Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

So I ask you – if you’re being reactive to somebody else’s emails are you really being as productive in your company as you could be? You’re writing a freaking blog post! I spend tons of time each day on portfolio company issues. I submitted a term sheet to a company yesterday. “But WAIT !!!

Email 314

Email Product Startup Writing 314

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done. I’m not saying that lawyers were my screening process – simply that they knew about deals early on and they had voted with their time and pocketbooks so I knew I had a degree of filtering. I attended events.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Startup Pricing Invest 347

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Because entrepreneurs often went to lawyers at their earliest stages to get their company registration done. I’m not saying that lawyers were my screening process – simply that they knew about deals early on and they had voted with their time and pocketbooks so I knew I had a degree of filtering. I attended events.

Startup 361

Startup Venture Capital Pricing Technical Review 361

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 14, 2014

It’s why the first company I ever invested in as a VC – Invoca – just announced a $20 million funding by Accel Partners. It’s why opt-in marketing databases can be so incredibly valuable for companies like Gilt Groupe, One King’s Lane and AdoreMe. Much more data in the full post. PHONE CALLS. Not so fast.

Email 339

Email SaaS Venture Capital Google 339

socalTECH

MARCH 21, 2014

He started the group because he wanted to help companies succeed. The premise was, let''s help companies succeed, and cut ourselves a fair deal, and treat entrepreneurs in a decent way. We want to help companies find success, with our help on board, our connections, and advice. It''s more than money.

Pasadena Angels 162

Pasadena Angels Pasadena Angel Startup 162

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 26, 2011

It’s the hardest thing to teach people who come out of big companies, out of conservative jobs. At the big consulting firms, investment banks and established large technology companies we’re taught to produce long reports, make sure that every document is perfect quality and that every possible bit of diligence has been done.

Startup 335

Startup Technical Review Framework Entrepreneur 335

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

If you truly believe that you, your company and your products are exceptional and your company will be valuable then you’re actually doing them a FAVOR by helping them invest in your startup. an investment in your company. In any event this is a “screening meeting” or as I’ve called on my graphics an “introduction” to the firm.

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 22, 2011

As you may know I outlined my rules for maximum impact at events / conferences before SXSW began. And we’re here with Dan Martell , who like any great startup founder is wearing his company t-shirt for Flowtown. Why do your eyes still look so bloodshot? And I’ve learned a new term, I arrived home with SxSARS).

Ideas 294

Ideas Startup Marketing Pricing 294

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 10, 2010

Want to take a year pursuing your dream to write a screenplay, travel through Asia, run a triathlon or start your own fashion line? 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. If not now, then when? I chose a different path.

Startup 295

Startup Email Technical Review Course 295

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 17, 2011

So I thought I’d write a post about how I drive my personal creativity. (A This applies equally to VCs, startups & big company executives. The key is channeling what you learn when you drive onto paper for retention purposes so you have to write it down soon afterward. So no whinging about what a long post this is!

Writing 356

Writing Startup Ideas Summary 356

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2010

It’s a shame because the ability to nail these presentations at key conferences can be once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to influence journalists, business partners, potential employees, customers and VCs. This was evident at the Twiistup pre-event company pitch last week at UCLA. I was the judge. It was mostly painful.

Startup 362

Startup Twiistup Slides Screening 362

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 29, 2014

” He was writing to people. Not replying to anybody on Twitter is like speaking on stage at a conference and then sneaking out the back without shaking any hands. To get on his radar screen. Many companies have tried to build a layer around Twittter or build it into their own products. Many people. Any people.

Social Media 307

Social Media Blogging Media Startup 307

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2009

I’ve watched people who went to the top schools, got the best grades and worked for all the right companies flame out. This post covers the first out of 10 that I’ll write about. When I launched my second company I was new to Silicon Valley. My company was relatively unknown. Next on the checklist.

Entrepreneur 338

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Google 338