socalTECH

DECEMBER 20, 2017

Santa Monica-based Happy Returns , which operations real, physical locations for online shoppers to return their unwanted products for a refund, has raised $8M in a new funding round, the company disclosed this morning. Happy Returns is led by CEO David Sobie. Happy Returns is led by CEO David Sobie.

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Funding Product Company 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 20, 2019

Santa Monica-based Happy Returns , which helps online retailers manage the flow of returns--both through behind-the-scenes logistics services and in-person "Return Bar" locations, is helping to tackle the growing pile of cardboard boxes being generated by online commerce. READ MORE>>.

Draper 113

Draper Santa Monica Commerce Study 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 28, 2018

Santa Monica-based Happy Returns , which is helping e-commerce retailers provide a better level of customer satisfaction, is expanding its network of locations in an extension of a deal with the Paper Source. According to the two companies, they are expanding a partnership where Paper Source is hosting Return Bars in its stores.

Santa Monica 100

Santa Monica Satisfaction Commerce Networking 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 26, 2018

Santa Monica-based Happy Returns , which provides a network of in-person return locations for online retailers, is expanding its menu of offerings for those retailers, through a new product called "Full Stack Returns". Pricing on the new offering was not announced by the company, which is venture backed by U.S.

Services 113

Services Santa Monica Pricing Networking 113

socalTECH

APRIL 25, 2019

Santa Monica-based Happy Returns , the returns logistics company led by David Sobie, announced this morning that it has raised $11M in a financing round, which included a strategic investment from PayPal. Happy Returns has now raised $25M in total, and has now grown to a total of 55 employees.

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Commerce Networking Invest 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Santa Monica-based startup Happy Returns has raised $4M in a Series A funding, to provide an in-person service to accept returns for online retailers. Happy Returns says it already has 40 locations accepting returns for such online retailers as Tradesy, Shoes of Prey, Everlane, and others. READ MORE>>.

Funding 113

Funding Santa Monica Google Capital 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

Why is it that consumers overwhelming prefer to return unwanted products in person, rather than by mail--and how do you make that complex and cumbersome process easier for both consumers and online retailers? We chatted with co-founder and CEo David Sobie about the company and the problem it's solving. How did you start Happy Returns?

Training 100

Training Customer Custom Software Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Teams that I’ve backed have sold their companies to Disney, Apple and AOL for substantive amounts of money. But the truth is that selling a company doesn’t always feel like a celebration as a VC. Not being a baby about it – my job is to return money to LPs. Still: I hate selling companies. You graduate.

Company 306

Company Companies Venture Capital Funding 306

Berkonomics

JULY 23, 2020

Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event. And yet, VCs sometimes bravely put in more money near the end of the life of a company to bridge the company to a sale of assets in an attempt to recover some or all of the original investment. How about outside investors?

Company 156

Company Companies Sales Venture Capital 156

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 1, 2021

The challenge is how to know and exit gracefully when the right time has come, without trauma to either the company or themselves. Whether to return their enterprises to their former glory, or simply save themselves from boredom, these leaders left their company, but then returned with a vengeance. Keep good company.

Company 164

Company Companies Tips .Net 164

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

<== Our conclusion was that this isn’t a temporary blip that will swiftly trend-back up in a V-shaped recovery of valuations but rather represented a new normal on how the market will price these companies somewhat permanently. First in late-stage tech companies and then it will filter back to Growth and then A and ultimately Seed Rounds.

Venture Capital 416

Venture Capital Marketing Technical Review Seed Funding 416

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2022

All prefer more flexible hours, the chance to work from home, and the traditions of lifetime loyalty to one company no longer apply. Loyalty to a given company now has to be inspired rather than assumed. Measuring attendance-only from nine-to-five is not satisfying or productive for the company or the team.

Mentor 147

Mentor Coach Satisfaction Training 147

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 4, 2020

has a history with Tony, as he became an investor in the company in 2013, and built a lasting friendship with us as the Tech.co Tony was also our neighbor for 8 years in downtown Las Vegas, where the company grew its homebase and hosted monthly events for locals and visitors from around the world, with Hsieh’s Downtown Project.

Commerce 207

Commerce Statistics Customer Custom 207

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2021

As I talk to many of you in my role as business advisor, I still often hear the concern for maximum return to the business and stakeholders, more than a passion for sustainably enriching the lives of your customers and team. Customer and employee happiness are inextricably intertwined, and are linked to organizational success today.

Customer 114

Customer Custom Satisfaction Metrics 114

socalTECH

JUNE 22, 2020

According to the company, the new funding will go twoards development and introduction of new products. The company is best known for its outdoor sofas. The company said its sofa products are weather tolerant and feature all-weather wicker, UV-resistant materials and an integrated cushion cover it calls "OuterShell".

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Capital Funding Product 113

Berkonomics

JANUARY 6, 2022

First, the marginal exit event: Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event for the early investors, including the entrepreneur or the founders. This makes for some head-rubbing when attempting to calculate the return on investment with a proposed sale. and there are those accumulated dividends.

Venture Capital 156

Venture Capital Sales Pricing Equity 156

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Rolf Winkler wrote a piece in the WSJ about A16Z’s returns in which he says they “lag behind Sequoia, Benchmark and Founders Fund.” As an entrepreneur I never really knew what to make of VC return data. What about those RETURNS the WSJ article spoke of? First, the returns data Rolf has shown are actually pretty damn good.

Venture Capital 264

Venture Capital Invest Funding Competition 264

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2023

Others, including Jeff Bezos, spent time in a big company or two before breaking away to form their own. Smart business owners realize that no returns occur without some investment and risk. Business owners whose priority is only a financial gain will struggle to find satisfaction and happiness.

