Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2013

In my first enterprise software company we developed a methodology for sales that we called PUCCKA. Having a methodology instead of just going on random sales visits helped force a bit of rigor and honesty amongst team members about how well or not we thought we were doing. The best sales meetings are discussions.

Sales 367

Sales Slides Startup Customer 367

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

JULY 21, 2020

Datto , a developer of cloud-based software for the managed service provider (MSP) market--which just opened up a new office in Irvine--said that it has acquired Gluh Pty Ltd , an Australian company which develops software that allows MSPs to simplify procurement of IT products and services.

Software Review 113

Software Review Equity Acquisition Software 113

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 23, 2021

Gates’ call is being met by startups and public companies hailing from everywhere from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv, London to Los Angeles, and Berkeley to… um… Chicago. The company aims to have its first product approved by European regulators by 2023 and notching commercial sales by 2025.

Chief Technology Officer 261

Chief Technology Officer Technical Review Software Review Product 261

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 9, 2012

Who are the top tech companies to work for in Los Angeles? Despite a huge number of companies, we found there are a number which. Despite a huge number of companies, we found there are a number which. Demand Media consistently popped up near number one in the list of "companies to work for" from our readers. Demand Media.

Technical Review 279

Technical Review Company Companies Southern California 279

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Los Angeles-based Velocify , which develops software to help companies better manage their sales process, is in a growth spurt, with the hire of three new executives--all veterans of the tech industry from the LA area. Velocify said the hires come due to rapid growth at the company. READ MORE>>.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Software Review Resource Sales 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 9, 2018

You race back to the office to tell everybody how well it went and you wait for the follow-up call to have a partners’ meeting or talk about term sheets or at least dip into due diligence. After my board meeting I had to do an interview with a CFO candidate that one of my portfolio companies asked me to speak with.

Software Review 381

Software Review Startup Email Conference 381

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

As a business advisor, I have to recommend even to established companies that they review and revamp their competitive strategy now, even if it appears to be working today. The old approaches of controlling distribution channels, saturating retail, and methodically scaling your brand awareness don’t protect you anymore.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

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. But the “no sales people” mantra isn’t what I’m here to take on.

Startup 403

Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

TechCrunch LA

JULY 19, 2022

It also handles the back end as well by automating the posting, sale and shipment of unsold inventory while offering immediate payment to creditworthy sellers. Ghost is not alone in developing technology focused on inventory. to develop some sweet inventory-planning software. Last week, Syrup Tech raised $6.3

Product 191

Product Funding Technical Review Equity 191

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

Santa Monica-based Cornerstone OnDemand , the developer of software-as-a-service for talent management, learning, and human resources management, said today that it has promoted three of its executives. The company said the promotions come due to recent growth and expansion at the company. READ MORE>>.

Cornerstone OnDemand 157

Cornerstone OnDemand Software Review Santa Monica Resource 157

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capitalists) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Join a startup incubator.

Develop 70

Develop Development Product Startup 70

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2019

Very few entrepreneurs have the range of skills and experience to be the solution creator as well as business creator, or operational as well as sales leader. If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done.

Software Review 88

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development Startup 88

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 12, 2018

Located at the southeastern tip of the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles suburb counts its biggest employers as the adhesive manufacturer Avery Dennison; the Los Angeles industrial team for the real estate developer CBRE; the International House of Pancakes; Disney Consumer Products; DreamWorks Studios; Walt Disney Animation and Univision.

Glendale 271

Glendale Los Angeles Startup Technical Review 271

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2022

They include people like Sir Richard Branson , born in 1950, who has founded over 400 companies, and claims to be just getting started. On the other hand, there are some roles in a startup where Boomers are probably not the best candidates: Constantly-on-the-road sales territory management roles. Marketing and sales to Gen-Y customers.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur Report 147

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Jackson added, “FinTech has traditionally lagged behind the innovation that’s happening in other areas of enterprise software. For years now, companies have been forced to choose between cumbersome, expensive Virtual Data Rooms and decentralized, unsecure email to manage their complex transactions. 25 Years of Writing Code.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Software Review Bertelsmann Technology 88

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2010

Burstly, a Santa Monica based company, provides an open and free ad management platform that helps mobile application developers better monetize their inventory. As I naturally get asked all the time why we invested in Company A or Company B, I thought I’d just put forth my thesis in writing. Enter Burstly.

Mobile 282

Mobile Invest Company Companies 282

Berkonomics

JANUARY 3, 2013

We immediately recall the razor and blade analogy to illustrate the point when planning product development and release. If the gross profit margin averages fifty percent in a service company, and if fifty percent of all revenues come from recurring sources, then it is probable that the company is stable and operating at or above breakeven.

