Both Sides of the Table
MAY 9, 2011
I spoke at Stanford last year about starting a tech company. They really cleverly chopped the video up into small bite-sized segments. So for anybody who reads my “This Week in VC&# transcripts but doesn’t watch the video – this one’s for you! It’s only 3 minutes, 44 seconds. I covered what I call “the co-founder mythology.&# So embedded is this conventional wisdom in Silicon Valley that it feels like heresy to even question it.
socalTECH
MAY 11, 2011
Earlier this week, Los Angeles-based Anti-AgingGames (www.Anti-AgingGames.com), a new online game startup, announced a new service to help users improve their memory and concentration, as well as improve brain function. The firm notably has Atari founder Nolan Bushnell as an advisor and serving as its chief game designer. We spoke with co-founder and CEO Elizabeth Amini , to hear more about what the firm is doing, how Bushnell got involved, as well as the firm's unique outlook and dedication to
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InfoChachkie
MAY 12, 2011
This article originally appeared on Technorati: You can watch my 14-minute interview with Jason Nazar, Founder and CEO of Docstoc below. If you prefer to read a summary of Jason’s responses, they are included below. If you have questions for Jason, please include them in the comments section. Messenger: Jason Nazar, Founder and CEO, Docstoc. Value Prop Twitter Style : Docstoc’s mission is to: "Make every small business better" If you haven’t already subscribed yet, subs
SoCal CTO
MAY 10, 2011
A long-time friend and colleague, Steve Wexler, who is great at visualization took my Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data and produced a really need interactive visualization via Tableau. You can find it here: Interactive Version: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data (US) Explanation: CTO compensation and equity at venture-backed companies Probably the best thing for someone to do is to go to the Interactive Version and look things up using their specific situation.
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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.
Berkonomics
MAY 7, 2011
We’d all like to retain our best managers and employees forever or at least for as long as possible. But sometimes our corporate wants and needs conflict with what is best for an employee and his or her career development. We cannot legally stand in the way of an employee resigning to pursue a dream, but we can leave a bad taste with that person and chip away at our corporate culture by not cooperating or even helping the employee move on. .
socalTECH
MAY 10, 2011
Los Angeles-based BUZZMEDIA , the online entertainment blog and web publisher, is trumpeting its ranking today by comScore as one of the sites with the highest young adult reach. BUZZMEDIA said that 18-34 year olds are more likely to be found on its site than on Facebook and other sites. The firm also said it was ranked the third highest site of used by users between 18-24 and 18-49.
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
SoCal CTO
MAY 10, 2011
A long-time friend and colleague, Steve Wexler, who is great at visualization took my Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data and produced a really need interactive visualization via Tableau. You can find it here: Interactive Version: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data (US) Explanation: CTO compensation and equity at venture-backed companies Probably the best thing for someone to do is to go to the Interactive Version and look things up using their specific situation.
Tech Coast Venture Network
MAY 13, 2011
'So, I’m absolutely thrilled about this week coming up. On Monday May 16th, we’re kicking things off with an absolutely start-studded event at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine, CA. The OC Technology Influencer Mixer and Summit. Hosted by TCVN, this is a historic two-day event intended to build grassroots support for the Orange County SMB technology entrepreneur — with partner CompTIA, the world’s largest technology association.
socalTECH
MAY 13, 2011
Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal , the provider of local online marketing services for small and medium sized businesses, announced this morning that it has been recognized by the British Government for its efforts in the UK. ReachLocal said it received the UKTI Business Innovation Award from UK Trade & Investment, as part of BritWeek. The two said that ReachLocal launched in the UK in 2008, and has offices in London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
InfoChachkie
MAY 9, 2011
Note: This is part II of a three part series. Access part I HERE and part III HERE. As noted in part I of this series, agreements with Big Dumb Companies (BDCs) can be alluring and potentially fatal. In many cases, agreements crafted by BDC lawyers resemble ConTraps rather than mutually beneficial contracts. This series describes how entrepreneurs can craft company-changing agreements with BDCs, while avoiding Kiss of Death contract provisions.
