Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2016

If you define your self-worth as an entrepreneur by how busy you are, it’s time to find another lifestyle. For survival, entrepreneurs need to be all about accomplishing results that matter for themselves, their team, and their customers. We all know people who are extraordinarily busy, but never seem to accomplish anything.

Product 60

Product Entrepreneur Framework Social Media 60

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 26, 2022

Most entrepreneurs I know admit to a poor first media interaction, and many are still waiting for the instant replay. He provides 101 two-page lessons divided into eight learning categories that I like as follows: Learn the ground rules for traditional media. People judge you and your company in the first few seconds.

Media 118

Media Tips Social Media Startup 118

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 2, 2011

It’s apropos because there is so much noise these days with email, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, web shows, etc. Here’s the thing: entrepreneurs who aren’t at all of our private meetings really didn’t know what do think about the situation. It sure wasn’t when I was a first-time entrepreneur.

Email 287

Email Blogging Venture Capital Writing 287

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 27, 2013

But some larger companies, such as Canonical, came to the crowdfunding community to help them fund projects like the Ubuntu Edge. Even if Canonical did not reach its goal, the campaign has given other larger companies to look into crowdfunding other future projects. If you want to build up your momentum fast, create an email list.

Startup 74

Startup Funding Capital Help 74

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2012

Most entrepreneurs I know admit to a poor first media interaction, and many are still waiting for the instant replay. He provides 101 two-page lessons divided into eight learning categories as follows: Learn the ground rules for traditional media. People judge you and your company in the first few seconds.

Training 93

Training Media Entrepreneur Social Media 93

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 18, 2012

It’s what life was like as an entrepreneur. But this is nothing like the stress of being an entrepreneur. What’s it really like being an entrepreneur? You probably follow some high-profile entrepreneurs on Instagram and Twitter and see conference pictures of them in Davos, Mexico, Monaco or wherever.

Blogging 420

Blogging Press Entrepreneur Venture Capital 420

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 23, 2011

I took the opportunity this past week to publish summary notes of some of the VCs and entrepreneurs I had interviewed on This Week in VC. One of my goals in doing the show was not only to educate entrepreneurs but also to put a human face on many of the VCs in our industry as VCs can be hard to get to know. Thank you. (if 1:00 – 3:40).

Capital 265

Capital Venture Capital Veoh Startup 265

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 29, 2013

You got to keep the name of the new company – ecomom. We didn’t do so well in that category in the past. I don’t think we can fund in that category, Jody. I didn’t so much want to see a baby products company make money as I wanted to see you succeed. And how to think about being an entrepreneur.

Venture Capital 406

Venture Capital Study Writing News 406

socalTECH

JUNE 8, 2020

How did the company start? You have lots of control over it, unlike email, and we think it's a great way to get people to engage, and to ultimately improve their finance. We curate the best products within each category of finance. Scott Grimes: I previously started a company, Uproxx Media, which I sold to Time Warner Music.

Content 124

Content Social Media Startup Artificial Inteligence 124

socalTECH

APRIL 2, 2014

Pasadena-based Smartify (www.getsmartify.com)''s CEO, Carla Bourque , recently talked to us about the company''s online marketing platform, and how it differentiates itself from a lot of other competitors in the market. Carla Bourque: The company has been based here since day one. What is Smartify? How''d you end up in Pasadena?

Marketing 196

Marketing Pasadena Platform Email 196

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Whenever a VC assesses a potential investment opportunity, they attempt to match the entrepreneur(s), their solution, and intended markets with a pattern they have previously encountered. Conversely, even if a venture is pre-revenue, the operational risk is reduced if the entrepreneurs have a relevant track record of success.

Technical Review 244

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital RSS 244

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

There was a lot of consumer internet activity again…resurgence of things, but it was still mysterious, venture capital was still kind of closed, 1st time entrepreneurs had a lot of questions that were unanswered, and there was still some sort of hand waiving around all the financing stuff and so we took it on….”. My Skype address is bradfeld.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 10, 2010

But if you do and if you sit on the sidelines waiting for the day when the circumstances are right for you to start a company you never will. years in LA (early 90’s) many of my friends left to start companies in Silicon Valley. And from email we added IM, Facebook and LinkedIn where people contact us. Yeah, right!

