Sat.May 21, 2011 - Fri.May 27, 2011

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Startup Mantra: Hire Fast, Fire Fast

Both Sides of the Table

This post originally appeared on TechCrunch. I have often said that what separates real entrepreneurs from pundits and bystanders is a bias towards getting things done versus over analyzing things. My credo has always been JFDI. It’s the hardest thing to teach people who come out of big companies, out of conservative jobs. At the big consulting firms, investment banks and established large technology companies we’re taught to produce long reports, make sure that every document is perfect quali

Startup 335
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Delegate and empower! Regain control of your time.

Berkonomics

All of us are pressed for time, always attempting to balance the overwhelming demands of business with the basic wants and needs of family. In earlier insights, we have examined the need for and care of your corporate vision, and how to develop and nurture that vision through to creation of a corporate culture, goals, strategies and tactics. Now we get personal.

Press 257
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Interview with Jake Winebaum, Brighter

socalTECH

Jake Winebaum is a veteran of the Southern California technology industry, having run and sold a number of successful, Southern California startups. His last success was Business.com, which he sold to R.R. Donnelly, and he also was behind eCompanies, which invested in such companies as JAMDAT Mobile, Boingo Wireless, and USBX. He's also on the board of hot Silicon Valley startup Gigya.

Startup 249
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Now Is Never Too Early For An Entrepreneur - Start Small, Start Now

InfoChachkie

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now.”. Chinese Proverb, borrowed from Scott Dinsmore’s Reading For Your Success. In the 1930’s, when Max Fleischmann (of yeast fame) brought his yacht into the Santa Barbara harbor, the local laundry trucks did the sensible thing. They lined up on the dock and patiently waited for the ship to arrive, so they could get their “share” of its dirty laundry.

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Can You Ask for Office Rent Relief? How to Manage Your Lease During COVID-19

Office leases are one of companies’ largest expenses, and if your whole team is working from home with no clear end in sight, you may be wondering what to do about your lease.

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You Need to Win the Battle for Share of Mind

Both Sides of the Table

This article first appeared on TechCrunch. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the proliferation of starutps in the past 2 years. It seems almost incomprehensible that only 2.5 years ago we read the “ RIP Good Times &# presentation from Sequoia. But what does this all mean? Are we headed for a long era of innovation in which startups are the new norm?

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Broads on Boards

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 -- Broads on Boards. Broads Circle. We will be discussing how our distinguished panelists came across their first Board opportunity and where they see future opportunities for corporate Board service for women leaders. Panel: Ronald W. Buckly, Ixia; Dick Poladian Shareholder, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Lowe Enterprises, Inc.; Moderator: Mark T.

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More Trending

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ConTraps Part IV – Avoid Exclusion From Future Revenue Opportunities

InfoChachkie

Note: This is part IV of the four part series. Access part I HERE , part II HERE and part III HERE. Marketers have long known that people are drawn to exclusivity. As discussed in Jedi Mind Tricks , scarcity and fear of loss are powerful principles of persuasion. Students expend small fortunes of their parents’ money to attend exclusive , private colleges.

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Ten Learning Steps from Entrepreneur to Manager

Startup Professionals Musings

Entrepreneurs often have formidable technical expertise, key to developing a new product or service, but a great naïveté in management skills. They run into difficulty when their business reaches the $1-2 million annual sales range, or their employee count exceeds 5-10. It’s here that entrepreneurs must shift their thinking from tactical and operational, to strategic and managerial.

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TCA Facetime

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 -- TCA Facetime - A free talk roundtable. Provide practical information and valuable face time to help startup CEO. It is a free talk intimate round table style with maximum 15 startup CEOs. You will learn from TCA member David Cheng the secrets of his latest exit, and get valuable fact time with VC Jon Funk of Ocean Road Partners.

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ShareSquare Links With ShopSavvy

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based ShareSquare , the QR code firm headed by Matthias Galica, has inked a partnership with popular mobile barcode scanning firm ShopSavvy , the two said this morning. According to the two companies, ShopSavvy will recommend ShareSquare as its QR Code campaign creation, content management, and deep engagement analytics tool of choice, as part of a ShopSavvy program.

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Vizio and the Story of the Sleeping Giant

Tech Zulu Event

I am currently at the annual VC in the OC program held in Irvine CA by OCTANe , an organization that connects people and ideas to resources and capital in Orange County. Over 600 people came to this event to listen share and network, including entrepreneurs, VC’s and investors. The keynote speech was delivered by Vizio CEO William Wong and VP & Co-Founder Ken Lowe.

