Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2014

The more conventional VP of Marketing role should cover branding, as well as other marketing advertising, design, public relations and customer service requirements. If your business is managing contracts and patents, it makes sense, but the CLO for most startups is LegalZoom on the Internet. Chief Risk Officer. Chief Legal Officer.

CTO Hire 100

CTO Hire Funding Cloud Computing CIO 100

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

As I’ve written about recently, at Upfront Ventures we started talking a couple of years ago about wanting to fund stuff with more meaning. I think this is a combination of being realists as venture capitalists that outsized returns in our funds must come from taking on bigger, more impactful projects that can move markets.

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. The value of patents and trademarks is not certifiable, especially if you are only at the provisional stage.

Funding 98

Funding Startup Patents Outsource Development 98

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2013

Helping solicit new business ideas and patents from individuals, federal research labs, universities and other R&D organizations countrywide. Get feedback, collaborate and get funded. JumpStartFund aims to be the first to ask for feedback, collaboration and funding with both equity- and rewards-based crowdfunding from its members.

El Segundo 76

El Segundo Social Network Startup Patents 76

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. Yet according to the latest data from AngelSoft , only about 3 out of 100 companies who initiate the formal request process actually get funded. Remember the old adage that “investors fund people, not ideas.” Line up an experienced team.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 12, 2014

New and innovative designers are popping up everywhere, thanks to new technology like 3D printing. SYNCFAB , (Synchronized Fabrication) is a platform to bring hybrid 3D printing and connect inventors and designers with manufacturers and material specialists to bring back local manufacturing.

Design 84

Design Platform Patents Outsource Development 84

socalTECH

DECEMBER 7, 2016

Before that, I was at a multimedia design academy in high school. I've always been a mobile enthusiast, in technology and design and user experience. Eli Aizenstat: I entered into the Design Accelerator, which is an accelerator run in conjunction with the Art Center College of Design and Caltech, in the summer of 2014.

Tech Coast Angels 100

Tech Coast Angels CTO Coach Startup Pasadena Angels 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2021

Picture the graphic designer, the IT expert, or the independent accountant or attorney. Too many Innovators are like Dean Kamen , still struggling with the Segway Human Transporter , while holding over 1000 other device patents. The Specialist entrepreneur will enter one industry and stick with it for 15 to 30 years.

Entrepreneur 134

Entrepreneur Framework Mentor Web 134

Berkonomics

AUGUST 10, 2017

Many of the start-ups my various angel funds have financed died a slow death, not because of poor concept but because of poor execution, wasting fixed overhead and draining the financial resources from the company coffers. So the CEO comes back “to the well”, asking for more money from the investors to complete the project.

Venture Capital 243

Venture Capital Product Resource Marketing 243

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2020

There are complex processes, like filing a patent, and financial tools that may be new to you, including Excel and Quickbooks. Remember the concept of minimum viable product (MVP), which is designed to test viability and interest before you burn through too much of your energy and resources. The reality is often the opposite.

Product 123

Product Startup Tips Entrepreneur 123

socalTECH

OCTOBER 22, 2020

What kinds of areas does the fund make investments in? Krisztina Holly: We are an early stage fund, known for our ability to discovery and cultivate very complex science and technology deals. We just launched a third, $100M fund focused on seed to Series A investments in transformative science and technology companies.

Southern California 124

Southern California Capital Technical Review Startup 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2013

On the other hand, if you intend to patent an idea, you need a signed confidentiality agreement from everyone knowing details, or you will legally lose patent rights. If you want advice or funding, and the person you are about to pitch to is a certified investor, or a senior business advisor, skip the NDA. Trade secrets.

Ideas 92

Ideas Demand Patents Entrepreneur 92

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Yarnell Design (www.masonyarnell.com/tech). Brilliant web and iPhone app design. and international patent and trademark procurement - IP Litigation - IP Licenses and Agreements: distribution, development, joint venture - Intellectual property aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Technology. Advertisers.

Southern California 113

Southern California Tech Coast Angels IP Orange County 113

socalTECH

MARCH 9, 2015

We spoke with CEO Steve Schell on how Idealab believes its past experience with starting up a 3D printing company--and some new ideas on how to create a marketplace of 3D designs--are the key to making the leap from hobbyist to the mass market. Without customers, no designer wants to participate.

Idealab 100

Idealab Design Product Ideas 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2012

On the other hand, if you intend to patent an idea, you need a signed confidentiality agreement from everyone knowing details, or you will legally lose patent rights. If you want advice or funding, and the person you are about to pitch to is a certified investor, or a senior business advisor, skip the NDA. Trade secrets.

Startup 97

Startup Patents Sample Ideas 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

His challenge is to focus on one market, with a specific design, cost, and price. Then, he'll need to patent it and create a plan to show opportunity, competition, and financial projections. For example, I have a friend with a Ph.D. in Physics who talks passionately about starting a business producing nuclear powered batteries.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

socalTECH

JULY 31, 2013

In the world of mobile app and Internet startups, it''s not that often that you see companies who touch the hardware side of the world get funding nowadays. The firm recently raised a $15M series C funding, and we caught up with Kevin to learn more about why its customers, and investors, are interested in its technology.

Technical Review 213

Technical Review Software Review Networking Technology 213

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

If you are one of the thousands of entrepreneurs who need equity funding to get your startup going (no loans to repay), you are probably overwhelmed at the prospect of finding, contacting and pitching to the huge number of qualified angels and investment groups around the country. File a provisional patent or other intellectual property.

