socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

It's been a banner year for acquisitions and IPOs in Southern California--with such acquisitions as the $2 billion acquisition of Vizio in June; the acquisition of Dollar Shave Club in February; and the IPO of The Trade Desk last week. The company has been talking with IPO bankers about a filing all year.

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Southern California Dollar Shave Club Acquisition Snapchat 100

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

recently wrote a post talking about how some VCs meddle in operating company decisions or some executive teams are too reliant on VCs to jump in and make hard calls for them. Here is where I see this really play out: Product Management. Most CEOs fancy their own product skills and like to weigh in on priorities. I did this.

Startup 150

Startup Sales CTO Coach Course 150

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

less than 18 months from when the company was created so I thought it was probably a good time to weigh in on the questions I get asked most frequently and why we’re so excited about Bird. How could Bird really be worth the reported $2 billion valuation that I read about in this press? That’s what we all thought about Uber, too.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

SoCal CTO

APRIL 2, 2012

Hiring seems to be the preferred use of seed funds (by investors and founders), whereas I'd prefer a focus on customer acquisition. The problem is you don't yet have product/market fit, and until you do, you don't really know what to build. When product vision is truly clear, then it makes sense to execute it, and hiring follows.

CTO Hire 205

CTO Hire Outsource Development CTO Coach Develop 205

socalTECH

OCTOBER 2, 2012

We thought it might be interesting to talk with one of the fund's managing directors, Jeb Spencer about the fund's success in technology investments, plus how it managed to raise another fund in this kind of environment, plus its unique goal of getting companies to an acquisition--and not an IPO.

Acquisition 168

Acquisition Software Review Technical Review Equity 168

TechEmpower

AUGUST 21, 2023

Other common scenarios that we’ve seen: Scaling and new markets: Your company and product are established, and now you’re scaling or going after new markets. Our goal is to build a decent understanding of your business, your product, and your technology. We then review the answers with the technical and product teams.

Technical Review 260

Technical Review Development Team Review Software Review TechEmpower 260

socalTECH

AUGUST 30, 2012

Earlier this week, Los Angeles-based Wittlebee (www.wittlebee.com) announced the acquisition of its own, clothing company--Cottonseed Clothing Company--as it continues to build out its subscription, children's clothing service. As a quick refresher for those who haven't used Wittlebee yet, can you briefly talk about what you offer?

Acquisition 167

Acquisition Help Social Media Startup 167

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

The latest investment is being used to finance the acquisition of another company in the space — Appetize, a digital and mobile commerce payments platform for enterprises such as sports and entertainment venues, theme parks and zoos. The acquisition of Appetize extends SpotOn’s reach to the enterprise space in a major way.

Technical Review 296

Technical Review Software Review Invest Acquisition 296

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 17, 2007

skip to main | skip to sidebar SoCal CTO Saturday, February 17, 2007 About this Blog Ive been thinking about doing a blog with my thoughts on technology and whats happening in the Los Angeles area technology scene for a while, but it was Ben Kuos recent start of a blog that inspired me to actually go ahead and do it. Thanks Ben.

Blogging 150

Blogging CTO Coach Southern California CTO Hire 150

Tech.Co

MAY 9, 2024

Learn more about the SBIR grant, and how to apply here. Learn more about the STTR grant, and how to apply here. Learn more about WOSB, and how to apply here. Learn more about the 8(a) business development program, and how to apply here. million for products and services, and $5.5

Outsource Development 206

Outsource Development Technical Review Research Writing 206

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2013

Every entrepreneur tries to maximize his startup growth by building and selling more product and services for the widest geographic area that he can support. Many entrepreneurs are paranoid about the partnership approach, and think that M&A is only an alternative for large companies who are flush with cash. Partial acquisition.

Acquisition 88

Acquisition CTO Hire Startup Outsource Development 88

socalTECH

AUGUST 14, 2014

Energy giant NRG Energy --which runs its solar power business out of Carlsbad--has acquired consumer solar power products maker Goal Zero , the company said today. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. Goal Zero is a maker of solar charging products, and is well known in the outdoor and adventure products area.

