Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2013

I see now emerging a new wave of investors, popularly known as “super-Angels,” micro-VCs, or “super-seed” investors. Every early-stage startup should explore this new funding alternative. Rose in NYC, who each make up to ten investments a year of up to $250,000. Being “lifecycle investment partners” has a downside.

Angel 92

Angel Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup 92

socalTECH

OCTOBER 30, 2013

For our Insights and Opinions section today--where we feature the thoughts and opinions of the local high tech community--we have an article from Jeff Grabow , of Ernst & Young, talking about the changing world of venture capital : The VC environment isn''t what it used to be. Guess what? That''s not a bad thing. Continued.).

Venture Capital 159

Venture Capital Capital High Tech Southern California 159

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Acquiring seed-stage funding is admittedly tough, but a source that I find often overlooked is government grant funding, accessible in the U.S. Specifically, I often point to the NSF or the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for high-tech startups. Experts are available to help, but fees are high.

Funding 90

Funding Technical Review Startup Research 90

socalTECH

JANUARY 5, 2021

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, sposors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. What are you most looking forward to in the technology/startup world in 2021? We've been posting these throughout the next two weeks.

Southern California 202

Southern California SoCal Technical Review Startup 202

socalTECH

MAY 15, 2019

technology and services, says it is in the midst of a big expansion in Los Angeles, and has added about 20 percent to its headcount over the last three months. CareerArc recently raised $30M in a funding round from PeakEquity Partners. The company--led by longtime technology startup veteran Robin D. READ MORE>>.

Burbank 145

Burbank High Tech Sales Los Angeles 145

socalTECH

AUGUST 14, 2013

The coworking trend--which started in part in Southern California and its high tech startup ecosystem--looks to be spreading East, with news this week that NextSpace has raised $500,000 and acquired a Chicago company, to establish its first coworking site outside of California.

Acquisition 159

Acquisition Southern California High Tech Venice 159

socalTECH

JANUARY 27, 2020

Kobe Bryant , the basketball legend who also was one half of Los Angeles private equity investment firm Bryant Stibel , is dead at the age of 41, after a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas took his life, the life of one of his daughters, and seven others. READ MORE>>.

Thousand Oaks 113

Thousand Oaks Legalzoom Calabasas High Tech 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

I see now emerging a new wave of investors, popularly known as “super angels,” micro-VCs, or “super-seed” investors. Every early-stage startup should explore this new funding alternative. Due to the economy as well, traditional individual angel investors haven’t been able to fill the gap.

Startup 86

Startup Angel Venture Capital Technical Review 86

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

Let me start with the obvious baseline that most people probably know instinctively: Los Angeles is the 3rd largest technology startup ecosystem in the US. They estimate that high-tech work contributes $108.3 billion in venture capital to LA’s technology startups and 2014 will shatter that figure.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2013

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. Need expensive resources up front. General startup expenses are beyond your means. Need to spread the risk.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Technical Review Equity 100

socalTECH

MAY 17, 2018

EAT Club , a startup which provides delivery of food to employees of high tech and other companies, said today that they've acquired Farm Hill and its personal meal business. EAT Club, which is based in the Bay Area, says that Los Angeles is one of its two primary markets. Financial details of the buy were not announced.

High Tech 100

High Tech Yahoo Los Angeles Capital 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2012

For the last week of the year, we're featuring the thoughts and reflections of some of the movers and shakers of Southern California's high tech community. Paul Bricault is Managing Partner at Amplify LA (Www.amplify.la), a hands-on startup accelerator and co-working and community space in Venice. READ MORE>>.

Southern California 215

Southern California Technical Review High Tech Venice 215

socalTECH

MARCH 4, 2013

Technology veterans Tareq Risheq and Mark Thacker are no strangers to the world of high tech startups and angel and venture capital--Risheq was formerly CEO of Celllynx, Thacker was co-founder at Datallegro--but the way they're funding their newest startup is unusual, and a testament to the growing popularity of crowdfunding.

