Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

When the early teams: angels, lowercase capital & first round capital funded Uber they had no idea it would be one of the most revolutionary ideas of our time. As is often said if you don’t get at least a few fellow VCs (and entrepreneurs) scratching their heads you may not be funding ideas with enough upside.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

If you aren’t willing to take some risk as an entrepreneur, then don’t expect any gain. Nevertheless, we can all benefit by understanding a collective view from investors on the high-risk elements that every new business has faced historically based on the team, as well as in the marketplace. If you want U.S.

Startup 126

Startup Sites Technical Review Social Media 126

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 23, 2019

Many entrepreneurs still don’t understand that building a business culture today of doing good, like helping people (society) and planet (sustainability), is also a key to maximizing profit. Every company needs this focus to attract the best minds and loyalty in both categories. Hire the right team.

Organization 128

Organization Startup Pricing Customer 128

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

And I had been telling my partners for a couple of years that I thought Ethan was one of the more talented entrepreneurs I had come across in San Francisco. We generally have a policy to only fund entrepreneurs once the first version of a product has shipped or it near to shipping. We like to be able to see the concept.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

socalTECH

APRIL 1, 2019

Portnoy is a serial entrepreneur, having previously founded ThinkNear, a startup which went from the Techstars startup accelerator to an exit in only 14 months. Eli Portnoy: We started with food as our first category, and we have been very focused on it, specifically with quick server restaurants.

Startup 113

Startup Culver City Competition Customer 113

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2020

I pointed out that throughout history building companies has always taken time and we as a market have put an urgency to rush growth rates. It takes time to sell in your software, get it implemented, prove the value, build a business case, gain executive support and then roll it out more broadly. Harry posed these questions.

Venture Capital 263

Venture Capital Marketing Startup Writing 263

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 13, 2018

As a VC and former entrepreneur let me offer you some advice. The mistake entrepreneurs make is either writing a lengthy email (everybody has too much email so it will get skimmed / not digested) or not having a deck which means the VC can’t quickly determine his or her fit as a potential investor. The key is WHAT you send.

Venture Capital 261

Venture Capital Slides Email Startup 261

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

The first phase was the rise of the media platforms: YouTube, Instagram, etcetera, that allowed creatives to build audiences. Founders and investors circling the space suspect a wave of Silicon Valley interest is coming, however, and that it will alter the category entirely. Karat, a startup building a bank for creators.

Platform 170

Platform Marketing Tool Venture Capital 170

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2017

I often ask entrepreneurs to consider, “What’s your objective? Do you imagine eventually raising VC and trying to build a faster growing company?” The Nature of Revenue Matters Of course revenue alone won’t tell you enough. They used the money to hire a bigger tech team so they could roll out their second product line.

Startup 227

Startup Venture Capital Sales Course 227

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2016

If you aren’t willing to take some risk as an entrepreneur, then don’t expect any gain. Nevertheless, we can all benefit by understanding a collective view from investors on the high-risk elements that every new business has faced historically based on the team, as well as in the marketplace. If you want U.S.

Startup 104

Startup Entrepreneur Sites Technical Review 104

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2018

If you aren’t willing to take some risk as an entrepreneur, then don’t expect any gain. Nevertheless, we can all benefit by understanding a collective view from investors on the high-risk elements that every new business has faced historically based on the team, as well as in the marketplace. If you want U.S.

Sites 81

Sites Technical Review Social Media Entrepreneur 81

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 14, 2014

Of course that website isn’t completely up to date but it’s a great resource for seeing the overall picture. Of course unsolicited spam has very low open rates and is filtered by the major providers. Here are some representative rates that we’re seeing by category. 94% of all online adults use email. PHONE CALLS.

Email 339

Email SaaS Venture Capital Google 339

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 6, 2013

I called 1-855-DOG-VACAY and spoke with Killina Benson from their concierge team and explained my circumstances. More like a temporary VC just to get some experience and of course we’d pay him. I said, “This category is going to be huge. I saw it as win-win. I’m sure of the value. Tech Market Analysis'

Venture Capital 344

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review San Diego 344

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2015

*. If you are a 20-something tech entrepreneur you could be forgiven for thinking that seed-stage investors, Angellist Syndicates and widely available angel money always existed. It is, of course, a very recent phenomenon. Jeff and his peer group have done an excellent job at creating a new category of seed-stage VC.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Invest Cloud Computing 150

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 2, 2011

At the Technovation Challenge LA Pitch Night hosted by Iridescent , we saw six teams of high school girls from various Los Angeles City Schools pitch a number of mobile app ideas to a panel of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. Team Rise, and their app to help teens manage their budgets and time. Musical Gears – BUSavvy.

Technical Review 82

Technical Review Entrepreneur Software Review USC 82

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 17, 2011

We know the mantra: Team matters. Team is the only thing that matters. Your ability to keep up is dependent on having a great team of differing skills. Individuals don’t build great companies, teams do. The company with the best team on the field will win. So how exactly do you assemble such a team?

Startup 399

Startup Class Blogging Company 399

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done. Entrepreneurial lawyers like Don Lee , Dave Young or Ted Wang are good at sussing out which entrepreneurs are high potential. Of course I went through normal other channels of deal flow. I attended events. I hustled.

Startup 361

Startup Venture Capital Pricing Technical Review 361

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2019

After working in business at all levels, and consulting to entrepreneurs for years, I’m still surprised to see so many situations where things that should be easy are painful to customers, and lead to customers hating your business. Every business leader needs to focus on continuous learning, adapting, and being the role model for the team.

