Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2010

Had a great chat with Jim Armstrong who is a General Partner at Clearstone Venture Partners today on TWiVC. You can watch the TWiVC episode with Jim Armstrong here. It was especially fun for me because we got the chance to talk about the VC industry and how entrepreneurs should think about the VC industry in addition to discussing deals. Clearstone currently invests out of a $200 million fund based in LA with offices in Menlo Park and in India.

Clearstone 236

Clearstone Venture Capital ReachLocal Google 236

socalTECH

MAY 4, 2010

San Diego-based RealGifts , which develops a Facebook application which ties virtual gifts with real, physical gifts, has signed floral delivery firm Teleflora as a partner. According to Teleflora, it will allow its customers to send flowers to Facebook users via a partnership with RealGifts. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Teleflora said that the deal will allow users to pick one of 15 bouquets, which can be delivered to any Facebook user.

San Diego 236

San Diego Incubator Custom Customer 236

Eric Greenspan

MAY 6, 2010

So, I patiently waited for my iPad 3G to arrive. All of its accessories were here a month in advance, waiting to connect, wrap and power this powerful and game changing new device. However, I’m not sure it’s changing the game for me. Here’s why… The iPad has a giant screen for a handheld, but its also a giant device and its heavy.

Sites 213

Sites Screening Mobile Web 213

Berkonomics

MAY 4, 2010

Here is one that takes a real leap for a younger manger or CEO to believe. After hiring someone with all of the attendant enthusiasm followed by the training and learning curve, if an employee shows signs of weakness in the job or problems dealing with contemporaries, it is the natural tendency for most of us to go first into coaching mode, and reset the observation clock to see if our excellent coaching does the job.

Coach 185

Coach Class Training Email 185

Advertiser: Aggregage

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.

Company

SoCal CTO

MAY 7, 2010

On my eLearning blog, I recently predicted the Beginning of Long Slow Death of Flash. This got quite a lot of passionate response. I view the point of this blog to provide my thoughts and perspectives as an Acting CTO mostly concerned with Startup Development to entrepreneurs and other CTOs. The conversation around Flash is an important one for startups and CTOs.

HTML 150

HTML JavaScript Blogging Design 150

socalTECH

MAY 3, 2010

Irvine-based Blizzard Entertainment said Monday afternoon that it will release its sequel to StarCraft , StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty , on July 27th. According to firms, the title will be available in stores throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Mexico, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Entertainment 219

Entertainment Content 219

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 7, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010 -- MeatEaters Ball. A yearly charity event for movers and shakers in the financial world, where CEOs and CFOs rub shoulders with Private Equity Managers, Venture Capitalists, and Bankers. See [link] (more).

Equity 100

Equity 100

Tech Coast Venture Network

MAY 5, 2010

While social media is a hot topic for individuals and businesses, you would be surprised to learn that some businesses and individuals are simply avoiding even checking it out. In a recent survey I conducted at couple of my BreakThrough Networking Training Sessions , results showed that there are 4 main concerns that are keeping EVERYONE from checking out social media or even considering tapping into it. #1 Fear of the Unknown – My opinion is that it is only an unknown if you don’t r

Social Media 100

Social Media Media Education Organic Search 100

socalTECH

MAY 3, 2010

An article in this month's BusinessWeek names Santa Monica number three, and Irvine number four, on its list of top 10 cities for startups. The article cites Santa Monica's density of technology and digital media companies, and Irvine's workforce, University of California campus, and office parks in its rankings. Tags: businessweek santa monica irvine startup jobs.

Santa Monica 214

Santa Monica Startup Media Technology 214

Eric Greenspan

MAY 7, 2010

For those of you that love your iPhones and Androids (I have both), I still use a Blackberry every day and here’s why: First, its my phone. The call quality and reception exceeds the iPhone substantially. The one button “speed-dial&# is perfect and has saved many an accident. Not to mention it fits nicely in my pocket when I use my favorite Jawbone Icon (<<the almost perfect wireless headset).

Email 152

Email News Google Web 152

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 7, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010 -- Building your brand by sharing your values. TCOSC. Purchase decisions in the technology space can often seem like they are based on rational collections of data and price. But you can transcend that and tip the scales in your favor if you can connect with your customers on an emotional level. See [link] (more).

Technology Council 100

Technology Council TCOSC Tips Pricing 100

Jason Nazar

MAY 4, 2010

This month’s Startups Uncensored will be on “How to Raise Venture Capital”. It will be an open and frank town-hall conversation where we bring in venture capitalists from the top firms across the country to talk about the process and requirements entrepreneurs need to go through to successfully raise money from venture capitalists. This month’s session will be hosted by Jason Nazar (CEO, Docstoc.com), and we will be joined by Nate Redmond of Rustic Canyon , Josh Stein of Draper Fisher Jur

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Rustic Canyon Capital Santa Monica 108

socalTECH

MAY 7, 2010

A report Friday afternoon from the WSJ's Kara Swisher says that Santa Monica-based Demand Media has snagged yet another Yahoo executive, this time, Yahoo VP of Brand Packaging Erika Nardini. The move comes shortly after Demand hired former Yahoo Head of U.S. Advertising Sales Joanne Bradford. Swisher also says that Yahoo program manager Sarah Northern also tendered her resignation and is joining Demand.

