Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 14, 2013

.” Here’s what I mean … Let’s start with what it takes for a journalist to want to write a story. Do I have an “angle” from which to write the story (first company to do X, company does biggest X, consumer behavior is doing X)? Do I have data or facts to present so the story has legs?

Marketing 389

Marketing Press Blogging Startup 389

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

It’s building a product that is substantially differentiated, and, as Bill Gross, one of the most prolific tech entrepreneurs of our era says, “ It needs to be 10x better than the competition ” (because if you shoot for that then in competitive markets you might achieve 3x. Simply write a great book?

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

socalTECH

MARCH 6, 2017

Los Angeles-based Maple Media (maplemedia.io) recently announced a big, $30M funding from Shamrock Capital, to assemble a collection of mobile applications in the utility, productivity, games and entertainment verticals. What was appealing to you about the mobile app area? What's the idea behind Maple Media?

Media 153

Media Mobile Startup Acquisition 153

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

So I thought I’d write about out with what I would look for in a VC knowing what I know now and why. It’s insanely competitive to get into our industry so most have degrees from institutions like Stanford, Harvard, Wharton and University of Chicago (blatant plug ;-). Think of web vs. mobile. Most VCs are book smart.

Venture Capital 364

Venture Capital Coach Writing SaaS 364

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

It’s true the some VCs have started writing so many checks that they resemble stock pickers but the majority of us still have less than 10 board seats at any time and tend to go pretty deep so the result is that we care deeply about where we commit our time. .” ” The approach was clever and novel. It was impressive.

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

socalTECH

MARCH 2, 2020

The other nice thing about that, is as things are happening on the same computer, there is no server code to write. It's really simple to write an application, compared to the complexity of an application that is multi-user. How did you get investors interested in investing in such a large project like a new operating system?

Platform 168

Platform Startup Examples Web 168

socalTECH

AUGUST 27, 2014

We started looking at the landscape, and as I was getting my MBA at the time, ended up writing the business plan for ConsumerTrack. Plus, we have mobile optimized sites, and those are just scratching the surface now, there''s a huge amount of growth potential with mobile traffic available today.

Startup 239

Startup El Segundo Marketing Media 239

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2010

I’m writing this post to make sure you’re all on that same playing field. One of our core tasks was “market analysis,&# which consistent of: market sizing, market forecasts, competitive analysis and then instructing customers on which direction to take. So, where is this all coming from, Mark? What are you on about?

Statistics 415

Statistics Startup Report Research 415

socalTECH

MAY 20, 2016

Those are the single merchants, who use Stripe to build a website, and also for mobile apps. That percent is actually all over the board, very complex, and very competitive. The reason we are on Crowdfunder, is because people are interested in following on to their investment. We are everything else in between. READ MORE>>.

Platform 113

Platform Startup Ticketmaster Writing 113

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

For those who still don’t know the origins, the Harlem Shake started as a small skit from a YouTuber named Filthy Frank (10 million views as of this writing) on January 30, 2013. As of this writing nearly 50,000 versions have been created and uploaded and watched by some 200,000,000 people. Harlem Shake. million views).

Startup 380

Startup Media Content Platform 380

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

For much of 2013 I watched the press write articles about how the YouTube “MCNs” (multi-channel networks) were doomed and tried to square that with the data I was watching at the one I invested in, Maker Studios, who has had one hell of a year. This revenue share comes after the YouTube split.

Networking 366

Networking Media Content Customer 366

InfoChachkie

JUNE 20, 2011

In several cases, we eventually productized summer Intern projects, including a mobile version of GoToMyPC which we called PocketView. At both Expertcity and Computer Motion, we invested in outsized Intern programs. Competition – Make it clear that only the best Interns will be granted offers for full-time positions.

Startup 244

Startup Software Review Technical Review Class 244

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2013

If you give $2 million for 20% of a company ($8 million pre + $2 million investment = $10 million post-money valuation) that has no product and no customers and it turns around 3 months later and sells for $5 million it would hardly be fair for investor to get $1 million back (20% of the proceeds). Get yourself in a big demo day competition.

Press 357

Press Startup Yahoo Venture Capital 357

InfoChachkie

JULY 14, 2011

9) In Getting The Band Back Together , I write about the power of serial Founding teams. Who do you view as your biggest competition? They are also often looking for more cost effective ways to advertise to mobile users. Do you have any words of caution or advice for entrepreneurs who attempt to “Get Their Band Back Together”?

Marketing 209

Marketing Advertising Paid Search Startup 209

socalTECH

OCTOBER 10, 2012

The clean technology sector is infamous for taking a big toll on startups--requiring large investments, risky technology propositions, steep international competition, and fickle government policies. They're all chasing the next mobile app or Facebook app. So, we run into some challenges when there are trade shows in Europe.

Help 178

Help Startup San Fernando Southern California 178

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 23, 2013

Jenna can write a recommendation on Andy’s profile or send an email to friends recommending Andy, one of his workout plans or the fitness event she’s registered for. Any competition in LA? We haven’t identified any competition in LA, specifically. Our team is very well-rounded, so we don’t worry too much about the competition.

Social Network 92

Social Network Networking Training Summary 92

socalTECH

JULY 13, 2009

Mark has also been quite active mentoring entrepreneurs, We caught up with Mark to hear about what kinds of investments GRP is looking at nowadays, his view on the software-as-a-service market, and how best to approach him with a pitch. We invested in Overture, which was sold for $1.2

GRP Partners 157

GRP Partners Southern California Santa Barbara Rustic Canyon 157

socalTECH

DECEMBER 15, 2010

We manage that competition through an aucton process. How is the competitive landscape is nowadays? Yahoo made the decision that they could not, or would not be able to make the level of investment required to keep up with Google. They can put their inventory in there, and lots of people compete to buy it.

