Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. I still see entrepreneurs who spend money and time for months on a new business idea without any separation of personal and business funds, and any formal accounting system for their new business.

Outsource Development 115

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 115

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series called “ Start-up Lessons.&#. I came across this blog post about getting a computer science degree as the best degree for getting into venture capital or working at a VC-backed start up. I paid up for the diploma but can’t say that I saw better results. So back to MBAs.

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Startup Venture Capital Study Course 337

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2021

Every entrepreneur tries to maximize his startup growth by building and selling more product and services for the widest geographic area that he can support. Building through internal development, or organic growth, makes the most sense when you have a core set of skilled internal resources. Add basic partner contracts or alliances.

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Organization CTO Hire Outsource Development Startup 132

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 31, 2021

The sweeping infrastructure package put forward today by President Joe Biden comes with a price tag of roughly $2 trillion (and hefty tax hikes) but gives startups and the broader tech industry about $1 trillion worth of reasons to support it. A Biden presidency doesn’t need a Green New Deal to make progress on climate change.

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Startup Technical Review Invest Research 229

socalTECH

JANUARY 27, 2021

Los angeles-based Silvus Technologies, a startup developing radio frequency (RF) spectrum scanning technology, has scored $1M from a Phase Three DARPA contract, the company said today. Silvus said its technology provides "extremely fast" spectrum scanning in a form factor the size of an iPhone.

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Outsource Development Los Angeles Activity Technology 160

InfoChachkie

APRIL 20, 2015

This is the approach many startups take when they communicate their story to the market. Rather than directly explaining their value proposition with all the passion and heartfelt stridency that only an entrepreneur can deliver, they outsource this communication to a Public Relations (PR) firm. The company started ‘getting ink.’

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Outsource Development Outsource Allegis Startup 100

socalTECH

MAY 13, 2021

Los Angeles-based Cartwheel, a startup that develops on-demand delivery management software, says it has raised $1M in a seed funding round, which came from TenOneTen Ventures, Act One Ventures, as well as famed hot dog restaurant chain Portillo's Hot Dogs, along with other angels.

Demand 113

Demand Outsource Development Seed Funding Outsource 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

As a startup investor, I often see business proposals looking for funding that really look like expensive hobbies looking for donations. I still see entrepreneurs who spend money and time for months on a new business idea without any separation of personal and business funds, and any formal accounting system for their new business.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Startup Competition 131

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2020

In my opinion, real pain points for most people do not include a new user interface for Facebook, a new programming platform for app development, or a new size smart phone. So why do I see some many funding requests for products along these lines? Some kind of natural or man-made disaster. The impact of global instability.

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Customer Custom Startup Outsource Development 167

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

Startup founders are known for their passion for their startup idea, and for their passion to kill every competitor. It provided an industry-leading graphic development interface, but was not so strong on modeling and simulation. Ability to up-sell customers with related products. We both often lost as a result.

Startup 173

Startup Outsource Development Examples Customer 173

socalTECH

AUGUST 7, 2018

Los Angeles-based Sagewise , a startup developing tools and infrastructure for managing disputes and contracts, has raised $1.25M in a seed funding round. According to Sagewise, it is developing a "safety net" for smart contracts to enable the efficient resolution of disputes. READ MORE>>.

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Outsource Development Seed Funding .Net Los Angeles 100

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 25, 2019

With an angle on a long-neglected part of the shipping industry — the short-haul movement of cargo from docks to logistics centers — Dray Alliance is joining a growing startup scene for logistics businesses based in Los Angeles. Trucking logistics company NEXT Trucking takes in a $21 million haul. The company has raised $3.5

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Startup Long Beach Los Angeles Southern California 140

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

My rationale is simple: everything goes wrong and only great teams can respond to competitors, markets, funding environments, staff departures, PR disasters and the like. Final startup grind from msuster. And the folks at Startup Grind have been kind enough to invite me to present this morning in Mountain View on the topic.

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Startup Slides Outsource Development Sales 388

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2019

My biggest takeaway this year was truly understanding the strength and cohesion of the Los Angeles startup community. There was no monetary reward for those who participated (and Startup Boost does not take fees or equity from the companies that we help). What was the biggest lesson you learned this year?

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Technical Review Software Review Startup Coach 157

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Let me start with the news that I’m excited to share with you. Startup CEO experience (Founded P.S. XO along with my good friend Soleil Moon Frye. For starters we’re an LA-based venture fund who invests nationally (and sometimes internationally, but less so). And the contractions always come back.

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Venture Capital Startup Outsource Development CitySearch 408

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2022

Here are six results that you can achieve by building a prototype, which are really the reasons that investors and partners will give you a whole new level of credibility as they evaluate your startup for potential funding: Something you can touch and feel helps validate opportunity.

