Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2021

As a long-time advisor to entrepreneurs and occasional angel investor, I often see and hear innovative product pitches that sound exciting, but are missing one or more of the key business elements that investors deem critical for funding consideration. Quantify your value proposition for customers.

Funding 132

Funding Template Resource Competition 132

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2023

None normally work for or provide funds for early-stage startups. Most retail and commercial banks offer investment services to their customers, but these services have nothing to do with investing in your business. Many investment banks even call themselves “boutiques.”

Funding 72

Funding Startup Invest Venture Capital 72

socalTECH

AUGUST 19, 2019

Los Angeles-based private equity investor OpenGate Capital announced this morning that it has acquired Chicago-based InRule Technology , a developer of decision management and business rules management software. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced.

Capital 113

Capital Technology Equity Acquisition 113

socalTECH

OCTOBER 2, 2012

Southern California's technology community--despite all of the recent excitement around Silicon Beach--continues to be underserved in terms of capital, with a lack of venture capital funds (with money), and other private technology investors. Jeb Spencer: We consider ourselves a private equity firm.

Acquisition 168

Acquisition Software Review Technical Review Equity 168

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 9, 2017

Los Angeles-based Exym , which develops cloud-based EHR software used by outpatient behavioral clinics, has received an investment from private equity investor Alpine Investors. Terms of the deal were not announced. According to Exym, the transaction is with Alpine Investors V, VI, and VI-A, LP.

Funding 113

Funding Equity Los Angeles Software 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

In reality, crowdfunding has become a major startup funding vehicle, expected to reach $3.62 He points out that the word crowd precedes funding in crowdfunding. Of course, if the campaign does not meet or exceed the funding objective, you get nothing. billion globally by 2030, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Startup 100

Startup Equity Entrepreneur Demand 100

socalTECH

JULY 23, 2014

Los Angeles-based private equity investor Levine Leichtman Capital Partners announced Tuesday that it has acquired FASTSIGNS International , a franchisor in the custom sign and graphics industry. Levine Leichtman said the acquisition came in a partnership with the management of the company, which has nearly 550 franchise locations.

Equity 138

Equity Acquisition Los Angeles Capital 138

socalTECH

APRIL 20, 2017

Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. The company had counted Microsoft, University of Mississippi, Liverpool Football Club and Paul Hastings Law Firm as major customers. The acquisition comes just over 12 years after Xirrus was founded by Dirk Gates in 2005. READ MORE>>.

Thousand Oaks 127

Thousand Oaks Acquisition Startup Networking 127

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2020

In reality, crowdfunding has become a major startup funding vehicle, expected to reach $114 billion globally by 2021, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. He points out that the word crowd precedes funding in crowdfunding. Of course, if the campaign does not meet or exceed the funding objective, you get nothing.

Startup 151

Startup Equity Funding Demand 151

socalTECH

JULY 20, 2016

Manhattan Beach-based 3PL Central , a private equity-backed developer of warehouse management software, said that it has acquired Traker Systems (iTracker), a fellow developer of software in the 3PL software area. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Manhattan Beach 100

Manhattan Beach Acquisition Equity Software 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

Even if you work every day in the world of new-venture funding, as I do, the options are confusing, and their meanings seem to change on a regular basis. Asking for early-stage money before you have customers and revenue will likely kill your credibility with real investors. Business accelerator funding.

Funding 104

Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

TechCrunch LA

MAY 25, 2019

Liquid Death has attracted nearly $2 million in funding from angel investors like Away co-founder Jen Rubio and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. Bev , a canned wine business that recently raised $7 million in seed funding from Founders Fund, thinks marketing in the alcohol industry is the problem. pic.twitter.com/DMEg88t4iO.

Startup 223

Startup Venture Capital Newsletter Tips 223

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2019

In an age of ever increasing marketing spend to attract customers, how do you make sure you aren't spending more acquiring a company than they are worth? Los Angeles-based Retina is using machine learning and artificial intelligence to figure out customer lifetime value (CLV) for such businesses as Dollar Shave Club. What is Retina Go?

Dollar Shave Club 113

Dollar Shave Club Artificial Inteligence Customer Custom 113

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2021

This usually means not taking money from equity investors, since investors want fast growth, high profits, and an exit event, to allow investments to be recouped. If you are living your passion, you want to interact with customers, and “touch and feel” the product every day. Startup funding comes from personal savings and family.

Entrepreneur 148

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Course 148

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2023

Others schedule exhaustive training sessions for everyone on the team, including showcase customers, to make sure that everyone paints a consistent picture. Due diligence always involves on-site visits, informal discussions with any or all members of the team, vendors, and good customers as well as bad. Traction in the marketplace.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Invest 118

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Find a private equity firm or friendly individual.

Technical Review 105

Technical Review Equity Invest Startup 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue). Thus your startup maturity and growth stage is the primary key to success with potential funding sources. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 148

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 148

socalTECH

JANUARY 29, 2015

Blackline has been trumpeting its revenue growth and customers for the last few years, most recently announcing it has more than 1,000 clients using its product. The company receive more than $200M in private equity funding from Silver Lake Partners a few years ago. The company did not disclose its financials for the year.

