Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

(In case it’s not obvious it’s a play on the Nike slogan, “Just Do It.&# ) I believe that being successful as an entrepreneur requires you to get lots of things done. Entrepreneurs make fast decisions and move forward knowing that at best 70% of their decisions are going to be right. This paralyzes most people.

Entrepreneur 414

Entrepreneur Technical Review Slides CTO Coach 414

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

However, most often, these funds are solicited by a well-meaning entrepreneur from investors who are not qualified as accredited investors under the law (currently requiring a proved income of $200,000 a year or $1 million in net worth for an individual investor). Professional angels: This is the arena where I work and play.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2012

But a couple of people replied with responses of such lack of comprehension that I thought it was worth expanding on for first-time entrepreneurs. The most active person responding negatively said, “so an ENITRE industry is undervaluing their services? EXECUTIVE COACHES. Not possible. ” Or there was this one.

Startup 363

Startup Venture Capital Coach Press 363

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

I find that the most successful entrepreneurs have mastered the art and skill of building and managing relationships. For example, we all know people who really believe that everyone in the world is their supporter, when in fact many are actively working against them. Provide and seek coach and advocate relationships.

Tips 95

Tips Mentor Coach Activity 95

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 8, 2018

If you’re an entrepreneur who would like to see this clause in more startups please ask your VC to include it in future term sheets and link to it from their home page. “We The idea was that if any head coaching position was open the owner had to commit to interviewing at least one person from an underrepresented background.

Venture Capital 284

Venture Capital Coach Ideas Startup 284

socalTECH

JANUARY 29, 2020

This week, Los Angeles-based Crosscut Ventures announced a brand new effort to provide health and wellness to the founders of companies it invests in, helping those founders with well being, mental health, stress management, coaching, and leadership development. It's a comprehensive bucket.

Invest 113

Invest Framework Coach Startup 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2017

As an active business advisor and angel investor, I’m convinced that we are rapidly entering a new age of the entrepreneur, and those who are best prepared will be the first to reap some big rewards. You learn as much as a coach as the student. Network conference. It’s a win-win opportunity.

Coach 80

Coach Entrepreneur Ideas Class 80

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2010

Bockerstette, Main Street Venture Fund Angel investing in most parts of the country remains a relatively informal and unstructured process. The depressed economy has dampened the angel community’s appetite, making the identification of the trophy investor more important than ever. For an angel investor, it’s a buyer’s market.

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Entrepreneur Mentor Invest Angel 83

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2023

Based on my own career as a business owner and angel investor, in this age of change, I still see key successes and growth from the same team member work qualities. For example, it has long been widely accepted that one of the primary causes for entrepreneur failure in new startups is that many give up too soon. Loners need not apply.

Startup 121

Startup Satisfaction Technical Review Ideas 121

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

Working with early-stage teams : coaching, mentoring, setting strategy, rolling up sleeves: 9/10. “I think the best VCs help drive exits alongside their entrepreneurs. As a result of this activity I have now personally returned significantly more capital in my 5 years than I have invested. None have exited.

Venture Capital 387

Venture Capital Downey Writing Press 387

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2022

Many business professionals and entrepreneurs I know are quick to attribute success of a peer to luck, rather than any recognition of a unique strategy or personal attributes. Yet no human body and mind can sustain the stress of constant work, with no time off for a personal life and non-business activities.

Startup 143

Startup Competition Coach Satisfaction 143

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 18, 2010

There is no cost but you must physically be based in or move to Los Angeles for the 6 months of the program. When I kicked off Launchpad LA a year ago I had a few objectives: Create an ecosystem where all Southern California VC’s had the chance to work together more actively outside of the boards on which we mutually sit.

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Technical Review Venture Capital Southern California Tech Coast Angels 259

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2011

Launchpad LA today announces it will accept applications for its third class of Los Angeles-based tech startups. We have significant VC commitments (listed below) – every entering company will get $50,000 in funding, mentorship from top VCs and successful entrepreneurs plus free office space. For the past 2.5

Venture Capital 287

Venture Capital Funding Startup GRP Partners 287

Steve Reich

AUGUST 9, 2012

At a recent accelerator event on the West Side, a friendly young founder told me that he had been coached by his mentor not to talk to Angel groups. As a Pasadena Angel, I wanted to be shocked, but I wasn’t. The Angel funding process can be arduous. The entrepreneurs in startups are trained to go fast and run lean.

