Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 15, 2010

I was on This Week in Venture Capital (TWiVC) again this week with Jason Calacanis. It was the first company to do “paid search&# back when Larry & Sergey were saying they would never do it. I think the best solution for the social networking era is “in-stream&# advertising. Overture sold for $1.6

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Venture Capital Capital Google Platform 271

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series about Raising Venture Capital. A few years ago it became fashionable for large VC’s to do seed funding. A few years ago it became fashionable for large VC’s to do seed funding. Some larger VCs felt they were being “scooped&# by some younger, nimbler and smaller VCs.

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Seed Funding Venture Capital Funding Software Review 283

socalTECH

APRIL 5, 2016

Bombd , a startup which develops a social networking and messaging app revolving around sharing instant photos with others, has set up shop in Venice Beach. The company says it is backed by angel investors, and has raised $1.5M Bombd's social networking app works on both iOS and Android. READ MORE>>.

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Social Network Venice Networking Startup 100

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DECEMBER 9, 2009

Jason Calacanis , the high profile founder of Santa Monica-based Mahalo , is one of the angel investors in a mobile social networking service, Gowalla , the company said today. Tags: jason calacanis angel investment venture capital social networking gowalla. Series B funding for the firm.

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Social Network Networking Mobile Mahalo 145

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2010

In writing anything positive about any of the companies I’m not suggesting that it means that I prefer them to any of their competitors. I just cover the companies that were funded that week. The idea is that in a world in which companies need to deal with customer support requests from Twitter, Facebook, email, phone, IM, etc.

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Capital Email Blogging 265

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2009

I recently appeared on Fox Business News covering the topic of raising Venture Capital. If you’re in the market or thinking about VC in the future the following video may be of interest to you – click here to view. If you want to learn more about “Pitching a VC&# make sure to check out the entire series here.

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Venture Capital Startup Summary Social Network 210

socalTECH

OCTOBER 31, 2016

Beverly Hills-based movie studio Relativity Media --which is behind such titles as Limitless, Masterminds, and Immortals--scored a big investment from Singaporean Internet company YuuZoo , the two companies said this morning. The two said that YuuZoo will initially buy 33.3

Beverly Hills 100

Beverly Hills Social Network Media Company 100

socalTECH

JULY 7, 2014

Aliso VIejo-based UST Global , a provider of IT services and outsourcing, said today that it has acquired four different companies over the past six months expanding its workforce in the US, ASia, India, Europe, and Latin America. ustglobal global venture capital strategic investment merger acquisition outsourcing' READ MORE>>.

Invest 138

Invest Outsource Company Companies 138

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 1, 2009

In the first post in this three part series I described why I believe the VC market froze between September 2008 – April 2009. It affects even B2B companies because ultimately most must sell to companies who sell to consumers and if they suffer they cut back on suppliers. It is also a result of pent-up demand.

Venture Capital 269

Venture Capital Startup Funding Technical Review 269

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 1, 2009

In my previous post, The VC Ice Age is Thawing (for now) I wrote about the reasons why the VC market came to a screeching halt in September 2008 and remained largely shut until at least April 2009. There are now signs the VC market has gathered pace meaning it’s a great time to be fund raising.

Venture Capital 255

Venture Capital Marketing Startup Social Network 255

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

On December 2nd, 2006 I wrote the blog post published later in this post when I was CEO of startup Koral about my experiences in pitching VCs. After my company was acquired by Salesforce.com I was asked to stop blogging and they took over my blog as an asset in the sale of the company. My blog was wiped out. Tempus Fugit.

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2010

We had a special edition of This Week in Venture Capital this week shooting out of the Next New Networks offices in New York. Our guest was Mo Koyfman of Spark Capital. Topics we discussed in the first 45 minutes of the video include: What is VC like in NY? Social network app developer and ad network.

Venture Capital 217

Venture Capital Capital Metrics Competition 217

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2010

One of things I’ve loved the most about doing now 11 weeks of This Week in VC is a chance to have an hour-long recorded conversation with investors. And in my interviews with many VCs I feel that people can watch these and get to know the VC’s as human beings a bit better. So how did Mike get into VC?

