Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 8, 2010

This is part of my ongoing series on Raising Venture Capital. Not so in venture capital. You’re tied at the hip to your VC. You’re tied at the hip to your VC. Get to know VCs over a long period of time so that when you’re ready to get engaged you feel you know their character.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur Capital 288

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2010

And of course the big question is whether Salesforce.com can out innovate these startups (especially after their acquisition of InStranet ). Expect great things from Assistly. Investors: Union Square (lead), Spark Capital (lead). Tags: This Week in Venture Capital VC Industry. 2.2mm in Series A.

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Capital Email Blogging 265

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Based on the best evidence I can find, the genesis of this trend and the advantages come from several evolutionary changes in the startup investment industry, and some innovations driven by the recession several years ago and the recent pandemic: Venture capital funds are regaining momentum.

Guide 136

Guide Venture Capital Funding Class 136

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

I had previously raised VC in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005. In case VC’s haven’t figured this out yet, shit rolls downhill. My blog linked to Brad Feld’s blog because I was so grateful for his series on term sheets and he was one of the biggest reasons that as a VC I felt compelled to blog. And covered we did.

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274

Xconomy

APRIL 17, 2017

San Diego-based TakeLessons set out nine years ago to create a Web-based platform that helped match music students with qualified instructors. Since then, TakeLessons has raised a total of $20 million in venture capital, and expanded into new markets and services.

Venture Capital 59

Venture Capital Santa Monica San Diego Coach 59

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2010

Our guest this week on #TWiVC was Dana Settle , partner at Greycroft Partners , a venture capital firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Greycroft is an early-stage VC. Closing a VC fund in 2009/10 is a major achievement in and of itself. Gilt Group is currently the largest private sale web site in US.

Venture Capital 240

Venture Capital Startup Platform Technical Review 240

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Based on the best evidence I can find, the genesis of this trend and the advantages come from several evolutionary changes in the startup investment industry, and some innovations driven by the recession several years ago: Venture capital funds are still regaining momentum. Mobile and web software apps may cost even less.

Funding 125

Funding Venture Capital Startup Class 125

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

Many observers of the venture capital industry have questioned whether its best days are behind it. I can’t help feel a bit of rear-view mirror analysis in all of “VC model is broken” bears in our industry. They are, in fact, great news for traditional venture capitalists. This article originally ran on PEHub.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Startup 347

socalTECH

JUNE 2, 2011

The Investment Group of Santa Barbara , a venture capital investment group based in Santa Barbara, has invested $4M in funding for a developer of a web-based cloud training software firm, Mindflash , Mindflash said today. Mindflash, which is based in Palo Alto, offers a site which helps companies create online training courses.

Santa Barbara 145

Santa Barbara Training Venture Capital Invest 145

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

Because my role as a VC requires me to take and endless stream of meetings I long ago decided I need to learn as much as I can from the meetings I attend so I often just ask tons of questions and assimilate knowledge. When I think about what defines us as a VC I think: Operationally knowledgeable / strong startup competence.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Capitalism is fundamentally about timing, since market competition is about finding opportunities before others. When should a VC invest? It’s obvious that we can be too late to these decisions of course. Between TechCrunch today and my former roles in venture capital, I’ve had the opportunity to practice timing a lot.

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 29, 2014

My first response mentally was, “Of course!” Back then there was no “cloud” so we had to plow money into hardware, software licenses and web hosting. My starting salary when I joined a VC fund as a partner at the age of 39 (and after 2 exits)? Why did I join as a partner in a VC fund on that salary?

Startup 409

Startup Invest Venture Capital Writing 409

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 15, 2021

It has developed technology to give people a way to pay bills outside of traditional methods, such as through the mail, over the phone or via a Web portal. But of course, part of its capital will go toward building awareness and growing its headcount.

Mobile 208

Mobile Artificial Inteligence Startup Los Angeles 208

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 12, 2010

I suppose there’s some truth to that but of course it’s an over simplification. I found that I was always more curious about issues like “why do you charge for your web hosting services this way when newer non-incumbent players do not?&# And that’s how I view VC today. Such is leadership.

Help 288

Help Startup Venture Capital Framework 288

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2014

Based on the best evidence I can find, the genesis of this trend and the advantages come from several evolutionary changes in the startup investment industry, and some innovations driven by the recent recession: Venture capital funds are still recovering from the recession. Mobile and web software apps may cost even less.

Angel 104

Angel Funding Startup Venture Capital 104

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2011

I’m enjoying being a VC. I thought I’d talk a bit about the differences I’ve experienced between being an entrepreneur & a VC – you know, from “both sides of the table.&#. You would think the obvious thing I would tell somebody is, “yes, of course it’s a great idea.&# You’d be surprised.

Entrepreneur 384

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Ideas 384

Xconomy

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

When businesses and consumers use a cloud service provider like Amazon Web Services or Apple’s iCloud, their data, photos, and music don’t get processed in the misty skies above us, as a poet friend of mine once assumed.

Cloud Computing 56

Cloud Computing Web Course Services 56

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 27, 2012

We once thought nobody could unseat Google since all inbound traffic to the web came from them. Of course not. I remember a discussion with an older VC who told me that in the early 90′s they wondered whether the VC industry had a future. Enter social media and its importance as a traffic source.

