Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

As a result I didn’t write my first venture capital check until March 2009 – exactly 5 years ago. That company was Invoca, which just announced a $20 million fund raise led by Accel. Working with early-stage teams : coaching, mentoring, setting strategy, rolling up sleeves: 9/10. None have exited.

Venture Capital 387

Venture Capital Downey Writing Press 387

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 9, 2011

Today marks another great day for the LA startup community as one of the city’s prominent mentoring programs , Launchpad LA, received VC funding – for each startup.

Venture Capital 65

Venture Capital GRP Partners Funding Idealab 65

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. Invite the investor to dinner or fun-related activity.

Technical Review 138

Technical Review Startup Innocal Offshore 138

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2016

My partner Greg Bettinelli (worth following on Twitter) was recently named by The LA Business Journal as the “ Top deal maker in Los Angeles in Venture Capital.” I created an accelerator & mentor network (Launchpad LA). ” Numero uno. I was nowhere to be found. I tried to be at every event. I keynoted.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Journal Invest Santa Monica 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

I am thrilled to announce that we have added Hamet Watt as a Partner at Upfront Ventures. This is a big news day at Upfront Ventures. In other news we announced the closing of $61 million in funding at Maker Studios , which I’ll talk publicly about soon. Mark, why wouldn’t you fund him? Startup DNA.

Invest 340

Invest Venture Capital Startup News 340

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

But VC is like congress. “I don’t know the exact math, but I hear it again and again: the top 2% of firms generate 98% of the returns in venture capital.” As you can see from the chart their data suggests there are about $25 billion of VC distributions per year in the US. Their data looks at tech VCs.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

In an unprecedented surge in startup support activity in Los Angeles this morning, another venture startup accelerator, Start Engine , formally launched this morning, applying the accelerator model to startup in the Los Angeles area. READ MORE>>.

Startup 219

Startup Southern California Activision Mentor 219

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 18, 2010

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. Help these companies get funded and let them know that if they stayed in LA there was an ecosystem to support them.

Technical Review 259

Technical Review Venture Capital Southern California Tech Coast Angels 259

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

Because my role as a VC requires me to take and endless stream of meetings I long ago decided I need to learn as much as I can from the meetings I attend so I often just ask tons of questions and assimilate knowledge. When I think about what defines us as a VC I think: Operationally knowledgeable / strong startup competence.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 17, 2017

He eventually founded and sold consumer health firm ViSalus to a public company and is now back making investments, in technology companies, as a venture capitalist here at Los Angeles-based HashtagOne (www.hashtagone.com). Ryan Blair: The theme around the fund is pretty simple. I'm a bit of an anti-VC, as you know.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

and I thought if we brought the community together for common purpose we could create more of a sense of community to help new entrepreneurs get funded, assemble teams, raise profiles and help with biz dev, product, etc. Companies were getting funded more easily and many more companies were actually being created. So we went for it.

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2013

There''s been a lot of activity over the past two years in the Southern California accelerator/incubator market, with numerous groups (Amplify, EvoNexus, K5, LaunchpadLA, MediaCamp, Science, StartEngine, and many, many others) looking to help entrepreneurs start and fund their companies. where we totalled up $33.85M in funding.

Southern California 222

Southern California Incubator Report Startup 222

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2012

But honestly there are times when being a VC can feel like that, too. The most active person responding negatively said, “so an ENITRE industry is undervaluing their services? See there are tons of people who play the role of mentor in their own capacity. VENTURE CAPITAL. Not possible. No exceptions.”

Startup 363

Startup Venture Capital Coach Press 363

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

The Pipeline Fellowship--founded by Natalia Oberti Noguera--says it has been running angel investing bootcamps for women, looking to active more female angel investors. My participation has been on the impact investing and education side, where I''ve been involved as a mentor. We span both the charity and venture capital space.

Angel 276

Angel Invest Mentor Technical Review 276

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

Koffler is a member of the Tech Coast Angels, and heads up Koffler Ventures, a firm which provides advice and C-level experience to startups; Morris is at Vistage International, the Tech Coast Angels, as well as GKM Ventures, Sutro & Co., Both also have been active on Los Angeles Venture Association.

Research 164

Research Tech Coast Angels Company Companies 164

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

In addition, Entrepreneur Magazine recently included UCSB in its Top 50 Schools For VC Backed Entrepreneurs at number 37. A decent showing, but well below a number of larger schools, as the ranking is based on the number of graduates who secured VC funding.

Santa Barbara 258

Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

Welcome to the Lost Decade (for Entrepreneurs, IPO’s and VC’s) - Steve Blank , July 15, 2010 If you take funding from a venture capital firm or angel investor and want to build a large, enduring company (rather than sell it to the highest bidder), this isn’t the decade to do it. Angel vs VC? - Here’s why.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

These resources are definitely not limited to students, since every university seeks out and needs the real world exposure and experience of entrepreneurs who already are active in the real world marketplace. Early-stage funding. Connections to a mentor. Product research and prototype development. Business plan assistance.

Startup 95

Startup Incubator Resource Mentor 95

LATechDigest

MAY 22, 2016

Throughout the day, Expert DOJO members will be pitching their ideas to three active Angels, as well as CrossCut Ventures, CAA Ventures, and Fund 21, a new Venture Firm based in Indonesia. Each startup will be able to choose up to three mentors to meet with for 7-minute sessions each.

