Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

I started in 2007 with a thesis that my primary investment decision would be about the team (70%) and only afterward about the market opportunity (30%). I was telling him that it was much easier when I started because there were fewer deals, life was less public and somehow the world seemed to be spinning more slowly.

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Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 19, 2019

When the Los Angeles-based startup Maslo launched its first product in early 2018 , the company was focused on a direct-to-consumer tool designed to encourage mindfulness and self-awareness through a machine learning enabled avatar that would respond to individual’s inputs. Image courtesy of Maslo.

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Berkonomics

JUNE 29, 2017

If you have been following our recent insights, you’ll be up to speed knowing that professional investors negotiate tough terms, from provisions of control over asset acquisition, eventual sale of the company, future investments, forced co-sale when others attempt to sell their shares and more.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

I realized a while back that creating a new company for the first time is a lot like whipping up a great dinner entrée for the first time – you need a recipe, even though it may look simple. Yet you may not be so sure where to start, and how to put it all together. Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2019

Image via Pixabay I’ve always been a bit confused about the difference in a business context between a coach and a mentor. According to many pundits , a mentor shows you the right way based on experience, while a coach brings out the best in you, then let’s you find your own way. Give people the room to debate differences.

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Coach Mentor Examples Satisfaction 87

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. Tell us about this new program? It's a comprehensive bucket.

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socalTECH

MARCH 12, 2019

Two people associated with Southern California's high tech investment and startup industry have been named as part of the far reaching investigation into a college admissions scandal , which named Hollywood actresses, CEOs, coaches at USC, UCLA, and UCSD, as well as many others. According to a complaint filed by the U.S.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2023

I realized a while back that creating a new company for the first time is a lot like whipping up a great dinner entree for the first time – you need a recipe, even though it may look simple. Yet you may not be so sure where to start, and how to put it all together. Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration.

Startup 112

Startup Metrics Coach Marketing 112

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2023

Many business leaders today, including Howard Schultz , didn’t start the businesses they are now known for, but worked their way up the corporate ranks with ownership thinking. Smart business owners realize that no returns occur without some investment and risk. Count business results as a measure of personal growth.

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socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2019

We spoke with Meredith Finn a new Partner at March Capital--who headed up that the Rise of the Female Entrepreneur sessions this year--to hear more about her perspectives on investments, what the Rise of the Female Entrepeneur was all about, March's interests in artificial intelligence and more. What's your role at March Capital?

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2021

By definition, all of you entrepreneurs are leaders, by taking the initiative to start a new company. Yet I have learned over the years as a startup advisor that all business leaders are not the same. You generally don’t fix things by throwing them away and starting over. Create innovative change from existing resources.

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Coach Startup Resource Competition 162

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2019

My biggest takeaway this year was truly understanding the strength and cohesion of the Los Angeles startup community. There was no monetary reward for those who participated (and Startup Boost does not take fees or equity from the companies that we help). What was the biggest lesson you learned this year?

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Technical Review Software Review Startup Coach 157

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

Millennials have come a long way in business since I started writing about them over ten years ago. They started out as that spoiled generation of kids, born between about 1982 and 2004, who had everything, and could care less about business. Think of these strategies as an investment in your own future, as well as theirs.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

Great leaders learn to listen actively to conversations, so people don’t hold up progress just to be understood. Disruptive office politics start to show. Startups with weak directives, poor communication, and ineffective cultures are breeding grounds for negative interpersonal dynamics. Investments and acquisitions fail.

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Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 142

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Let me start with the news that I’m excited to share with you. Investment experience (5 years a VC at Battery Ventures). Startup CEO experience (Founded P.S. For starters we’re an LA-based venture fund who invests nationally (and sometimes internationally, but less so). billion IPO), Envestnet (Chicago, $1.25

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Venture Capital Startup Outsource Development CitySearch 408

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

It’s very common for startup companies to have COO’s. But … Startups don’t need – shouldn’t have – COOs. I have this conversation with every startup that comes to see me and has a CEO & a COO. I think usually a COO title at a startup is an ego thing. They run their business.

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socalTECH

OCTOBER 7, 2020

Givsum said that has received capital investments from both SteelBridge Labs and OC4 Venture Studios, but did not say how much it raised from those efforts. The company says it will use the new funding and the startup support from the two accelerators for growing the company into a "global platform". READ MORE>>.

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Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 15, 2018

Next week we return to the start of the journey, focusing upon the “what and how” to ignite a successful enterprise from start-up to exit. The rewards of angel investing. Allow me to reminisce. This is the final post of this cycle. But, for this short moment…. Looking back over an entrepreneur’s journey.

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Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 30, 2015

A great opportunity for any early stage hardware startup. Make in LA makes hardware less hard, working with 5 promising start-ups at a time. Perks include office space, prototype lab, production facilities, mentoring, and investments up to $150,000 in the first 4 months. Up to $150,000 in investments per startup.

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Startup Invest Chatsworth Mentor 40

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2019

Millennials have come a long way in business since I started writing about them nearly ten years ago. They started out as that spoiled generation of kids, born between about 1982 and 2004, who had everything, and could care less about business. Think of these strategies as an investment in your own future, as well as theirs.

