Sat.Jul 21, 2012 - Fri.Jul 27, 2012

article thumbnail

Here are More Signs that LA Tech is Moving to the Next Level

Both Sides of the Table

I wrote a blog post on how to work with lawyers at a startup nearly two-and-a-half years ago. It was very widely read. If you don’t have much experience in working with law firms at a startup it’s a good primer. In that post I talked about how to select a law-firm for a startup. It should be: Local; Right-sized; and. Startup-focused. I specifically called out some of the best people I had personally worked with.

article thumbnail

Los Angeles Accelerator Report Card: Too Early To Tell

socalTECH

There's been a surge in startup accelerator activity in Los Angeles in the last year, as interest in starting a company in the region has grown, and a wide range of experienced entrepreneurs and investors have pitched in to help companies get to the next level. But, how are those accelerators doing so far in terms of attracting capital and attention to Southern California startups?

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Guerilla Marketing, Brad Feld Style

InfoChachkie

This article originally appeared on Forbes HERE. Serial entrepreneur, venture investor and startup accelerator pioneer Brad Feld has notoriously mocked traditional marketing throughout his career. Rejecting the paint-by-numbers approach to corporate communications deployed by most marketing executives, Brad has embraced unconventional guerilla marketing tactics to help establish his venture capital firm, Foundry Group, as a thought leader in early-stage tech investing.

Marketing 233
article thumbnail

Better is the Enemy of Good Enough.

Berkonomics

Getting any product to market is an act composed of a series of compromises in quality, product perfection, feature-functionality, and cost effectiveness. If every development engineer could control the release date of the component or product for which s/he is responsible, the dates for completion would certainly extend outward and vary from plan.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

LA CEOs

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, August 2, 2012 -- LA CEOs presents: Scrum for CEOs - How to Manage Teams in a 2.0 World. Does your development team need ?just two more weeks? to deliver their work? Was that the same answer they gave two months ago? How does the Scrum process change team collaboration and accelerate development? Learn from one of our very own LA CEOs, Bill Sewell, about his team?

Downey 113
article thumbnail

LA's Technology Ecosystem Expands, As Silicon Valley Law Firm Sets Up Shop

socalTECH

In a sign that the Los Angeles technology and startup world is starting to be taken more seriously by Silicon Valley, one of Silicon Valley's more prominent law firms has set up shop in Santa Monica. Cooley LLP said Tuesday that it has added four partners to a new, Los Angeles office, and also hired one of the most active and connected insiders in the region to head up business development efforts in Los Angeles.

More Trending

article thumbnail

Six Street Smart Startup Survival Secrets

Startup Professionals Musings

Every entrepreneur wants to know how they can improve their odds on the road to success, and why some entrepreneurs seem to be able to squeeze success out of even a marginal business case. Most experts agree that is has lot to do with your level of passion, determination, and innovation, modulated by a strong focus on reality, common sense, and street smarts.

Startup 97
article thumbnail

Next MediaLeaders Networking Event

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 -- Next MediaLeaders Networking Event. Hey there MediaLeaders. Summer is officially here and we?re hosting a Santa Monica networking event at the Sonoma Wine Garden to celebrate this great weather. This spacious venue has tons of outdoor seating and lots of areas to mingle and chat about all things tech, marketing and advertising.

article thumbnail

Interview with Jerry Jao, Retention Science

socalTECH

How to you better convert web visitors into customers? That's exactly what Retention Science (www.retentionscience.com), the latest firm out of the MuckerLab acceleartor, helps e-commerce companies do. Jerry Jao, the CEO of Retention Science, tells us how the firm is using big data to help e-commerce firms convert more customers. Retention Science is venture backed by Baroda Ventures, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Double M Partners, as well as a long list of local angel investors (Paige Craig, Bong Koh

Commerce 196
article thumbnail

DreamItAlive | Create Your Virtual Dreamboard

Tech Zulu Event

Are you familiar with The Secret and The Law of Attraction ? It’s the theory that you can manifest your thoughts into reality. Law of Attraction states that whatever is in your thoughts, be it negative or positive, you’ll draw those same thoughts to you (whether you want to or not). The discipline needed to create your reality is to believe, be aware of your thoughts and have control over them.