Startup 45

Startup LAVA Mentor Venture Capital 45

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 1, 2019

Defy , the early-stage venture investment firm founded by Neil Sequeira and Trae Vassallo, is putting a new twist on the venture partner model as it brings Brian Lee and Sujal Patel on board to help out with investing and guiding companies in the firm’s portfolio. Just don’t call them venture partners.

Invest 109

Invest Legalzoom Los Angeles Blogging 109

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2012

These resources are definitely not limited to students, since every university seeks out and needs the real world exposure and experience of entrepreneurs who already are active in the real world marketplace. Early-stage funding. Connections to a mentor. Product research and prototype development. Business plan assistance.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Incubator Mentor Research 92

socalTECH

MAY 10, 2018

Behzad Kianmahd is the co-founder of Los Angeles coworking space Cross Campus , which is one of the major centers of startup activity in Silicon Beachand also involved as co-founder and lead investor in a brand new, venture capital fund, TAU Ventures (www.ideasimmersion.com/tau-ventures/).

El Segundo 100

El Segundo Southern California Startup Santa Monica 100

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2013

Despite a growing technology industry here in Southern California, local investors and entrepreneurs tell us there''s still a shortage of local, venture capital. In particular, funding for companies developing deep technology--software and cloud, as opposed to content and media--seems to be lacking. David Waxman.: READ MORE>>.

Invest 159

Invest Technology Startup Venture Capital 159

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2014

Many startups now go through accelerators and have mentors passing through each day with advice – usually it’s conflicting. Of course triangulation is a mathematics term that is used in sailing and other activities to help you better navigate when you don’t have your bearings. Fund raising ?

Startup 407

Startup Framework CTO Coach Sales 407

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. Invite the investor to dinner or fun-related activity.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 7, 2013

According to Snodgrass, SGL wants to deliver products and services that can quickly help entrepreneurs get the attention, and funding they need and have been overwhelmed with mentor, Angels, and VC requests since launch and to date.

Google 87

Google Technical Review Press Software Review 87

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

One of the great joys of doing the web series This Week in VC every week is that I get to spend time with great people debating the issues of our day including how our industry is evolving as well as insights into how companies got started, got their initial traction and dealt with adversities. Oh, yeah.

Startup 286

Startup Venture Capital Web Ideas 286

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 30, 2011

The panel is comprised of Southern California’s Top VC’s, Angels, and Startup Accelerator founders. Mike is actively involved with early-stage start-ups as an investor, advisor and board member. Paul B ricault , Venture Partner at Greycroft Partners /Co-founder Amplify.la. Dan Dato , Mentor at upStart.LA.

Tech Coast Angels 105

Tech Coast Angels Startup Angel Southern California 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. Invite the investor to dinner or fun-related activity.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

We actually saw lots of startup activity in Los Angeles last year. Scott Sangster: The Tech Coast Angels is still actively investing. If you compare that to the broader venture capital market--recent MoneyTree numbers said that VC deals were off a third in early stage--we were off by less.

Tech Coast Angels 182

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 182

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

I admit that I haven’t yet read it but I’ve had numerous discussions with Brad over the years about board structure & conduct and consider him a mentor on the topic. When you first start your company and raise initial venture capital your board probably consists of 1-3 founders and 1-2 VCs. Mentorship.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Yeah, that was when I changed for me…” “…there was so much positive feedback on demystifying this one element of venture capital. Deal evaluations the Foundry way, which continues into a great discussion about VC decision-making processes. “So Brad’s start in Venture Capital. was starting. Protocol Digital Life.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

socalTECH

OCTOBER 24, 2011

Accelerator programs--like YCombinator in Silicon Valley, and TechStars in Colorado--have come to the forefront of the minds of entrepreneurs as a way to boost their ideas quickly into the market, find funding, and into existence. We're providing seed funding, office space, and put them through a three month, structured program.

Technical Advisors 176

Technical Advisors Startup Southern California Los Angeles 176

socalTECH

JULY 13, 2009

This morning's interview is with Mark Suster , a venture capitalist at GRP Partners (www.grpvc.com). GRP has just recently closed on a new $200M fund, and Mark has been one of the more active venture capitalists in the Los Angeles area in recent months. The new fund is focused entirely on technology companies.

GRP Partners 157

GRP Partners Southern California Santa Barbara Rustic Canyon 157

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2010

Mike Wolf is a mentor of mine, and a role model for many technology entrepreneurs and investors in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. More recently, he has invested in numerous local startups, while mentoring and advising hundreds of young entrepreneurs. I am active on a number of Boards of organizations that support entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneur 84

Entrepreneur Angel Startup Mentor 84

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2019

In a very real sense, we funded him, and he superseded even IBM. In fact, he had four development co-founders, built a relationship with Peter Thiel, a top VC who invested early, and enticed Sheryl Sandberg to fill the COO role he sorely needed. I believe collaboration is the lifeblood of every business.

IBM 87

IBM IBM Ideas Technical Review 87

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. We generally have a policy to only fund entrepreneurs once the first version of a product has shipped or it near to shipping. So I asked Ethan to build his product first and then we would fund. The company was called Red Beacon. We like to be able to see the concept.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359