Customer 83

Customer Custom Demand Examples 83

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2014

If you aren’t willing to take some risk as an entrepreneur, then don’t expect any gain. Nevertheless, we can all benefit by understanding a collective view from investors on the high-risk elements that every new business has faced historically based on the team, as well as in the marketplace. If you want U.S.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Sites Technical Review Social Media 101

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2014

Many entrepreneurs still don’t understand that building a business culture today of doing good, like helping people (society) and planet (sustainability), is also a key to maximizing profit. Every company needs this focus to attract the best minds and loyalty in both categories. Hire the right team.

Startup 91

Startup Organization Pricing Customer 91

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done. Entrepreneurial lawyers like Don Lee , Dave Young or Ted Wang are good at sussing out which entrepreneurs are high potential. Of course I went through normal other channels of deal flow. I attended events. I hustled.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Startup Pricing Invest 347

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2016

Others, like Guy Kawasaki , have irreverently called some of these “entrepreneur lies,” but I prefer to think of them as innocent enhancements or omissions that can kill your deal. They expect to hear about founders and team member’s prior experience in building a startup, and knowledge in the relevant solution domain.

Funding 98

Funding Startup Innocal Entrepreneur 98

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2015

I rarely talk to any startup entrepreneur or VC who doesn’t feel it and somehow long for simpler times despite the benefits we all enjoy from increased enthusiasm for our sector. For entrepreneurs there’s too much money sloshing around. We are experiencing a frenetic time. My general advice is to do less.

Software Review 150

Software Review Startup Venture Capital Invest 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 19, 2017

Many entrepreneurs still don’t understand that building a business culture today of doing good, like helping people (society) and planet (sustainability), is also a key to maximizing profit. Every company needs this focus to attract the best minds and loyalty in both categories. Hire the right team.

Startup 59

Startup Organization Pricing Customer 59

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

In our industry we applaud the efforts for entrepreneurs to have tried and we know that today’s failure can bring the experience for tomorrow’s success. It turns out that to build a successful company you ultimately need this strange thing called “revenue” that people don’t just hand you: You need to earn it.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2019

Los Angeles-based BiasSync (www.biassync.com) was founded by three, very experienced serial entrepreneurs-- Michele Ruiz (broadcast journalism), Robin Richards (CareerArc, Internships.com, NTI Group, MP3), and Dan Gould (former VP of Technology for Tinder). That's what we do over the course of our two year contract.

Content 150

Content Training Education Outsource Development 150

socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2014

Los Angeles-based mobile advertising company Airpush has quietly grown to around $100M in annual revenues, according to a recent ranking from Forbes--a big surprise, as the company was completely bootstrapped by founder Asher Delug , who eschewed the usual use of venture capital and private equity to build a company to those revenue levels.

Startup 196

Startup Mobile Advertising Organization 196

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

” I mention journalists here because they perpetuate the myth that focusing on profits is ALWAYS the right answer and then I hear many entrepreneurs (and certainly many “normals”) repeating the same mantra. Have easy access to capital by investors who are committed to building businesses at Interent scale.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2014

Most entrepreneurs struggle with financial projections, not wanting to commit to numbers they can’t deliver, and having no clue what investors might consider reasonable. Equally important, you need to make these projections first as goals for your own use, to convince the team as well as investors that you have a business which is achievable.

Equity 99

Equity Venture Capital Invest Pricing 99

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 14, 2012

” In this week’s discussion with entrepreneurs I think the word impending wasn’t used often enough. You’ve found yourself in a super hot category and – let’s face it – it’s still a very frothy venture capital funding market so you may have loads of VCs chasing you. Christin goes on.

Venture Capital 316

Venture Capital Pricing Social Network Acquisition 316

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 28, 2013

In this yearly event put on by the Stevens Center for Innovation , 30 teams, selected from a pool of 70 applicants, presented their unique ideas to crowds of students, parents, and judges. While the teams were all given a table and poster stand, each team used the booths differently. Students Choice Award ($600): Trail.

USC 91

USC Ideas Southern California Platform 91

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2013

Most entrepreneurs struggle with financial projections, not wanting to commit to numbers they can’t deliver, and having no clue what investors might consider reasonable. In reality, you need to make these projections first as goals for your own use, to convince the team as well as investors that you have a business which is achievable.

Startup 97

Startup Equity Entrepreneur Venture Capital 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2016

As an entrepreneur looking for professional investors, one of the quickest ways to lose credibility and get rejected is to start with a ridiculously high pre-money valuation. Team strength and experience is value. Take a hard look around and add valuation for anything you find in this category.

Startup 71

Startup Patents Invest Blogging 71

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

At the tender age of 15, Tanz teamed up with his friend Michael Schneider (the CEO of MobileRoadie ), to create the design firm Fluid Design. He began programming courses at UCLA while in high school and went on to earn a B.S. Tanz has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine “Young Millionaires of 2011 Special Report.”

Advertising 98

Advertising Santa Monica Startup Content 98

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2015

So part of playing an effective coach is helping the team to see the answer for themselves. Fred has of course been a public mentor to us all with his market-defining terminology that he popularized including “freemium” and “mobile first.” It’s easy to invest in today’s momentum categories.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Writing Blogging 150

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

I recently read a post over on VentureHacks titled, “ Top Ten Reasons Entrepreneurs Hate Lawyers &# written by Scott Walker (who blogs on legal issues for entrepreneurs ). Oh, they didn’t cover that in your Stanford CS course? I know that people have an allergy to lawyers out of fear of being screwed.

Startup 318

Startup IP Southern California Entrepreneur 318