TCVN 98
article thumbnail

Good Entrepreneur Ethics Increase Business Value

Startup Professionals Musings

Did you ever wonder how a new entrepreneur knows how to “do the right thing” for his business? Most experts believe that the essence of doing the right thing is ethics. Translating that into business value, a study by Wirthlin Worldwide concluded that 80% of customers still base a good portion of their buy decision on their perception of that firm’s ethics.

article thumbnail

MIT Enterprise Forum

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 -- MIT Enterprise Forum, Wine Social. The MIT Enterprise Forum San Diego signature wine social, held annually, is widely recognized as the premier networking event for San Diego's technology and biotechnology community. See https://www.cvent.com/events/mit-enterprise-forum-san-diego-2012-wine-social/registration-3af3ad10c30a44d29039ae7c13daa24a.aspx.

article thumbnail

StartEngine Launches New Class of 14 Startups

socalTECH

Los Angeles startup accelerator StartEngine has launched its third class, a new batch of fourteen startups which have set up shop in the incubator's Westwood Village space under the watchful eyes of Activision co-founder Howard Marks and investor Paul Kessler. According to StartEngine, the list of startups include Afterschool.me (social marketplace for kids activities); Contur (email software client); DormInk (printer ink delivery); Enplug (interactive TV box); FixKit (subscription nutritional s

Class 196
article thumbnail

Startup Weekend LA Summer 2012 Live!

Tech Zulu Event

We are live from Startup Weekend Los Angeles at Coloft! HUGE thanks to Denise Walker for helping out with the stream! Stream will begin around 6:15pm PST. Refresh the page if video is not live streaming.

Startup 98
article thumbnail

10 Keys to Making an Entrepreneur Website Credible

Startup Professionals Musings

Smart people only visit and buy from credible and memorable websites. In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. In today’s world, a website is necessary but not sufficient for credibility. Dreamers and gamblers have found out that if the website isn’t validated as credible, it’s probably a scam, and everyone loses.

article thumbnail

Networking Event

SoCal Tech Calendar

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 -- TechBiz Connection Presents Networking. July is our Networking month. Please join TechBiz Connection (TBC) and Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) for drinks, appetizers and some great networking. Come and meet some movers and shakers in Orange County.

TechBiz 113
article thumbnail

Amplify Adds Wine Recommendations Site Club W To Accelerator

socalTECH

Venice-based startup accelerator Amplify LA has added a new startup to its portfolio, personalized wine recommendation site Club W. The two companies said that they are in a strategic partnership, which will provide Club W with the resources to keep up with stronger-than-anticipated consumer demand for its services. The addition of Club W is an interesting one for Amplify, which is headed by Paul Bricault and Richard Wolpert, in that Club W is already generating cash.

Sites 187
article thumbnail

Gabi Sorts & Ranks What’s Important to You | Interview With CEO Stefanie Hoffmann

Tech Zulu Event

Gabi is not someone you know, she is not your friend next door nor your brother’s girlfriend, she is not even a she after all. A much more different Gabi is making news here. A new startup from as far as Berlin, loui AppsUG is making Facebook more interesting and personalized to as real as following status updates relating to one’s mood and preferences.

article thumbnail

A Business Plan is for You First, Then for Investors

Startup Professionals Musings

Too many entrepreneurs still believe the urban myth that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and investors will throw money at you. Every investor I know is frustrated with the poor quality of the business plans they get. This is sad, since “how to write a business plan” is a frequent topic found in every business journal, and a common title in the business section of every book store.

Sample 96
article thumbnail

9th Annual ERA - Sagebrush Cantina Summer Social

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, August 2, 2012 -- 9th Annual Summer Social for the electronics industry at the World Famous Sagebrush Cantina. This event typically draws 150+ and is always a lot of fun reuniting old friends and making new ones~! All distributors, mfrs. reps, OEM's and anyone related to the electronics industry here in So. California. Email bherold@conquesttechnicalsales.com.

Email 100
article thumbnail

Demand Media Ties Into Olympics With Content

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based online content publisher Demand Media is getting into an Olympics mood, saying Thursday afternoon that it has launched an Olympics-related series, Taking London , a special series which will be featured on the LIVESTRONG Woman YouTube channel. Demand Media said that the feature will follow four female athletes as they pursue their dream of computing in the 2012 Olympic Summer Games.

Demand 180
article thumbnail

Levi Felix Creator of The Digital Detox Retreat | Unplug and Rewind

Tech Zulu Event

The Digital Detox Retreat September 13-16, 2012. As technologists living online in real time all the time, it is easy to lose perspective on life. A new retreat called “The Digital Detox” offers a unique solution to recharge and reconnect by surrendering technology for a few days in a magical setting with like-minded fellows. Created by Levi Felix and Brooke Dean, “The Digital Detox” is a handcrafted experience for the brave who are willing to surrender, open their minds

Pricing 86
article thumbnail

A Startup Advisory Board Dream Team is Priceless

Startup Professionals Musings

Every startup faces a myriad of challenges that are well beyond the scope of any founder, so you need a few guiding lights to illuminate the road ahead. These should be carefully selected, with a proven track record, willing and available to help, and be completely trustworthy. Make sure they are willing to check their egos at the door. Let’s talk specifics.

