Both Sides of the Table

MAY 26, 2011

I have often said that what separates real entrepreneurs from pundits and bystanders is a bias towards getting things done versus over analyzing things. That doesn’t work in a startup. There’s a certain cadence that you can feel when you spend time hanging any well-run startup company. My credo has always been JFDI.

Startup 335

Startup Technical Review Framework Entrepreneur 335

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 1, 2009

It is also a result of pent-up demand. Consumer spending is 70% of the economy and will continue to be stretched – We can look all we want at tech innovation, VC funding cycles and hot M&A deals, but ultimately growth and therefore investment must be underpinned by revenue. See point 2 below.

Venture Capital 269

Venture Capital Startup Funding Technical Review 269

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 8, 2014

Deal screening. Industry reviews. Associates often shadow partners at board meetings so that they can help follow up with the company on important initiatives between board meetings. So the “VC associate” is largely a launching pad job for exceedingly bright and hard-working young tech professionals.

Help 365

Help Invest Venture Capital Technical Review 365

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2013

I’m very excited to be finally be able to announce that this week we’ve added Sam Rosen to our ranks at GRP Partners in the role of entrepreneurs-in-residence – EIR. It’s the first EIR that we’ve had in the years that I’ve been with the firm and I hope will be the start of our investment in this program.

Startup 372

Startup Course Ideas Invest 372

socalTECH

MARCH 21, 2014

In a world with a rash of startup incubators and accelerators, super angels, crowdfunding sites, and more, what''s the relevance of organized angel investments groups? Terry Kay: We have always been about helping the entrepreneurs succeed, first, and then, we figure out how we get our fair share from that success.

Pasadena Angels 162

Pasadena Angels Pasadena Angel Startup 162

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done. Entrepreneurial lawyers like Don Lee , Dave Young or Ted Wang are good at sussing out which entrepreneurs are high potential. I tapped my friends at big tech companies (Salesforce, Google, Oracle). I attended events.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Startup Pricing Invest 347

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done. Entrepreneurial lawyers like Don Lee , Dave Young or Ted Wang are good at sussing out which entrepreneurs are high potential. I tapped my friends at big tech companies (Salesforce, Google, Oracle). I attended events.

Startup 361

Startup Venture Capital Pricing Technical Review 361

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Huge thank you to Steve De Long for the write up. How did you start blogging? “My In 2004 / 2005 I was starting to get intrigued with user-generated content. was starting. Either it’s a bunch of pictures or screen shots or it’s a bunch of words. You still need the presentation to back that up.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 15, 2016

It’s a known fact that there are more men than women in tech, and those numbers aren’t getting better — in 2013, women held 26 percent of computing jobs in the United States, as opposed to 35 percent in 1990. Female Tech Role Models. Advice for Women in Tech. Jennifer Wang is one such role model.

Technical Review 40

Technical Review Social Media Startup Screening 40

socalTECH

JULY 22, 2016

Rufus Labs is one of a number of hardware startups which have started to proliferate in the community, due to low cost hardware, 3D printing, and crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Gabe Grifoni: At Rufus Labs, we are focused heavily on building wearables and technology in a wearable platform for the enterprise.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Startup Software Review CTO Hire 100

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 25, 2012

As we continue this monumental year in the startup realm, we welcome a newcomer – Boston Startup School. Last week Boston Startup School officially launched and began with their inaugural class. ” -says Shaun Johnson, Co-Founder and COO of Boston Startup School.

Education 86

Education Startup Software Review Technical Review 86

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2016

The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. Or they get sidetracked by a technical glitch due to poor preparation. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point.

Startup 64

Startup Slides Technical Review Research 64

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 8, 2009

Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of thinking that funding is something you do in “funding season,&# some mythical 2-month period when you’re ready with a great Powerpoint deck and you hit up all of the VC’s at the same time so that you can quickly raise money and get back to the job of building a business.

Venture Capital 309

Venture Capital Guide Startup Technical Review 309

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 10, 2010

If you’re not familiar with the term it’s basically trying to help all of us who are deluged with technology to find ways to cope with the masses of information without having it ruin our lives. Let me start by saying I’m a huge business book cynic. You’re on the DS (deferred startup) plan.

Startup 295

Startup Email Technical Review Course 295

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2012

For the last week of the year, we're featuring the thoughts and reflections of some of the movers and shakers of Southern California's high tech community. We asked the same four questions of a variety of top technology entrepreneurs, investors, and others, to hear what they're thinking about, and are sharing it here over the next week.

Technical Review 223

Technical Review Southern California Incubator High Tech 223

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2015

The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. Or they get sidetracked by a technical glitch due to poor preparation. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point.

Slides 105

Slides Technical Review Startup Research 105

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 13, 2012

Running that effort is Kevin Hell , the founder of DivX, who we caught up with to learn more about EvoNexus and how the group is trying to help grow technology startups in San Dieog. We're providing a very unique benefit, which is an entrepreneur-friendly incubator. It's a unique, community supported model.

