Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 15, 2014

I was at a dinner recently in Chicago and the table discussion was about building great companies outside of Silicon Valley. It’s not the great companies you build, it’s the silent killer of those that should have been build locally and weren’t. Klout was an LA company – sold for $200 million to Lithium.

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Company Companies Startup Snapchat 369

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2022

Dini, tied together several threads I have often seen in my own experience of mentoring and helping aspiring entrepreneurs. In business, entrepreneurs hunt for new innovative solutions to problems, new ways of beating competitors, new markets, and new customers. These are the ultimate hunters.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Marketing News Slides 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2022

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As an investor, I sometimes see CEOs who negotiate to send their VP of Marketing to talk.

Marketing 113

Marketing Entrepreneur Customer Custom 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 22, 2011

Irvine-based Solarflare is bolstering its marketing expertise, the company said this week, and has hired Scott Woolsey as Director of Brand Development. Woolsey has most recently been at RealtyTrac, CJ Patrick Company, neoBrands, and Shafer Advertising. READ MORE>>.

Marketing 160

Marketing Oracle Mentor Advertising 160

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 16, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that many of you have your most creative ideas for your company’s first big bang , but often get bogged down with details as the company grows. Only when he had a proven solution did he market it. Yet building and maintaining a creative team is a tough challenge.

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Company Companies Ideas Mentor 148

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2016

We believe that it is incrementally harder to differentiate on simple Internet products or mobile apps and while great companies are built doing this, our goal as a fund is to try and fund things that can be 100x returns if they work. In short, we’re after venture returns. They have raised $14 million to date.

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Company Companies CTO Coach Funding 207

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2022

If you are like most entrepreneurs I know, there just aren’t enough hours in a day to get all your own work done, as well as run the many one-hour meetings each team member seems to demand for decisions and mentoring. For one-on-one coaching from the startup founder, I call this approach five-minute mentoring. Marty Zwilling.

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Mentor Technical Review Coach Slides 154

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2011

The following are some lessons I learned about early-stage startup marketing. Because market is such a broad topic, I’m restricting these lessons to PR marketing (as opposed SEO, SEM, product marketing, etc.). The truth is – there isn’t a “right&# answer so for your company.

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Marketing Startup Press Technical Advisors 380

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

I think you’ll learn more in watching the 20-minute interview that Troy Carter and I did than you will in most tech interviews because he cuts down to the raw essence of what it takes any product to be discovered and nurtured and the power of being able to connect the right emerging artist with the right influencers in a market.

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Mentor Venture Capital Marketing Product 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

Every new business dreams of growing from a startup to a global market leader in a few years, like Amazon.com, but that goal is elusive. As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked for the magic that has made Amazon the world's most valuable brand , from a total unknown only twenty years ago.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Customer Custom 123

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

How might our next phase of the journey seem brighter, even with more uncertain days for startups and capital markets? And then in the late 90’s money crept in, swept in to town by public markets, instant wealth and an absurd sky-rocketing of valuations based on no reasonable metrics. What happened?

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Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2012

Startups provide leadership in the market. The servant leader serves the people they lead through mentoring, direct assistance, listening, and acting on their employees input. Does everyone feel a strong sense of community in the company you lead? If the answers surprise you, it may be time to find a leadership mentor.

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Mentor Startup Organization Ideas 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2019

Most of you aspiring entrepreneurs have no idea how dramatically your own role has to evolve as you develop a solution, start a business, and expect it to scale into a successful self-managed company. Lead and mentor team members to run all business areas. All teams must be motivated and engaged by your leadership and mentoring.

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Company Companies Technical Review Startup 99

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2019

Today, we share the thoughts of Greg Monterrosa ,a startup community leader who is currently Startup Weekend organizer, facilitator, and mentor and was a former Founder of MyLLC.com and Hub101. What was the biggest news for you/your company this year? It takes a community of supporters, connectors, mentors, and doers to make it happen.

Startup 196

Startup Thousand Oaks Mentor Ventura 196

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

Sometimes entrepreneurs are so focused on making change happen for others, that they forget that continually changing themselves and their company is equally important. Everyone and every company needs to continually learn from their experience and adapt to a changing world to thrive. Find mentors who have the skills you lack.

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Technical Review Marketing Mentor Entrepreneur 99

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2013

You can build a meaningful company just about wherever these days. ” Most VCs view it as their responsibility to mentor, debate, cajole and generally assist with investments they make. They also view it as a responsibility of the money they manage on behalf of others to provide oversight of these companies. Not easily.

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Venture Capital Marketing Santa Barbara Startup 365

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2016

These days, building a new business is all about visibility and marketing, no matter how great or innovative a solution you bring to the table. In fact, having one marketing guru on the team alone won’t get you very far. The most senior leaders then become coaches and mentors, rather than the source of all decisions.

Marketing 89

Marketing Coach Mentor Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2023

These days, building a new business is all about visibility and marketing, no matter how great or innovative a solution you bring to the table. In fact, having one marketing guru on the team alone won’t get you very far. The most senior leaders then become coaches and mentors, rather than the source of all decisions.

Startup 95

Startup Coach Mentor Social Media 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. Most startups I know have “refined” their target market several times during their rollout. Start early by registering your company, and reserving the name as your website domain name. Make marketing and sales a priority.

