InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

MBA’s are an easy target for entrepreneurs’ scorn. I too have taken shots at MBA’s, describing why they are not typically well suited for startup life in Why Entrepreneurs Hate (Most) MBAs. billion from 2010-2015. Situationally, MBA’s Can Be Effective Entrepreneurs. A nice way of saying they can be arrogant mercenaries.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Allegis Startup Competition 113

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. Way back in 2015, the Kickstarter Pebble smartwatch raised $20.3 Early crowdfunding successes have been undeniable. Risk is increased.

Equity 164

Equity Statistics Platform Entrepreneur 164

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 3, 2015

. — Scott Belsky (@scottbelsky) April 29, 2015. It spoke to me because it so resonates with my nearly daily advice to entrepreneurs and VCs alike. I went as far as to call it the best Tweet of 2015 so far because it encapsulated my advice so succinctly. I am often asked how we make decisions on investments at Upfront Ventures.

Startup 150

Startup Venture Capital Invest Framework 150

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

With small amounts of money invested (sub $3 million) the risks are reasonably low for most VCs and the consequences of bad decisions or decisions a VC has limited say in is tolerable. And here’s an important point that I think modern entrepreneurs often forget: Investors are “co-owners” of your business.

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Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

To do so we need entrepreneurs who can build companies that scale well in booming markets and also control costs appropriate in correcting markets. We also are dependent on money, advice and support of many of our friends & colleagues in the venture industry who co-invest with us in nearly every deal we do.

Funding 150

Funding Venture Capital Marketing Writing 150

socalTECH

AUGUST 7, 2014

I had worked a year in investment banking, and Jasper was out of USC. The two of us really wanted to be entrepreneurs. We were really stubborn entrepreneurs, and worked at it for three years, because we were really determined to make it work. angeles startup taskus outsourcing phillippines growth bryce maddock entrepreneur'

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Startup Technology Outsource Santa Monica 231

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

According to the latest Kaufman Startup Activity Index , entrepreneurs are making an unprecedented comeback in America, with data showing the largest year-over-year increase in two decades. Thus a record number of entrepreneurs (and employees) are getting rich. Social media is a boon for entrepreneurs and startups.

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Startup Social Media Entrepreneur Satisfaction 108

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 12, 2015

TechZulu is excited to invite you to the 2015 Startup and Entrepreneur Forecast taking place Thursday, January 29 from 7 p.m. We will have amazing panelists from March Capital, Greycroft, Machinima, Silicon Valley Bank and Amplify who will share their insights and forecast for start-ups in 2015. YouTube, Microsoft and SyFy.

Startup 40

Startup Artificial Inteligence Venture Capital Santa Monica 40

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2020

As an advisor to many entrepreneurs, I still hear frequently the irrational exuberance that crowdfunding is the quick alternative for startups that are passed over by overly demanding angels or venture capital investors. Thus crowdfunding is clearly not the panacea for funding and success that many entrepreneurs envision.

Startup 151

Startup Equity Funding Demand 151

socalTECH

JANUARY 29, 2016

According to the fund, it tallied up Series A investment rounds across the country, finding that there were five, female-led companies that raised Series A fundings in Los Angeles last year, or 13 percent of deals for the year, compared with only 16 Series A fundings of companies led by females in the Bay Area in 2015. READ MORE>>.

Los Angeles 100

Los Angeles Report Angel Invest 100

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

He shared the following advice for emerging entrepreneurs who have limited time and money but an unlimited passion to give back philanthropically. I invested two years of my life…and it became my cause. I invested two years of my life…and it became my cause. So as an entrepreneur, (talent) is the most valuable currency.

Google 220

Google Technical Advisors Technical Review Equity 220

socalTECH

JANUARY 5, 2015

We are looking forward to this year''s Silicon Beach Fest 2015 continuing these themes and being bigger, adding more international, biotech, and more. At the end of 2013, we were excited when there was an investment round of $20M to $30M. Watch for more in 2015. What technologies are you looking at in 2015? READ MORE>>'

Cornerstone OnDemand 100

Cornerstone OnDemand Belkin Entertainment Newsletter 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2017

More recently, the desire for extra income has become the key driver in new startups, according to a 2015 study. Being called a lifestyle entrepreneur should be a point of pride, not an insult. Of course, even lifestyle entrepreneurs want to be happy, and want their business to be “successful.” According to William R.

Entrepreneur 69

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Course 69

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Even if you ignore all the hype around crowdfunding, there can be no doubt that it is a real alternative for entrepreneurs to achieve visibility and funding today. Equity investing is very risky, but huge returns are possible if you pick the next Facebook, but failure means your entire investment is lost. In the U.S.,

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2015

One of the big questions that every entrepreneur struggles with is how much funding they should request from investors in the first round. The average valuation for angel investments is $2 million, which will get you $500,000 for 20 percent of your startup. Are you flexible on the terms of the investment?

Help 104

Help Startup Equity Entrepreneur 104

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2016

I remember when seed funds first started (they were being incorrectly called “super angels” and then Micro VCs before Seed Funds stuck) and every LP (who invest in VCs) told me they weren’t convinced about Seed Funds (too small, too hard to pick winners, would they be able to follow on?). Now seed funding is conventional wisdom.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Capital Funding Seed Funding 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

Most entrepreneurs have found by now one or more of the many popular crowdfunding sites , and have the name and contact information for at least one of the big venture capital firms. By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. Most share expertise as well as money.

Angel 106

Angel Startup Venture Capital Seed Funding 106

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2015

A popular myth these days is that successful entrepreneurs must attract investors to get their businesses going, when the reality has been that more than 80 percent of new businesses are started and grown with no outside investment at all. The first question from most investors is the size of your own investment.

