Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). And even with the significant cost of credit card debt, many entrepreneurs aggressively use existing cards to finance a startup.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

socalTECH

JUNE 20, 2012

There is a large menu of startup accelerators in the Los Angeles, but one of more established efforts in the area is LaunchpadLA ([link] The effort actually started as an informal mentoring program, but has grown and expanded to follow the accelerator model. For readers, LaunchpadLA is all about?

Class 261

Class Mentor Startup Santa Monica 261

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Do they bet on the entrepreneur (jockey) or the business idea and plan (the horse)? If you are looking for money, this question will certainly come up in one form or another when you approach professional or organized angel or VC investors. Concentrate on a world class team. This is serious stuff. A more complex answer.

Venture Capital 120

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Ideas Summary 120

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Do they bet on the entrepreneur (jockey) or the business idea and plan (the horse)? If you are looking for money, this question will certainly come up in one form or another when you approach professional or organized angel or VC investors. Concentrate on a world class team. This is serious stuff. A more complex answer.

Venture Capital 120

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Ideas Summary 120

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 13, 2018

Too many startup businesses, especially in the technology world, are built upon brand new concepts that have not yet been proven in the field against products from other companies that already have revenues flowing. A valuable lesson from aviation for entrepreneurs. A story of a company that couldn’t see far enough ahead.

Marketing 120

Marketing Class Startup Research 120

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 13, 2018

Too many startup businesses, especially in the technology world, are built upon brand new concepts that have not yet been proven in the field against products from other companies that already have revenues flowing. A valuable lesson from aviation for entrepreneurs. A story of a company that couldn’t see far enough ahead.

Marketing 120

Marketing Class Startup Research 120

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2011

I was recently approached by Fast Company to comment on “crisis management&# at startups in the wake of the Airbnb “ranksackgate&# story. I agreed to do the interview because the story was about what other companies can learn rather than about airbnb in particular. What are the teachable moments?

Startup 329

Startup Press Training Media 329

Berkonomics

JANUARY 6, 2022

First, the marginal exit event: Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event for the early investors, including the entrepreneur or the founders. Promissory notes come before any equity, and most late equity investments come before early equity investments, even of the same class of security.

Venture Capital 156

Venture Capital Sales Pricing Equity 156

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 10, 2012

The innocuous post, which was simply titled " Divshot " generated over 110 comments and was awarded nearly 200 points by Hacker News' notoriously jaded readers. The team subsequently earned a coveted position in Launchpad LA's current accelerator class after winning the Crowdstart LA competition. For us, the audience was perfect.

News 198

News Sites Startup RSS 198

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 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? These are all gigantic categories with hundreds of new startups founded each year.

Southern California 100

Southern California News Platform Class 100

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2010

I grew up believing that human behavior was 20% nature, 80% nurture. In my bones I’m convinced that entrepreneurs are more nature than nurture although I know both are involved. I have recently written extensively on what I believe the 12 characteristics of an entrepreneur are. of all data is made up.

Startup 289

Startup Statistics Entrepreneur Study 289

Berkonomics

APRIL 13, 2017

Conversely, a fast-growing industry lifts most all good participants, making excellent companies excel even more and grow even faster, like a small plane flying at 150 knots with a 75-knot tailwind. Email readers, continue here…] Can you dominate that market? Do you have a world-class management team?

Patents 291

Patents Pricing Ideas Marketing 291

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

I even plan to use it in my upcoming UC Santa Barbara Entrepreneurial Selling class. As Guy notes in the accompanying video interview, his primary goal with Enchantment is to reach a broader audience, beyond the high-tech, startup world. An entrepreneur, in particular, has to be likeable and trustworthy AND have a great product.

Santa Barbara 262

Santa Barbara Technical Review Social Media Startup 262

InfoChachkie

JULY 14, 2009

“You are forty, out of a job, a newlywed, your wife is expecting a baby, you don’t own your own home, you have no specialized qualifications, the only company you ever launched went bankrupt and you have just been sentenced to one year in jail.”. Hint: He was an entrepreneur. The same is true of entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur 153

Entrepreneur Ideas Writing Startup 153

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

We've attempted to do that for the last three years, trying to ferret out exactly who the people--not companies--are to watch in the region's technology industry. Another note: for some nominees, our nominating committee was unable to separate closely tied founders of startups, and so we've listed those founders together for convenience.

SoCalTech 100

SoCalTech Lootcrate Southern California Snapchat 100

InfoChachkie

JULY 21, 2011

We help companies reward their employees with perks. Perks are one of the most cost effective ways for a company to recruit and retain employees. 5) When I interviewed people at my past startups, I rejected them if they asked me about our dental plan, as true entrepreneurs don’t care about such pedestrian benefits.

Summary 246

Summary Tips Sales Entrepreneur 246

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event for the early investors, including the entrepreneur or the founders. Promissory notes come before any equity, and most late equity investments come before early equity investments, even of the same class of security.

Angel 120

Angel Sales Pricing Equity 120

socalTECH

MAY 7, 2010

SciVee recently inked a major deal with Thomson Reuters, and Marc tells us a bit about that deal as well as the company's business. That helps the reader figure out what are the key elements of the research, and whether the reader wants to spend more time digging into the article. How did you get involved in the company?

