Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2021

The entrepreneurs I see are always talking about “disruptive innovation” ideas, but the plans I read are more often linear extensions of a current hot offering, like one more social network with the best of Facebook and Twitter, one more dating site dimension, or another “must-have” accessory for smartphones.

Ideas 117

Ideas Entrepreneur Netflix IBM 117

SoCal CTO

MAY 21, 2012

He's also led significant technology projects for a very impressive list of companies including Citibank, Lexus, Microsoft, Nissan, Universal, IBM, HP, Sun, and the list goes on. Tony has been bridging that gap for 15 years with companies of all shapes and sizes. Tony has a Ph.D.

CTO Hire 175

CTO Hire Startup Metrics eHarmony 175

socalTECH

MAY 30, 2019

Richards--a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in a number of technology companies here, including NTI Group (sold to Blackboard), Internships.com, MP3.com, Now we have a thousand large companies into it, and if you name a big company, they're a customers of ours, from Starbucks to NASA.

Content 193

Content Social Network Coach Help 193

socalTECH

MARCH 14, 2017

We spoke with founder and CEO Aaron Robin to learn more about the app and how it started, and how the company is hoping to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health support. We've combined online therapy with phone calls with licensed professionals, and also added an online social networking aspect and mood checkup.

Social Network 113

Social Network Startup Platform Networking 113

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 26, 2013

Since its inception into the mainstream fabric of people’s lives, social media and the concept of social networking has gone through a rather peculiar evolutionary transition. It is now a standard with any new social network to be able to cater to both the consumer and the brand; the person and the product.

Social Media 82

Social Media Entertainment Media Tool 82

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

In contrast, social networking sites drove a record number of clicks, up 20% over the prior year. Clearly there is a shift occurring in users'' behavior, as social networks continue to hone their product discovery and purchase capabilities. Google is great at search, yet their G+ social network wasn’t the most successful.

Entrepreneur 210

Entrepreneur Commerce Sites Social Network 210

socalTECH

OCTOBER 10, 2014

We spoke with Max Fischer , CEO of the company, to learn more about how he came up with crossing the business worlds of LinkedIn with the popular world of swipe right, swipe left dating apps. LinkedIn is one of the largest social networks, with 300 million users, and we fell that it has a higher quality user base. Why LinkedIn?

Networking 185

Networking Startup Ideas Mobile 185

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 17, 2007

Will's post talks about lack of interest in working for startups here in Southern California, saying: we probably’d don’t have the: a) same support infrastructure (meet-ups, networking events, etc.); b) history of success; and c) abundance of start-up companies (so if one fails there is another to jump on).

Southern California 150

Southern California Startup SoCal El Segundo 150

socalTECH

AUGUST 10, 2009

Our interview this morning is with Babette Pepaj , CEO and founder of BakeSpace (www.bakespace.com), a local Los Angeles startup focused on social networking around food. Babette Pepaj: BakeSpace is a food social network and recipe swap. So very much a social network involved? What is BakeSpace?

Social Network 174

Social Network Startup Sites Networking 174

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Until the company name is a famous brand, you are the brand. Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and highlight several videos, podcasts, or eBooks of you and your technology.

Search Engine Optimization 88

Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising SEO 88

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2016

To get a discount, we ask customers to share information on the brand on Twitter and in the future, other social networks, and that discount is based on how influential they are for that brand. Where did the company and idea come from? Brett Bernstein: First of all, the company is called Gatsby for a reason.

Social Media 100

Social Media Social Network Examples Startup 100

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

The irony: a sad state that even with the huge number of social network applications we have at our disposal, we’re oftentimes lost, unable to keep up, or still lose touch so easily. It’s not your fault that we can only be social creatures to a certain extent before brain overload.

Web 74

Web Social Network Email Networking 74

socalTECH

JULY 19, 2016

Roni Eschel: It's a market network for outdoor sports, a social network for connecting like minded people, sharing conditions and moments in real time, and helping to find the best spots for your favorite sports, like surfing, paddleboard, kite surfing, and so on. Roni Eschel: We are building out the social network now.

Startup 100

Startup Southern California Social Network Activity 100

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

Lower costs to start a business (95% reduction), many more companies created & funded by angels / seed. And as long as private-market capital is available these companies would rather remain private for longer before going public. We all have one-click purchase power (Apple, Google, Amazon, eBay). The iPhone was released.

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

socalTECH

MAY 4, 2011

We started with the initial idea of building vertical, B-to-B social environments, and soon figured out that was a terrible idea. Dan and I, my co-founder, obviously have social networking and advertising backgrounds. And, it is a social network. A social network without people is an oxymoron.

Social Network 273

Social Network Startup West Hollywood Ideas 273

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

By definition, second-stage ventures generally have 10 to 99 employees and/or $750,000 to $50 million in revenue, and see that as just the beginning. According to one study a while back, only 45% of founders plan to exit after stage one, and my guess is that less than half the remainder survive the next stage in their own company.

Startup 97

Startup Sales Metrics Guide 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2019

People judge you and your company in the first few seconds. These days the media formats range from email, phone, radio, television, to social media. Social media includes blogs, social networks, and video-sharing sites. With social media, you are always “on the record” and once you say it, it’s out there forever.

