Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

As a business advisor, I meet many business professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs who are anxious to be their own boss , or have an innovative idea to start or acquire a new business. Also, initiating a startup is quite different from taking over a thriving business, where the focus is on repeatable processes and quarterly profits.

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Startup Ideas Metrics Entrepreneur 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2023

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” On the other hand, there are many additional creative options available for starting a business that you might not find for buying a car, home, or other major consumer item.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Most of these are non-profits, set up by a university to commercialize new technologies, or a municipality to foster business development for the local economy.

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Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2021

For today's interview, we spoke to Dave Eastman, the Director of the Viterbi Startup Garage, a startup incubator that is run by the University of Southern California, out of its location in Marina Del Rey. What is Viterbi Startup Garage? The Startup Garage is located physically in Marina Del Rey, in the twin tower on Admiralty.

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Marina Del Rey Startup USC Incubator 150

socalTECH

APRIL 8, 2013

A few weeks ago, the University of Southern California announced a new startup incubator, the Viterbi Startup Garage ([link] backed by such notable investors as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and the United Talent Agency. What''s the mission behind the new startup incubator? How did the incubator come about?

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Incubator USC Startup Artificial Inteligence 233

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

Some entrepreneurs start polling venture capitalists for that multi-million dollar investment before they even have a business plan. It’s helpful to think of startups as proceeding through several stages, which I have defined a long time ago from a funding perspective. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

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Resource Startup Organization Incubator 171

SoCal Tech Calendar

AUGUST 4, 2016

Wednesday, August 10, 2016 -- Clean Technology Council Summer Mixer. Meet Tech Executives, Entrepreneurs, Inventors, Angel/VC Investors, Joint Venture Partners, Deal Makers, Start Up Mentors, CTC and 101 Incubator founders. Hear new Fast Pitch and Kickstarter proposals.

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Technology Council CTC Technology Incubator 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

As a startup advisor and investor, living in an area with several local universities, I’m continually surprised by how little many entrepreneurs know about the resources available from these institutions. Other project and research reports in their library are a rich source of new ideas, if you are still looking for a place to start.

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Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2019

During the holiday season, our tradition over the last few years has been to post reflections on the past year and some predictions for 2019 from Southern California's technology industry. My biggest takeaway this year was truly understanding the strength and cohesion of the Los Angeles startup community.

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Technical Review Software Review Startup Coach 157

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2020

As an angel investor and a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always disappointed to see founders who seem stressed out most of the time, and more annoyed than energized by the abundance of challenges they see in building their startup. Technology experts tend to have a very deep level of knowledge, but not very wide.

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Startup Entrepreneur Activity Ideas 171

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

There's a new, startup incubator in town in West Los Angeles--this time, launching out of Loyola Marymount University and its College of Business. According to the school, it has launched the The LMU CBA Business Incubator , a brand new startup incubator focused on companies in the technology and consumer products area.

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Incubator LMU West Los Angeles Startup 258

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Most of these are non-profits, set up by a university to commercialize new technologies, or a municipality to foster business development for the local economy.

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Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

socalTECH

JULY 27, 2016

The The Stage Fund , a investment and acquisition firm focused on acquiring turnaround companies, has tapped a longtime Southern California entrepreneur, Dan Tamkin , as a new Managing Partner in Los Angeles. According to the fund, Tamkin will be setting up a West Coast office for the fund, which is based in Denver, Colorado.

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Los Angeles Chief Technology Officer Funding Angel 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2023

Many entrepreneurs have a passion and an idea, or even invent a new product, but are never able to execute to the point of creating a startup. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business. Startup and development stage. Market research and a business plan should be the focus at this stage.

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Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Satisfaction 108

SoCal Tech Calendar

JANUARY 11, 2013

Tuesday, January 15, 2013 -- StartEngine Mentor Mixer and Downtown Grand Opening with Deputy Mayor Matt Karatz - 1/15/2013. A night to mix and mingle with mentors, founders, the Downtown L.A. business community, and for our entrepreneurs to practice their pitch before demo day. The new office?s

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Mentor USC Incubator Pasadena 124

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2015

The Los Angeles Dodgers and R/GA said Tuesday afternoon that the two are setting up a new, startup accelerator in Los Angeles, called the LA Dodgers Accelerator. According to the two, the new startup accelerator will focus on companies at the intersection of sports, technology, and entertainment.

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Entertainment Technology Mentor Los Angeles 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2023

Based on my own career as a business owner and angel investor, in this age of change, I still see key successes and growth from the same team member work qualities. For example, it has long been widely accepted that one of the primary causes for entrepreneur failure in new startups is that many give up too soon.

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Startup Satisfaction Technical Review Ideas 121

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 8, 2011

The Los Angeles chapter of the Founder Insitute , the startup incubation program run locally by Ken Rutkowski, is gearing up for its Spring Semester, saying that it has added a number of new mentors for the semester. com), Nolan Bushnell (Atari), and many others in the local technology community.

