Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2014

We are often asked how companies get funded, why VCs make the decisions we make and what we’re looking for in entrepreneurs. At Upfront we’re totally fine funding entrepreneurs who have done multiple businesses in the past – in fact we like it. But I’m guessing the narrative is similar elsewhere. The results?

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Funding Technical Review Startup Screening 373

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 12, 2018

seems like an unlikely place to grow one of the next billion-dollar startups in the booming Los Angeles tech ecosystem. But it’s here in the (other) Valley’s southernmost edge that investors have found a startup they consider to be the next potential billion-dollar “unicorn” that will come out of Los Angeles.

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Glendale Los Angeles Startup Technical Review 271

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2013

Los Angeles-based venture capital investor GRP Partners announced this morning that it has raised a fourth fund, worth $200M, and also renamed the firm Upfront Ventures. upfront ventures partners venture capital fund startup msuster suster launchpadla' READ MORE>>.

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GRP Partners Funding CitySearch Venture Capital 164

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2021

In fact, I wrote a previous blog post on “ Why Successful People Focus on the Bottom End of the Funnel.” Like any enterprise sale, you want to think from the perspective of the buyer and what they need to feel confident about the decision to buy a stake or ownership in your fund. For Upfront, it’s about Los Angeles.

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Sales Startup Invest Funding 375

socalTECH

MARCH 20, 2020

Los Angeles-based banking app startup Dave says it is expanding an existing partnership with nonprofit Feeding America , and will donate $250,000 to the group's COVID-19 fund, which is aimed at helping to secure food and help distribute it to people in need across the country.

Blogging 113

Blogging Tool Email Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2011

Los Angeles-based Altly , the latest startup of Dmitry Shapiro , the founder of Veoh and former CTo of MySpace Music, has officially thrown down the gauntlet, saying in a blog post this week that it there is a need for an alternative to Facebook--and the firm is going to create that alternative. READ MORE>>.

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Veoh Funding Venture Capital Blogging 160

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 1, 2019

Here’s how the two describe it in a blog post about the new program: Venture partner, operating partner, entrepreneur in residence, advisor etc, so many names and so many different implementations, so we decided to simply give our unique relationship it’s own name- a Sage. . million round.

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Invest Legalzoom Los Angeles Blogging 109

socalTECH

MAY 3, 2016

Two, Los Angeles area investors--venture investment firm Greycroft Pratners , and angel investor Paige Craig --are among the investors seeing an exit today, as Adobe said acquired blog commenting tools maker LiveFyre. Paige Craig--as well as a number of other angels--originally seeded LiveFyre back in 2010.

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Blogging Los Angeles Tool Acquisition 100

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

No blog post about how Tiger is crushing everybody because it’s deploying all its capital in 1-year while “suckers” are investing over 3-years can change this reality. million, our Seed Funds mostly between $200–300 million and have delivered median ownerships of ~20% from the first check we write into a startup. It’s just math.

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Venture Capital Marketing Technical Review Seed Funding 416

socalTECH

DECEMBER 15, 2014

One of the highest profile startup accelerators in Los Angeles, LaunchpadLA , is officially shifting its model and getting out of the startup accelerator market--handing over its space to General Assembly, with its various partners embarking on different activities.

Venture Capital 178

Venture Capital Blogging Los Angeles Activity 178

socalTECH

MAY 9, 2013

Los Angeles-based Yektra announced this morning that it has raised $3M in a Series A funding round. The funding came from Maurice Gallagher, Bray Capital, Shay O''Brien, and Michael Rogers. yekra venture capital funding digital entertainment content' READ MORE>>.

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Platform Demand Entertainment Social Network 127

socalTECH

MAY 19, 2014

in a funding round, and set up shop in Los Angeles. The startup--which has headquarters in Malmo, Sweden--said the funding will go towards launching in the United States. The funding came from un-named angel investors.

SaaS 153

SaaS Venture Capital Blogging Los Angeles 153

socalTECH

APRIL 4, 2012

Los Angeles-based WittleBee , the children's clothing site headed by Sean Percival, announced Wednesday afternoon that it has raised $2.5M in a seed funding round. As part of the funding, Jim Andelman at Rincon joins the company's board. The round was led by Rincon Ventures, and also included. READ MORE>>.