Angel 49

Angel Pasadena Angels Venture Capital Pasadena 49

socalTECH

MAY 30, 2019

Our interview this morning is with Robin Richards , the CEO of Los Angeles-based CareerArc (www.careerarc.com). Richards--a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in a number of technology companies here, including NTI Group (sold to Blackboard), Internships.com, MP3.com, com, and Vivendi Universal Net USA, where he was also CEO.

Content 193

Content Social Network Coach Help 193

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

Angels have been prolific for years now and they, too, rely on downstream money to cover their bets. Of course these are great places to network with other investors, meet great entrepreneurs and keep your connections strong with senior execs at larger companies like Yahoo!, And there’s conferences. And there’s conferences.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

Tech.Co

JULY 12, 2017

“The Disney Accelerator has provided The Walt Disney Company incredible opportunities to connect with and be inspired by many talented entrepreneurs from all over the world,” said Michael Abrams, Senior Vice President, Innovation, The Walt Disney Company. Read more about startups in the Los Angeles area at TechCo.

Artificial Inteligence 108

Artificial Inteligence Startup Entertainment Press 108

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 7, 2013

Today’s announcement will go a long way to help us foster innovation and help entrepreneurs create wearable technologies that will define a new era in tech.”. Entrepreneurs will also be able to communicate with the Bloggerati and showcase their products to the world. Comprehensive App Directory. Over 100 Applications.

Google 87

Google Technical Review Press Software Review 87

socalTECH

MAY 23, 2017

Our interview this morning is with Jonathan Zweig , the CEO of Los Angeles-based AppOnboard (www.apponboard.com), which has created software which allows mobile app developers--and in particular, mobile game developers--to create demos of those games which can be played without having to download and install those apps.

Startup 113

Startup Southern California UCLA Technical Review 113

Tech Coast Venture Network

MARCH 9, 2011

Investors and entrepreneurs who won at the fundraising game during and after the Great Recession offer advice on landing equity money. To help you get a jump-start with fundraising, I’ve gathered tips from active early-stage investors and entrepreneurs who managed to beat the odds by raising capital during and after the Great Recession.

Tips 100

Tips Capital Tech Coast Angels Screening 100

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

I have been involved with a high profile one in Los Angeles – Launchpad LA – and we’ve decided to make a shift so I thought this was a good time for reflection. Sam is an uber-networker, savvy, helpful, product-oriented leader who had a great eye for young entrepreneurs and a passion about helping them.

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

I am taking the lead from GRP and we also invested alongside a number of friends including Dave McClure, Dave Tisch, Ben Smith (Merchant Circle), Brian Lee (ShoeDazzle, LegalZoom), Jason Calacanis, Evan Rifkin, Jennifer Lum, Jay Weintraub and a whole host of other angels. I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

And here’s an important point that I think modern entrepreneurs often forget: Investors are “co-owners” of your business. There are just as many bad entrepreneurs who do bad things. when to build out our offices in Silicon Valley, New York & Los Angeles. I know there are bad investors who do bad things.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2010

The group--which was started by Richard Koffler and John Morris , two well known investors in Los Angeles--has been trying to help connect CEOs with interesting university and other technology projects. We're just trying to create more companies in Los Angeles, and to be involved with them. Where is this talent coming from?

Networking 215

Networking Research Startup USC 215

socalTECH

MARCH 10, 2010

One of the more successful serial entrepreneurs here in Southern California has been Robin D. We spoke to Robin about the new startup, his executive team, as well as his angel investing activity here. Those include how-to on resumes, aptitude tests, videos, coaching seminars, and more of that nature. READ MORE>>.

