Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

There has been a lot of public debate over the past several weeks about whether it’s a good thing to be “gross margin positive” or not and commentary always reminds me that some people at startups don’t quite understand financial metrics or even how to think about which ones are healthy. Customer acquisition cost. That bit is easy.

Metrics 150

Metrics Startup SaaS Course 150

socalTECH

MARCH 19, 2019

For this morning's interview, we thought we'd catch up with two of the co-founders of Marina Del Rey-based Telesign (www.telesign.com), Ryan Disraeli and Stacy Stubblefield. How did the company start? Stacy Stubblefield: We actually started out of an incubator, based out of Beverly Hills. What were you doing before?

Marina Del Rey 113

Marina Del Rey Software Review Startup Incubator 113

Tech.Co

MAY 9, 2024

There are thousands of grants up for grabs through government website portals, but since this type of financing is designed to support the public, their eligibility criteria tend to be quite specific. Government business grants are financial awards issued by federal, state, or local authorities. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Outsource Development 207

Outsource Development Technical Review Research Writing 207

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2020

Most of you prefer to ignore the feedback from analysts that your chances of creating the next unicorn startup may be as low as one in five million. Customers line up to believe and buy from people who are viewed as leaders or experts relative to a specific solution. Prioritize mergers and acquisitions early.

Outsource Development 154

Outsource Development Social Media Software Review Customer 154

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2020

In 2020, the pandemic radically changed the customer acquisition process for many consumer-facing industries. It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment? ,p> What are you most looking forward to in the technology/startup world in 2021?

Technical Review 140

Technical Review Software Review Organic Search Startup 140

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

To address that disaster, Ken Button and Randy Bishop�two veterans of the startup industry�created ContractSafe (www.contractsafe.com), a new online service aimed at helping companies to tame that mess and manage and store their contracts in the cloud. So how'd you end up starting the company? How are you funding this so far?

Doc 100

Doc Software Review Help Startup 100

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 5, 2020

Companies that have leveraged technology to make the procurement and delivery of food more accessible to more people have been seeing a big surge of business this year, as millions of consumers are encouraged (or outright mandated, due to Covid-19) to socially distance or want to avoid the crowds of physical shopping and eating excursions.

Technical Review 343

Technical Review Startup Marketing San Diego 343

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

I find it amusing when a journalist writes an article about a prominent startup (either privately held or preparing for an IPO) and decries that, “They’re not even profitable!” Exec Summary: Most companies (98+%) in the world (even tech startups) should be very profit focused. What makes up revenue?

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. Trying outrageous new things or even trying mundane things but in new ways but with extreme quality & innovation is what fuels the tech startup industry. But today I want to give you advice on how to decrease your odds of failure in a startup.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2014

I always advise software startups to file patents to protect their “secret sauce” from competitors, and to increase their valuation. Yes, the software patent process is a mess. I say this with conviction even after I survived the process, and have a software patent pending. Software technology changes rapidly.

Patents 100

Patents Software Review Software Technical Advisors 100

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

What is it to start up a company, and run it to the brink of shutdown�only to have it acquired and restarted immediately? That's the fascinating story behind Los Angeles-based Earbits (www.earbits.com), which offers up a mobile music streaming service focused on discovering both new and talent. Joey, thanks for the time today.

Software Review 100

Software Review Startup Metrics Content 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2019

Even in this age of globalization and virtualization, the geographic area where you choose to live and work can still make or break your startup business. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? Today, Silicon Valley is the consumer and enterprise software capital of the world.

Startup 97

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 97

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

However, savvy startups can leverage LinkedIn to create a customer acquisition and a churn reduction tool. Just as SimpleLegal has success ousting competitors, its Customer Success team must be diligent to avoid being likewise a victim of employee churn. It’s not about helping them use our software. Bro Benefits.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Software Review Technical Review 100

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

We caught up with Bong to hear more about his new startup. From the ground up, we're focused on both social and fun, and our brand attributes are aspirational, cultured, and fun. What's the story on how you started the company? Bong Koh: We started at the end of April. What is LifeCrowd?

Startup 271

Startup CTO Coach Activity Software Review 271

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2022

Even in this age of globalization and virtualization, the geographic area where you choose to live and work can still make or break your startup business. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? Today, Silicon Valley is the consumer and enterprise software capital of the world.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Oracle Software Review Ideas 123

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

million in a new round of financing from Peter Thiel, FF Angel , Siemer Ventures , 500 Startups , Andrej Henkler (former Bertelsmann executive), and Alexsis de Raadt-St. Jackson added, “FinTech has traditionally lagged behind the innovation that’s happening in other areas of enterprise software. 25 Years of Writing Code.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Software Review Bertelsmann Technology 88

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 25, 2015

Startups in a world of massive markets can be confusing. The law of large numbers, platforms that can make your company blow up unexpectedly and the trendy nature of tech markets can be deceiving. Will we win the battle for share-of-mind every time they pick up their phone or log into their computers?” Startup Lessons'

Product 150

Product Startup Metrics Technical Review 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

Almost every entrepreneur and new business owner I mentor is certain that his/her idea has a very high probability of success, and all find it hard to believe that ninety percent of startups ultimately fail. Growing too fast kills many new ventures, due to staffing costs, inventory, and funding delays.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 5, 2010

I filled up with 20 people pretty quickly and realized this schedule was masochistic. The one that stuck with me the longest was my chat with TWTFelipe (Felipe Coimbria). TWTFelipe and I ended up speaking for nearly 30 minutes and we talked mostly about why his company was based in Canada and not the US. Felipe grew up in Brazil.

