Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

There is much discussion online and also in small, private groups, about why the price of technology companies – public and private – are falling. Valuing any company can be difficult because it requires a degree of forecasting future growth & competition and ultimately the profits of the organization. Mostly, no.

Startup 150

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2017

The implications to you and your company are also large, so be prepared. As your company grows, you have to host customer seminars. Need to represent your company at industry association events. How you speak in public is even more important outside your company than inside.

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Company Companies Entrepreneur Custom 97

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

<== Our conclusion was that this isn’t a temporary blip that will swiftly trend-back up in a V-shaped recovery of valuations but rather represented a new normal on how the market will price these companies somewhat permanently. First in late-stage tech companies and then it will filter back to Growth and then A and ultimately Seed Rounds.

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Venture Capital Marketing Technical Review Seed Funding 416

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 12, 2015

On a micro level, you can do your part to fix tech's gender problem by recruiting people with diverse backgrounds and place them in a company culture that rewards those who challenge the status quo. Most men in the 1940's and 50's did not know how to use a keyboard and thus could not write code. Photo Credit: Grace Hopper Website.

Company 100

Company Companies Santa Barbara Education 100

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Snapchat, along with other technology unicorns, have been seeing increased scrutiny over their valuations in the last few months, as investors have been nervous about the lack of exits from the highly valued private companies. READ MORE>>.

Snapchat 100

Snapchat Writing Invest Report 100

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 26, 2022

In the past decade we have remained consistent, investing in 12–15 companies per year at the earliest stages of their formation with a median first check size of approximately $3 million. In our best-performing companies we often write follow-on checks totaling up to $10–15 million out of our early-stage fund.

Startup 408

Startup Venture Capital Writing Invest 408

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2021

When you first start your career as an investor (or when you first start writing angel checks) your main obsession is “getting into great deals.” They sold 2 years later for $16 million In the financial crisis of 2008 we had a company that had jointly hired lawyers to consider a bankruptcy and also pursued (and achieved!)

Funding 294

Funding Startup Writing Invest 294

Berkonomics

MARCH 28, 2024

They write in their investment documents that they will occupy a seat on the board for as long as they are invested in the company, thinking of this as a protection for their investment and tool for them to influence growth. Even venture capitalists who sit on boards where they have significant investments often forget this point.

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Class Coach Invest Sales 282

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2010

Burstly, a Santa Monica based company, provides an open and free ad management platform that helps mobile application developers better monetize their inventory. As I naturally get asked all the time why we invested in Company A or Company B, I thought I’d just put forth my thesis in writing.

Mobile 282

Mobile Invest Company Companies 282

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 10, 2010

However, to a Big Dumb Company (BDC), a startup’s IP is a thing of beauty. As such, they are hesitant to acquire a company which has not sought formal protection of their IP for two reasons. One is obvious, without protection, such IP might prove to be of little worth, as other companies can mimic the technology without recourse.

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IP Patents Company Companies 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2017

When I hear executives and professionals in larger businesses talking about their dream of going out on their own to start a new company, I always cringe. They and I never realized how hard it is to break the big-company habits and conventions. Professionals get dependent on big company perks. I have been there and done that.

Company 58

Company Companies Startup Training 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2012

No one is born with business writing skills, and everyone can learn them. Thus, I thought a quick refresher on business writing basics might help you more than any tip on the next big thing on the business horizon: Select clear purpose and focus. Tailor writing to your audience. Develop a friendly business writing voice.

Writing 89

Writing Email Tips Startup 89

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 14, 2023

The argument FOR… I discovered the power of ownership early in my management career, establishing an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), once popular as incentive compensation as well as a tax write-off for corporations and even a way to slowly transfer ownership of a company from the founders to the employees.

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Slides News Equity Writing 156

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

I’m over-paying for every check I write into the VC ecosystem and valuations are being pushed up to absurd levels and many of these valuations and companies won’t hold in the long term. I often answer the same way … * “First, yes, nearly every corner of our market is over-valued. By definition?—?I’m dot-com bonanza.

Venture Capital 471

Venture Capital Writing Invest Pricing 471

InfoChachkie

MARCH 8, 2011

I write a bit more about how entrepreneurs can protect their ideas here: Spilling The Beans. As described in Buzz Kill , many college-educated professionals tend to write at a level that is uncomfortable for most people (including college graduates) to read. I was shocked that my pedestrian answer was so well received.

Writing 150

Writing Social Network Ideas Entrepreneur 150

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

The Facebook parent-company saw its stock price get bludgeoned after a bad earnings report showcased that Apple’s ad-blocking changes are shaving billions off its books and the company’s crown jewel — the Facebook platform — has stopped growing and actually shrank this quarter.

Marketing 246

Marketing Newsletter Technical Review News 246

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2023

If you don’t have the time to write things down, or your writing skills leave something to be desired, don’t be afraid to get some help. No executive I know writes all his own contracts, but every smart one owns every one that is written for him, and understands every element.

Startup 102

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 102

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

So, you are close to selling your company, and counting the profits a bit early. Some companies, especially those financed by angel or VC investors, have good, formal stock option plans with properly priced options set to reward all employees and managers in the event of a corporate sale. Well, that’s human nature.

Sales 480

Sales Venture Capital Writing Email 480

Berkonomics

JUNE 29, 2023

As a professional investor in early-stage companies, I have long discounted long, detailed business plans in favor of a concise “executive summary” followed by a believable spreadsheet-based financial forecast projecting three to five years into the future. Write these steps down in any form for now. The post So, what’s the plan?

