Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2022

I know companies who collect sensitive data from consumers all the time, and still seem to keep a trusted image (Amazon.com, Ebay). Make your company visible, reachable and responsive through social networks. Market your solution and user benefits, not the mysterious technology behind it. Don’t take shortcuts on these.

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Custom Customer Technical Review Symantec 137

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

Fast forward to almost exactly one year later, and a lot has changed for the payments and software startup. Today, SpotOn said it has closed on $300 million in Series E financing that values the company at $3.15 SpotOn is paying $415 million in cash and stock for the Los Angeles-based company. Image Credits: SpotOn.

Technical Review 296

Technical Review Software Review Invest Acquisition 296

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Irvine-based cybersecurity software developer CrowdStrike said Monday that it has rolled out a new set of customer support and services options, to support the deployment of its CrowdStrike Falcon software. Pricing on its new services offerings were not announced. READ MORE>>.

Services 113

Services Technical Review Technical Support Software Review 113

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

FedEx Small Business Grant For: Small businesses Amount: Up to $50,000 Grantor: FedEx FedEx's Small Business Grant is a grant contest run by delivery company FedEx. Create a membership here Deadline: Applications are reviewed quarterly 3. Get a huge 86% off Surfshark with this special tech.co Learn more and apply here 3.

Technical Review 193

Technical Review Software Review Startup Competition 193

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2022

As a business consultant and angel investor, I often ask for your own assessment of marketing ROI , or customer acquisition cost (CAC). Mr. Everhart distills his leadership insights from many decades in one of the largest business-to-business marketing agencies, working with companies across the country. Don’t forget it.

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Customer Custom Acquisition Technical Review 100

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

In one of those strange moments to come out of the high tech world still in a pandemic, Santa Barbara-based Invoca--with its workers all temporarily working from home like the rest of the world apparently was taken over by 20,000 bees while people were away, according to the company.

Santa Barbara 113

Santa Barbara Technical Review Software Review High Tech 113

Tech.Co

JANUARY 3, 2020

Customers are happy, clients are beaming, and the revenue just keeps rolling in. However, as a business owner, you know that resting on your laurels can be dangerous, which is why staying up to date with the latest business technology is a necessity. And if you aren't making good use of this business tech, you're missing out.

Technical Review 91

Technical Review Software Review Social Media Platform 91

TechEmpower

JULY 2, 2013

We caution all readers to review the source code of each test when interpreting the plaintext numbers. However, in some cases due to custom core components in a framework or implementation particulars, a framework may exceed 100%. In particular, a great deal of effort was provided in reviewing the ASP.NET MVC tests.

Framework 521

Framework Software Review Technical Review EC2 521

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2013

One of the largest concentrations of technical talent in Los Angeles is in Glendale, at YP -- staffed with a surprising number of Los Angeles startup vets. Our whole product and technology team is about 500 people. Talk about the technology behind your operations here? What''s your background and how did you end up at YP?

Technical Review 223

Technical Review Glendale Advertising Google 223

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2013

One of the largest concentrations of technical talent in Los Angeles is in Glendale, at YP (www.yp.com) -- staffed with a surprising number of Los Angeles startup vets. Our whole product and technology team is about 500 people. Talk about the technology behind your operations here? Louis and Atlanta.

Technical Review 211

Technical Review Glendale Advertising Google 211

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2017

So how did a company that provides storage grow so fast (we’ll exit 2017 with 10’s of millions in recurring revenue), why is it so defensible and is it really a tech startup? If you buy that Amazon is a tech startup then essentially you’ve already answered the question. years of software development.

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Technical Review Funding Software Review Artificial Inteligence 268

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 5, 2020

Companies that have leveraged technology to make the procurement and delivery of food more accessible to more people have been seeing a big surge of business this year, as millions of consumers are encouraged (or outright mandated, due to Covid-19) to socially distance or want to avoid the crowds of physical shopping and eating excursions.

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Technical Review Startup Marketing San Diego 343

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2020

If you have a software development background like mine, I’m sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. Outsourcing is defined as contracting the work to another company, usually located in a developing country, like India, China, or Eastern Europe. Factor in all the cost elements.

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Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Technical Review 122

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. What was the biggest news for you/your company this year? In 2020, the pandemic radically changed the customer acquisition process for many consumer-facing industries.

Technical Review 140

Technical Review Software Review Organic Search Startup 140

socalTECH

MAY 8, 2019

Playa Vista-based point-of-sale equipment and software provider Appetize says that its recent move to offer up "self-service" kiosks to its customers, has resulted in its customers seeing more spending and demand.

Services 133

Services Software Review Technical Review Demand 133

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

James (chairman of the Althea Foundation) and appointed Adam Sroka as Senior Vice President of Technology in a move to make business transactions simple and secure. . Jackson , “This financing round, coupled with hiring Adam Sroka as our head of technology, puts CapLinked in a position to further enhance our enterprise product offerings.”.

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Technical Review Software Review Bertelsmann Technology 88

InfoChachkie

JULY 7, 2016

Note: I invest almost exclusively in b-to-b software companies. As such, I understand the degree to which hand waving and vaporware can influence investors and potential customers. An interface that is engaging can fool customers into trying a sub-par product. Customers Are All That Matter. Don’t Demo Me Bro.

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Venture Capital Product Software Review Technical Review 176

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 1, 2009

The world has changed much since I started my first company in 1999. As organizations we have become more open and I believe this is great for businesses and their customers. some came from our customer service, some were to improve performance / scalability from tech ops, some were bug fixes, etc.)

