Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

And there is so much money around being thrown at so many entrepreneurs that many firms don’t even care about board seats, governance rights or heaven forbid doing work with the company because that would eat into the VCs time needed to chase 5 more deals. And the truth is that several entrepreneurs prefer it this way.

Venture Capital 471

Venture Capital Writing Invest Pricing 471

Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

If you’re an early-stage entrepreneur, technology has served you well. In 2006, a passion to help startups grew into Tech Cocktail , a company whose mission was to showcased burgeoning companies in bars around the country. Watch our video series at SXSW 2018 with The Case Foundation. BlackTech Week (Miami, FL).

Startup 141

Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 141

Tech.Co

MARCH 2, 2018

You’ll have the chance to enjoy a startup lunch on the rooftop , panels, mentor sessions, VC sessions, a special Startup Pitch Jam, and finally, the big party and “must attend” event known as Startup Night SXSW 2018. “ Our mission nurtures inclusion and helps startups get noticed by the right people to grow their business.

Startup 70

Startup Organization Networking Venture Capital 70

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2019

Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. Our goal is to build a platform that helps our companies achieve best practices as quickly as possible on their way to becoming world-class companies.

Southern California 100

Southern California News Platform Class 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2019

Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. While 2018 was all about better understanding the SoCal opportunity, 2019 was about honing our focus and defining our core programs.

SoCal 140

SoCal Southern California Startup Venture Capital 140

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2018

Most entrepreneurs see their new venture as a fun adventure, until the pressures of a cash flow crisis, or a manufacturing quality problem, or a major customer satisfaction problem hits. Here are the top approaches I recommend, and the entrepreneur mindsets that I see in survivors: Evaluate new competitive threats as new opportunities.

Startup 82

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Mentor 82

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

Continuing to micromanage both as your business grows is the downfall of many entrepreneurs. As a small business owner and entrepreneur, you may relish the flexibility and the challenge of getting that first traction and customer recognition. The result was a growth plateau, as well as entrepreneur health and family balance challenges.

Sales 69

Sales Organization Entrepreneur Examples 69

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

I find that the most successful entrepreneurs have mastered the art and skill of building and managing relationships. In my role as a mentor to business professionals and entrepreneurs over the years, I have found that it’s important to take a hard look at the relationships around you on a regular basis.

Tips 95

Tips Mentor Coach Activity 95

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2018

As a self-made entrepreneur and former chairman of Diamond Resorts International, he asserts that the five biggest companies by market value today, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple, aren’t really tech, but hospitality companies. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/22/2018.

Technical Advisors 82

Technical Advisors Artificial Inteligence Customer Custom 82

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2018

Bold entrepreneurs now can credibly talk about entirely new markets, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), genetic modifications, and privatized space travel. It may sound counterintuitive, but when you are creating a new market, competition helps legitimize it and increases the size of the pie.

Marketing 92

Marketing Demand Examples Social Media 92

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

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. I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors.

Incubator 87

Incubator Startup Resource Seed Funding 87

socalTECH

DECEMBER 21, 2017

We expect in 2018, we will have as much as 150 million Euros, or around $180M US. The fund has been about two years of development with Peter Warnoe, who is a serial entrepreneur who is very famous in the Nordics. Lars Tvede has written fifteen books on entrepreneurship, is a serial entrepreneur himself, and has been uber-succcessful.

Southern California 133

Southern California Startup Venture Capital Invest 133

socalTECH

MARCH 13, 2020

Most people don't want injectsion, radio frequency, or ultrasounds, and it helps that we can work with pregnant women. Our cost is very low, which allows us a key, competitive advantage. We not only give them these devices and cosmetics, we also help them run retention and referral campaigns. Constantine, what's your background?

Template 124

Template Beverly Hills Startup SEM 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

I’m still amazed at how many technical entrepreneurs don’t have a business pitch, and offer me their product pitch or product spec instead. Solo entrepreneurs have a hard time finding an investor. Intellectual property and sustainable competitive advantage. Examples of similar events in your industry are especially helpful.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

I was happy to see a real focus on preparing for tomorrow highlighted in a new book, “ Start a Successful Business ,” by Colleen DeBaise, who has made a career of studying and writing about entrepreneur challenges. I often hear entrepreneurs who seem to rely wholly on their own passion, and the view of a few friends.

Customer 57

Customer Custom Technical Review Software Review 57

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2018

Breakthrough innovation is the dream of every entrepreneur, but it’s still a scarce commodity. Selecting and nurturing people who are likely to help you in this regard is an even more elusive capability, and one that every angel investor, like myself, wishes he could get a lock on.

Training 57

Training Ideas Startup Tool 57

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2018

According to Investor's Business Daily , even though IPOs in 2018 through July were up nearly 39 percent from last year, the total of 115 companies so far is still nowhere near the rate required to match the yearly total of 486 hit way back in 1999. Everyone dreams of becoming a billionaire overnight.

Acquisition 51

Acquisition Study Marketing Startup 51

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 20, 2015

With perfect information and too much competition you pay up or they walk right down the street and get it from somebody else.” But if you take $10 on $30, $40 or even $50 G-d help you if you need to raise your next round and haven’t demonstrated amazing traction or you raise after the next correction. April 30th, 2018.

Funding 150

Funding Venture Capital Startup Marketing 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2018

Without profit, there is no longevity to any business, so I’m always surprised when sincere young entrepreneurs avoid using the term, as if “profit” is a bad word. Every entrepreneur, and every investor, needs targets and a conviction that your business will be sustainable, and will provide a return-on-investment (ROI) to all constituents.

Customer 19

Customer Custom Acquisition Entrepreneur 19

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2018

Therefore I always recommend to entrepreneurs that they use the term cautiously, but I never discourage their focus on disruptive innovation. In fact, in the greater scheme of things, it’s the best way to gain a real competitive advantage, and maximize economic value. Find a way to highlight elements of social responsibility.

Marketing 89

Marketing Technology Customer Custom 89

socalTECH

MAY 17, 2018

The insurance industry is an old industry, with a lot of contradictions--it's one where the more claims insurers pay to help customers, the less money the insurers make--and it's also one that hasn't been disrupted much yet by technology. Is it possible to use technology to replace the age-old system currently in use in insurance?

Technology 165

Technology Startup West Los Angeles Platform 165

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2018

For example, during the last holiday season Mercedes Benz USA launched a #MBSecretSanta program on Twitter to personally engage customers and help find the perfect holiday gift. For entrepreneurs and startups, it can be a bit easier, but still requires resources and risk. Develop programs to exceed current role model leaders.

Customer 52

Customer Custom Examples Social Media 52

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2023

From my consulting with entrepreneurs in Europe and other countries, I’m convinced that we all could benefit from adapting to meet their environments. Competition is not always a bad thing, and the real purpose is often to make the world a better place. Design the full stack, not just a new software element.

Capital 138

Capital Marketing Ideas Venture Capital 138

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2020

From my consulting with entrepreneurs in Europe and other countries, I’m convinced that we all could benefit from adapting to meet their environments. Competition is not always a bad thing, and the real purpose is often to make the world a better place. Design the full stack, not just a new software element.

Ideas 124

Ideas Venture Capital Software Review Technical Review 124