TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

The Facebook parent-company saw its stock price get bludgeoned after a bad earnings report showcased that Apple’s ad-blocking changes are shaving billions off its books and the company’s crown jewel — the Facebook platform — has stopped growing and actually shrank this quarter.

Marketing 246

Marketing Newsletter Technical Review News 246

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2023

Yet from my own years of experience in the startup community, here are ten common steps that have worked for other entrepreneurs: Write a "job description" for that ideal partner. Take a hard look at your own business strengths and weaknesses, and write down what partner skills and experiences would best complement yours.

Startup 99

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 99

TechCrunch LA

JULY 2, 2020

In the past year, it’s seen one of the most profitable venture-backed exits of any tech ecosystem (with the $4 billion sale of Honey to PayPal) and investors are minting billion-dollar companies in the region at a torrid pace. How do you think COVID-19 will change entrepreneurial activity in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles 277

Los Angeles Venture Capital Capital Invest 277

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 16, 2019

The organization, active in the Bay Area and New York City, is announcing new chapters in Los Angeles and Boston this week, as well as a new director of engagement, Domonique Fines, formerly of Y Combinator, and a new chief of staff, Jack Dorsey’s former chief of staff at Square, Alicia Burt. “We

Venture Capital 184

Venture Capital Ideas Los Angeles Tool 184

socalTECH

AUGUST 30, 2016

The TCA said, if a TCA member had participated in all of its 305 investments, with a $25,000 investment in each of the companies in those investments (a total investment of $7.7M), that member would have received $12M in cash liquidity, have taken $2M in tax deductible write-downs, and still have $4.1M in active investments.

Tech Coast Angels 133

Tech Coast Angels Angel Truecar Southern California 133

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

The challenge is to adequately define leadership in terms of everyday activities. Thus I’m always looking for more practical guidance on the right activities to be perceived as a business leader. These authors bring a wealth of experience in this domain from their workshops, writing, and lecturing on business leadership worldwide.

Startup 133

Startup Activity Mentor Writing 133

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2022

Most business advisors I know will say that writing a business plan is the first step to starting your own business, but I believe that a better first step is to do a self-analysis of your real drivers, strengths, and assumptions before committing to this lifestyle. You can’t really succeed in life if you are not happy.

Social Media 105

Social Media Writing Ideas Resource 105

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 10, 2010

However, to a Big Dumb Company (BDC), a startup’s IP is a thing of beauty. As such, they are hesitant to acquire a company which has not sought formal protection of their IP for two reasons. One is obvious, without protection, such IP might prove to be of little worth, as other companies can mimic the technology without recourse.

IP 256

IP Patents Company Companies 256

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2022

I have found that introducing fun and creative activities is a great way to inspire people to share a few details about themselves. When was the last time you took the time to hand-write a note to someone in your team, or a related team, on a job well done, or for giving you a helping hand? It doesn’t have to be that way.

Startup 119

Startup Technical Review Activity Social Media 119

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

Therefore, I was pleased to see some good insights and recommendations in a new book, “ Intrinsic Motivation ,” by Stefan Falk, a McKinsey & Company performance coach. If the plan requires many steps and many details, it helps to write down the plan to make sure it is clear and complete before starting.

Coach 110

Coach Satisfaction Activity Startup 110

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 13, 2020

Marcus has a long background in angel investing and company creation. He’s a six-time serial entrepreneur whose sold telecom companies to acquirers like American Tower, Sprint and National Grid. “We use this pool to win deals, make our companies more valuable, and find future hard tech founders.

Los Angeles 126

Los Angeles Artificial Inteligence Invest Angel 126

socalTECH

APRIL 24, 2013

The startup''s service revolves around finding music that helps users concentrate on work, studying, or other intensive activities, with the idea that the right kind of music can help extend the concentration of users. The company claims its service helps increase attention span up to 400 percent while working, studying, writing and reading.

