Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 15, 2023

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. Yet the process is eerily realistic, and every entrepreneur can glean some important lessons. There is no substitute for knowing your business.

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Entrepreneur Sample Ideas Customer 111

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2021

In my role as mentor to business professionals, I often get the question about your potential of going out on your own as an entrepreneur, versus your current role of working for a boss at an established company. If you enjoy wearing many different hats and are constantly learning new skills, you will get more satisfaction as an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur 158

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Ideas Social Media 158

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 30, 2019

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 -- ACG101's 3rd Annual Emerging Growth Pitch Competition and Showcase. On June 5th, we're showcasing a select group of Greater-Los Angeles's finest startups in an event you won't want to miss. Three finalists will then be selected to formally do a 2-minute pitch for the grand prize!

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Competition SoCal Southern California Los Angeles 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2022

After many years of working with angel investors seriously trying to find new ventures worthy of their hard-earned money, I find their frustration often exceeds that of entrepreneurs sincerely looking for financial help. Smart entrepreneurs pre-disclose any possible due diligence issues, with full and open explanations and no excuses.

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socalTECH

OCTOBER 6, 2011

Los Angeles-based CapLinked , the developer of an online platform for managing fundraising and investors, said this morning that it has launched a new pitch competition. The firm said that judges for the competition come form Idealab, Rincon, Rapidfire, and Actarus, including Idealab's Alex Maleki and Rincon's Jim Andelman.

Competition 157

Competition Idealab Press Platform 157

socalTECH

JULY 1, 2013

VIMBY , the Los Angeles-based, online production studio created by Mark Burnett, is powering a new entrepreneurship competition from Walmart, the Get On The Shelf crowdsourcing competition.

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Competition Hollywood Web Product 147

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 1, 2017

Wednesday, June 7, 2017 -- ACG101's First Annual Emerging Growth Pitch Competition and Showcase. On June 7th, we're showcasing 10 of Los Angeles's finest startups in an event you won't want to miss. See [link] (more)

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Competition Los Angeles Entrepreneur Startup 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

APRIL 23, 2018

Sunday, April 29, 2018 -- Tech Coast Angels: EXTREME Coaching. Perfect your 60-second pitch with valuable coaching from Tech Coast Angels investors and startup experts. Incredible networking and exposure to media and active investors of Orange County. Incredible networking and exposure to media and active investors of Orange County.

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Tech Coast Angels Coach Orange County Angel 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

APRIL 23, 2018

Saturday, April 28, 2018 -- Tech Coast Angels: EXTREME Coaching. Perfect your 60-second pitch with valuable coaching from Tech Coast Angels investors and startup experts. Incredible networking and exposure to media and active investors of Orange County. Incredible networking and exposure to media and active investors of Orange County.

Tech Coast Angels 100

Tech Coast Angels Coach Orange County Angel 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 -- Elevator Pitch Competition. This maxim has special meaning for entrepreneurs seeking funding. Venture capitalists and angel investors are busy people with hectic schedules. MIT Enterprise Forum of the Central Coast. You only get one chance to make a good first impression.

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Competition Enterprise Forum Venture Capital Entrepreneur 113

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most have the technical challenges well understood, but many are a bit short on some basic street smarts , or basic business realities. Intellectual property is required for a competitive edge. Even the best college degree is not a substitute. Neither is good.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

You can’t survive as an entrepreneur without resilience, because you are going to fail at least once, maybe multiple times. If you need more evidence that great entrepreneurs survived through resilience, just look into the backgrounds of more recent entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk. Then they get it done.

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Entrepreneur Guide Activity Design 138

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2014

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Finally I realized that Venture Capital and Angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary. Exudes integrity, humility, and stability.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Angel Social Media Patents 107

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2020

As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I tend to see many of the same obstacles appearing in every new startup, and since I don’t want to appear to be a downer , I’m not sure how to properly warn people ahead of time to be on the alert for these challenges. Too many entrepreneurs think that expert external advisors are suspect, or will slow them down.

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Startup Entrepreneur Examples Customer 131

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

In your opinion, are your angels more or less active this year? Investors are very focused on diligence, on business models that make sense, and those companies that have a definite competitive advantage and defensibility to what they're doing. Mike Napoli: Actually, we are seeing entrepreneurs.

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Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2014

In their passion and excitement about a new product or service, entrepreneurs tend to continually narrow the scope of potential competitors, and often claim to have no direct competitors. Competition for your new hydrogen fuel auto engine is not limited to other hydrogen auto engine offerings, or even other autos.

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Competition Startup Patents Slides 93

SoCal Tech Calendar

JULY 18, 2012

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 -- The Tech Coast Angels presents MEET THE ANGELS. The Tech Coast Angels invites San Diego's up and coming entrepreneurs to "Meet the Angels" that can help you make your dream come true. See https://www.cvent.com/events/meet-the-angels/registration-d31686c4fff849f4a6b8af7c4049568a.aspx.

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Tech Coast Angels Angel San Diego Startup 113

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 26, 2020

The Los Angeles startup community is joining the rest of the world in mourning the death of NBA superstar, entrepreneur and investor Kobe Bryant who was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif., Bryant launched his venture career with partner and serial entrepreneur Jeff Stibel back in 2013, according to Crunchbase.

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Venture Capital Los Angeles Legalzoom Calabasas 359

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2021

Los Angeles-based The Milken Institute, along with the Motsepe Foundation, said this week that the two have launched a new, $2 million technology prize program, aimed at entrepreneurs in Africa.