Tips 127

Tips Mentor Coach Guide 127

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

We all like to think of startups as “non hierarchic&# organizations and to some extent that should be true. I see two common mistakes in companies (not just in startups, in fact). By going on sales calls you pick up directly the feedback of what customers want and also what they’re telling you about competition.

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Startup CTO Coach Technical Review CTO Hire 308

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

In my activities as an angel investor, and my work with new ventures seeking investment, I find the “due diligence” stage to be fraught with the most risk. Usually this stage only really starts after an investor has expressed serious interest, or already informally agreed to invest. Be prepared to follow-up as required.

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Invest Startup Doc Slides 59

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 8, 2018

If you’re an entrepreneur who would like to see this clause in more startups please ask your VC to include it in future term sheets and link to it from their home page. “We We strive to invest in companies that are consciously working to create a diverse leadership team?—?one Ours is: upfront.com/inclusion.

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Venture Capital Coach Ideas Startup 284

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2018

Editor's note: All this week, and into the start of next year, we'll be featuring reflections on 2018 from notable investors, entrepreneurs, and others from Southern California's technology community. Here in LA we continue to be excited about the growth of the startup ecosystem and the quality of the companies here.

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Frank Addante

OCTOBER 12, 2021

Well, after months of soul searching and talking to 100 people (one of my key rules before starting any business or product) — I figured it out! We build and invest in startups with impact. We have a Startup Studio and Early Stage Investment Fund. Those zoom meetings and calls got me fired up!

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Startup Case Study Ideas Invest 105

socalTECH

AUGUST 2, 2018

The Los Angeles Dodgers , along with Elysian Park Ventures , the private investment firm created by the ownership group behind the Los Angeles Dodgers specifically for investments in entrepreneurs in the areas of sports, technology, and entertainment, have launched and funded a new venture called E|L1.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Redondo Beach Angel Coach 113

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2022

After many years working in business and investing in startups, I’m convinced that the primary reason for new business and career failures is NOT a lack of skill or money, but people giving up too quickly on their dreams and goals. He went on to start many successful companies, including General Electric.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2021

Most entrepreneurs view a mentor as someone older and more experienced who takes the time to personally give guidance, advice, and takes an emotional investment in your success. Decide exactly what it is you need mentoring on before you start thinking of the ideal person to work with. Keep the relationship positive and productive.

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Mentor Coach Entrepreneur Press 151

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

I’m obviously only naming a small fraction of their investments since I don’t feel inclined to research them all and many other great venture firms have this kind of access. It’s hard for me to imagine that angel investing outcomes judged 10 years from now will have a drastically different profile.

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Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

Fortunately, the Startup of the Year program aims to make it easier for founders to connect with resources. In 2006, a passion to help startups grew into Tech Cocktail , a company whose mission was to showcased burgeoning companies in bars around the country. The Case Foundation invests in people and ideas that can change the world.

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Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 141

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Today, we have Brian Mac Mahon of startup accelerator ExpertDojo (www.expertdojo.com). Are you a founder, CEO, or investor who would like to participate?     We became the largest accelerator in Southern California with 80 investments in over 30 countries globally. We'll be posting these throughout the next two weeks.

Southern California 113

Southern California Technical Review Santa Monica Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2015

Great leaders learn to listen actively to conversations, so people don’t hold up progress just to be understood. Disruptive office politics start to show. Startups with weak directives, poor communication, and ineffective cultures are breeding grounds for negative interpersonal dynamics. Investments and acquisitions fail.

Startup 103

Startup Training Coach Entrepreneur 103

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). Strategic partner” investors: If you can find a strategic partner willing to invest in your enterprise, consider it a blessing.

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Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 25, 2019

Although he grew up in a small town in central Argentina, he had captured the attention of some of the world’s most famous soccer teams when he was only eleven years old. As a result of the investment Initialized’s Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, is taking a seat on the company’s board of directors.

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Social Network Startup Los Angeles Coach 184

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

Fred Wilson also wrote on a similar topic in his usual more succinct manner , with a great quote being: “One thing I know for sure is that those who advise and invest in startups cannot and should not meddle in the day to day decision making. It’s harmful and hurtful to the startup and those that lead it. ” PR.

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Startup Sales CTO Coach Course 150

socalTECH

JANUARY 27, 2020

Kobe Bryant , the basketball legend who also was one half of Los Angeles private equity investment firm Bryant Stibel , is dead at the age of 41, after a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas took his life, the life of one of his daughters, and seven others. John Altobelli was coach of Orange Coast College's baseball team.

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Thousand Oaks Legalzoom Calabasas High Tech 113

socalTECH

DECEMBER 13, 2017

Los Angeles-based Aspiration , and online banking startup which calls itself "the financial firm with a conscience", said on Tuesday that it has raised $47M in a Series B funding round. Aspiration lets users pay what they want in terms of fees they pay to the company. READ MORE>>.

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Rustic Canyon Doc Coach Los Angeles 124