socalTECH

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

In the world of online, mobile, and social games, there are now petabytes of data being collected by companies on what users are doing in those games--and trying to make sense of all that information. The company announced a first round of funding Monday for its technology. Explain what Ninja Metrics is doing?

Metrics 113

Metrics Software Review Research Startup 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

In the world of online, mobile, and social games, there are now petabytes of data being collected by companies on what users are doing in those games--and trying to make sense of all that information. The company announced a first round of funding Monday for its technology. Explain what Ninja Metrics is doing?

Metrics 100

Metrics Software Review Research Startup 100

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

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2007

I generally am working as an acting CTO for about 3-4 start-ups or other companies at any one time. I also found this interesting graphic of the changing needs around the CTO role in different size/type companies that somewhat echoes my experience. Basically, the role is to support both the business strategy and technical strategy.

Startup 231

Startup CTO Hire Technical Advisors Technical Review 231

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2022

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or angel investors in Arizona, where I live. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Arizona or a similar location.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Oracle Software Review Ideas 123

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In a larger public company, it’s all about making your quarterly numbers, versus investing in strategic growth alternatives that may not pay off until several quarters later. In my experience, even in startups, longer-term strategy often gets pushed off the agenda due to current challenges. Cote, former Chairman and CEO of Honeywell.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 26, 2010

I’ve been having discussions with several people recently about the role of the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) in very early stage companies. I used an image from Roger Smith that describes the varying roles of a CTO as the company matures. What are the biggest areas of technical risk? What technologies will we use?

Fractional CTO 225

Fractional CTO CTO CTO Hire CTO Coach 225

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2020

For example, if your idea is so new and different that it implies real social or technological change is necessary before widespread acceptance, investors will define your market as nascent or unproven, and be very reluctant to fund you, no matter how convincing your projections may be. Typical valuations range from 3x-5x revenues.

Marketing 174

Marketing Startup Artificial Inteligence Technical Review 174

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 12, 2019

Los Angeles-based Signal Sciences (www.signalsciences.com), which develops web application firewall software, just inked a big, $35M series C funding round a few weeks ago, and now has plans to dramatically expand its hiring in Los Angeles. We also included existing investors we have locally in Southern California.

Startup 113

Startup Funding Technical Review Software Review 113

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 17, 2018

You get to have interesting conversations with founders and review business plans and then see how these businesses evolve over the years. 1/ From vantage point of being able to see hundreds of companies, good & bad I have some advice for founders - Get to know and love "gross margin."

Software Review 242

Software Review Technical Review Pricing Metrics 242

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

When should you start a company? What company should you start? When should you join a company? Anyone who has worked in a large company further knows that timing a product launch or a new marketing strategy has more to do with internal politics than reading market forces. When should a VC invest?

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

socalTECH

AUGUST 28, 2017

She told us about why so many Los Angeles investors are supporting the company and gave us an overview of what PartySlate is all about. Unlike Yelp and listings sites that are focused on user-generated reviews or things like that, we're really a portfolio sharing site, and a tool of professionals. What does PartySlate do?

Technical Advisors 100

Technical Advisors Technical Review Metrics Startup 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

There are obvious reasons the industry has had less-than-desirable returns, including: massive over-funding of the sector, huge increases in inexperienced venture capitalists that took a decade to peter out, and the massive correction in the value of the public stock markets that closed many exit opportunities for half a decade.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Startup 347

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2019

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or Angel investors in Arizona, where I live. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Arizona or a similar location.

Startup 97

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 97

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2014

It’s super hard not to want to spend more time with these companies. I reviewed a deal for a friend of mine tonight. He wanted to know what I thought of his technology deal. I always ask when somebody sends me a deal, for example, are you already a shareholder in the company? You have a big fund.

Venture Capital 333

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Email 333

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

Most board meetings are administrative updates that accomplish very little other than inform board members about the performance of the company since the last board meeting. How Most Board Meeting Prep Works I’ve been sitting on tech boards for two decades so I have some experience with what goes wrong. The meeting starts.

Startup 226

Startup Slides Metrics News 226

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

To grow faster businesses need resources in today’s financial period to fund growth that may not come for 6 months to a year. You have to understand whether they’re likely to yield revenue growth in the near term OR whether you have access to cheap enough capital to fund your losses until your investments pay off.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2013

Yet I would suggest that creating one is still a valuable exercise, since you need the plan as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics, unless your management style makes this a waste of time. You need funding, and plan to get it from friends and family.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Technical Review Writing Slides 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2015

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or Angel investors in Phoenix, Arizona, where I live. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Phoenix or a similar location.

Startup 109

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 109

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. There is an inherent value that any company has. I acknowledged this in the article.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 4, 2013

Since Arrested Development is back I thought I’d resurrect Gob Bluth’s answer when he was told he needed a “business model” – he quickly figured out that he was missing one so he asked Starla, the Bluth company secretary, if she would be his business model. Product / market fit is everything. ” True.

Startup 401

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 401

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2016

To make the step outside your target market, here are some key initiatives I recommend for every company seeking new sources of growth. Update your technology to reach new customer segments. Make sure you website is mobile-friendly, totally user-friendly, includes a blog and provides for customers review and feedback.

Customer 55

Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 55

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2017

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or Angel investors in Arizona, where I live. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Arizona or a similar location.

Sites 59

Sites Startup Technical Review Oracle 59

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2017

Together they set the standard for collaboration and culture that will make or break the company. New business owners are often quick to spend outside investment funding, and quick to delegate money management to accountants in the business. In today’s world, the market evolves even faster than the technology.

Ideas 72

Ideas Startup Metrics Entrepreneur 72

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2013

For example, if you are working on a great social networking idea to replace Facebook, and need funding, you probably won’t find any interested and focused VCs or Angel investors in Phoenix, Arizona, where I live. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Phoenix or a similar location.

Startup 102

Startup Technical Review Oracle Entrepreneur 102

socalTECH

JULY 10, 2017

There's been a revolution in the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the last few years, by both startups and large companies, to help in a large number of areas. With each company that we've started, we've concentrated on a particular market. You've done this before in other industries--what led to new company?

Artificial Inteligence 124

Artificial Inteligence Software Review San Diego .Net 124

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

Keeping a blog has been great because so many entrepreneurs have written me with questions about their companies and I’ve gotten to know many of you personally through the process. Below is a quote about Gus from The Funded. We provide advice that is pertinent because we are able to see patterns across multiple companies.

Venture Capital 297

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur 297

SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

I’ve worked with 30+ early-stage companies in all sorts of capacities (and spoken to many, many more), so I thought it might be worthwhile trying to classify the various ways that I’ve engaged in different technology roles in startups. It depends on the business, people, technologies, etc. Each situation is just a bit different.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Technical Advisors CTO Coach Startup 170

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. Trying outrageous new things or even trying mundane things but in new ways but with extreme quality & innovation is what fuels the tech startup industry. How much money will airlines companies, hotel companies or event companies pay me as a referral or for booking?

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 12, 2008

Matthew spoke to us to give us a better idea of what the company offers and why it was started. What's your background, and how did you decide to start the company? It was the third week of December 2006, and I was involved with a biodiesel company. Who are you targeting with this -- buyers at companies?

SEO 100

SEO Advertising Gogii Tech Coast Angels 100

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

5 Lessons from 150 startup pitches - A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks , July 11, 2010 I just reviewed several hundred startup pitches for Capital Factory. Many of our job postings for Engineering positions describe the company as a place “where the word ‘millions’ is used frequently and in many contexts&#. Here’s why.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217