Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 3, 2016

In the VC insider baseball world a discussion has gone on about “VC platforms” over the past 5 or so years. While firms define platforms differently, let’s just say they are the services that a VC offers outside of investment capital and partner time on boards or providing intros.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Platform Startup Resource 150

Berkonomics

MARCH 28, 2024

Some investor board members are also member of boards for companies that may overlap in markets or even compete directly, although rare. There are issues that stress the loyalty of board members such as placement of employees or recruiting of executives from firms where the VC or board member has inside knowledge.

Class 282

Class Coach Invest Sales 282

Berkonomics

JULY 3, 2010

Business coaches come in all sizes and shapes. How do you pay a coach? If the coach is also a significantly large investor such as a VC fund, the board member-coach will offer a limited amount of time outside of board work at no extra cost, all for the good of the investment.

Coach 179

Coach Organization Resource Equity 179

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

My primary role was “chief psychologist&# and as I’ve learned over the past few years the same has been true as a VC. Once you’ve been around for a few years, attracted some great people, landed real, paying customers and raised venture capital you’ve likely got a talented team around you.

Venture Capital 319

Venture Capital Startup Sales Customer 319

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

When I was new at Venture Capital I was trying to figure out the business. Should I trust my instincts for founders and products or should I be more focused on the market size or business plan? Should I trust my instincts for founders and products or should I be more focused on the market size or business plan?

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Startup Pricing Invest 347

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Thus began my marketing campaign. Investment experience (5 years a VC at Battery Ventures). As I like to say (and as Kara humbly hates when I do so in front of others) … she has a much better resume to a venture capital partner than I do. She is a coach and mentor to team members.

Venture Capital 408

Venture Capital Startup Outsource Development CitySearch 408

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 29, 2021

million from investors Trucks VC, Kapor Capital, JFF, Energy Impact Partners and The Fund. It was here that she spotted a gap in the EV charging market. It was here that she met Ellis, a career coach at LACI who also worked at the Long Beach Job Corp Center. The company said it has raised $2.75

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Incubator Outsource Development Los Angeles Startup 287

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

As a result I didn’t write my first venture capital check until March 2009 – exactly 5 years ago. It turns out it actually takes time to build a high-growth business with differentiated intellectual property and roll out large, enterprise-class marketing solutions. 5 years ago. 5 years ago. None have exited.

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Venture Capital Downey Writing Press 387

TechCrunch LA

MAY 29, 2019

This is like talking about the NBA and the value of its sponsorships and broadcast rights as if that is the entirety of the basketball market in the US. Starting at 21, I worked at a venture capital firm called IncWell based in Birmingham, Michigan then joined a startup called Rocket Fiber.

Startup 204

Startup Coach Competition Los Angeles 204

Xconomy

APRIL 17, 2017

Since then, TakeLessons has raised a total of $20 million in venture capital, and expanded into new markets and services. The company’s last VC round in early 2014 raised $7 million. Now TakeLessons has completed another acquisition, buying Chromatik, a Santa Monica, CA-based provider of digital sheet music.

Venture Capital 59

Venture Capital San Diego Santa Monica Coach 59

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

But VC is like congress. “I don’t know the exact math, but I hear it again and again: the top 2% of firms generate 98% of the returns in venture capital.” As you can see from the chart their data suggests there are about $25 billion of VC distributions per year in the US. Their data looks at tech VCs.

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Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

socalTECH

AUGUST 16, 2021

San Diego-based sales and marketing software developer Seismic has raised $170M in a Series G funding round, the company said this morning, and is now valued at $3 billion. The Series G round was led by Permira and also included JMI Equity, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Jackson Square Ventures, Ameriprise, and funds and accounts advised by T.

San Diego 113

San Diego Coach Sales Training 113

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

By 2011 the market had started to change dramatically. Throughout all of these years I was a full-time VC so Launchpad really came out of evenings and weekends for me. Throughout all of these years I was a full-time VC so Launchpad really came out of evenings and weekends for me. But by 2014 much had started to change.

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2022

I’m not an expert on leadership, so I am always on the lookout for specific development guidance, such as the classic book, “ Leadership Results ,” by the well-known leadership coach and business psychologist, Sebastian Salicru. If necessary, use a strengths coach, and always start a business which highlights your signature strengths.

Capital 114

Capital Coach Satisfaction Ideas 114

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2019

They also have to practice solid communication and invite other points of view, and evolve company culture as the market and product realities change. But as with any knowledge that they have to acquire to run their companies (including such things as coding or marketing or finance or operations), tech founders can learn to be leaders.

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Software Review Startup Coach 157

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

When you raise money from investors you produce information that you are told they want and care about: A fund-raising deck that articulates your company strategy, plans, team, market, competitors and so forth. So what does a VC do when he or she isn’t ready to say “no” or perhaps might like to talk with you in a year but not now?

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Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 7, 2021

An edtech startup called Entity Academy — which provides women with training, in areas like data science and software development; mentoring; and ultimately job coaching — has raised $100 million on the heels of strong growth of its business, and an ambition to improve that ratio. Thankfully, now that appears to be changing.

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Mentor Training Startup Course 297

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2016

Arivale , a health and wellness startup founded by genetic sequencing pioneer Dr. Leroy Hood, has launched itself into the Los Angeles market, as its first expansion beyond its home market of Seattle. Arivale raised $36M in 2015 from Maveron, ARCH Venture Partners and Polaris Partners.

Los Angeles 100

Los Angeles Angel CalTech Coach 100

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 12, 2012

Steve identifies the following skills as necessary for success as a venture capitalist: People skills (ability to recognize patterns of success in individuals and teams). People skills <again> People skills <and again> Market/technology acuity (patterns of success, domain expertise). Fundraising skills.

