Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

On December 2nd, 2006 I wrote the blog post published later in this post when I was CEO of startup Koral about my experiences in pitching VCs. After my company was acquired by Salesforce.com I was asked to stop blogging and they took over my blog as an asset in the sale of the company. My blog was wiped out.

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Blogging has come a long way in the past few years, from a social release for narcissists, to today’s required vehicle for promoting your consulting business and gaining valuable online exposure. If you can’t justify both a web site and a blog, skip the old-fashioned web site, and make your blog do double duty as described below.

Blogging 95

Blogging Startup Search Engine Optimization Writing 95

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2012

Blogging has come a long way in the past few years, from a social release for narcissists, to today’s required vehicle for promoting your consulting business and gaining valuable online exposure. If you can’t justify both a web site and a blog, skip the old-fashioned web site, and make your blog do double duty as described below.

Blogging 96

Blogging Search Engine Optimization Writing Social Network 96

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2011

Blogging has come a long way in the past few years, from a social release for narcissists, to today’s required vehicle for promoting your consulting business and gaining valuable online exposure. If you can’t justify both a web site and a blog, skip the old-fashioned web site, and make your blog do double duty as described below.

Blogging 91

Blogging Search Engine Optimization Services Writing 91

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

Even artisan-based services, like graphic design and writing good ad copy, have innovative processes and principles. Be accessible on social media, write a blog or articles for industry publications, and participate in conference panels and speaking engagements. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

Even artisan-based services, like graphic design and writing good ad copy, have innovative processes and principles. Be accessible on social media, write a blog or articles for industry publications, and participate in conference panels and speaking engagements. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

When I did it was a little too close to home for a company to have me publish it. A while back I received a frantic phone call from the CEO of a company in which I invested. I felt it was a hit job on us and didn’t refer to anybody else in the industry. The company had their holding statement. Much time has passed.

Press 336

Press Blogging Journal News 336

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2009

People had been steadily blogging for 2-3 years and this crowd seemed to bifurcate. On the one hand were the blogs that “blew up&# and became real businesses like TechCrunch, GigaOm or TalkingPointsMemo. So Twitter was initially billed at a “micro-blogging&# platform. started blogging again outlined here.

Blogging 219

Blogging Venture Capital Startup Social Media 219

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 10, 2015

As I write these words I already imagine my next deposition in which I’m asked to read this out loud. Even when I’m not the one being sued I find myself being dragged into deposition after deposition and my blog (along with all my emails) are being served as evidence. I angel funded a company 5 years ago.

Startup 150

Startup IP Writing Ideas 150

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 1, 2020

In our business lives we’re having to deal with decisions that could have lasting impacts on our companies without any compass to guide us in the direction we’re heading . If not, how much must a reduce costs to give our company enough runway to weather this current storm? you name it. But here is where empathy becomes most critical.

Demand 215

Demand Guide Customer Custom 215

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 21, 2014

Working hard together at a big company just isn’t the same. You join teams that got good write-ups on TechCrunch, have great VCs, have star CEO’s, whatever. Who came in the office at 2am when the servers crashed – even on the night of the big company party. You hire people who look good on paper.

CTO Hire 320

CTO Hire Startup CTO Coach Venture Capital 320

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 15, 2011

It turned out that he was looking for companies he could work with as a consultant. If he had spent any time reading my blog, he would have understood that I am not a fan of consultants , especially at startups. I do not expect everyone I speak with to be a fan of my humble blog. Research? – Self-aware? –

Networking 231

Networking Blogging Santa Barbara Startup 231

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Fred Wilson wrote a blog post yesterday called “Real Names” in which he talked about a commenter on his blog who preferred not to comment because he didn’t want to use his real name. Some people jokingly referred to it in its early days as “Fakester” in contrast to Friendster. Along came Facebook.

Social Network 329

Social Network Startup Blogging Venture Capital 329

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2013

If you haven’t already followed me on Twitter, that’s the fastest way to get blog updates. In my first enterprise software company we developed a methodology for sales that we called PUCCKA. ” In truth many companies had no idea why they actually needed Facebook Likes but there was still a pain point.

Sales 367

Sales Slides Startup Customer 367

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 18, 2014

Sometimes those motives are positive (they really want the chance to work with you, they think you have unique skills) and sometimes they are less positive (their first-tier of “go to” referrals passed on the deal, they don’t want to write another check themselves, etc.). I wrote here about why I avoid party rounds.

Venture Capital 337

Venture Capital Invest Ideas Entrepreneur 337

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 9, 2012

I told him only 2 weeks ago when we were in London together that I wanted to write a blog post that has been in my head for 2 years. These engagements went well and he came highly referred by my friend Gary Swart who runs oDesk. How to help his companies. My pal Dave occasionally presents “headline risks” for investors.

Startup 309

Startup Venture Capital Email Writing 309

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2013

Christensen, “We subsidize their education in fields for which there are no jobs” he said in referring to the fact that many courses at universities are still taught with skills that aren’t relevant to the 21st century needs of the US workforce. New company in Boston with a model called “royalty capital.”

Venture Capital 403

Venture Capital Education Offshore Outsource Development 403

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

Even artisan-based services, like graphic design and writing good ad copy, have innovative processes and principles. Be accessible on social media, write a blog or articles for industry publications, and participate in conference panels and speaking engagements. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

Many of our job postings for Engineering positions describe the company as a place “where the word ‘millions’ is used frequently and in many contexts&#. SaaS 101: 7 Simple Lessons From Inside HubSpot - OnStartups , July 19, 2010 It’s been a little over 4 years since I officially launched my internet marketing software company , HubSpot.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 20, 2013

Brad Feld seems to write books faster than I can read and write about them. He teamed up with his wife, Amy Batchelor , to write about about the impact that entrepreneurship has on relationships and what to do about it. It’s an enjoyable read and one I’ll bet you refer back to rather than read once and file away.

