TechCrunch LA

JUNE 3, 2022

billion company in the brutally competitive beauty industry, especially one with such broad appeal. After all, Glossier’s founder and CEO Emily Weiss is very, very far from the first entrepreneur to profit off of our desire to look good. Then, Amoruso started a company called Girlboss that was likened to “Linkedin for Women.”

Startup 280

Startup Netflix Los Angeles Innocal 280

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 27, 2019

, which offers up dog walking and boarding via its app, has named a new CEO, saying that it has appointed its current Vice President of Product, Partnerships, and Corporate Development at Wag Labs to its top post. Garrett Smallwood will become CEO, and also join the company's board of directors. According to Wag!,

Venture Capital 113

Venture Capital Los Angeles Entrepreneur Capital 113

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 19, 2020

A new initiative from a Los Angeles investor is taking stock of venture firms and their ability to commit capital in an effort to match firms that are still open for business and cutting checks to startups that are fundraising in the age of COVID-19. PLEASE RT to spread the word. — Laurent Grill (@laurentgrill) March 18, 2020.

Venture Capital 135

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Los Angeles 135

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2023

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. Strategic partnerships in this context can take the form of joint ventures, intellectual property licensing, outsourcing agreements, or even cooperative research. Up-sell related products or cross endorsement. Willing to learn from each other.

Startup 105

Startup Outsource Competition Entrepreneur 105

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

These sites (so far) have managed to balance facilitating product discovery and purchase capabilities with users'' desires to entertain and educate themselves without feeling like they are in a marketplace. A version of this article previously appeared on Forbes. John Greathouse : Albert, thanks for taking the time to chat.

Entrepreneur 210

Entrepreneur Commerce Sites Social Network 210

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2023

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market research data. Peruse company reports from your business domain. Modern libraries are still worth a visit.

Statistics 120

Statistics Research Report Newsletter 120

socalTECH

DECEMBER 31, 2018

Editor's note: As we head into the new year, we've been featuring reflections on 2018 from notable investors, entrepreneurs, and others from Southern California's technology community. Here's Marc Averitt of Okapi Venture Capital (www.okapivc.com). What was the biggest news for your company in 2018? READ MORE>>.

Venture Capital 113

Venture Capital Capital Southern California News 113

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over twice as many companies, according to a classic Crunchbase article. Yet, in my view, every early-stage entrepreneur should be exploring this new funding alternative before approaching VCs.

Guide 136

Guide Venture Capital Funding Class 136

InfoChachkie

JUNE 3, 2013

John Lusk, along with his Co-Author Kyle Harrison, leveraged their humble company''s newsletter into The MouseDriver Chronicles , a New York Times bestselling book. Upon graduation from Wharton, John and Kyle launched a startup based upon a simple, pedestrian product: a computer mouse shaped like the head of a golf driver.

Newsletter 233

Newsletter Startup Entrepreneur Writing 233

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2015

If you think you are the perfect fit for the entrepreneur lifestyle, but you’re not yet sure if you’re ready to start your own, then I recommend that you take a job with an existing startup first to validate the culture realities against your dream. Hang out where entrepreneurs meet. Explore investor websites and conferences.

Sample 101

Sample Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2021

Most entrepreneurs expect to face the “normal” challenges of starting a business, which include finding the right opportunity, building and executing a winning plan, and financing their venture. Sometimes entrepreneurs are so set on creating a successful business, they forget to create one that they love to work on every day.

Startup 152

Startup Training Entrepreneur Course 152

InfoChachkie

MAY 5, 2016

Given TimeHop’s failed experiment, I was especially intrigued when I learned that a team of a dozen remote entrepreneurs hack the typical corporate structure and creates a company that generated nearly $100 million in revenue. Some companies allow employees to work remotely one day a week or on an ad hoc basis.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Santa Barbara Email Outsource Development 100

InfoChachkie

MARCH 2, 2015

Despite the fact that I teach entrepreneurship at UC Santa Barbara , I do not believe that entrepreneurs are created in classrooms. Instead of trying to teach students to be an entrepreneur, I expose my entrepreneurial students to tools that will help them solve real-world problems. I remind my students that, “time wounds all heels.”

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Class Course Case Study 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2019

Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. What was the biggest news for you/your company this year? We'll be featuring contributions all through the holiday season. READ MORE>>.

Startup 100

Startup News SaaS Entrepreneur 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2019

Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. What was the biggest news for you/your company this year? What was the biggest news for you/your company this year?

SoCal 140

SoCal Southern California Startup Venture Capital 140

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2014

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype, and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market-research data. Peruse company reports from your business domain. entrepreneur investor market research sizing startup'

Marketing 97

Marketing Entrepreneur Statistics Research 97

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 5, 2015

In his premier film appearance in the blaxploitation send-up “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” Chris Rock inadvertently addresses a key pricing challenge faced by most entrepreneurs. A recurring entrepreneurial challenge is to determine the optimal price of a new product, especially absent a directly competitive alternative. Price = Value.

Pricing 100

Pricing Product Startup Customer 100

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 29, 2014

Something in both companies isn’t working, which is why they come together. As many people know I funded a company called Moonfrye almost 2 years ago led by two amazing women – Kara Nortman & Soleil Moon Frye. I’m pretty on record as saying I don’t think many private-to-private tech mergers make sense.