Study 145

Study Writing Mobile Services 145

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

Every tech or major news journal in the country is preparing to write their Snap, Inc (creators of Snapchat, Spectacles, etc) stories and many of them seem to want a “How does it feel to have missed this investment story.” To be fair to TigerText they build a company focused on the healthcare industry and HIPAA compliance.

Snapchat 214

Snapchat Invest Technical Review Dollar Shave Club 214

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2021

Yet from my own years of experience in the startup community, here are ten common steps that have worked for other entrepreneurs: Write a "job description" for that ideal partner. Take a hard look at your own business strengths and weaknesses, and write down what partner skills and experiences would best complement yours.

Startup 126

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 126

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2014

Yesterday I wrote a post about The Silent Benefits of PR in which I pointed out that most young companies I encounter don’t fully grasp the benefits of PR because they are less measurable than product milestones or customer acquisition analyses (like CAC/LTV). When to start PR? I have no money? In a startup this is a mistake.

Press 319

Press Startup Writing Training 319

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2014

One of the interesting things about being a VC is that you often see companies in transition. If you’re an early investor like I am that often means writing the first $2-3 million check into a business that previously had either survived on fumes or on a $500,000 angel round. Act your stage.

Startup 381

Startup Resource Venture Capital Activity 381

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2023

Successful entrepreneurs often start with a “random” idea, but they quickly focus their efforts and follow a “system” to organize their startup and maximize the clout of their activities. If you can’t write it down, you probably don’t understand it. What we all need is trusted advisors who can help us decipher the clutter.

Social Media 94

Social Media Media Ideas Writing 94

InfoChachkie

MARCH 20, 2012

Seth’s comments were particularly intriguing, as he attended UCSB but departed school before graduating in order to start a successful clothing company. Be An Active Listener. He encourages entrepreneurs to be active listeners by, "Listening to hear, versus listening to get your damn opinion in. Seth agrees.

Tool 272

Tool Startup Writing Santa Barbara 272

Berkonomics

MAY 22, 2014

Bill Payne has been actively involved in angel investing since 1980, funding over 50 companies and mentoring over 100 more. The sale of equity in private companies is regulated by the Securities Act of 1933, which requires that the company either register with the SEC or meet one of several exemptions (Regulation D).

Writing 199

Writing Invest Entrepreneur Equity 199

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

will proceed to give you a 20-minute dissertation on their latest health symptoms, the latest company problem, and the sad state of the world in general. Your brain has leveled all events and activities into a desert of sand dunes, where just getting from one to another is a struggle, and there is nothing new to see over the next hill.

Startup 129

Startup Mentor Satisfaction Writing 129

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2013

What I love about writing is that you inadvertently say what many others are thinking and just knowing that somebody else is thinking something similar can be reassuring. Example: Fred Wilson writing his end of 2012 post wrote. “I’ve wanted to write a year end post for days. And your favorite bloggers stop writing.

Writing 313

Writing Venture Capital Blogging Startup 313

Xconomy

MAY 31, 2016

Microsoft plans to invest more in early stage startup companies through a new corporate venture fund, headed by former Qualcomm executives. The company’s startup accelerator program —henceforth to be known as Microsoft Accelerator—will continue hosting startups. Peggy Johnson. Reprints | Share:

Funding 62

Funding Artificial Inteligence Cloud Computing Writing 62

InfoChachkie

JULY 23, 2012

companies should… focus on building amazing products. Instead of focusing on marketing as an activity… integrate it into (your) products.”. I recently spoke with Brad about his approach to guerilla marketing and how he instills eclectic marketing tactics in Foundry Group’s portfolio companies.

Marketing 233

Marketing Blogging Startup Venture Capital 233

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2013

She was leaving IAC to start a company. Talking about how to inspire moms to get their children engaged with iPads and physical activity sets customized for their kids and based in part on their digital lives. She helps write press releases. When you think about physical stickers and activity books every parent can understand.

