Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2022

As a mentor to many business professionals and owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs, I find a wealth of innovative ideas, but often less insight on what it really takes to transform ideas into an income stream that can excite new customers into long-term business success. A great innovation starts with at least three ideas.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Only a few have found the leadership to continually innovate in the face of change, and the rest are still looking for the recipe or secret. Continuous innovation is a mindset that you cannot outsource, or bring in through acquisition or consultants. Have each develop a personal transformation plan with your support.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 24, 2023

Every organization I get asked to help these days seems to realize that innovation is required on their part to survive and thrive in this age of constant change. Their challenge to me is how to integrate innovation into the thinking and process of every team, and measure the “ risk versus reward ” of resources expended.

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socalTECH

JANUARY 5, 2021

Today, we have Andy Wilson, Executive Director of the Alliance for SoCal Innovation (www.alliancesocal.org). As you may recall the Alliance's mission is to elevate the region as a global leader in innovation, technology & entrepreneurship. You will be able to get to all of these posts on our 2020 reflections here.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2023

As I work with aspiring entrepreneurs and business professionals, I often hear about stress and disappointment from a great idea or innovation that failed for reasons that you don’t understand. These issues are addressed well in a new book, “ Think Bigger: How to Innovate ,” by Shenna Iyengar.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2023

Every entrepreneur and business executive knows that continuous innovation is required to survive, but most struggle with this more than any other challenge they face. Innovation driven by the next crisis is not leadership. Be alert to “weak signals” of non-linear shifts and trends. Create the future as a day-to-day business process.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2022

In my experience with business leaders, real innovation thinking is rare, compared to the urge to add just one more feature to an existing product, or make a small tweak to an existing business model. I’m convinced this doesn’t have to happen if you are willing to adopt an innovation mindset. BlackBerry was left behind.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2021

He coins the term “adaptive innovator” for the required mindset to characterize the required focus. Adaptive innovator entrepreneurs are inspired by what’s possible , but focus on what’s probable. The most formidable tools of the adaptive innovator are smart personal productivity aids to help realize your dream.

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Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

As your business grows more complex and there are more employees to manage and more customers to care for, slowly you will notice that more and more time of your chief innovation officer or system architect or R&D department is spent focused upon enhancements in response to needs of the user base. first appeared on BERKONOMICS.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2023

Every business organization, large or small, has a variety of individual and team member types that factor into your ability to innovate and change the business to meet evolving customer needs and competition. In my experience, new startup businesses are initiated primarily by these standalone innovators, popularly called entrepreneurs.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2022

Every business owner and entrepreneur I meet in my consulting rounds dreams of finding that “ disruptive ” innovation that will supercharge their business and move it into the ranks of business unicorns (billion-dollar valuations), such as SpaceX and Apple. Focus on pragmatic innovation rather than disruption.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2021

I’m convinced that people who have fun at work are more innovative, as well as happier. I can postulate several reasons why laughing and having fun at work might be linked with creativity and innovation. Innovation is more about psychology than intellect. The most innovative people don’t see any dichotomy between work and fun.

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socalTECH

JUNE 17, 2021

The Alliance for Southern California Innovation said on Thursday that it is launching a new program, the SoCal Venture Pipeline. According to the company, the new program will provide companies that have demonstrated clear market traction and provides targeted introductions to venture funds.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2020

It means that most team members and executives alike have a natural tendency to prefer killing innovations rather than implementing them. These fears and how every business can counter innovation assassination are explored in a classic book, “ Robert's Rules of Innovation II: The Art of Implementation ,” by Robert F.

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socalTECH

JULY 16, 2013

A new effort in Pasadena, called Innovate Pasadena (www.innovatepasadena.com), is looking to become a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship in Pasadena. What is Innovate Pasadena? We''re focused on being a catalyst for collaboration and innovation in this part of Los Angeles. I got a resounding yes.

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Berkonomics

DECEMBER 3, 2020

Most innovations come from responding to a customer’s needs, or finding a niche where products need improvement or extension. It is rare to innovate using a blank sheet of paper in a room with bare walls and no other contributors. The post Are you innovating because of need or inspiration? A thought exercise.

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SoCal Tech Calendar

APRIL 24, 2019

Tuesday, April 30, 2019 -- Diversity Innovation Forum. Join us for a discussion on how diversity of ideas, talent, and perspectives fuels innovation. We will explore the key areas where diversity and inclusion are crucial for a vibrant innovation ecosystem. See [link] (more)

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socalTECH

DECEMBER 9, 2020

The Alliance for SoCal Innovation , a nonprofit looking to help connect Southern California's innovation ecosystem, has partnered with Verizon Media to help launch microsites to connect the local technology community, and grow the ecosystem, Verizon said on Wednesday. READ MORE>>.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2021

Most entrepreneurs I know are individually very innovative, but a successful startup can’t be a one-man show (for long). That means they need to build an innovative team, which is not a skill that most people are born with. Innovation is not all about coming up with new ideas.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Every entrepreneur and every business I meet in my consulting and mentoring role has great intentions of bringing real innovation to the market, yet I find that most ideas are merely small extensions to existing solutions. It addresses a growing customer need, especially in times of a pandemic, with an innovative logistical platform.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2021

As I “grew up” in business in big companies, including IBM, I always wondered why the real innovations seemed to come from startups, while we had more resources and more experience. Don’t wait for innovation ideas from top management. Don’t make innovation a function of the business plan.