Venture Capital 230

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Fandango 230

socalTECH

AUGUST 27, 2014

Venice-based Snapchat is in the midst of raising a new round of funding, led by storied venture capital investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, which valued the company at close to $10 billion, according to a report. snapchat venture capital rumor valuation kpcb investment messaging social networking'

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Snapchat Report Social Network Funding 168

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2014

Social networking site MovieLaLa --which focuses on upcoming movies--said Tuesday that it has raised an angel investment from Salesforce.com founder Marc Benioff. The company says that it has connections both in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles, and is looking to "bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and Silicon Beach."

Social Network 160

Social Network Hollywood Funding Venture Capital 160

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 18, 2011

I always try hard to make this blog a place where you can learn lessons rather than an advertisement for portfolio companies. I hope you’ll excuse me when I do the latter in combination with the former to try and explain how I see macro trends and help you think about the mind of a VC. Pose is no different. I still do.

Invest 303

Invest Company Companies Web 2.0 303

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Today they say its Africa’s largest and fastest growing social networking utility with over 4,000 daily new sign-ups. They also add that LAGbook ranks #2 in the city of Yaba-Lagos, where the social network was incepted, and #37 in the city of Hirtshal, Denmark. What is LAGbook? Why the name? How does LAGbook work?

Social Network 100

Social Network Networking Advertising Startup 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 6, 2014

Neither company has confirmed any details of the deal. snapchat yahoo investment venture capital valuation social networking' The WSJ reports that Yahoo is investing around $20M in Snapchat at the lofty valuation, using money it cashed out of the IPO of Alibaba. READ MORE>>.

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Yahoo Snapchat Invest Report 153

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

There is much discussion online and also in small, private groups, about why the price of technology companies – public and private – are falling. Valuing any company can be difficult because it requires a degree of forecasting future growth & competition and ultimately the profits of the organization.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150

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AUGUST 28, 2014

San Diego-based professional networking site Connequity says it has raised $550,000 in an angel round, and has opened up a new Series A funding, after renaming the company from its former name, GROWconnections. The company did not say how much it is looking to raise in its Series A. READ MORE>>.

Social Network 153

Social Network San Diego Venture Capital Networking 153

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JULY 26, 2011

Los Angeles-based Baroda Ventures , the venture capital investment firm of GeoCities founder David Bohnett, has re-upped its investment in fashion site Fab.com. Fab was previously Fabulis, a gay social networking site; the firm has since refocused into a daily deals and flash sales site.

Venture Capital 157

Venture Capital Social Network Sites Los Angeles 157

socalTECH

MAY 1, 2014

San Diego-based Qualcomm said late Wednesday that it is spinning out its Qualcomm Retail Solutions (QRS) unit as a new company, Gimbal, Inc. , i-Hatch LBS Fund (which includes Zebra Technologies Corporation and AEG), as well as other venture capital, strategic, and individual investors. READ MORE>>.

Venture Capital 147

Venture Capital San Diego Social Network Advertising 147

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 22, 2012

GraphEffect today unveiled the latest version of its social network for marketers with an open API for developers. GraphEffect is a collaboration platform for social marketers which had only been available to large marketing partners including American Express, Toyota, Estee Lauder, Clorox, and Samsung. Venture Funding.

Social Network 65

Social Network Marketing Networking Social Media 65

socalTECH

APRIL 4, 2013

According to a regulatory filing from the company--which develops an iOS app that allows users to share their secrets and meet new people --the company involves such people as John Hadl (founder, chairman of Total Beauty Media); Jeremy Liew (ShoeDazzle, Lightspeed Venture Partners); and Brad Brooks (TigerText). READ MORE>>.

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Santa Monica Social Network Venture Capital Mobile 157

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FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Los Angeles- and Austin-based Moonshots Capital , the venture capital fund led by serial entrepreneur Kelly Perdew, is ramping its investment pace, with the first two formal investments out of its new fund. Moonshots led the $1.4M seed funding in that firm. presidential elections in 2016. READ MORE>>.

