Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2019

With Startup Boost, we had dozens of investors, service providers, successful entrepreneurs, and major industry leaders (including Microsoft, Google, Softbank, REME, and TechStars) coalesce around our initiative to help early stage companies get to the next level.

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Software Review Startup Coach 157

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts.

Resource 159

Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2021

For the elite startups and entrepreneurs who manage to attract the investor they dream of, and survive the term sheet negotiation, there is still one more hurdle before the money is in the bank. Startup equity investments imply a long-term business relationship, lasting an average of five years.

Technical Review 151

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Invest 151

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2011

One of the most common questions that entrepreneurs who meet me for the first time like to ask is, “Do you miss being an entrepreneur? 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.&#. On Being an Entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur 176

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Ideas 176

socalTECH

JANUARY 5, 2021

One of our most promising new programs is the Strategic University Research Expo (SURE) in partnership with Biocom where we curate highly focused virtual demo days featuring select university research -- it was only conceived when we were liberated from the in-person model.

Southern California 202

Southern California SoCal Technical Review Startup 202

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 7, 2013

The good news for entrepreneurs is that there have never been more office space options for early stage companies. If you use the mentor-driven model that we pioneered at TechStars, you get entrepreneurs who are deeply connected with the broader entrepreneurial landscape. Many Sizes, Many Fits.

Incubator 238

Incubator Startup News Entrepreneur 238

socalTECH

JUNE 2, 2010

launched earlier this year at DEMO. Alon Goren: What we did, actually, was when we launched at DEMO we got up on stage, and you're not allowed to show a PowerPoint--you have to demo your product. Tags: alon goren investedin startup interview entrepreneur demo investment project music. Thanks, and good luck!

Sites 237

Sites Startup Invest SoCalTech 237

socalTECH

MARCH 21, 2012

The standard model for an accelerator is, they provide a tranche of equity, along with a suite of services that varies by different accelerator. Because of that, you get to meet slots of people in the community, because there's such a prolific number of entrepreneurs. The amount of capital varies by accelerator.

Startup 254

Startup Los Angeles Entrepreneur Media 254

Tech.Co

JULY 18, 2016

Several startups have been selected to demo their products for other founders and entrepreneurs. Equity Directory – an invite-only network of entrepreneurs and startup talent exchanging work for equity. And for those L.A. This isn’t just a showcase for the sake of a showcase. More startups to come**.

Los Angeles 70

Los Angeles Angel Startup Newsletter 70

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

When I first read Paul Graham’s blog post on “High Resolution&# Financing I read it as a treatise arguing that convertible notes are better than equity. Not that they’re “such a bad idea&# but more that there are inherent problems for entrepreneurs in the process of raising angel money that need to be addressed.

Venture Capital 286

Venture Capital Pricing Technical Review Startup 286

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2016

Most entrepreneurs I know are so passionate about their new idea that they are surprised when family and friends don’t line up to invest in their new venture. The reality is that investors, including myself, believe that the entrepreneur is more key to business success than the idea. Demos and prototypes are key.

Funding 60

Funding Startup Ideas Slides 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

For the elite startups and entrepreneurs who manage to attract the investor they dream of, and survive the term sheet negotiation, there is still one more hurdle before the money is in the bank. Startup equity investments imply a long-term business relationship, lasting an average of five years.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

Remember, I was an entrepreneur for 10 years before a VC). Even though I got a “no” he helped me understand why I wasn’t a fit for him and that always set the bar for how I wanted to treat entrepreneurs?—?friendly, Most entrepreneurs don’t put enough effort into these phases. friendly, but direct in my thoughts.

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

socalTECH

OCTOBER 27, 2011

K5Launch (www.k5launch.com) is modeled after the successful Y-Combinator and TechStars acceleration programs, and invests equity, provides mentors, and runs a three month program to get very early stage startups off the ground. However, the main benefit is the one-on-one assistance of entrepreneurs, and access to capital.

Orange County 192

Orange County Southern California Startup Class 192

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Being an entrepreneur is about, “The journey through the ‘NO’ to get to the YES’ ” said by Ryan Caldbeck, CEO of CircleUp , on a panel at the Connections Conference in Indianapolis. Being an entrepreneur is about making a commitment no matter how painfully difficult it is to keep it. image EPA/Andrew Gombert.

Startup 104

Startup Technical Review Search Engine Optimization Los Angeles 104

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Next → Later today, the Startup UCLA accelerator will have its inaugural demo day. Participating companies get between $4,000 and $8,000 in addition to mentorship and office space while participating in the 12 week program, and have to give up zero equity in exchange. Love the student entrepreneur scene in LA right now!

UCLA 47

UCLA Invest Startup Class 47

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

Startup equity investments imply a long-term business relationship, lasting five years or longer. The founder needs to remember that investor meetings up to this point have been primarily off-site, with staged demos, and managed personally by the CEO or one or two executives.

Invest 59

Invest Startup Doc Slides 59

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

What equity is the company willing to give in return for the investment? Offer to do a demo later, but don’t try to squeeze it in the presentation. Tags: entrepreneur startup investor presentation business. What is the current valuation of the company? Show breakeven point, burn rate, and growth assumptions. Exit strategy.

Slides 94

Slides Competition Sample Sales 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

What equity is the company willing to give in return for the investment? Offer to do a demo later, but don’t try to squeeze it in the presentation. What is the current valuation of the company? Show breakeven point, burn rate, and growth assumptions. Funding requirements and use of funds. Exit strategy.

Slides 99

Slides Competition Sample Sales 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

What equity is the company willing to give in return for the investment? Offer to do a demo later, but don’t try to squeeze it in the presentation. What is the current valuation of the company? Show breakeven point, burn rate, and growth assumptions. Funding requirements and use of funds. Exit strategy.

Slides 93

Slides Competition Sample Sales 93

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Mike has over 18 years of business development, marketing and management experience in businesses ranging from early stage start-ups to private equity and from mid-stage business to large turn-around operations. Sangster is a serial entrepreneur and M&A executive with experience both founding and acquiring businesses.

Tech Coast Angels 96

Tech Coast Angels Idealab Angel Startup 96

Berkonomics

APRIL 24, 2014

Often I see executive summaries from entrepreneurs who have never managed any form of business, or even managed employees in their past life, and who don’t know the first thing about business formation and managing for growth. I used to tell them to find a partner with knowledge in business creation and management.

Coach 250

Coach Seed Funding Summary Incubator 250

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2012

From LA Demo Day to Silicon Beach Fest to Crowdstart LA to hackathons to Startup Weekends, companies and entrepreneurs alike have joined forces to feed the startup ecosystem. THIRD TIME’S A CHARM: On Sunday we presented to a panel of judges consisting of entrepreneurs and a VC investor. I got the same response from everyone.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas San Diego Mentor 100

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 12, 2010

The final showoff's have been selected, so that brings the count to a total of 10 showoff's plus a wild card from the demo night at UCLA (full list of showoff's below). As a serial entrepreneur and Internet visionary, Richard co-founded Demand Media in May 2006, and currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Twiistup 40

Twiistup Riot Games UCLA Media 40

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

How To Pitch A Product - A VC : Venture Capital and Technology , August 4, 2010 I've said a bunch of times on this blog that the perfect pitch is a very short intro to provide context followed immediately by a demo. He blogs to 10,000 web entrepreneurs at Software by Rob and co-hosts the podcast Startups for the Rest of Us.

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191