Summary 156

Summary Resource Writing Email 156

Eric Greenspan

APRIL 25, 2015

In 1995 I started my first company and bought a fleet of 3 Volkswagen Beetles. In 2000 I sold company 1, including the 3 VWs. The buyer hired me to run company 2. In 2001 I sold my interest in company 2 and started company 3. The relationship and company grew and became something I was truly proud of.

Company 100

Company Companies Writing Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2010

What they don’t realize is that the longer they wait, the more big-company habits they are acquiring, which will make their eventual decision harder and entrepreneurial efforts less and less likely to succeed. Executives in an enterprise usually don’t write their own memos, contracts, and certainly don’t schedule their own meetings.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Company Companies Training 92

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2012

I hear many executives and professionals in large corporations talking about their dream of jumping ship, and starting their own company. Executives in an enterprise usually don’t write their own memos, contracts, and certainly don’t schedule their own meetings. In a startup, that luxury isn’t possible, so the work suffers.

Startup 93

Startup Company Companies Training 93

Berkonomics

AUGUST 17, 2023

Preparing for the game… 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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Invest Capital Startup Entrepreneur 296

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 31, 2020

I was chairman of a company that, for twelve years never took a dollar of outside investment. The company was funded entirely by grants from the National Institute of Health, amounting to millions of non-dilutive dollars in all. The effort to write a grant request is not trivial. No dilution to shareholders or the founders.

Equity 156

Equity Writing Education Research 156

socalTECH

APRIL 23, 2021

Hawke Ventures, a new, venture capital fund that is part of marketing company Hawke Media, said Friday that it has raised $5.6M The company said it plans to write checks of between $100,000 and $250,000 in digital marketing startups. for its first, venture capital fund.

Funding 113

Funding Invest Venture Capital Writing 113

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2013

One of the most common complaints I hear from entrepreneurs is that they are overwhelmed by the workload and stress of starting their company. Write it down, but even then, keep it to the top ten priority items or less. Then there are the additional challenges of balancing the demands of family and friends. Keep a written to-do list.

Company 96

Company Companies Startup Entrepreneur 96

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2009

He recently landed a round of funding, and shares his experience here: Before you start bitching about investors not writing checks in this economy let me just say this  bullshit. I just finished our capital raise for our new company, Affordit.com and can tell you first hand that I've never seen more people eager to write checks.

Writing 100

Writing Santa Monica Venture Capital Entrepreneur 100

socalTECH

AUGUST 24, 2021

Gardena-based toy maker Educational Insights said this morning that it has launched a new product, a "coding robot" which is designed to help kids learn how to write their own software. According to the company, its new robot, Artie Max, helps kids learn five coding languages (Blockly, Snap!,

Education 113

Education Gardena JavaScript Writing 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2012

The result is a host of hiring mistakes that sink many young companies, or take years to fix. Resumes won’t give you the positive conclusion, but they can highlight negatives, like job gaps, bad writing, and minimal experience. “He I didn’t have time to read the resume, but he has great answers.”

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Company Companies Startup Statistics 94

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

I started my first company in 1999 and was admittedly swept up in all of this: Magazine covers, fancy conferences, artificial valuations and easy money. Between 2006–2008 I sold both companies that I had started and became a VC. Starting in 2009 I began writing checks consistently, year-in and year-out.

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Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Source: hibobbie.com The company also raised an impressive $70 million in funding in June to acquire the legacy pediatric nutrition brand Nature’s One, bringing its total kitty up to $142 million and helping to secure its competitive advantage in the industry going forward. Organic milk formula product Bobbie. Writesonic Library screenshot.

Startup 210

Startup Generative AI Newsletter Tool 210

Jason Nazar

MARCH 22, 2011

I recently hosted a panel at the Twiistup Conference about LA tech companies. I have some pretty specific thoughts on the differences between companies in the two cities, as I wrote about in my previous post A Tale of Two Tech Cities. Challenge #1 – Tech Companies are Not Typically Started by Technologists.

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Company Companies Startup Twiistup 111

TechEmpower

AUGUST 7, 2023

The role of a CTO varies as the company matures. And you certainly don’t want to be the company that spends time and money building something you could have picked up off the shelf. Please write us at blog@techempower.com ! Should a startup CTO spend their time programming? Exploring new technologies? The answer is: it depends.

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CTO Hire Develop Development Fractional VPE 260

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 26, 2020

500 Startups is scrapping its cohort model for accelerating companies and moving to a rolling admissions process, the accelerator said during its latest demo day. One of the progenitors of the accelerator model in the US along with Techstars and Y Combinator , 500 has been a cornerstone of the early-stage company building platform.

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Startup Los Angeles Invest Platform 177

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 29, 2014

It’s not hard to find people willing to write the narrative that “venture capital is not an asset class” or “venture capital has performed terribly.” I hope to publish that deck and a full write up in the next 10 days in partnership with Dan Primack at Fortune (if my write up doesn’t suck, I guess ;-)).

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Venture Capital Capital Startup Writing 362

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 9, 2021

The company has been building a title called Blankos Block Party that seems to be Fall Guys meets Roblox meets Funko Pop. Users don’t need to walk through the mechanics of setting up a wallet or writing down a seed phrase either. The round was led by WestCap. The startup has raised a whopping $120 million to date.

Platform 308

Platform Framework Los Angeles Design 308

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 25, 2013

On my most important ones I spend as much time figuring out what to cut out as I do putting into the writing of it. Many people write email without a “call to action” or reason they’re writing the email. Write to one person at a time. This is critical and was the reason I sat down to write this post.

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Email Writing Software Review Startup 415