Silver Lake 100

Silver Lake Equity Acquisition Los Angeles 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 15, 2023

Others with the right confidence and personality were able to garner funding, despite a weak business plan. Skip the background story and customer pitch, which every investor has heard all too often. Smart Shark Tank presenters have done their homework on each investor, and customize their sample product or anecdote for each.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Sample Ideas Customer 111

socalTECH

MARCH 6, 2013

Those features include iPad compatibility, bulk uploading of files, secure communications and conversations, custom branding, and automated PDF report generation features. The company is now focused on providing a platform to help streamline deals like asset sales, financings, and mergers & acquisitions, according to the company.

Services 218

Services Venture Capital Equity Los Angeles 218

socalTECH

AUGUST 9, 2018

The investment came from private equity investor Blackstone Group. According to TaskUs, the funding round values the company at $500M. TaskUs said that the company will continue to be led by CEO Bryce Maddock, along with Weir and the existing management team.

Outsource 100

Outsource Santa Monica Social Media Commerce 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2020

None normally work for or provide funds for early-stage startups. Most retail and commercial banks offer investment services to their customers, but these services have nothing to do with investing in your business. Many investment banks even call themselves “boutiques.”

Invest 144

Invest Entrepreneur Venture Capital Funding 144

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Find a private equity firm or friendly individual.

Equity 55

Equity Startup Technical Review Statistics 55

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2019

Ian talked to us about the rewards and challenges of being an entrepreneur, plus how important it is to manage lifetime value (LTV) of a customer versus customer acquisition cost (CAC) in making a successful company. (We Ian Chen: In my previous life, I was working in private equity in LA. How are you funded?

Startup 113

Startup Equity Customer Custom 113

socalTECH

JULY 21, 2010

San Diego-based Skinit , a developer of customized "skins" for consumer electronics products, has raised $60M in a funding, the firm said Tuesday. Skinit said the investment was led by ABS Capital Partners and Norwest Equity Partners. Tags: skinit venture capital electronics consumer skins cover funding.

San Diego 140

San Diego Equity Venture Capital Funding 140

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

The Los Angeles-based commerce and content platform StackCommerce has been acquired by the Integrated Media Company, a holding company set up by the massive private equity fund, TPG, to acquire new media businesses. Through its platform publishers can make between 15% to 20% of gross compared with 5% on an affiliate marketing site. “We

Media 134

Media Commerce Company Companies 134

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2020

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Find a private equity firm or friendly individual.

Startup 150

Startup Technical Review Equity Statistics 150

socalTECH

JANUARY 3, 2019

2018 was a great year for TVC Capital and we were able to get our fourth growth equity fund closed, taking our assets under management to close to $400 million. Lexus studied customers in the US and predicted that car buyers had just had it with clunky US cars. Remember the exploding Ford Pinto? I doubt it. Just maybe.

Capital 113

Capital Southern California El Segundo SaaS 113

socalTECH

JULY 22, 2016

Agoura Hills-based TouchCommerce , the provider of customer service software and services, which e-commerce companies use to add live chat and support to their websites, has been acquired by Nuance Communications , Nuance said Thursday. Nuance said it would pay $215M, split between $110M in cash and $85M in stock, with $20M in earn out.

Agoura Hills 100

Agoura Hills Agoura Commerce Equity 100

socalTECH

JANUARY 2, 2015

Today, we have some thoughts from Jeb Spencer of TVC Capital , a private equity investment company in San Diego. 2014 was the most active year in TVC history as measured by the number of investments/acquisitions/follow-ons/exits we completed. Then treat these customers well and great things will happen.maybe maybe even 10x.

Capital 100

Capital Cloud Computing Southern California Equity 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2014

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue). Thus your startup maturity and growth stage is the primary key to success with potential funding sources.

Startup 93

Startup Funding Venture Capital Ideas 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

For example, if you have ever watched the Shark Tank show on TV, they always ask about the cost of customer acquisition. It still amazes me that some entrepreneurs seem totally at a loss on this question, or customer retention rate, or even margin expectations. Show that you have to ability to move the ball forward.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2020

Others with the right confidence and personality were able to garner funding, despite a weak business plan. Skip the background story and customer pitch, which every investor has heard all too often. Smart Shark Tank presenters have done their homework on each investor, and customize their sample product or anecdote for each.

Entrepreneur 127

Entrepreneur Sample Ideas Customer 127

socalTECH

JULY 5, 2017

I moved down here to work as a large, $10 billion private equity fund with Ron Burkle, at Yucaipa Companies. There were lots of things we did around investment and acquisitions. The last piece, was we figured that we could disintermediate a broken, retail channel, by creating a customized, sophisticated, Web 2.0

Web 2.0 100

Web 2.0 Equity Legalzoom Capital 100

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2013

With as many systems being installed, how hard has it been to raise capital from investors to fund those systems? The reason for that, is one of the key capital components for solar leasing is tax equity investments, where the institutional investors can monetize those federal tax benefits. David Field: It''s always an issue.

Equity 234

Equity Invest Marketing Product 234

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Investors want to hear about customers with money who have a painful problem that you can solve now. Investors are looking for a concise description of your product or service without technical jargon or fuzzy marketing terms with value quantified in customer terms. How big is the funding request, and how much equity will you give?

Invest 108

Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

socalTECH

MARCH 1, 2012

Last week, Pasadena-based Punchcard (www.punchcard.com) launched its mobile apps, which help local retailers provide rewards to loyal customers. It provides consumer rewards, and on the merchant side, it allows them to identify local customers and reacquire them by pushing them offers and incentives to come back. What is Punchcard?

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Southern California Idealab Startup Customer 245