Incubator 212

Incubator San Diego Technical Review Development Team Review 212

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2016

After listening to hundreds of startup pitches, and reading even more business plans, most new venture investors develop their own favorite list of “red flags” that signal the beginning of the end of their interest. Terms “paradigm shift” or “disruptive technology” used more than once. None of these cases are credible.

Funding 98

Funding Startup Innocal Entrepreneur 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2013

The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. Or they get sidetracked by a technical glitch due to poor preparation. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point.

Angel 102

Angel Funding Slides Technical Review 102

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. The Gust Deal Funnel from the last 12 months indicates is that 70% of the interested companies never make it past the initial screening process. are eliminated during due diligence. Line up an experienced team. Build a prototype product.

Invest 99

Invest Angel Technical Review Summary 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. The AngelSoft Deal Funnel from the last 12 months indicates is that 70% of the interested companies never make it past the initial screening process. are eliminated during due diligence. Line up an experienced team. Build a prototype product.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 24, 2013

If you are the first to deliver this, your startup might be the next Google! Technology environment savvy. In today’s mobile hardware environment, that means able to set up meetings, convert text messages to voice, find contact information quickly, and search the Web intelligently for outside info.

Web 98

Web Entrepreneur Software Review Google 98

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2010

Bill Gates once famously said that people tend to overestimate the impact of technology in the 1-year timeframe and underestimate its impact in the 10-year timeframe. I tend not to go into heat when I hear the latest buzz on the tech blogs about the latest gadgets. So I signed up for the online version of Weight Watchers.

Technical Review 278

Technical Review Software Review Startup SoCal 278

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2012

The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. Or they get sidetracked by a technical glitch due to poor preparation. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point.

Tips 97

Tips Slides Technical Review Startup 97

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

In a bid to change that, there are a few groups working on helping women entrepreneurs, investors, and others, including the Pipeline Fellowship (www.pipelinefellowship.com), which recently launched itself into the Los Angeles market. What is the Pipeline Fellowship? It''s not only an education program, but it''s also a source of funding.

Angel 276

Angel Invest Mentor Technical Review 276

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 10, 2010

TechZulu is heading off to BlogWorld and New Media Expo October 14-16 where we will be reporting live and bringing you some of the biggest names in the tech industry along with all the keynote sessions. Also, the new iPad rumored for release in first quarter of 2011 to sport a 7-inch screen and a micro or mini USB port. TZ Highlight.

Technical Review 65

Technical Review News Tips Screening 65

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2011

The biggest complaint I hear from investors is that startup founders often talk way too long, and neglect to cover the most relevant points. Or they get sidetracked by a technical glitch due to poor preparation. If you start by pitching your extended life story, that’s the wrong point.

Slides 95

Slides Technical Review Startup Research 95

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 25, 2013

In 2006, Douglas Campbell started Mindshare LA out of the downtown art colony The Brewery. I was bored with bar scene, and started an informal party with talks downtown called Mindshare,” said Campbell. Campbell said the process of coming up with themes is purely organic. What is cool that is happening with the ocean?

Santa Monica 92

Santa Monica BarCamp Startup UCLA 92

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2011

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. It won’t help your case or your workload to do an email blast and follow-up with 60,000 members around the world. Or does it?

Angel 102

Angel Keiretsu Organization Template 102

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

This is an updated post from my ongoing series on Startup Advice that I learned from founding two companies. . I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. I HATE LOSING. I hate it. I lose sleep.

Outsource Development 328

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 328

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

Len Short is truly an online marketing pioneer, heading up marketing at Charles Schwab, AOL and then (PRODUCT)RED. I recently caught up with Len outside of George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch. Despite this technical glitch, I opted to publish our discussion, given the high-quality content of his comments.

Google 220

Google Technical Advisors Technical Review Equity 220

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 15, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series on Start-up Lessons that I learned from founding two companies. I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. But first I’d like to start with a story.

Startup 151

Startup Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review 151

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 25, 2010

Any SoCal entrepreneur raising early-stage money should put Rincon on their short list. Before booking a hotel I always check out Trip Advisor and read reviews. It’s hard for angels to assess whether or not to invest because they often have day jobs and can’t commit to the kind of due diligence that most VCs go through.

Guide 293

Guide Funding Venture Capital Technical Review 293

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. As an entrepreneur, simply enter your location online, and it will list the angel and VC organizations near you. Or does it? I’ll come back to that later.

Angel 48

Angel Keiretsu Startup Template 48

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

” while watching the screen and registering nothing. We discuss advertising, Vidzey’s story, technology, business, interns, and entertainment. So Sean starts at the beginning and discusses where Vidzey’s concept came from. I’m staring at my screen, and there they were. FROM THE BEGINNING.

Entertainment 98

Entertainment Advertising Startup Media 98

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2010

So when I started talking with Evan Rifkin almost a year ago about the company he was planning to build, I was intrigued. He has many of the attributes I look for in an entrepreneur and importantly he has deep domain experience in ad management. Let’s start from the highest level that will not be rocket science.

Mobile 282

Mobile Invest Company Companies 282

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

This is an updated post from my ongoing series on Startup Advice that I learned from founding two companies. . I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. I HATE LOSING. I hate it. I lose sleep.

Outsource Development 333

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 333