Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

Yet as we enter February 2017 the VC funding markets are booming, Snap, Inc has filed for its IPO, AppDynamics was just purchased for $3.7 But the reality is that “global warming” massively blunted the effects of winter and my prognosis for VC fundings of entrepreneurs in 2017–2018 is now very sunny indeed.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Capital Funding Startup 150

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 29, 2023

While the market isn't short of spritely, innovative entrepreneurs, harsh economic headwinds combined with a pullback in investor spending have made it harder than ever for budding businesses to break through. Source: runwayml.com In June, Runway raised $141 million in funding, nudging its market valuation to an envy-inducing $1.5

Startup 210

Startup Generative AI Newsletter Tool 210

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. Their venture fund will focus on startups founded by Wharton, Stanford and Harvard students and alumni. “When M.B.A.’s

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Allegis Startup Competition 113

Tech.Co

MARCH 8, 2018

Fortunately, for those headed to SXSW, Startup Night SXSW 2018 , presented by the Kauffman Foundation and TechCo, will be filled with investors from a multitude of industries who are looking to discover and fund startups building the latest solutions and tech innovations. He has over a decade of portfolio management in capital markets.

Technical Review 70

Technical Review Startup Software Review Entrepreneur 70

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2020

billion invested across 2,298 deals in the first quarter of 2020, partially as a result of "record-high" levels of capital raised by VC funds in 2018 and 2019. The NVCA said that entrepreneurs mostly benefited from "high valuations and deal terms"--at least, until the fallout from the cornavirus hit.

Venture Capital 113

Venture Capital Capital Report Invest 113

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 12, 2022

providing freshly packaged salads, heat-and-eat prepared meals and vegan overnight oats, raised $7 million in funding as it goes after the $34 billion fresh prepared foods market. The new funding will be used to expand logistics and new channels beyond Whole Foods that Deerman was not able to divulge right now. Positive Food Co.,

Invest 175

Invest Los Angeles Startup Funding 175

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 21, 2018

Phoenix communities are celebrating because JPMorgan Chase has made several local charitable investments to support underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses with the goal of creating jobs and spark a growing economy. Supporting underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses helps revitalize communities and creates jobs,” Tripp said.

Invest 70

Invest Entrepreneur News Tips 70

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

A critical stage for most first-time entrepreneurs is getting their idea developed into at least a prototype to validate their technology. Acquiring seed-stage funding is admittedly tough, but a source that I find often overlooked is government grant funding, accessible in the U.S.

Funding 90

Funding Technical Review Startup Research 90

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2018

As an advisor to young entrepreneurs, I find that many are a bit naïve about how the investment process really works. In my first working session with this entrepreneur, I suggested ways to break this request into stages or tranches, based on showing traction, with the first amount in a more affordable range of $50 thousand or less.

Tips 86

Tips Funding Startup Entrepreneur 86

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 20, 2015

VC funding. Our perspectives on the topic wax and wane with market cycles. Here’s what I believe, but won’t claim to “know” because every time I think I know something the market seems to do something entirely different. Money when you find product / market fit is an extreme differentiator.

Funding 150

Funding Venture Capital Startup Marketing 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2018

As an advisor to new business owners, and an occasional angel investor, I see new business proposals daily, many seeking investors to fund early research and development (R&D) of a new product idea. Funding new product research and development is just too risky, with a large time delay before any return is likely.

Research 57

Research Develop Development Funding 57

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 13, 2017

VentureWell, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that supports science and technology entrepreneurs, has selected a medical simulation startup founded by University of Maine students to receive funding and training. The funding comes from VentureWell’s E-Team Student Grant Program.

Startup 70

Startup Funding Training Ideas 70

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. Thus a record number of entrepreneurs (and team members) are getting rich.

Startup 128

Startup Social Media Satisfaction Entrepreneur 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2018

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. Thus a record number of entrepreneurs (and team members) are getting rich.

Entrepreneur 66

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Satisfaction 66

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2018

Now is the time to be an entrepreneur and create a business from your passion. On the other hand, everyone is doing it, so that means more competition, and the market and technology are changing faster than ever before. A local pilot is a necessary move to test your manufacturing, operational, and marketing assumptions.

Funding 73

Funding Social Media Slides Platform 73

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 3, 2022

Glossier affirmed our inherent beauty, then reminded us that we can be even more beautiful if we buy their “Boy Brow” pomade, which sold one tube every 32 seconds by 2018. After all, Glossier’s founder and CEO Emily Weiss is very, very far from the first entrepreneur to profit off of our desire to look good.

Startup 280

Startup Netflix Los Angeles Innocal 280

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

As an active angel investor, I’m accustomed to hearing entrepreneurs pitch their expectation to quickly create a new dominant brand, based on their disruptive technology. Tools allow marketing in a much more targeted way. In the past, marketing budgets were focused on high-traffic channels, with minimum focus on demographics.

Marketing 57

Marketing Startup Entrepreneur Social Media 57

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 17, 2020

A-Frame , a Los Angeles-based developer of personal care brands supported by celebrities, has raised $2 million in a new round of funding led by Initialized Capital. A-Frame previously raised a seed round backed by cannabis dispensary Columbia Care. .” Bloom is also a founder of the Wise Sons Delicatessen in San Francisco.