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Mentor Startup Incubator SpaceX 196

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Venture and angel investing has long been considered a man''s world--with domination of the industry, executives, financiers, and others by men, with only a few exceptions. 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.

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Angel Invest Mentor Technical Review 276

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Every entrepreneur I know is dismayed by the number of friends who approach them with a line such as “I have an even better idea that will change the world, and one of these days I’m going to get around to starting my own business.” Others are debilitated by their fear, avoid risk at all costs, and never start.

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Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Knowledge Base 153

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2020

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” On the other hand, there are many additional creative options available for starting a business that you might not find for buying a car, home, or other major consumer item.

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Funding Startup Equity Examples 174

socalTECH

JUNE 14, 2013

Adding one more startup incubator/accelerator to the long list in Los Angeles, Bixel Exchange launched Thursday, to offer up mentoring and classes to local startups. The new center was created by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. READ MORE>>.

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Startup Incubator Commerce Social Media 113

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

A new, technology startup accelerator modeled after the TechStars venture incubator in Boulder said today it has launched, and will bring business acceleration to Los Angeles. READ MORE>>.

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Los Angeles Incubator Rustic Canyon Angel 170

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2021

An underutilized, but valuable resource, every startup should investigate is a formal or informal connection to your alma mater, including any local university. Start by contacting the university outreach liaison, or a professor in your area of interest or expertise. Start by contacting the law school organization.

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Incubator Mentor Class Resource 172

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2020

If you want to make a great first impression on a startup investor or an advisor like me, don’t try to convince me or show me how busy you are. I’m sure you all know someone who always seems to be overworked, but often comes up short on the delivery side. Use technology and tools, but don’t let them sink you.

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Product Startup Tips Entrepreneur 123

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 11, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Startup Advice. Many startup companies hire advisory boards. If you plan to set one up – no problem. Advisory Board Problems : There are several problems that I have encountered myself and in my many discussions with CEO’s who have set up advisory boards. Too much effort.

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Startup Venture Capital Equity Technical Review 306

Tech.Co

NOVEMBER 12, 2015

When Los Angeles, CA was listed as the fastest-growing tech startup region in 2014, many guesses were raised about the root cause of its success. No, to see the strength of Los Angeles’ startup scene, you must look at the whole story. This is one of the essential ingredients that make up a sustainable startup community.

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Cornerstone OnDemand Startup Buzzfeed Los Angeles 113

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. How did the new fund come about?

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Invest Technology Startup Venture Capital 159

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

As a startup advisor and investor, living in an area with several local universities, I’m continually surprised by how little many entrepreneurs know about the resources available from these institutions. Other project and research reports in their library are a rich source of new ideas, if you are still looking for a place to start.

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Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2014

In a bid to boost the Los Angeles economy and create new jobs in the city, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday that he has created a new "Entrepreneur-in-Residence" program, which will help the city in developing initiatives and policies aimed at growing, assisting and sustaining entrepreneurs in Los Angeles.

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Entrepreneur USC Los Angeles Mentor 232

socalTECH

JANUARY 31, 2013

It was standing room only at StartEngine 's Demo Day Wednesday afternoon, held at Santa Monica's Cross Campus , as the startup accelerator launched eight of its latest startups into the world, after a 90 day process of mentoring, honing their business model, and heads down development. Standing room only crowd at StartEngine).

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Startup Commerce Santa Monica Mentor 256

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 30, 2011

TechZulu is excited to invite you to the 2012 Startup and Entrepreneurial Forecast taking place on Tuesday Jan. We have a line up of amazing speakers who will share their insights and forecast for startup trends in 2012. Mike is actively involved with early-stage start-ups as an investor, advisor and board member.

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Tech Coast Angels Startup Angel Southern California 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2010

By Jim Flowers A few months ago, Marty invited me to comment on business incubation and what a startup company ought to expect from an incubator. 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.

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Incubator Mentor Capital Startup 80

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2016

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Most of these are non-profits, set up by a university to commercialize new technologies, or a municipality to foster business development for the local economy.

Incubator 106

Incubator Startup Help Resource 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

One of the biggest myths in the business world is that startups are no place for Baby Boomers, that aging generation born between 1945 and 1964. They couldn’t possibly understand the new social media culture, new technologies, or have the determination to beat their younger counterparts in the market. Member of the Advisory Board.

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Startup Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur 124

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2017

The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) has just received $5M to fund a new initiative, called Energize California , to help boost clean technology startups. READ MORE>>.

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Incubator Orange County Santa Barbara Ventura 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2020

A popular myth that most of you probably believe is that startups are only for the younger generations. In fact, I see more and more evidence that new entrepreneurs are coming from the older age groups (age 45-64), and success rates move up with age. We are more prepared to focus on life-changing entrepreneurship.

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Startup Entrepreneur Coach Mentor 129