Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2013

And sometimes I feel happy to help somebody even when we’re just getting to know each other. I was thinking about this yesterday because my assistant Tasha posted a link on Facebook to Paul C. ” In it he talked about how he gets daily emails asking for intros to Oprah (he does a lot of work with her) and his advice.

Venture Capital 407

Venture Capital Press GRP Partners Blogging 407

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2019

I became a VC 12 years ago in 2007 when the pace of deals was much slower. At Upfront when we know we have a winning hand we prefer to put more capital to work, which both helps the entrepreneurs succeed and drives more aggregate financial returns for our LPs. When you think about what makes Google so valuable?—?it’s

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Venture Capital IP Startup Google 223

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

https://medium.com/media/cc969482e7abf6b75d3c0958c8ee409d/href I moved to Los Angeles in 2007 and as a VC who had built his career as a programmer, database designer, program manager, CEO then VP Products at Salesforce, I wanted to build a portfolio of software investments. Wasn’t Jonah worried about “platform risks?”

Buzzfeed 210

Buzzfeed Media Content News 210

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 30, 2013

I started out this year writing about how much I hate December. So I wanted to start the year off talking about putting December behind me. As an aside, I was blown away by just how many people told me they felt the exact same way about December but never wanted to say it publicly. . So I’m not even talking about that.

Blogging 400

Blogging Startup Ideas Press 400

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

Six months ago Upfront Ventures announced its first Partner hire since 2007 – Greg Bettinelli. I wrote about him here. More importantly, he has just announced his first investment – he led a $7 million investment in Deliv – please read about it on Greg’s spiffy new blog. Or what TechCrunch thinks.

Startup 331

Startup Competition Examples Invest 331

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2016

I joined Upfront Ventures in 2007 and took over as co-Managing Partner in 2011 along with the founder, Yves Sisteron. From 2007-2012 I scoured LA constantly. 7 times out of 10 he knows what’s going on before I do and is either slipping a paper on my desk, texting me or emailing me something about to go down. I keynoted.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Journal Invest Santa Monica 150

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

I become a venture capitalist in September 2007 – exactly 6.5 I remain a huge supporter and am very proud of our accomplishments and hugely optimistic about our future. Helping companies get to next financing round successfully: I was just beginning this phase in Sept 2010 and said so. years ago. 5 years ago. Since then?

Venture Capital 387

Venture Capital Downey Writing Press 387

socalTECH

JULY 27, 2015

One of the side effects of the war over Flash, has been with advertisers--particularly in Hollywood--who rely on Flash to help display their advertising banners and video to users. You guys were at a digital agency, can you talk about how you spun this out into an independent company? It certainly has challenges.

Hollywood 100

Hollywood HTML Software Review Advertising 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 24, 2016

Not since the initial popularity of Twitter in 2007 has a product so befuddled people. I think that’s what people actually like about it. A bit like a blog that is put out regularly but not overly edited or self-conscious about word choices or typos. If I can help thousands with 5 minutes of my time daily — why the f**k not?

Snapchat 200

Snapchat Blogging Venture Capital Writing 200

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 3, 2019

Anyone who drives cannot help but imagine not having to drive any more. We’re mostly talking about software, after all. People couldn’t help but expect a mass market push. I suppose we have to talk about the so-called “trolley problem,” too. OK, and LIDAR, and cameras, but the software is the key.

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Los Angeles Startup Software Commerce 138

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 9, 2014

I often talk about what I’m looking for when I meet with an entrepreneur. But without a passion for what you do I am dubious about your chances for success. If I had to put a number on it I’d say 1 in 20 pitches – maybe 1 in 30 – are by an entrepreneur who comes across as truly passionate about her project.

Venture Capital 373

Venture Capital Startup Course Entrepreneur 373

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 2, 2009

I think we all know by now that a conversation is happening on Twitter and that this extends to talking about brands. The volume of Tweets is enormous and growing at a rapid pace so tools are emerging to help brands manage this information. In an earlier post I spoke about the asymmetric nature of Twitter vs. Facebook.