Technical Review 299

Technical Review Venture Capital Yammer Google 299

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2012

And of course a place of idyllic weather, culture and a lifestyle. ” And of course it’s not a true assessment. Think about venture capital. Those that were around 30+ years ago never had to think about branding – there were hardly any other VCs. Not versus every other VC but versus many.

Startup 304

Startup Venture Capital Los Angeles Woodland Hills 304

Steve Reich

MARCH 30, 2012

Oh, and did I mention that their users have mapped 35,000 courses in 127 countries? Get Angel capital and build a prototype. Then get VC funding, rent a cool space, hire a big team, rebuild and relaunch. Of course not. Three full time developers and no marketing spend. They are nearing 1mm registered users.

Incubator 91

Incubator Web Entrepreneur Santa Barbara 91

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

billion in venture capital to LA’s technology startups and 2014 will shatter that figure. Over the past 4 years LA’s tech fundings have growing at a 30% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) which is > 4 times the US average VC CAGR (7%). billion (Upfront Ventures was an early Overture backer). Structural.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 2, 2011

It’s apropos because there is so much noise these days with email, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, web shows, etc. I don’t think any serious VC or angel thought it was “collusion.&# I just had this chat last night with a friend / VC who I respect. Is VC being disrupted by AngelList? Of course not.

Email 287

Email Blogging Venture Capital Writing 287

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively.

Startup 128

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 128

socalTECH

JANUARY 22, 2013

We already had a presence there, and are moving into a standalone building in Calabasas focused on web development. Eric Robison: We're not going to spend it all right way, of course. We also want to expand and work on our web platform, as the scaling of the business requires us to scale that platform.

Funding 164

Funding Calabasas Course Platform 164

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2013

I, of course, knew nothing about business. The World Wide Web was now being rolled out everywhere and every project was considering its Intranet strategy. I talked with a few VCs and batted around the idea of becoming a VC. No prizes for guessing how my VC chats went. But you don’t really have VC experience.”

Technical Advisors 385

Technical Advisors Marketing Startup Venture Capital 385

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2010

We held a 90-minute demo session where 150 of LA’s VC’s and senior technology executives watched the LPLA V2 group present in small groups of 12-15 each. And of course we had, TheMan. Lee Essner is formerly a senior exec from WeddingChannel and has much experience in running a successful web property.

Company 276

Company Companies Startup Southern California 276

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Recently I wrote a post arguing to make the definition of a Startup more inclusive than that to which Silicon Valley, fueled by Venture Capital return profiles, would sometimes like to attach to the word. Elect 1-2 representatives and even invite a local VC to invest personally and sit on the investment committee or be an advisor.

Startup 378

Startup Venture Capital Press San Diego 378

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 9, 2013

Final le web london (june 2013) from Mark Suster. You can of course view the presentation in SlideShare above or download it directly for free here. If your closet is full of clothes and your credit card is full of debt – of course you’re going to trade clothes with other people rather than only buying new stuff.

Marketing 361

Marketing Course Pricing Networking 361

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series Pitching a VC. I know you’re not a tech guy and haven’t done anything other than an HTML course you once took, but if you’re inspirational and a leader you’ll find somebody to moonlight for free to get your prototype built. They might be as hard as raising VC.

Angel 291

Angel Funding Venture Capital Startup 291

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capitalists) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively.

Tips 104

Tips Startup Technical Review Equity 104

Xconomy

JUNE 27, 2019

Among Degreed’s goals is to help businesses keep up with technological change by offering workers easy access to online courses and other materials that can fill knowledge gaps or add new areas of. Read more » Reprints | Share: UNDERWRITERS AND PARTNERS.

Training 82

Training Education Platform Course 82

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

I interviewed Eric for an hour for - This Week in Venture Capital. Oh, and if you didn’t guess, the title, “if you don’t have a discrete hypothesis you are incapable of failing” is, of course, an Eric Ries quote. 8:17 How did you decide to go with either shrinkwrap or web only product?

Social Media 301

Social Media Startup Metrics Media 301

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2011

I’m enjoying being a VC. I thought I’d talk a bit about the differences I’ve experienced between being an entrepreneur & a VC – you know, from “both sides of the table.&#. You would think the obvious thing I would tell somebody is, “yes, of course it’s a great idea.&# You’d be surprised.

Entrepreneur 176

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Ideas 176

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 4, 2009

Incidentally, VC’s hate when they hear companies pitching who say, “ I don’t have real competitors &# as I outlined point three in the linked post). It’s what kills most sales cycles including raising venture capital. In products designed to sell directly on the web the process is no different.

Sales 319

Sales Startup Platform Tips 319

socalTECH

JANUARY 16, 2013

Lynda.com offers up online education courses on things like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Excel, AutoCAD, and much more. Meritech Capital also participated in the funding. According to Eric Robison, the firm's CEO, the funding round will go towards increasing the firm's global reach and expanding content.

Funding 178

Funding Santa Barbara ReachLocal Southern California 178

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 21, 2014

Zeroblock , the highly successful mobile and web app was recently acquired by the world’s most popular Bitcoin site and online wallet, Blockchain.info. Adam Draper – Of Boost VC, an SF Incubator/Accelerator. Not that enthusiasm and passion aren’t encouraged of course, but it is important to be real.

Startup 104

Startup Venture Capital Draper Invest 104