Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. Their only recourse is that first tier of investors, fondly called Friends, Family and Fools. Offer a formal agreement as well as a handshake.

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OCTOBER 16, 2013

A new, Los Angeles-based startup, Townhang.com , announced Wednesday that it has raised $700,000, and launched a new site to help people find interesting events, happenings, and activities in their city. The startup--founded by Alexey Karpov--said the funding came via equity crowdfunding efforts by the company. READ MORE>>.

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Sites Equity Venture Capital Los Angeles 212

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JANUARY 17, 2011

San Diego-based venture capital firm Avalon Ventures has boosted an Internet web site publisher known for its humorous, captioned pictures of cats and use of Internet memes, Cheezburger. Cheezburger runs comedy sites I Can Has Cheezburger?

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AUGUST 14, 2014

Vadio , the developer of a platform which helps match music videos and ads with streaming music , said Thursday that it has raised $2M in a seed funding round, which included Mucker Capital, Amplify.LA, as well as other LA investors. READ MORE>>.

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FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Los Angeles- and Austin-based Moonshots Capital , the venture capital fund led by serial entrepreneur Kelly Perdew, is ramping its investment pace, with the first two formal investments out of its new fund. seed funding in that firm. Moonshots led the $1.4M presidential elections in 2016. READ MORE>>.

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APRIL 4, 2019

Los Angeles-based eTailPet , a new startup which helps pet store owners create online e-commerce sites, has received a round of seed funding, the company said this week. Size of the funding was not announced. The funding was led by Moonshots Capital.

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SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Los Angeles-based peer-to-peer commercial real estate investment site AssetAvenue said Friday that it has raised $3M in a seed funding round. According to the company, the funding was led by Matrix Partners and NetEase, with other investors, including Vectr Ventures, Russ Meyer (Grandpoint Capital); Bam Ventures; and LaunchpadLA.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2021

Most entrepreneurs have found by now one or more of the many popular crowdfunding sites , and have the name and contact information for at least one of the big venture capital firms. contributes more than $25 billion to fund 70,000 startups every year. Their realm fits between crowdfunding and venture capital sources.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

Most entrepreneurs have found by now one or more of the many popular crowdfunding sites , and have the name and contact information for at least one of the big venture capital firms. contributes more than $25 billion to fund 70,000 startups every year. Their realm fits between crowdfunding and venture capital sources.

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MAY 13, 2013

Los Angeles-based Greentoe.com , which operates an online marketplace which lets people name their own price for electronics and other items, has raised a round of angel funding, the firm said today. The funding came from Parker Thompson from 500 Startups/Dave McClure. Size of the funding was not announced. READ MORE>>.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2021

Thus when an investor declines your funding request, you need to curb your anger and understand the real reason for this outcome. In my experience, here are the most common issues that cause funding requests for potentially viable businesses to be rejected, in priority order: Inadequate business plan. More rules of thumb.

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Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2010

To see the video of This Week in VC click on this link. What a pleasure that I got to spend an hour talking with both Om Malik (whom I’ve always respected his views) and Paul Jozefak , a venture capital partner at Neuhaus Partners in Germany (and formerly the head of Europe for SAP Ventures). Total raised: $5.0mm.

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Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 21, 2009

On the third Wednesday of every month I co-chair a meeting called the SoCal VCA (venture capital alliance), which represents participants from all of the top venture capital firms in Southern California as well as prominent members of the Tech Coast Angels (TCA). 2009 has been the worst year for M&A in a decade.

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APRIL 1, 2011

Santa Monica-based GotCast , the online casting and talent site run by Alec Shankman, told its supporters this morning that it has raised a new round of venture capital funding. In an email, Shankman said that the firm closed a round of additional venture capital funding through NCT Ventures.

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OCTOBER 19, 2009

I had previously raised VC in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005. In case VC’s haven’t figured this out yet, shit rolls downhill. My blog linked to Brad Feld’s blog because I was so grateful for his series on term sheets and he was one of the biggest reasons that as a VC I felt compelled to blog. And covered we did.

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DECEMBER 4, 2020

Los Angeles-based The Skills , a startup which operates an online education site where professional sports players teach different skills, said on Friday that it has raised $5M in a seed funding round. The funding was led by Will Ventures, and also included Global Founders Capital, 8VC, Maveron, Hack VC, and Correlation VC.

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Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 23, 2011

I took the opportunity this past week to publish summary notes of some of the VCs and entrepreneurs I had interviewed on This Week in VC. One of my goals in doing the show was not only to educate entrepreneurs but also to put a human face on many of the VCs in our industry as VCs can be hard to get to know. Thank you. (if

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APRIL 18, 2013

The Hunt says it is developing a community-driven, online shopping site, focused on making social media photos "shoppable". The site--reminiscent of Pinterst--helps users find products features from other social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr. READ MORE>>.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2023

For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide. Most provide free resources to startups, including office facilities and consulting, but many provide seed funding as well.

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

Glendora-based eGood , a startup developing a social giving platform, said today that it has raised $3M in a seed funding round. The funding came from Wolfgang Buehler, and angel investor. According to eGood, it is using the funding to develop its mobile and in-store check-in platform. The startup is led by Zack Swire.