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We Need More Gen-Y Entrepreneurs to Fuel the Wave

Startup Professionals Musings

The business world has been watching this emerging generation with trepidation, and a lot of us haven’t been sure who would be the winners, and who would be the losers. Can they survive as entrepreneurs, and do they have the passion it takes to run a startup and attract investors? My own perspective is that the recession has been good for Gen-Y (Millennials), because it has forced them to face reality, often for the first time in their life.

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How To Build Your Company's Board

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 -- How To Build Your Company's Board. ACG 101. A half-day conference by ACG 101 on how and why to create a Board of Directors or Board of Advisors to make your company more successful. Three panels will talk about how to build a board; how a board should operate; and how to join a board.

ACG 113
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JibJab Powers MLB Baseball Campaign

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based JibJab Media , the online, humorous content producer and personalized electronic greeting cards, has inked a deal with MLB Advanced Media , the companies said Thursday. The two said they have partnered on a "Starring You" campaign around baseball, where fans of baseball teams can send humorous, animated videos of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" with fans' own photos included.

Content 200
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The One Most Important Thing

Jason Nazar

What’s the one most important thing for your startup or small business? I don’t know! But I do know THERE IS ONE MOST IMPORTANT THING. Here is how you make that one thing matter most.

Startup 49
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Procrastinators Rule Among Wishful Entrepreneurs

Startup Professionals Musings

If I had a dollar for every time someone has said to me, “One of these days, I’m going to start my own company,” I’d be rich. If this day ever comes for all these people, we will be overrun by startups. Yet I don’t lose any sleep over either of these possibilities. Most people procrastinate from time to time, but I suspect that the challenge here is somewhat deeper than that.

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Maverick Angels Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, June 2, 2011 -- Maverick Angels Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs. Do you have a great business idea but are not quite ready to present to angel investors? Are you a serial entrepreneur and still find it difficult to raise money or communicate your offering in a way that is complete or compelling in the time given for your pitch to investors.

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NewEgg Pulls IPO

socalTECH

City of Industry-based online electronics retailer NewEgg has pulled its IPO, the firm said in a filing with the SEC late Friday. In the filing, the firm said that it "determined not to proceed with the initial public offering" but did not give any explanation. NewEgg had filed for an IPO in September of 2009. At least two other Southern California companies have decided to pull their IPos this month, including Vista-based AutoGenomics and San Diego-based Fallbrook Technologies; two firms, Los A

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Video of CitySourced Co-Founder Kurt Daradics on CBS News “What’s Trending”

Daradiction

Good Magazine and What’s Trending bring you are “People Are Awesome&# segment, which focuses on innovative ideas that will change your digital and real life (CBS/What’s Trending) – In this week’s What’s Trending and Good Magazine’s “People are Awesome&# segment Kurt Daradics, co- founder of the CitySourced smart phone app, explains the app and all that it can do to raise civic awareness.

News 49
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Finding the Right Business Mentor is Value Squared

Startup Professionals Musings

Every first-time entrepreneur, or even an experienced founder stepping into a new business area, needs a mentor. Nothing you have ever done raises so many questions, or has the potential to be so fulfilling, or so risky, as starting a new business for the first time. A mentor is a confidant who has been there and done that, and is willing to guide your steps.

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Early Exits

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, June 2, 2011 -- Early Exits. San Diego Tech Coast Angeles. Early Exits describes a strategy for startup investors and entrepreneurs to build a new ventures, prove business models and exit companies in 2-3 years without the need for multi-million dollar investments. Based on the book by Basil Peters, Early Exits is a perfect fit for the entrepreneurial environment early in the 21st Century, which can be characterized as follows:  The traditional venture capital model is not working.

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BUMP.com Buys BumpChat

socalTECH

La Jolla-based BUMP.com , the social networking and mobile app firm which allows people to send messages to others based on their license plate, said today thati thas acquired BumpChat , a provider of location-based communication and dating apps. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. BumpChat develops a communications and dating app which works on the iPhone and iPod touch.

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Video of CitySourced Co-Founder Kurt Daradics on CBS News “What’s

Daradiction

Good Magazine and What's Trending bring you are "People Are Awesome" segment, which focuses on innovative ideas that will change your digital and real life (CBS/What's Trending) - In this week's What's Trending and Good Magazine's "People are Awesome" segment Kurt Daradics, co- founder of the CitySourced smart phone app, explains the app and all that it can do to raise civic awareness.

News 40
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Startups Needed For Cloud Computing Gray Areas

Startup Professionals Musings

Cloud computing is still all the rage in the business world these days. Yet I find that most business people don’t understand and fully trust it, and I defy even the technologists to define it in ten words or less for business people. Many say it’s just marketing hype applied to old principles that have been around for a long time. A typical definition (from Wikipedia) is that “cloud computing, is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to comput

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Startup To Startup

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 -- Startup To Startup. StartupToStartup brings the brightest minds together to share what's new and what's possible. 2011 mixer, panels and cocktail parties for startups. in Los Angeles.