SoCal Tech Calendar
MAY 8, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011 -- JPL Open House. This popular event celebrates JPL's accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrations about the Laboratory's ongoing research and space exploration. Many of the Lab's scientists and engineers are on hand to answer questions about how spacecraft are sent to other planets, how scientists utilize space technologies to explore Earth and how researchers are searching for planets beyond the solar system.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 13, 2011
People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor.
socalTECH
MAY 10, 2011
Los Angeles-based Anti-AgingGames.com , a new startup offering up brain fitness games, has launched today, aiming at healthy people looking to help their memory, concentration, and focus. The site--whose games were designed by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell--offers up online games which have been vetted by scientists to help reduce the risk of early memory loss.
Tech Zulu Event
MAY 11, 2011
The best part about being a writer who covers startups is seeing revolutionary ideas take shape from their infancy. To examine disruptive technology and prognosticate on the effects on society as a whole is fascinating. What makes this even more exciting is I am out of the echo chamber of Silicon Valley. In fact, I am in Newport Beach a small beach town in Orange County CA, but for the purpose of this article the home to PayDivvy.
SoCal Tech Calendar
MAY 13, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011 -- TEDxOrangeCoast. Innovation Without Borders. This conference will be a day of innovative revelations with all borders removed. The TEDxOrangeCoast Conference is designed to be inspiring, jaw-dropping, and entertaining. The presenter line-ups should fascinate and delight guests with their mind-blowing demonstrations, captivating talks, and some truly innovative musical performances.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 11, 2011
I often hear the qualms of business-smart but non-technical entrepreneurs, wondering if they really have a chance in this high-technology marketplace. I tell them that if their idea or solution is technology intensive, they clearly need technology strength on the team. Then the question becomes “How do I evaluate and attract the best technical talent?
socalTECH
MAY 11, 2011
Los Angeles-based startup Border Stylo said this morning it has launched a new, free mobile app called Retrollect. According to the firm, the new app allows to create a "visual mash-up" of their lives through virtual, retro-style "View-Master" style discs. The new app runs on both the iPhone and Android phones. Border Stylo said the new apps pull content from multiple social networks, and can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, or a Retrollect community.
Tech Zulu Event
MAY 7, 2011
Our daily lives are filled with advertisements of the latest and greatest technologies offering to “change the way we live.” Today with such a low entry point, (thanks to the success of the Internet,) these technologies are coming in at a rapid pace. Recently we’ve begun to see the rapid adaptation of mobile applications and their defiance of technology’s limits.
SoCal Tech Calendar
MAY 10, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011 -- The Monday Club - South Bay Chapter Entrepreneurial Growth Program. The format of the meetings is to have several entrepreneurs present their projects and to have an interactive discussion from the attendees with comments, suggestions and ideas for the presenters. The goal for the entrepreneurs is to receive coaching, mentoring and resources for their companies.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 7, 2011
As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. I hear lots of excuses from startup founders, like “I’m too busy,” concern over IP security, can’t afford an agency, and it’s too early. The result is they get no feedback, no credibility, no visibility, and no investors until months later than they expect. I’m definitely not lobbying here for promising things you can’t deliver, or hiring a publicist before your first programmer.
socalTECH
MAY 12, 2011
Los Angeles-based GotCast , the online talent casting site, said Thursday that it has launched its private label, social media contest product. The firm said the new MediaBlastr platform has powered digital campaigns from such brands as Sony Playstation, Mercedes-Benz, Dove, NBC, E! and Hautelook. Pricing on the new product was not announced. GotCast said it has added new employees in Los Angeles and Ohio to support the new MediaBlastr offering.