Startup 101

Startup Entrepreneur Equity Summary 101

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2016

I had blogged when I was an entrepreneur. In 2015 I opened up my Facebook page to the public. But how can you invest in technology unless you’re going to use the tools and understand them? In 2007 I started using Twitter and most of my friends & colleagues wondered why people would care what I ate for lunch.

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Snapchat Product Startup AMA 150

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2015

Most new entrepreneurs assume that great investors will find their startups based on the compelling solution the founders have created. Thus it behooves every entrepreneur to optimize their investment strategies early, based on time and dollar costs, as well as odds of success. There are just too many scams.

Startup 101

Startup Keiretsu Entrepreneur Invest 101

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

I’d like to explain as best I can my opinion on what is going on because most of what I hear from entrepreneurs is not only wrong but is reminiscent of what I heard in 1997-2000. ” “This will be great for VCs and bad for entrepreneurs.” What is the True Sentiment of VCs? ” “Sure, prices are dropping.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

For the elite startups and entrepreneurs who manage to attract the investor they dream of, and survive the term sheet negotiation, there is still one more hurdle before the money is in the bank. Since investors tend to invest in people, more than the idea, the personnel review is normally the highest priority item.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

LATechDigest

AUGUST 3, 2019

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) has announced that Evan Spiegel, CEO and co-founder of Snapchat, along with CBRE and California State University, Northridge (CSUN) will be the 2015 Eddy Awards Honorees. CBRE Group, Inc.,

Snapchat 52

Snapchat Pico Rivera Northridge Santa Clarita 52

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2015

You thought media twitter was bad… You thought tech twitter was bad… — Hunter Walk (@hunterwalk) August 24, 2015. So why invest in that period of uncertainty unless it’s early-stage and thus valuation matters less. If the next 30 days stays calm then investment will pick up. So, too, investments.

Marketing 150

Marketing Venture Capital Startup Invest 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

I challenge any entrepreneur, for example, to define the difference between "seed-stage" and "early-stage" financing. Most investors won’t touch a first-time entrepreneur at this stage. Yet, they often provide similar small seed investments, similar to those of accelerators. A micro venture capital firm.

Funding 104

Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2016

Santa Monica-based March Capital Partners (www.marchcp.com) has just announced a brand new, $240M venture investment fund, led by longtime venture investing veterans Jim Armstrong, Sumant Mandal, Gregory Milken and Jamie Montgomery. What is the investment focus for this fund? It's all about the entrepreneur.

Southern California 113

Southern California Capital Funding Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

When pitching to investors, entrepreneurs always seem to start with a customer pitch, then add a slide or two about the business. Investors are business experts, while the entrepreneur is more likely the product expert. Immediate investment requirements and use of funds. Potential investor return calculation and exit strategy.

Product 103

Product Slides Custom Customer 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2015

When an entrepreneur first incorporates his or her business, he or she may find him or herself the proud owner of 10 million shares of common stock, commonly called founder’s shares. every entrepreneur should incorporate early and file an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of founding the company. In the U.S.,

Startup 99

Startup Entrepreneur Acquisition Demand 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2015

Entrepreneurs often ask me why investors expect financial projections for a new startup even before the product is built and while the market is still being defined. You shouldn’t invest in an undefined business. Think about the valuation implications and equity you are willing to give up for each investment amount.

Startup 107

Startup Equity Invest Acquisition 107

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2017

Los Angeles-based venture investment firm CrossCut Ventures (www.crosscut.vc) announced this morning that it has raised its fourth fund, CrossCut 4 , a brand new, $125M early stage investment fund. We spoke with one of the firm's four Managing Directors, Clinton Foy , about the big new fund and its investments.

Funding 100

Funding Southern California Riot Games Activision 100

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 25, 2016

Unfortunately, the coming market correction will reverberate to all stages of venture investing. The constant media coverage of the aberrant unicorn valuations has caused otherwise level-headed entrepreneurs to expect investors to participate at prices which are detached from their startups’ fundamentals. Find A Partner Not A Banker.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Invest Venture Capital 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2015

Yet, as an advisor to startups, I see some common disasters, and recommend some anticipation and recovery moves that can save every entrepreneur some painful time and money. While every entrepreneur needs to remain upbeat and optimistic on all of these, it is also smart to anticipate the worst case scenarios that are possible with each.

Startup 105

Startup Entrepreneur Marketing Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

As a startup advisor, when I suggest cooperating with competitors, most entrepreneurs initially think I'm crazy or suggesting something illegal. These are simple cooperation agreements, but many entrepreneurs are too proud or busy to consider them as a growth opportunity. And growth is the lifeblood of every startup.

Startup 102

Startup Custom Customer IBM 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2015

In this age of relationships, you, the entrepreneur, are a very important element of your new brand, and it’s never too early to start marketing the value of your expertise, insights and ideas. Every entrepreneur should count on at least a couple of adjustments or pivots before they get it right. Start today.

Blogging 110

Blogging Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media 110

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2015

Every entrepreneur is quick to tell friends and potential investors about his or her vision of changing the world, about all the customers who have expressed an interest, and about all the other investors who are lining up to get a piece of the action. Many entrepreneurs feel they need to spend more money to increase traction.

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Acquisition Entrepreneur Custom Customer 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2015

Here is my summary of some major considerations that every entrepreneur needs to evaluate against the cost and effort to attract equity investors: Completing a grant application is real work. Some entrepreneurs become stuck in development, fixated on winning just one more grant, rather than moving on to marketing and real customers.

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Pricing Equity Technical Review Research 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

It’s a new age for aspiring entrepreneurs, where anyone with a dream or a hobby should be turning it into a business. Too many entrepreneurs still think plans are for investors, and investors are required to build a startup. Many entrepreneurs today build and maintain their own websites, with powerful tools such as Shopify.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media Outsource Development 108