SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

I had a recent email dialog with the founder of a company looking for a CTO for their startup. And do I fit as a Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , CTO Founder , Acting CTO ? Understand where they were in terms of being able to pay or was this equity-only (sweat equity only). Was it a Startup Founder Developer Gap ?

CTO Hire 241

CTO Hire CTO Coach Equity Develop 241

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2014

We’ve been dying to tell you all for a while that we had raised a new venture capital fund and of course given SEC filing requirements the story was somewhat already scooped by the always-in-the-know Dan Primack a few weeks ago. Wait, didn’t you just raise a fund? Was it hard to raise the fund?

Venture Capital 396

Venture Capital Funding Technical Review Startup 396

TechCrunch LA

MAY 20, 2021

Construction tech startups are poised to shake up a $1.3-trillion-dollar As more people spent time at home last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the startup saw its contract revenue spike by 5x, Wu says. The company plans to take its new capital and “go deep into the product side.”. trillion-dollar industry.

Technical Review 185

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital Software Review 185

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

And, the equity markets are certainly a more challenging environment. The venture capitalists we look at to fund our deals are certainly tightening down, there's no question about that. What is not happening, is those marginal deals that would have gotten funded a number of years ago, when things were better, are not making it.

Tech Coast Angels 231

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. The simple reason is that it’s impossible to make money for investors when the goal of the company is to not make money. In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c).

Equity 94

Equity Startup Technical Review Organization 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

Pasadena-based robot developer Miso Robotics, which develops kitchen assistance robots, says it is looking to raise another $40M more via crowdfunding, after just completing $50M in an equity crowdfunding push. The company said it is undergoing a "SEC review process" ahead of the new crowdfunding effort.

Artificial Inteligence 124

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Pasadena Demand 124

socalTECH

JANUARY 5, 2021

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, sposors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. What was the biggest news for you/your company this year? As you may recall the Alliance's mission is to elevate the region as a global leader in innovation, technology & entrepreneurship.

Southern California 202

Southern California SoCal Technical Review Startup 202

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 24, 2018

If you’ve read any of my ongoing series on fund raising from venture capitalist (episode 1?— ?controlling Find a portfolio company or two that they’ve invested in. They might sponsor an occasional deal, they might be looking to jump in and run a company or they might take the board seat if the firm invests.

Venture Capital 314

Venture Capital Technical Review Invest Slides 314

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2022

For example, Bill Gates founded and grew Microsoft, and Michael Dell built a great technology company, both with no outside funding until they went successful enough to go public years later and sell shares to common stockholders. Many times friends and family have been broken by failed investments.

Funding 107

Funding Startup Satisfaction Venture Capital 107

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

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. Between 2006–2008 I sold both companies that I had started and became a VC. Starting in 2009 I began writing checks consistently, year-in and year-out.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2019

During the holiday season, our tradition over the last few years has been to post reflections on the past year and some predictions for 2019 from Southern California's technology industry. There was no monetary reward for those who participated (and Startup Boost does not take fees or equity from the companies that we help).

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Software Review Startup Coach 157

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

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

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. According to Eric Robison, the firm's CEO, the funding round will go towards increasing the firm's global reach and expanding content.

Funding 178

Funding Santa Barbara ReachLocal Southern California 178

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 8, 2019

Responding to Elizabeth Warren’s call to regulate and break up some of the nation’s largest technology companies, the venture capitalists that invest in technology companies are advising the presidential hopeful to move slowly and not break anything. This too shall pass.” — Balaji S.

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Startup Chief Technology Officer Social Media 144

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

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

OCTOBER 13, 2013

The simple reason is that it’s impossible to make money for investors when the goal of the company is to not make money. A non-profit organization is generally defined as an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals. Government grants.

Equity 83

Equity Technical Review Organization Startup 83

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.”.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Software Review Bertelsmann Technology 88

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

In my experience as an angel investor for new startups, I’m always surprised by how many entrepreneurs are looking for funding without outside advisors. An experienced Board can give them credibility, as well as advice on the many pitfalls of starting a new company. The cost of a co-founder is usually fifty percent of your equity.

