Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2013

According to the most recent study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, there were approximately 514,000 new businesses created per month in the US in 2012. Today’s platform is built of people, including yourself, followers, and contacts, who can amplify your message through social media and spread it to your target customers.

Platform 105

Platform Entrepreneur Startup Social Media 105

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

It was perfect timing since in 2012 GRP raised its fourth fund bringing our total assets managed to nearly $1 billion. Like any firm we of course invest in the San Francisco Bay Area where 33% of my personal boards are. I made some reference calls. Community builders. Open & transparent. Approachable. They were effusive.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2017

He was just trying to collect more data for his startup on what was happening on real estate deals that the company had been referring to brokers. We continued to enhance our software to make it easier for them to follow the steps to cash in on credits, and of course, by following those steps they were able to predictably close more deals.

Sales 145

Sales Startup Email Tool 145

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 1, 2013

Speakers include Scott Hunger, a principal program Manager and Lead on the Azure Application and Platform Team; Richard Campbell, cofounder of Strangeloop Networks, Jeffrey Palermo, CIO of Headspring Systems and many more! In addition, world renowned speakers are invited to discuss the latest trends in technology.

Training 65

Training Technical Review Technology Software Review 65

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 3, 2014

I’ve been an avid user of Plug.DJ’s music discovery site since early 2012, have discovered a ton of music there (which, by the way, I’m still listening to today) and originally covered their $1.25M in seed-round funding from Javelin Venture Partners. was founded in February 2012 by a team of passionate music fans.

Startup 107

Startup Product Sites Tool 107

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2016

The second major trend was the rise of the angel that was a function of the boom in Silicon Valley wealth (Google, Facebook, Zynga, Twitter, Salesforce.com, etc) plus the rise of crowd-funding platforms (AngelList) plus the rise of Y Combinator / 500Startups / TechStars. The fact that I still see it referred to in pitch decks is farcical.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Capital Funding Seed Funding 150

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2016

Mark dutifully went to partner meetings, back-channel references began, firms started calling existing VCs to “test prices” and we started debating whom our best partner would be. Of course it’s not literally a memo but that’s a metaphor for knowing that things have dramatically changed.

Funding 150

Funding Startup SaaS Venture Capital 150