Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2013

Startup Grind was a truly awesome conference and Derek the consumate host. But while universities are developing online content they are not fundamentally disrupting leaning because the method of delivery is not a new business model. In many ways I think general purpose writing & thinking skills are as valuable as math skills.

Venture Capital 403

Venture Capital Education Offshore Outsource Development 403

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 19, 2015

An example might be a business development conversation, a first customer meeting, the first candidate in a recruiting process, the first time you talk with a journalist at TechCrunch or the first meeting to consider your business strategy. We all know the type of person who lives in the top end of the funnel.

Startup 420

Startup Framework Sales Venture Capital 420

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 20, 2013

In my first enterprise software company we developed a methodology for sales that we called PUCCKA , which I wrote about previously. The other worthwhile exercise is to write down what your competitors uses as its USPs – even ones that you don’t think are really valuable to customers. The first post covered the topic of “P” or pain.

Sales 336

Sales Startup Competition Customer 336

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2014

You help them on stories, act as a source, develop real relationships, read their stories and eventually when you have news they’re more willing to have a conversation. The reality is that a journalist who’s writing a story about you – a relatively unknown entity – wants to hear directly from the founders and/or the CEO.

Press 320

Press Startup Writing Training 320

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 3, 2011

The truth is I have been thinking a lot about the topic, I just haven’t been writing about it. Heck, you can launch your company if you’re a developer for $50,000. I plan to write about this phenomenon soon. You have the super impressive Cory Levy who founded the NextGen Conferences (as well as One, Inc.).

Entrepreneur 341

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup Blogging 341

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 12, 2017

We’re expected to be at conferences, events, sales meetings and be publicly visible. Recruiting, business development, shipping product, writing blog posts, networking … it’s all the same. We are over-intro’d and at the same time under-resourced in terms of staff to handle the barrage of in-bound requests.

Activity 297

Activity Blogging Email Startup 297

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 4, 2016

Modern-society is also littered with over-networkers and over-introducers and professional conference attendees. Mostly I just wanted to write this as a reminder to founders to be suspicious of people who constantly introduce you around. Focus is almost always the right answer. It’s human nature to try and be helpful to others.

Innocal 255

Innocal Conference Help Study 255

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)? ” Can you imagine that ever getting inches in the press?

Marketing 389

Marketing Press Blogging Startup 389

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2011

Nobody likes to hear you say, “we can’t tell you anything we’re in stealth mode&# so develop some generic talking points that don’t give anything away when you’re asked what you do. Market to Your Target Audience – I’ve seen a lot of startups who like to write blog posts on life as an entrepreneur.

Marketing 380

Marketing Startup Press Technical Advisors 380

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 17, 2019

I know it may feel this way since I’m writing this tongue in cheek. Sometimes when I speak at conferences I’ll stay and shake hands for 2 hours with anybody who wants to say hello. Some days I’m in back-to-back meetings and then I have a late night work dinner and an early morning conference call. I’m not an elitist a **e.

Email 250

Email Writing Conference Mobile 250

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2010

It’s a shame because the ability to nail these presentations at key conferences can be once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to influence journalists, business partners, potential employees, customers and VCs. So I thought I’d write a piece on how to not suck when you give a presentation. NEVER lead with features.

Startup 362

Startup Twiistup Slides Screening 362

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 9, 2012

He has it on stage, too, at conferences. I told him only 2 weeks ago when we were in London together that I wanted to write a blog post that has been in my head for 2 years. The Dave I know is very insightful about marketing, channel management and building developer ecosystems. My pal Dave has blogger Tourette’s.

Startup 309

Startup Venture Capital Email Writing 309

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2010

Immediately following the closing of the round I flew out to a big real estate conference in France to meet with prospective customers. I plodded through the conference and went straight to a doctor in London. We set up a development center in India and I had to be there for three weeks to tour all of the prospective cities.

