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Reflections on 2018: Andy Wilson, Alliance for SoCal Innovation

socalTECH

Editor's note: All this week, and into the start of next year, we'll be featuring reflections on 2018 from notable investors, entrepreneurs, and others from Southern California's technology community. What was the biggest news for your organization in 2018? You'll be able to browse all of those contributions here.

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The Changing Venture Landscape

Both Sides of the Table

We have global opportunities from these trends but of course also big challenges. Of course we can’t. I’m over-paying for every check I write into the VC ecosystem and valuations are being pushed up to absurd levels and many of these valuations and companies won’t hold in the long term. Hot, Flat & Crowded.” By definition?—?I’m

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8 Smart Tips To Soliciting Friends And Family Funding

Startup Professionals Musings

It’s great to start with a big dream as you contemplate a new business, but finding the money you need takes more than dreaming. For example, I just read an otherwise impressive business plan last week from a first-timer who asked for $10 million to get started. Get started first on your own time and money.

Tips 86
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7 Myths That Kill Many Businesses Before They Start

Startup Professionals Musings

You don’t have to be a new venture advisor like me to hear all the excuses for not starting your own business. They ignore the fact that Colonel Sanders was 62 when he franchised KFC, Steve Jobs started Apple in his garage, and Michael Dell and several others dropped out of school to build billion dollar businesses.

Startup 72
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Venture capitalists ‘like and subscribe’ to influencers

TechCrunch LA

Naturally, the next step in Bernstein’s evolution from blogger to businesswoman was a technology startup. ‘People say we’re crazy’ As venture capitalists wake up to the business opportunity, they’re seeding startups that help influencers go from hobbyists to professionals. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage).

Platform 170
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Grant Applications Often Provide Early-Stage Funding

Startup Professionals Musings

through Grants.gov , an online directory of more than 1,000 federal grant programs that don’t look for equity or payback. Specifically, I often point to the NSF or the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for high-tech startups. In Phase II , amounts up to a million dollars over a two year period awarded.

Funding 90
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8 Ways To Nurture New Venture Stock Into A Goldmine

Startup Professionals Musings

Of course, initially these founder’s shares were worth essentially nothing, but it doesn’t take much of an imagination to grasp the possibilities. It’s great motivation for every entrepreneur to get that value up quickly. Where possible, pay out committed shares over time as they are earned, as opposed to all up front.

Startup 51