From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 11, 2013

Ask any venture firm or accelerator which investments get done in their shop and they will tell you the deals that come through their personal network. At Kline Hawkes & Co, the venture firm where I worked for 14 years, the “personal relationship” deals comprised approximately 90% of the entire portfolio.

Venture Capital 40

Venture Capital Capital Startup Invest 40

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2016

My partner Greg Bettinelli (worth following on Twitter) was recently named by The LA Business Journal as the “ Top deal maker in Los Angeles in Venture Capital.” I created an accelerator & mentor network (Launchpad LA). ” Numero uno. I was nowhere to be found. I tried to be at every event.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Journal Invest Santa Monica 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2022

One of the things I’ve learned over my years as a business mentor and investor is that life isn’t fair when it comes to succeeding in business. Here are the key elements of the strengths framework they have developed, with my own insights and experience added for your consideration: Money: the capital you have, or can easily raise.

Help 130

Help Mentor Paramount Technical Review 130

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). I'm a bit of an anti-VC, as you know. It was really the same business, but with less capital.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

I am thrilled to announce that we have added Hamet Watt as a Partner at Upfront Ventures. At every entrepreneur event I through between 2008-2012 I invite Hamet because he was a great mentor for entrepreneurs. He reached out to younger founders and offered to help via his network at AT&T, Google, media agencies … you name it.

Invest 340

Invest Venture Capital Startup News 340

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas. They have connections to industry associations and entrepreneur organizations that can kick-start your networking efforts, both locally and globally.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2010

Los Angeles-based Launchpad LA , the startup mentoring effort spearheaded by GRP Partners' Mark Suster, is announcing this afternoon that it has selected 10 startups for the second season of the program. Luanchpad LA's last class had thirteen companies, of which eleven received venture funding and where one was acquired. READ MORE>>.

Class 188

Class GRP Partners Mentor Incubator 188

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

I had witnessed a number of early-stage tech startups in LA raise seed capital from the Bay Area and relocate. Throughout all of these years I was a full-time VC so Launchpad really came out of evenings and weekends for me. Adam had a full time startup and then was doing consulting (he later raised a VC fund). So we went for it.

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

The new group, The Tech CEO Network , said it is looking to help bridge between the technology present at local schools like Caltech, UCLA, USC, UC Irvine, and other universities, and actual, viable companies. Tags: startups university research mentoring network tech.

Research 164

Research Tech Coast Angels Company Companies 164

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Through networking with other entrepreneurs, you should find one or more to visit that have relationships with this investor. That means you and your business must benefit from both the money and mentoring from the investor, and the investor will win from getting a larger return sooner. A sample of three views is adequate.

Technical Review 138

Technical Review Startup Innocal Offshore 138

socalTECH

JANUARY 16, 2013

The accelerator said that the demo day is a culmination of its latest three month program, which included ten new companies in mentoring, collaboration, funding, and access to its network of investors and entrepreneurs.

Class 159

Class Startup Incubator Los Angeles 159

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Finally I realized that venture capital and angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary. Exudes integrity, humility, and stability.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

Tech Coast Venture Network

MARCH 9, 2011

Last year, venture capitalists and angels who co-invested with them placed $7 billion into seed and early-stage deals, an 11 percent increase from 2009, according to the most recent PricewaterhouseCoopers/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree report. “Most have a strong desire to mentor and help build companies.”

Tips 100

Tips Capital Tech Coast Angels Screening 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2023

Different types of investors tend to specialize in capitalizing on businesses at different stages. Venture capital firms look for the most mature companies they can find, Angel investors typically deal a tier lower, while friends and family are most likely to help you get started. Don’t sign up for one, expecting the other.

Funding 125

Funding Startup Ideas Equity 125

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2010

What is the idea behind the Tech CEO Network? The Tech CEO Network is there to fill the gap. Ultimately, once those issues are validated, it's how to go about building the product, recruiting talent, and enough capital to make it into a business. Thanks for the time today. Where is this talent coming from? Thanks, and good luck!

Networking 215

Networking Research Startup USC 215

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas. They have connections to industry associations and entrepreneur organizations that can kick-start your networking efforts, both locally and globally.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2015

One of the questions we discussed is, “How much capital should a startup raise?” ” Fred & I are both in agreement that there is a tension between capital constraints and creativity. What you may not know is that Fred has been a behind-the-scenes mentor to many of the newer VCs in the industry including myself.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Writing Blogging 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas. They have connections to industry associations and entrepreneur organizations that can kick-start your networking efforts, both locally and globally.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Capital Class Startup 55

socalTECH

JANUARY 27, 2010

The group also said it is focusing on its SeedTrack program, which is specifically focused on seed stage funding and extensive mentoring. Tags: tech coast angels funding venture capital seed fund. The angel group also mentioned a web site design as part of its initiatives this year. READ MORE>>.

Tech Coast Angels 157

Tech Coast Angels Orange County Seed Funding Santa Barbara 157

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2013

Solarflare ($22M, San Diego, high speed networking). How to find a startup mentor. In the latest roundup of fundings (big few weeks for San Diego, apparently): PatientSafe Solutions ($20M, San Diego, mobile health). Ignyta ($6M, San Diego, personalized medicine). Independa ($5M, San Diego, software for senior independence).

