Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2015

Social media is so pervasive in today’s world that every entrepreneur believes instinctively that they know how to use it for their startup. Startups should begin by selecting just a few of the vast array of social media offerings out there, and customize based on results. Don’t forget the metrics and analytics.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Startup Tips 108

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2015

Most aspiring entrepreneurs are convinced that the strength of their initial idea somehow defines them as a leader, as well as the success potential of their derivative business. It takes leadership ability, as well as a good idea, to make a successful entrepreneur, and great leaders evolve from key leadership decisions along the way.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Ideas Framework Tips 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2014

Most aspiring entrepreneurs are convinced that the strength of their initial idea somehow defines them as a leader, as well as the success potential of their derivative business. It takes leadership ability, as well as a good idea, to make a successful entrepreneur, and great leaders evolve from key leadership decisions along the way.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Ideas Framework Tips 111

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

I love the enthusiasm, the boundless energy and the sense of possibility that comes from having an idea that hasn’t yet been beat up in the marketplace of competing ideas, customer contracts, VC skepticism, jaded journalists or fickle consumers who are on the The New, New Thing. Great startups have budgets.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Metrics Startup Sales 150

SoCal CTO

APRIL 8, 2010

If I Launched a Startup - The Startup Lawyer , March 17, 2010 Great advice on initial steps of setting up a Startup. If I Launched a Startup - The Startup Lawyer , March 17, 2010 Great advice on initial steps of setting up a Startup. There are MANY of them. Not that it’s always a bad thing.

Startup 150

Startup Software Review Competition SoCal 150

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2015

They suffered in trying to live up to public perceptions and the demands to continue their successes. Entrepreneurs could learn about loneliness of success: nobody talks about. The road is littered with startups that shined bright before burning out. But needed to be seen. Mark Suster (@msuster) July 19, 2015.

Press 150

Press Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur 150

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

We all know that funding markets have changed for startups. I have blogged about some of the downside consequences of the changes and the private information I have says the consequences are much worse than is reported in the press since few people publicly talk about. Does he blog about venture capital and try to advise entrepreneurs?

Venture Capital 352

Venture Capital Seed Funding Email Blogging 352

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 9, 2014

As our first time covering a 500 Startups demo day , we could only imagine the stratospheric levels of stress our Batch 8 founders must have gone through to get on stage and present their progress from their last four months of startup bootcamp. In true 500 Startups fashion, Demo Day had an almost cathartic feel.

Startup 111

Startup Mobile Commerce Education 111

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

Every new business dreams of growing from a startup to a global market leader in a few years, like Amazon.com, but that goal is elusive. As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked for the magic that has made Amazon the world's most valuable brand , from a total unknown only twenty years ago.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Customer Custom 123

socalTECH

JANUARY 24, 2011

For this morning's company profile, we thought we'd connect with ShareSquare (www.getsharesquare.com), a newly funded Los Angeles startup focused on QR barcodes -- 3D barcodes -- focused on musicians and entertainers. We caught up with Matthias Galica , the firm's founder, to hear more about the company.

Startup 220

Startup West Hollywood Metrics Entertainment 220

socalTECH

JUNE 11, 2018

For our interview this morning, we caught up with Scot Lawrie , the President and technical Co-founder of Los Angeles-based Coverfly (www.coverfly.com), and John Rhodes , Coverfly's head of Marketing and Business Development, to learn a bit more about the early stage, bootstrapped startup focused on Hollywood script writers.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Hollywood Platform Competition 100

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

The fund--started by Brian Garrett and Rick Smith --has been focused on digital media investments, and so far has made investments in six companies. Let's start with an overview of the fund. Brian Garrett: We started Crosscut Ventures about a year ago. How tough was it to start up a new fund? What do you invest in?

Southern California 153

Southern California Startup Palomar Rustic Canyon 153

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

Many business executives and entrepreneurs I know are convinced that business success is all about having the right solution for the right price. Start looking for what is right in a person or business situation, instead of looking for what is wrong. Start your day with a positive business challenge.

Software Review 57

Software Review Technical Review Startup Press 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 28, 2018

Most aspiring entrepreneurs are convinced that the strength of their initial idea somehow defines them as a leader, as well as the success potential of their derivative business. It takes leadership ability, as well as a good idea, to make a successful entrepreneur, and great leaders evolve from key leadership decisions along the way.