Startup 398

Startup Design Downey Activity 398

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2020

Successful entrepreneurs often start with a “random” idea, but they quickly focus their efforts and follow a “system” to organize their startup and maximize the clout of their activities. If you can’t write it down, you probably don’t understand it. What we all need is trusted advisors who can help us decipher the clutter.

Social Media 126

Social Media Media Ideas Writing 126

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

In fact, customers today also seem more attracted to companies with a higher purpose than profit. For most people, a truly fulfilled life means active pursuit and high engagement in pursuing your own goals. Before you start your business, think hard about your vision for fulfillment, and write it down.

Satisfaction 173

Satisfaction Mentor Coach Entrepreneur 173

Jason Nazar

MARCH 22, 2011

I recently hosted a panel at the Twiistup Conference about LA tech companies. I have some pretty specific thoughts on the differences between companies in the two cities, as I wrote about in my previous post A Tale of Two Tech Cities. Challenge #1 – Tech Companies are Not Typically Started by Technologists.

Company 111

Company Companies Startup Twiistup 111

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2018

I’ve had this at times in dealing with big companies like Facebook and Apple where we realized that going against the machine was going to be counter-productive. Back when I ran my first company I fought a lot. My scarcest resource was time and it was important to put my time against the most productive activities.

Startup 199

Startup Writing Demand Equity 199

socalTECH

MARCH 16, 2017

We are going to write checks of between $100,000 and $500,000, and we are going to invest in what we are calling first institutional capital. That's the first time organized, institutional, managed capital is coming into a company, right after friends and family. Two, is I missed a bunch of deals because I did not have a fund.

Invest 145

Invest Funding Capital Startup 145

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 18, 2010

Chartbeat is a relatively young company and product. I’m not a shareholder and I’m not even actively looking at making an investment. I’m only writing about the product because I’m passionate about it. It’s now 20 minutes later and there are still 64 people active on my blog.

Blogging 287

Blogging Google Screening Mahalo 287

socalTECH

MAY 10, 2010

When I was visited by many companies at my old firm I was amazed at how many entrepreneurs would try to cram as much as they possibly could into their pitch. I assumed that people would view my worth as the literal sum of the activities listed. To remove one would be to lower my overall worth.

Activity 140

Activity Writing Sales Entrepreneur 140

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

AngelList Syndicates 101: While “AngelList Classic” was ‘each angel for himself’ – syndicates allows an active angel to form a group of like-minded investors to invest together in a deal or deals. If you know, VCs end up writing sizable checks into their own funds, which is important in better aligning interests.

Venture Capital 356

Venture Capital Invest Course Technical Review 356

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

Pitch your company, not your product. Disciplining yourself to write down the plan is actually the best way to make sure you actually understand it yourself. Good communication is not talking louder and longer than others, but practicing active listening, and providing a package of other elements to effectively to back up your words.

Entrepreneur 156

Entrepreneur Tips Funding Startup 156

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 29, 2010

Or if you did something really interesting / innovative in a startup company. Plus, show my you can write! I’m already 2 weeks late in writing this blog post as my partners keep reminding me. The analyst will be involved in the following activities: Tracking investment opportunities / companies. Yesterday.

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Technical Review GRP Partners Email 290

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

When should you start a company? What company should you start? When should you join a company? Anyone who has worked in a large company further knows that timing a product launch or a new marketing strategy has more to do with internal politics than reading market forces. When should a VC invest?

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

SoCal Tech Calendar

JANUARY 22, 2010

government agencies provide funds, such as SBIR and STTR grants, to small biotech and medical device firms in support of their RandD and commercialization activities. In the current financial environment, these government grants are becoming more important as traditional sources of funding early-stage life science companies dry up.

Research 100

Research Funding Writing Conference 100

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

Today we’re in a world where 10 accelerators are bombarding you with emails to meet their 10-15 companies. 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!, They worry too much about missing out on a deal.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374