Entrepreneur 370

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Social Network 370

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

Even artisan-based services, like graphic design and writing good ad copy, have innovative processes and principles. Be accessible on social media, write a blog or articles for industry publications, and participate in conference panels and speaking engagements. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 18, 2014

Yet along with “authenticity” they are two of the key attributes I look for when I meet with companies I may consider funding one day. This is how Upfront Ventures came to fund Tristan Walker – one of the most talented and passionate entrepreneurs with whom we work whose new company is called Bevel.

Startup 419

Startup Entrepreneur Design Funding 419

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2011

A few weeks ago I was reading a blog post by MG Siegler that really struck a chord. The title was “The Jerk,” which is a reference to both the Steve Martin film but more precisely to Robert Scoble’s interpretation of Steve Jobs having just read his biography.

Press 337

Press Venture Capital Doc Summary 337

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

I recently got together with Aaron Shechet and an early stage startup to discuss the direction the company might want to take. I can be found on LinkedIn , have a blog Holocognics and my firm’s website is www.SolutionsLLP.com. We also represent a few larger companies with international issues. That's great.

Startup 150

Startup SEO Pepperdine Blogging 150

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

Even artisan-based services, like graphic design and writing good ad copy, have innovative processes and principles. Be accessible on social media, write a blog or articles for industry publications, and participate in conference panels and speaking engagements. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

If you looking for employment at a company or just wanting to expand your connections, don’t be afraid to email or tweet someone and see if they want to go for a coffee or a beer. A couple of these people have offered me freelance work, or referred me to others for job leads. Reach out to people you want to meet. Ask for feedback.

Design 91

Design Networking Social Media Google 91

Jason Nazar

AUGUST 15, 2013

Referring Traffic / Press. Referring Traffic / Press. The type of sites that might link into you are blogs, traditional press online, forums or bulleting boards, or content rich sites that are focused on a similar topic.To make sure you maximize the potential for referring traffic: 1.) Search Engines. Social Media.

Web 61

Web Social Media Content Sites 61

socalTECH

DECEMBER 17, 2008

We caught up with both Anne and John to learn more about the company. In their case, people write their scripts on a web site, and when they're done, they can submit them to contests with a single click. What kind of writing and writers are you targeting? John Singleton: I came at writing a little late in the game.

Writing 209

Writing Hollywood Startup Sites 209

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

This is an updated post from my ongoing series on Startup Advice that I learned from founding two companies. . Last year I lost a deal in a company that I wanted to invest in and that I thought I should have won. I wanted to be sure that they knew how much all of our partners loved what they were doing with their company.

Outsource Development 333

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 333

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

This is an updated post from my ongoing series on Startup Advice that I learned from founding two companies. . Last year I lost a deal in a company that I wanted to invest in and that I thought I should have won. I wanted to be sure that they knew how much all of our partners loved what they were doing with their company.

Outsource Development 328

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 328

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

I recently read a post over on VentureHacks titled, “ Top Ten Reasons Entrepreneurs Hate Lawyers &# written by Scott Walker (who blogs on legal issues for entrepreneurs ). Many people start companies arse backwards. This is one of the biggest source of future problems for the company. the link is here.

Startup 318

Startup IP Southern California Entrepreneur 318

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 5, 2011

Nor do they exist in the investors of early-stage companies. I’ve started writing up some of those sales & marketing lessons and I plan to continue to build that section out over time. Many great ones don’t thrive in the early phase of a company where the sales is more consultative or evangelical.

Sales 316

Sales Startup Pricing Customer 316

TechEmpower

MARCH 28, 2013

About What we do Portfolio People Blog Contact. Authors Note: Were using the word "framework" loosely to refer to platforms, micro-frameworks, and full-stack frameworks. Application performance can be directly mapped to hosting dollars, and for a start-up company in its infancy, hosting costs can be a pain point. March 28, 2013.

Framework 560

Framework EC2 PHP Java 560

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I wrote the summary notes in this blog post. Bijan Sabet – investor & board member in some small companies you might have heard of like Twitter, Tumblr, Boxee & OMGPOP – took issue with the whole notion that you even need a Powerpoint deck anymore. And did I really just try to drop an SAT word into my blog post?

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 29, 2009

My firm GRP Partners recently funded a young LA based company named Ad.Ly that is an “in-stream advertising&# company currently focused on monetizing Twitter. Traditional media companies published their stories on the web. Then came blogs. See Fred Wilson’s post on Twitter referring traffic.

Ideas 286

Ideas Advertising Google Technical Review 286

Jason Nazar

JANUARY 14, 2009

“If You Build It…They Will Come” may work for historical baseball ghosts, but it’s not a strategy you can rely on when starting an internet company. Referring Traffic / Press. Referring Traffic / Press - The web is interconnected, and traffic flows among sites that interlink. Search Engines. Widgets, Widgets, Widgets.

Web 62

Web Social Media Content Sites 62

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

Great companies are built by having great products. One great company, AppFolio , filmed all of this user interaction and made the DVD available to me. They are people who built and sold companies and have a bit of money. The key to getting money is that the people writing the check trust you. Go research it.

Angel 291

Angel Funding Venture Capital Startup 291