OpenX 242

OpenX Advertising Yahoo Pasadena 242

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 22, 2012

Before joining WePay, Bill worked in technology investment banking at Jefferies & Company, where he advised enterprise software, digital media, and financial technology companies on M&A and capital market transactions. You can expect to see exciting things from us on the mobile and international fronts later this year.

Startup 71

Startup Tool Capital Customer 71

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I talked about this in the TWiVC video but I didn’t do a good enough job of writing it up in the summary notes in the post. And when you finish the demo you can bring in the other important components such as competition, team, customer acquisition strategy, etc. Mobile app? Just jump into the demo after intros.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 27, 2011

But should you actually write one if you’re a startup, an industry figure (lawyer, banker) or VC? This is a post to help you figure out why you should write and what you should talk about. I know that I have not yet earned these kudos based on investment returns (although my partners have. By definition, you read blogs.

Blogging 373

Blogging Startup Writing Venture Capital 373

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

It’s why my investment philosophy is called, “ the entrepreneur thesis.&#. He listed all of the product releases that were up coming, the customers that were in the pipeline and where he saw his competition moving. I don’t write about LA but I write from LA. Imagine Apple without Steve Jobs.

Venture Capital 317

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Press 317

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 25, 2014

James Citron – Outspoken , pioneering the combination of mobile messaging and advertisements. Mike Norman – WeFunder , bringing crowd investing to the world. Q Manning – Rocksauce Studios , mobile ap designers and developers. Morgan Intrator – Yoursigma, combining technology with classroom learning.

Entertainment 99

Entertainment Google Entrepreneur Course 99

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 19, 2010

I’m writing this post as part of my series with Advice on Raising Venture Capital but will file it under Sales Tips as well since it applies equally to both scenarios. My partner, Brian McLoughlin , attends almost all Financial Services conference, makes a number of investments in the space and has relationships across the sector.

Venture Capital 318

Venture Capital Startup Sales Writing 318

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

aka: An Open Letter to the Next Big Social Network) - 500 Hats , November 1, 2010 I've held off writing this post for a long time, because I couldn't quite get my head around all the issues. But I didn’t write it for you; I wrote it for myself. How to Take Down Facebook -- Hint: It Ain't Twitter. but: Something is Still Missing.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 22, 2010

. - Journalists don’t know enough about your company before the show, don’t have time for proper research, and you will be competing for their time afterward with 49+ other companies that want them to write about you. - Given a choice of your marketing person or talking to you (the founder) there’s no competition.

Tips 307

Tips Startup Press Blogging 307

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2010

Spark Capital is relatively new to VC (founded in 2005) yet has become one of the hottest new VCs having invested in Twitter, Tumblr, AdMeld, Boxee, KickApps and many more companies. We both felt that the critical reasoning skills and writing skills were critical to our career development. Our guest was Mo Koyfman of Spark Capital.

Venture Capital 217

Venture Capital Capital Metrics Competition 217

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

When you’re one fund and have $600 million to invest it’s easier to take that kind of risk. LA generally doesn’t have an appetite for this kind of ‘swing-for-the-fences’ investment at early stages – and neither does your town. There are no $600 million funds in Los Angeles. In our regions?

Venture Capital 313

Venture Capital Southern California Google Startup 313

Frank Addante

APRIL 16, 2007

► August (1) Invest in Transparency & Active Communication ► July (1) The Fear of Success ► May (2) Optimized for Speed = 30% Waste Happy 1st Birthday Rubicon Project! What if there was another competitive cash register on the market? After writing this, I think I smell something.

Google 40

Google Advertising Startup Venture Capital 40

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2010

As people consume Twitter on mobile clients they are almost definitionally not doing so on Twitter.com. But wait, aren’t you the guy who invested in Ad.ly, the in-stream advertising company? Two things : 1) when I invested in Ad.ly Aren’t they going to get squashed as Twitter starts to focus more on advertising?

Acquisition 287

Acquisition Develop Development Conference 287

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 12, 2018

Many people will write the history on why Ring became an enormously successful company and why it became a real-world unicorn in a world when many startups are anointed that merely on paper. Throughout all of this we saw a tinkerer, a problem solver and a completely obsessed leader who was competitive and wanted to win.

Startup 247

Startup Pricing Product Marketing 247

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 13, 2010

I’ve always believed that you learn a great deal when you’re presenting, teaching or writing about what you know. Part of the reason I always found presenting to people so compelling is that it forced me to put into writing (a PowerPoint deck) what I thought I knew about a topic. It’s just my writing style.

Blogging 250

Blogging Social Media Writing Startup 250

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2011

Today I’m announcing that GRP Partners is doubling down on the Twitter ecosystem by investing in DataSift , a company who provides a real-time data platform and tools to third-party developers and corporations. Some will cite my investment two years ago in social-media advertising company Ad.ly So with DataSift I’m doubling down.

Platform 307

Platform News Startup Invest 307

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

The best proof of a soft circle is whether an angel will email someone else (refer another investor) and start off that email with “I’m investing in…”. Thomas’ golden rule: if my girlfriend can’t understand what a product does in 1-2 sentences I don’t invest. As an angel, do you reserve money for follow-on investments?

Angel 302

Angel Startup Ideas .Net 302