Southern California 168

Southern California Technical Review SoCal San Diego 168

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

She hasn’t raised any venture capital. It represents the great majority of entrepreneurship and eschews the fairytale rags-to-VC-riches stories we so often read about in the press. I blog on entrepreneurship & VC precisely because entrepreneurs and other VCs are my customers. That may soon change.

Startup 363

Startup Entrepreneur SEO Venture Capital 363

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Finally I realized that venture capital and angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary. Exudes integrity, humility, and stability.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

According to the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, the projects were selected by more than thirty members of the LA business and entrepreneurial community, who reviewed the proposals and mentored the research teams involved. USC Stevens said that the Ideas Empowered program was funded by James C. READ MORE>>.

USC 170

USC Funding Southern California Technical Review 170

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Through networking with other entrepreneurs, you should find one or more to visit that have relationships with this investor. That means you and your business must benefit from both the money and mentoring from the investor, and the investor will win from getting a larger return sooner. A sample of three views is adequate.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Funding Innocal Offshore 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

Different types of investors tend to specialize in capitalizing on businesses at different stages. Venture capital firms look for the most mature companies they can find, Angel investors typically deal a tier lower, while friends and family are most likely to help you get started. Don’t sign up for one, expecting the other.

Startup 148

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 148

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 30, 2013

As a fourteen-year veteran of the venture industry I have often heard the phrase, “value added investors”, which is usually touted by certain VC’s as their biggest differentiating quality. Amplify Mentor Panel in full swing. Amplify’s close mentoring is by design. Setting up for Eric Garcetti.

Web Design 103

Web Design Social Media Seed Funding Design 103

LATechDigest

MAY 22, 2016

.” The Q2 Investor Festival follows the success of previous Investor Festivals, which have drawn panelists and public speaking engagements from the likes of Paige Craig (Arena VC), Suzy Ryoo (Smashd Labs), and more. Each startup will be able to choose up to three mentors to meet with for 7-minute sessions each.

Startup 45

Startup LAVA Mentor Venture Capital 45

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2013

Despite a growing technology industry here in Southern California, local investors and entrepreneurs tell us there''s still a shortage of local, venture capital. Healthcare is a really obvious vertical, where there is data inefficiency and a tremendous amount of opportunity, but there''s also education, human capital and talent.

Invest 159

Invest Technology Startup Venture Capital 159

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

One of the great joys of doing the web series This Week in VC every week is that I get to spend time with great people debating the issues of our day including how our industry is evolving as well as insights into how companies got started, got their initial traction and dealt with adversities. Oh, yeah. We then spoke about startups.

Startup 286

Startup Venture Capital Web Ideas 286

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2020

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” Solicit venture capital investors. Use online platforms like Gust to find them, and local networking to find ones that relate to your industry and passion. Start a crowdfunding campaign online.

Funding 174

Funding Startup Equity Examples 174

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Natalia not only wants to increase the number of women in investment, but bring more people in total to help startups and other businesses get the capital they need. We also want to create more capital for women entrepreneurs to increase the chances of being funded and connected to a bigger network.

Mentor 84

Mentor Invest Entrepreneur Startup 84

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2014

One of the interesting things about being a VC is that you often see companies in transition. In a VC business when you raise additional capital you need to “level up” and act the round you are. You’re the coach, mentor, cheerleader. But your job isn’t to make every decision for him.

Startup 381

Startup Resource Venture Capital Activity 381

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2014

Many startups now go through accelerators and have mentors passing through each day with advice – usually it’s conflicting. How to network better ? He came to me months ago asking about a “strategic round” of capital for his startup at a high price. What is a founder to do? “ Level Up ” 9.

Startup 407

Startup Framework CTO Coach Sales 407

socalTECH

JANUARY 27, 2010

, who founded AdECN in Carpinteria, which was bought by Microsoft, is starting his second venture, Trade Desk, which is in stealth mode at the event, there's Netplenish.com, headed by Dave Compton, who founded Aqua Scientific, has a bitoech firm in Ventura, and is launching at the event. What is the Ventura incubator?

Ventura 200

Ventura Incubator Technology Startup 200

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

Given how efficient markets are when a large market like LA starts to blossom it attracts capital pretty quickly. billion in venture capital to LA’s technology startups and 2014 will shatter that figure. Both are massively funding other LA tech companies through what Fred Wilson once defined as “recycled capital.”

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

socalTECH

OCTOBER 24, 2011

To that end, last week, Los Angeles-based MuckerLab (www.muckerlab.com) announced its plans--and a big lineup of local CEO mentors--to start up a new, YCombinator- and TechStars-type program in Los Angeles, headed by former Silicon Valley venture capitalist Erik Rannala , and affiliated with the TechStars Network.

Technical Advisors 176

Technical Advisors Startup Southern California Los Angeles 176

Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

The barriers to entry when it comes to launching a company require less tension and a lot less capital. Still though, when founders are seeking funding, “ 75 percent of the venture capital goes to three states: Massachusetts, New York, and California,” said Steve Case in an interview with Recode. Pledge 1% (San Francisco, CA).

Startup 141

Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 141