Yahoo 203

Yahoo Demand Media Report 203

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2010

Last week at an angel investor forum I was privileged to meet Stephanie Spong, who is a Principal with EPIC Ventures, an increasingly rare early stage VC firm. Her experience includes helping startups for many years, and board positions on the Rocky Mountain and New Mexico Venture Capital Associations, New Mexico Angels, as well as several startups.

Venture Capital 65

Venture Capital Capital Entrepreneur Competition 65

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 7, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010 -- Traction in Sales. TCVN. Traction in Sales is the Game Today! Funded yet? And you wont be until you generate a sales and marketing machine to demonstrate real traction and the ability to sell your products and services. We will cover the critical pieces to launch your start-up and accelerate sales in your early stage or established business.

Sales 100

Sales TCVN Startup Funding 100

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 6, 2010

For those who might have missed the WebTV Workshop last night with Pro's such as our own Amanda Coolong, Streamy Award Winner (writer) Bernie Su ( Compulsions.tv ), and Liz Shannon Miller ( NewTeeVee , Editor). You can catch the recorded live stream below. The WebTV Workshop in Hollywood offers a month long course on creating your web series – from writing to promoting it.

Hollywood 64

Hollywood Web Writing Entertainment 64

socalTECH

MAY 3, 2010

Beverly Hills-based OVGuide.com , the online video search site backed by Geocities' David Bohnett, has merged with IBeatYou , according to a regulatory filing Monday. The deal was worth $2.975M, with $1.487M in earnout. No details on the transaction have been released by either of the firms, however, Abdul Khan, founder of IBeatYou, confirmed that the merger had happened, saying that the move allows the site to become part of a larger company with more scale and reach.

Beverly Hills 190

Beverly Hills Sites Acquisition Company 190

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2010

Some people are not cut out to be entrepreneurs. This is a good thing, or the business world would be chaos, with everyone trying to do their own thing. So what about you? How do you know if you should be running your own company, or concentrating on that queue of work that someone else has built for you? Now is the time to put aside your fantasies, and take a hard look at who you really are.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Organization Ideas 55

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 7, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010 -- roduct Life Cycle Management for Wireless Health Pioneers. Wireless Life Sciences Alliance. The wireless health sector is emerging from a long period of incubation to become a market force that fundamentally changes how the market accesses healthcare services and products. Challenges certainly remain. New technologies and tech-enabled services must be clinically validated; healthcare business and payment models must be modified to support the opportunity; and, products

Product 100

Product Incubator Design Marketing 100

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 4, 2010

Twitter Media is giving you the ability to generate static HTML tweets to post in your articles. No longer will you need to do a screen shot of that famous quote @scobleizer said at the latest conference. All you have to do is get the URL of the specific tweet you want to use and put it into Blackbird Pie and hit "Bake it". Heading out to Digital Hollywood ( #DH2010 ) this afternoon.

Screening 40

Screening HTML Digital Hollywood Hollywood 40

socalTECH

MAY 7, 2010

Five, Southern California firms are among companies who are splitting up $62M in government funding for the research, development, and demonstration of concentrating solar power systems, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy. According to DOE Secretary Steven Chu, it has selected thirteen award winners in Concentrating Solar Power Systems Studies, and Concentrating Solar Power Component Feasibility Studies.

Canoga Park 186

Canoga Park Research Southern California Chatsworth 186

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2010

Viral marketing and word-of-mouth are not enough these days to make your product and brand visible in the relentless onslaught of new promotional media out there today. Innovation in marketing is perhaps more important than product innovation. Yet in the business plans I see, the marketing content and budget are smaller than ever. More than just spending, you need to create an “experience” in this digital age which sets you apart from the banner ads, email blasts, and old-school websites out the

Marketing 55

Marketing Startup Demand Custom 55

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 6, 2010

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 -- TiE Southern California's May Event. Speakers include: Mr. Uday Kumar - Head, US Ops at Reliance MediaWorks; Mr. Basu Ghosh - CEO, Omnikron and CEO Basu's HomeStyle; Nick Wilson - CTO, Break.com; Jon Ham - CEO, Fitness on the Run. See https://www.123signup.com/servlet/SignUpMember?PG=1521728182300andP=1521728191150788000andInfo.

Southern California 100

Southern California Break.com 100

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 3, 2010

Listed below are some of the top picks from CheapCheapCheap.com , a bargain hunting webpage based out of Southern California, CA. Offers typically don't last long - either they run out of stock, or they change the prices due to high demand! Act quickly if you're interested, or you may be too late. Games. There has been a tremendous price drop lately on Playstation 3 and XBOX360 games as games grow older and new games constantly are released.

