socalTECH

OCTOBER 26, 2016

We spoke earlier with Cody Simms , Executive Director of Techstars America and who leads the program in LA, to hear more about why the startup accelerator operator is opening up its third accelerator here, why Los Angeles has turned out to be one of the leading sources for startups across its network, as well as Cody's advice to entrepreneurs.

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Startup Los Angeles Mentor Class 100

socalTECH

JANUARY 22, 2019

This morning's interview is with Kevin O'Connor , a longtime investor and serial entrepreneur, who is now running venture capital investment firm ScOp Venture Capital. Kevin sold his last company, Santa Barbara-based Graphiq, in July of 2017 to Amazon, but has a long history of successful companies, including founding DoubleClick.

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Venture Capital Startup Invest Capital 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2017

Advisors and mentors enhance the learning and effectiveness of even the best business leaders. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 07/14/2017. Too many business owners are convinced that listening to an advisory board or Board of Directors is a waste of time and money. You can’t win if you don’t try to push the limits.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

In addition, like an entrepreneur with a new business, you have to factor in all the indirect costs previously covered by employers, including training, health care, and time off for vacations. In fact, thinking like an entrepreneur is a good strategy today for success, even if you are currently in a long-term employment situation.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2017

As an active business advisor and angel investor, I’m convinced that we are rapidly entering a new age of the entrepreneur, and those who are best prepared will be the first to reap some big rewards. I continue to see stories of really young entrepreneurs, and I just met a really impressive one, Neva Lee Recla, at a recent Fast Inc.

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Coach Entrepreneur Ideas Class 80

Frank Addante

OCTOBER 12, 2021

That’s what my wife said to me back in June after I had been “retired” since 2017. Our focus is on helping entrepreneurs build businesses that focus on social and environmental challenges. After 20+ years of building my own businesses from scratch, I finally figured out that I love helping entrepreneurs build their businesses!

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Startup Case Study Ideas Invest 105

LATechDigest

MAY 13, 2016

Each mentor spoke for nearly an hour to the entire group, answered questions, and sat with each company for one-on-one mentoring. “Mentorship is a high priority; our entire mission has evolved, for Atom Factory to become a platform that supports & empowers artists and entrepreneurs. SMASHD LABS First-Round Cohorts.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2017

In my view, the gig economy is a key driver to the current boom in entrepreneurship – every professional and consultant is actually a solo entrepreneur. She speaks from years of experience mentoring and facilitating independent contractors and helping large companies, since well before the term “gig economy” was even coined.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2017

Entrepreneurs are people who dream up new ideas, and then commercialize them into new businesses. Yet, in my experience as a mentor to entrepreneurs, the majority of failures I see are related to starting and growing the business, not developing the solution. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 01/17/2017.

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Ideas Startup Metrics Entrepreneur 72

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2017

Every entrepreneur I know has a few bad habits they intended to overcome a long time ago, such as micromanaging, or failure to get enough rest and relaxation. In my role as a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often recommend attacking bad habits and efforts to improve using the six basic strategies outlined by the authors.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2017

I found this perspective validated in a new book, “ Plan Commit Win: 90 Days to Creating a Fundable Startup ,” by serial entrepreneur and strategic consultant Patrick Henry. The result is a win-win-win situation for investors, entrepreneurs, and customers alike. Develop the right mentoring relationships.

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Technical Review Startup Mentor Study 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2017

Aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners often ask me for a secret formula for success, and they seem surprised when I tell them there isn’t one. Many managers and entrepreneurs love to play the game of persecutor, rescuer, and victim, on every initiative that doesn’t go exactly as planned. It’s up to you to make it happen.

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Xconomy

NOVEMBER 13, 2016

I started with a list of companies already screened by the San Diego Venture Group’s annual venture summit, and consulted with investors and startup mentors to refine the list. Tim Rueth, a UC San Diego entrepreneur in residence and member of the EvoNexus selection committee, also screened the list, and offered his perspective.

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San Diego Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Startup 40

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 4, 2019

When I saw World Series Poker Champion Annie Duke speak in 2017, I was inspired to write an article describing some of her recruiting techniques. The Power Of “I’m Not Sure” – Successful, serial entrepreneurs tend to be self-reflective and not dogmatic. Join A Truth-seeking Pod – Annie was mentored by several veteran poker players.

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Help Startup Santa Barbara Study 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Unless you are a serial entrepreneur with a string of successes behind you, you need a business plan to convince investors that you can build a business out of the dream that has been driving your passion to change the world. An entrepreneur who can’t manage a plan, probably won’t be able to manage the new business.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2017

Everyone knows and admires the leaders , including Google and Zappos, but most entrepreneurs have only a fuzzy idea of what to do to get there. He cites eight leadership actions, which I also recommend, from a non-scientific perspective, as a mentor to entrepreneurs. So, how do you build trust? Flatten management levels.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2017

In my experience as an advisor and mentor to entrepreneurs in business, one of the biggest failures I see is a lack of self-leadership. For example, I often hear from aspiring entrepreneurs that “I had that idea first, and he stole it, and is now making money on my idea.”