Orange County 196

Orange County OCTANE High Tech Venture Capital 196

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2014

A grant is not an equity investment, so the entrepreneur doesn’t have to give up a stake in the company either. Typically they can be used to fund product development and commercialization that would otherwise require outside investors. That is time and resource that you must add to the million other high-priority startup tasks.

Startup 97

Startup High Tech Research Funding 97

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2012

For the last week of the year, we're featuring the thoughts and reflections of some of the movers and shakers of Southern California's high tech community. The biggest impact on the LA tech scene in 2012 is the arrival of the accelerators and coworking spaces, which have helped drive LA's tech scene like never before.

Dollar Shave Club 272

Dollar Shave Club Technical Review Santa Monica Southern California 272

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

A new lawsuit, targeting Venice, California-based Snapchat --the hottest company to emerge out of the area''s high tech startup cluster in recent years--says that the company''s founders stole the idea for the company from him after forcing him out of the company early on in its history. READ MORE>>.

Snapchat 170

Snapchat Social Network High Tech Venice 170

socalTECH

JANUARY 27, 2010

On Thursday, the City of Ventura is formally launching a new incubator, the Ventura Ventures Technology Center (www.v2tc.com), targeted at high tech businesses. The incubator so far includes startups Lottay , Geodelic , and a number of other Internet and other technology firms. What led the City of Ventura to start an incubator?

Ventura 200

Ventura Incubator Technology Startup 200

socalTECH

MARCH 5, 2013

Los Angeles-based Cheers , the new startup from Bizrate founder Farhad Mohit, disclosed Tuesday afternoon that it has raised $2.5M The funding came from MindFund, Charles River Ventures, Trinity Ventures, Naval Ravikant, as well as others. p>Is the world short in happiness and joy--and how can a mobile app change that?

Southern California 159

Southern California High Tech Social Media Mobile 159

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 21, 2012

Looking to provide a high-tech twist on retail loyalty punchcards, Pasadena-based Punchcard --the latest startup out of Idealab--has debuted a set of mobile apps which allow retailers to virtually "punch" customer loyalty cards on Android and iPhone. Financial details of the seed funding in Punchcard have not been announced.

Mobile 157

Mobile Idealab Seed Funding High Tech 157

socalTECH

OCTOBER 24, 2011

One of the biggest complaints you hear from both entrepreneurs and investors in Los Angeles, is the lack of a credible, visible startup accelerator in the Los Angeles area. We caught up with Erik to hear more about MuckerLab, and its efforts to grow the Los Angeles technology ecosystem. Erik, thanks for the time.

Technical Advisors 176

Technical Advisors Startup Southern California Los Angeles 176

socalTECH

OCTOBER 5, 2017

In this solo episode we meet up with Greg Bettinelli and talk about Upfront Ventures, investing in Los Angeles, high performance cultures, building legacy, helping/funding/nurturing entrepreneurs and the future of the Los Angeles tech scene. www.collective-genius.com). www.socaltech.com).

West Hollywood 100

West Hollywood Compton Southern California Santa Monica 100

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 1, 2013

The magazine turned its attention this month towards the Los Angeles innovation and technology economy in a section guest edited by StartEngine co-founder Howard Marks , including a reception held Wednesday evening at the Viceroy in Santa Monica. Big disclaimer: the author and editor was one of the honorees at the event).

Ventura 182

Ventura Santa Monica Idealab High Tech 182

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

Los Angeles area startups and would-be entrepreneurs were gathered Thursday as a part of the annual Twiistup technology conference, being held at the Skirball Center. The startup event--which continues until tonight--included keynotes by David Cohen of TechStars, Suneel Gupta of Groupon, Loic Le Meur of Seesmic, and many others.

Twiistup 171

Twiistup Rustic Canyon Search Engine Optimization Startup 171

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

A grant is not an equity investment, so the entrepreneur doesn’t have to give up a stake in the company either. Typically they can be used to fund product development and commercialization that would otherwise require outside investors. That is time and resource that you must add to the million other high-priority startup tasks.

Equity 92

Equity Startup High Tech Research 92

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Startups Made Simple. PricewaterhouseCoopers' Vision To Reality Program for Emerging Tech Companies. Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies. Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth (www.sycr.com) Sponsoring socalTECH's Orange County High Tech Report. Yarnell Design (www.masonyarnell.com/tech).