Startup 296

Startup Southern California Marketing Activity 296

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2013

Many entrepreneurs I know don’t realize that the language they learned in the corporate world, or even their recent MBA class, won’t get them ahead in the startup world today. As a reality check, try this quick test of your entrepreneur savvy. As a reality check, try this quick test of your entrepreneur savvy.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Startup Web Equity 109

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2023

Many entrepreneurs are convinced that banks are not worth the effort for startups, especially early-stage ones that still don’t have a revenue stream, or collateral to back up their financing needs. Show focus and your understanding that your company is something more than just a good idea. A winning product or service.

Equity 121

Equity Technical Advisors Funding Ideas 121

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2020

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. Strategic partnerships in this context can take the form of joint ventures, intellectual property licensing, outsourcing agreements, or even cooperative research. Up-sell related products or cross endorsement. Willing to learn from each other.

Startup 126

Startup Outsource Competition Acquisition 126

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2020

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype, and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market research data. Peruse company reports from your business domain. Modern libraries are still worth a visit.

Marketing 157

Marketing Statistics Research Report 157

socalTECH

MAY 10, 2012

Los Angeles-based online advertising firm Rubicon Project is significantly boosting its executive ranks today, saying that it has named a new CTO, General Counsel, and SVP of Product Management to the firm. READ MORE>>.

Ticketmaster 133

Ticketmaster Clearstone Yahoo Web 133

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 4, 2014

Thompson''s jaded take on the travel industry, I wondered if there was a travel company that bucked his stereotypes and properly balanced making bold destinations accessible while respecting the unspoiled resources and culture that made the locales interesting in the first place. but we don''t.

Entrepreneur 187

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Resource 187

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

One of the big decisions every aspiring entrepreneur has to make is when to quit your current job to devote yourself fulltime to your new startup. Some of you are so committed to the new passion that you quit your day job early, and dedicate all your time and resources to the new venture. Which is right?

Startup 153

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Statistics 153

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Venture Capital is a game of pattern matching. 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. A version of this article previously appeared on Forbes. Hairy Pattern Matching.

Technical Review 244

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital RSS 244

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.

Company 111

Company Companies Startup Twiistup 111

InfoChachkie

JUNE 3, 2013

John Lusk, along with his Co-Author Kyle Harrison, leveraged their humble company''s newsletter into The MouseDriver Chronicles , a New York Times bestselling book. Upon graduation from Wharton, John and Kyle launched a startup based upon a simple, pedestrian product: a computer mouse shaped like the head of a golf driver.

Newsletter 133

Newsletter Startup Entrepreneur Writing 133

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

I was having dinner with a friend last night and we were chatting about venture capital and a bit about what I’ve learned. Today we’re in a world where 10 accelerators are bombarding you with emails to meet their 10-15 companies. Products that ship late and place entire companies under serious stress.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 19, 2018

With lead investors like Fika Ventures and Fathom Capital, and co-investors, including Toyota AI Ventures, Ubiquity Ventures, Riot.vc, Osage University Partners and Stage Venture Partners, Elementary Robotics is readying itself for commercial pilots with a few undisclosed customers as it proves out its technology.

Los Angeles 207

Los Angeles Angel Artificial Inteligence CalTech 207

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2010

Every so often a promising entrepreneur seems to freeze in the oncoming headlights and gets run over by his competition. The company's market is the same. The only difference might be that the economy is down, resulting in a lower valuation for Internet ventures, and that makes all the difference. The team is the same.

Entrepreneur 87

Entrepreneur Ideas Research Demand 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2020

Many entrepreneurs are convinced that banks are not worth the effort for startups, especially early-stage ones that still don’t have a revenue stream, or collateral to back up their financing needs. The first thing to remember is that banks only do loans – they don’t do equity investments like angels and venture capitalists (and vice versa).

Technical Advisors 162

Technical Advisors Tips Startup Equity 162

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

This is part of my ongoing Raising Venture Capital (VC) series. Yesterday I had lunch with a really interesting and capable serial entrepreneur who is raising his A round. And I had 2 “strategic&# investors in my first company. And I had 2 “strategic&# investors in my first company. it sure is tempting.

Venture Capital 279

Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur Framework 279

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over twice as many companies, according the Crunchbase. They have too many highly paid partners, fat fees, an aging corporate infrastructure and difficulty raising money from institutions.

Funding 125

Funding Venture Capital Startup Class 125

socalTECH

AUGUST 20, 2018

What's the best way to build a strong portfolio of technology companies, which tap into the broadest markets and avoids the "bubble" group-think of many venture firms? For this morning's interview, we sat down with Marlon Nichols , co-founder and Managing Partner of Los Angeles-based Cross Culture Ventures (crossculturevc.com).

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Invest Capital Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

You don’t have to be a new venture advisor like me to hear all the excuses for not starting your own business. Unfortunately, sorting out facts from excuses in the new venture arena has always been difficult, and today’s information overload has made it that much harder. You need a business degree to start a venture today.

Startup 72

Startup Entrepreneur Incubator Guide 72

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

How do you take and create an entrepreneurial environment, within a big corporation? We sat down with Brian McCarthy , SVP of Dentistry.com (www.dentistry.com), a startup within a much larger company Futuredontics, which itself is a part of a big company called Sirona. What is Dentistry.com? They bought this business 4.5

Startup 113

Startup CitySearch Outsource Development Organization 113