Southern California 40

Southern California Pricing Tips Entertainment 40

socalTECH

MAY 6, 2010

Los Angeles-based CitySourced , a developer of a mobile phone application which helps citizens report potholes, graffiti, and other issues to cities, said today that it has integrated its software with the San Francisco Open311 API. According to CitySourced, the integration allows its application to send reports directly to San Francisco's 311 system, an effort which gives citizens direct access to non-emergency, government offices.

Mobile 186

Mobile Report Los Angeles Software 186

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2010

I’m sure that every one of us who has been out in the business world for a few years can look back with perfect hindsight and name a few college courses that we should have taken. What’s more disconcerting to me is that I can name a few that weren’t even offered! I won’t even try to cover here the ones you didn’t find for your personal life, like managing personal finances and credit.

Course 53

Course Writing Ideas Class 53

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 5, 2010

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 -- Digital Entertainment: Advertising, Distribution and the Consumer. Santa Monica College and The City of Santa Monica bring together business leaders for an insightful discussion on Digital Entertainment. Join Los Angeles Business and Industry Executives as they share cutting edge insights on monetizing digital entertainment, discuss new and future business models for digital media across platforms and the impact of this evolving industry will have on our future work

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Advertising Santa Monica Los Angeles 100

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 3, 2010

Recently, Rovio released a new version of its hit $0.99 game, Angry Birds for the iPhone. If you're unfamiliar with the game, it works like this: A race of pigs has stolen the eggs of several bird species. So what's a bird to do? Get revenge, of course, by sling-shotting each other across vast distances through the pigs' fortified castles. The animations and sounds for the game are what's expected from an iPhone game, cute and cartoony.

Course 40

Course Pricing 40

socalTECH

MAY 7, 2010

Two Southern California firms have made Advertising Age's annual list of the largest search marketing agencies, released last week. Santa Monica-based The Search Agency , which is headed by David Hughes, was listed at number 12, and San Diego-based Covario , which is run by Russ Mann, was listed at number 25. Advertising Age reported that The Search Agency's 2009 revenues were $20.4M, and Covario's 2009 revenues were $8.8M.

Marketing 174

Marketing Southern California Santa Monica Advertising 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2010

One of the biggest myths I still see in the community of new entrepreneurs is assumption that “All I need is a good idea, and some investor will give me the cash I need to build the business.” In reality, investors fund good business plans, not good ideas. It’s all in the execution. A related myth is that it takes a lot of money to start a business.

Startup 51

Startup Examples Entrepreneur Equity 51

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 5, 2010

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 -- Funding the Future of the Video Game Industry. LAVA. Please join LAVA, Stubbs Alderton Markiles, PricewaterhouseCoopers and a distinguished panel of video game industry experts for their insights on capital sources for video game companies. See [link] (more).

LAVA 100

LAVA Funding Capital Company 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 1, 2010

Running the “Agile&# Board. Most early stage startups having monthly board meetings. I normally recommend 8 meetings per year. It makes no sense to meet in August or December due to travel schedules of most investors. You can do calls if need be. And I often recommend that board meetings be every 5 or 6 weeks rather than 4 to give enough elapsed time for stuff to actually happen between meetings.

Startup 301

Startup Venture Capital Software Review Email 301

socalTECH

MAY 5, 2010

Los Angeles-based EcoMom.com , a new site focused on "green" parenting and shopping, launched this morning, saying it will offer environmentally friendly products, community resources, and expert advice. The firm--which was originally known as Sprout Baby--said it is backed by angel investor Dave McClure. The company's founders are Jody Sherman and Kimberly Danek Pinkson.

Sites 170

Sites Venture Capital Resource Content 170

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2010

Starting and building a company is all about leadership – formulating an idea, building a unique plan based on vision and experience, and forging a path over and through all obstacles. Yet the image of leadership in business is at an all-time low, according to national leadership experts, considering the Wall Street collapse, record business bankruptcies, and executive fraud cases.

Entrepreneur 50

Entrepreneur Coach Startup Tool 50

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 5, 2010

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 -- Emerging Success Stories. BioTech Forum. A recent Southern California Edison study on the Bioscience Industry in Southern California identified the Conejo Valley Region as one of only four bio-hot spots in a six county region. Panel includes: Andre de Fusco, CEO, Cynvenio Biosystems; Brian Lee, CEO, PBS Biotech; Mike Reilly, CEO, Western States Biopharmaceuticals.

Southern California 100

Southern California Study 100

SoCal CTO

MAY 4, 2010

Some great posts from April 2010 that talk to me in terms of being a CTO at a Startup. No Plan Survives First Contact With Customers – Business Plans versus Business Models - Steve Blank , April 8, 2010 The Twitter Platform's Inflection Point - A VC : Venture Capital and Technology , April 7, 2010 The tradeoff between open and closed - Chris Dixon , April 25, 2010 Not disruptive, and proud of it - A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks , April 12, 2010 What Makes Something Interesting?

CTO Hire 150

CTO Hire Venture Capital Startup Social Network 150