Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. Board seats can’t be negotiated, and even informal mentoring in decision and governance processes is unlikely. Risk is increased.

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Equity Statistics Platform Entrepreneur 164

socalTECH

JANUARY 31, 2013

It was standing room only at StartEngine 's Demo Day Wednesday afternoon, held at Santa Monica's Cross Campus , as the startup accelerator launched eight of its latest startups into the world, after a 90 day process of mentoring, honing their business model, and heads down development. Standing room only crowd at StartEngine). It's unclear.

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Startup Commerce Santa Monica Mentor 256

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

It’s helpful to think of startups as proceeding through several stages, which I have defined a long time ago from a funding perspective. Usually these will not give you money, but will provide inexpensive expert mentoring and office services. Funding or rollout stage. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

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Resource Startup Organization Incubator 171

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 1, 2020

It goes without saying that if you find yourself in a really negative headspace PLEASE reach out to any trusted mentor, friend or family member. In the words of my friend and a CEO with whom I work, “Yeah, I know I need to make some cuts because our demand has changed, but I want to do this with a scalpel and not with an axe.”

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Demand Guide Custom Customer 215

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2023

That’s not as high as the failure rate with professional investors, but it should convince entrepreneurs that crowdfunding is still no panacea for funding. Board seats can’t be negotiated, and even informal mentoring in decision and governance processes is unlikely. Later funding rounds can’t deal with a thousand shareholders.

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Equity Platform Entrepreneur Statistics 80

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2022

Thus, over the years of my mentoring and consulting efforts with entrepreneurs, I have a key list of practices that I recommend to everyone starting and growing a business. Betting on funds you don’t yet have has crashed many businesses I know. They are not afraid to ask for staffing pointers, direction, or even funding.

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Startup Training Tool Demand 134

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

Almost every entrepreneur and new business owner I mentor is certain that his/her idea has a very high probability of success, and all find it hard to believe that ninety percent of startups ultimately fail. Growing too fast kills many new ventures, due to staffing costs, inventory, and funding delays.

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Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Huddlewoo a live video platform set to launch early 2013 to give people the ability to access extraordinary people for one-on-one conversations and mentoring. Any funding yet? We have received seed funding from a friend and it is personally funded. Based in Columbus, Ohio and community management in Washington, D.C,

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Mentor Platform Social Network Chief Technology Officer 94

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2013

StartEngine provides $20,000 to $100,000 in funding to promising startups, and also offers up mentoring, office space, and help in getting those startups to the next stage. The eight startups are pitching their investors to startups at CrossCampus in Santa Monica this afternoon.

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Santa Monica Startup Activision Commerce 178

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2021

As a business mentor, I sometimes feel besieged by people begging for my view and support of their latest idea. There are lots of resources available for that question, including the Internet and mentors like me. Pitching” is the insider term for presenting your product idea to people who could conceivably buy it or fund your efforts.

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Ideas Entrepreneur Mentor Resource 136

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 8, 2021

This is an incredibly rewarding milestone and an apt tribute to the vision of my late mentor, Norman Rostoker,” said TAE’s current chief executive officer, Michl Binderbauer, in a statement announcing the company’s achievement. Over time, TAE hopes to license the D-T technology while building up to its ultimate goal.

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Technology Artificial Inteligence Google Orange County 354

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2022

Then there are the additional challenges of balancing the demands of family and friends. But with the pressures of the economy, and limited access to outside funding, we all know this isn’t always possible or appropriate. Discuss the tough ones with a mentor. Having too much on your plate can turn your dream into a nightmare.

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Startup Tips Entrepreneur Mentor 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

Thus your startup maturity and growth stage is the primary key to success with potential funding sources. My invention and prototype works, but I need funding to continue.” It’s time to scale up and I need money to keep up with demand.” Tune your investor pitch and funding expectations accordingly. Congratulations!

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Startup Ideas Equity Invest 148

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2014

Thus your startup maturity and growth stage is the primary key to success with potential funding sources. My invention and prototype works, but I need funding to continue.” It’s time to scale up and I need money to keep up with demand.” Tune your investor pitch and funding expectations accordingly. Congratulations!

Startup 93

Startup Funding Venture Capital Ideas 93

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2021

The NSF determined eight to ten years ago that the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants they were funding to academic teams, to commercialize technology, they were losing, because not many academics had the background to understand how to go out and source customers, and did not know how to run a startup.

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Marina Del Rey Startup USC Incubator 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. Most of these scenarios involve attracting outside investors, strategic partners, or key team members: You are the team and you don’t need outside funding.

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Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2020

Other companies have only seen a slight decline and may be expecting demand to return to normalcy later in the year. The reality is that when unemployment sinks in demand is likely to get worse. Seed deals, for example, are easier to get funded than a late-stage deal for obvious reasons. That may happen. But I doubt it.

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Venture Capital Marketing Startup Writing 263

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2015

In my years of mentoring and working with startups, I’ve seen and read about some amazing disruptions, as well as recoveries, and I’m sure each of you could add your own. You can’t predict big quality problems, funding shortfalls, and viral events that don’t work. People who haven’t thought about a Plan B often don’t survive the shock.