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Mentor Startup Social Network Patents 100

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

“As I begin this new role, my goal is to continue to leverage my experience to help generate opportunities for future Techstars LA companies to make meaningful, long-term impact.” ” Kozlov’s appointment comes as the Los Angeles tech ecosystem is having something of a moment. and Los Angeles angel investor. “I’m

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Los Angeles Angel Southern California Social Media 191

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2021

Sometimes entrepreneurs are so focused on making change happen for customers that they forget that continually changing themselves and their company is equally important. Everyone and every company needs to continually learn from their experience and adapt to a changing world to thrive. Find mentors who have the skills you lack.

Entrepreneur 167

Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor Customer 167

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2010

By Jim Flowers A few months ago, Marty invited me to comment on business incubation and what a startup company ought to expect from an incubator. At VT KnowledgeWorks we screen prospective clients for their Market opportunity, for the Magic that they offer to their prospective customers, and for the Moxie displayed by the start-up team.

Incubator 80

Incubator Mentor Capital Startup 80

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2015

According to the firm, the new fellowship program will help mentor vice president level managers of growing LA startup, to help those leaders grow. Karlin said it will run four, master classes each year, targeting 12 to 15 rising leaders--with the hope of helping them drive LA''s next wave of tech companies. READ MORE>>.

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Help Mentor Develop Development 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2023

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. An entrepreneur who can’t manage a plan, probably won’t be able to manage the new business.

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Startup Writing Mentor Sample 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2022

One of the things I’ve learned over my years as a business mentor and investor is that life isn’t fair when it comes to succeeding in business. These authors speak from their own wealth of experience in creating and growing technology startups, marketing, and fundraising. Use friends and mentors with extensive experience to gauge both.

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Help Mentor Paramount Technical Review 130

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2018

As the rate of change continues to increase in business and technology, the more I’m convinced that marketing is the primary key to success for a new venture. Yet I find that many technical founders don’t feel they need it at all, or at best point to one person on the team who is marketing.

Marketing 71

Marketing Tips Technical Review Social Media 71

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2017

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. As an investor, I sometimes see CEOs who negotiate to send their VP of Marketing to talk.

Company 97

Company Companies Entrepreneur Customer 97

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2022

These now provide better quality, better paying, and more exciting jobs than big companies. For example, with a strong background in traditional marketing, you may reposition yourself as a digital marketing expert, with a much better opportunity. Launch a personal marketing plan for visibility. Don’t be too humble.

Social Media 125

Social Media Summary Startup Mentor 125

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2023

Many business leaders I meet in my consulting practice are frustrated by the challenge of getting their teams working together, increasing engagement, and tackling market change requirements. Facilitate coaching and mentoring, inside and outside. These also improve ingenuity and make the teamwork more rewarding for all members.

Coach 117

Coach Mentor Study Activity 117

socalTECH

APRIL 10, 2018

It's a term to help people understand that we're here to help companies get ready to scale. Most of our mentors are people who have been successful entrepreneurs and investors, who have been there, and understand how to get a company to the next sage. Explain what Startup Boost is? How did Startup Boost start?

Startup 172

Startup Seed Funding Mentor Ideas 172

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

Fight the urge do more things, to attract more customers in a broader market. In reality, too many choices actually dilutes customer interest in your existing market, and makes your job of production, marketing, and support much more complex. The company has since gone public, and is still a market leader.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2022

During my many years of mentoring professionals and entrepreneurs in business, I more often see people focusing on how to get their ideas heard , than how to promote themselves. Take full advantage of every mentoring and coaching opportunity, and network with peers both inside and outside the company.

Tips 121

Tips Social Media Mentor Technical Review 121

Berkonomics

MAY 23, 2019

I have a friend in the music business who worked hard to gain introductions to, and become mentored by, several known names in the business. One well known informal mentor called him the “Stevie Wonder of Hip Hop.” If you are the quirkiest of suppliers in your niche, you could create a campaign around your company’s counterculture.

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Mentor Statistics Press Blogging 120

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most have the technical challenges well understood, but many are a bit short on some basic street smarts , or basic business realities. Although Elon Musk doesn’t talk about it very much, he owns over 350 patents through Tesla, just one of his many companies.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Huddlewoo a live video platform set to launch early 2013 to give people the ability to access extraordinary people for one-on-one conversations and mentoring. His main company Providence Holdings has invested in real estate and several small businesses. Two great companies! We caught up with the CEO William Zell.

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Mentor Platform Social Network Chief Technology Officer 94

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2020

Kara said “no” because she wanted to start her own company, which she did and I backed. The core of the investing job of course is investing dollars into startup companies and helping as a mentor, advisor and board member on the companies in which you’ve invested. So What Does All This Mean? And all the platform stuff.

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Venture Capital Startup Invest CitySearch 361

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2017

What most often kills a company is the illusion (or delusion) that all is now stable and everyone can relax. The challenge is to retain the same sense of urgency, energy, commitment, and readiness in a mature company that you felt during the startup stage. Your task is follow-up in support, mentoring, and setting goals.

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Company Companies Startup Mentor 55