Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 21, 2009

On the third Wednesday of every month I co-chair a meeting called the SoCal VCA (venture capital alliance), which represents participants from all of the top venture capital firms in Southern California as well as prominent members of the Tech Coast Angels (TCA). We feature a prominent speaker at every event.

Venture Capital 241

Venture Capital Technical Review Southern California Company 241

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

Investors are very focused on diligence, on business models that make sense, and those companies that have a definite competitive advantage and defensibility to what they're doing. Mike Napoli: We've revised the way we review companies at the prescreening stage. How are you handling all those applications nowadays?

Tech Coast Angels 231

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2013

One of the largest concentrations of technical talent in Los Angeles is in Glendale, at YP (www.yp.com) -- staffed with a surprising number of Los Angeles startup vets. Our whole product and technology team is about 500 people. Talk about the technology behind your operations here? Louis and Atlanta.

Technical Review 211

Technical Review Glendale Advertising Google 211

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 24, 2020

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and a communications and tech demonstration satellite built by the University of New South Wales, Canberra Space and the Australian government. The launch is a rideshare mission that includes satellites from a range of customers, including NASA, as well as the US.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review SpaceX Los Angeles Customer 118

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 10, 2020

Organizers of the 2020 New York International Auto Show have postponed the event until August due to concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak. The event will now be held August 28 to September 6, according to a statement from Chris Sams, the show’s spokesman. “For Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Technical Review 154

Technical Review Press Los Angeles Organization 154

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

Today, SpotOn said it has closed on $300 million in Series E financing that values the company at $3.15 Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) led both the Series D and E rounds for the company, which says it has seen 100% growth year over year and a tripling in revenue over the past 18 months. Image Credits: SpotOn.

Technical Review 296

Technical Review Software Review Invest Acquisition 296

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 24, 2018

You company is the product and you’re selling an equity ownership in your company but much more broadly you’re selling trust & confidence that you’re going to build something enormously valuable and that you’re going to be enjoyable to work hand-in-hand with over the coming decade of each other’s lives.

Venture Capital 314

Venture Capital Technical Review Invest Slides 314

Tech.Co

JULY 28, 2020

All the optimism in the world couldn't make an in-person CES 2021 happen, as the world's largest trade show has officially been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The cancelling of tech conferences was one of the first signs that the pandemic was going to be disruptive, and not in a fun, entrepreneurial way.

Technical Review 168

Technical Review Conference Press Help 168

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. It’s no fun for either side. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2022

Acknowledge every customer feedback and review. For those of you who are fearful of a spurious negative review, I recommend that you proactively ask every customer for a positive review, such that any negatives will be lost in a sea of positives. Don’t let that one negative stand out as the only review submitted.

Technical Review 142

Technical Review Social Media Conference Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2023

Professional investors and advisors, on the other hand, usually refuse to sign these agreements today due to the risk of litigation and administrative workload, and will walk away. The same is true for people who may approach you at networking events or industry conferences. How can you make this a win-win opportunity?

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Patents Ideas Sample 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. It’s no fun for either side.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 17, 2011

We here at TechZulu have been diligently working away on the next Spotlight: LA Tech event at USC March 3rd. Through the search of what company would be a great presentation of what the Los Angeles tech community is capable of, this company not only fits the description but knocks it out of the park!

Technical Review 84

Technical Review USC Los Angeles Angel 84

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 5, 2020

The Austin launch, which kicks off the week before the city’s SXSW music, tech, film and comedy festival begins, marks the official rollout of the Scoot Mopeds. The SXSW festival has not been cancelled yet, although numerous companies are pulling out over concerns of the coronavirus. But then scooters came en masse.

Technical Review 237

Technical Review Framework Los Angeles Mobile 237

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 8, 2011

The Spotlight is shining down these amazing LA companies! For those who still might be wondering what Spotlight: LA Tech is all about, It’s a screening room for new technology homegrown in our region. It’s a gathering of friends and tech enthusiasts of all stripes. It’s a gallery of great entrepreneurship.

CalTech 100

CalTech Technical Review Company Companies 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 22, 2020

Krisztina Holly: We are an early stage fund, known for our ability to discovery and cultivate very complex science and technology deals. We just launched a third, $100M fund focused on seed to Series A investments in transformative science and technology companies. They have built 18 companies now, worth billions in value.

Southern California 124

Southern California Capital Technical Review Startup 124

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Forming business relationships at the highest level As you follow these insights from ignition to liquidity event, you’ll detect a continuing theme, emphasizing the need for deep and wide relationships that the CEO and senior staff can call upon for advice and guidance.

Class 194

Class Organization Technical Review Activity 194

Tech.Co

MARCH 8, 2018

Fortunately, for those headed to SXSW, Startup Night SXSW 2018 , presented by the Kauffman Foundation and TechCo, will be filled with investors from a multitude of industries who are looking to discover and fund startups building the latest solutions and tech innovations. Lisha Bell, Deal Flow Lead for Pipeline Angels.

Technical Review 70

Technical Review Startup Software Review Entrepreneur 70

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 23, 2021

Gates’ call is being met by startups and public companies hailing from everywhere from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv, London to Los Angeles, and Berkeley to… um… Chicago. The company aims to have its first product approved by European regulators by 2023 and notching commercial sales by 2025.