Tech Zulu Event
MAY 10, 2011
The message was clear, beware of false prophets when dealing with your young and budding startup. This particular evening, we attended the LeanLA meet-up located at Coloft, a swank professional co-op/work space in the heart of Santa Monica, known as the epicenter of the LA startup scene. The venue was lined with vibrant and inviting decor, a spacious loft style presentation room, and plenty of mini-workstations for the motivated and social entrepreneur; a great setting for the presentation at
SoCal Tech Calendar
MAY 9, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011 -- JPL Open House. This popular event celebrates JPL's accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrations about the Laboratory's ongoing research and space exploration. Many of the Lab's scientists and engineers are on hand to answer questions about how spacecraft are sent to other planets, how scientists utilize space technologies to explore Earth and how researchers are searching for planets beyond the solar system.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 12, 2011
Entrepreneurs are always looking for “the next big thing,” when maybe in fact it’s a lot of little things that are only recognized after the fact as components of a big evolution or revolution. In my view, the Internet “connectivity anywhere” has already spawned several of these, but the global change has only begun. Emily Nagle Green, in her recent book “ ANYWHERE ,” argues effectively that the future of the world and business is ubiquitous connectivity, the total interconnection of people, ide
socalTECH
MAY 11, 2011
Los Angeles-based and Austin-based GameSalad , the startup developer of software that allows users to easily create iPhone games without programming, said today that it has released a new version of the firm's flagship software, GameSalad Creator. GameSalad said the 0.9.3 Beta version of the software includes such features as better performance and reliability, support for leaderboards in games, along with new game templates.
Tech Zulu Event
MAY 10, 2011
I heard about the LG LSB316 Speaker Sound Bar at CES this year and jumped at the chance to review it when we received a demo unit. The unit arrived at my office in a large LG branded box. I wasted no time getting it set up to use it as my office jam station. It, surprisingly, wasted none of my time either. From box to shelf and playing my iTunes library took 3 minutes.
SoCal Tech Calendar
MAY 7, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011 -- 2011 Entrepreneurs Conference. Welcome to the annual 2011 Entrepreneurs Conference at UCLA Anderson! Come meet, listen to and network with a variety of professional and student entrepreneurs at the largest entrepreneurial event on the UCLA campus. This year's theme is "It's the Journey" and will focus on the process of building a business.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 8, 2011
By Ernst Gemassmer Expanding into International is both necessary and positive for every company, including startups, but it has some unique challenges, as I have found out personally, like expected “under the table” payments in dealing with other cultures and bureaucracy. Some companies look at this as a “cost of doing business,” but it can easily cost you your reputation and your business.
socalTECH
MAY 11, 2011
Torrance-based PC Mall , the IT solutions provider and retailer, said Tuesday that it has entered into the "Deal of the Day" market via its OnSale subsidiary. PC Mall said that Onsale is launching hyper-local offers, starting in the second quarter in a number of markets, and expanding throughout the country after that. The new site goes head to head with Groupon, LivingSocial, and a slew of other imitators.
Tech Zulu Event
MAY 13, 2011
Three questions with ShareSquare ’s CEO, Matthias Galica , on QR codes, ShareSquare, and the future of QR. Where do you see the QR code market progress towards in the next year? 5 years? In the next 6-12 months I believe we’re going to hit the “social tipping point&# whereby the average joe in St. Louis will be able to recognize a QR code and know what to do with it.
SoCal Tech Calendar
MAY 12, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 -- Coda Automotive's EV Happy Hour. Electrics vehicles. What are they? How do they really work? Is buying one right for me? Email Events@codaautomotive.com.
Alon Schwartz
MAY 7, 2011
Beginning of April we had an event in which we shared our ideas and experience with building the product, building technology and building the business. Some advise and some of the things we do wrong and need to improve. See the best team in LA talk.
socalTECH
MAY 11, 2011
Los Angeles-based MySocialNightLife.com , an online site focused on the nightclub scene, said Tuesday that it has landed a seed round of funding. The funding came from an un-named angel investor. The firm said it is providing a way for nightclub venues, to help promote their offerings in a social networking environment. The firm is headed by Danny Chasan, Ben Farrell, and Artin Nazarian.
Tech Zulu Event
MAY 13, 2011
Remember Chat Roulette? That’s the first thing that came to mind when I loaded up Lissn.com. No, you won’t be instantly flashed with any heinous man parts or stared down with any sultry sex faces. But – you will instantly be paired up with someone. Lissn.com is a global portal for those who want to engage others in water cooler conversation in real time or for those that just want to watch, I mean lissn.
SoCal Tech Calendar
MAY 13, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011 -- Startup Nights 2.2. Remember, this is a WORKING night. Bring your laptop. Come collaborate, work, strategize, brainstorm, and demo your awesome ideas/products.
Alon Schwartz
MAY 7, 2011
'Beginning of April we had an event in which we shared our ideas and experience with building the product, building technology and building the business. Some advise and some of the things we do wrong and need to improve. See the best team in LA talk.
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