Press 96

Press Entrepreneur Social Media Training 96

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 31, 2011

This comes up a lot and if you are thinking about one of these kinds of startups, definitely take a look at Matching Algorithm. When I talk to the founders of one of these “eHarmony of” companies, one of the hardest problems is how to predict and test the concept in the early days – before you have scale.

eHarmony 204

eHarmony Marketing Startup Zag 204

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 31, 2011

This comes up a lot and if you are thinking about one of these kinds of startups, definitely take a look at Matching Algorithm. When I talk to the founders of one of these “eHarmony of” companies, one of the hardest problems is how to predict and test the concept in the early days – before you have scale.

eHarmony 196

eHarmony Marketing Startup Zag 196

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 14, 2019

Brud , the company behind the virtual celebrity Lil Miquela , is now worth at least $125 million thanks to a new round of financing the company is currently closing. Last year the company scored at least $6 million from investors, including Sequoia Capital , BoxGroup and other, undisclosed, investors. And he’s not alone.

Social Media 261

Social Media Content Media Artificial Inteligence 261

SoCal CTO

MARCH 30, 2010

People seem to be missing the really big picture of the value of social media and really the Internet for that matter. They look at how current social networking sites work and how online and offline relationships currently work and make the assumption that this represents the value proposition.

Social Media 179

Social Media Media Social Network Networking 179

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 22, 2013

Solaborate is a blend of great social network platforms, by taking in all the greatest bits and putting it all into one. Consumers all have access to social networks, but the business-side has never really caught on. Companies can create profiles and grow a community. Each task has a different platform being used.

Social Media 92

Social Media Social Network Tool Mobile 92

socalTECH

APRIL 14, 2011

He was also the founder of Wallstrip, which he sold to CBS back in 2007, is an investor in a significant number of web and social media companies. We've just added a layer on top of all the social networks particular to finance. Through Howards investment in betaworks, he also owns early shares in Twitter.

Ideas 248

Ideas Web Startup Content 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 17, 2015

You see, I’m convinced that the entrepreneur makes the company, not the other way around. We have enough social network startups. Begin with the end in mind - your definition of success based on your principles. Enlarge your circle of influence, and manage risk as an opportunity, not a negative.

Entrepreneur 117

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Social Network 117

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 8, 2010

The difference between Mingly and other companies, is we're event driven--it's all driven from a to-do list, essentially action-based. It also generated search alerts--like a Google alert, for mentions of that person's name, company, and also keywords. I started my first company in 1996, when I was in high school. READ MORE>>.

Startup 145

Startup Social Network Tool Santa Monica 145

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

We spoke with Idris Manley , founder of NativeTung, last week, to hear more about the company. Idris Manley: It's definitely both. We see ourselves providing a single solution for any company, which is managing a global online presence. You could use it to break down language silos in those social networks.

Startup 133

Startup Technical Review Social Network Content 133

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2013

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Until the company name is a famous brand, you are the brand. Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. People buy from people. They will exit quickly.

Search Engine Optimization 105

Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising SEO 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2015

First, pick a name for your company and do the paperwork on starting a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). Use social networking and blogging to get your message out. It will definitely show off your energy and vision, and will make you a more competitive candidate for any role. Learn how to incorporate a business.

Startup 101

Startup Social Network Activity Ideas 101

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2017

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Until the company name is a famous brand, you are the brand. Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and highlight several videos, podcasts, or eBooks of you and your technology.

Search Engine Optimization 54

Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising SEO 54

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2019

This statement leaves no confusion in the minds of investors, or customers, of what the company does and how it is different (and better) than the competition. A new easier to use social network may not get anyone excited. A winning USP example is the FedEx lead “When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.”

.Net 73

.Net Examples Customer Custom 73

socalTECH

DECEMBER 13, 2012

Josh Hartwell: We officially incorporate in 2003, though we started laying groundwork for the company in 2002. That definitely aided in the transition. Josh Hartwell: Free-to-play is definitely the way we see things going now, and in the future. Tell us about Mobile Deluxe and the types of games you develop? READ MORE>>.

Mobile 168

Mobile Java Google Startup 168

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2015

The entrepreneurs I see are always talking about “disruptive innovation” ideas, but the plans I read are more often linear extensions of a current hot offering, like one more social network with the best of Facebook and Twitter, one more dating site dimension, or another “must-have” accessory for smartphones.

Startup 102

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Netflix 102

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 4, 2008

The highly ranked travel site was founded, and bootstrapped, by two brothers--Eric and David Bjorndahl--and we talked with Eric about the company. Eric Bjorndahl: At the highest level, we're a social networking web site for travelers. Eric Bjorndahl: We've definitely seen a slowdown in display advertising.

Startup 100

Startup Sites Social Network Web 100

SoCal CTO

MARCH 12, 2012

Here are some ideas: In your company or other companies. Find the developers in your current company and other companies that you can get inside. Tech Events / Meetups - In Los Angeles, There are lots of Networking Events in Los Angeles and Southern California that are techie oriented. Get to know the developers.

CTO Hire 211

CTO Hire CTO Coach Startup Equity 211

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

First, pick a name for your company and do the paperwork on starting a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). Use social networking and blogging to get your message out. It will definitely show off your energy and vision, and will make you a more competitive candidate for any role. Learn how to incorporate a business.

Help 56

Help Startup Social Network Activity 56

SoCal CTO

MARCH 22, 2007

Its also been interesting to see the interaction of tools involved - Social Networking, Blogging and a Discussion Group. Where I use LinkedIn: * I definitely use LinkedIn for Specific Requests - Ex. I definitely check people out using LinkedIn. However, it definitely has served as a hub. How do you use LinkedIn?

Blogging 150

Blogging CTO Coach CTO Hire Southern California 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

By definition, second-stage ventures generally have 10 to 99 employees and/or $750,000 to $50 million in revenue, and see that as just the beginning. According to one study a while back, only 45% of founders plan to exit after stage one, and my guess is that less than half the remainder survive the next stage in their own company.

Startup 108

Startup Sales Metrics Entrepreneur 108