socalTECH

MARCH 27, 2014

In a move which threatens the growing Silicon Beach technology industry, the Santa Monica City Council voted last night to downsize the Santa Monica Airport. The council has expressed the desire to close the airport , and is gearing up for legal battles with the FAA. Photo courtesy Steve Lyon @ Flickr. READ MORE>>.

Santa Monica 210

Santa Monica Technical Review Burbank High Tech 210

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment? ,p> We'll be posting these throughout the next two weeks.

Technical Review 140

Technical Review Software Review Organic Search Startup 140

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 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. In your opinion, what events, companies, or people made the biggest impact on the technology world this year? At the closing party, attendees kept saying "This is great!

Dollar Shave Club 272

Dollar Shave Club Technical Review Santa Monica Southern California 272

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. Paul Bricault is Managing Partner at Amplify LA (Www.amplify.la), a hands-on startup accelerator and co-working and community space in Venice. READ MORE>>.

Southern California 215

Southern California Technical Review High Tech Venice 215

socalTECH

DECEMBER 23, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment? We'll be posting these throughout the next two weeks.

Venture Capital 124

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Brentwood 124

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2013

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. Founders who constantly give in to changes will get more until the startup breaks. Final features approval event.

Technical Review 110

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 110

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 5, 2010

I filled up with 20 people pretty quickly and realized this schedule was masochistic. TWTFelipe and I ended up speaking for nearly 30 minutes and we talked mostly about why his company was based in Canada and not the US. Felipe grew up in Brazil. So he decided to start his company in Canada. But I have some.

Technical Review 282

Technical Review Startup High Tech Software Review 282

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 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. In your opinion, what events, companies, or people made the biggest impact on the technology world this year? Startups will lead and the whales will follow.

Southern California 173

Southern California Technical Review High Tech San Diego 173

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. Aber Whitcomb is a partner at startup co-working and incubation community io/LA , CTO of SGN , and former co-founder and CTO of MySpace. READ MORE>>.

Technical Review 223

Technical Review Southern California Incubator High Tech 223

socalTECH

DECEMBER 22, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. Despite the challenges that COVID has presented to the broader economy and startup ecosystem, we remain optimistic about (and in awe of) the resilience of our portfolio companies and their Founders.

Capital 124

Capital Technical Review Truecar Southern California 124

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. Today, we have Brian Mac Mahon of startup accelerator ExpertDojo (www.expertdojo.com). I believe that most of our success came from startups resonating with our message to build big, fast.

Southern California 113

Southern California Technical Review Santa Monica Invest 113

socalTECH

DECEMBER 23, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment? We'll be posting these throughout the next two weeks.

Capital 113

Capital Technical Review Southern California CalTech 113

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2013

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. Of course, every company needs these, in due time. Need expensive resources up front. You need a prototype. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Technical Review Equity 100

socalTECH

JANUARY 4, 2021

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, sposors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment? We'll be posting these throughout the next two weeks.

Southern California 113

Southern California Technical Review Paramount News 113

socalTECH

MARCH 7, 2012

The assets of Pasadena-based Energy Innovations are set to go up for auction on March 20th, according to auctioneer Heritage Global Partners, as the firm continues to wind down. READ MORE>>.

Technical Review 145

Technical Review Idealab High Tech Pasadena 145

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2015

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more new business solutions than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. Founders who constantly give in to changes will get more until the startup breaks. Final features approval event.

Technical Review 104

Technical Review Product Software Review High Tech 104

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2022

They don’t realize that these are still rare, require a large risk, and may not be the best way to keep up with change in the market. As markets continue to change ever more rapidly through new technology and innovation, the global social, economic, and business environment will quickly evolve as well.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Metrics Resource Software Review 101

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

A critical stage for most first-time entrepreneurs is getting their idea developed into at least a prototype to validate their technology. Specifically, I often point to the NSF or the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for high-tech startups. It’s time to get started today.

Funding 90

Funding Technical Review Startup Research 90

socalTECH

JULY 16, 2013

As much as the idea of "Silicon Beach" wants to represent the whole of the local technology industry in Los Angeles, there are -- as one would expect in such a large metropolitan area -- many different neighborhoods and communities spread across the region, all with their own individual identities, companies, and technology focuses.

