Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

With the enormous changes to our economies and financial markets?—?how how on Earth could the venture capital market stand still? One of the most common questions I’m asked by people intrigued by but also scared by venture capital and technology markets is some variant of, “Aren’t technology markets way overvalued?

Venture Capital 471

Venture Capital Writing Invest Pricing 471

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2020

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). You have to get past how great the product is to address clearly what your business rationale is, why it is different from the competition's, and why it will succeed. An impressive team.

Technical Advisors 162

Technical Advisors Tips Startup Equity 162

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2021

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat.

Startup 160

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 160

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Watch that patent provide a real barrier to competitive entry. In my experience, both are always required in heavy doses.

Startup 118

Startup Satisfaction Customer Custom 118

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Being the leader doesn’t mean more equity, nor does it mean the leader will necessarily be CEO. The combination of technical insight, founder authority, and sales experience is a hard-to-beat advantage in a competitive market.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 123

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 10, 2021

Overall, Klarna is live in 20 markets, has more than 90 million global active users and more than 2 million transactions a day conducted on its platform. Klarna has entered six new markets this year alone, including France and New Zealand, where it just launched this week. in markets such as New York and Los Angeles.

Los Angeles 266

Los Angeles Funding CIO Marketing 266

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Watch that patent provide a real barrier to competitive entry. In my experience, both are always required in heavy doses.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

SoCal CTO

APRIL 25, 2017

I've removed the two words that described the market - otherwise this is verbatim. I'm working on a start up idea in the XXX market with my partner and we are currently looking for full stack developer to join us as a technical co-founder. I've written before about having an Initial Conversation with a Potential CTO.

Email 150

Email Startup Develop Development 150

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

Revolution, the parent company of Revolution Ventures , the Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and Revolution Growth , has evangelized its approach to backing companies in emerging markets, helping promote entrepreneurialism in geographies often overlooked by Silicon Valley’s Patagonia vest-wearing venture capitalists. It’s a flawed strategy.’

Venture Capital 211

Venture Capital Funding Seed Funding Activity 211

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2014

The speaks to the continued confidence in the venture capital markets and as I had predicted some time ago the VC markets right now are a great place to invest – especially relative to other places to put one’s money. Or perhaps VCs like to carefully guard who has bankrolled them so as not to attract competition?

Venture Capital 396

Venture Capital Funding Technical Review Startup 396

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 8, 2020

He did note that in the four markets where the company has gone live since launching its business in January 2019 — San Diego, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire , and Sacramento — has yielded an annualized revenue run rate of over $400 million in gross merchandise value (the total value of home sales transacted on its platform).

Sales 282

Sales Demand San Diego Funding 282

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 28, 2020

As the co-founder of Saucey and now chief executive of PCH, Chris Vaughn, said: “Everyone in the liquor industry is thinking about the marijuana business and everyone in marijuana is looking at liquor.” The broader cannabis market has largely struggled due to weak underlying fundamentals and poor management.

Company 188

Company Companies Los Angeles San Diego 188

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 29, 2020

Kleiner Perkins , one of the most storied franchises in venture capital, has already invested much of the $600 million it raised last year and is now going back out to the market to raise its 19th fund, according to multiple sources. We went out to market to LPs. — Dan Primack (@danprimack) January 29, 2020. ”

IBM 164

IBM IBM Venture Capital Invest 164

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 1, 2012

Or do you toss your hat into the ring with an already existing concept, making a clone in hopes to snatch away market share? You have to know your markets, you need to make sure you have qualified people creating the product, and you need to find something that’s going to make you stand-out in comparison to all the other noise out there.

Marketing 97

Marketing Startup Software Review Competition 97

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 7, 2017

One great source for coaches is among fellow members of a CEO roundtable organization, Young Presidents Organization or similar association where you are comfortable with the coach candidate and know something about his or her style. Another is through industry associations or civic groups such as Rotary or Lions Club. Original 1994 book.

Coach 243

Coach Organization Resource IBM 243

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 4, 2015

Valuation is one of those ubiquitous words: at least when it comes to discussions around startups — and, of course, stock market multiples. For example, there are the private company valuation figures that get bandied about: think the numbers people reference for Uber and AirBnB for example. Market sentiment. Your investor base.

IP 40

IP Equity Examples Guide 40

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Being the leader doesn’t mean more equity, nor does it mean the leader will necessarily be CEO. The combination of technical insight, founder authority, and sales experience is a hard-to-beat advantage in a competitive market.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 123

socalTECH

DECEMBER 12, 2013

We caught up with CEO Simon Anderson to learn more about the big debt funding round and how it came about, the complexities of providing founder liquidity in a bootstrapped company--and how the company is looking to use those funds to take the company to the next level. Our target market is entrepreneurs, creatives, and developers.

