socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Los Angeles-based Start Engine , the business accelerator being spearheaded by Activision co-founder Howard Marks, said today that it has created a new, $15M investment fund for its portfolio of startups, and added former Governor Gray Davis as an advisor. McPeak; and Greg Suess of ROAR to its advisory board. READ MORE>>.

Funding 214

Funding Southern California Activision Class 214

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

In your opinion, are your angels more or less active this year? The debt market has pretty much shut down for people, though there is some money coming out of the SBAs that have been somewhat helpful. And, the equity markets are certainly a more challenging environment. So you don't see as many people looking for funding now?

Tech Coast Angels 231

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

And more recently he has turned that into a fund called CrossCulture VC such that many in Silicon Valley and beyond now know Troy as well. ” Lady Gaga played 4-5 clubs a night in Los Angeles and New York when she was a relatively undiscovered talent. I think the common denominator and the one word is ‘hustle’ .

Mentor 150

Mentor Venture Capital Marketing Product 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2018

It’s helpful to think of startups as proceeding through several stages, which I have defined some time ago from a funding perspective. Usually these will not give you money, but will provide inexpensive expert mentoring and office services. Funding or rollout stage. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

Funding 94

Funding Startup Organization Incubator 94

socalTECH

JULY 7, 2014

The Disney Accelerator , the startup accelerator backed by Disney and being run by TechStars in Los Angeles, announced its inagural class today, naming eleven companies--including three Los Angeles companies--to participate in the three month program. READ MORE>>.

Class 173

Class Entertainment Venture Capital Mentor 173

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2020

I realized it was consistent with my own view as a former angel investor, that investors invest in you, more than your solution. This means you set goals, milestones, and metrics, and are able to provide financial projections to support funding requirements. Shares views and learns from a personal mentor.

Entrepreneur 168

Entrepreneur Mentor Metrics Customer 168

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

We thought today for our interview, that we'd get an update on the angel investment environment here in Southern California from Scott Sangster , the incoming President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tech Coast Angels , the biggest angel investment group in Southern California. I think that's a good sign for startups.

Tech Coast Angels 182

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 182

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2010

At VT KnowledgeWorks we screen prospective clients for their Market opportunity, for the Magic that they offer to their prospective customers, and for the Moxie displayed by the start-up team. There is a growing fellowship of special-case start-up programs operated by closely-knit, permanent groups of angel-mentors.

Incubator 80

Incubator Mentor Capital Startup 80

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

It’s helpful to think of startups as proceeding through several stages, which I have defined a long time ago from a funding perspective. Usually these will not give you money, but will provide inexpensive expert mentoring and office services. Funding or rollout stage. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

Resource 171

Resource Startup Organization Incubator 171

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2023

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. billion by 2030, exceeding the amounts contributed by either angel groups or VCs alone. Later funding rounds can’t deal with a thousand shareholders.

Equity 80

Equity Platform Entrepreneur Statistics 80

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. As an accredited angel investor, I claim to be one of those professionals, and I’ve talked to many more. Risk is increased.

Equity 164

Equity Statistics Platform Entrepreneur 164

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2022

With the cost of entry to be an entrepreneur so low today, the common excuse of “lack of funding” doesn’t get much sympathy from me. People can build great ecommerce sites with free tools, smartphone apps in their spare time and use crowdfunding to bypass the dreaded angel funding and venture capital penalties.

Entrepreneur 153

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Knowledge Base 153

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Of course, their answer is that the second intends to get to market faster, but every engine has limits regardless the fuel applied. Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. Always add 20 percent to your best estimate of funding requirements when approaching investors.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

socalTECH

JANUARY 8, 2019

Techstars operates startup accelerator programs, generally geared around three month periods where startups get help with shaping up their business model, working on honing product-market-fit, connecting with mentors, and otherwise moving those startups closer to funding or launch. READ MORE>>.

Startup 113

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Funding 113

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

Even if you work every day in the world of new-venture funding, as I do, the options are confusing, and their meanings seem to change on a regular basis. Crowdfunding is rapidly becoming the major source of funding for seed-stage startups. A seed-stage “super angel.” Business accelerator funding.

Funding 104

Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2019

My biggest takeaway this year was truly understanding the strength and cohesion of the Los Angeles startup community. We continue to have a steady stream of industry and thought leaders raising their hands to be mentors for our upcoming cohorts. What was the biggest lesson you learned this year?

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Software Review Startup Coach 157

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Interested in getting some help in getting your startup off the ground and funded? Launchpad LA , the Los Angeles startup accelerator program which is run by Sam Teller, and was founded by venture capitalist Mark Suster, is gearing up for another class, to start next month.

