Sat.Dec 24, 2011 - Fri.Dec 30, 2011

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Should Startups Focus on Profitability or Not?

Both Sides of the Table

There are certain topics that even some of the best journalists can’t fully grok. One of them is profitability. I find it amusing when a journalist writes an article about a prominent startup (either privately held or preparing for an IPO) and decries that, “They’re not even profitable!” 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”

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FundaGeek Launches Crowdfunding Site

socalTECH

Yucca Valley-based FundaGeek , a new startup headed by Daniel Gutierrez, said over the holiday that it has launched its crowdfunding platform, aimed at startups and scientific researchers. Fundageek looks to help connect project owners in the technical and scientific area with finding crowd funding for their projects, by listings those projects on a marketplace and allowing users to browse and pledge donations to those projects.

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The Eighty Percent Acquisition Rule

Berkonomics

Eighty percent of all businesses purchased by another company or by a new investor-operator fail to meet the stated expectations of the buyer after one year. As with the fifty percent rule, this rule is hard to find an author willing to be quoted as the source. But it is within the range of experience by many who have acted as brokers, serial purchasers or consultants for acquisitions.

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LA CEOs

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, January 5, 2012 -- LA CEOs, an education and support group for CEOs presents: Banking on the Difference; Changes and Strategies for Businesses AFTER The Great Recession After the summers Debt Standoff, Sand Ps Downgrade of the U.S., and this falls European Credit Lockup - whats in store for business in the New Year and beyond? If you want to know more about where things are headed and what YOU should know about banking  from a commercial banker that has worked with start-ups

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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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Getting to Know Maker Studios

Both Sides of the Table

A year ago I invested, along with Dana Settle at Greycroft Partners , in a startup company called Maker Studios. What excited me was that they had an immensely talented team that understood how to produce & distribute low-cost videos, initially via YouTube. It was founded by Danny Zappin, Lisa Donovan & Ben Donovan. They know this model of YouTube production & distribution better than anybody else that I’ve met in my 5 years in Los Angeles.

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CODA Automotive Lands San Diego Dealer

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based CODA Automotive , the electric vehicle developer, said today that it has named Marvin K. Brown as an exclusive dealer partner in San Diego County. CODA said that Marvin K. Brown is its first anticipated dealer partner, which will operate CODA-branded showrooms throughout the county. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

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The State of the Capital Markets

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, January 4, 2012 -- The State of the Capital Markets. ACG 101. The economy remains weak, the national debt is growing rapidly, corporate profits are at all-time highs, and private equity firms have nearly $1 trillion in purchasing power. What does all this mean mean for the state of the capital markets? Speakers: Jason Horstman, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, Union Bank; Jeri Harman, Partner, Avante Mezzanine Partners; Steve Wiesener, Senior Vice President at Evergreen Pac

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Startups With More ‘Go-To People’ Lead the Pack

Startup Professionals Musings

Go-to people get things done. As an entrepreneur, you need these people, and you need to be one, if you expect your startup to be successful. That may be easier said than done, since resumes do not tell the story, and without real nurturing, they won’t stay around long. To highlight how rare this breed is, Jeffrey Gandz of the Richard Ivey School of Business relates a quote from a new CEO in a large company, "I have more than 1000 people in my head office organization, 900 can tell me somet

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Cool Planet BioFuels Adds BP As Investor

socalTECH

Camarillo-based Cool Planet Biofuels , a developer of renewable gasoline biofuel, announced this morning that BP Technology Ventures has joined in its Series C funding round. The firm did not say how much BP contributed to the round. Cool Planet Biofuels other investors are Shea Ventures, General Electric, Google Ventures, ConocoPhillips, NRG and North Bridge Venture Partners.

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E-commerce’s Changing Landscape | Customization

Tech Zulu Event

Retail therapy has long been a rich country’s rite of passage. Although, the way we indulge our retail therapy is changing as quickly as our smartphones. This Black Friday we reached record retail sales at traditional brick-and-mortar stores, yet the merging Cyber Monday is proving to be a fighting younger brother. Up 33% this year, according to the Washington Post, online commerce is trending upwards from $175 billion in 2007 to a projection of $335 billion in 2012 (Forrester Research).

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ExecTec - Networking is like Baking a Cake

SoCal Tech Calendar

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 -- ExecTec - Networking is like Baking a Cake.

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Early Customer Feedback Can Lead to a Death Spiral

Startup Professionals Musings

For most new high-tech products, the first customers are always “early adopters.” The conventional wisdom is that early adopters are the ideal target for new products, to get business rolling. I see two pitfalls with any concerted focus on early adopters; first, the size of this group may not be as large as you think, and secondly, their feedback may lead you directly away from your real target market of mainstream customers.

