Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

I was having dinner with a friend last night and we were chatting about venture capital and a bit about what I’ve learned. I know I can’t be in every deal and I know that the easy part of being a VC is writing the first check in a deal. By definition this means others will doubt you. I don’t.

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Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 28, 2010

This was the first episode where Jason wasn’t on the show, which gave me the chance to have another VC on the show to discuss deals. Rustic Canyon is an LA-based, but geography-agnostic VC that is currently investing from a $200 million fund. VC Financings: 1. Investors: Google Ventures. 15mm in Series A.

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Venture Capital Capital Rustic Canyon Mobile 270

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 22, 2016

My venture firm, Rincon Venture Partners recently teamed with Jason Lemkin, Founder of SaaStr , to host the first SaaStrX event. When Ara concluded his definition of customer success, it was clear that his approach is anything but obvious. Sure You Track Satisfaction, But Whose Success Are You Monitoring? Share and Enjoy.

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Custom Customer Cornerstone OnDemand Metrics 100

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 8, 2012

In some industries, lengthy pilot tests are required before an enterprise customer will sign a definitive purchase order. As noted in 6 Steps To Raising Venture Capital , as you accomplish your previously communicated milestones, send your target VCs a brief email update (think eye-candy graphics and charts, not dense text).

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Venture Capital RSS Custom Customer 265

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 11, 2021

Many, many companies accepting venture capital lost it all following this instruction. VCs have a goal of creating extraordinary value for their investors. Venture investors need large scale to make large exit valuations, or in many cases are not interested in maintaining marginal companies. But beware.

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Venture Capital Social Media Invest Marketing 156

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 12, 2010

I recently got an email from a friend who had been approached by a well known VC. I’m an investor at [Big Name, Large Fund VC] and recently came across [Your Company]. But if that’s all that they’re after then entrepreneurs should definitely be wary of taking these calls.

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Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

My primary role was “chief psychologist&# and as I’ve learned over the past few years the same has been true as a VC. Almost by definition to be a great leader you need to be an effective psychologist. As a VC you see the insides of companies rather than the companies positive spin on TechCrunch.

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Venture Capital Startup Sales Custom 319

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

Lots of discussion these days about the changes in the VC industry. The VC industry grew dramatically as a result of the Internet bubble - Before the Internet bubble the people who invested in VC funds (called LPs or Limited Partners) put about $50 billion into the industry and by 2001 this had grown precipitously to around $250 billion.

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Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding Rustic Canyon 311

socalTECH

MARCH 1, 2013

It's one of the questions every startup entrepreneur faces: should I start hitting the venture capital circuit for my company, or just bootstrap my company and get on with building my company? Also, without VC funds, you will have less resources to focus on product development. To self-fund or to raise funds?

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Venture Capital Startup Resource Capital 170

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 13, 2013

Once you have a VC on the hook, you’ll want to negotiate the best deal in terms of valuation and deal terms (for more details about negotiating the best terms, check out my previous post: 9 Ways to Negotiate Your Best VC Terms ). Make clear what milestones you are shooting for with this funding round and get VC buy-in.

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Venture Capital Funding Invest Capital 84

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

He also nails the reason why venture capital is still necessary to grow large businesses quickly in a world where the costs of running startups have fallen dramatically. “Why do founders want to take the VCs’ money? .” After all, growth equals high valuations and loads of venture capital!

Startup 390

Startup Venture Capital Entrepreneur Technical Review 390

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

Most entrepreneurs have found by now one or more of the many popular crowdfunding sites , and have the name and contact information for at least one of the big venture capital firms. By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. Most share expertise as well as money.

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Venture Capital Angel Seed Funding Invest 106

Berkonomics

MAY 15, 2014

Angel investing today is similar to where venture capital investing was in the mid-1980s. As an example, twenty five years ago, most VCs used common share deal structures. During those times, VCs had lots of conferences where thought leaders gathered to discuss term sheets, deal structures and fund strategies.

Venture Capital 228

Venture Capital Examples Invest Conference 228

Berkonomics

MAY 21, 2015

Many, many companies accepting venture capital lost it all following this instruction. VCs have a goal of creating extraordinary value for their investors. Venture investors need large scale to make large exit valuations, or in many cases are not interested in maintaining marginal companies. But beware.

Venture Capital 120

Venture Capital Social Media Invest Marketing 120

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2021

You can listen to the entire conversation above or via this link , but I also wanted to highlight one topic we discussed that I feel strongly about, which is how I think enterprise sales and venture fundraising are basically the same muscle. We invest 40% of our dollars in Southern California firms?—?and

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Sales Startup Funding Invest 375

socalTECH

APRIL 2, 2013

The startup--which is backed by Triangle Peak Partners, Siemer Ventures, Crosslink Capital, and SoftTech VC--said it has seen a 124 percent increase in the number of people who are taking music lessons through its online marketplace.

Venture Capital 190

Venture Capital San Diego Services Capital 190

socalTECH

AUGUST 1, 2018

In a move which seems to aim at keeping high definition televisions relevant in the era of online streaming, Irvine-based Vizio announced its very own video streaming service on Wednesday, powered by LA's Pluto TV. Terms of the deal between Pluto TV and Vizio were not announced. Pluto TV's backers include U.S. READ MORE>>.

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Berkonomics

JUNE 2, 2022

Looking for an entrance into a VC, an angel group, a bank, a CxO for a sales opportunity, or any other entity? Few of your contacts will be willing to use their valuable social or political capital helping you with a sales effort, and you will definitely strain your relationship with the intermediary if not a close friend.