Class 168

Class Startup Web Design Mentor 168

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2018

As the rate of change continues to increase in business and technology, the more I’m convinced that marketing is the primary key to success for a new venture. Yet I find that many technical founders don’t feel they need it at all, or at best point to one person on the team who is marketing. The result is no deal.

Marketing 71

Marketing Tips Technical Review Social Media 71

socalTECH

APRIL 10, 2018

What is Startup Boost , and how is it looking to help early stage startups in Los Angeles? We recently sat down with Matt Stodder , Co-Director of Startup Boost/Los Angeles, and Blake Caldwell , Global Director of Startup Boost, to learn more about the program, what it offers up to startups. Explain what Startup Boost is?

Startup 172

Startup Seed Funding Mentor Ideas 172

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

Based on my own experience as a mentor and angel investor, I find that as many as ninety percent of startups fail in the first five years, despite their best efforts. By far, the majority of new businesses I know are self-funding (bootstrapped) from your own savings and prior assets. Names and taglines are critical to success.

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Tool 98

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. Evidence of adaptability and flexibility.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Angel Social Media Patents 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. Thus your startup maturity and growth stage is the primary key to success with potential funding sources. My invention and prototype works, but I need funding to continue.”

Startup 148

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 148

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

With the current volatile economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. There just aren’t enough angel investors and VCs to go around. These looming constraints can turn your startup dream into a nightmare, all to increase funding.

Funding 104

Funding Summary Entrepreneur Acquisition 104

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 30, 2011

Topics of discussion will be Saas, Cloud, Mobile, Gaming, Social Markets, what surprises are coming for 2012, creating value with your company, hiring problem solvers, and building sensible businesses. The panel is comprised of Southern California’s Top VC’s, Angels, and Startup Accelerator founders.

Tech Coast Angels 105

Tech Coast Angels Startup Angel Southern California 105

socalTECH

JANUARY 16, 2013

MuckerLab , the Los Angeles startup accelerator headed by Erik Rannala, is presenting its newest startup class today in a Demo Day. MuckerLab's prior class included such hot Los Angeles startups as SurfAir, Retention Science, Wallaby, and InstaCanvas. READ MORE>>.

Class 159

Class Startup Incubator Los Angeles 159

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2014

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. Thus your startup maturity and growth stage is the primary key to success with potential funding sources. My invention and prototype works, but I need funding to continue.”

Startup 93

Startup Funding Venture Capital Ideas 93

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Thus began my marketing campaign. Wonderful human being who is civically engaged, mother of 3, mentorer of younger founders, hard worker and arguer extraordinaire (so says her current Twitter bio). For starters we’re an LA-based venture fund who invests nationally (and sometimes internationally, but less so).

Venture Capital 408

Venture Capital Startup Outsource Development CitySearch 408

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. Our mentors as we've built up this effort in LA are TechStars, Tech Wildcatters in Dallas, and Accelerator Labs in Chicago.

Startup 221

Startup Mentor Southern California Incubator 221

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

If you want the full SlideShare deck with many slides not in either post it’s in this link –> The LA Tech Market. Has it begun to mature or is it just better marketed than in was say 5 years ago? Given how efficient markets are when a large market like LA starts to blossom it attracts capital pretty quickly.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

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. Evidence of adaptability and flexibility. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

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

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2014

With the uptick in the economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. There just aren’t enough Angel investors and VCs to go around. These looming constraints can turn your startup dream into a nightmare, all to increase funding.

Funding 98

Funding Startup Entrepreneur Summary 98

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. He is a 26-year software veteran who has survived both startups and big companies.

Entrepreneur 84

Entrepreneur Angel Startup Mentor 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. As well, these companies usually bring real new venture funding opportunities to the startups they sponsor. That’s about the same ratio that angel investors claim.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

socalTECH

JUNE 20, 2012

There is a large menu of startup accelerators in the Los Angeles, but one of more established efforts in the area is LaunchpadLA ([link] The effort actually started as an informal mentoring program, but has grown and expanded to follow the accelerator model. Then, it turned out, all of those companies did really well.

Class 261

Class Mentor Startup Santa Monica 261

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. Most of these scenarios involve attracting outside investors, strategic partners, or key team members: You are the team and you don’t need outside funding.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

He shared tons of information about how how they were using marketing to quantitatively make marketing decisions at HauteLook and acquire customers for prices that were far cheaper than similar companies. The feedback was always universal, “that was the most helpful marketing meeting I’ve every had.”

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360