Ideas 66

Ideas Entrepreneur Framework Tips 66

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

Yet these same entrepreneurs often quickly get set in their ways, and find themselves resisting changes to their own business, and begin to fear further customer change in their domain. Don’t assume a simple press release will be enough. Pick metrics to measure change implementation and results.

Press 56

Press Tool Metrics Startup 56

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2010

We caught up with Zach James and Rich Raddon , co-founders of MOVIECLIPS, to learn more about the company and also hear about the firm's funding round. Our metrics show that when people watch chips, they increase their tendency to want to watch that feature length film. I ran the Los Angeles Film Festival for a decade.

Startup 190

Startup Los Angeles Content Hollywood 190

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 11, 2015

As much of the coverage in the press this morning acknowledges it’s rare for a partner to leave from one firm to another. In this capacity I can tell any entrepreneurs raising early-stage capital that I would have Matt on my short list if I were raising. He’s one of the truly nice guys in venture: buttoned-up and prepared.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Gogii Course Activity 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2019

In the popular press, it’s easy to find articles that will convince you that companies with a good culture, such as Google, do it by lavishing perks and benefits , including some combination of free meals, trips and parties, financial bonuses, gyms, and a dog-friendly environment.

Competition 76

Competition Coach Case Study Statistics 76

InfoChachkie

MAY 22, 2012

The same should be true of an entrepreneur who is attempting to secure money from sophisticated investors. Step 1: The Person, Not The Firm – As Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson make clear in their book Venture Deals , entrepreneurs should identify specific venture partners, rather than target firms as a whole. It’s not.”

Venture Capital 236

Venture Capital Capital Research Customer 236

InfoChachkie

APRIL 7, 2010

These spurious partnerships had no substance and were initiated for the sole purpose of sending out a press release. Despite the pathetic nature of Barney deals, the big purple dinosaur offered sound business advice to entrepreneurs in a TV episode entitled, “Sharing means caring.” Revving Up Shared Revenue.

Resource 154

Resource Paramount Press Metrics 154

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 6, 2010

But in my experience as an entrepreneur and now spending my time amongst investors I can generalize that almost all VC investments in early stage technology & Internet investments come down to just four key factors. This post was prompted by an email exchange I had with a young entrepreneur. I was interested in learning more.

Startup 360

Startup Venture Capital Invest Slides 360

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2010

TechCrunch Europe ran an article in November of last year that European startups need to work as hard as those in Silicon Valley and I echoed the sentiment in my post about the need for entrepreneurs to be maniacal about their businesses if one wants to work in the hyper competitive tech world. We were based in London.

Entrepreneur 308

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Conference 308

InfoChachkie

MARCH 2, 2010

It was a great time to start a sports memorabilia company. We quickly built upon our meager initial capital by buying and selling cards that otherwise would likely have ended up in landfills. The advent of investors and grading services drove up the demand for near-perfect cards while suppressing the value of all other cards.

Pricing 138

Pricing Advertising Marketing Startup 138

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Announcing EIGHT new mini-books and eBooks by Master Entrepreneur, Dave Berkus , just released by The Berkus Press. Individual books from The Berkus Press by clicking HERE. STARTING UP! Creating metrics. Direct from The Berkus Press: $14.95 (click here). Kindle eBook: $2.99 (press here).

eBook 168

eBook Press Metrics Startup 168

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2011

I just had to line up behind him. I was saying that I was happy it was all out in the open because I felt at least everybody could now understand the issues & opportunities from the perspectives of angels, entrepreneurs and VCs. We then started talking about Dave McClure. EcoMom originally started as SproutBaby.

Startup 292

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Summary 292

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

I have been close to the tech & startup sectors for more than 20 years and I can’t think of a period in which I felt more optimistic about the innovation and value creation I see in front of us. The number of startups being created has increased by an order of magnitude. Thank you, Aaron Sorkin!

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Startup 347

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

Something is rotten in tech startup land. It’s not that I’m anti innovation or a disbeliever in disruption or calling it a full-scale bubble or saying every darling startup is going to fail. The uninvited crowds have all turned up. He turned up for the fun but went too hard, too early. None of those.

Technical Advisors 150

Technical Advisors Startup Writing Blogging 150