Social Network 235

Social Network Writing Tool Startup 235

socalTECH

APRIL 26, 2011

Craig has recently uncloaked his stealth startup, BetterWorks (www.betterworks.com), focused on helping companies to manage and offer fringe benefits to their employees. Beyond that, it's really about real time recognition. It forces you to think very deeply about the problem they are solving.

Startup 216

Startup Technical Review Software Review Platform 216

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

I recently sat down with Troy Carter to talk about what he does and why he believes it is applicable to venture capital. The “what” is well known in LA circles – Troy discovered a little known young singer named Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta aka Lady Gaga and helped her launch her career. Same with Gaga.

Mentor 150

Mentor Venture Capital Marketing Product 150

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2017

Chang Xu for her tireless effort in helping me prepare and analyze the data) If you met with LPs to raise a fund in 2009–2012 the most common refrain was, “We have too many managers and too many dollars in venture. link] So here are some details (please thank & follow! We’re trying to limit our exposure.”

Startup 286

Startup Venture Capital Seed Funding Capital 286

Xconomy

OCTOBER 5, 2016

The idea is to help improve the function of failing livers, a stopgap measure that could extend the lives of patients on the U.S. The move represents a step toward a long-term goal that led to the formation of Organovo in 2007—of developing technology capable of bio-printing whole livers, kidneys, and other vital organs.

San Diego 105

San Diego Outsource Development Study Sample 105

socalTECH

AUGUST 27, 2014

We caught up with CEO and co-founder Brett Rossman to learn more about the company and how it''s been able to grow, profitably, all without raising a dime of outside capital. What is ConsumerTrack all about? There''s lots of technology development behind what you do - can you talk about that?

Startup 239

Startup El Segundo Marketing Media 239

InfoChachkie

APRIL 21, 2013

What I really liked was serving people, I really liked helping people, and in my little seven-year-old mind, that meant being a waitress. In 2007, Sarah joined Current TV. in 2007 (and) 2008 (and I realized) there is all this online video being consumed and it''s not being consumed on Current. Those first six months were about.

Networking 214

Networking Startup Santa Barbara RSS 214

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 20, 2013

Newly launched Crash is hoping to help solve that problem, by surfacing "photo-worthy" locations around you in its mobile app--sourced from its users. Erick Laubach: Originally, I started a travel startup in 2007 called Driftr. They handle legal, finance, and even design help and engineering. How did the company start?

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Idealab Startup Incubator Mobile 245

socalTECH

AUGUST 20, 2010

For this morning's interview, we thought we'd talk with Los Angeles-based Sidebar (www.sidebar.com), a venture backed startup in the mobile space, to learn more about what they are up to. What is Sidebar all about? By using our analytics platform, they learn about what consumers want. We caught up with CEO Patrick Kennedy.

Content 189

Content Screening Mobile Custom 189

InfoChachkie

JUNE 30, 2016

Never Gonna Give You Up ’s resurgence began in 2007, when a user on an obscure gaming site posted a link to Rick’s video under the heading for a trailer of the not-yet-released Grand Theft Auto IV video game. Maxim #1 – It’s About the Promise, Stupid. Consumers don’t want to hear about your company Mission and Vision.

Custom 162

Custom Customer Marketing Product 162

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

I was having dinner with a friend last night and we were chatting about venture capital and a bit about what I’ve learned. I started in 2007 with a thesis that my primary investment decision would be about the team (70%) and only afterward about the market opportunity (30%). I don’t. Motives matter.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2011

I recently wrote a post about the open nature of Twitter and why I’m long on its future. I know it’s easier to write “horse race&# stories about who’s signing up more users, raising more funding or who’s “hot&# lately. Social Media helps change that. This election will be about jobs.

Social Media 274

Social Media Google Media Startup 274

SoCal CTO

MAY 19, 2010

I wouldn’t say it’s 1999 or even 2007, but it certainly has turned around. In between, I got an email from CJ Cenizal asking about this exact issue: I'm growing a social gaming startup, Elevated Games ( elevatedgames.com ) as Founder and CEO. Sorry, I wish I could be more help. What Other People Say About Sourcing Developers?

