Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Every school recognizes the power of “hands-on” work to help you develop your own ideas into a business. They provide peer group organizations, usually called incubators, with free resources, practice environments, and outside mentoring that can help you learn and pivot with minimal cost.

Entrepreneur 157

Entrepreneur Mentor Class Resource 157

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2010

I’m very pleased today to announce that I invested, on behalf of GRP Partners, in Burstly alongside Rincon Venture Partners , an early stage VC in Southern California whith whom we love to work (and were our co-investors on RingRevenue ). Naturally I’m excited about this investment or I wouldn’t have done it.

Mobile 282

Mobile Invest Company Companies 282

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

Or if you’re a VC raising from LPs you have to list all of your deals, your investment value, your carrying value, your multiples, your IRRs, TVPIs, DPIs, etc along with net cashflows plus your previous LPAs. These collective sets of documents form the basis of what somebody looking at investing would call “financial due diligence.”

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Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

We all see reports of venture capitalists who invest millions in new businesses, but be assured that these investments come only after you have a proven base business, and have a case for scaling it quickly. Pick a name, location, and marketing strategy early. Names and taglines are critical to success.

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Tool 98

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2019

In addition, the discipline of producing it, like writing a business plan, will help you immensely in understanding the key elements that drive you and your business. I often hear the excuse that writing a book takes precious time away from building and running your business, which you cannot afford.

Writing 19

Writing Technical Review Entrepreneur Advertising 19

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

When should a VC invest? Start writing down predictions about people, companies, and markets. It’s the only way forward in capitalism, and it’s worth every investment you can make. The whole point of delegating investment decisions to a GP is to empower them to organize their firm to win deals and get stuff done.

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

So I thought I’d write about out with what I would look for in a VC knowing what I know now and why. Think of web vs. mobile. To be clear – I’m not saying huge successes make a VC less likely to be helpful to you – I’m just saying it’s not a guaranteed predictor. Most VCs are book smart.

Venture Capital 364

Venture Capital Coach Writing SaaS 364

socalTECH

MARCH 2, 2020

The other nice thing about that, is as things are happening on the same computer, there is no server code to write. It's really simple to write an application, compared to the complexity of an application that is multi-user. How did you get investors interested in investing in such a large project like a new operating system?

Platform 168

Platform Startup Examples Web 168

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2019

Through SEO (search engine optimization) techniques on your site, and help from good Content Marketing platforms such as “ Link-able ,” customers will be drawn to your site to expedite the building of your brand. These days, customers want two-way relationships, and people who follow your writing will feel this bond.

Blogging 85

Blogging Search Engine Optimization Writing SEO 85

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 9, 2018

I then had to review a nefarious IP lawsuit filed against another company and help the CEO figure out whether we should just pay it or join forces with the other companies named and fight it. I think you’d really enjoy meeting her wether you decide to invest or not. A few weeks have slipped by. I’ll come to you and promise to be fast.”

Software Review 381

Software Review Startup Email Conference 381

socalTECH

OCTOBER 28, 2010

How do you take a business you started as your own personal web site, and turn it into an online powerhouse, completely bootstrapped, from the little town of Ojai, California--not exactly known as a technology town? Bruce and I met at the Art Center, and that was when I first discovered the web. In our first year in businss, we had $1.7

Startup 242

Startup Web Design Writing Web 242

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 25, 2010

Rincon is part of the new breed of Seed Stage VCs and with the leadership of Jim Andelman has charted out the most authentic early-stage investment strategy in Southern California. Nowhere is social proof more prevalent than in angel investing. From there Rob decided to make a small investment.

Guide 293

Guide Funding Venture Capital Technical Review 293

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

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 8, 2019

Responding to Elizabeth Warren’s call to regulate and break up some of the nation’s largest technology companies, the venture capitalists that invest in technology companies are advising the presidential hopeful to move slowly and not break anything. — Balaji S. .

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Startup Chief Technology Officer Social Media 144

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2016

Santa Monica-based March Capital Partners (www.marchcp.com) has just announced a brand new, $240M venture investment fund, led by longtime venture investing veterans Jim Armstrong, Sumant Mandal, Gregory Milken and Jamie Montgomery. What is the investment focus for this fund? It's all about the entrepreneur.

Southern California 113

Southern California Capital Funding Invest 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2012

But, they could not write, and did not know what to write from the travel perspective. Every one of those writers has a byline and a bio, and are paid twice a week at a pretty decent rate for that writing or assignment. They couldn't find enough people to write the content they needed, at the quality they need.

Demand 240

Demand Media eHow Content 240

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 2, 2011

It’s apropos because there is so much noise these days with email, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, web shows, etc. If I check Twitter it’s usually because I’m waiting for a meeting to start and I never write posts during the day. Sometimes I get requests from college students asking for help on a report.

Email 287

Email Blogging Venture Capital Writing 287

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

To hear about the firm's interest in Los Angeles, and Southern California investments in general, we spoke with Fouad ElNaggar , Principal at the firm, to hear about where the firm is nowadays and what kind of investments it is making locally. We can also write checks as large as $35M out of the Omega Fund.

Redpoint 154

Redpoint Southern California Cornerstone OnDemand Invest 154

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

If you truly believe that you, your company and your products are exceptional and your company will be valuable then you’re actually doing them a FAVOR by helping them invest in your startup. If you don’t believe in your bones that you’re amazing then it’s no wonder you don’t want to sell them on making the investment.”

