Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

Not just the $20 million round at Invoca, the $70 million I helped us raise at Maker Studios , but I was intimately involved with the earliest funding round at DataSift and every subsequent round which has recently announced $42 million led by Insight Venture Partners and $70 million in total. Since then? None have exited.

Venture Capital 387

Venture Capital Downey Writing Press 387

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2018

Many experts will tell you that you can’t succeed as a part-time entrepreneur, as any good startup will require a 100 percent commitment of your time and energy. Thus I often recommend that entrepreneurs keep their day job until the startup is producing revenue. One still needs to be the agreed final decision maker.

Ideas 102

Ideas Entrepreneur Tips Startup 102

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

Even though I love technology, I always cringe when an entrepreneur starts his investor pitch to me by touting his new technology. Of course, there are always a few early adopters who love change and need to have the latest technology, but early adopters don’t make the market. Marty Zwilling.

Technology 109

Technology Entrepreneur Customer Custom 109

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2015

“Of course I work!” I imagine that for many – if you are fortunate enough to stay healthy – it’s the beginning of truly feeling comfortable in your aging skin and accepting the course of your life. These aren’t generally the thoughts of 20-year-olds. That is the age where you do more than think.

Entrepreneur 150

Entrepreneur Blogging Course Help 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 24, 2012

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As a startup, you as the entrepreneur are the brand, the brand builder, and the major lead generator.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Media Customer Custom 126

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2023

Many experts will tell you that you can’t succeed as a part-time entrepreneur, as any good startup will require a 100 percent commitment of your time and energy. Thus I often recommend that entrepreneurs keep their day job until the startup is producing revenue. One still needs to be the agreed final decision maker.

Startup 110

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Metrics 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2022

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As a startup, you as the entrepreneur are the brand, the brand builder, and the major lead generator.

Marketing 113

Marketing Entrepreneur Customer Custom 113

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2019

Every entrepreneur I know is dismayed by the number of friends who approach them with a line such as “I have an even better idea that will change the world, and one of these days I’m going to get around to starting my own business.” Focus” is the key to success as an entrepreneur. Irrational fear of failure or embarrassment.

Startup 126

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Knowledge Base 126

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2011

One of the most common questions that entrepreneurs who meet me for the first time like to ask is, “Do you miss being an entrepreneur? I thought I’d talk a bit about the differences I’ve experienced between being an entrepreneur & a VC – you know, from “both sides of the table.&#. On Being an Entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur 176

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Ideas 176

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2020

Many experts will tell you that you can’t succeed as a part-time entrepreneur, as any good startup will require a 100 percent commitment of your time and energy. Thus I often recommend that entrepreneurs keep their day job until the startup is producing revenue. One still needs to be the agreed final decision maker.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Metrics 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2023

As I work with aspiring entrepreneurs and business professionals, I often hear about stress and disappointment from a great idea or innovation that failed for reasons that you don’t understand. Identify the motivations of decision-makers. Keep revising until you find that your study and interviews no longer give you further ideas.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Ideas Study Social Media 120

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 18, 2014

Of course I’ve talked about wanting to get to know entrepreneurs over long periods of time ( lines, not dots ) – my most referred to post. I seek out great entrepreneurs. I look for passionate entrepreneurs who have a love for the industry they’re serving. I wrote here about why I avoid party rounds.

Venture Capital 337

Venture Capital Invest Ideas Entrepreneur 337

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

And of course on Twitter I’ve seen the Tweets, ReTweets and superlatives on what a great post it is. And so do entrepreneurs who are quick to pivot to new businesses or to sell in an acquihire. It’s been high tide since 2009 so an entire batch of entrepreneurs don’t know what low tide even looks like.

Startup 390

Startup Venture Capital Entrepreneur Technical Review 390

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2015

Every entrepreneur I know is dismayed by the number of friends who approach them with a line such as “I have an even better idea that will change the world, and one of these days I’m going to get around to starting my own business.” Focus” is the key to success as an entrepreneur. Irrational fear of failure or embarrassment.

Startup 114

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Knowledge Base 114

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 27, 2013

Last year I wrote a blog post on entrepreneurs with a chip on their shoulders. A chip on one’s shoulder as in, “F**k the system, it’s broken and I want to fix it” is exactly the energy I look for in entrepreneurs. Take Maker Studios. My point … We’ve all been there – every entrepreneur.

Startup 371

Startup Press Blogging Entrepreneur 371

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2019

Image via Wikipedia As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As a startup, you as the entrepreneur are the brand, the brand builder, and the major lead generator.

Entrepreneur 87

Entrepreneur Customer Custom Guide 87

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2011

So I invested in Maker Studios , which is now the 3rd largest producer of Internet video on the web. And while Maker Studios is pure entertainment, TreeHouse is pure education. He then of course launched the FOWA (future of web apps) conference , which was very successful. Americans watch 5.3 We read less than an hour / day.

Invest 295

Invest Carson Technical Review Education 295

InfoChachkie

JULY 26, 2010

Entrepreneurs can emulate de la Guerra’s strategy and make their adVenture appear far larger than reality and thus increasing its influence and market reach while discouraging competitive threats by creating an industry alliance. Tags: Entrepreneur Networking Partnerships The Fringe. Copyright © 2007-10 by J. Meredith Publishing.