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Seed Funding Incubator Blogging Google 187

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Viddy , once the hottest company in Los Angeles, and which had been for awhile calling itself the "next Instagram"--is shutting down its namesake app, as of December 15th. The Viddy app allowed users to capture 15 second videos of themselves and share them with others, ala Instagram. READ MORE>>.

Blogging 164

Blogging Google Mobile Los Angeles 164

socalTECH

AUGUST 21, 2012

Swagsy , an online, celebrity-focused service which it tying together celebrities and e-commerce, has raised $100,000, in a convertible note, angel funding round. The Los Angeles startup was founded by Jamie Freed, Miron Lulic, and Grant Cohen. Name of the investor was not disclosed. READ MORE>>.

Commerce 154

Commerce Blogging Los Angeles Funding 154

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 26, 2022

Nearly a year later, the company seemed to change course on its decision to double down on e-commerce alone, saying it planned to use the Series E funding to open three new permanent physical stores in Seattle, Los Angeles and London — as well as reopen its New York City location.

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CTO Hire Layoffs Commerce Email 197

socalTECH

OCTOBER 18, 2011

San Francisco-based Livefyre , one of the many companies backed by prolific Los Angeles angel investor Paige Craig , has scored a new round of funding, the firm said today. LiveFyre said it raised $4.5M in a Series B round, led by Greycroft Partners and also including Cue Ball, HillsVen Group, and ff Venture Capital.

Santa Monica 150

Santa Monica Funding Venture Capital Los Angeles 150

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 6, 2015

As an active investor in the Los Angeles technology market we’re always seeking to better understand the data and trends of why our market has grown so rapidly since 2009. Most importantly – this should encourage LP funds to back more local firms and I would hope to see more indigenous funds to develop.

Marketing 150

Marketing Newsletter Venture Capital Blogging 150

socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2012

Los Angeles-based MediaPass , the developer of subscription and content monetization software aimed at online publishers, has raised $1.75M more in a Series B funding. The funding came from angels, including Jeff Stibel of Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. and Jeff Tinsley of MyLife. READ MORE>>.

MyLife 124

MyLife JavaScript Startup Blogging 124

TechCrunch LA

JULY 10, 2019

My favorite car blog Jalopnik said it best: “Cars Sales Could Be Heading Straight Into the Toilet.” After all, a vehicle traditionally loses its value at a dramatic rate. Some startups are attempting to reinvent car ownership rather than car buying. Don’t buy, lease.

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Services Truecar Sales Blogging 212

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 30, 2011

According to Scripted.com, it raised $700,000 in a seed financing round, which was led by Crosslink Capital, and also included Liveops founder Douglas Feirstein, Jody Mulkey, as well as other angels, including other Los Angeles area investors. READ MORE>>.

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Angel CIO Southern California USC 173

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 24, 2012

I wrote a blog post on how to work with lawyers at a startup nearly two-and-a-half years ago. This was 2005 when I had no exits under my belt, no blogs … nobody was looking. I told David, “Look at the changes we’ve seen in the VC / funding market. It was very widely read. It should be: Local; Right-sized; and.

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Venture Capital Startup Los Angeles GRP Partners 299

socalTECH

MAY 17, 2011

Last week's $40M funding by Andreessen Horowitz of Los Angeles-based ShoeDazzle , the monthly fashion, shoe and pursue startup headed by LegalZoom founder Brian Lee, was driven by parallels to a 1920's startup--the Book of the Month Club.

Legalzoom 138

Legalzoom Startup Blogging Los Angeles 138

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 9, 2018

Shipwell , a startup pitching a marketplace for domestic ground shipping and fleet and cargo management services for freight trucking companies, has raised $10 million in a new round of funding. trucking services. For Fifth Wall the opportunity was clear.

Startup 191

Startup Los Angeles Capital Pricing 191

Xconomy

APRIL 23, 2019

million in funding to double its headcount in a year, further develop its platform, and market its software. The Series A funding round is led by Boston-based HLM Venture Partners and the Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles. Vin Fabiani, partner at HLM Venture Partners, is joining the company’s board.

