TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Capitalism is fundamentally about timing, since market competition is about finding opportunities before others. When should a VC invest? Between TechCrunch today and my former roles in venture capital, I’ve had the opportunity to practice timing a lot. Mithril Capital, management fees, and VC strategic drift.

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

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. I think this is a Seriously great example of how this process works for at least one VC – Upfront Ventures. So this was definitely an introduction I was going to take. Domain Knowledge.

Funding 373

Funding Technical Review Startup Screening 373

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2022

In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). The grant source often gets overlooked, but it should be a major focus these days when relevant due to the Obama administration initiatives on alternative energy and healthcare. Government grants.

Funding 130

Funding Equity Technical Review Organization 130

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 13, 2013

Once you have a VC on the hook, you’ll want to negotiate the best deal in terms of valuation and deal terms (for more details about negotiating the best terms, check out my previous post: 9 Ways to Negotiate Your Best VC Terms ). Make clear what milestones you are shooting for with this funding round and get VC buy-in.

Venture Capital 84

Venture Capital Funding Invest Capital 84

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

If you track the venture capital industry it would be hard to miss the conversation going on this week over AngelList “Syndicates.” But Jason is one of the smartest thinkers in our industry so while style points in his eye-poking post might be low, he’s definitely scratching at something important.

Venture Capital 356

Venture Capital Invest Course Technical Review 356

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2017

Tortuga Logic , a new startup focused on chip-level cybersecurity technology whose founders include professors from UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara, has raised $2M in a seed funding, the company disclosed on Thursday. The seed funding came from Eclipse Ventures.

Software Review 124

Software Review UCSD Santa Barbara San Diego 124

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 3, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series of posts and I need to file this one under both Raising Venture Capital and Startup Advice. Many of these businesses were what First Round Capital called FNACs (features, not companies – this acronym has always stuck with me). Why do VC’s care about these years? portfolios.

Web 2.0 334

Web 2.0 Venture Capital Web Technical Review 334

InfoChachkie

MAY 7, 2012

Although it is tempting to overly intellectualize modern-day venture capital, its underlying construct has been part of human society for thousands of years. If you are fortunate to pitch a sophisticated investor in person, assume they already believe in the veracity of your idea, the market and the underlying technological trends.

Ideas 251

Ideas Venture Capital Education Entrepreneur 251

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2017

One of the most common complaints I hear from new business owners and startups is about the pain and difficulty raising capital. The “venture capital” model is the only option they know, where they feel they get no mercy, giving up equity and control. Block out sufficient time on your calendar for raising capital.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Equity Capital Entrepreneur 88

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 26, 2010

Social Proof in Action … Yesterday I wrote about the benefits of using social proof and authority in raising venture capital. It influenced a generation of tech marketers. The book popularized the technology adoption lifecycle curve that originally came out of Iowa State University shown below.

Marketing 294

Marketing Customer Custom Technical Review 294

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 25, 2010

“Yes&# was given to me by one of my favorite angel investor / seed VC’s to work with – John Greathouse of Rincon Venture Partners and author of the blog InfoChachkie that you should check out because it is filled with great info from a guy who has been a very successful operator. So how does this apply to you?

Guide 293

Guide Funding Venture Capital Technical Review 293

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). The grant source often gets overlooked, but it should be a major focus these days when relevant due to the Obama administration initiatives on alternative energy and healthcare. Government grants.

Equity 94

Equity Startup Technical Review Organization 94

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

I spoke about how Amazon Web Services deserves far more credit for the last 5 years of innovation than it gets credit for and how I believe they spawned the micro-VC category. I said that I felt that Micro-VCs were the most important change in our industry. It is great for entrepreneurs and great for VCs. source: Capital IQ.

Pricing 309

Pricing Marketing Startup Venture Capital 309

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 4, 2014

I think as a tech industry we have bred a culture that places more emphasis on product excellence than managing human behavior. Yet talk with people at Twitter these days and many seem to feel like they are part of a movement – and that doesn’t just come due to product success. Those are the easy cases.

Startup 340

Startup Technical Review Course Press 340

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 25, 2015

The law of large numbers, platforms that can make your company blow up unexpectedly and the trendy nature of tech markets can be deceiving. Or app companies that went viral due to spammy friend requests to download in an app store only to have a community backlash and subsequent crash. Success for many is ephemeral.

Product 150

Product Startup Metrics Technical Review 150

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 12, 2010

until the technology matures?&#. And that’s how I view VC today. If you’re not engaging your VC this way you’re losing out. And don’t limit it to VCs. Find ways to get friendly people to do peer reviews on parts of your business and offer the same in return. Such is leadership.

Help 288

Help Startup Venture Capital Framework 288

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. Prices have definitely gone up in 2011 as depicted in the anecdotal chart below.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

socalTECH

MAY 27, 2009

I wouldn't say we're extremely close to anything right now, but we've seen I'd say at least three different companies were we went further than an initial meeting--not a term sheet, but deeper diligence. There are definitely interesting things in Southern California. where do you see the VC industry here now?

Southern California 113

Southern California Venture Capital Startup SoCal 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 30, 2014

By way of a definition, a business or startup incubator is a company, university, or other organization which provides resources to nurture young companies, usually for a share of the equity, hoping to capitalize on their success, or at least strengthen the local economy. The reality is far different. Facilities support.

