TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

The Los Angeles-based commerce and content platform StackCommerce has been acquired by the Integrated Media Company, a holding company set up by the massive private equity fund, TPG, to acquire new media businesses. Through its platform publishers can make between 15% to 20% of gross compared with 5% on an affiliate marketing site.

Media 134

Media Commerce Company Companies 134

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding to build reserves.

Startup 128

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2021

The Founder needs to remember that meetings up to this point have been primarily off-site, with staged demos, and managed personally by the CEO or a small team. Due diligence always involves on-site visits, informal discussions with any or all members of the team, vendors, and good customers as well as bad. Status of the solution.

Technical Review 151

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Invest 151

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capitalists) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. The positives are that you give up no equity, and these apply to the early startup stages, but they do take time and much effort to win.

Startup 87

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 87

socalTECH

MAY 8, 2017

Santa Monica-based equity crowdfunding site Crowdfunder is making it easier for it to work with investors, saying on Monday that it has just received its broker-dealer license to sell securities directly to accredited investors. Crowdfunder said the move will help create a "more seamless solution" for its customers.

Clearstone 113

Clearstone Draper Santa Monica Venture Capital 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

The problem is that professional investors (Angels and Venture Capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. The positives are that you give up no equity, and these apply to the early startup stages, but they do take time and much effort to win.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Funding Startup Technical Review 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

Los Angeles-based MySpace has been among the most visible of Southern California's Internet era success stories, although the site--now owned by News Corporation--has had its own share of ups-and-downs, as well as questions about its future. MindJolt offers up a broad catalog of casual and social games from its site. www.cocodot.com).

Startup 178

Startup Tech Coast Angels Demand News 178

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 17, 2020

Let’s take a few minutes to examine the kind of equity financing available to small or early stage businesses. In most cases, these applicants for equity funding must be rooted in technology to apply to this limited discussion. Angel investment groups or funds. Friends and family investors.

Equity 156

Equity Technical Review Class Organization 156

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding to build reserves.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Equity 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capitalists) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. The positives are that you give up no equity, and these apply to the early startup stages, but they do take time and much effort to win.

Develop 70

Develop Development Product Startup 70

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

The problem is that professional investors (Angels and Venture Capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. The positives are that you give up no equity, and these apply to the early startup stages, but they do take time and much effort to win.

Startup 123

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding to build reserves.

Startup 53

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 53

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2016

At least that is usually the lowest number I see requested from our local angel investment group. Starting a new business on a limited budget without investor involvement is called bootstrapping, and it’s the only way to go if you don’t want to spend months on the investment pitch preparation and delivery circuit.

Startup 61

Startup Social Media Entrepreneur Equity 61

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

The Founder needs to remember that meetings up to this point have been primarily off-site, with staged demos, and managed personally by the CEO or a small team. Due diligence always involves on-site visits, informal discussions with any or all members of the team, vendors, and good customers as well as bad. Status of the solution.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

socalTECH

JUNE 17, 2009

If you look at the site, it's comprised principally of individual bulletin boards for private companies. Companies we've selected are those that are the most exciting, and high profile, that people will want to invest in. The way sales are handled is as old as the 1930's securities laws. Greg Brogger: We have 150 companies.

Startup 124

Startup Zag Venture Capital Equity 124

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2010

If you don’t know Montgomery & Co it is one of the premier technology & media focused investment banks in the country (and as Michael corrected me they also have a strong Healthcare / Med tech practice). Should you use investment banks to raise venture capital? We discussed: 1. This is often in the 5-7% range.

Venture Capital 242

Venture Capital Mission Ventures Capital Help 242

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2011

Jeff Zwelling is the co-founder of Convertro (www.convertro.com), a Los Angeles company focused on helping companies track how their marketing efforts are leading to sales conversions. That's important, because it allows marketers to re-invest and give credit to that marketing event, so they can buy more of it and get more customers.

Startup 210

Startup Marketing Customer Custom 210

socalTECH

MARCH 10, 2010

Robin's latest startup is Internships.com (www.internships.com), an online site focused on aggregating internship opportunities and providing resources to potential interns. We spoke to Robin about the new startup, his executive team, as well as his angel investing activity here. How long has the site been up?

Startup 223

Startup Content Sites CTO Coach 223

socalTECH

JUNE 20, 2012

For two years, it was a mentorship program, that worked with twenty three different companies, but did not have a fund, did not have an office, and didn't take any equity. We're not investing in ideas and trying to turn them into companies. We were founded in 2009 by Mark Suster from GRP Partners. So when is the next class?

Class 261

Class Mentor Startup Santa Monica 261

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2016

If you expect an equity investment from reputable investors for your new startup, you need to know the boundaries that often limit their interest. For example, investors recognize that online gambling sites or a medical marijuana site may generate big returns but may tarnish their squeaky clean reputation.

Funding 57

Funding Social Media Startup Patents 57

Berkonomics

APRIL 3, 2014

There are three classes of equity investors for early stage businesses that we have not yet considered. First, angel investment groups come in all sizes from a few organized angels to large groups of three hundred or more. Angel groups invest from $250,000 to $1,000,000 or more in qualified investments.