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APRIL 4, 2012

Los Angeles-based Ranker , the online rankings website where consumers can rank anything they like, has scored a new round of funding, in an inside round. The funding came from Siemer Venture Capital, Rincon Venture Partners, Draper Associates, the Tech Coast Angels, and the Pasadena Angels, according to CEO Clark Benson.

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Tech Coast Angels Funding Draper Pasadena Angels 197

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

They don’t realize that according to statistics from Startup.co , almost 60 percent are funded with personal savings and credit, and another 25 percent get their money from friends and family. That leaves only about fifteen percent that actually get their funding from investors, through crowdfunding, banks, angels, and venture capitalists.

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Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

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APRIL 8, 2015

San Diego-based Dealstruck , the small business lending site led by Ethan Senturia, has raised $58M in a combination of debt and equity, the company said this morning. Dealstruck said that it raised $50M in a credit facility from Brevet Capital management, and $8.3M READ MORE>>.

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FEBRUARY 12, 2014

The company said the new funding includes $1.25M in new capital, plus a $1M convertible note from last year. Tapiture said the new funds will go towards growth, towards international expansion, and to help build merchant partnerships. tapiture venture capital angel investment social sharing photos products style' READ MORE>>.

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JULY 19, 2012

Los Angeles investor Baroda Ventures , the venture capital arm of David Bohnett, has re-upped on online fashion and e-commerce site Fab.com , in a big, $105M third round of funding for that site. Baroda has been an investor in Fab since its seed funding back in June of 2010. READ MORE>>.

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Funding Seed Funding Commerce Social Network 178

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JUNE 27, 2013

Despite the increase in startup activity in Southern California, local venture capital funds are still few and far between, and a large chunk of the funding here is still from Sand Hill Road. The firm just announced that new fund, and a new name, Upfront Ventures (www.upfront.com).

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Funding Venture Capital Los Angeles Social Media 196

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MAY 9, 2017

Dell Technologies Capital , a new venture investment fund announced at Dell EMC World on Monday, says it is an investor in Irvine-based Cylance , according to the fund's new website. READ MORE>>.

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Capital Technology Invest Funding 124

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JUNE 17, 2013

Fullscreen , the online entertainment video site headed by George Strompolos, announced this morning that it has raised a round of Series A funding. Size of the funding was not announced. The round came from The Chernin Group along with Comcast Ventures and WPP. billion monthly views. READ MORE>>.

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Networking Funding Entertainment Hollywood 174

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APRIL 21, 2015

Los Angeles-based venture investor Upfront Ventures has lead another round in San Francisco-based online appointment booking site MyTime , as parto f a $9.25M Series B. MyTime said that the funding round was led by Upfront Ventures, and also included Khosla Ventures, Daher Capital, Accelerator Ventures, and Westfield Corp.

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Sites Tool Venture Capital Los Angeles 100

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2010

One of things I’ve loved the most about doing now 11 weeks of This Week in VC is a chance to have an hour-long recorded conversation with investors. And in my interviews with many VCs I feel that people can watch these and get to know the VC’s as human beings a bit better. So how did Mike get into VC?

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Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2010

It was especially fun for me because we got the chance to talk about the VC industry and how entrepreneurs should think about the VC industry in addition to discussing deals. Clearstone currently invests out of a $200 million fund based in LA with offices in Menlo Park and in India. Segment Three: “VC Deals Funded this Week”.

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Los Angeles-based venture capital firm Rustic Canyon is the lead investor in a round of funding from a social shopping site out of Y Combinator. The round came from new investor Rustic Canyon Partners, and also included prior investors Blumberg Capital and Redpoint Ventures. in a Series A round.

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JUNE 21, 2013

Ayannah , a provider of mobile payment and commerce services for unbanked consumers in emerging markets, has raised new funding, the company said Friday. headquarters in Laguna Hills, said the funding came from Siemer Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, as well as angels from the US, Russia, and the Philippines. READ MORE>>.

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Funding Venture Capital Commerce Mobile 147

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DECEMBER 8, 2015

Los Angeles-based Hyperloop Technologies , one of the startups looking to bring Elon Musk's grand idea for high speed transportation to life, has inked a deal for a test site in North Las Vegas, as it looks to complete an $80M, Series B funding round. Hyperloop Technologies says it now employs 72 full time in downtown. READ MORE>>.

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Sites Technology Venture Capital Los Angeles 100

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NOVEMBER 1, 2010

Santa Monica-based ShopNation has raised $800,000 in a seed funding, and launched a new fashion discovery site today. ShopNation's web site allows users to find fashion products, including clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, and lingerie, sort-able by brand, features, price, and other options. READ MORE>>.

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Sites Mahalo Santa Monica Seed Funding 168

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MARCH 31, 2015

Los Angeles-based online, real estate crowdfunding site Asset Avenue has upped its funding to $4.0M, according to a recent regulatory filing by the firm. Details on the latest funding--which appears to be a convertible note funding--have not yet been announced. Asset Avenue is led by David Manshoory READ MORE>>.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2021

Many first-time entrepreneurs find themselves unable to bootstrap their startups, and also unable to find early funding at the venture capital level or even with angel investors. Their only recourse is that first tier of investors, fondly called Friends, Family and Fools. Offer a formal agreement as well as a handshake.

Funding 138

Funding Startup Equity Invest 138