Startup 223

Startup Content Sites CTO Coach 223

socalTECH

APRIL 24, 2012

Los Angeles-based WePlay (www.weplay.com) is hoping to be the site for all of that, and more. The social platform is very family friendly, and provides all of the front end functions for parents and kids involved in Little League, Pop Warner, or whatever group activity that keeps a family busy. We're trying to win on that front.

Southern California 183

Southern California Startup Platform Coach 183

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2017

I have found that the most successful entrepreneurs and business executives have an impressive work ethic, and they surround themselves with a team of comparable commitment. As an angel investor in startups, I often find myself looking harder at the quality of the team and the leadership, than at the details of the product and business model.

Funding 55

Funding Satisfaction Customer Custom 55

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 9, 2009

We brought together Peter Cowen of Groundwork Equity , Mark Suster of GRP Partners , Rick Smith of Crosscut Ventures , and Richard Yen of Saban Ventures -- all of who will be on the judging panel for the Tech Coast Angel's Fast Pitch on February 24th, to give us a their hints and tips about pitching to venture capitalists.

Tech Coast Angels 100

Tech Coast Angels Ideas Entrepreneur Invest 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

In my activities as an angel investor, and my work with new ventures seeking investment, I find the “due diligence” stage to be fraught with the most risk. Usually this stage only really starts after an investor has expressed serious interest, or already informally agreed to invest.

Invest 59

Invest Startup Doc Slides 59

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

I grew up in Los Angeles and went to undergrad at UC Santa Barbara, graduating in 2003 with Honors in Economics. I feel too many people are discouraging, and as a result, too many entrepreneurs are discouraged and give up. Los Angeles is a great place for startups. Tell me a bit about your background. Are you doing much of that?

Startup 150

Startup SEO Pepperdine Blogging 150

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

If you have a team of 10 people then by definition 90% of the time spent on activities is not put in by you and on a team of 100 it’s 99%. We’re a national venture capital investment firm but with our roots firmly in Los Angeles. And because “communications” is a two-way activity, great leaders are listeners.

Startup 150

Startup Coach Course Invest 150

Tech.Co

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

Jon Sperry – a highly respected dialect coach who has worked with Harvey Keitel, Sofia Vergara, and Russell Crowe – taught a Stage 32 class that was attended by members from over 40 different countries. But most do it because they want to give back. There’s a community feel even to our education. Classes with a wide geographic appeal.

Education 81

Education Entertainment Class Manhattan Beach 81

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 8, 2011

I’m an event planner turned lawyer turned entrepreneur. We started seeing a demand for what we were doing and from there began throwing singles parties, doing match making, and date coaching. After this question, Val and I went on to discuss the dating scene in Los Angeles from both the males and females prospectives.

Startup 75

Startup Technical Review Blogging Demand 75

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2012

There are so many activities and events that have sprouted this year to support the thriving tech scene in Southern California. From LA Demo Day to Silicon Beach Fest to Crowdstart LA to hackathons to Startup Weekends, companies and entrepreneurs alike have joined forces to feed the startup ecosystem.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas San Diego Mentor 100

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2014

Cincinnati, like many startup communities in the US over the past 5 years, has revitalized important regions in its urban core, created accelerators, built co-working facilities, pooled together angel capital, attracted VCs, involved educational institutions and solicited the help of important corporations in a more cohesive ecosystem.

Startup 390

Startup Venture Capital Capital Funding 390

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 27, 2013

Last year I wrote a blog post on entrepreneurs with a chip on their shoulders. A chip on one’s shoulder as in, “F**k the system, it’s broken and I want to fix it” is exactly the energy I look for in entrepreneurs. My point … We’ve all been there – every entrepreneur.

Startup 371

Startup Press Blogging Entrepreneur 371

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 29, 2011

.&# Surprisinly, this strategy works well with many entrepreneurs. It’s as though we forgot the management mantra of the 90′s about “core competencies&# or the most common VC advice to entrepreneurs: Focus. I doubt this will end well for those VCs or for the entrepreneurs they backed. Funny, that.

Venture Capital 296

Venture Capital Capital Software Startup 296