socalTECH

DECEMBER 23, 2019

We have invested in 13 companies out of our Fund 1 so far and are more bullish than ever on the amazing entrepreneurs we are meeting and the companies we are helping them build. We also had our first exit for Moonshots Capital Fund 1 --Threatcare. At the same time, more capital continues to be raised in LA. Since 2010, $6.3B

Capital 100

Capital Technical Review Truecar Venture Capital 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2019

For example, I grew up in IBM when Bill Gates was helping us deliver the first IBM PC. In a very real sense, we funded him, and he superseded even IBM. In a very real sense, we funded him, and he superseded even IBM. Very few businesses can grow organically fast enough to stay ahead of competition.

IBM 87

IBM IBM Ideas Technical Review 87

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2022

Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to work and learn for many years in both the corporate environment (IBM), as well as the exploding Silicon Valley startup environment of the 90’s. As an introvert and a techy, I know well the challenges of building relationships in today’s competitive world. Running a business is lonely at the top.

Training 117

Training Entrepreneur IBM IBM 117

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 7, 2017

Photo courtesy IBM Business Coaching. If you are lucky enough to create competition among investors for your company, you can select the investor or group with an individual who has experience in your niche and identifies with your vision. Email readers, continue here…] How do you pay a coach?

Coach 243

Coach Organization Resource IBM 243

Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

Still though, when founders are seeking funding, “ 75 percent of the venture capital goes to three states: Massachusetts, New York, and California,” said Steve Case in an interview with Recode. BlackTech Week was created in 2014, and in four short years, they’ve gained over 2700 participants, 150 speakers, and 3 pitch competitions.

Startup 141

Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 141

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2019

Rather than punish them, it may pay you to nurture and manage their outside-the-box thinking, and capitalize on their innovations that help your customers and keep you ahead of the competition. He knew well IBM executive sensitivity to open architecture, third-party suppliers, and micro technology, and used it to leverage funding.

IBM 53

IBM IBM Java Google 53

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2020

Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to work and learn for many years in both the corporate environment (IBM), as well as the exploding Silicon Valley startup environment of the 90’s. As an introvert and a techy, I know well the challenges of building relationships in today’s competitive world. Running a business is lonely at the top.

Training 144

Training Entrepreneur IBM IBM 144

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2020

Don’t be the next Xerox who totally missed the personal computer market, even though they had the technology and the processes well before Apple, IBM, and others. Even if your business success so far has been based on bootstrapping, it may be time to look to institutional investors to help you with acquisitions and new initiative funding.

Customer 143

Customer Custom Examples IBM 143

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2022

Thus, today around 90 percent of successful startups are still acquired by bigger companies versus an IPO, as the safer and preferred method of growth and funding. There is no accommodation for smaller public companies, who can’t be competitive in their space with the new accounting, documenting, and reporting processes required.

Startup 98

Startup Report IBM IBM 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2019

Every startup needs a sustainable competitive advantage. With no competitive advantage, startups with new ideas gaining traction are never feared, and are usually eaten for lunch as sleeping giants wake up. Treasure – Most entrepreneurs assume that treasure means funding. If you want to be feared.

Startup 94

Startup News Framework Outsource 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2014

Investors hear this as trying to do too many things with limited resources, meaning the startup will not shine at anything, and will not survive the competition. Realistically frame the competition. If you really believe that IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle are your competition, you probably don’t have a business.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Competition Technical Review Oracle 103

Xconomy

JULY 19, 2016

In 2015, Cybersecurity startups saw 332 funding deals with investments hitting the highest ever at $3.8 New funds have been raised dedicated to this segment. Symantec Forces the Industry to Stay Competitive. In an ideal world, and from the perspective of a venture investor, this would absolutely be the case.

Symantec 40

Symantec IBM IBM Acquisition 40

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2013

Investors hear this as trying to do too many things with limited resources, meaning the startup will not shine at anything, and will not survive the competition. Realistically frame the competition. If you really believe that IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle are your competition, you probably don’t have a business.

Startup 103

Startup Competition Technical Review Oracle 103

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

However, according to founder and CEO Frank Addante --it''s important to think of the IPO not as an exit, but as just another milestone and funding event in the company''s life. It was a long road to an IPO from your first funding - did you expect that, and should companies just expect that nowadays? We can''t control the market.

Startup 176

Startup Advertising Los Angeles Southern California 176

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2016

The fact that entrepreneurs tend to think outside the box with passion and persistence is a big positive, and it's clearly the reason many large companies now fund or buy successful startups for new innovations rather than depend on internal projects. Great ideas will have no trouble getting funded.

Startup 58

Startup Resource Entrepreneur Ideas 58

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2017

Focus simply means launching your first and most memorable initiative where you see a unique skill and experience fit, your best competitive positioning with the least risk, and the greatest potential return. Your business model determines cash-flow, staffing, and funding required. Realistically characterize the competition.

Entrepreneur 63

Entrepreneur Competition Customer Custom 63

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Key Information Systems (www.keyinfo.com) Providing IBM Storage Solutions. www.pitchtheangels.com) Join Tech Coast Angels members and other start up investors at the 5th Annual Los Angeles Fast Pitch Competition. Middle Market Investment Banking. GetItStarted (www.getitstarted.com). Startups Made Simple. Dedicated to our Clients.