Startup 295

Startup Email Technical Review Course 295

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 15, 2012

One the most frequent questions asked of me by entrepreneurs is, "How can I become a Venture Capitalist?" The inquiry is common because being a VC is (to an entrepreneur, at least) a sexy job. I define a "VC" as, "a professional investor who deploys third-party funds into relatively early-stage companies." Microscopic Industry.

Venture Capital 242

Venture Capital Technical Review Invest RSS 242

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. What is CareerArc?

Content 193

Content Social Network Coach Help 193

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 18, 2010

I wrote out 3 pages of bullet point notes on paper and delivered a 20-minute speech to a crowd of entrepreneurs (which included the Minister of Technology for China). I though to myself, “too many young entrepreneurs in LA seem to feel pressured by NorCal VCs to move to the Bay Area. Get some seasoned entrepreneurs to come.

Slides 374

Slides Email Entrepreneur Startup 374

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2015

I rarely talk to any startup entrepreneur or VC who doesn’t feel it and somehow long for simpler times despite the benefits we all enjoy from increased enthusiasm for our sector. For entrepreneurs there’s too much money sloshing around. We are experiencing a frenetic time.

Software Review 150

Software Review Startup Venture Capital Invest 150

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

We received so much positive feedback from our This Week in Venture Capital show walking through valuation calculations & term sheets that we decided to do a Q&A show this week to address topics that entrepreneurs want to learn about. I explain in the video what happened in my first company (e.g. Minutes 11-16 in the video. <<

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Capital Startup Pricing 282

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2011

I was an angel investor in his company, made a bunch of calls on his behalf and then I personally sent it out on AngelList. I was saying that I was happy it was all out in the open because I felt at least everybody could now understand the issues & opportunities from the perspectives of angels, entrepreneurs and VCs.

Startup 292

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Summary 292

socalTECH

JULY 23, 2010

Matt Edelman: The last company I ran and co-founded PeopleJam, which was a social media business for people interested in self improvement. Matt Edelman: Before I started, the company had acquired a company called StyleHive, which also owns MyStyleDiary. Those, ultimately, still drive the creation of content across the category.

Newsletter 165

Newsletter Sites Content Advertising 165

socalTECH

MAY 17, 2019

Loo--who was the very first employee at ServiceNow--explains what that means, and why companies use the startup's software. The company is all about data solutions which combine meaningful application frameworks together. I have been in IT service management for over 30 years, at companies even before ServiceNow.

SaaS 113

SaaS Startup Custom Customer 113

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

I’m super excited to announce that GRP Partners led the investment in Ethan Anderson’s new company MyTime (link has LA-based merchants but will give you a good feel for the product). BuildOnline (the company I founded) has just announcement plans to be more aggressive in growing in the US. Let me not bury the lede.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

SoCal Delicious

MAY 6, 2012

Our Best Interviews Via Email: Monthly. where entrepreneurs share their stories. 63 Los Angeles Entrepreneurs To Be Proud Of By mario on May 2, 2012 in Features , grid. Free Corporations For First-Time Entrepreneurs. Right now they’re setting up 500 free corporations for first time entrepreneurs. Idea Mensch.

Los Angeles 78

Los Angeles Entrepreneur Angel Fractional CTO 78

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 7, 2018

I literally have a Google Sheet for nearly every portfolio company who is in the process of raising a round. If you’re a SaaS company and the firm is a “consumer” firm (or vice versa) then don’t waste your time. The final pass is “have they invested in any companies in my space before?” The third-pass is geography.

Funding 215

Funding Startup Venture Capital News 215

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

This is going to be fairly specific to the company. Since I fall into the expert category, my belief is that you should be pretty open with me. I also will point out that in the The 15 Mistakes of First Time Entrepreneurs : 9. This will only be disclosed when there is an NDA in place. How Stealthy Should You Be?