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Organization Customer Custom Tips 280

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2020

For starters Uber itself has had to lay off 27% of its workforce due to the pandemic and has been severely impacted financially from the crisis with no immediate respite in sight. Even more likely is eventual technology disruption where drones deliver foods and make it hard for existing car delivery services to compete.

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SaaS Customer Custom Technical Review 242

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 12, 2018

seems like an unlikely place to grow one of the next billion-dollar startups in the booming Los Angeles tech ecosystem. The company is ServiceTitan, and its market… is air conditioners. Battery isn’t the only marquee investor to find value in ServiceTitan’s business developing software managing day labor.

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Glendale Los Angeles Startup Technical Review 271

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Verifying Looking for regular tech news straight to your inbox? However, its unique-for-the-industry monthly subscription model has helped it maintain healthy profits from its loyal customer base in 2023. The startup was listed in TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2023 too, alongside industry heavyweights like Nvidia and SpaceX.

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Startup Generative AI Newsletter Tool 212

socalTECH

AUGUST 1, 2014

However, Redondo Beach-based StaffRanker (www.staffranker.com) has rolled out a system to help those companies better manage what is a notoriously difficult segment of the labor market, which has a lot of turnover and which just doesn''t match existing, corporate performance management systems. How did you start the company?

Help 223

Help Hermosa Beach Technical Review Redondo Beach 223

TechCrunch LA

JULY 19, 2022

Josh Kaplan and Dee Murthy, both founder and co-CEO of the Los Angeles–based company, started Ghost in 2021 after previously working together at Four Five Group, a men’s apparel business. Ghost is not alone in developing technology focused on inventory. Last week, Syrup Tech raised $6.3 Syrup Tech bags $6.3M

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Product Funding Technical Review Equity 191

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2017

Not so long ago, every business assumed that the keys to success were the highest quality product, the best value for the buck, and the best customer service. Now all we hear about is providing the best “customer experience.” You have to hear your customer’s dreams, goals, passions, and aspirations.

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Customer Custom Product Marketing 85

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

There were startups and a software industry but barely. I started my first company in 1999 and was admittedly swept up in all of this: Magazine covers, fancy conferences, artificial valuations and easy money. In those years I learned to properly build product, price products, sell products and serve customers. It was 1991.

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Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2011

I often hear the qualms of business-smart but non-technical entrepreneurs, wondering if they really have a chance in this high-technology marketplace. I tell them that if their idea or solution is technology intensive, they clearly need technology strength on the team. Outsource your technical requirements.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Entrepreneur Outsource Development Outsource 94

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

But what IS the right amount of burn for a company? Burn rate in case you don’t know is the amount of money a company is either spending (gross) or losing (net) per month. (it Conversely if you’re burning $600,000 per month (yes, some companies do) then you only have 5 months of cash left. Gross Burn vs. Net Burn.

Startup 383

Startup Company Companies .Net 383

socalTECH

DECEMBER 3, 2012

It's surprising how often we run into rapidly growing companies that not many people have heard of, here in Southern California, but that's the case with El Segundo-based. NEOGOV , which has quietly built an enterprise software company supplying human resources software to the government and public sector. What is Neogov?

Software Review 243

Software Review SaaS Startup Technical Review 243

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2022

They couldn’t possibly understand the new social media culture, new technologies, or have the determination to beat their younger counterparts in the market. They include people like Sir Richard Branson , born in 1950, who has founded over 400 companies, and claims to be just getting started. Manage customer service.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur Report 147

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2022

As a potential investor, I always think of the high rate of failure of disruptive technologies, due to the longer learning curve of customers, infrastructure change consistently required, and higher marketing costs. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by an initial innovation that has served your company well so far.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Metrics Resource Software Review 101

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

In a bid to prevent the damage from those plumbing failures and also help save water, Los Angeles-based Flo Technologies (www.meetflo.com) has developed a water monitoring device and shutoff valve for your home, which is connected to your smartphone and its own app. We caught up with Gabriel to learn more about the company.

Technical Review 113

Technical Review Technology Startup Artificial Inteligence 113

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 19, 2013

The era of VCs investing in successful consumer Internet startups such as eBay led to a belief system that seemed to permeate many enterprise software startups that hiring sales or implementation people was a bad thing. We only want software revenue.” How do you get referenceable customers? I believe it’s flawed.

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Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Nearly every successful tech startup I’ve observed over the past 20 years has gone through a similar growth pattern: Innovate, systematize then scale operations. Understanding how your company will change as you move through these phases is critical if you hope to scale to a large business one day.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2012

I often hear the qualms of business-smart but non-technical entrepreneurs, wondering if they really have a chance in this high-technology marketplace. I tell them that if their idea or solution is technology intensive, they clearly need technology strength on the team. Outsource your technical requirements.

Technical Review 92

Technical Review Technology Startup Outsource Development 92

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Companies all around the world use Trello to help manage projects and coordinate team tasks and responsibilities. However, 10 years after the software was first released, the kanban-based system is getting a major overhaul. The software now offers Timeline, Table, Dashboard, and Calendar views. Tempted by Trello? Trello Views.

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Software Review Guide Technical Review Class 151

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

socalTECH

MARCH 19, 2019

Disraeli also recently was appointed as CEO of the company. Stacy Stubblefield: We do two factor authentication, which basically means we send text messages with the codes you get when you log into a web site or even when you're just registering for a website. How did the company start? Talk about Telesign and what you do?

Marina Del Rey 113

Marina Del Rey Software Review Startup Incubator 113