Incubator 184

Incubator Develop Development Los Angeles 184

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2017

What are you looking forwardtomost in 2018? Techand the markets overall--has enjoyed a surprisingly long stretch of prosperity. In many sectors, 2018 needs to be the time for many companies to either sell or make meaningfully aggressive moves to expand. Overall I am optimistic for 2018.

Capital 124

Capital Southern California SaaS SoCal 124

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2019

David Wood: It's been about a year and a half now, we launched it in 2018. How are you backed and funded? David Wood: We're going really after two different markets. What's the biggest lesson you've learned as a startup entrepreneur, now that you've been at it for a few years? How long has the app been available?

Startup 212

Startup Evite Organization Software 212

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 23, 2020

There’s also a relatively modest request (of only $4 billion) for funding devoted to pilot projects, startup companies, and public clean technology investment initiatives (like LACI). The funding would include $20 billion for utility upgrades.

Southern California 261

Southern California Los Angeles Rosemead Incubator 261

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. I second his list of top innovation challenges and strategies to capitalize on untapped global startup opportunities: Create new markets rather than disrupt existing ones.

Ideas 124

Ideas Venture Capital Software Review Technical Review 124

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

million in funding from Rebecca Minkoff and other unnamed investors. Influencers and creators are small businesses and if you think about all the things that small businesses need these days to succeed, they will be repurposed for the influencer marketing space.”. Last month, the product launched with $1.2

Platform 170

Platform Marketing Tool Venture Capital 170

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2018

According to statistics by Fundly , crowdfunding contributed $34 billion in funding last year around the world, including peer-to-peer lending. Yet crowdfunding is no panacea for hungry entrepreneurs and startups. Crowdfunding does not facilitate multiple funding rounds. Very few startups need only one round of funding.

Equity 72

Equity Entrepreneur Statistics Funding 72

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 7, 2019

I think in this age and time, that’s not what we want to get into,” Xinjie Ma, who heads up marketing for rct, told TechCrunch. Along with several of Raven’s core members, Lyu left Baidu in 2018 to start rct. “A lot of studios are asking how much we price our engine at, but we are targeting the consumer market.

Startup 235

Startup Artificial Inteligence Los Angeles Software 235

socalTECH

DECEMBER 21, 2017

We talked with Richard about NordicEye's $30M fund, its interests in Los Angeles, and why a Nordic venture capital firm has its eyes on Southern California's technology startups. Give us an overview of your fund and what you invest in? We're in the process of raising funds with institutional investors as well.

Southern California 133

Southern California Startup Venture Capital Invest 133

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

If you are one of the thousands of entrepreneurs who need equity funding to get your startup going (no loans to repay), you are probably overwhelmed at the prospect of finding, contacting and pitching to the huge number of qualified angels and investment groups around the country. Recruit a team with complementary skills.

Platform 94

Platform Equity Invest Technical Advisors 94

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2018

Most aspiring entrepreneurs are convinced that their idea and passion are so great that failure is not a possibility. If there is no competition, there is likely not a market. I often hear funding pitches on “nice to have” products, combining the features of several known winners, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Startup 99

Startup Competition Examples Ideas 99

TechCrunch LA

MAY 21, 2019

For over 100 years entrepreneurs have come to Hollywood to try their luck in the dream factory and build an empire in the business of storytelling. Sales of headsets in the fourth quarter of 2018 topped 1 million for the first time and new, low cost all-in-one models may further move the needle on adoption.

Chief Technology Officer 211

Chief Technology Officer Content Hollywood Netflix 211

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

In fact, research by Fundable shows that less than one percent of all startups are funded by venture capital and angel investors. The real value of a college education is in learning how to learn, since markets and business models are changing so fast. Most successful entrepreneurs are young and crazy.

Startup 72

Startup Entrepreneur Incubator Guide 72

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. Unfortunately, customers look for value in solving their problem, and new technologies alone scare them, so these solutions don’t get bought by customers, or funded.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 22, 2018

With the rise in startup activity around the country, more local organizations are emerging to help provide resources, training, education, and funding to support underserved communities and their dreams to build a business. Part of the barrier lies in the messaging and marketing of these opportunities to diverse communities.

Resource 70

Resource Organization Mentor News 70

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

socalTECH

JANUARY 28, 2019

Luke Fox: It has been deployed in a pilot program for 12 months, all during 2018, in a wide variety of different environments around the world. Even though in the cell phone market there are lots of different phones that manufacturers make, if you look at the communications technology, its pretty much very, very similar.

Startup 187

Startup Technical Review Technology Competition 187

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2018

While spending years in a big company as an employee and an executive, I heard many people talking about jumping the corporate ship, dreaming of being an entrepreneur, and totally in charge of their own destiny. I’m not saying success is rare, but the list of famous entrepreneurs who started their career in a big company is small.

Startup 52

Startup Technical Advisors Entrepreneur IBM 52

Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

If you’re an early-stage entrepreneur, technology has served you well. Still though, when founders are seeking funding, “ 75 percent of the venture capital goes to three states: Massachusetts, New York, and California,” said Steve Case in an interview with Recode. Watch our video series at SXSW 2018 with The Case Foundation.

Startup 140

Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2019

Most of you aspiring entrepreneurs have no idea how dramatically your own role has to evolve as you develop a solution, start a business, and expect it to scale into a successful self-managed company. At this stage, I typically find a solo entrepreneur who creates, manages projects, directs, and oversees every step in the process.

Company 99

Company Companies Technical Review Startup 99