Journal 124

Journal Technical Review UCSD Web 124

Berkonomics

JANUARY 20, 2010

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder is able to self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). And even with the significant cost of credit card debt, many entrepreneurs aggressively use existing cards to finance a startup.

Venture Capital 174

Venture Capital Invest Class Entrepreneur 174

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 18, 2010

The concept comes from a Stephen Covey book called “ First Things First ,&# which is a worthwhile book ( Wikipedia overview here ) but if you haven’t read his seminal book “ 7 Habits of Highly Effective People &# you should start with that. I thought through the steps: Get a class of interesting companies.

Slides 374

Slides Email Entrepreneur Startup 374

InfoChachkie

APRIL 29, 2013

How can you protect your company''s reputation when a rouge customer unjustly flames your startup? In searching for world-class examples of public responses to irate customers'' complaints, I found one that emanated from an unlikely place, Savusavu, Fiji. Left unattended, such attacks are detrimental.

Social Media 213

Social Media Customer Custom Media 213

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 20, 2014

TechZulu recently sat down with east coast transplant Olenka Polak to talk about startup life in Los Angeles. myLINGO is the first product of her company Oladas, Inc., Explain to our readers why you started your company, and why you created your app myLINGO. What problem were you trying to solve?

Startup 91

Startup Entertainment CTO Coach Screening 91

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. Of course that website isn’t completely up to date but it’s a great resource for seeing the overall picture. But let me start with some data. Much more data in the full post.

Email 339

Email SaaS Venture Capital Google 339

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 24, 2011

Seth attended UCSB but dropped out to start a denim company. . Value Prop Twitter Style : SocialStay is: "An easy to set up & manage mobile platform designed for the hospitality industry. They are starting to see the light. Bootstrapping requires that the entrepreneur go out and talk to their users or clients.

Startup 233

Startup Design Mobile Social Network 233

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2009

Only Hire A+ People Who Punch Above Their Weight Class. This is part of my ongoing posts on Startup Advice. There are people who tell startups that they should hire the most senior people that they can find. Weight Class : Let’s take sales. So what if you’re already a mid-stage startup.

Startup 327

Startup Sales Class CIO 327

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 25, 2010

I recently read a book I’d highly recommend to every reader of this blog called “ Yes, 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive &# by Robert B. Any SoCal entrepreneur raising early-stage money should put Rincon on their short list. John gave me the book after I spoke at his entrepreneurship class at UCSB.

Guide 293

Guide Funding Venture Capital Technical Review 293

socalTECH

DECEMBER 14, 2015

We caught up with Grant to learn more about The Foos and his quest to use the principles of software programming to help kids learn. The original spark came, because my daughter, Naomi, who is six and was in first grade at the time, took a Lego Robotics class. Within six weeks, we had founded the company. That was encouraging.

Software 100

Software Template Startup Study 100

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 17, 2020

Here is a class of investor we’ve covered before, one usually focused upon you and less upon your business case. There is an exemption from the requirements that these investors be accredited with net worth or income minimums to qualify legally to invest in your company. Friends and family investors. We’ll call these “inside angels.”

Equity 156

Equity Technical Review Class Organization 156

Berkonomics

APRIL 3, 2014

We’ve spoken of financing a young company through friends and family, known as “inside angels.” There are three classes of equity investors for early stage businesses that we have not yet considered. This class of investor typically writes checks from $50,000 to $250,000.

Equity 232

Equity Startup Organization Invest 232

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2012

The travel companies offer brochures showing private beaches and phenomenal sights. You can fly first class and not talk to fellow passengers. It’s why I still randomly meet up with people I’ve met on Twitter or this blog. You get a feel for the company “vibe.” ” So true. Office Space.

Startup 319

Startup Organization Entrepreneur Blogging 319

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2011

I’ve just completed an investment in Ryan Carson’s new company, TreeHouse. I know readers of this post aren’t in that demo but that’s what the data says. TreeHouse is also a video company. But Ryan’s vision is much broader, which is what perked up my ears. Americans watch 5.3

Invest 295

Invest Carson Technical Review Education 295

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 18, 2015

Technology riches yield bumper crops in venture capital with new firms and new largesses – the rewards of LPs rediscovering our asset class. Or the influx of massive new amounts of entrepreneurs and wantrepreneurs seeking fortune and fame? On the chart below, 78% of the rounds of 80 $1bn+ companies were led by non VCs.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Pricing Platform Marketing 150

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

Some great content around the intersection of startups and being a Startup CTO in June this year. This continues my series of posts: Top 30 Startup Posts in June 2010 Top 29 Startup Posts May 2010 Startup CTO Top 30 Posts for April 16 Great Startup Posts from March The following are the top items based on social signals.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 7, 2011

Sometime around 2003/04 my technology team turned me on to “Spolsky on Software&# a periodic newsletter served up blog style from Joel Spolsky of FogCreek Software, a maker of bug-tracking software. Blogs weren’t popularized yet so it was an oddity for me to read the founder of a software company spewing out advice.

Software Review 285

Software Review Software Blogging Startup 285