Acquisition 178

Acquisition Education Product Help 178

SoCal CTO

MARCH 1, 2010

Startup Killer: the Cost of Customer Acquisition | For Entrepreneurs , February 2, 2010 Looks at the critical equation around customer acquisition cost vs. customer lifetime value similar to what I discussed in Startup Metrics but in more depth. Great stuff. This post looks at the implementation details of HTML 5 video.

Pricing 150

Pricing Acquisition Customer Custom 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2022

I’m not talking here about a small pivot. I’m talking about the kind of change that moved Apple from personal computers to music distribution to consumer electronics, and Amazon from books to e-Commerce to cloud computing services. Unfortunately, the mainstream customers who can really drive revenue care more about price.

Startup 106

Startup Pricing Cloud Computing Customer 106

socalTECH

MAY 8, 2014

Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. Lettuce said it will continue to offer up its products to customers, and will provide more about the company''s "joint vision" and new product development efforts with Intuit after the transaction closes. Some reports are pegging the acquisition at around $30M.

Acquisition 178

Acquisition Los Angeles Report Software 178

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

When pitching to investors, entrepreneurs always seem to start with a customer pitch, then add a slide or two about the business. In reality, they need a separate pitch about the business, carrying over only a slide or two about the solution. Remember, investors are buying into the business, not the product.

Product 103

Product Slides Customer Custom 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2021

Every entrepreneur tries to maximize his startup growth by building and selling more product and services for the widest geographic area that he can support. Many entrepreneurs are paranoid about the partnership approach, and think that M&A is only an alternative for large companies who are flush with cash. Partial acquisition.

Organization 132

Organization CTO Hire Startup Outsource Development 132

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Ask you field representatives to debrief you about what they are hearing. And the first thing in marketing is to adapt your product or service to the needs of the marketplace. Attend trade show education sessions. But listen! Create, change, throw out, tweak or put more resources behind those efforts or campaigns that are working.

Marketing 156

Marketing Metrics Education Resource 156

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 5, 2020

GrubMarket , which provides a B2C platform for consumers to order produce and other food and home items for delivery, and a B2B service where it supplies grocery stores, meal-kit companies and other food tech startups with products that they resell, is today announcing that it has raised $60 million in a Series D round of funding.

Technical Review 343

Technical Review Startup Marketing San Diego 343

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2013

Then they are surprised to see productivity and creativity take a big dip. Employees will care only about work they create.” There is new evidence that people want to understand the bigger picture, and business growth financial incentives will increase productivity, rather than lower it. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Training Sales Technical Review 97

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2015

Modern communication tools, including WebEx, Skype and video conferencing are a good start, but virtual teams remain a productivity nightmare for many companies. Virtual teams need a tool-acquisition process, training program and support contact for all technology provided. High morale and a positive attitude drive team productivity.

Product 100

Product Startup Tool Paramount 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2023

Up-sell related products or cross endorsement. If your customers would benefit by having products from both companies, you might negotiate the opportunity to include the other’s product as an add-on. Let market response dictate a later split, merger, or acquisition. Think about the future.

Startup 105

Startup Outsource Competition Entrepreneur 105

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 15, 2014

Google’s acquisition of Nest gives the the co-founders an early exit and resources to up their hardware game. Nest is not Google’s first hardware acquisition. They’re already delivering amazing products you can buy right now–thermostats that save energy and smoke/CO alarms that can help keep your family safe. .

Google 86

Google Acquisition Resource Social Media 86

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

There are lots of ways to define how to market well, including the four P’s of marketing (1): product, price, promotion and place. Find a way to position the company and the product to be wanted so much that it moves into the needs column for the consumer. First, let’s recall the four “P’s” of marketing. I= increase revenues.

Marketing 156

Marketing Demand Class Pricing 156

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

Offering too little in an acquisition to satisfy the seller? Using this technique with a supplier And how about a product purchase where you cannot come to a successfully negotiated price with your supplier? Don’t rule a too–high negotiated price out until you think carefully about the terms of purchase as a tool for leverage.