Chief Technology Officer 261

Chief Technology Officer Technical Review Software Review Product 261

Berkonomics

JUNE 26, 2014

Angel investors, particularly those in organized angel groups, are typically former entrepreneurs who have had successful liquidity events in their pasts, or executives of companies who’ve retired with the funds from their stock options. Networking events are great starting points. Order all 3 Berkonomics books for $49.95,a

Angel 191

Angel Technical Review Coach Entrepreneur 191

socalTECH

JUNE 21, 2018

The event featured a keynote by Bill Gross of Idealab , a panel of VC experts, and dozens of pitches by startups spawned by local universities and research institutions from across Southern California.

Southern California 113

Southern California SoCal Dollar Shave Club Cornerstone OnDemand 113

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Verifying Looking for regular tech news straight to your inbox? Source: hibobbie.com The company also raised an impressive $70 million in funding in June to acquire the legacy pediatric nutrition brand Nature’s One, bringing its total kitty up to $142 million and helping to secure its competitive advantage in the industry going forward.

Startup 213

Startup Generative AI Newsletter Tool 213

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Professional investors and advisors, on the other hand, usually refuse to sign these agreements today due to the risk of litigation and administrative workload, and will walk away. The same is true for people who may approach you at networking events or industry conferences. How can you make this a win-win opportunity?

Ideas 159

Ideas Tips Technical Review Patents 159

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 10, 2011

South, a solid Santa Monica bar and grill was bustling earlier this Tuesday courtesy of the good people at Tech Cocktail and their winter technology mixer. Noisy, but due to a solidly participative crowd in a mix of business, casual, and in between attire. We really enjoyed how open to chatting the companies present were.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Userplane Social Media Santa Monica 63

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 29, 2014

A year ago, I made a promise to myself that somehow I would make it up to San Francisco to experience the ultimate tech paradise. But ever since I started getting involved with the tech scene in Southern California, there’s been a part of me wondering what it might be like to be up there. Be diligent when finding an apartment.

Technical Review 91

Technical Review Newsletter Startup Southern California 91

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

We thought today for our interview, that we'd get an update on the angel investment environment here in Southern California from Scott Sangster , the incoming President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tech Coast Angels , the biggest angel investment group in Southern California. It was actually a really good year last year.

Tech Coast Angels 182

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 182

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 7, 2019

Due to the overwhelming demand to pitch at our last event in Orange County, we're throwing an exclusive PitchFest speed dating event where you will be pitching to over 20 investors one-on-one! At this OC Event, we will be showcasing some of the newest early-stage venture funds and angel groups in the San Diego area!

Orange County 100

Orange County Venture Capital Angel Tech Coast Angels 100

socalTECH

JANUARY 2, 2019

During the holiday season, our tradition over the last few years has been to post reflections on the past year and some predictions from Southern California's technology industry. What was the biggest news for your company in 2018? We continue to focus on companies with Recurring Revenue (SaaS, Subcription) and in FinTech.

Capital 113

Capital Southern California Technical Review SaaS 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In a larger public company, it’s all about making your quarterly numbers, versus investing in strategic growth alternatives that may not pay off until several quarters later. In my experience, even in startups, longer-term strategy often gets pushed off the agenda due to current challenges. Don’t make growth a big-bang event.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Last week a company we enthusiastically backed, uBeam , led by a very special entrepreneur, 25-year-old Meredith Perry , announced a $10 million round of financing. uBeam’s tech does work and I have safely seen it demo’d in the real life many times. They have a can-do attitude that is infectious. Working on it.

Technical Review 417

Technical Review Startup Software Review Course 417

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2012

For the last week of the year, we're featuring the thoughts and reflections of some of the movers and shakers of Southern California's high tech community. We asked the same four questions of a variety of top technology entrepreneurs, investors, and others, to hear what they're thinking about, and are sharing it here over the next week.

Dollar Shave Club 272

Dollar Shave Club Technical Review Santa Monica Southern California 272

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2018

We began the exercise by asking each venture to select two executives, one technical and the other non-technical, to cover Techstar’s pitch rubric (shown below), in 90-seconds. What – if your venture involves deep technology, provide a laypersons’ example of “how” your technology works. 90-Second Is Long Enough.

Technical Review 133

Technical Review Entrepreneur Class Examples 133

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 10, 2013

However due to much controversy and competition, the same hasn’t played true while at large events (*cough* SXSW ). Today that changes as two major brands Callaway and Uber, partner to offer on-demand rides at one of the largest events in sports. This marks the beginning of what could be the next wave in event transportation.

Software Review 104

Software Review Technical Review Social Media Course 104

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 1, 2013

If you caught the firestorm of protest from the tech sector against it, I am here to tell you, believe the hype — this show stinks. If that sounds pretty far removed from the actual start-up technology world — wait, it gets worse. Kim a former dancer/gymnast names her company Shonova, after her favorite gymnastics move.

Startup 90

Startup Technical Review Software Review Outsource Development 90

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2019

Big companies and small, from Amazon to Zappos, have set the bar high along the following lines: Business must be available when and where you are. Company amazingly finds you based on your interests. The best companies do their homework first to find the customers who will appreciate their service.

Customer 84

Customer Custom Company Companies 84

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

TechZulu & Gadget Review present REACH. A quarterly event series seeking to dive deep into what comes next in technology, and giving you the opportunity to experience it first hand with the gadgets on site. Before working in California, Chris worked for Maryland based game companies MicroProse and Games Workshop.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Technology Activision Entertainment 94

Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

If you’re an early-stage entrepreneur, technology has served you well. The barriers to entry when it comes to launching a company require less tension and a lot less capital. In 2006, a passion to help startups grew into Tech Cocktail , a company whose mission was to showcased burgeoning companies in bars around the country.

Startup 141

Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 141