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2017

Based on my years of experience mentoring and advising entrepreneurs, you need to attack problems and challenges with a mindset of success, or it is unlikely that you or your business will survive. Every good entrepreneur I know has pivoted at least once. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 12/16/2017.

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Guide Entrepreneur Help Mentor 60

Tech.Co

NOVEMBER 28, 2017

Minnesota food and agriculture brand Land O’Lakes — yes, the one you know from butter packages — launched an accelerator in July 2017. 125 entrepreneurs in the food or drink business rely on the incubator’s food entrepreneur knowledge base to steer them in the right direction. The Underground.

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Incubator Santa Clarita Technical Advisors FAQ 70

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2017

In my role as a mentor to entrepreneurs and an angel investor, I find that too many are stuck in this myth that a good pitch, and good marketing content, should consist of more product features, and more hype on customer benefits. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 11/25/2017.

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Marketing Startup Social Media Guide 69

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2017

As a new business advisor, I am no longer surprised that every new entrepreneur believes the hard part is creating the first product and the business. The best leaders are mentors to their team, and they are stewards of a company’s assets and vision. Your task is follow-up in support, mentoring, and setting goals.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

They flocked to businesses like Apple, when influencer Steve Jobs was at the helm, and anxiously await the next moves from visible entrepreneurs, including Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Entrepreneurs who are clearly willing to give as well as take in business become influencers because people feel the urge to reciprocate.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 28, 2017

We all face pressure in our lives, but there’s nothing like that of an entrepreneur facing customer crises and the competitive challenges of a new business. Thus, here is my own reframing of the authors generalized rules into some specifics for an entrepreneur or business leader: Reframe competitive threats to opportunities.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2017

A good entrepreneur is not necessarily born a good salesman. Julie is known as the entrepreneur’s selling mentor, for both men and women. In my view, every entrepreneur has to be a great salesman to succeed (among the many other required skills), so you should take a hard look at these points: Dust off your moxie.

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Social Media Sales Mentor Customer 56

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I often get asked for next sure-fire idea. Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and other famous entrepreneurs are examples of dedicated people who looked for inspiration, rather than ideas for their next business. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/20/2017.

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Ideas Study Entrepreneur Customer 54

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2017

As an advisor to startups, and a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m still surprised at the number who are determined to go it alone. Thus top entrepreneurs spend as much time getting the right team in place to run the business as building the product or service. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/09/2017.

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Help Startup Course Technical Review 66

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2017

Develop accountability through coaching and mentoring. High-performing companies formalize these coaching and mentoring programs, and apply them universally, rather than activate them only to solve specific problems. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/13/2017.

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Satisfaction Coach Mentor Training 55

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Even after many years mentoring entrepreneurs and advising businesses, I continue to be surprised by the primary focus on products and processes, and the often incidental attention to hiring and nurturing the right people. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 12/09/2017. Where are you along this spectrum?

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

In my many years of experience in business, and recent work as a mentor to entrepreneurs, I have seen the business world change, and can relate well to his five success practices paraphrased here: Build the team from people with a shared obsession. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 02/12/2017.

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Netflix Social Media Startup Mentor 62

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2017

Today I find that some entrepreneurs, are putting all their focus on a social or environmental cause, and perhaps naively expect that purpose alone will lead to a sustainable business. On an ongoing basis, it also means mentoring for development of existing team members to prepare them for both the purpose and execution of new functions.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2017

After the hire comes mentoring and continuous training as the key to engagement. Mentors can be particularly powerful in helping colleagues break out of the trance. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 08/22/2017. It all must start with hiring people who are the right fit for your desired culture.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2017

Most entrepreneurs believe they are leaders, even though the feedback I get from their team and partners may indicate otherwise. The best leaders spend more time supporting and mentoring their constituents to develop their competence and confidence, and then delegate effectively with accountability.

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Activity Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 55

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

Many business executives and entrepreneurs I know are convinced that business success is all about having the right solution for the right price. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 08/02/2017. Thus most investors I know claim to invest in the person, rather than the product.

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Software Review Technical Review Startup Press 57

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2017

Lewis offers eight steps to reclaiming your creativity that I believe every entrepreneur should adopt: Quiet – creativity speaks quietly and needs concentration. The best mentors in business often find themselves learning as much as their mentees. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/23/2017.

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Ideas Social Media Press Mentor 60

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2017

I was mentoring some graduate students at a local university recently, and I sensed again that profit seems to be a dirty word these days to many aspiring entrepreneurs. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 11/17/2017. Every business needs to develop a revenue model even before a product.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2017

I have found that the most successful entrepreneurs and business executives have an impressive work ethic, and they surround themselves with a team of comparable commitment. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 01/05/2017. Starting and running a business is hard. Business is more about people than product. Never makes excuses.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2017

A key part of her message that resonated with me, as a mentor to entrepreneurs, is her guidance on how to deal with the constant demands and requests that every business founder faces. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 07/20/2017. Green, a noted executive coach, speaker, and CEO of Brilliance, Inc.

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Startup Tool Coach Satisfaction 58