socalTECH

JANUARY 2, 2019

During the holiday season, our tradition over the last few years has been to post reflections on the past year and some predictions from Southern California's technology industry. One company that we have mentored, invested in and serve on the board of, is in lending and has hit a very exciting tipping point.

Capital 113

Capital Southern California Technical Review SaaS 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2020

Unfortunately many founders I work with as a mentor are experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team. The importance and the specifics of practical team leadership were re-confirmed to me a while back in the classic book, “ Unlocked ,” by Robert S. Have monthly reviews with each team member.

Technical Review 130

Technical Review Startup Development Team Review Activity 130

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

Many entrepreneurs I have mentored make big mistakes in this area, by hiring low-cost friends and family, with minimal skills or training, and expecting them to have the same work ethic , passion, and business knowledge as the founder. Direct customer-facing non-technical roles should be the last ones outsourced. with experience.

Outsource 123

Outsource Startup Technical Review Training 123

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2022

Yet I find, as a mentor and outside consultant, that many of you focus only on working conditions and compensation as the key factors determining team engagement , health, and productivity. Thus I was pleased to see a much more complete and broader perspective of employee support recommendations in a new book, “ Employees First! ”

Technical Review 141

Technical Review Mentor Social Media Customer 141

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

Based on my own experience in both large and small companies, I agree it can be done, with the essential principles outlined in a new book, “ Winning Now, Winning Later ,” by David M. In my experience, even in startups, longer-term strategy often gets pushed off the agenda due to current challenges. Don’t make growth a big-bang event.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

Some get stuck in a rut and get run over by competitors with new technology, like Eastman Kodak, and others get pushed into a crisis, like Apple did, before they reinvent themselves into a new market. In his recent book “ Invent, Reinvent, Thrive ,” Lloyd E. Find mentors who have the skills you lack.

Technical Review 99

Technical Review Marketing Mentor Entrepreneur 99

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

You can review all the specifics of this approach in the classic book by Nathan Furr and Paul Ahlstrom, appropriately titled “ Nail It then Scale It: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating and Managing Breakthrough Innovation ,” but I will net it out here. Nail the solution. Process myth: Why building a product leads to failure.

Technical Review 143

Technical Review Customer Custom Entrepreneur 143

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 19, 2018

In my role as mentor and advisor to many founders, I consistently fail in convincing them of the power in wise delegation. I saw this challenge highlighted well in a new book, “ Leadership Skills that Inspire Incredible Results ,” by Fred Halstead. You need to divide and conquer. Not trusting key team members to get required results.

Technical Review 96

Technical Review Ideas Startup Entrepreneur 96

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2014

Some get stuck in a rut and get run over by competitors with new technology, like Eastman Kodak, and others get pushed into a crisis, like Apple did, before they reinvent themselves into a new market. I just finished a new book “ Invent, Reinvent, Thrive ,” by Lloyd E. Find mentors who have the skills you lack.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor Summary 105

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2018

Some get stuck in a rut and get run over by competitors with new technology, like Eastman Kodak, and others get pushed into a crisis, like Apple did, before they reinvent themselves into a new market. In his classic book “ Invent, Reinvent, Thrive ,” Lloyd E. Find mentors who have the skills you lack.

Technical Review 59

Technical Review Mentor Entrepreneur Customer 59

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

According to a recent Forbes article , UC Santa Barbara''s Technology Management Program offers students a superior startup education over the University of Pennsylvania (home of Wharton), as well Harvard, Northwestern and even its acclaimed southern neighbor, the University of Southern California. Want to be an entrepreneur? Techpreneurs.

Santa Barbara 258

Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2021

Every entrepreneur with a new technology tells me that his innovation will be industry-disrupting, meaning that it will render the existing technology obsolete, and create a new market. Pick a technology that somehow seems inferior to the major incumbents. So why would any investor ever believe any of these claims?

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Entrepreneur Marketing Customer 157

InfoChachkie

APRIL 25, 2011

As I noted in Why Most Business Books (Still) Suck , I am generally not a fan of business books. If you are a leader at a startup and you are reading a business book, you are not closing customers, raising capital, improving your product, or spending time with your loved ones. The short version of my review is: “Enchanting?

Technical Review 279

Technical Review Blogging Class Entrepreneur 279

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. After some review of available resources, I’m convinced that problem solving is a learnable trait, rather than just a birthright. A good alternative is to enlist the help of a business mentor you can trust.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2017

Even the most diligent investors are often surprised by apparently solid business startups that fail, while others succeed, despite the odds. I found this perspective validated in a new book, “ Plan Commit Win: 90 Days to Creating a Fundable Startup ,” by serial entrepreneur and strategic consultant Patrick Henry.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Startup Mentor Study 60

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2021

Thus I was pleased to see that it’s consistent with the guidance in a new book, “ Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most ,” by Greg McKeown, a well-respected author and public speaker on business breakthroughs. they still find time to meet and compare notes regularly, and are avid readers of business books.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Coach Satisfaction Mentor 123

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 6, 2013

” The local kennels were full as many people had pre-booked for vacations. They can read reviews, see pictures and even talk to the family before confirming. I then clicked on reviews, looked at pictures and read the owners descriptions of what they were looking for. ” Booked it. “Oh s**t.”

Venture Capital 344

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review San Diego 344

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 1, 2016

While the epicenter of tech innovation is undeniably Silicon Valley, a tide of new hubs emerging across the globe are gaining recognition. The “ real gold ” of Silicon Valley reportedly lies in its mentors. SOUTH AMERICA: Colombia has great tech talent, but restrictive government regulations. PanTrek connects U.S.

