TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

It’s obvious that we can be too late to these decisions of course. Start writing down predictions about people, companies, and markets. If — and it’s a big if of course — they can do that on the cheap, then why should an LP care at all? Quality tech news from around the web. How can you practice timing?

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

They cite sources like the BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this Forbes article. They can iterate and evolve their business idea with a low burn rate and minimal dependencies. Of course, building a plan is not an alternative to getting out there and doing something.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 109

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

A critical stage for most first-time entrepreneurs is getting their idea developed into at least a prototype to validate their technology. Specifically, I often point to the NSF or the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for high-tech startups. Another alternative is to find an inexpensive class on grant writing.

Funding 90

Funding Technical Review Startup Research 90

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 15, 2014

” I have been weighing in slowly on the topic over the past few weeks on Twitter but have avoided writing a blog post about it until now. I have thought a lot about anonymity over the years and actually have enjoyed debating the topic with those passionate about anonymity’s benefits because of course that’s how I learn.

Technical Review 329

Technical Review Blogging Examples Startup 329

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 10, 2010

One is obvious, without protection, such IP might prove to be of little worth, as other companies can mimic the technology without recourse. The very nature of formal IP approval process ensures that some level of vetting has been performed to assess whether the IP is infringing on another company’s technology. Provisional Approach.

IP 256

IP Patents Company Companies 256

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

Attempt To License An Idea. Rationale: My idea is so mind-blowingly fantastic, I can sit back and collect licensing fees while someone else does all the work required to turn my idea into a successful business. Fallacy: Ideas are worthless, while skillful execution is priceless. Fallacy: Yes.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Fariborz Masseh: The idea of funding a business plan competition is not a new idea. The reason for that, is in my opinion, the majority of the innovations that have improved our nation in the past 150 years have been due to technology and engineering innovations. It has been done before, at a number of schools.

Competition 154

Competition Southern California Mentor USC 154

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 11, 2010

This month’s big question is Examples of Big Impact from Technology and I’ve taken it as an opportunity to go back and look at the elements of different projects that I’ve worked on over the years that have had a big impact. I’ve seen that in courses and in design specs many times, and it’s a HORRIBLE IDEA.

Satisfaction 167

Satisfaction Examples Course Technical Review 167

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2015

Thus founders seeking funding for a good cause or a new technology often seize on grants from universities, government agencies and philanthropic organizations as free money to solve their problems. Of course, nothing is really free in the business world. Your visionary one-page idea description won’t work here. In the U.S.

Pricing 100

Pricing Equity Technical Review Research 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 23, 2012

The easy answer of splitting it equally among all co-founders, since there is minimal value at that point, is usually the worst possible answer, and often results in a later startup failure due to an obvious inequity. In the real world, the "idea" is a very small part of the overall equation.

Startup 101

Startup Entrepreneur Equity CTO Hire 101

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Of course I went through normal other channels of deal flow. I tapped my friends at big tech companies (Salesforce, Google, Oracle). And they have access to some of the most talented technology entrepreneurs so this is a worthy goal for them. They do this because they have amazing skills at writing business plans.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Startup Pricing Invest 347

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 26, 2011

At the big consulting firms, investment banks and established large technology companies we’re taught to produce long reports, make sure that every document is perfect quality and that every possible bit of diligence has been done. The idea has become conventional wisdom. Good enough isn’t. And so things operate on a CYA basis.

Startup 335

Startup Technical Review Framework Entrepreneur 335

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

Of course I went through normal other channels of deal flow. I tapped my friends at big tech companies (Salesforce, Google, Oracle). And they have access to some of the most talented technology entrepreneurs so this is a worthy goal for them. They do this because they have amazing skills at writing business plans.

Startup 361

Startup Venture Capital Pricing Technical Review 361

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2013

Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. Put yourself on the site. People buy from people.

Search Engine Optimization 105

Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising SEO 105

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

I was happy to see a real focus on preparing for tomorrow highlighted in a new book, “ Start a Successful Business ,” by Colleen DeBaise, who has made a career of studying and writing about entrepreneur challenges. Regularly follow reviews and influencers in your industry. Learn to accept, and even schedule change regularly.

Customer 57

Customer Custom Technical Review Software Review 57

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

I find it amusing when a journalist writes an article about a prominent startup (either privately held or preparing for an IPO) and decries that, “They’re not even profitable!” Exec Summary: Most companies (98+%) in the world (even tech startups) should be very profit focused. One of them is profitability.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

The easy answer of splitting it equally among all co-founders, since there is minimal value at that point, is usually the worst possible answer, and often results in a later startup failure due to an obvious inequity. In the real world, the "idea" is a very small part of the overall equation.