Startup 142

Startup Technical Review Equity Entrepreneur 142

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

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

Of course you could start your own company. As I talked about in “ Is it Time to Learn or Time to Earn ” – overwhelmingly the best economics go to those that start successful companies. Of course I’m not suggesting people shouldn’t start a company. For many people that’s the right answer.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital IP 150

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

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in nonprofit good causes. The simple reason is that it’s impossible to make money for investors when the goal of the company is to not make money. In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c).

Angel 52

Angel Funding Equity Technical Review 52

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. What are related products/companies? What's you believe is your biggest technology risk, if any? Can you help me get funding?

CTO Hire 264

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 264

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. What are related products/companies? What's you believe is your biggest technology risk, if any? Can you help me get funding?

CTO Hire 259

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 259

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2017

And of course we help with business development introductions and with fund raising events. Board work does involve a lot of conflict at moments throughout the company. Sometimes it comes because investors believe the company needs more experienced leadership to run the company or more often to help run the company.

Startup 217

Startup Technical Review Equity Report 217

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 1, 2009

Consumer spending is 70% of the economy and will continue to be stretched – We can look all we want at tech innovation, VC funding cycles and hot M&A deals, but ultimately growth and therefore investment must be underpinned by revenue. We spent our future since the equity was artificial. So why the ’09 bounce?

Venture Capital 269

Venture Capital Startup Funding Technical Review 269

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

And you may also want to review Startup Development. I've tried to collect them together here as a starting point for this topic. Here are some resources that come from other sources: Want to Know the Difference Between a CTO and a VP Engineering? Lessons Learned: What does a startup CTO actually do?

CTO Hire 175

CTO Hire CTO Coach Resource Startup 175

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

And you may also want to review Startup Development. I've tried to collect them together here as a starting point for this topic. Here are some resources that come from other sources: Want to Know the Difference Between a CTO and a VP Engineering? Lessons Learned: What does a startup CTO actually do?

CTO Hire 175

CTO Hire CTO Coach Startup Equity 175

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

I usually envision a 50-50 ownership split for their efforts, but every engineer believes the technology side deserves the majority share. If you consider yourself a technologist, you probably believe and may be propagating one of the following myths: The first priority for funding should be to develop the technology.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Patents Entrepreneur Customer 101

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2021

Dave Eastman: For one thing, although we're not completely unique in this, is we don't take equity. Those companies tend to be around for longer than one year, because of course our faculty are not working on those things full time, they're continuing to teach classes. Companies talk to one another, and there's a lot of back and forth.

Marina Del Rey 150

Marina Del Rey Startup USC Incubator 150

socalTECH

OCTOBER 2, 2012

Southern California's technology community--despite all of the recent excitement around Silicon Beach--continues to be underserved in terms of capital, with a lack of venture capital funds (with money), and other private technology investors. Jeb Spencer: We consider ourselves a private equity firm.

Acquisition 168

Acquisition Software Review Technical Review Equity 168

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2014

Entrepreneurs who require funding for their startup have long counted on self-accredited high net worth individuals (“angels”) to fill their needs, after friends and family, and before they qualify for institutional investments (“VCs”). I just don’t see it happening any time soon. billion collected in 2012.

Invest 111

Invest Angel Funding Startup 111

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 29, 2020

Kleiner Perkins , one of the most storied franchises in venture capital, has already invested much of the $600 million it raised last year and is now going back out to the market to raise its 19th fund, according to multiple sources. Kleiner Perkins gets back to early-stage with its $600M 18th fund. We went out to market to LPs.

IBM 164

IBM IBM Venture Capital Invest 164

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 1, 2013

The platform allows investors to do their due diligence on their own time, network with other investors and execute deals with little overhead.” ” Over 650 accredited investors and over 450 companies. Since, launching, three companies successfully achieved their fundraising goals on SeedInvest.

Software Review 69

Software Review Platform Equity Tool 69