Technical Review 40

Technical Review Startup Incubator Media 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2019

I found that role validated and highlighted in a new book, “ Scale or Fail ,” by Allison Maslan, who has built ten successful companies from the ground up, and consulted with many more in her current role as founder and CEO of Pinnacle Global Network. Lead and mentor team members to run all business areas.

Company 99

Company Companies Technical Review Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

For example, even though Mark Zuckerberg built Facebook as an innovative product, most experts believe it was successful due to his relationship with Peter Thiel and other top VCs that he convinced to invest early. They mentor each other, and seek out experts in domains outside their current expertise and experience.

Startup 113

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2015

Unfortunately many founders I work with as a mentor are experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team. The importance and the specifics of practical team leadership were re-confirmed to me recently in a new book, “ Unlocked ,” by Robert S. Have monthly reviews with each team member.

Technical Review 99

Technical Review Tips Development Team Review Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2015

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. After some review of available resources, I’m convinced that problem solving is a learnable trait, rather than just a birthright. A good alternative is to enlist the help of a business mentor you can trust.

Mentor 105

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2014

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. After some review of available resources, I’m convinced that problem solving is a learnable trait, rather than just a birthright. A good alternative is to enlist the help of a business mentor you can trust.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Mentor Technical Review Satisfaction 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2022

As an advisor and mentor, I’m always looking for more ways to improve communication, get people more engaged , and get more done. Every year, new things happen, like the current COVID pandemic, which raise the challenge of how to deal with new situations, new technology, and changing business trends.

Coach 119

Coach Organization Technical Review Satisfaction 119

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2017

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. After some review of available resources, I’m convinced that problem solving is a learnable trait, rather than just a birthright. A good alternative is to enlist the help of a business mentor you can trust.

Satisfaction 53

Satisfaction Marketing Mentor Entrepreneur 53

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2016

Unfortunately many founders I work with as a mentor are experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team. The importance and the specifics of practical team leadership were re-confirmed to me recently in a recent book, “ Unlocked ,” by Robert S. Have monthly reviews with each team member.

Technical Review 54

Technical Review Development Team Review Startup Activity 54

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2019

You can review all the specifics of this approach in the classic book by Nathan Furr and Paul Ahlstrom, appropriately titled “ Nail It then Scale It: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating and Managing Breakthrough Innovation ,” but I will net it out here. Nail the solution. Process myth: Why building a product leads to failure.

Startup 98

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 98

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked for the magic that has made Amazon the world's most valuable brand , from a total unknown only twenty years ago. My simple answer is that they keep their focus on customers, rather than technology. Jeff Bezos has kept his focus on customers.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Customer Custom 123

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 17, 2017

He eventually founded and sold consumer health firm ViSalus to a public company and is now back making investments, in technology companies, as a venture capitalist here at Los Angeles-based HashtagOne (www.hashtagone.com). As a result, I really saw Visalus as a technology company. What's the theme of your investments?

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review 100

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 13, 2013

ML: Porter is a really simple consumer app, a one-stop shop for booking your recurring in-home services. The nuts and bolts of our tech company is that CMS in the middle, the connection engine. When I went full-time, I did not have the full-time support on the tech side I wanted. So, I have no tech support right now.

Technical Review 87

Technical Review Mobile Startup Los Angeles 87

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2019

Yet, according to a recent study , more than half of tech employees see their current office culture as toxic. Healthy cultures thrive on career development and promotions, and don’t wait for people to leave due to frustration. That can’t possibly be healthy for employee morale, productivity, or customer focus.

Technical Review 91

Technical Review Organization Activity .Net 91

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2014

I reviewed an email from Kara Nortman, the CEO of Moonfrye who is working on putting together venture debt. I then traded emails with two former senior tech professionals in LA. Let’s say your a junior developer, marketer, product manager, biz dev person at a startup or well-established technology company.

Networking 366

Networking Startup CTO Coach Email 366

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2015

Every entrepreneur with a new technology tells me that his innovation will be industry-disrupting, meaning that it will render the existing technology obsolete, and create a new market. Pick a technology that somehow seems inferior to the major incumbents. So why would any investor ever believe any of these claims?

Marketing 102

Marketing Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 102

socalTECH

APRIL 10, 2012

One of the most original, subscription startups to come out of Southern California's tech accelerator boom emerged last week, looking to disrupt not just another retail sector or e-commerce category, but something else entirely: the airline industry. We take your application and review it. When you fly one of them, get you get another.

Startup 240

Startup Mentor Technical Review Santa Barbara 240

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

I should note that my friend Brad Feld has written a new book on the subject that I would recommend if you want the bible on the topic. I admit that I haven’t yet read it but I’ve had numerous discussions with Brad over the years about board structure & conduct and consider him a mentor on the topic. In the Early Days.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2014

You can review all the specifics of this approach in a book by Nathan Furr and Paul Ahlstrom, appropriately titled “ Nail It then Scale It: The Entrepreneur''s Guide to Creating and Managing Breakthrough Innovation ,” but I will net it out here. Nail the solution. Process myth: Why building a product leads to failure.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Customer 113

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

The program is based on a highly developed process created by entrepreneurial thought-leader and Ivy League educator Steve Blank , author of the book The Four Steps to the Epiphany. There is a mentor program that accompanies the class. This class is designed to help entrepreneurs understand where they are going wrong.”.

Class 98

Class Mentor Startup UCLA 98