Startup 95
article thumbnail

Santa Monica Media Leaders Networking

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 -- Santa Monica Media Leaders Networking Event. Mingle and chat about all things tech, marketing and advertisin.

article thumbnail

Interview with Edward Park, Insteegram

socalTECH

Users of the Instagram mobile application--which runs on iPhone and Android--are familiar with how that app has become one of the key ways people socialize and share their life with others, all via the service's photo sharing and comments. That popularity helped drive Instagram's recent acquisition by Facebook for $1 billion. But, how do you bridge the digital world of Instagram with the real, physical world?

Startup 174
article thumbnail

Interview With Thomas Power CEO of Ecademy

Tech Zulu Event

Thomas Power CEO of Ecademy Interview. You can skip to the 2nd hour about the future and visions about Social Media. Great discussion and insight on what the future may hold. Check out Ecademy. Twitter: @ThomasPower. Twitter: @Ecademy. Source: TheChrisVossShow.com.

article thumbnail

Entrepreneurs Must Be Adept at Rapid Realignment

Startup Professionals Musings

Every entrepreneur’s first priority should be the alignment of interests across the range of constituents required for success – partners, investors, customers, vendors, and employees. The best are ones quickest and most willing to do the realignment on a continuous basis these days, as the market changes, customer interests change, and you learn from experience.

article thumbnail

Lead Developer to CTO at a Startup

SoCal CTO

I received a great question via LinkedIn: I'm the founding engineer and working hard to launch my startup. I seem to encounter a lot of people who want to attach a CTO label to me as I'm the only programmer on the founding team of three. While I do fill that role at the moment, I'm a little hesitant to refer to myself as a CTO as we still haven't launched a product, acquired a single user, or turned or a penny in profit.

CTO Coach 231
article thumbnail

Fisker Automotive Shifts Koehler To Business Development

socalTECH

Irvine-based electric auto maker Fisker Automotive said this afternoon that it has shifted co-founder Barny Koehler as its new Chief Business Development Officer, focused on strategic initiatives and new business opportunities. Koehler had formerly been co-founder and COO of the company. Fisker said the move moves Koehler from an operational role, to the strategic initiative and alliances area.

Develop 170
article thumbnail

Is Scott Thompson Back at eBay?

Tech Zulu Event

We reported here last week when former Google number 20 employee Marissa Mayer was appointed Yahoo CEO and said what it meant for Yahoo, Marissa Mayer and the then interim CEO Ross Levinsohn. Scott Thompson is back. Today we bring you what Scott Thompson is up to after he left the Yahoo! unceremoniously. Now, forget the noise about his resume, Scott Thompson is CEO of ShopRunner , a two year old startup partially owned by eBay and based in Pennsylvania.

Yahoo 65
article thumbnail

Trial and Error for Business Social Media Will Fail

Startup Professionals Musings

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. They randomly churn for hours a day on a couple of their favorite social media platforms, with little though given to goals, objectives, or metrics; and ultimately give up and fall back to traditional marketing approaches.

article thumbnail

Chirpify Hires LA Music Executive For Twitter Commerce

socalTECH

If you want to get into the music business, there's no better place than Los Angeles--including if you're a technology startup, apparently. Chirpify , a venture backed startup developing a way for users to transact and pay for merchandise over Twitter, said today that it has turned to an LA native to head up its business development efforts in the music area.

Commerce 170
article thumbnail

PayDragon Reveals $1.35M Seed Funding For Mobile Payments

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based PayDragon has raised $1.35M in its seed funding, the firm disclosed Friday. The firm--which had earlier disclosed the seed roudn , but without dollar amounts--said the funding included Rustic Canyon Ventures, SV Angel, and Y Combinator, as well as Yuri Milner and Mark Schwartz. PayDragon is led by Hamilton Chan, and is aimed at making it easier for users to pay for local items using their mobile phone.

article thumbnail

Mobile Roadie Powers Dutch Olympic Team App

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based mobile apps software firm Mobile Roadie is powering a new, Olympics-focused app, just a few days before the launch of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Mobile Roadie reports that at Olympic Team Netherlands has used the company's software to create their own, mobile apps , which will feature profiles of members of the Dutch Olympic Team, see a schedule of events, watch videos, and more.

Mobile 159
article thumbnail

AtomicMe Connects Social Networking, Revenue Sharing

socalTECH

A new, Los Angeles startup, AtomicMe , said this week that it is looking to tie together social networking activity with the interests users are passionate about--by sharing advertising revenues with those users. AtomicMe said it will pay 30% of the net advertising revenue generated through impressions on the site, for any user that can attract more than 100,000 unique visitors to a page within a month.

article thumbnail

Chill Launches New Video Front Page

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based social video site Chill , fresh off an injection of $8M from its investors, is launching a brand new effort to help consumers find the most interesting videos on the Internet from its home page. The new feature, called Chill Front Page , features an easy to navigate, front page filled with videos of what is going on now, based on both social data and data collected from Chill's social video service.

Sites 157