Incubator 103

Incubator Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor 103

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Pitching a VC. I know you’re not a tech guy and haven’t done anything other than an HTML course you once took, but if you’re inspirational and a leader you’ll find somebody to moonlight for free to get your prototype built. They might be as hard as raising VC.

Angel 291

Angel Funding Venture Capital Startup 291

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2013

He gets to return his focus and energy back to what got him so passionate in the first place – product – while now having a seasoned leader and enough capital to fulfill his vision. I know because I marked the occasion with a blog post on how to have a great VC meeting. I first met Jonathan nearly 4 years ago.

Startup 303

Startup Technical Review Product Blogging 303

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2013

By way of a definition, a business or startup incubator is a company, university, or other organization which provides resources to nurture young companies, usually for a share of the equity, hoping to capitalize on their success, or at least strengthen the local economy. The reality is far different. Facilities support.

Incubator 115

Incubator Help Startup Technical Review 115

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 4, 2014

It’s almost been a work week since Techzulu and Gadget Review’s REACH | The Connected Future and we’re still reeling with excitement. Today, the conversation on Cleantech with a panel of entreprenurs, doing work as local VC’s, university, incubators, and startups. Technology Drives Carbon Reduction.

UCLA 99

UCLA Technical Review Software Review Incubator 99

SoCal CTO

JULY 13, 2010

10 Ways To Be Your Own Boss - A VC : Venture Capital and Technology , June 18, 2010 The folks at Behance and Cool Hunting asked me to talk at their 99% Conference a couple months ago. had two occasions recently to review products which had clear market leadership. " Is Your VC Founder Friendly?

Startup 175

Startup Venture Capital Slides Blogging 175

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). The grant source often gets overlooked, but it should be a major focus these days when relevant due to the Obama administration initiatives on alternative energy and healthcare. Government grants.

Startup 100

Startup Angel Equity Technical Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Nearly every successful tech startup I’ve observed over the past 20 years has gone through a similar growth pattern: Innovate, systematize then scale operations. As a startup in this phase you often raise capital, get press, hire staff and everything feels possible. As an early-stage VC I love this phase.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). The grant source often gets overlooked, but it should be a major focus these days when relevant due to the Obama administration initiatives on alternative energy and healthcare. Government grants.

Angel 52

Angel Funding Equity Technical Review 52

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 13, 2011

These trusted sources are a new breed of professionals who may soon carry the new title of “information curator,” evolved from the “museum curator” role, where a domain expert filters and communicates the important elements of a past civilization or technology. and books for entrepreneurs like “Think and Grow Rich.”

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Technical Review Blogging Java 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

Conglomerates, which were the engines of growth and vitality in the twentieth century, have proven themselves unable to innovate, and have a tarnished public image due to financial woes and poor management. Most now routinely buy startups for new technology and new products. Women are a growing force as entrepreneurs.

Startup 108

Startup Social Media Entrepreneur Satisfaction 108

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2010

&#. I’m doing due diligence on a company of another entrepreneur in LA whose company was apparently doing very well. He has raised (and spent) a ton o’ VC money. I know, I know … technically they can be structured as mergers. how to integrate technology, systems, people and culture. -

Technical Review 276

Technical Review Startup Press Pricing 276

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). The grant source often gets overlooked, but it should be a major focus these days when relevant due to the Obama administration initiatives on alternative energy and healthcare. Government grants.

Equity 83

Equity Technical Review Organization Startup 83

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2015

David is one of the most active angel investors in New York, and also the CEO of Gust , which is an online platform for startup financing used by over 45,000 accredited angel investors, 1000 angel groups and venture capital funds, and 200,000 entrepreneurs. Compliance is definitely a regulatory burden, and could become a nightmare.

Startup 106

Startup Angel .Net Entrepreneur 106

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2013

Twitter was one of the most notable, with a market capitalization now up to $38 billion all by itself. According to David Rose , CEO of Gust, venture capital investors funded about 1500 startups last year, with Angel investors backing over 50,000 more. Most now routinely buy startups for new technology and new products.

Startup 109

Startup Entrepreneur Social Media Satisfaction 109

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). The grant source often gets overlooked, but it should be a major focus these days when relevant due to the Obama administration initiatives on alternative energy and healthcare. Government grants.

Technical Review 87

Technical Review Organization Equity Startup 87

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2014

David is also the CEO of Gust , which is an online platform for startup financing used by over 50,000 accredited angel investors, 1000 angel groups and venture capital funds, and 250,000 entrepreneurs. Compliance is definitely a regulatory burden, and could become a nightmare. billion collected in 2012.

Invest 111

Invest Angel Funding Startup 111

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

The key to being able to run a business that isn’t yet profitable (on operating margin) is availability of capital to finance losses and preferably at a cost that isn’t too punitive to the founders and employees. It’s funny how scarcity of capital can focus one’s mind. So if you’re able to raise easily no problem. End of story.

Metrics 150

Metrics Startup SaaS Course 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). The grant source often gets overlooked, but it should be a major focus these days when relevant due to the Obama administration initiatives on alternative energy and healthcare. Government grants.

Funding 95

Funding Technical Review Organization Equity 95