Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2014

According to earlier studies from Forbes Insights , many entrepreneurs and small businesses not only feel the lessons learned during the past few years have helped them survive, but the recession also exposed flaws in their business strategies that they were able to fix. 2015 business optimism entrepreneur strategy'

Study 102

Study Entrepreneur .Net Guide 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

Since the recession, and at least partially sparked by it, I’m seeing a real resurgence of entrepreneurial spirit, and more startup activity than ever before. The rate of new entrepreneurs increased about 10 percent, from 280 out of 100,000 adults in the 2014 Startup Activity Index, to 310 out of 100,000 adults in the 2015 Index.

Startup 108

Startup Social Media Entrepreneur Satisfaction 108

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. The same is true at startups. You’re a startup, not GE.

Startup 150

Startup Venture Capital Invest Framework 150

Eric Greenspan

MAY 19, 2015

Years ago I began doing a presentation called Think Big for area high schools and colleges which included The Ten Commandments for Entrepreneurs. In particular, Ida, who wanted to start her own peach cobbler business in her late 60s. Part of my Think Big presentation is the 10 Commandments for Entrepreneurs. Trust your gut.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur USC UCLA Startup 100

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. The Motive for Speaking Up. ” “Mark has a vested interest in talking down valuations of startups.” All of these are false.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150

socalTECH

MARCH 15, 2019

The Techstars Foundation , the nonprofit arm of startup accelerator operator Techstars which is focused on increasing the number of under-represented entrepreneurs in the technology industry, is looking to give $10,000 to $50,000 to nonprofits working in the area, Techstars said Friday. Applications are open through April 8th.

Los Angeles 153

Los Angeles Education Organization Entrepreneur 153

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2015

Arteen Arabshahi: While Karlin Ventures has had an excellent first few years as a firm seeing over 6 exits and making 40+ investments within 3 years, what was most exciting in 2015 was the addition of our third team member, Erin Shipley. Who or what do you think had the biggest impact on the technology industry in 2015?

SoCalTech 100

SoCalTech Venture Capital Invest News 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2015

The visibility of Google, Facebook and a few others continues to propagate the myth that the ultimate objective of every entrepreneur should be to take their startups public via an initial public offering at the earliest opportunity. Facebook, for example, ended up raising almost $16 billion through its IPO.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Startup Report Statistics 98

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Surviving as an entrepreneur requires unbridled passion, enthusiasm and a certain naiveté in the face of many unknowns. Of course, entrepreneurs of any age can be young at heart and equally fearless, and still able to use their greater experience as an advantage. They have no legacies to protect or past accomplishments to live up to.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Startup Social Media 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2015

As the number of sites on the Internet floats around one billion, the challenge with every new startup is to be found and stand out. 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.

Blogging 110

Blogging Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2015

Image via Flickr by Jupiter Labs Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. The average amount per startup was $23,000, usually in the form of a convertible loan, rather than an equity investment.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Invest 106

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2015

By definition, every startup is predictably unpredictable, since new solutions have no proven track record, startups are usually building a new market, and the world around them is changing faster than ever. The market changes faster than your startup. The money runs out before revenues start.

Startup 105

Startup Entrepreneur Marketing Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2015

Many entrepreneurs still don’t understand that building a business culture today of doing good, like helping people (society) and planet (sustainability), is also a key to maximizing profit. Customer loyalty and trust go up for companies with a purpose culture. Investors like startups that foster planet and social responsibility.

Entrepreneur 117

Entrepreneur Organization Startup Pricing 117

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. Make sure everyone accurately posts their role with your startup on social media profiles, resumes, and references.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2015

Of course, you can pick up the basic principles this way, but the problem is that the practical rules for success are changing so fast that no academic can keep up. From a practical standpoint, there are many ways to learn about business change, and the opportunities that may spring up at any moment.

Startup 103

Startup Case Study Entrepreneur Class 103

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2015

A common challenge faced by every entrepreneur is that they don’t have the bandwidth, interest or skills to do everything that is required to build their startup. Two heads are always better than one in a startup. Your best friend, spouse or a family member is the least likely candidate, so don’t start there.

Startup 105

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 105

socalTECH

DECEMBER 31, 2014

We''re continuing to feature reflections on the last year from movers and shakers in the local high tech community, and today have thoughts from Gerhard Apfelthaler , who is Dean of California Lutheran University''s School of Management , which has been very active in Ventura County helping to promote startup and entrepreneurial activity.

Westlake Village 147

Westlake Village Thousand Oaks Startup Ventura 147

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Entrepreneurship is all about leading – leading customers to a new product or service, leading a startup team to peak performance, and leading a new business to the market opportunity, while providing maximum return to stakeholders. Authentic entrepreneurs lead through the power of personal influence, rather than coercion.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Mentor Coach Customer 108

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2016

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Most of these are non-profits, set up by a university to commercialize new technologies, or a municipality to foster business development for the local economy.

