Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 21, 2019

Should All of Your Management Team Attend Board Meetings? The age old question for every startup is whom to involve in the board meeting. The reality is that there are some board meetings in which having a broad set of management present is a great idea and there are some meetings where in can be a hindrance.

Startup 161

Startup Slides Ideas Guide 161

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 5, 2019

Los Angeles-based Parabol , a startup developing software management tools, used to manage the efforts of development teams, has raised $4M in a funding round, the company said this morning. The company's software helps development teams manage their processes, and is focused on Agile development processes. READ MORE>>.

Software Review 159

Software Review Tool Development Team Review Software 159

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2021

Based on my experience in business, it takes a team that works together to be successful, in conjunction with leadership from the top. Fortunately, he learned from experience and returned to lead his team to new heights. Keep the team’s eyes on progress and results. Be an astute context discerner and direction setter.

Startup 143

Startup Summary Activity Coach 143

Berkonomics

APRIL 22, 2021

And if we are big enough to formalize the process in a regular meeting, we make it a regular part of that meeting. Don’t wait for a scheduled meeting date. My story of unusual but powerful team recognition. work for you and your team. How we usually do this in our businesses. And why it doesn’t work as planned.

Email 156

Email Company Companies 156

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2023

What was once a workplace where everyone commuted to work together daily, has now become a hybrid environment where some team members rarely meet physically, and others see each other one or two days per week, while not working remotely from their home office. Communicate your desire to achieve work-life balance for all team members.

Coach 85

Coach Satisfaction Activity Sites 85

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 21, 2019

Often these projects took 12–18 months so by the time companies shipped product they often found out that the product didn’t meet customer needs. Managing Your Startup Board?—?A A Short Presentation I was invited to do a keynote presentation at the Khosla Ventures CEO Summit this week in Sausalito. Below is just the highlight points.

Startup 234

Startup Slides Venture Capital Course 234

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

These range from companies pitching me to portfolio companies presenting at board meetings. Each of these scenarios has a team presenting. Almost always the CEO plus members of his or her management team including tech, marketing, sales and/or product. Some CEO’s are masters at communicating when team members are present.

Venture Capital 377

Venture Capital Slides Course Summary 377

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

With business teams now getting back together in the workplace after primarily working remotely during the pandemic , it’s an ideal time to implement change and make sure your team is feeling a renewed sense of satisfaction, high engagement, and maximum productivity. Put away permanently your “suck it up” voice. We’ve all been there.

Satisfaction 108

Satisfaction Metrics Competition Examples 108

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

Most board meetings are administrative updates that accomplish very little other than inform board members about the performance of the company since the last board meeting. This is part of a broader series on Board Meetings. The board deck & financials arrive the night before the meeting.

Startup 226

Startup Slides Metrics News 226

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 13, 2018

Before the Meeting There is a lot of controversy / angst over whether to send a deck in advance or not. Remember that the goal of an email to a VC or an introduction from a trusted mutual connection is simply to get you the meeting. As a VC and former entrepreneur let me offer you some advice. The key is WHAT you send.

Venture Capital 261

Venture Capital Slides Email Startup 261

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2021

Now let’s assume you take 10 meetings. If you’re reasonably smart and thoughtful and hustle to get in front great teams I feel highly confident you’ll find at least 3 of them compelling. If you get in front of great teams, how could you not? On Funding?—?The This is Venture Capital. Focus a lot on the denominator.

Funding 301

Funding UCSD Netflix CalTech 301

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

I will also delve into how to prepare for them, how to make the meeting effective and how to best follow up to make sure people take action. BEFORE THE MEETING 1. Read the materials in advance A really large portion of directors clearly haven’t read and mentally processed the materials before the board meeting.

Startup 251

Startup Help Technical Review Writing 251

TechEmpower

AUGUST 7, 2023

What does it mean to be a CTO for a startup? What does the role demand? Should a startup CTO spend their time programming? Exploring new technologies? Increasing competitive advantage? The answer is: it depends. The role of a CTO varies as the company matures. Getting something to market and getting funding override any other concerns. It might be.

CTO Hire 260

CTO Hire Develop Development Fractional VPE 260

socalTECH

APRIL 8, 2021

Looking to easily get yourself or family online on Zoom, Google Meet, Facebook, or other video conferencing systems? G Labs, has rolled out a new, user-friendly product which provides everything needed to connect a TV with a host of popular video conferencing services.

Diamond Bar 127

Diamond Bar Google Conference Services 127

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2023

We have all had to work with annoying team members in business. In either case, you need to understand the dynamics to maximize team performance, and for your own sanity and satisfaction. Limit your meetings with annoyers to small doses, optimally timed to allow a natural exit, perhaps just before a required meeting or event.

Satisfaction 88

Satisfaction Product News Startup 88

socalTECH

AUGUST 27, 2020

Los Angeles-based Oblong , the developer of collaboration and remote meeting technology, reported a win with an an-named S&P 500 big box retailer this morning. Financial impact of the win was not announced. READ MORE>>.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Content Report Technology 113

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2022

In my experience, the key parameters for building that winning advisory board should include the following: Select people who fill gaps in your own team. If your startup team is highly technical, an advisory board member with a strong financial and business background clearly adds value. That’s the function of a good advisory board.

Startup 123

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Writing 123

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 5, 2023

If you or your team sees you as an idea person, your first task as an entrepreneur should be to find a co-founder who can deliver. Finding a co-founder is rarely a bad thing, since two heads are always better than one in meeting all the startup challenges. Meeting people and talking about your ideas won’t get you very far.

Startup 155

Startup Ideas IBM IBM 155

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2019

If you are like most entrepreneurs I know, there just aren’t enough hours in a day to get all your own work done, as well as run the many one-hour meetings each team member seems to demand for decisions and mentoring. But it only works if you observe the following principles: Never hide from your team.