Startup 111

Startup Satisfaction Metrics Customer 111

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2023

The development stage normally begins with designing and prototyping a product or service, and creating the company legal entity. While legally the entrepreneur has created a business entity, there is nothing of value yet to own since the company has no solution to offer, no customers, and no revenue. Funding and rollout stage.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Satisfaction 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

Make your service deliver process “happy.” If service employees are not happy, the process isn’t working yet. Companies with great service routinely spend 3% to 5% of salaries training team members – experienced as well as new. The best incentive is to give them something good back in return. Train and coach continuously.

Competition 99

Competition Services Startup Training 99

InfoChachkie

JULY 28, 2015

However, in many cases, acquiring companies behave less rationally than Mr. Jackson. Citrix politely approached us, told us they had an interest in acquiring our company and then asked us, “How much?”. Our response was that there was no “price” as our company was not for sale. We were not rude nor indignant.

Company 100

Company Companies Santa Barbara Pricing 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 29, 2021

The key is to be able to measure your return, adapt quickly, and learn from your efforts. According to the Harvard Business Review , E-commerce companies that conducted ad experiments saw two to three percent better performance per experiment run. Are your costs going up, and the returns going down?

Customer 168

Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 168

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Recently a CEO friend told me her story of a dinner including her director of business development and an executive of a major company, a candidate for a large sale. After several of these, upon his return, my CEO friend asked him if everything was OK. Being responsive to emergencies sometimes requires creative thinking.

Sales 156

Sales Conference Startup Course 156

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2019

All prefer more flexible hours, the chance to work from home, and the traditions of lifetime loyalty to one company no longer apply. Loyalty to a given company now has to be inspired rather than assumed. Measuring attendance-only from nine-to-five is not satisfying or productive for the company or the team.

Develop 86

Develop Development Mentor Coach 86

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2021

Make your service deliver process “happy.” If service employees are not happy, the process isn’t working yet. Companies with great service routinely spend 3% to 5% of salaries training team members – experienced as well as new. The best incentive is to give them something good back in return. Train and coach continuously.

Startup 154

Startup Training Customer Custom 154

InfoChachkie

MAY 20, 2013

According to Tige Young, Founder and CEO of Tui Tai Expeditions , entrepreneurs should de-emphasize ROI and focus on a more accurate measure of wealth, Return On Life. How did an American software engineer come to own an adventure travel company cited by National Geographic as, "one of the best adventure travel companies on earth?".

Entrepreneur 235

Entrepreneur Startup Software Engineering Technical Review 235

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2021

Is monetary return or helping others your priority? I often hear that the people who have made a lot of money are still not happy, and wish they had taken a different path. The return was far greater than the cost of donated shoes. His Virgin Group now encompasses over 400 companies, and his legacy as a leader is assured.

Startup 159

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Equity 159

Eric Greenspan

DECEMBER 23, 2013

Today, I wake with a feeling of happiness and pride. Today I will achieve, learn, build stronger relationships and give something in return. About my company: [link] The post Motivation Babble 12-23-13 appeared first on Eric Greenspan.' I remember all that I’ve accomplished. To the moon, Eric Greenspan.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Customer Custom Company 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

After many years in business, working in large companies as well as startups, I’m no longer surprised at why mature and successful companies struggle with introducing innovative new ventures as the market and environment changes. Make sure everyone comes with an entrepreneur mindset for real innovation.

Incubator 143

Incubator Seed Funding Metrics Customer 143

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2020

The development stage normally begins with designing and prototyping a product or service, and creating the company legal entity. While legally the entrepreneur has created a business entity, there is nothing of value yet to own since the company has no solution to offer, no customers, and no revenue. Funding and rollout stage.

Ideas 127

Ideas Entrepreneur Satisfaction Summary 127

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

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. Know your partner well before you get married.

Technical Review 138

Technical Review Startup Innocal Offshore 138

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2023

Customers may be perfectly happy with existing alternatives and competitors. So the more you emphasize the technology of your offering, the more you need to be prepared for increased costs, reduced investor interest, slow customer acceptance, and a longer wait for any return. New technology does not necessarily make better solutions.

Customer 110

Customer Custom Social Media Technology 110

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

Making people happy or improving usability are laudable goals, but projected product margins, volumes, and business growth are necessary realities for a successful business. Equity investors realize that they won’t see any real return until an exit occurs, such as a sale, merger, or IPO.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

InfoChachkie

MAY 20, 2013

According to Tige Young, Founder and CEO of Tui Tai Expeditions , entrepreneurs should de-emphasize ROI and focus on a more accurate measure of wealth, Return On Life. How did an American software engineer come to own an adventure travel company cited by National Geographic as, "one of the best adventure travel companies on earth?".

Entrepreneur 164

Entrepreneur Startup Software Engineering Technical Review 164

InfoChachkie

MARCH 16, 2010

However, in many cases, acquiring companies behave in a less rational manner than Mr. Jackson. Citrix politely approached us, told us they had an interest in acquiring our company and then asked us, “How much?”. Our response was that there was no “price” as our company was not for sale. We were not rude nor indignant.

Company 160

Company Companies Pricing Santa Barbara 160

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2012

I hear many executives and professionals in large corporations talking about their dream of jumping ship, and starting their own company. In a big company, you get used to having an IT team around configure your computer, a personnel specialist for hiring and firing, and a marketing team for strategy. Executives have perks.

Startup 93

Startup Company Companies Training 93

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event for the early investors, including the entrepreneur or the founders. This makes for some head-rubbing when attempting to calculate the return on investment with a proposed sale.

Angel 120

Angel Sales Pricing Equity 120