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socalTECH

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

Los Angeles-based fintech venture capital investor Core Innovation Capital is nearing its $125M target for its third fund, Core Innovation Capital III, according to recent regulatory filings from the company. The venture firm--led by Arjan Schutte and Kathleen Utecht--makes investment in finance related technology companies.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

Within the startup realm, there is a big difference between having an innovative product versus an innovative business. Many businesses give lip service to their celebration of innovation, but punish, rather than reward, risk-taking and creativity. The most competitive startups do both, all the time and every time.

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socalTECH

DECEMBER 1, 2021

Los Angeles-based The Wonderful COmpany--the brand behind the well knokwn POM Wonderful juice brand--said it has named winners in its $1M Wonderful Innovation Challenge.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2022

The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek. Success in business today really requires that you go beyond any known checklists, with vision, innovation, and determination. I wish it was that easy.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2020

As an investor, innovation is a term I certainly like to hear these days, but many of you entrepreneurs try to take it to the next level, by claiming to have a “ disruptive innovation.” Innovation doesn’t even require technology. This step may also lead to a disruptive innovation in the future.

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socalTECH

MARCH 12, 2019

Los Angeles-based Soylent Nutrition , which develops drinks, powders, and other nutrition products intended to replace or supplement the need to eat meals, has named Julie Daoust as its new Vice President of Product Development and Innovation, the company said late Monday.

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socalTECH

MARCH 18, 2020

Los Angeles-based fintech investor Core Innovation Capital is one of the lead investors in One , a digital banking startup which was founded by Bill Harris, the former CEO of both Intuit and PayPal. The funding was led by Foundation Capital, Core Innovation Capital, and Obvious Ventures.

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socalTECH

JULY 2, 2019

For our video interview this morning, we have Andy Wilson, the Executive Director of the Alliance for SoCal Innovation (www.alliancesocal.org), a new nonprofit which is trying to bring together Southern California's technology industry, universities, and others in the local ecosystem. READ MORE>>.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2020

Why do a few entrepreneurs, like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, seem to come up with all the real innovations, while the majority of business leaders seem stuck in the rut of linear thinking? According to Gibson, you don’t have to be born with special genes to be innovative. You too can make business innovation look easy.

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socalTECH

JULY 16, 2018

Carlsbad-based TC Technology , an IT services provider which develops mobile software for the utility market, has been acquired by SSP Innovation , a provider of IT services and software to the electric, gas, and water utilities, the two said on Friday. SSP Innovation is backed by private equity investor Warren Equity. READ MORE>>.

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socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Los Angeles-based fintech investor Core Innovation Capital is one of the lead investors in SynapseFi , a developer of APIs and other tools for connecting into banking services. SynapseFi is based in San Francisco.

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socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2019

NOWA Innovations (www.nowainnovations.com), a University of California, Irvine spinout, is designing a medical device aimed at improving asthma inhalers. For our video interview today, we spoke with Nasam Chokr, the founder and CEO of NOWA Innovations, about the startup and its technology.

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Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Nearly every successful tech startup I’ve observed over the past 20 years has gone through a similar growth pattern: Innovate, systematize then scale operations. Innovate In the early years of a startup there is a lot of kinetic energy of enthusiastic innovators looking to launch a product that changes how an industry works.

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SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 13, 2019

Wednesday, June 19, 2019 -- SoCal First Look Innovation Showcase 2019. The SoCal First Look Innovation Showcase supports, nurtures and stimulates our unique innovation culture in Southern California and promotes its position as a vibrant hub for start-ups and emerging technology.

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socalTECH

MAY 22, 2018

San Diego-based Tear Film Innovations , a developer of medical devices to help clear blocked tear glands, has raised $8.5M Tear Film Innovations is led by CEO Rob Thornhill. in a Series B funding. The funding was led by Visionary Ventures Fund and Bluestem Capital.

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socalTECH

APRIL 8, 2019

Los Angeles-based fintech venture capital investor Core Innovation Capital is out looking for new investors in its third fund, with a target of $100M, according to regulatory filing by the firm on Friday. The company raised a similar fund , Core Innovation Capital II, LP, back in January of 2017. READ MORE>>.

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