Incubator 106

Incubator Startup Help Resource 106

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2015

When starting a new business, an entrepreneur has to take a “hands-on” role. Thus I don’t see many startups run in absentia or by big company executives. Startup founders need to see, touch and feel all the key elements of a new business as it evolves, much like an artist renders a new painting or sculpture.

Startup 102

Startup Technical Review Paramount Entrepreneur 102

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. Startup owners need to assume a three to five year wait for a liquidity event, such as acquisition or going public, before they can cash out. In the U.S.,

Startup 99

Startup Entrepreneur Acquisition Demand 99

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2016

In 2006 I started using Facebook and most of my friends & colleagues thought I was strange. In 2007 I started using Twitter and most of my friends & colleagues wondered why people would care what I ate for lunch. In 2008 I started VC blogging. I had blogged when I was an entrepreneur. I already have Facebook.”.

Snapchat 150

Snapchat Product Startup AMA 150

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. Startups need to build a large passionate group of fans before the campaign. Startup revenues come later.

Startup 151

Startup Equity Funding Demand 151

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 28, 2015

The way to start is with a sample financial model, freely available from many sources on the Internet, such as this one from Entrepreneur. Another alternative is to build one yourself, starting with a few formulas to extrapolate early revenues and expenses into the five-year projections normally requested by banks and investors.

Startup 103

Startup Pricing Sample Customer 103

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. And growth is the lifeblood of every startup. And growth is the lifeblood of every startup. Complementary advantages can expand both markets. Be visible and be proactive.

Startup 102

Startup Customer Custom IBM 102

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

Another note: for some nominees, our nominating committee was unable to separate closely tied founders of startups, and so we've listed those founders together for convenience. Here are this year's winners, along with the companies they are associated with: Brett Bouttier , AwesomenessTV.

SoCalTech 100

SoCalTech Lootcrate Southern California Snapchat 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 8, 2015

Relationships are the key to survival and success for entrepreneurs, and first impressions usually turn into lasting impressions. As an advisor to many early-stage entrepreneurs, I caution them to always be prepared for that chance meeting with a famous investor, a potential partner or an industry guru.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Content Platform 105

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 16, 2021

Metropolis is a new Los Angeles-based startup that’s looking to compete with BMW-owned ParkMobile for a slice of the automated parking lot management market. Israel, a serial entrepreneur, has spent decades thinking about parking. His last company, ParkMe, was sold to Inrix back in 2015.

Artificial Inteligence 249

Artificial Inteligence Los Angeles Mobile Pricing 249

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2015

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” Many people with great ideas never make it as entrepreneurs, and true entrepreneurs can make a business out of anything. Are you confident and disciplined in facing tough challenges?

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Startup 104

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

Even entrepreneurs that already sold on SaaS should stake note of new research from the SalientGroup : SaaS gets funded - Nearly 50% of SaaS-based startups are getting successfully funded—a rate of funding success no other sector can match. Overall, according to Gartner, the SaaS market will top $22 billion by 2015.

SaaS 100

SaaS Entrepreneur Startup Satisfaction 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2013

New entrepreneurs who want to survive, and optimize the growth of their startups, need to think globally, and act locally, from day one. The middle and above-middle class population of China will grow from 172 million in 2010 to 314 million by 2015. business entrepreneur glocalization localization startup'

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Offshore 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2011

Other writers, like Guy Kawasaki, have irreverently called some of these “entrepreneur lies,” but I prefer to think of them as innocent over-enthusiasm or over-confidence that can kill your deal. Gartner says our market will be $50 billion in 2015.” Entrepreneurs who utter this line are kidding themselves.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Funding Innocal Competition 108

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 12, 2015

After studying at UC Santa Barbara''s entrepreneurial program , he returned to Spain, excited to start a venture and make a positive impact on his homeland. Fredi''s email is worth reading, as it reinforces how lucky American entrepreneurs truly are. One of my top former students, Fredi Fernandez , recently sent me a compelling email.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Startup Santa Barbara Venture Capital 100

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. My contrarian nature sparked, I began researching MBA led startups. billion from 2010-2015. billion from 2010-2015.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Allegis Startup Competition 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2011

New entrepreneurs who want to survive, and optimize the growth of their startups, need to think globally, and act locally, from day one. The middle and above-middle class population of China will grow from 172 million in 2010 to 314 million in 2015. Not every international market matters, but some are larger than life.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Patents Offshore Startup 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2015

Every entrepreneur I know can’t find enough hours in a day to do the good things they want, and yet they often find themselves saying yes to new requests. In addition to saying yes too often, some entrepreneurs under pressure say no poorly, by attacking the requestor or by avoiding any definitive response.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Startup Tips Conference 104

socalTECH

DECEMBER 29, 2014

We enjoyed three rewarding exits this year, which is always fun for our entrepreneurs and LPs. What technologies or things are you looking forward to most in 2015? A Partner at Rincon Venture Partners, John is honored to work with some of the most talented startup operators on the planet.

Southern California 157

Southern California SaaS Venture Capital Entrepreneur 157