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Quantum Fuel Systems Ties With Electronics Firm

socalTECH

Irvine-based Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies , the developer of energy storage and renewable energy systems, has inked a deal with electronics firm SB Electronics , the companies said today. According to the two, they are in a technology partnership focused on next generation, Hybrid Electric drive systems. Financial details of the relationship were not announced.

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E-commerce’s changing Landscape: Customization

Tech Zulu Event

Retail therapy has long been a rich country’s rite of passage. Although, the way we indulge our retail therapy is changing as quickly as our smartphones. This Black Friday we reached record retail sales at traditional brick-and-mortar stores, yet the merging Cyber Monday is proving to be a fighting younger brother. Up 33% this year, according to the Washington Post, online commerce is trending upwards from $175 billion in 2007 to a projection of $335 billion in 2012 (Forrester Research).

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Just Shipped 2011

Daradiction

Somehow I got the idea in my head that it would be a good habit to generate a brief 'end of year' chronicle what I shipped for the year, and use it as the basis for reflection and celebration. 2011 was a BIG year for me. In context of how difficult these times are for most, I am grateful and this post is an exercise is counting my blessings on personal and professional fronts.

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Clean Energy Fuels Gets $150M in PIPE

socalTECH

Seal Beach-based Clean Energy Fuels , an operator of natural gas fueling stations, said this morning that it has received more than $150M from investors. The firm said the funds came from Boone Pickens, as well as RJ Capital, Seatown Holdings, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and Chief Capital, an investment vehicle owned by energy investor Trevor Rees-Jones.

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Report: WebVisible Shuts Down

socalTECH

Irvine-based online advertising firm WebVisible has shut down, according to a report Wednesday. Former WebVisible employees had been telling socalTECH over the last few months that the firm was looking for a buyer. The company has not yet confirmed the shutdown, however, founder and CEO Kristen Mangers had left the firm in January in 2011. WebVisible had raised over $37M in venture capital, from such investors as Adams Street Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and Sutter Hill Ventures.

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Online Holiday Sales Up 15 Percent, Hit $35.3 Billion

socalTECH

Online holiday sales this year were up 15 percent, hitting $35.3 billion, according to the latest tracking by Internet metrics firm comScore. comScore said that the e-commerce spending for the first 56 days of the holiday season was helped by digital downloads of music, TV, movies, e-books, and apps. In particular, comScore pointed out a "huge spike" in sales on Christmas Day, due to people downloading digital content and subscriptions.

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CoreLogic Buys Canadian Firm

socalTECH

Santa Ana-based CoreLogic , a provider of real estate, mortgage, and other related databases, reported this morning that it has acquired British Columbia, Canada-based Tarasoft. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Tarasoft develops a MLS software platform for the real estate industry. CoreLogic said the deal closed September 15th.

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Broadcom Names New Board Member

socalTECH

Irvine-based Broadcom said this morning that it has named Robert Finocchio, Jr., to its board of directors. Finocchio currently sits on the board of Echelon Corporation, and also has served as Chairman, CEO, and President of Informix Corporation and President of 3Com Systems. READ MORE>>.

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Surfline's Collins Dies

socalTECH

Sean Collins , the founder of Huntington Beach-based Surfline , has died, according to the company. Surfline is the go-to site for surfing forecoasts, and was based on Collins' development of surf forecoasting methods over the last 30 years. The company said Collins died of a heart attack while playing tennis Monday. Surfline had originally started as phone-in surf forecast service in 1985, which Collins later transformed into one of the largest sports websites in the world.

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Newport Corporation Buys ILX Lightwave

socalTECH

Irvine-based Newport Corporation announced this morning that it has acquired ILX Lightwave Corporation , a developer of test and measurement products for laser diodes and other photonic components. Newport Corporation said it will pay $9.3M in cash for ILX. ILX is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, and is expected to have $8M in revenues this year. Newport said ILX becomes a part of its Photonics and Precision Technologies Division.

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Marshall Edwards Raises $2M In Private Placement

socalTECH

San Diego-based Marshall Edwards , a publicly held firm focused on development of oncology drugs, said Thursday that it has raised $2M in a private placement. The funding came from its majority shareholder, Novogen Limited. Marshall Edwards said the new funding will go towards continued development of its lead oncology drug candidates. The firm is working on small molecule drugs which inhibit tumor cell metabolism.

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