Competition 124

Competition Education Los Angeles Entrepreneur 124

Berkonomics

AUGUST 3, 2023

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.

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Venture Capital Startup Class Invest 295

socalTECH

JULY 18, 2012

Startups interested in pitching to the San Diego arm of the Tech Coast Angels can now submit their applications to the group, the TCA announced Tuesday evening.

Tech Coast Angels 150

Tech Coast Angels San Diego Angel Southern California 150

Tech.Co

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

From apps to hardware, to KickStarter successes and international startups, we’re inching closer to finding out who will take home the title of Startup of the Year competition at our annual Celebrate Conference in October. Among the dozens of participants that applied for the online competitions, only a few progressed into the semifinals.

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Competition Mobile Startup Technical Review 123

Tech.Co

OCTOBER 14, 2016

The free Explorer ticket gets you access to the hiring fair, the LAUNCH startup competition, the EXPO, and day-time technology knowledge workshops. Suitable for students, tech enthusiasts, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur . “ Explorer.

Los Angeles 70

Los Angeles Angel Entrepreneur Competition 70

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 15, 2010

Last night I attended the inaugural Open Angel Forum event started by Jason Calacanis , a fellow LA resident. Jason started the Open Angel Forum in response to his frustration that entrepreneurs were being charged by some angel organizations to present at their events. The event last night in Los Angeles was great.

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Angel Startup Tech Coast Angels MyShape 254

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

Serious entrepreneurs know that, but too many “wannabes” still fall for that elusive get-rich-quick scheme with no risk. As an active angel investor, I still hear entrepreneurs asserting large opportunities with minimal risk and no competition. Outside of dreams, there is no real business opportunity without risk.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Marketing Customer Custom 107

Berkonomics

MAY 11, 2023

Checking with professional investors from angels to VC’s, the answer appears to be near unanimous: the quality of the proposed or actual management team comes in a strong first before the attractiveness of the business plan itself. None of this is to say that an inexperienced entrepreneur cannot lead a great new business.

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Statistics Startup Ideas Entrepreneur 156

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

I thought I’d try to look at it from a different lens, that of the entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur you should assume that. But the majority of VCs & Angels all speak. Have you looked at competition? How well financed is the competition? So what is an entrepreneur to do? How well do you know them?

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Pricing Entrepreneur Technical Review Venture Capital 292

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

It really is possible for an introvert to succeed as an entrepreneur, even though you can’t expect to start and build a business alone. Every entrepreneur, especially an introvert, can benefit from the perspective of another business person, ideally one who has prior experience in the domain you are about to enter.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Mentor Activity Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2014

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. That says you are competitive today, have a real barrier to entry, and the potential to remain ahead of the competition for a long time.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Competition Patents Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2013

Some people feel that organic growth is “better” because it requires real innovation and sustained effort to create long-term competitive advantage through differentiation and efficiency. This can be a significant competitive advantage over major competitors, and overall reduces competition in the market place. Marty Zwilling.

Organization 97

Organization Competition Startup Acquisition 97

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

In their passion and excitement about a new product or service, entrepreneurs tend to continually narrow the scope of potential competitors, and often claim to have no direct competitors. Competition for your new hydrogen fuel auto engine is not limited to other hydrogen auto engine offerings, or even other autos.

Competition 166

Competition Funding Startup Patents 166

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

On the other hand, everyone wants to be an entrepreneur. His focus is on entrepreneurs in America, but what he says applies to every other country as well. This next frontier lies in building enterprises as an entrepreneur, rather than waiting for innovation and opportunity from large corporations.

Entrepreneur 87

Entrepreneur Offshore Technical Review Outsource 87

TechCrunch LA

MAY 29, 2019

Los Angeles-based PlayVS (pronounced “play versus”) wants to become the dominant platform for amateur esports, starting at the high school level. Eric P: You have a fascinating background as a serial entrepreneur while you were a teenager. Below is the transcript of our conversation (edited for length and clarity) : Founding PlayVS.

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Startup Coach Competition Los Angeles 204

SoCal Tech Calendar

FEBRUARY 18, 2010

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 -- Tech Coast Angels Fast Pitch. Our Fast Pitch Competitions are "the" place for Southern California entrepreneurs to present their ideas to investors. Over the years, Tech Coast Angels and several venture capital firms have funded many companies that have been Fast Pitch participants.

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Tech Coast Angels Angel Southern California Competition 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

As an advisor to many entrepreneurs, I still hear frequently the irrational exuberance that crowdfunding is the quick alternative for startups that are passed over by overly demanding angels or venture capital investors. Thus crowdfunding is clearly not the panacea for funding and success that many entrepreneurs envision.

Startup 100

Startup Equity Entrepreneur Demand 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 19, 2010

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 -- OC Tech Coast Angels Fast Pitch. The Tech Coast Angels will be holding their 10th Annual Fast Pitch Competition on May 25th at the UC Irvine Student Center. The deadline to apply for the Fast Pitch Competition is April 21st. See [link] (more).

Tech Coast Angels 100

Tech Coast Angels Angel Southern California Coach 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Friday, November 6, 2009 -- The Entrepreneur's Journey: Finding, Launching and Growing the Next Big Thing. Leading the way are faculty from both Pepperdines business and law schools and many of Southern Californias leading angel investors and venture capitalists. Also on-hand will be entrepreneurs who have been there and done that.

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Entrepreneur Pepperdine Malibu Southern California 100