socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Last week, the University of Southern California 's Viterbi School of Engineering announced that it had established a new, business plan competition, the Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition ([link] specifically aimed at students in the engineering school. Why a business plan competition, and why in engineering school?

Competition 154

Competition Southern California Mentor USC 154

socalTECH

MARCH 14, 2013

San Diego-based Qualcomm has named the winner of its annual, Qualcomm Ventures QPrize Venture Investment Competition, the company said this morning. iOnRoad had previously won $100,000 from Qualcomm for winning the Israeli region competition of Qualcomm's QPrize competition. READ MORE>>.

Invest 193

Invest Seed Funding Competition San Diego 193

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

Across more than 10 years we have kept the size of our Seed investments between $2–3.5 million, our Seed Funds mostly between $200–300 million and have delivered median ownerships of ~20% from the first check we write into a startup. In 2009 we could take a long time to review a deal. By 2021 we had to write a $3.5m

Venture Capital 416

Venture Capital Marketing Technical Review Seed Funding 416

socalTECH

JUNE 17, 2020

Trust & Will is backed by Link Ventures, Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, Western Technology Investment, Techstars Ventures, Luma Launch and Halogen Ventures. The company originally raised funding as part of a "Quick Pitch" competition with the San Diego Tech Coast Angels. READ MORE>>.

Tech Coast Angels 113

Tech Coast Angels San Diego Seed Funding Competition 113

socalTECH

DECEMBER 17, 2019

San Diego-based Trust & Will , a startup which offers up online services to help people create trusts, wills, and guardianships, has raised $6M in a new funding round, the company said on Tuesday. The startup had announced $2M in an earlier funding in January of 2019. READ MORE>>.

Tech Coast Angels 100

Tech Coast Angels San Diego Seed Funding Competition 100

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 19, 2019

The startup has raised $1 million in seed funding from RXBAR founders Peter Rahal and Jared Smith, CXT Investments, and Lean Luxe founder M. . “For us, the broader mission is A+ personal care for guys everywhere — not just guys in New York or guys in the Bay Area or guys in Los Angeles,” he said. Paul Munford.

Startup 217

Startup Seed Funding Los Angeles Competition 217

socalTECH

MARCH 27, 2019

Los Angeles-based startup Trellis Research , which is developing decision making tools and maintains a database of California court records, said on Wednesday that it has raised $2M in a seed funding round. Source of the funding was not disclosed.

Tool 100

Tool Seed Funding Class Research 100

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

AOL co-founder and former chief executive officer Steve Case’s venture capital fund, Revolution , deploys capital to companies “outside of the hotbeds.” Competition for access to deals in the Bay Area, however, has priced many investors out of the most sought-after rounds. Revolution co-founder Tige Savage.

Venture Capital 211

Venture Capital Funding Seed Funding Activity 211

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2021

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Fundraising is indeed brutally tough at all stages, and seed funding is the hardest to find.

Software Review 123

Software Review Seed Funding Funding Startup 123

socalTECH

JULY 26, 2016

in a seed funding round, the company announced this morning. The round was led by Raine Ventures, and also included Courtside Ventures, Comcast Ventures Catalyst Fund, Social Capital, Outpost Capital, Boost VC, & Jason Rosenthal, CEO of Lytro. Kite & Lightning is led by founder Ikrima Elhassan. READ MORE>>.

Seed Funding 100

Seed Funding Venture Capital Competition Los Angeles 100

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 29, 2019

million in pre-seed funding last June. The company is backed by Amplify, an LA-based early stage investor and company accelerator, Quest Venture Partners, Greycroft Tracker fund and the GFR Fund. The LA-based company also has some venture-backed competition on the East Coast. ProGuides raised $1.9

Coach 180

Coach Seed Funding Training Platform 180

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

I wrote this overview of the LA Tech Ecosystem in December and on page 15 you’ll see a host of amazing VC firms at all stages from pre-seed through to early-B rounds. https://medium.com/media/3c33723f326245292958d4b055dfb424/href Today we learned that another great fund was announced — Fika Ventures. We love LA!

Dollar Shave Club 321

Dollar Shave Club Cornerstone OnDemand Riot Games Venture Capital 321

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 15, 2010

Heck, stick around and watch me discuss the seed funding debate that is going on right now and what is happening in the VC industry overall. Think of it – why should an angel fund you to allow you to create more value so that they have to pay a higher price at a later date?

Venture Capital 210

Venture Capital Seed Funding Pricing Southern California 210

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 1, 2016

With valuations rising fastest in late-stage venture and the competition that is well-known from corporate VCs, mutual funds, hedge funds (and even LPs), it is unsurprising that LPs are most concerned about late-stage VC. I have also heard LPs express concern over the last few years about the seed stage of venture.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Capital Marketing Seed Funding 150

socalTECH

MAY 7, 2009

San Diego-based Qualcomm disclosed today that it has launched a new, entrepreneurship prize which will provide $550,000 in seed funding to entrepreneurs in North America, Europe, China, and India. From those semi-finalists, it will select a grand prize winner which will receive $150,000 in convertible note funding. READ MORE>>.

Seed Funding 100

Seed Funding Competition San Diego Entrepreneur 100

socalTECH

JULY 31, 2009

San Diego-based Qualcomm reports today that it is extending the deadline for the firm's wireless business plan competition, its Qualcomm Ventures QPrize Business Plan Competition, to August 21st. The deadline for the business plan competition was originally today, July 31st. READ MORE>>.