Startup 211

Startup IP Ideas Patents 211

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

This is going to be fairly specific to the company. Since I fall into the expert category, my belief is that you should be pretty open with me. I also will point out that in the The 15 Mistakes of First Time Entrepreneurs : 9. This will only be disclosed when there is an NDA in place. How Stealthy Should You Be?

Startup 198

Startup IP Ideas Patents 198

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

I recently read a post over on VentureHacks titled, “ Top Ten Reasons Entrepreneurs Hate Lawyers &# written by Scott Walker (who blogs on legal issues for entrepreneurs ). Many people start companies arse backwards. This is one of the biggest source of future problems for the company. the link is here.

Startup 318

Startup IP Southern California Entrepreneur 318

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

I mean, that''s what entrepreneurs do every day. But that''s what entrepreneurs do everyday. Brian began his interest in the Internet in 1994, as a means of selling his publishing company''s books. There''s no business category. Fortunately, Brian''s ability to improvise kept the company alive. "(At) In His Dorm.

Startup 223

Startup Yahoo Santa Barbara Slides 223

socalTECH

JUNE 9, 2010

To understand why investors are finding the firm so interesting, and why the company raised such a large round, we spoke with Adam Bernhard , CEO of the firm, about the company and funding, how email has allowed the firm to get past the "Google trap" of marketing on the web, and where the firm is going.

Sales 224

Sales Email Startup Sample 224

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2014

Most entrepreneurs I know admit to a poor first media interaction, and many are still waiting for the instant replay. He provides 101 two-page lessons divided into eight learning categories that I like as follows: Learn the ground rules for traditional media. People judge you and your company in the first few seconds.

Press 105

Press Social Media Startup Training 105

SoCal CTO

APRIL 8, 2010

Death By Competitive Analysis - Steve Blank , March 1, 2010 Trading emails with a startup CEO building an iPhone app, I asked him why potential customers would buy his product. The 10 Most Tempting Software Startup Categories - OnStartups , March 1, 2010 I’ve been in the software startup business for a long time. And it made me sad.

Startup 150

Startup Software Review Competition SoCal 150

socalTECH

DECEMBER 11, 2017

Scott tells us how the company--backed by St. Cloud Capital--has managed to coax those equipment rental yards into the digital age, and how the company has tackled other challenges in focusing its business. Scott Cannon: We are an online marketplace for companies in the rental construction equipment space. What is BigRentz?

Startup 174

Startup Metrics Custom Customer 174

socalTECH

AUGUST 8, 2018

We spoke with Dave Fink , CEO and co-founder of Posite, and Jonathan Neddenriep , co-founder and CTO of the company, to learn more. If you seen the entrepreneurs that disrupt big categories, they came at it from a very different approach, which is not iterative, but is transformative. So, where's the company now?

CTO Hire 100

CTO Hire Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Marketing 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 1, 2010

And most companies don’t do enough between board meetings. For the record, this is not a secret, coded messages to companies for which I am on the board! I found that too often it was an update meeting for investors rather than a meeting for my company to get value. But that isn’t what this post is about.

Startup 301

Startup Venture Capital Software Review Email 301

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2017

Most entrepreneurs I know admit to a poor first media interaction, and many are still waiting for the instant replay. He provides 101 two-page lessons divided into eight learning categories that I like as follows: Learn the ground rules for traditional media. People judge you and your company in the first few seconds.

Media 55

Media Social Media Startup Training 55

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

I’m an entrepreneur at heart so I’m always inspired when I hear stories about innovation. I’ve always been a big believer that just a couple of key individuals make all of the difference in a company’s success. It’s why my investment philosophy is called, “ the entrepreneur thesis.&#.

Venture Capital 317

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Press 317

socalTECH

MAY 11, 2010

We caught up with EcoMom CEO Jody Sherman , to learn more about the company. Jody--an experienced entrepreneur who was most recently co-founder of a firm he sold to the Virgin Group, and has been involved with such firms as Lycos, Buydirect.com, and Xoom--told us the story of EcoMom, plus how he connected with McClure on the investment.

Software Review 200

Software Review Commerce Startup Sites 200