Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

It starts with documenting and communicating a real purpose and mission in terms everyone can get excited about. You may think that patents and copyrights are not required, since your products are so innovative, but you will find that competitors are quick to copy your idea if you don’t protect it. Neither is good.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2020

The value in a startup is all about tangible results, so I see no equity value in the idea alone. Key to required patents or trade secrets. In many cases, one of the co-founders may bring some work in progress that can be patented, trademarked, or copyrighted. Now comes the reality check.

Startup 174

Startup Equity Patents CTO Hire 174

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 11, 2018

Based in Los Angeles, AppOnboard sees itself as one of a new breed of LA startup that’s steeping itself in the local ecosystem and trying to be one of the cornerstone’s for a new technology hub in the southern California region. Company co-founder Jonathan Zweig has already had one hit as a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur.

Google 213

Google Los Angeles Southern California Platform 213

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. Here are some of the key ones: Patent protection in place as a barrier to entry. How do you stack up against the ones you know?

Competition 166

Competition Funding Startup Patents 166

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 22, 2019

Sarah Paiji had the idea to launch the eco-friendly refillable cleaning supply retailer Blueland after hearing about the abundance of microplastics in the water she was using to dilute her child’s baby formula. “E verything is proprietary everything is backed by patents,” she says.

Design 161

Design Patents Los Angeles Ideas 161

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2019

Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. How an entrepreneur answers this question speaks volumes about their knowledge of business realities, customers, confidence, and their ability to handle investor funding.

Competition 120

Competition Patents Resource Invest 120

socalTECH

OCTOBER 7, 2010

According to the report , both Los Angeles and the Bay Are were identified as green manufacturing job leaders, with nearly 10,000 jobs in the sector in each region. In an assessment of the "green economy" jobs in California, the Next 10 report said that the Bay Area had 9,607 green jobs in 2008, compared with 9,370 green jobs in Los Angeles.

Southern California 165

Southern California Report Orange County Patents 165

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2021

But make no mistake about it, this is a tough and oversaturated market to enter at this stage. It’s hard to invent and patent more “scientific” methods on how to match people. After all, isn’t dating all about making new “friends,” and finding them in all the right places? The spend is still going up. Social networks.

Sites 134

Sites Social Network Competition Networking 134

socalTECH

AUGUST 29, 2013

A new, Los Angeles area startup, JumpStartFund (www.jumpstartfund.com) recently launched, offering up a combination of crowdfunding and crowd-advice for entrepreneurial ideas. It is one of the older incubators in Los Angeles, even though not a lot of people know about it. and NASA, as well as universities.

Ideas 178

Ideas Patents Funding Startup 178

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. Yet according to the latest data from Gust (formerly AngelSoft), only about 3 out of 100 companies who initiate the formal request process actually get funded. File a patent and trademarks to show real intellectual property. Define some intellectual property.

Invest 99

Invest Angel Technical Review Summary 99

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

As I’ve written about recently, at Upfront Ventures we started talking a couple of years ago about wanting to fund stuff with more meaning. What about if elderly people never had to ask a relative or healthcare worker to change the batteries on their hearing aids? Meredith came to see me along with the CTO Marc Berte.

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2015

Most entrepreneurs I meet are reluctant to disclose anything about their idea to investors before getting a signed confidential disclosure agreement (CDA). Yet I can assure you that people who are paranoid, or want to avoid all risks, won’t be happy as entrepreneurs, so it’s all about balancing the risk-reward scale.

Ideas 106

Ideas Technical Review Patents Entrepreneur 106

socalTECH

DECEMBER 31, 2018

My partner, Craig Cummings, and I were fortunate to close our $20M fund in October and couldnt be more excited about identifying new portfolio companies and helping those entrepreneurs build their businesses. in 50+ companies through his angel and syndicate deals. As I look back on the last 18 months, I realize just how hard it was.

Capital 113

Capital Venture Capital News Patents 113

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2023

These things outside your control do happen, but based on my years of experience as a startup advisor and angel investor, I still see too many strategies leading to failure that are inside the entrepreneur decision realm. Don’t get caught in the myth that you shouldn’t worry about monetization until after you have a large customer base.

Startup 124

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 124

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

If you are not in that rare category of known and proven entrepreneurs, you should avoid the following list of my top ten turnoffs that I have personally experienced as an angel investor. They only want a quick overview of the product, not detailed features and patent secrets. Let me show you a demo rather than a business plan.”

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Startup Statistics Social Media 109

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. Visit the university library for access to otherwise costly business reports. Access to intellectual property and current research.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

socalTECH

AUGUST 18, 2017

Last week, Pasadena-based Ocular Data Systems (www.oculardatasystems.com) announced a funding round from the Pasadena Angels, for its camera-based systems used by law enforcement to capture evidence in drunk or drugged driving cases. We talked with CEO Marcus Filipovich to learn more about the company and its product.

Pasadena Angels 100

Pasadena Angels Pasadena Technical Review Southern California 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. Yet according to the latest data from AngelSoft , only about 3 out of 100 companies who initiate the formal request process actually get funded. File a patent and trademarks to show real intellectual property. Get your Internet domain name and website.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2017

As an advisor to entrepreneurs, I often have to deal with people who are convinced that they must get me to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before they begin talks about their new venture. It pays to talk to competitors about the business, but not your business. Get an NDA before detailed patent disclosures.

