Bryce Maddock, along with Weir and the existing management team. READ MORE>>.

Outsource 100

Outsource Santa Monica Social Media Commerce 100

TechCrunch LA

MAY 25, 2019

Liquid Death has attracted nearly $2 million in funding from angel investors like Away co-founder Jen Rubio and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. Enter Seedlip , a non-alcoholic spirits company, for example. More Labs, for example, is backed with $8 million in VC funding. Beverages are being disrupted, there's no stopping it.

Startup 223

Startup Venture Capital Newsletter Tips 223

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Los Angeles-based e-commerce software developer Assembly has joined the ranks of the local unicorn startups, according to the company, after getting a "significant capital injection" from Advent International. The company said it now surpasses $1 billion in valuation after the round.

Invest 113

Invest Commerce Software Development Los Angeles 113

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 17, 2010

And we’re left with a city with idyllic weather, major commerce, the media center of the world, and a great emerging technology scene. We have many seasoned entrepreneurs who have built successful companies here and made a lot of money for investors and themselves. But we have a great city for building technology companies.

Company 290

Company Companies Technology Startup 290

socalTECH

APRIL 29, 2014

San Diego-based tag management software developer Tealium announced this morning that it has raised an additional $20M in funding, from private equity investor Silver Lake Waterman. Tealium, which is led by Jeff Lunsford, said it plans to use the funding for global expansion. READ MORE>>.

Silver Lake 138

Silver Lake San Diego Commerce Equity 138

socalTECH

JULY 22, 2016

Agoura Hills-based TouchCommerce , the provider of customer service software and services, which e-commerce companies use to add live chat and support to their websites, has been acquired by Nuance Communications , Nuance said Thursday. READ MORE>>.

Agoura Hills 100

Agoura Hills Agoura Commerce Equity 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2011

in a debt and preferred equity round of funding, according to investment firm BIA Digital Partners II, LP. BIA said that the round also included primary equity backer Azure Capital Partners. The funding will go towards growth of the company's flagship site, as well as build out of its e-commerce and enterprise products.

Marina Del Rey 145

Marina Del Rey Equity Commerce Sites 145

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

Last week, I profiled an e-commerce startup Part & Parcel. Landline , the operator of a bus network in the Midwest, is one of the latest companies to raise venture capital. The company is actually based out of LA, too, but has completed its initial launch in Minnesota, where there’s greater demand for short-term bus travel.

Services 207

Services Startup Venture Capital Redpoint 207

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Funding Startup Technical Review 113

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding.

Tips 104

Tips Startup Technical Review Equity 104

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Join a startup incubator.

Startup 128

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 128

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

The Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA) held its annual awards event last night, honoring former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, as well as local, venture backed companies in a banquet last night at the Luxe hotel in Los Angeles. Other finalists were Clicker.com , Truecar , and Zumbox. Other finalists included Ad.ly and ServiceMesh.

LAVA 166

LAVA Zumbox Technology ReachLocal 166

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. Here are a couple of concerns and possible negatives to avoid: More startups left in the funding gap.

Angel 104

Angel Funding Startup Venture Capital 104

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2021

In my experience as a business advisor and occasional investor, many of you won’t make it that far, succumbing to the high costs of getting those first customers, funding an initial inventory, and building an operational support process. Start networking for funding before the crisis. Build your plan around resources you know.

Startup 161

Startup Resource Customer Custom 161

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 14, 2019

in a funding led by Orange County's Okapi Venture Capitalis looking to help direct to consumer brands use better data to direct their marketing and other efforts. We spoke with CEO and co-founder Dan LeBlanc , a veteran of ProFlowers and FTD, on how he started the company and he problem the startup is solving for direct to consumer brands.

Startup 113

Startup Platform Commerce San Diego 113

socalTECH

MARCH 12, 2018

One of those companies is Los Angeles-based Love Goodly (www.lovegoodly.com) co-founders Justine Lassoff and Katie Bogue Miller , who sat down and told us about their company, focused on cruelty-free, non-toxic beauty and skincare products. Love Goodly recently launched its own crowd equity funding campaign.

Startup 157

Startup Commerce Los Angeles Product 157

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2022

In fact, Conscious Capitalism companies, for example, historically have outperformed the S&P 500 index by a factor of ten. If you are at the funding stage, try the new crowd-funding platforms or micro-capital investments. Offer equity in future projects to people outside your business. Shared goodwill (trust).

Organization 126

Organization Social Media Examples Customer 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding.

Startup 87

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 87

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2019

In an age of ever increasing marketing spend to attract customers, how do you make sure you aren't spending more acquiring a company than they are worth? Michael Greenberg: Retina is the world's premier company around customer lifetime value scoring and behaviors associated with that. How did you start the company?

Dollar Shave Club 113

Dollar Shave Club Artificial Inteligence Customer Custom 113

socalTECH

JULY 5, 2017

It's fairly unusual to see an apparel company with venture backing, and particularly unusual to see one with the strong lineup of investors that LA-based Jaanuu (www.jaanuu.com) has behind the company. I moved down here to work as a large, $10 billion private equity fund with Ron Burkle, at Yucaipa Companies.

Web 2.0 100

Web 2.0 Equity Legalzoom Capital 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

He saw the potential of e-commerce, and drove Amazon to success. Building a business requires funding – for inventory, marketing, and operations. Maybe you are more comfortable going slow, with limited resources, or aiming high and giving up equity. The shift – break away from dreaming to action.

Entrepreneur 139

Entrepreneur Help Incubator Startup 139

socalTECH

MARCH 19, 2014

Mark Faggiano is the CEO and founder of the company, and spoke to us about what the big deal is about sales tax software compliance. What''s the story behind the company? Mark Faggiano: I have started a handful of companies previously, and my team has worked together in all kinds of shapes and forms going on more than ten years.

Sales 149

Sales Software Startup Commerce 149

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Join a startup incubator.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Equity 105

Xconomy

OCTOBER 16, 2016

After raising $30 million, San Diego-based Certona said it is moving to accelerate its product development, expand its sales and marketing team, and improve its client services as an e-commerce technology vendor. We’ve been fairly capital-efficient in this fast-growth e-commerce space,” Sheik said. “It

Artificial Inteligence 40

Artificial Inteligence Commerce San Diego Web 40

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding.

Startup 123

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding.

Develop 70

Develop Development Product Startup 70

Xconomy

AUGUST 30, 2016

Petco, the privately held pet supplies company based in San Diego, said today it led a $10 million Series A financing in Los Angeles-based Petnet, a three-year-old startup developing technology-enabled pet feeders and pet food delivery service. The new funding will enable Petnet to expand its product line and sales and marketing capabilities.

San Diego 52

San Diego Los Angeles Mobile Equity 52

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Join a startup incubator.

Startup 53

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 53

socalTECH

MARCH 21, 2012

Bricault was the founder of The Mailroom Fund, which was focused on early stage investments in Southern California digital media, and prior to that spent significant time at William Morris Agency. The standard model for an accelerator is, they provide a tranche of equity, along with a suite of services that varies by different accelerator.

Startup 254

Startup Los Angeles Entrepreneur Media 254