Startup 100
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Music Mastermind Gains $10.8M

socalTECH

Calabasas-based Music Mastermind , which is developing a music creation platform, said Monday that it has raised $10.8M in a Series B funding round. The round came from Intel Capital and Liberty Global, along with angel investors. Intel and Liberty contributed $6.8M to the Series B, with the remainder coming from the angels. Music Mastermind was founded by Matt Serletic, former Virgin Records Chairman and CEO.

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Marriage.com Launches Bridal Community

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Marriage.com said today that it has launched its online bridal and marriage community. The firm, which was co-founded by Katrina Razavi, Justin Fredericks, and Vinod Sodha, says it is creating a "conversation and content" for the bridal and marriage community. The site includes answers to questions from brides about weddings, wedding planning, fashion, and more.

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X Prize Foundation Names Finalists In Oil Cleanup Challenge

socalTECH

The X PRIZE Foundation has named ten finalists in its oil cleanup competition, the Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X Challenge , the group said this morning. The prize--which is offering $1.4 million to develop better ways to clean up oil spills--said that 10 teams will move forward to Phase II field testing of their ideas. The X Prize launched its oil cleanup challenge in July of 2010, in response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf.

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OpenX Raises $20M More

socalTECH

Pasadena-based online advertising software firm OpenX has just raised a big, $20M funding round, according to a regulatory filing from the firm late Friday. The funding has not yet been announced by the company. Source of the new funding was not disclosed, however, the firm is venture backed by Accel Partners, DAG Ventures, First Round Capital, Index Ventures, Mangrove Capital Partners, and O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures.

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Interview with Jonathan Cooper, ATMCASH

socalTECH

Ever since the huge success of Monrovia-based Green Dot in its IPO last year, netting a huge return for local angels, investors here have taken a second look at financial startups. Among the local startups is Los Angeles-based ATMCASH (www.atmcash.com), a company which is looking to use the ATM machine network to change how a very old business--money remittance--works.

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WebVisible Moves Headquarters To Los Angeles

socalTECH

WebVisible , which helps small and medium sized businesses place online advertising, announced Wednesday afternoon that it has moved its headquarters from Irvine, to Los Angeles. WebVisible said it is moving to a new, creative space in Playa Vista, within the Electronics Arts Campus. WebVisible had been in Irvine for 10 years. The firm said the move is a part of an ongoing effort to "re-energize" the company, and to embrace the "collaborative vibe" of the area.

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Goldstar Promotes FamilyFinds

socalTECH

The first outgrowth of relationship between Los Angeles-based Goldstar and LA entrepreneur Matt Coffin appears to have surfaced in an email promotion to Goldstar members, inviting Goldstar members to join FamilyFinds , the family-focused, daily deals site started by Coffin. In an email today to members, Goldstar pointed its members to FamilyFinds, offering up a $5 credit to Goldstar members who sign up for the service.

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UberMedia Powers Ashton Kutcher Twitter App

socalTECH

Pasadena-based UberMedia , the Idealab startup which develops Twitter applications, is powering a new app around celebrity Ashton Kutcher. The new client, A.Plus , is the latest in custom-skinned and branded apps being developed by UberMedia. UberMedia has also developed custom apps for 50 Cent, Mashable, the Bleacher Report, and a number of other publications, which filter out Twitter posts related to those various entities.

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Altly Posts Anti-Facebook Manifesto, Gets Funding

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Altly , the latest startup of Dmitry Shapiro , the founder of Veoh and former CTo of MySpace Music, has officially thrown down the gauntlet, saying in a blog post this week that it there is a need for an alternative to Facebook--and the firm is going to create that alternative. In his post, Shapiro talks about how users are being "pressured" to become "friends" with people they would not have had ongoing communication with prior to Facebook, and also have had to share personal

Veoh 160
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Google Invests In Tehachapi Wind Project

socalTECH

Search engine giant Google is making more investments in Southern California energy, saying this morning that it has made a $55M investment to finance a wind project supplying power to Southern California Edison. Google said the investment will go to finance the Alta IV project at the Alta Wind Energy Center. The firm said the funding brings its total invested in energy to more than $400M.

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Quantum Fuel Systems Signs Dow Chemical

socalTECH

Irvine-based Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies reports today that it has scored a contract with Dow Chemical Company , to deliver hybrid drive systems to Dow's fleet. the firm said the contract covers delivery of 100+ plug-in-hybrid electric (PHEV) pickup truck fleet vehicles, based on the Ford F-150 pickup. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed.

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