Technical Review 282

Technical Review Startup High Tech Software Review 282

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2015

Even in this age of globalization and virtualization, the geographic area where you choose to live and work can still make or break your startup business. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? Today, Silicon Valley is the consumer and enterprise software capital of the world.

Startup 109

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 109

socalTECH

MARCH 1, 2017

In the last couple ofyears, we've seen more enterprise technology and software locally here, and software is starting to grow up. The LIDAR, the sensors, the software, what's been developed for and by the aerospace industry, JPL, and local universities. I think that is a big strength for us.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Conference Silver Lake Cornerstone OnDemand 100

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 10, 2010

Intellectual Property (IP) is an ugly thing at a startup. However, to a Big Dumb Company (BDC), a startup’s IP is a thing of beauty. How can IP be worthless to a startup yet very worthwhile to a BDC? Patents held by startups generally have a limited ability to reduce competition. Three years is a lifetime at a startup.

IP 256

IP Patents Company Companies 256

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2017

Even in this age of globalization and virtualization, the geographic area where you choose to live and work can still make or break your startup business. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? Today, Silicon Valley is the consumer and enterprise software capital of the world.

Sites 59

Sites Startup Technical Review Oracle 59

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2013

Even in this age of globalization and virtualization, the geographic area where you choose to live and work can still make or break your startup business. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? Today, Silicon Valley is the consumer and enterprise software capital of the world.

Startup 102

Startup Technical Review Oracle Entrepreneur 102

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2013

LaunchpadLA Opens Up Spring Applications. Independa ($5M, San Diego, software for senior independence). Acquisition of note: Nexsan Acquired For $120M, by Imation. How to find a startup mentor. Broadcom Powering New Mac Wireless. Surf Air Gets First Aircraft. Solarflare ($22M, San Diego, high speed networking).

Southern California 168

Southern California Technical Review SoCal San Diego 168

socalTECH

DECEMBER 23, 2019

The exit through acquisition by ReliaQuest is the first of what we expect will be many exits for our Fund 1 portfolio. What new technology area, startup, service, or app did you find most interesting or useful this year, and why? What are you most looking forward to in the technology/startup world in 2020? Since 2010, $6.3B

Capital 100

Capital Technical Review Truecar Venture Capital 100

socalTECH

MAY 11, 2010

We caught up with EcoMom CEO Jody Sherman , to learn more about the company. We have almost a thousand bloggers who are writing reviews about the products we offer, and we also review them from our own point of view, to help support parents decisions and learning about products in the real world.

Software Review 200

Software Review Commerce Startup Sites 200

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

Mike Stern (wasn’t sure which one so leave a comment if it’s you): Q: “is it possible to sell your startup without venture investment if the company has big traction and a large user base?&# But most importantly I lectured founders that you can’t avoid the admin of setting up your ESOP. Do it early.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Capital Startup Pricing 282

Xconomy

MARCH 20, 2018

Mythic, based in both Redwood City, CA, and Austin, TX, is one of the upstart companies benefiting from a surge of investing in the chip-making field, where the growing computational demands due to the use of AI are creating an opening for young entrepreneurs with out-of-the-box ideas.

Artificial Inteligence 77

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Venture Capital Software Review 77

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2013

One of the largest concentrations of technical talent in Los Angeles is in Glendale, at YP -- staffed with a surprising number of Los Angeles startup vets. What''s your background and how did you end up at YP? How is it you managed to build such a large technical team here--and attract many Internet and startup veterans?

Technical Review 223

Technical Review Glendale Advertising Google 223

socalTECH

JANUARY 17, 2017

due to a less developed financial system, lack of credit tracking, and oftentimes and informal economy. The company's CEO and founder, Shivani Siroya , talked to us recently about the startup and what it's doing. What we've developed, is an Android app that allows us to open up financial access to customers in emerging markets.

Startup 100

Startup Santa Monica Customer Custom 100

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2013

One of the largest concentrations of technical talent in Los Angeles is in Glendale, at YP (www.yp.com) -- staffed with a surprising number of Los Angeles startup vets. What''s your background and how did you end up at YP.com? We also know we''re not a startup, and don''t have equity to offer.

Technical Review 211

Technical Review Glendale Advertising Google 211

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 5, 2010

Jason Calacanis started this initiative in response to the pay-to-play network of angel events that he despised. I suppose I should keep it to myself but I guess Jason will be helping to hype up all the companies anyways. Marco Zappacosta served up an cogent, business focused and nicely demo’d pitch of their product.

Angel 254

Angel Technical Review Software Review Platform 254

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 25, 2011

Currently in closed beta testing, the company’s “Avenue&# client and online storefront offers consumers a quick and easy way to find, acquire and maintain Windows-based software on all types of PCs – from desktop computers to netbooks, tablets and other devices that lack traditional disk drives.

Twiistup 45

Twiistup Angel Technical Review Software Review 45

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 3, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series of posts and I need to file this one under both Raising Venture Capital and Startup Advice. and the subsequent acquisition sprees of companies like Google, Yahoo!, That died with waterfall software development. I remember going to an Under the Radar conference in 2006 in the heat of the Web 2.0

Web 2.0 334

Web 2.0 Venture Capital Web Technical Review 334

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 23, 2015

In the startup world, the former happens when a VC makes a bad investment, and the latter occurs when they miss a great opportunity. Thus, while we maintain a healthy degree of optimism, we begin each funding discussion knowing that most nascent startups are not worthy of an investment, until we prove them otherwise. Unicornless.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review Southern California 100