Outsource Development 197

Outsource Development Software Review Sales Demand 197

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Join a startup incubator.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

socalTECH

MAY 14, 2010

Los Angeles-based CyberDefender , the developer of anti-spyware and anti-virus software headed by Gary Guseinov, reported its results Thursday afternoon, saying that its revenues jumped to $9.5M The company also reported gross sales of $11.8M, up from $6.2M in Q1, up significantly from the $3.2M in Q1 of last year.

Software Review 140

Software Review Report Sales Los Angeles 140

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 25, 2016

West Hills-based Peloton Document Solutions , a company developing software which helps investment bankers, private equity investors, and companies to communicate financial information via interactive documents, has scored a strategic investment from R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company. According to R.R.

Invest 100

Invest Software Review Equity Sales 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capitalists) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Join a startup incubator.

Tips 104

Tips Startup Technical Review Equity 104

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2014

If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done. Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales. This is probably the best place to apply your “gut” feeling. Complementary skills.

Software Review 107

Software Review Entrepreneur CTO Hire Outsource Development 107

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2023

Soliciting user-generated online feedback and reviews. New ways are being developed every day to reward and influence people who participate in crowdsourcing, for a very low cost. But force multipliers used without focus are not enough to make a company great. Flash mob activities created for immediate impact.

Social Media 106

Social Media Software Review Course Networking 106

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

For today's interview, we sat down and talked with Mike Whitmire , the CEO and Co-founder of Los Angeles-based FloQast (www.floqast.com), a developer of financial close management software for enterprise accounting. Mike tells us about the company, who uses its software, as well as how he was initially turned away from the Amplify.LA

Startup 124

Startup Cornerstone OnDemand Software Review Woodland Hills 124

socalTECH

JANUARY 16, 2013

Lynda.com , the online video education provider which has been one of the region's most successful, bootstrapped companies--is no longer bootstrapped, after inking a massive, $103M growth equity round. The business saw a dramatic growth when--due to the downturn of the dot com crash--the company started to post its video online.

Funding 178

Funding Santa Barbara ReachLocal Southern California 178

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2017

Very few entrepreneurs have the range of skills and experience to be the solution creator as well as business creator, or operational as well as sales leader. If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done.

Software Review 56

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development CTO Coach 56

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 10, 2010

“Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise: Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye, Not uttered by base sale of chapmen’s tongues” . However, to a Big Dumb Company (BDC), a startup’s IP is a thing of beauty. Intellectual Property (IP) is an ugly thing at a startup.

IP 256

IP Patents Company Companies 256

socalTECH

JUNE 8, 2011

We spoke with CEO and co-founder Jimmy Hendricks about where Deal Current fits into the industry, and how the company grew out of a need of a client. It's the biggest portion of our revenues at our company, and our clients include the Buffalo News, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, JDate, Spark network, and many entrepreneurs.

Platform 263

Platform Training Software Review Advertising 263

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

They include people like Sir Richard Branson , born in 1950, who has founded over 400 companies, and claims to be just getting started. On the other hand, there are some roles in a startup where Boomers are probably not the best candidates: Constantly-on-the-road sales territory management roles. Marketing and sales to Gen-Y customers.

Startup 124

Startup Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur 124

InfoChachkie

MARCH 16, 2016

Car companies spend a significant amount of money on superficial design features, including the timbre of the sound emitted when a car door is shut. Even less time is spent on developing the aspects of a car that become evident long after the purchase is completed. A version of this article previously appeared Forbes.

SaaS 100

SaaS Startup Software Review Development Team Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 1, 2009

The world has changed much since I started my first company in 1999. Our sales guys were on the front line and heard what they needed to win deals. He decided that our largest customers would be involved in the setting of our priority lists (we did some of this internally in the early years but we saw it mostly as a sales process).

Organization 280

Organization Customer Custom Tips 280

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

The most obvious way to explain this is with sales people. If you hire 6 sales reps in January at $120,000 / year salary then you’ve taken on an extra $60,000 per month in costs yet these sales people might not close new business for 4-6 months. Are you looking to potentially sell the company in the next year or two?

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2012

Companies today are paranoid, afraid that even their friends will steal their business. It’s a great survival strategy for small companies or entrepreneurs, and a good expansion strategy for even the largest companies. Up-sell related products after the initial sale. Cost sharing and economies of scale.

Company 96

Company Companies Startup Examples 96

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. Leave the world of new computer chips and new drugs to the big companies, and people with deep pockets. Join a startup incubator.

Startup 128

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 128

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done. Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales. This is probably the best place to apply your “gut” feeling. Complementary skills.

Software Review 103

Software Review Equity CTO Hire Outsource Development 103

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Government customers abundantly waste both of these assets by negatively impacting a startup’s cash flows while causing it to spend unnecessary time participating in laborious approval processes and elongated sales cycles. Some startups opt to partner with larger companies which have pre-established relationships with government customers.

Startup 207

Startup Outsource Development Software Review Sales 207