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Startup Demand Entrepreneur Competition 58

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2011

Recently I heard a talk by Dave McClure, a long-time angel investor, who also proclaims to be one of the “new breed” of venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, as CEO of 500Startups , which is either a micro-VC seed fund, or a startup incubator, or both. Today, if you do well in this mode, you will get funded if and when you need it.

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Startup Funding Seed Funding Incubator 92

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

A decent showing, but well below a number of larger schools, as the ranking is based on the number of graduates who secured VC funding. Unlike most university programs that are over architected and underfunded, the TMP evolved organically, based on the demands of its students and input from the local community. Organic Academia.

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Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2021

For example, most people thought Twitter was a total snoozer, when Jack Dorsey was looking for funding, especially with MySpace already owning that territory. You can learn to be an entrepreneur by working in a startup, talking to peers, and mentoring. Yet today, Twitter is a fifty billion behemoth, and MySpace is forgotten.

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Entrepreneur Ideas Examples Satisfaction 171

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. A sample of three views is adequate.

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Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

socalTECH

OCTOBER 26, 2015

Los Angeles is the capital of on-demand apps, for just about anything you want. One of those areas that combines LA's passion for on-demand apps, and its active lifestyle, is Fitspot (www.fitspotapp.com), which brings athletic trainers to you or your local fitness center. How are you backed and funded? What is Fitspot?

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Training Startup Orange County Malibu 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels. A sample of three views is adequate.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

Although his focus is naturally on bigger companies, I contend that his recommended strategies apply equally well to entrepreneurs and startups: Demand a mindset of deep thinking for the long term. Distinguish growth opportunities from survival efforts, and make sure they are adequately funded, rewarded, and measured.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2016

It’s helpful to think of startups as proceeding through several stages, which I have defined some time ago from a funding perspective. Usually these will not give you money, but will provide inexpensive expert mentoring and office services. Funding or rollout stage. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

Organization 93

Organization Startup Incubator Ideas 93

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. Direction, mentoring and resources required. No surprises in this advice.

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Incubator Startup Seed Funding Equity 58

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

Then there are the additional challenges of balancing the demands of family and friends. But with the pressures of the economy, and limited access to outside funding, we all know this isn’t always possible or appropriate. Discuss the tough ones with a mentor. Having too much on your plate can turn your dream into a nightmare.

Tips 86

Tips Startup Entrepreneur Mentor 86

socalTECH

DECEMBER 10, 2010

venture funding and business deals, technology develops, and more from Santa Barbara. Funding great entrepreneurs. We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. socalTECH.com offers up continuous coverage of Southern California's growing high. to San Diego. experts, developers, and many, many others. Think Glendale.

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SoCalTech Advertising Rustic Canyon Glendale 127

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2013

How can you beat finding someone who has been there and done that, able to mentor Gen-Y, has lots of connections to people in your industry, and is often willing to work for equity alone? They have the maturity and sophistication to deal with your demanding executives and partners. Angel investor. Interim executive.

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Startup Mentor Demand High Tech 98

socalTECH

DECEMBER 7, 2016

Barry was a lead mentor there at Chapman University's Launch Labs, and we paired up. Barry and I worked together to create Beatshare as a business and go out for funding. Barry Lieberman: That funding round, which was a preferred seed equity round, took place in the summer of 2015, and there was $785,000 in the round.

Tech Coast Angels 100

Tech Coast Angels CTO Coach Startup Pasadena Angels 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2018

Thus your startup maturity and growth stage is the primary key to success with potential funding sources. My invention and prototype works, but I need funding to continue.” It’s time to scale up and I need money to keep up with demand.” Tune your investor pitch and funding expectations accordingly. Congratulations!

Startup 73

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 73

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2016

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. Board seats can’t be negotiated, and even informal mentoring in decision and governance processes is unlikely. Risk is increased.

Equity 54

Equity Platform Entrepreneur Demand 54

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. We generally have a policy to only fund entrepreneurs once the first version of a product has shipped or it near to shipping. So I asked Ethan to build his product first and then we would fund. The company was called Red Beacon. We like to be able to see the concept.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2015

As a business mentor, I sometimes feel besieged by people begging for my view and support of their latest idea. There are lots of resources available for that question, including the Internet and mentors like me. Pitching” is the insider term for presenting your product idea to people who could conceivably buy it or fund your efforts.

Ideas 104

Ideas Mentor Resource Entrepreneur 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2014

As a business mentor, I sometimes feel besieged by people begging for my view and support of their latest idea. There are lots of resources available for that question, including the Internet and mentors like me. Pitching” is the insider term for presenting your product idea to people who could conceivably buy it or fund your efforts.

Ideas 107

Ideas Mentor Entrepreneur Resource 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2012

A while back I heard a talk by Dave McClure, a long-time angel investor, who also proclaims to be one of the “new breed” of venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, as CEO of 500Startups , which is either a micro-VC seed fund, or a startup incubator, or both. He is going gangbusters, and is now targeting a $50M second round of funding.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Startup Seed Funding Incubator 101