Los Angeles 88

Los Angeles Platform Funding Software 88

Xconomy

OCTOBER 29, 2018

In September, Backstage Capital , a venture investment firm seeding early-stage startups led by women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community, launched a $36 million fund to help support black women founders. Earlier this month, from the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt, Hamilton announced the winning city: Detroit.

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Los Angeles Invest Capital Entrepreneur 107

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2012

Brad Feld visited Los Angeles this past week. In his blog he says, “I responded that I thought it was stupid. ” Many people on the Westside of Los Angeles are using the term Silicon Beach these days to describe the amazing renaissance that is truly happening here. ” That always stuck with me.

Startup 304

Startup Venture Capital Los Angeles Woodland Hills 304

socalTECH

JANUARY 29, 2020

This week, Los Angeles-based Crosscut Ventures announced a brand new effort to provide health and wellness to the founders of companies it invests in, helping those founders with well being, mental health, stress management, coaching, and leadership development. Any lessons you have learned now that you're now on your fourth fund?

Invest 113

Invest Framework Coach Startup 113

socalTECH

OCTOBER 23, 2008

Los Angeles-based Shopit, a developer of online shopping widget software, said today that it has raised $2.5M in a Series B funding. The funding came from Toronto, Canada-based Emerson Ventures and Propulsion Ventures. ShopIt said that the round is the first tranche of a $7M capital raise planned for the firm.

Social Network 113

Social Network Blogging Los Angeles Advertising 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 3, 2011

To start off the year, we are publishing our first interview for the season with Jamie Siminoff , the CEO of Los Angeles-based Unsubscribe.com , an online service which helps you unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters and email lists. in funding from Charles River Ventures, First Round Capital, DFJ Frontier, and angel investors.

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Newsletter Startup CTO Hire Blogging 216

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

That company was Invoca, which just announced a $20 million fund raise led by Accel. So I think it’s now fair to rate me at 9/10 on follow-on fundings. “Ok, so this guy can write a blog and source deals but can he make any money?” I am closing 3 new fundings in April (2 new, 1 follow-on). 5 years ago.

Venture Capital 387

Venture Capital Downey Writing Press 387

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 6, 2016

I even prefer to fund entrepreneurs who have experience some level of set-backs in their careers or startups because I think it brings a humility to decision-making that I find healthy. People of Korean descent in Los Angeles are amongst the most entrepreneurial people I know — in technology but also in garments, fashion, food and so forth.

Startup 261

Startup Press Blogging .Net 261

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

I had a narrative in my head that I didn’t want to fund apps that would help husbands cheat on their wives or help kids send naked photos. What I *SHOULD HAVE* considered was that I was in college in a time when there were no digital cameras and I’m very thankful for that or I likely wouldn’t be writing this blog post today.

Snapchat 214

Snapchat Invest Technical Review Dollar Shave Club 214

SoCal Delicious

MARCH 1, 2010

Los Angeles By: Laura Rich February 26, 2010 It used to be, if you were serious about starting a tech company, you went to Silicon Valley. But lets face it, when you think of Los Angeles, Internet startups are not the first things that spring to mind. Thats not Los Angeles. Okay, maybe not Pauly Shore.

Los Angeles 50

Los Angeles Company Companies Angel 50

socalTECH

OCTOBER 31, 2011

They came down to Los Angeles, and we brainstormed ideas, and basically--in 24 hours-- we revitalized my original idea, but for the iPhone. Mike Edwards, who is an investor that lives in Whistler, and who is an angel, basically funded it. Mike Macadaan: After MySpace, I had a little bit of downtime.

Guide 203

Guide Software Review Twiistup Technical Review 203

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2013

I miss blogging because it serves as a great repository for me of my current thinking, as a way of organizing my thoughts and clarifying what I think and as a conversation started with so many of you (as Hunter Walk elegantly said, “Blog not to show how smart you are, but in the hope of soliciting feedback from smart people.

Writing 313

Writing Venture Capital Blogging Startup 313

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2019

For our interview today, we talked with CEO and co-founder Jon Grishpul about the startup, which offers up its services for free to homeowners in the Los Angeles area. How are you funded? Jon Grishpul: We've been around for the last year, and we've been completely self funded. What is GreatBuildz? READ MORE>>.

Startup 100

Startup Encino Los Angeles Ventura 100