Technical Review 61

Technical Review Patents Ideas Social Media 61

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

These things outside your control do happen, but based on my years of experience as a startup advisor and angel investor, I still see too many strategies leading to failure that are inside the entrepreneur decision realm. Don’t get caught in the myth that you shouldn’t worry about monetization until after you have a large customer base.

Startup 174

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2013

Entrepreneurs often get the advice from their lawyers and friends to always get a Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA or CDA) signed before disclosing anything about their new venture. You won’t last long as an entrepreneur in this category, since a startup is all about taking risks. Prior to patent application. Who is right?

Ideas 92

Ideas Demand Patents Entrepreneur 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2020

As an angel investor, I see plenty of startups focusing on building an innovative product, but I’m looking for the few who are also leading with an exponential growth strategy, to put them in the category of the next Amazon or Google. Examples include the Nike Run Club app where people participate in challenges and win trophies.

Marketing 170

Marketing Startup Examples Customer 170

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

But for the group of people who are always talking about doing it but never do, this sole act of being willing to jump ship separates “wantrepreneurs” from entrepreneurs. They are driven more by the journey than they are about the destination. They have a can-do attitude that is infectious. I’d love even 0.5%

Technical Review 417

Technical Review Startup Software Review Course 417

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2018

The value in a startup is all about tangible results, so I see no equity value in the idea alone. Key to required patents or trade secrets. In many cases, one of the co-founders may bring some work in progress that can be patented, trademarked, or copyrighted. Now comes the reality check.

Equity 95

Equity Patents CTO Hire Startup 95

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. At these stages, it’s all about you, and your ability to communicate and execute effectively.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Invest Funding Patents 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2012

Entrepreneurs often get the advice from their lawyers and friends to always get a Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA or CDA) signed before disclosing anything about their new venture. You won’t last long as an entrepreneur in this category, since a startup is all about taking risks. Prior to patent application. Who is right?

Startup 97

Startup Patents Sample Ideas 97

socalTECH

JUNE 13, 2012

How do you go about getting a company product--and company--funded through crowdsourcing? First of all, tell us about what olloclip's products are? I had just heard about Kickstarter, and I thought that would be a brilliant place to launch the idea. I was the angel investor, really. With that, olloclip was born.

Patents 191

Patents Ideas Design Startup 191

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. For example, a software development startup raising $250,000 from angel investors better be able to operate on $25,000 per month. Cash flow out equates to burn rate, and the runway depends on your reserves. You will make mistakes.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2020

Based on my experience, survival and success are both about doing the right things , and not about doing everything. There are complex processes, like filing a patent, and financial tools that may be new to you, including Excel and Quickbooks. As a result, he missed opportunities, and the whole organization suffered.

Product 123

Product Startup Tips Entrepreneur 123

socalTECH

JANUARY 18, 2019

To better understand exactly where EV technology is today, we caught up with Caradoc Ehrenhalt , the CEO and founder of a Los Angeles startup, EV Safe Charge (www.evsafecharge.com), to chat a bit about his view of where EV charging technology today. We do run into a lot of questions about that, and it's safe to charge.

Startup 243

Startup Customer Custom Entrepreneur 243

socalTECH

AUGUST 12, 2019

The Vinetta Project (www.vinettaproject.com), a group which is focused on helping to accelerate the growth of female-led startups, announced a few weeks ago that it is working with P&G Ventures, the internal "startup studio" of Procter and Gamble on an effort to help female-led companies in Los Angeles. What is The Vinetta Project?

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Metrics Los Angeles Help 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2015

Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. How an entrepreneur answers this question speaks volumes about their knowledge of business realities, customers, confidence, and their ability to handle investor funding.

Startup 118

Startup Competition Patents Resource 118

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

If you are not in that rare category of known and proven entrepreneurs, you should avoid the following list of my top ten turnoffs that I have personally experienced as an angel investor. They only want a quick overview of the product, not detailed features and patent secrets. Let me show you a demo rather than a business plan.”

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Statistics Startup Social Media 124

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2013

Helping solicit new business ideas and patents from individuals, federal research labs, universities and other R&D organizations countrywide. One becomes a member by creating a profile, add team members, promote their company page and message or receive updates about the companies they follow. Social network for investors.

El Segundo 76

El Segundo Social Network Startup Patents 76

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

As I thought about the characteristics that comprise a great program, I identified five criteria that a prospective entrepreneurial student can use to evaluate the efficacy of a collegiate entrepreneur curriculum. How much Angel and institutional money did they collectively raise? Are funds available to invest in student businesses?

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Technical Review Class Patents 100

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

The Startup UCLA Accelerator Is About Entrepreneurship Not Investment Returns. The rest of the audience for this afternoon’s pitch fest will be an invitation-only group of angel investors, VC’s, experienced entrepreneurs, and local government officials assembled largely from Jadon’s rolodex. About PandoDaily. Post navigation.

UCLA 47

UCLA Invest Startup Class 47

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. Visit the university library for access to otherwise costly business reports. Access to intellectual property and current research.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124