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Ideas Sales Competition Venture Capital 156

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2016

Today is amongst the proudest days I’ve had at Upfront Ventures — getting the chance to announce that Kevin Zhang has been promoted to Partner. years at Upfront has been both a pleasure and also has taught me a lot about venture capital. I mentioned at the start that Kevin has taught me something about Venture Capital.

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Venture Capital Startup Invest Course 150

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

Vista-based Opthonix , a developer of wavefront guided, high definition vision eyeglasses, has raised $5.39M as part of an ongoing, $12.1M Opthonix is venture backed by Cross Creek Capital, DAG Ventures, Enterprise Partners, Gund Investment Corp., Details on the funding have not been announced by the company.

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Enterprise Partners Guide Venture Capital Capital 145

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

If you track the venture capital industry it would be hard to miss the conversation going on this week over AngelList “Syndicates.” But Jason is one of the smartest thinkers in our industry so while style points in his eye-poking post might be low, he’s definitely scratching at something important.

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Venture Capital Invest Course Technical Review 356

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2021

These resources are definitely not limited to students, since every university seeks out and needs the real world exposure and experience of entrepreneurs who already are active in the real world marketplace. Collaborative efforts with local companies, like Siemens Venture Capital, are available for certain technology and focus areas.

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Incubator Mentor Class Resource 172

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 6, 2018

It definitely has a “d” in it, as in it’s really not fun, raising. As a VC I also have to fund raise every three years and these posts 100% apply to VCs raising money, too. Fund raising. But it’s critical for your business, for you as a leader and people who excel at fund raising have an extreme advantage over those who do not.

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Funding Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur 236

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 3, 2011

As the authors make clear in the book’s preface, their goal is to create a “definitive guide to venture capital deals” and “demystify the venture capital financing process.” They are both former entrepreneurs and current Partners at Foundry Group , a highly successful, early stage venture firm.

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Venture Capital Entrepreneur Writing Guide 205

socalTECH

JULY 19, 2013

In our Insights and Opinions section today, we feature an article from Ivan Nikkhoo , an entrepreneur, investment banker and VC at Siemer & Associates, talking about The Wisdom of Differentiation. America has believed that in differentiation, not in uniformity, lies the path of progress.

Venture Capital 157

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Startup Product 157

socalTECH

JULY 25, 2016

According to ViaSat, the award from the United States Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) comes as a non-competitive, fixed-price contract, and will provide broadband internet to a a fleet of VC-25s, C-17s, C-32s, C-37s, C-40s and the complete range of VIP and special air mission aircraft. READ MORE>>.

Venture Capital 100

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Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

I realized it was part of the process because it’s such a high-volume activity being a VC. What surprised me was how seriously many VCs took themselves. Or they’d speak in the fine-tuned VC lexicon to you. Best line: “we’re a definite maybe.&# I figured I wouldn’t let it get me.

Venture Capital 292

Venture Capital Blogging Conference Google 292

socalTECH

JUNE 7, 2013

How do you sort through the thousands of attorneys and firms here, and figure out who really knows venture capital, angel investments, how to deal with a term sheet, how to negotiate a business agreement, how to incorporate, and much more?

Southern California 138

Southern California High Tech SoCalTech Venture Capital 138

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Capitalism is fundamentally about timing, since market competition is about finding opportunities before others. When should a VC invest? Between TechCrunch today and my former roles in venture capital, I’ve had the opportunity to practice timing a lot. Mithril Capital, management fees, and VC strategic drift.

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Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

A micro venture capital firm. Micro-VCs, by definition, are firms that invest institutional money (meaning other people’s money) in projects that are at the seed stage or are too small to attract the attention of more traditional venture capitalists. A “genesis” venture capital round.

Funding 104

Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

socalTECH

JANUARY 19, 2016

That's definitely not the case in Southern California, which saw a massive, $1.3 billion invested in venture capital in Q4 of 2015, according to the latest numbers released over the weekend by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. Think there is a technology investment slowdown?

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Southern California Invest Orange County San Diego 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2021

Most entrepreneurs have found by now one or more of the many popular crowdfunding sites , and have the name and contact information for at least one of the big venture capital firms. By definition, angels are accredited investors, who invest their own money for a percentage of the business. Most share expertise as well as money.

Angel 126

Angel Funding Venture Capital Seed Funding 126

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

And that was evident on today’s Angel vs. VC panel. There are real changes in the venture capital industry and it would have been fun to talk about them. The VC industry is segmenting – I have spoken about this many times before. So in the past we needed VC to really get a startup going.

Venture Capital 308

Venture Capital Training Startup Entrepreneur 308

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 3, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series of posts and I need to file this one under both Raising Venture Capital and Startup Advice. So, definition: when I talk about a business plan I’m not talking about a 40-page Word document outlining your market approach. Why do VC’s care about these years? Do so at your peril.

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Web 2.0 Venture Capital Web Technical Review 334

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2012

Angel investors are definitely interested at this stage, but VCs usually wait until stage five or six. All is definitely fundable now. Now we are ready for demonstration tests conducted on first-time or early-stage products. Verification. The technology can be reliably replicated and produced. Diversification.

Research 89

Research Venture Capital Funding Angel 89

socalTECH

JULY 23, 2012

socalTECH has analyzed its database of venture capital deals , exits, and other local deal activity, and started to come up with some tracking of the activity due to local accelerators, with some interesting results. However, what do the numbers say, even though it's but the first inning in the game? Of that, $97.47 READ MORE>>.

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Los Angeles Angel Report Startup 234

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by the definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. By definition, Advisory Boards are voluntary and have no fiduciary responsibility. I suggest a few simple considerations will clarify the alternatives.

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Allegis Startup Acquisition Entrepreneur 139