Southern California 113

Southern California Tech Coast Angels IP Orange County 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 2, 2013

Browse our job postings , and navigate our (new) extensive map of Southern California high tech companies in your neighborhood. Sign up for our daily email newsletter to get our news delivered to you directly every morning, or search our news archives. Or, sign up for our database of high tech companies ($24.95

SoCalTech 124

SoCalTech Help Southern California High Tech 124

socalTECH

JUNE 6, 2011

Although Los Angeles has become a hub for the high tech startup world, Surprisingly, one of the things which hasn't happened in the Los Angeles area is any huge, successful venture acceleration programs. Dan Dato: The quickest way to describe it is it's a Techstars-like, YCombinator-like startup accelerator.

Startup 221

Startup Mentor Southern California Incubator 221

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2012

For the last week of the year, we're featuring the thoughts and reflections of some of the movers and shakers of Southern California's high tech community. The most significant news for GRP Partners in 2012 was the first close of our 4th venture fund. Without this support we would have struggled. READ MORE>>.

GRP Partners 178

GRP Partners Southern California High Tech Venture Capital 178

socalTECH

JULY 15, 2010

Despite a perpetual belief that the presence of both high tech companies and Hollywood should be spawning out hundreds of entertainment and technology related startups, it actually happens much less than one might think. RealD - Los Angeles- Michael Lewis, CEO [ profile ]. Seen a 3D movie lately?

Hollywood 187

Hollywood Technology Company Companies 187

socalTECH

JULY 21, 2010

On the heels of the announcement this morning by Facebook that it has officially hit 500 million users, socalTECH has mined its database of high tech companies , and identified a few of the firms here in Southern California hoping to ride Facebook's coat-tails to success and fortune. Headed by Ian Swanson. Let us know!

Westlake Village 178

Westlake Village Steamboat Ventures Southern California SoCalTech 178

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2011

Now that President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package has been out for a while, including $50 billion aimed at alternative-energy initiatives, applying for grants has become the rage for high-tech startups. I applaud the initiative, and encourage startups in this direction, but there are costs.

High Tech 88

High Tech Startup Research Entrepreneur 88

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

In a bid to prevent the damage from those plumbing failures and also help save water, Los Angeles-based Flo Technologies (www.meetflo.com) has developed a water monitoring device and shutoff valve for your home, which is connected to your smartphone and its own app. We caught up with Gabriel to learn more about the company.

Technical Review 113

Technical Review Technology Startup Artificial Inteligence 113

socalTECH

MAY 24, 2011

Southern California--and particularly, Los Angeles--has always been a center of the music business, which makes it unsurprising that there are many, music-focused startups which end up starting here. I then was recruited into a Silicon Valley startup, backed by Kleiner Perkins. It's just grown on its own.

Social Media 241

Social Media Startup Sites Advertising 241

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

Every startup faces a myriad of challenges that are well beyond the scope of any founder, so you need a few guiding lights to illuminate the road ahead. I recommend that every early-stage startup find three Advisory Board members. Once your company is past the startup stage, you do need a board of directors. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. Need expensive resources up front. General startup expenses are beyond your means. Need to spread the risk.

Technical Review 95

Technical Review Startup Equity Entrepreneur 95

socalTECH

JULY 16, 2013

As much as the idea of "Silicon Beach" wants to represent the whole of the local technology industry in Los Angeles, there are -- as one would expect in such a large metropolitan area -- many different neighborhoods and communities spread across the region, all with their own individual identities, companies, and technology focuses.

Pasadena 242

Pasadena Santa Monica CalTech Technical Review 242

socalTECH

JUNE 11, 2010

For our Insights and Opinions section this Friday morning, we have How to Network in 10 Easy Steps , from angel investor Frank Peters , of the Frank Peters Show. Coincidentally, the Tech Coast Angels have been doing these meet-and-mingle events in Aliso Viejo, too; their next one: June 15th. (If Why should you care? Continued.).

Tech Coast Angels 145

Tech Coast Angels Networking Sample Venture Capital 145