Pricing 156

Pricing Sales Examples Tool 156

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2023

Whether we are talking about startups or corporations, innovation requires a leader who can inspire others to step into the unknown. New product process. Make sure all team members have some connection with the product – has either used it, or sold it, or assembled it. Followers and linear thinkers need not apply. Ownership.

Coach 137

Coach Metrics Competition Ideas 137

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

There has always been tension between CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies and the retailers who sell their products to consumers. If a consumer will pay a fixed price for a product or service then the battle over who gets the margin in any sale is between the person who merchandises a product and the person who manufactures it.

Product 296

Product Course Customer Custom 296

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). This is the confirmation that your product or service fills a real need in the marketplace. Note the growth of your team and your own leadership.

Startup 118

Startup Satisfaction Customer Custom 118

socalTECH

OCTOBER 31, 2012

For ThinkNear , it looks like the whole process paid off in less than two years, after the Los Angeles company went from the TechStars accelerator just last June, to a healthy acquisition by TeleNav earlier this month for $22.5M. Congrats on the acquisition! How did the acquisition come about?

Startup 225

Startup Acquisition Doc Ideas 225

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2012

I speak privately a lot about getting an exit at a startup. I haven’t spoken publicly about it much but since Rincon asked – I agreed. We also are going to talk a lot about startups getting exits and ultimately: Companies are bought, not sold. They say the same about VC. Both can hurt you in an acquisition.

Startup 323

Startup Technology Venture Capital Santa Barbara 323

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

As small companies, neither startup could afford to extend their product alone, but through creative leadership, we were able to negotiate a win-win strategic partnership for a joint product. Ability to up-sell customers with related products. Bundling and product integration to create new solutions. You can do the same.

Startup 173

Startup Outsource Development Examples Customer 173

Tech.Co

MAY 6, 2022

Now, it's dramatically expanding capacity in another area, fulfillment, with the acquisition of Deliverr. It's the biggest acquisition in Shopify's history. The two companies are a great match, according to Shopify's press release about the deal. Shopify is paying $2.1 Why Shopify Wants Deliverr. Sign up to the Tech.co

Networking 120

Networking Press Newsletter Startup 120

socalTECH

MARCH 12, 2018

One of those companies is Los Angeles-based Love Goodly (www.lovegoodly.com) co-founders Justine Lassoff and Katie Bogue Miller , who sat down and told us about their company, focused on cruelty-free, non-toxic beauty and skincare products. We wanted to make it easy to buy cruelty-free and nontoxic beauty and skincare products.

Startup 157

Startup Commerce Los Angeles Product 157

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2020

I’m not talking here about a small pivot. I’m talking about the kind of change that moved Apple from personal computers to music distribution to consumer electronics, and Amazon from books to e-Commerce to cloud computing services. Unfortunately, the mainstream customers who can really drive revenue care more about price.

Pricing 123

Pricing Cloud Computing Customer Custom 123

TechCrunch LA

JULY 29, 2020

And as the company cast about for partners to pursue the strategy, Anthos and his firm, XRC, kept being mentioned, Fernandez said. As the company turned to retailers, the rental option became a way to generate revenue through additional products. “From day one, my belief was Joymode was going to be huge or dead. .

Invest 263

Invest Services Southern California Ideas 263

TechCrunch LA

MAY 3, 2022

The other side of the business is a new monthly subscription service for stylists that helps them market their handcrafted wigs, beauty and other digital products and services. A hairstylist can help a woman feel better about themselves. That was via Upgrade. Rebundle raises $1.4M for plant-based hair extensions.

Tool 179

Tool Customer Custom Marketing 179

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

After operating in stealth mode for about two years, First Resonance , a company founded by former SpaceX engineers, is finally showing the world their software toolkit designed to let manufacturers make things using the processes employed by their former boss.

SpaceX 248

SpaceX Tool Los Angeles Design 248