Outsource Development 110

Outsource Development Ideas Tool Outsource 110

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 22, 2014

You have probably already absorbed many obvious caveats about setting up your own startup; don’t blow money you don’t have on fancy equipment or splash out on expensive rental space. Paying for an accountant when you’re just starting out may seem like a luxury you can’t afford, but it will more than prove its usefulness.

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Startup Outsource Development Software Review Sales 97

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2014

Most technology startups seem to be funded by product people or business people. My first startup was no different. This is why I tell startups that most seasoned sales execs aren’t right for startups. Here’s what I learned in running my first startup. Startups are the art of the possible.

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Sales Help Startup Pricing 382

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2020

I’m sure you have all seen entrepreneurs and startups with great ideas that never seem to live up to their potential, while others with more mundane solutions seem to take off quickly and never slow down. If you tell me that you have been working on your startup for two years, but can’t quite quantify the progress, I’m not impressed.

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Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Outsource 123

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

Los Angeles-based CoreObjects Software , a provider of software development to both startups and other firms, has been acquired. Symphony Services said the buy expands its offerings in product development and embedded product development. CoreObjects has received venture funding from Palomar Ventures. READ MORE>>.

Outsource Development 140

Outsource Development Palomar Outsource Los Angeles 140

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. Most of what I think about startup communities came from mentorship by Brad Feld through hours of private discussion and debate.

Startup 378

Startup Venture Capital Press San Diego 378

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. You need to have a technical genius on the team to get your startup product off the ground. The sales professional.

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Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 123

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2023

In my opinion, real pain points for most people do not include a new user interface for Facebook, a new programming platform for app development, or a new size smart phone. So why do I see some many funding requests for products along these lines? Some kind of natural or man-made disaster. The impact of global instability.

Ideas 118

Ideas Outsource Development Outsource Course 118

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2020

Even if you ignore all the hype around crowdfunding, there can be no doubt that it is a real alternative for entrepreneurs to achieve visibility and funding today. With this model, a startup pre-sells their product early, at a cheaper price, in exchange for a pledge. Startup equity model. Product pre-order model. In the U.S.,

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Satisfaction Equity 129

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

I find it amusing when a journalist writes an article about a prominent startup (either privately held or preparing for an IPO) and decries that, “They’re not even profitable!” To grow faster businesses need resources in today’s financial period to fund growth that may not come for 6 months to a year.

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Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Tech.Co

NOVEMBER 29, 2017

Mega startup campuses, the latest trend in coworking, are spreading their wings in Europe. As the founding head of Campus London , Google’s first physical hub for startups and now home to over 80,000 registered members, I thought it would be interesting to share the latest developments in this space from my perspective.

Startup 70

Startup Google Venture Capital Outsource Development 70

socalTECH

MARCH 15, 2017

Glendale-based ServiceTitan , which develops business management software for the home services and contracting industry, has raised $80M in a Series B funding, the company announced this morning. ServiceTitan said the new funding was led by ICONIQ Capital.

Glendale 113

Glendale Outsource Development Software Report 113

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2020

Here are six results that you can achieve by building a prototype, which are really the reasons that investors and partners will give you a whole new level of credibility as they evaluate your startup for potential funding: Something you can touch and feel helps validate opportunity.

Outsource Development 124

Outsource Development Ideas Tool Outsource 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2014

Startup founders are known for their passion for their startup idea, and for their passion to kill every competitor. It provided an industry-leading graphic development interface, but was not so strong on modeling and simulation. Ability to up-sell customers with related products. We both often lost as a result.

Startup 103

Startup Outsource Development Examples Customer 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2014

Even when your startup is a one-man show and lots of fun, a “business” needs some discipline and controls to keep it from being defined as a hobby by investors, and assure some financial return. Here are eight key business tasks that relate to almost every startup, generally prioritized by criticality. Develop your business plan.

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Startup Outsource Development Training Outsource 107

socalTECH

JANUARY 3, 2019

Thousand Oaks- and Shanghai-based Thousand Oaks Biopharmaceuticals , a new contract manufacturing organization fort he biotech industry, said it has received $45M in a Series A financing round. The funding came from New Alliance Capital, plus ADDOR Capital, Tenyall & Sumin, Broadhi Capital, QianRong, Ji Lin Ao Dong, and Bluebay Capital.

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Thousand Oaks Outsource Development Media Organization 100

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

As an entrepreneur and startup investor, I have helped create companies which achieved two IPOs which collectively raised over $100 million, as well as two acquisitions which totaled $385 million. Public relations at a startup is a sales process. “Learn from the mistakes of others. 2) Secure Your Intellectual Property Too Early.

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Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

One of the readers asked my opinion around sharing your startup concept: My first question has always been - how do you protect your idea while shopping around for feedback, partners, developers, etc.? Especially if the idea could be whipped-up by a few 24-year olds in a few weeks? Lots of thoughts here.

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Startup IP Ideas Patents 211