Mentor 124

Mentor Technical Review Coach Slides 124

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 9, 2018

You had an amazing meeting with an investor. The meeting was only supposed to last 45 minutes but you ran 90. The assistant tried to end the meeting twice but was shoooshed away. I was amazed at your innovation, approach, cleverness, enthusiasm, leadership traits, background, education, team?—?everything. everything.

Software Review 381

Software Review Startup Email Conference 381

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2019

Part of running a board is managing the board meeting itself where you share your financial and operating progress, discuss your strategy & plans going forward and get & give information to your board members. This will seem very specific on how I do things. Why a Board Dinner (or Lunch)? Managing a board is a bit like flying?—?the

Networking 262

Networking Startup Tips Course 262

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

We drew this conclusion after a meeting we had with Morgan Stanley where they showed us historical 15 & 20 year valuation trends and we all discussed what we thought this meant. At our mid-year offsite our partnership at Upfront Ventures was discussing what the future of venture capital and the startup ecosystem looked like.

Venture Capital 416

Venture Capital Marketing Technical Review Seed Funding 416

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

Most founders prepare a deck, ask a few friends and investors whom to meet, get a few introductions and just wing it. As a result founders often meet the wrong investors, waste time on those who ask for more information. Of course there’s no exact number of VCs you should meet?—?these an investment in your company.

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2011

In the past I’ve given some tips for handling meetings effectively, covering topics like: - How not to let your meeting go down a rat hole ; - Dealing with the elephant in the room ; - Dealing with skeletons in your closet ; - How to make meetings discussions, not “pitches&#. -

Tips 392

Tips Screening Slides Venture Capital 392

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2023

Throughout my career in business, I have rarely been on a team where every member was equally productive and never annoying. Obnoxious team members may by force of habit ignore your earned expertise or team leadership position. Don’t let frustrating team members monopolize your time or jeopardize other commitments.

Mentor 96

Mentor Activity Coach Startup 96

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2022

Every entrepreneur and business leader I know realizes that it takes a dedicated team to build and run a successful business, and nurturing that team is one of your most important priorities. In my experience, a healthy team is a prerequisite for a thriving business, innovation to meet market needs, and high customer loyalty.

Technical Review 141

Technical Review Mentor Social Media Customer 141

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 15, 2017

Many board meetings are bored meetings. Management teams whisk through slides trying to get through a presentation to share how great things are going and they are eager to get through the meeting so they can get back to their real jobs. Yesterday I wrote a blog post about what the role of a board actually is.

Tips 212

Tips Slides Startup Technical Review 212

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 9, 2021

The company has been building a title called Blankos Block Party that seems to be Fall Guys meets Roblox meets Funko Pop. While the company has big hopes for Blankos as it onboards more users, the bigger investor opportunity is likely in the game engine that the team is building. The round was led by WestCap.

Platform 308

Platform Framework Los Angeles Design 308

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2020

We have all had to work with annoying team members in business. If you are not their manager, it’s tempting to just walk away, tune them out, or react sharply, but these reactions are not appropriate for managers, and are equally ineffective for peers and team mates. Practice smiling and keep your vibes positive to prevent frustration.

Satisfaction 150

Satisfaction Product News Startup 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2022

Starting and running a company is a team effort. Yes, it takes a leader (entrepreneur), but you can’t do it alone, without a team. Maybe only you and a co-founder comprise the team at first, to provide key skills, back you up, and test your ideas. Teams are hardwired to make meaning out of problems.

Startup 132

Startup Design Examples Organization 132

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2023

Entrepreneurs need to be effective team leaders, since no one can transform an idea into a product and a business without some help. Unfortunately many founders I work with as a mentor are experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team. If your team has trouble finding you, you won’t make productive connections.

Technical Review 127

Technical Review Development Team Review Startup Activity 127

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 25, 2019

Your role as a founder who brings on board members should be to understand the importance of the team dynamic and try to foster better human relationships so that in the future when you need people to work together for a common purpose a trust and rapport has been formed. As an investor board member I see this as my immediate goal, too.

Startup 269

Startup Venture Capital Layoffs Resource 269

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Even the simplest of new technologies, such as Zoom for remote meetings, can be a detriment to work satisfaction if workers are not trained on how to use it effectively, causing video and sound problems, as well as background distractions. Spend more time mentoring and coaching your team. Giving orders and assignments is not coaching.

Tips 159

Tips Satisfaction Coach Mentor 159

socalTECH

MARCH 3, 2021

Los Angeles-based Parabol, a company which is developing technology to enable "Agile" meetings, announced that it has raised $8M in its Series A funding. Parabol says it has developing a platform focused on enabling remote and hybrid teams to conduct structured meetings, using the "Agile" methodology.

Outsource Development 113

Outsource Development Los Angeles Platform Funding 113

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Startups that are backed by professional financial investors almost always have a Board of Directors that consists of some set of founders, investors and sometimes independent directors. This is often called “corporate governance”? Equally it could vote to increase the stock option plan to 99% of the company.

Startup 204

Startup Writing Framework Summary 204

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

Even with advantages that independent startups can never hope to match, including brand recognition, customers, financial capital, and distribution, I don’t often see the entrepreneurial passion for innovation, agility, and team perseverance exhibited by new startups. Choose a trusted team lead with executive sponsors.

Incubator 143

Incubator Seed Funding Metrics Customer 143

Southern California Edison Blog

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

While every employee will have a different level of work ethic, office managers have control over several aspects of the workplace that can encourage better team performance. . Reduce the Amount of Unnecessary Meetings. We’ve all sat through a meeting and thought to ourselves, “This could have been covered in an email.”

Product 94

Product Training Software Review Technical Review 94