Southern California 113

Southern California Tech Coast Angels IP Orange County 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

No investor wants to wait that long for his payback, or fund the years of waiting. It always amazes me how an entrepreneur can define his market opportunity so broadly, and then assess his competition so narrowly in the next breath. Competition and sustainable advantage. Asserting you have no competition is not credible.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

No investor wants to wait that long for his payback, or fund the years of waiting. It always amazes me how an entrepreneur can define his market opportunity so broadly, and then assess his competition so narrowly in the next breath. Competition and sustainable advantage. Asserting you have no competition is not credible.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2019

Today around 90 percent of successful startups are still acquired by bigger companies, as the safer and preferred method of growth and funding. There is no accommodation for smaller public companies, who can’t be competitive in their space with the new accounting, documenting, and reporting processes required.

Startup 84

Startup Technical Review Report IBM 84

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2018

I will suggest to you as a business owner and entrepreneur that focus on certain key behaviors will drive innovation without waiting for the next competitive crisis: Be outspoken in communicating proactive required change. Allocate funds for intrapreneurship and acquisitions.

Metrics 58

Metrics IBM IBM Competition 58

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2011

The trend of funding anything from the first $25k to funding $50 million at a billion+ valuation is unlikely to last as the skills and style to be effective at all stages are diverse enough to warrant focus. I will argue that LPs who invest in VC funds will also need to adjust a bit as well. That little online book company.

Venture Capital 334

Venture Capital Software Capital Startup 334

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Every startup needs a sustainable competitive advantage. With no competitive advantage, startups with new ideas gaining traction are never feared, and are usually eaten for lunch as sleeping giants wake up. Treasure – Most entrepreneurs assume that treasure means funding. If you want to be feared.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup News Framework 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2013

The opportunity for change is huge, with everyone taking a new look at the world after the recession, but the competition is also huge, since the cost of entry is at an all-time low. Every startup needs a sustainable competitive advantage. Treasure – Most entrepreneurs assume that treasure means funding.

Startup 99

Startup Competition News Framework 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2012

Thus when an investor declines your funding request, you need to curb your anger and understand the real reason for this outcome. In my experience, here are the most common issues that cause funding requests for potentially viable businesses to be rejected, in priority order: Inadequate business plan. More rules of thumb.

Startup 104

Startup IBM IBM Entrepreneur 104

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2010

Venture Capital funds: the different between “closed funds&# (which typically have a 10-year time horizon) and “evergreen funds&# which re-invest profits back into the fund. Paul talked about Neuhaus Partners, a 65 million Euro fund with the remit to invest in German-speaking countries. 406 Ventures.

Venture Capital 225

Venture Capital Google Web Sites 225

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2017

Every startup needs a sustainable competitive advantage. With no competitive advantage, startups with new ideas gaining traction are never feared, and are usually eaten for lunch as sleeping giants wake up. Treasure – Most entrepreneurs assume that treasure means funding. If you want to be feared.

Startup 57

Startup News Framework Entrepreneur 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2010

No investor wants to wait that long for his return, or fund the years of waiting. It always amazes me how an entrepreneur can define his market opportunity so broadly, then assess his competition so narrowly in the next breath. Competing with IBM, Microsoft, and other large companies is a very difficult task.

Innocal 96

Innocal Entrepreneur Competition IBM 96

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2014

Most technology startups seem to be funded by product people or business people. Sure, you need to be competitive on price. If we just dropped prices to match our less funded competitors we wouldn’t be able to keep innovating and adding value for our clients. That stuff is for Oracle or IBM. You’re a startup.

Sales 382

Sales Help Startup Pricing 382

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2013

Your funding request will likely go into the circular file. Competing with IBM, Microsoft, and other large companies is a very difficult task. That’s probably the soft way of saying, we don’t have a patent or any “secret sauce” for a competitive advantage. “No No need to risk my own funds. We’re funded, now we can relax.”

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Startup Social Network IBM 111

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2011

Thus when an investor declines your funding request, you need to curb your anger and understand the real reason for this outcome. In my experience, here are the most common issues that cause funding requests for viable businesses to be rejected, in priority order: Inadequate business plan. None of these get funded.

Startup 97

Startup IBM IBM Entrepreneur 97

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

Today around 90 percent of successful startups are still acquired by bigger companies, as the safer and preferred method of growth and funding. There is no accommodation for smaller public companies, who can’t be competitive in their space with the new accounting, documenting, and reporting processes required.

Startup 87

Startup Technical Review Report Entrepreneur 87

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 6, 2015

Assume competition and assume within the buying organization you have enemies. When we went to raise funds we faced lots of competition as there are of course many other VC funds in the country. I think that’s where many startups and even VC funds go wrong. Take nothing for granted. Make sure you stand out.

Sales 150

Sales SaaS Startup Venture Capital 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2012

Your funding request will likely go into the circular file. Competing with IBM, Microsoft, and other large companies is a very difficult task. That’s probably the soft way of saying, we don’t have a patent or any “secret sauce” for a competitive advantage. “No No need to risk my own funds. More features than anyone.”

Startup 95

Startup Social Network IBM IBM 95

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

Today 70 percent of successful startups are still acquired by bigger companies, as the safer and preferred method of growth and funding. There is no accommodation for smaller public companies, who can’t be competitive in their space with the new accounting, documenting, and reporting processes required.

Startup 98

Startup Technical Review Report Entrepreneur 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2016

Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to work and learn for many years in both the corporate environment (IBM), as well as the exploding Silicon Valley startup environment of the 90’s. As an introvert and a techy, I know well the challenges of building relationships in today’s competitive world. Entrepreneurs can be lonely at the top.

Entrepreneur 64

Entrepreneur Training Startup IBM 64

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

No investor wants to wait that long for his payback, or fund the years of waiting. It always amazes me how an entrepreneur can define his market opportunity so broadly, and then assess his competition so narrowly in the next breath. Competition and sustainable advantage. Asserting you have no competition is not credible.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74