Seed Funding 100

Seed Funding Competition San Diego Venture Capital 100

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

So super angel and seed funds are proliferating – As a result there has been an explosion in the number of amazing early-stage investors such as Softtech VC , Floodgate , Felicis Ventures , K9 Ventures , OATV , Lowercase Capital , Founder Collective , and many, many more. Some seed angles and seed funds clearly get it.

Venture Capital 311

Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding Rustic Canyon 311

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

Commit a source of internal or external seed funding. There is no point incubating an innovative new venture if you don’t have the funds to launch and expect quick self-sustaining revenue. Don’t count on friends and family, crowdfunding, angels, or other external investors. Get prepared for the accelerate and scaling phase.

Incubator 143

Incubator Seed Funding Metrics Customer 143

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. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Health, life, and other insurance at group rates.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

The VC market has right-sized (returned back to mid 90′s levels & less competition). Lower costs to start a business (95% reduction), many more companies created & funded by angels / seed. ” The new narrative is “will my seed funds be able to fund the prorata of their winners?”

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

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. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Health, life, and other insurance at group rates.

Resource 159

Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2009

A few years ago it became fashionable for large VC’s to do seed funding. Many VCs who do lots of seed stage deals are very supportive and active. I think they definitely qualify as a VC and not a seed fund. What exactly is seed funding anymore? They do many early-stage deals.

Seed Funding 283

Seed Funding Venture Capital Funding Software Review 283

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2013

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Fundraising is indeed brutally tough at all stages, and the seed funding is the hardest to find.

Software Review 106

Software Review Funding Startup Seed Funding 106

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2011

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Fundraising is indeed brutally tough at all stages, and the seed funding is the hardest to find.

Software Review 98

Software Review Funding Seed Funding Startup 98

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Have you looked at competition? How well financed is the competition? My advice: Do not mention the other VC firms, angels, seed funds, etc. It’s called competition. And sometimes VCs want to fund companies where we take the whole round and don’t mind paying slightly higher than angels want us to.

Pricing 292

Pricing Entrepreneur Technical Review Venture Capital 292

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2010

The problem with VC Seed Funding – Chris is right to raise the issue with entrepreneurs because there have been instances where large VC funds have set up seed programs where the investments have been used as “options.&# There are many problems with this. As always it comes down to competition.

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Seed Funding Pricing Invest 265

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

And as a result of this there are now very robust secondary markets where founders and seed-funds alike are selling down their ownership long before an ultimate exit. At Upfront we have always done 40% of our investing in Greater Los Angeles and it’s precisely for this reason. We aren’t going to win every great deal in LA?—?there

Venture Capital 471

Venture Capital Writing Invest Pricing 471

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2016

On the other hand, if you can qualify for membership in a top-ranked accelerator , such as 500 Startups , AngelPad or TechStars , you will get a rigorous development program, top-quality professional guidance, and some seed funding to move you ahead of the crowd. Costs, returns in equity and funding access.

Incubator 58

Incubator Startup Seed Funding Resource 58

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2014

It’s why in this article I advise that people “market today not futures” because you don’t want your playbook in the hands of the competition. I raised a small seed round. What do you do when you have finally raised seed funds? I have no money? There is a lot you can do without spending money.

Press 319

Press Startup Writing Training 319

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 18, 2014

Ann Wang: Thanks to the recent Forbes competition, and a lot of momentum from that, we actually are opening up a round for seed funding in the next month or two. We have had a lot of great conversations, both before the competition and during the competition, and we now have some new conversations that are really exciting.

Commerce 140

Commerce Help UCLA Organization 140

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2014

These tensions seep out in some angels or seed funds publicly or semi-privately deriding later-stage VCs for their “bad” behavior. But with the massive growth of seed funds being raised and the huge value increase of prorata rights many more LPs have stepped in to take their VC (industry term is GP) position.

Guide 336

Guide Venture Capital Startup Writing 336

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

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. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Health, life, and other insurance at group rates.

Incubator 87

Incubator Startup Resource Seed Funding 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2010

Yesterday I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Fundraising is indeed brutally tough at all stages, and the seed funding is the hardest to find.

Software Review 95

Software Review Startup Seed Funding Funding 95

socalTECH

OCTOBER 23, 2012

I then went on to work for McKinsey for a couple of years, then got involved in Eric Schmidt's seed fund, Innovation Endeavors up in Palo Alto. I have been doing seed stage stuff for a while. They're pretty competitive about deals. TX Zhuo: I started my own business out of college, an e-commerce company.

Funding 253

Funding Startup Invest Commerce 253

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2016

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. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Health, life, and other insurance at group rates.

Incubator 106

Incubator Startup Help Resource 106

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 30, 2013

Building a standout destination site for video gamers takes moxie in the highly competitive and lucrative on-line game industry. Jeff looks for these same qualities in the companies he backs. For evidence of this you need go no further than Jason Xu, the founder of Battlefy.

Web Design 103

Web Design Social Media Design Seed Funding 103

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

Meredith Perry came up with the idea for uBeam while still in college at University of Pennsylvania and like many great inventors won her school’s business plan competition. She had raised seed funds from a who’s who list of investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Marissa Mayer, Mark Cuban, Troy Carter and so on.

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418