Develop 175

Develop Development TechEmpower Southern California 175

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2015

If you want to understand the software trend that drove the creation of the seed-stage VC phenomenon I wrote about it that linked blog post but in short: cloud computing drove down the cost to create startups enabling a new category of investor. The Lessons of Fab & Why You Should Worry About “Over-Funding” Your Business.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Invest Cloud Computing 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

It helped me avoid chasing deals (and a house) in 2007/08 and it led to GRP’s fastest pace of investment in many years in the first three quarters of 2009 at a time when many others weren’t investing. But imagine a VC that did 12 deals per year in 2006, 2007 & 2008. The deal was done in late 2007.

Venture Capital 263

Venture Capital Startup Invest Funding 263

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

We caught up with Amos to learn about his new book, and to gain some tips for startup entrepreneurs on how to figure out when you're actually ready to scale your sales team. Thanks for the time today, to start off, tell us a little bit about what you do? Donnelly in 2007. What's the new book about?

Sales 113

Sales Startup Custom Development Framework 113

SoCal CTO

MARCH 18, 2010

My management book, Ignited, was released in 2007 and serves a guide and champion for middle managers. Today I lead a small consultancy that helps advertising supported develop and scale the revenue producing sides of their businesses. Interesting to hear how you think about this. I help internet companies make money.

Startup 225

Startup Los Angeles Social Network Twiistup 225

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2015

And as I’ve written about before – building a personal brand is extremely important in today’s competitive job market. Jason is a master of communications and that’s what this post is about. We shared information about building sales teams. We chatted about the shitty things VCs did to us.

SaaS 150

SaaS Venture Capital Conference Technical Review 150

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

Peer Group – Meet with other emerging entrepreneurs who will help you objectively evaluate your experiences and provide relevant feedback regarding your successes and failures. Journal or Blog – Writing about your experiences will force you to be contemplative and thoughtful. Copyright © 2007-11 by J. from the Wharton School.

Startup 206

Startup Journal Writing Blogging 206

socalTECH

MARCH 12, 2013

What is it about the content delivery network market which has enabled Santa Monica-based EdgeCast to go from startup to over $100M in revenues in only a few, short years? For those who don't know about EdgeCast, CDN services, who/what kind of clients you serve? James Segil: EdgeCast is the fastest growing CDN in the world.

CTO Hire 248

CTO Hire Content Networking Web 248

Xconomy

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

In a statement last week, Tealium said it created the briefing center to help its customers understand how its services can be combined to deliver compelling experiences. Tealium now has about 700 customers, including major companies in healthcare, financial services, travel, and technology, Lunsford said. It’s been about data.

Custom 40

Custom Customer San Diego JavaScript 40

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 9, 2013

I’ve talked before about how I use visualization to drive my creativity. I was also deeply paranoid that a bad recession was coming (this was early 2007). Don’t worry about the financial security – it’s not yours anyways. It helps me focus. How do you live with uncertainty and stay focused?

News 405

News Venture Capital Yahoo .Net 405

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2010

This was a really fun episode for me because Mo is informed and knowledgeable on so many topics and being a Boston / NYC VC it gave us so much to talk about relative to just covering California VCs. And what we think about Sequoia’s website , First Round Capital’s and True Ventures (we both like to copy stuff from True).

Venture Capital 217

Venture Capital Capital Metrics Competition 217

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Josh was formerly the President of Pandemic Studios, and helped co-found the company, merge it with Bioware, and eventually sell the combined firm to Electronic Arts for $860M. Josh Resnick: What ntro is about, is trying to uncover meaningful connections with people around you. What's the idea behind the ntro?

Electronic Arts 236

Electronic Arts Startup Mobile West Los Angeles 236

socalTECH

OCTOBER 26, 2016

This morning, Techstars (www.techstars.org), the startup accelerator which has had great success in spreading its approach to helping to get startups to the next stage of their life�usually, funding�announced it has opened up its third accelerator in Los Angeles, Techstars LA. Tell us about this new program you have running in Los Angeles?

Startup 100

Startup Los Angeles Mentor Class 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

By now you will likely have read Andy Dunn’s scathing post about Venture Capitalists in which he decries the industry’s masses. After all, I am no stranger to the publicly expressing the frustrations of dealing with the downside of this industry as I wrote about in 2006 when I was an entrepreneur. But VC is like congress.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374