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Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur SaaS 239

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 27, 2013

6 or 7 years ago when TechCrunch was at its peak market share (they are still strong but many more tech blogs have also popped up) there was a term for getting covered there called “the TechCrunch bounce.” And that means the first thing they’ll do when you, your PR firm or your VC tries to introduce you is to Google you.

Blogging 309

Blogging Journal Press Startup 309

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2023

We all come from the era where our society and education prepared us for the labor market, meaning working for someone else as an information professional, factory worker, or retail associate. Utilize business content curators and coaches. It takes more than passion and a course on business basics.

Startup 108

Startup Education Entrepreneur Tool 108

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2011

If you read this blog often you'll know that I'm a huge fan of First Round Capital. They have totally changed the way you run a VC firm, investing heavily in systems & events for their founders that are pushing the boundaries of the way our industry works. These speakers help coach CEO’s on important executive decisions.

Capital 284

Capital Venture Capital Technical Review Startup 284

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2015

So part of playing an effective coach is helping the team to see the answer for themselves. We talk a lot about his schooling, his early jobs as a developer and then as a VC and we talk about his decision to spend winters in Los Angeles. Fred is generous with his time and advice and I hope has shaped a generation of VCs for the better.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Writing Blogging 150

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2018

Maybe this is reverse “hanging around the rim” where if you keep you VC process going long enough you’ll eventually get to “yes?” I spend a lot of time coaching entrepreneurs through their fund-raising processes by doing “pipeline reviews” of all of the firms with whom they are speaking. I’d give it a bigger shot.

Funding 189

Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Venture Capital 189

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 29, 2011

Yesterday I wrote Part 1 of the series on the changes to the software industry over the past decade that has led to changes in the venture capital industry itself. These trends have put pressure on traditional VCs. This will continue while we’re in a tech bull market and I predict will wane when we’re not.

Venture Capital 296

Venture Capital Capital Software Startup 296

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. What they do with the money is add more engineers and maybe hiring a marketing person. Objection Handling training.

Startup 381

Startup Resource Venture Capital Activity 381

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

When I was new at Venture Capital I was trying to figure out the business. Should I trust my instincts for founders and products or should I be more focused on the market size or business plan? Should I trust my instincts for founders and products or should I be more focused on the market size or business plan?

Startup 361

Startup Venture Capital Pricing Technical Review 361

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

When you first start your company and raise initial venture capital your board probably consists of 1-3 founders and 1-2 VCs. Most experienced VCs won’t push you to give up founder control at this stage of the business nor should they. how to market our products and company. how & when to raise capital.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 18, 2012

According to the SEC we’re not allowed to market the fact that we’re fund raising, so I won’t. As I’ve written about before, You’d Have to be a Big Baby to Complain about Being a VC. But you realize that you can be more helpful as a coach. And yes, I sleep better at night as a coach.

Blogging 420

Blogging Press Entrepreneur Venture Capital 420

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2016

We caught up with Clayton Lewis , the company's CEO (and also a General Partner at Maveron), here in Los Angeles last week as it launched into this market. The second thing I learned as a VC, is that data paralyzes people. Arivale is based in Seattle. What is Arivale? It's all about the app, or the computer screen, or the data.

Coach 100

Coach Startup Study Venture Capital 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Your goal should be to turn your VCs into extended members of your team to get real value from them. Understanding where your VC partner sits in their respective fund and where their fund is in the cycle of its investment lifecycle will help you understand your VCs behavior. Ask your VC to send a critical email to a contact.

Tips 365

Tips Email Venture Capital CTO Coach 365

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2020

We all come from the era where our society and education prepared us for the labor market, meaning working for someone else as an information professional, factory worker, or retail associate. Utilize business content curators and coaches. It takes more than passion and a course on business basics.

Entrepreneur 137

Entrepreneur Tips Startup Education 137

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2010

I usually say something like, “I know this market reasonably well so feel free to pick up the pace and drop from 50k feet to 5k feet. OK, I understand your market is big. And because as a VC or as a CEO or senior exec you get presented to all the time we’re extra sensitive to it. 25% of VCs are expressives, like you.

Slides 358

Slides Venture Capital Startup Summary 358

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

I remember 3 years ago when I lived in still lived in Silicon Valley and I was on the board of advisors of an early-stage, super-angel / early-stage VC backed startup. We talked about her desire to sell the company for personal reasons rather than raise a large round of VC. I agreed to help. Or the CEO?

Invest 280

Invest Angel Venture Capital Yahoo 280

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2019

I’m not an expert on leadership, so I am always on the lookout for specific development guidance, such as the classic book, “ Leadership Results ,” by the well-known leadership coach and business psychologist, Sebastian Salicru. If necessary, use a strengths coach, and always start a business which highlights your signature strengths.

Coach 70

Coach Satisfaction Ideas Entrepreneur 70

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 10, 2013

I made many classic first-time mistakes which serves both as my warning signal of which teams to avoid funding (if I perceive they will make critical mistakes often led by hubris) and also as my source for coaching others. It’s why I believe startup coaches are so important and I wish I know more great ones. There is less ego.

Startup 412

Startup Press Course Entrepreneur 412

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

This applies to both founders and to VC’s that work with them. You’ll get sales information from your VP of Sales, marketing information from your VP Marketing, tech information from your CTO and so on. Again, I can’t imagine being a VC and NOT doing this. Skipping is insidious. A quick example.

Startup 308

Startup CTO Coach Technical Review CTO Hire 308