Invest 150

Invest Capital Seed Funding Social Network 150

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2010

It’s always fun chatting with Jason because he’s knowledgeable about the market, quick on topics and pushes me to talk more about VC / entrepreneur issues. Next Wednesday we’ll have Dana Settle of Greycroft Partners, a New York / LA early-stage venture capital fund. We spoke briefly about why. Short answer: no.

Venture Capital 285

Venture Capital Startup Advertising Redpoint 285

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 18, 2015

There is a lot of uncertainty about the state of the private, high-growth technology markets and the venture capital markets that underpin them. Perhaps I would call it “Mourning in VC” as in mourning for the days of rational behavior. I spoke last week at the annual Cendana VC/LP conference. Are LPs to blame?

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Pricing Platform Marketing 150

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 15, 2009

This is a story of one of the risks of venture capital. When you’re an early-stage startup that hasn’t raised any institutional money you end up doing almost every job function of the company yourself. Our first big round of venture capital (our A round) was a whopping $16.5 This is what happened to me.

Startup 299

Startup Venture Capital Technical Review Training 299

socalTECH

JULY 30, 2013

Bottlenose , a brand new startup in social media analytics, has raised $3.6M The company said the funding round was led by ff Venture Capital, and also included Lerer Ventures, Transmedia, Advancit, as well as other leading funds and angel investors. in a Series A funding round.

Social Media 174

Social Media Media Social Network Venture Capital 174

socalTECH

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Los Angeles-based Passenger , a developer of private social networking sites for brands, said today that it has raised an additional $7.5M The round came from Shelter Capital Partners, StarVest Partners, and Steamboat Ventures, all existing investors in the firm. in an investment. READ MORE>>.

Steamboat Ventures 145

Steamboat Ventures Social Network Venture Capital Networking 145

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

Draw Your Ideas - A VC : Venture Capital and Technology , May 16, 2010 I saw Jack Dorsey give this talk at The 99% Conference last month. Bending over: How to sell to large companies - A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks , May 24, 2010 This is a guest post by Steve Hanov , who blogs about programming and startups.

Startup 248

Startup Venture Capital Conference Social Media 248

socalTECH

DECEMBER 13, 2010

Los Angeles-based venture capital firm Baroda Ventures , the venture capital arm of GeoCities founder David Bohnett, has re-upped in an investment round in New York-based Fabulis , a gay social networking site. The funding came along with the renaming of the site to Fab.com.

Funding 145

Funding Social Network Venture Capital Sites 145

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2009

This is part of my series on Raising Venture Capital. Many businesses that pitch to me have White Elephant issues and I’d like to tell you how to deal with these when you’re raising venture capital. But the VC is thinking about the issue whether you address it or not. You raised $1.5

Venture Capital 264

Venture Capital Startup Training Sales 264

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2010

No details on the investors in the firm have been released by the company. mEgo has an online site which allows users to create their own virtual avatars, which can be connected with social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and other sites. The filing indicates the funding round was kicked off in November.

Social Network 150

Social Network Venture Capital Sites Networking 150

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2012

I’ve raised money as a “hot company” and I’ve raised capital when no one would return my phone calls. I raised money as an entrepreneur, like you, in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005 for two different companies. And of course I’ve sat on the other side of the table: As a VC. Executive Summary.

Develop 366

Develop Development Funding Venture Capital 366

socalTECH

JANUARY 11, 2012

in a venture round today, upping its total raised for the company to $5.8M. The funding came from Anthemis Group, Firstmark Capital, Great Oaks Venture Capital, and others. Payoff.com uses social networking and gamification to help users pay off debt and improve their finances.

Funding 157

Funding Social Network Venture Capital Startup 157

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 17, 2010

I was recently interviewed for an article that appeared in Fast Company titled, “ Why you should start a business in LA.&# If you’re interested in the topic it’s worth a read, but I thought I’d elaborate on the topic since it comes up all the time. But we have a great city for building technology companies.

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Company Companies Technology Startup 290