Entrepreneur 168

Entrepreneur Santa Barbara Startup Conference 168

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 19, 2018

It seems inherent in the mind of most first-time entrepreneurs that it was their idea, and they must do all the work themselves to make it happen. Of course, full trust must be earned, but it is critical to do some due diligence before hiring new team members, or establishing partnerships. Afraid that delegating means losing control.

Technical Review 96

Technical Review Ideas Startup Entrepreneur 96

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2010

Of course other things, like the market, founder dynamics, funders’ indulgence, and luck will have a part in your success or failure. Tags: webTV Internet video entrepreneur startup business. As with all businesses, website success is driven by delivering the right mix of value to the customer, in the right format and context.

Hulu 84

Hulu Social Network Blogging Netflix 84

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2017

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As a startup, you as the entrepreneur are the brand, the brand builder, and the major lead generator.

Company 97

Company Companies Entrepreneur Customer 97

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 22, 2011

It’s intended in a discussion with an entrepreneur to get them to question whether there is really amazing underlying value in the product or service they’re offering. I talked in specifics about a bunch of my investments including Factual , MongoLab , Maker Studios and Gogii (maker of TextPlus ). GroupMe to Skype.

Company 295

Company Companies Gogii Google 295

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. Just like with entrepreneurs – you know that raising money is just the start.

Venture Capital 396

Venture Capital Funding Technical Review Startup 396

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 21, 2014

I started working with David when I was an entrepreneur and he was an associate with a VC firmed called … wait for it … GRP Partners (now Upfront Ventures)! So he went on to become the CFO of Fab through their growth years dealing with warehousing, inventory management, facilities, CAC/LTV analyses and of course fund raising.

CTO Hire 320

CTO Hire Startup CTO Coach Venture Capital 320

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2016

My partner Greg Bettinelli (worth following on Twitter) was recently named by The LA Business Journal as the “ Top deal maker in Los Angeles in Venture Capital.” Greg truly is a prolific deal maker and is amongst the most helpful people to entrepreneurs in our ecosystem. ” Numero uno.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Journal Invest Santa Monica 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

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. This was certainly the case when I invested in a small YouTube video production company called Maker Studios that recently sold to Disney for just shy of $1 billion.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2014

Maker Studios, the largest producer of online short-form videos (content) recently sold to Disney for nearly $1 billion. As you have more exits in your startup community and more second-time entrepreneurs the growth of a local startup community becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Venture Capital. I was instantly intrigued.

Startup 390

Startup Venture Capital Capital Funding 390

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

After all, I am no stranger to the publicly expressing the frustrations of dealing with the downside of this industry as I wrote about in 2006 when I was an entrepreneur. The best VCs don’t try to help entrepreneurs. Get to the entrepreneurs earlier next time. Get to the entrepreneurs earlier next time.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Every entrepreneur has to be a decision-maker, even with information overload, emotional employees, angry customers and competitors hovering from every direction. According to Ohio State researcher Paul Nutt , business decision-makers today fail about half the time on initial decisions for their organizations.

Entrepreneur 58

Entrepreneur Mentor Course Email 58

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2012

And of course a place of idyllic weather, culture and a lifestyle. ” And of course it’s not a true assessment. Maker Studios, leading YouTube producer, generating hundreds of millions of video views every month [Los Angeles, near Culver City]. This is the list I would start with. And do so in real life, too.

Startup 304

Startup Venture Capital Los Angeles Woodland Hills 304

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

It’s a new age for aspiring entrepreneurs, where anyone with a dream or a hobby should be turning it into a business. Too many entrepreneurs still think plans are for investors, and investors are required to build a startup. Many entrepreneurs today build and maintain their own websites, with powerful tools such as Shopify.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media Outsource Development 108

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2016

Many experts will tell you that you can’t succeed as a part-time entrepreneur, as any good startup will require a 100 percent commitment of your time and energy. Thus I often recommend that entrepreneurs keep their day job until the startup is producing revenue. One still needs to be the agreed final decision maker.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Metrics 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2014

In the US, many entrepreneurs see grants as “free money,” since they are not loans and don’t have to be repaid. A grant is not an equity investment, so the entrepreneur doesn’t have to give up a stake in the company either. entrepreneur funding grants startup' Professional help costs money. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 97

Startup High Tech Research Funding 97

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 19, 2014

This is a classic mistake many entrepreneurs make so I’d like to offer some constructive advice on how the savvy hand would be played. This is the best way to avoid surprises at your board meeting and the golden rule of board meetings is, of course, no surprises. Think like a law maker. It’s that simple.

Startup 325

Startup Summary Email Ideas 325

socalTECH

JANUARY 5, 2015

Disney''s acquisition of Maker Studios for $500M-$1B set the tone, and soon after, Facebook acquired Oculus for $2B, and Apple acquired Beats By Dre for $3B. Also looking forward to the community continuing to grow with more events, investment, connections to the city and universities, and of course Silicon Beach Fest 2015 in June.

Cornerstone OnDemand 100

Cornerstone OnDemand Belkin Entertainment Newsletter 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2013

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As a startup, you as the entrepreneur are the brand, the brand builder, and the major lead generator. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 116

Startup Entrepreneur Customer Custom 116

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

A critical stage for most first-time entrepreneurs is getting their idea developed into at least a prototype to validate their technology. There are professionals who specialize in grant applications, and they may even have relationships with key decision makers in the approval process, but they do cost money that you may not.

Funding 90

Funding Technical Review Startup Research 90