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

socalTECH

DECEMBER 17, 2008

Anne Walls and John Singleton are co-founders of WordHustler (www.wordhustler.com), a local Hollywood startup looking to help writers connect with publishers. In their case, people write their scripts on a web site, and when they're done, they can submit them to contests with a single click. Anne Walls: Everything.

Writing 209

Writing Hollywood Startup Sites 209

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 1, 2019

I had problems with reading and writing and comprehension and a lot of social abilities. In 1995, Lynda wrote one of the first books on web design, Designing Web Graphics. Lesson: Don’t dwell on your potential exit, but invest enough time to thoughtfully consider life after your venture.

Sales 113

Sales Education Startup Class 113

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 18, 2012

Members can also enhance their expert status by writing informative articles and position themselves as a contact person for other professionals to get information from. We received seed funding from Investitionsbank Berlin , a state bank investing in innovation and technological advancements. Who are its founders?

Networking 71

Networking Help Social Media Platform 71

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2010

In writing anything positive about any of the companies I’m not suggesting that it means that I prefer them to any of their competitors. Also, some of the deals I write about I have actually seen as part of their fund raising process. I just cover the companies that were funded that week. Others I have not. Really!).

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Capital Email Blogging 265

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 12, 2011

Chris Dixon is one of my favorite people in tech and writes one of the few blogs I read religiously. Chris runs a popular web interview series on TechCrunch so is used to being the guy asking the questions. The firm focuses on early stage companies in the Northeast but occasionally invests in California startups.

Technical Review 281

Technical Review Venture Capital Startup Artificial Inteligence 281

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2010

This experience made me want to dig into my archives, re-write & publish this piece. I wrote a post about how to build relationships with VCs over time and about investing in lines & not dots (which cuts both ways). Do a web search to find companies that they didn’t give you. It’s a two-way love fest.&#.

Venture Capital 298

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Capital Help 298

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 20, 2013

Having a good sales methodology can help you ensure your company runs more disciplined campaigns and focuses scarce resources on your best opportunities. The other worthwhile exercise is to write down what your competitors uses as its USPs – even ones that you don’t think are really valuable to customers. So what’s next?

Sales 336

Sales Startup Competition Customer 336

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

One of the great joys of doing the web series This Week in VC every week is that I get to spend time with great people debating the issues of our day including how our industry is evolving as well as insights into how companies got started, got their initial traction and dealt with adversities. They help make rational decisions.

Startup 286

Startup Venture Capital Web Ideas 286

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

As an entrepreneur and startup investor, I have helped create companies which achieved two IPOs which collectively raised over $100 million, as well as two acquisitions which totaled $385 million. However, it is my hope that this article will help you avoid learning the following lessons the hard way. 8 ) Grant Exclusivity.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2012

I recommend that you start by writing down the attributes you would want people to think about when they think about your brand. Home of JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), which helps put rockets into space. IA Ventures – Roger Ehrenberg was doing angel investing before he became a VC. North of the 101].

Startup 304

Startup Venture Capital Los Angeles Woodland Hills 304

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

As an entrepreneur, I helped create companies which achieved two IPOs and two trade sales totaling $385 million. Hopefully this article and the accompanying six-minute video will help you avoid learning these mission-critical lessons the hard way. In addition to paying the consultant, you must invest time to educate them.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 23, 2015

In the startup world, the former happens when a VC makes a bad investment, and the latter occurs when they miss a great opportunity. In contrast, low-volume, high-conviction investors like Rincon only invests in a handful new companies each year, making it much more costly (in dollars and effort expended) to invest in a loser.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review Southern California 100

socalTECH

JUNE 6, 2011

We're looking to launch our first class in the fall, with five to ten companies, with the TechStars model of a small capital investment, and a seed investment of $6000 per founder. I helped them raise a few rounds of funding, ran their European operations. Then I started working for these companies as well.

Startup 221

Startup Mentor Southern California Incubator 221

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Huge thank you to Steve De Long for the write up. My initial desire to blog came from something that’s always been my approach to investing – I’m a nerd and I love to play with the technology and part of my approach has really been to understand things both at a user level and at a reasonably deep tentacle level. “My Brad on blogging.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 21, 2012

Telesign provides authentication services for the largest web companies in the world. What we do, is we help companies identify who is accessing their sites, and registering for their services. If you think of literally any large consumer web company, they are either a client today, or in a pilot process with us.

Marina Del Rey 238

Marina Del Rey Startup IP Examples 238

socalTECH

JUNE 18, 2009

OneCubicle helps you build a career, through a jobs page, jobs listings, career advice, micro transactions for resume help, and an upcoming celebrity mentor feature. That was the jumping off point for OneCubicle a little over 18 months ago, when we started writing the business plan and code. How are your two companies connected?

Social Network 100

Social Network Entertainment Startup CTO Coach 100

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 23, 2010

Here’s my experience, my “ah ha&# moment and why I think, although still nascent, it’s one of the most powerful websites on the web right now. Fred talks about it here – he beat me to the punch because I always wanted to write about how awesome this is. really understand it. Quora “Lite&#. Engagement.

Blogging 301

Blogging SEO Startup Writing 301

socalTECH

AUGUST 27, 2014

We started looking at the landscape, and as I was getting my MBA at the time, ended up writing the business plan for ConsumerTrack. We have been smart about how to make investments in our business, and when we jump into a new category or vertical. We''re able to track everything we''re doing, and report back on it.

Startup 239

Startup El Segundo Marketing Media 239