Software Review 238

Software Review Cloud Computing Technical Review Platform 238

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

For example, if you have ever watched the Shark Tank show on TV, they always ask about the cost of customer acquisition. I often hear about efforts that have been stalled for several years, pending more funding, economic change, or other priorities. Postulate competitive reactions and your responses.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

A while back I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ For a Startup, Two Heads are Always Better Than One.” If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done. Passion for what they do.

Software Review 103

Software Review Equity CTO Hire Outsource Development 103

Xconomy

JUNE 14, 2019

The US Federal Trade Commission wants yet more information about the buyout, and overseas, the UK Competition and Markets Authority opened a separate investigation. This past week, antitrust regulators once again delayed Roche’s planned $4.8 billion buyout of gene therapy developer Spark Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ONCE ).

News 97

News Competition Acquisition Report 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2022

Don’t wait for the harsh reality of the demanding business world to start thinking about these tradeoffs. The right time to jump is a function of favorable career, personal, and market circumstances. You have very little money, and you don’t want to give away your equity. The right time to start dilemma. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 130

Startup USC Entrepreneur Statistics 130

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Capitalism is fundamentally about timing, since market competition is about finding opportunities before others. Every single one of our professional decisions is about timing, and yet, we do so little to practice and perfect it. We talked a lot about why we can’t build infrastructure in America yesterday.

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Xconomy

MAY 17, 2019

During his tenure as FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb often spoke about generics as a market force that could help tame climbing drug prices. A lawsuit is now claiming that many top generic drug makers routinely conspired to avoid competition. But such tools only work when companies play fair.

Pricing 79

Pricing Competition Tool Marketing 79

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Entrepreneurs who are looking to attract investors need to develop and pitch a plan -- preferably written -- that answers every potential investor question about your startup before it is asked. Investors want to hear about customers with money who have a painful problem that you can solve now.

Invest 108

Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2019

Ian talked to us about the rewards and challenges of being an entrepreneur, plus how important it is to manage lifetime value (LTV) of a customer versus customer acquisition cost (CAC) in making a successful company. Ian Chen: In my previous life, I was working in private equity in LA. Ian Chen: It's completely different.

Startup 113

Startup Equity Customer Custom 113

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

The most important advice I could give you before you set out in fund raising mode is to understand that fund-raising a sales & marketing process and needs to be managed. Today I want to talk about the process and how to allocate your time. The first in the series is “ Lemons Ripen Early ,” which also has a link to other posts.

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 11, 2014

For instance, a team comprised solely of engineers is greatly handicapped, as is a team exclusively made up of sales and marketing executives. Competitive Rivalry - Constructive internal competition that does not derail a startup from achieving its strategic goals will enhance your teams overall performance. Share and Enjoy.

Startup 257

Startup Santa Barbara Competition Journal 257

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. That’s about the same ratio that angel investors claim. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

With the advent and popularity of crowdfunding platforms, including Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , as a winning alternative for funding your new venture, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs are confused about the need to ever seek a professional angel investor. They don’t get excited by early stage research, development, or marketing hype.

Funding 119

Funding Startup Platform Examples 119

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. That’s about the same ratio that angel investors claim. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts.

Resource 159

Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 14, 2019

in a funding led by Orange County's Okapi Venture Capitalis looking to help direct to consumer brands use better data to direct their marketing and other efforts. Dan LeBlanc: Daasity is about two years old., What's your background, and how did the startup come about? What does your startup do? founded in summer of 2017.

Startup 113

Startup Platform Commerce San Diego 113

InfoChachkie

JULY 11, 2011

By combining our equity investment with a tranche of venture debt, the company has avoided a larger equity round, which would have significantly diluted the Founders’ ownership share. Dollar Blend – Many venture debt lenders require that their funds be accompanied by an equity investment, generally from legitimate venture capitalists.

Equity 235

Equity Startup Invest Funding 235

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 12, 2011

If you don’t read it and you care about tech & entrepreneurship, you should. He’s thoughtful about markets, investors, products and is always very well reasoned in his arguments. He and I once took different sides of an debate about whether “VC signaling&# in early-stage deals is a serious problem or not.

Technical Review 281

Technical Review Venture Capital Startup Artificial Inteligence 281

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2010

Recently I’ve been debating with a number of young startup companies that are raising money in the next few months, “what is the right about of capital to raise at a startup?&#. I’ve spoken about this in a post entitled, “ Do you even need VC ?&# How does your brother-in-law feel about that?

Startup 319

Startup Venture Capital Capital Competition 319

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

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). You have to get past how great the product is to address clearly what your business rationale is, why it is different from the competition''s, and why it will succeed. An impressive team.

Technical Advisors 75

Technical Advisors Entrepreneur Equity Ideas 75

SoCal CTO

APRIL 8, 2010

Death By Competitive Analysis - Steve Blank , March 1, 2010 Trading emails with a startup CEO building an iPhone app, I asked him why potential customers would buy his product. In response he sent me a competitive analysis. It looked like every competitive analysis I had done for 20 years, (ok maybe better.) What’s the vision?

Startup 150

Startup Software Review Competition SoCal 150