Entrepreneur 308

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Conference 308

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 18, 2012

I plan to write about it early next year when we’re all through. You probably follow some high-profile entrepreneurs on Instagram and Twitter and see conference pictures of them in Davos, Mexico, Monaco or wherever. There is a difference between a Conference Ho and a successful entrepreneur. You’re not.

Blogging 420

Blogging Press Entrepreneur Venture Capital 420

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

You’re writing a freaking blog post! I run a conference – could you speak? I never get grumpy that people write. If you do randomly write me I have advice. Research & Development. “But WAIT !!! How the hell can you tell us you don’t have time for email?” ” I never said that.

Email 314

Email Product Startup Writing 314

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Of course in-person is best for true relationship development but that’s not always practical. Write your set of bullet points on paper before the call. You CANNOT do this on email. Or Twitter. Text is often tone deaf. Mostly when it’s is short form. A very common experience … One person emails some thoughts.

Startup 319

Startup Email Writing Course 319

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

So I know I’m getting myself into a bit of trouble by writing this. They talk about the need of the CEO to be chief evangelist, speak at conference, lead executive recruiting, etc. I had heads of sales, marketing, business development, product management, technology and customer service.

Startup 325

Startup Technical Review Sales Report 325

socalTECH

MAY 5, 2010

Yossi, who is co-chairing the upcoming Israel Conference (www.theisraelconference.org) here in Los Angeles next month, recently sat down with us to talk about entrepreneurship, why Israel has been able to become such a center of high tech--and what Southern California might be able to learn from the Israeli culture. READ MORE>>.

High Tech 150

High Tech Southern California Writing Conference 150

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 5, 2010

I’ve been meaning to write this post since September of last year when Brad Feld first wrote about the The Founders Visa Movement. I commented briefly on his blog and made a mental note to write a blog post. At the time he granted me permission to write about his story.

Technical Review 282

Technical Review Startup High Tech Software Review 282

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 16, 2019

With a focus on female venture capitalists and founders, All Raise hosts an annual conference, several in-person and virtual fundraising workshops and networking sessions and, recently, the group began creating curated peer groups for investors. I think the movement is just gathering momentum. Scaling a nonprofit, startup style.

Venture Capital 184

Venture Capital Ideas Los Angeles Tool 184

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

But the thing I am most proud of about Rob is that he has taken a company with a uniquely talented founder & CTO – Nick Halstead – and managed to build a very tight working relationship with Nick where we drive world-class product development without having the usual founder / CEO conflicts. Ask for short conference calls.

Tips 366

Tips Email Venture Capital CTO Coach 366

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Why Every Entrepreneur Should Write and 9 Tips To Get Started - OnStartups , September 27, 2010 "The best part of blogging is the people you will meet"- Hugh MacLeod repeating wisdom from Loic Lemeur to me at the Big Pink at 2 am in South Beach after the Future of Web Apps 2008. Why You Should Write. Why You Should Write.

Startup 191

Startup Product Technology Venture Capital 191

Eric Greenspan

AUGUST 6, 2012

I received it rolled in a tube from this year’s TED conference. As I write this, I’m getting ready for my first full day of work in my new career. Thanks to the people at TED and to the authors of this magnificent piece of writing. On Tuesday of last week, I hung this on my wall. Life is truly remarkable.

Writing 122

Writing Startup Conference Organization 122

Frank Addante

FEBRUARY 13, 2009

Recently, I was asked to present my philosophy and methodology toward building what I call A++ teams at the Startonomics conference. apologies for the lack of posting to my blog -- I broke my arm snowboarding six weeks ago which makes it hard to write. :-)A Plus Teams - Frank Adante Startonomics LA.

Develop 45

Develop Development Writing Blogging 45

Frank Addante

FEBRUARY 13, 2009

Recently, I was asked to present my philosophy and methodology toward building what I call A++ teams at the Startonomics conference. apologies for the lack of posting to my blog -- I broke my arm snowboarding six weeks ago which makes it hard to write. :-)A Plus Teams - Frank Adante Startonomics LA.