Platform 94

Platform Equity Invest Technical Advisors 94

Xconomy

JULY 5, 2016

When doctors implant devices to replace a patient’s missing bones or support damaged bones, those devices were probably designed, developed, and/or manufactured in Warsaw. Warsaw, IN, is the “Orthopedic Capital of the World.”. That law helped kick-start the modern tech transfer field.

Patents 67

Patents Research Anthem Education 67

socalTECH

JULY 25, 2016

The early stage, self funded startup recently launched its beta in Los Angeles. Fifteen years now down the line, I'm now connecting the dots between design, technology, and real estate software. How are you funding the company? Avantika Shahi: Currently it's all self funded. What is Haus all about?

Startup 100

Startup Sites Los Angeles Platform 100

socalTECH

JUNE 23, 2009

Semiconductor startups seem to be quite rare in today's environment, with few companies being funded or launched, due both to the difficulty of bringing products to market, lack of investment capital, as well as lots of established, large companies in the industry. We're now funded by a bunch of angels. Mike Neshat: I'm broke now.

Patents 100

Patents Sample Technical Review Pricing 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 24, 2011

On the other hand, if you intend to patent an idea, you need a signed confidentiality agreement from everyone knowing details, or you will legally lose patent rights. If you want advice or funding, and the person you are about to pitch to is a certified investor, or a senior business advisor, skip the NDA. Trade secrets.

Patents 90

Patents Sample Ideas Entrepreneur 90

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Capture your “secret sauce.” Start with a service you know and love.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Create a business plan online, but don’t wait for funding. You no longer need to travel to China or hire an expensive prototyping expert to mock up your new design. Trademarks, copyrights and even patents can be completed online by anyone through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office site for a few hundred dollars.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media Outsource Development 108

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2009

A quick message on a very busy funding day, to thanks to all of our sponsors, who make our coverage of Southern California's technology industry possible: Sponsors. Rhonda is the Director of Internet Strategy and Interaction Design for Congressman Rohrabacher (CA-46) and uses technology to shake things up in the political world and beyond.

Orange County 113

Orange County Southern California IP Glendale 113

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 12, 2013

I later found the bottle belonged to my roommate (don’t worry, the bottle was still in the communal cupboard and thoroughly cleaned upon return) – he was a graphic & brand designer by trade and had a quirkier appreciation for negative space than most people. DESIGN – 3. The design is great.

Technical Review 92

Technical Review Design Product Patents 92

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 11, 2011

Enterprise Software sucks, and if you’re an engineer or product designer, we invite you to join this hackathon to reinvent business 2 business software. Early designer of Paypal. 8 patents pending, and world programming finalist. Come by yourself and team up or bring your engineering/product design friends.

Santa Monica 72

Santa Monica Yammer Geni Southern California 72

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Capture your “secret sauce.” Start with a service you know and love.

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

socalTECH

AUGUST 8, 2012

It was a series of different technologies we had ot develop and apply for patents on, and now that we have it, we're working on a prototype. We have a contest for people to design what the case will look like, and we're using Fundable to raise $10,000 to give to the winner. I was doing that until 1995.

Startup 252

Startup Sites Patents Outsource Development 252

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. The value of patents and trademarks is not certifiable, especially if you are only at the provisional stage.

Startup 108

Startup Invest Patents Outsource Development 108

socalTECH

MARCH 15, 2013

Nils Forsblom is not new to the startup world -- in fact, his last startup, Fruugo, raised an astounding $48M in funding, and became one of the most heralded-- and controversial --startups in Finland. We have a couple of different ideas in the pipeline, and have filed patents in our unique way of showing advertising on a very small screen.

Mobile 233

Mobile Southern California Startup Outsource Development 233

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2012

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded early by one of the 318,000 active Angel investors in the USA alone. Here is my list of top ten action items to best prepare you for success in achieving a funding event with Angels: Incorporate the business now. Remember the old adage that “investors fund people, not ideas.”

Angel 104

Angel Screening Summary Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Capture your “secret sauce.” Start with a service you know and love.

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 15, 2010

(plus a large settlement on patent disputes paid from Google) so Bill did well on it. Especially when he’s surrounded by Danny Rimer (who funded Skype, MySQL, Last.FM PLUS RELATED FUNDING …. There is a lot of interest in radio these days and another high profile deal in this sector is TargetSpot funded by USV.

Venture Capital 271

Venture Capital Capital Google Platform 271

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Every new startup I know dreams of being funded by an angel investor. Yet according to the latest data from Gust (formerly AngelSoft), only about 3 out of 100 companies who initiate the formal request process actually get funded. Remember the old adage that “investors fund people, not ideas.” Line up an experienced team.

Invest 99

Invest Angel Technical Review Summary 99

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 26, 2008

The firm was pitching for funding at the Technology Council of Southern California's VentureNet event earlier this month. So we started to work on that in the background, and towards the end of last year thought it was a very good idea and that we should file some patents and create the company, which we did.

VentureNet 100

VentureNet Startup Mobile Technology Council 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2016

In fact, investors recognize that founders usually learn more from mistakes than from success, so a well-explained startup failure can improve their odds of funding the next time around. You need patents and trademarks as a barrier to entry. However, investors do expect you know the common pitfalls -- and not repeat them.

Startup 59

Startup Training Entrepreneur Customer 59