Pasadena 242

Pasadena Santa Monica CalTech Technical Review 242

socalTECH

MAY 14, 2010

Clearly, 2009 was not a good year, from the perspective of the technology innovation ecosystem. That was primarily driven by the economy; when the economy is down, investments are down, and it is increasingly difficult to d a startup. For OCTANe to be successful, we want to see our technology ecosystem grow.

OCTANE 174

OCTANE Orange County Technical Review Southern California 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2011

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. Founders who constantly give in to changes will get more until the startup breaks. Final features approval event.

Technical Review 96

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. Founders who constantly give in to changes will get more until the startup breaks. Final features approval event.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 75

socalTECH

DECEMBER 29, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment?  We'll be posting these throughout the next two weeks.

Southern California 140

Southern California Technical Review Platform Organization 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2019

What does that mean for the rest of us, who reside or grew up in the thousands of small towns that cover most of the landscape? Colby is a living example of how it works there, starting with his Parengo Coffee Shop in Sikeston, Missouri. Is entrepreneurship ever viable or recommended in a small town? You are selling an experience.

Technical Review 107

Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup Customer 107

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

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 10, 2010

Intellectual Property (IP) is an ugly thing at a startup. However, to a Big Dumb Company (BDC), a startup’s IP is a thing of beauty. How can IP be worthless to a startup yet very worthwhile to a BDC? Patents held by startups generally have a limited ability to reduce competition. Three years is a lifetime at a startup.

IP 256

IP Patents Company Companies 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

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. I recommend that every early-stage startup find three Advisory Board members. Once your company is past the startup stage, you do need a board of directors.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Every early-stage startup should explore this new funding alternative. I conclude that the genesis of this trend seems to come from several forces, including the following: Less investment capital available due to the recession. Due to the economy as well, traditional individual angel investors haven’t been able to fill the gap.

Startup 86

Startup Angel Venture Capital Technical Review 86

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2010

All this week, we are sharing the opinions of some of the top influencers in Southern California's high tech community. We asked the same five 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 two weeks. 1) Mobile web.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Southern California Cloud Computing Venture Capital 160

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2012

Santa Monica-based Demand Media (www.demandmedia.com) has seen its share of ups and downs as one of the highest visibility technology and media companies to come out of Southern California's technology ecosystem in recent years. But now, those taking assignments have to be rated and reviewed, and have expertise in that area.

Demand 240

Demand Media eHow Content 240

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2013

Every early-stage startup should explore this new funding alternative. Rose in NYC, who each make up to ten investments a year of up to $250,000. Venture capital dispensed quarterly to startups actually declined again in the first quarter of 2013 to $6.3 New “up-and-comer” VCs focus on early-stage companies.

Angel 92

Angel Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup 92

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. Of course, every company needs these, in due time. Need expensive resources up front. You need a prototype. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 95

Technical Review Startup Equity Entrepreneur 95

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2011

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. I recommend that every early-stage startup find three Advisory Board members. Once your company is past the startup stage, you do need a board of directors.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

According to a recent Harvard Business Review article , only 60% of companies today use social media for marketing, and only 12% of those feel that they are using it effectively. Dell announced years ago that it had earned $3 million in revenue from using Twitter, and other businesses report daily on increases in web traffic up to 800%.

Social Media 115

Social Media Media Startup Social Network 115

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2010

I scan it for the most important messages to be sure nothing urgent has popped up. It made me laugh because the technical world has this exact phrase to talk in computing sense about the need to block out interruptions in order to complete a task. About six months ago I signed up for a service called PhoneTag run by Jamie Siminoff.

Product 280

Product Startup Email Technical Review 280

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. Of course, every company needs these, in due time. Need expensive resources up front. You need a prototype. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Equity 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2010

This insidious disease kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. The solution is to do the right job up front on requirements, document and approve specifications, and have the toughest person you know do the project management.

Technical Review 51

Technical Review Software Review High Tech Writing 51