Develop 45

Develop Development Writing Blogging 45

socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2019

Earlier this month, the annual Montgomery Summit conference was held in Santa Monica, including a special portion of the conference dedicated to the Rise of the Female Entrepreneur. I also think there's an interesting opportunity in Los Angeles, as the tech scene continues to develop and mature. I think it's a fantastic program.

Capital 162

Capital Entrepreneur Invest Artificial Inteligence 162

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2011

It was a pleasure to write them myself. He presented the idea at the TED conference in the mid 90′s and was literally boo’d while he was on stage. So when he saw the browser it instantly dawned on him that this would be the greatest customer development tool ever. Summary notes, as always, provide below.

Competition 350

Competition Idealab Product CitySearch 350

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

I write this post as a warning to pick your VC’s carefully. Many years ago I worked at Andersen Consulting, originally developing software for large corporations and then as a strategy consultant. They work for a prestigious firm, have sat on big boards, went to HBS and speak at lots of conferences. Let me explain.

Venture Capital 297

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur 297

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

” They prefer to sit in front of a computer doing spreadsheets or coding or writing emails and working on marketing materials than they do investing time in human relationships. Developing trusting relationships with peers is critical. They attend conferences and do marketing. I wanted to just write. I hate editing.

Startup 281

Startup Coach Course Invest 281

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2013

Mark granted me read/write access to his calendaring system. Respect and develop a positive working relationship with his co-workers. He usually says no to weekend conferences and events. But I’m sure many would apply if the situation were reversed. Get electronic access to his calendar.

Tips 418

Tips Startup Email Blogging 418

socalTECH

JUNE 13, 2011

Jonathan Lehmann: I was awarded the Larry Wolfen Entrepreneurial Spirit Award at UCLA, after getting amazing coaching from Matt Ridenour in our business plan development class. That allowed me to take a summer to develop the new idea, and transform it into a business. Are people really willing to sell their stuff to benefit charities?

UCLA 256

UCLA Startup Ideas Help 256

socalTECH

OCTOBER 31, 2011

One of Urbandig's co-founders, Mike Macadaan -- the former VP of User Experience at MySpace, and creator of the technology conference Twiistup--sat down to talk to us about the company. Now, it's perfect, both because I'm a big iPhone guy, and soon will be an Android guy, as we're developing a version for Android. When did you launch?

Guide 203

Guide Software Review Twiistup Technical Review 203

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Develop an “elevator pitch” as an initial path to your goal. You probably already know the key challenges to complete each step, but it helps to write them down, review them with peers, and have a written list to update as you learn more. Stop talking and writing, and start executing the plan.

Writing 139

Writing Startup Summary Activity 139

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 29, 2009

Because they wouldn’t have the enormous amounts of profits that they’ve been able to sink back into research & development. A healthy eco-system of application developers is required for any software or Internet company to be massively successful. And then I saw many people developing Twitter spam filters.

Ideas 286

Ideas Advertising Google Technical Review 286

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2010

As a teenager he experimented with writing & producing his own rap music and received a lot of feedback from elders that he had a talent with words. Authenticity - I asked Chamillionaire why he thinks he connects so much with people at tech conferences. There are many analogies here for software development.

Entrepreneur 356

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup Email 356

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

25 Years of Writing Code. Adam Sroka, an agile software innovator, is a self-taught programmer with 25 years of writing code and previously combined his coding skills with his knowledge of agile and lean management techniques as a coach and technical trainer. Make it Simple to Manage Business Or Close Deals.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Software Review Bertelsmann Technology 88

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 10, 2012

During the weekend participants with a technical background write code for prototypes, designers create branding and user interfaces, business people model potential revenue sources and test marketing strategies, and everyone engages potential customers. Saturday, April 14 – Boelter Hall 4th floor conference rooms.

UCLA 87

UCLA Startup Ideas Mentor 87