Equity 91

Equity Startup CTO Hire CTO Coach 91

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2012

Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. Put yourself on the site. People buy from people.

Search Engine Optimization 96

Search Engine Optimization Entrepreneur Sites Advertising 96

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

Good idea & plan: You must start with a good idea and a PowerPoint deck (my outline is here , scroll down mid way). Existing tech or industry executives - Do you have strong relationships in your industry? The key to getting money is that the people writing the check trust you. I get that. That’s OK.

Angel 291

Angel Funding Venture Capital Startup 291

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2010

Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Publish a daily blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. Put yourself on the site. People buy from people.

Tips 92

Tips Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising 92

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

I had seen many cycles and decided that since I was going to do it all over again I should write about it. I decided to write about my experience and to be blunt. It became a huge kerfuffle with many VC partners writing to thank me for the post, which exposed those that gave their industry a bad name. And covered we did.

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. Trying outrageous new things or even trying mundane things but in new ways but with extreme quality & innovation is what fuels the tech startup industry. The questions that a VC mulls before writing a check are precisely the questions you should be asking yourself.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2010

A poorly understood value proposition causes false starts, lost time, costly mid course corrections and general frustration for all stakeholders involved. There is no product idea good enough to overcome bad partners. Supporting detail should be included in an appendix, where the reviewer may read it if desired. Proposition.

Funding 106

Funding Startup Entrepreneur Activity 106

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 31, 2011

Messenger : Ian Siegel , Co-Founder |CEO ZipRecruiter , Former Executive Product and Technology roles at: MyLife, CitySearch, Stamps.com, Rent.com and Pictage. There is more to building a successful business than having a good idea. How about reviewing the Commission Junction user agreement! )”. Chess or checkers? “Chess”.

MyLife 160

MyLife CitySearch Web Technical Review 160

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 31, 2011

Messenger : Ian Siegel , Co-Founder |CEO ZipRecruiter , Former Executive Product and Technology roles at: MyLife, CitySearch, Stamps.com, Rent.com and Pictage. There is more to building a successful business than having a good idea. How about reviewing the Commission Junction user agreement! )”. Chess or checkers? “Chess”.

MyLife 157

MyLife CitySearch Web Technical Review 157

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

I continue to collect great content that is the intersection of startups, products, online and technology. 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: Something is Still Missing.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

Eric Greenspan

MAY 29, 2010

More importantly, while you may sit in the hospital waiting room or the airport and have really no idea when your loved one will be out of harm’s way or your plane will truly arrive, at MIW we call you, often more than once, immediately and the conversation usually goes like, “…our technician is on the 405, traveling 11.5

Social Media 214

Social Media Customer Custom Media 214

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

Of course I have. Seattle should be the envy of any non Silicon Valley tech community in the country. It really wouldn’t take much to turn a great technology ecosystem into a truly electric one. The people with the time, energy & creativity to build organizations like TechStars need to bring their ideas to fruition.

Venture Capital 317

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Press 317

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 1, 2011

Was there anything in particular that really drove it home for you guys to implement the idea? We were invited to play with double Grammy winners Arrested Development and got great reviews, but when it came to marketing our shows and our album, we found that the tools out there for artists were a disaster. kidding of course).

Startup 80

Startup Design Advertising Search Engine Optimization 80

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 2, 2009

As Marketing Guru Guy Gabriel of Idea Engineering points out in Max Brand , viral marketing has made many an entrepreneur terminally ill. Direct Response Email and Newsletters – Although rightfully vilified due to the irresponsible actions of Spammers, targeted, opt-in email lists can be lucrative sources of customers.

Customer 164

Customer Custom Advertising SEM 164

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. Other times the partner wants to test whether there is support before sinking in tons of due diligence time. tip: write it down when asked / parked).

Venture Capital 318

Venture Capital Startup Sales Writing 318

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. With Ring it became your doorbell so of course you always use it when someone’s at your door.

Startup 247

Startup Pricing Product Marketing 247

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 28, 2011

You do a startup and decide you want somebody to step in and run the company so you can focus on technical excellence. Nah, of course not. I’ll write that post one day – it is a very interesting story. Founder: “That they love my idea but they just need to see us get a little bit more traction.

CTO Hire 363

CTO Hire Technical Review Startup Demand 363

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

5 Lessons from 150 startup pitches - A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks , July 11, 2010 I just reviewed several hundred startup pitches for Capital Factory. What if someone copies your awesome business idea? No, the question is: What are doing now knowing that a big company will copy your idea? Not that I blame you!

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217