Equity 232

Equity Startup Organization Invest 232

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2013

See how many you have personally experienced already, or are currently mentioned in your business plan: Crowd-sourcing equity. Sites like KickStarter have for years offered rewards and pre-sales for crowd investments, but real equity won’t be legalized until sometime this year for people other than accredited investors.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Startup Web Equity 109

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2016

There is an old saying in the startup investor community, “Smart investors invest in the team, not the idea.” Every investor I know has seen multiple plans to add more features to Facebook, or add yet another dating site. Investors expect to hear annual revenues, average margins, customer acquisition costs and sales pipelines.

Ideas 53

Ideas Technical Review Entrepreneur Advertising 53

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2010

The “private sale” market phenomenon was started in France by Vente-Privee (literally means “private sale”) and was replicated in Germany by BrandsforFriends. Gilt Group is currently the largest private sale web site in US. To be fair to Ben Horowitz – I think he thinks this as well. Time will tell.

Venture Capital 240

Venture Capital Startup Platform Technical Review 240

Tech Coast Venture Network

MARCH 9, 2011

Investors and entrepreneurs who won at the fundraising game during and after the Great Recession offer advice on landing equity money. The group invested $8.7 “Don’t enter the process blind,” says Jamie Rhodes, an investor in Austin with Central Texas Angel Network , which invested $5.5 By Monica Mehta.

Tips 100

Tips Capital Tech Coast Angels Screening 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2018

Crowdfunding may look easy, via popular sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but their cost in time, effort, and money by entrepreneurs is daunting. In fact, there are many types of crowdfunding, including donations, reward, pre-orders, loans, and equity. The “unicorn” potential attracts unsophisticated crowd investors.

Equity 72

Equity Entrepreneur Statistics Funding 72

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2010

I’m not saying I don’t spend time trying to help entrepreneurs that I am not planning to invest it – anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I do. Don’t get me wrong – I still feel the pressure to ensure that the companies I’ve invested in perform well. Not any more for me.

Venture Capital 312

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur 312

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2011

Starting small and nimble allows you to adjust and be flexible as you gain experience instead of being tied to a large concept by heavy investment in upfront costs. But if you've spent all your money on the website for party supplies, you may not have the funds to have the site redone. Businesses can be built on sweat equity.

Startup 92

Startup Capital Blogging Ideas 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2022

Here are some basic principles: Angels invest in people, more often than they invest in ideas. They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. Angels like to “touch and feel” their investments, so they are generally only interested in local opportunities. Keiretsu Forum.

Startup 135

Startup Keiretsu Platform Invest 135

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2019

Here are some basic principles: Angels invest in people, more often than they invest in ideas. They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. Angels like to “touch and feel” their investments, so they are generally only interested in local opportunities. Keiretsu Forum.

Angel 96

Angel Keiretsu Invest Networking 96

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 7, 2010

Keynote: Jordan Rohan, Managing Director of Equity Research, Internet and Digital Media, Thomas Weisel Partners 9:30am: Keynote Panel: The State of Mobile: The Economics Of Critical Mass? When will we reach a tipping point in the consumer psyche in regards to making purchases through a mobile Internet site or an App?

Mobile 40

Mobile Media Case Study Advertising 40

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 13, 2010

Bootstrapping enterprise, marketing, Sales. . Your clients pay you to design and build web sites and app. In 2009 my art blog www.johntunger.com earned $188,138 in gross sales from 205,839 unique visitors. Make Millions: Re-Invent Global Sites for Local Markets. Entrepreneurism / Monetization music, Revenue, Sales. .

Guide 69

Guide Startup Venture Capital Entrepreneur 69

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2017

Here are some basic principles: Angels invest in people, more often than they invest in ideas. They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. Angels like to “touch and feel” their investments, so they are generally only interested in local opportunities. Keiretsu Forum.

Angel 67

Angel Keiretsu Invest Networking 67

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2010

Spark Capital is relatively new to VC (founded in 2005) yet has become one of the hottest new VCs having invested in Twitter, Tumblr, AdMeld, Boxee, KickApps and many more companies. How did they end up with such an irreverent site and what was their objective? Metrics: 2.5mm members, 1,000 brands, 2,500 sale events to-date.

Venture Capital 217

Venture Capital Capital Metrics Competition 217

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

The idea was that if you could put up a consumer site that was seen as the best place to consume content then people wouldn’t go to lower-quality or free sites to get it. The founders felt that having a legitimate site for content would discourage Silicon Valley VC’s from funding entrepreneurs to create the next big TV killer.

Hulu 292

Hulu Technical Review Content Advertising 292

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2011

When I described to people why I initially invested my calls went something like this, “He’s taken kicks to the face for nearly 2 years and is still standing. Kibin is a peer review site for essays, resumes, cover letters, etc. EcoMom’s metrics improved throughout this process and that’s when I decided to invest.

Startup 292

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Summary 292

Frank Addante

OCTOBER 31, 2006

► August (1) Invest in Transparency & Active Communication ► July (1) The Fear of Success ► May (2) Optimized for Speed = 30% Waste Happy 1st Birthday Rubicon Project! It results in a lack of focus and diluted brand equity. ► October (1) New Video! the Rubicon Project's Secret to Succes.

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Advertising Email 40