Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Fred Wilson wrote a blog post yesterday called “Real Names” in which he talked about a commenter on his blog who preferred not to comment because he didn’t want to use his real name. It’s all told through a graphic & very short so worth your having a quick read. It’s a powerful concept. The idea of not using one’s real name is something I’ve had to come to understand better through other people providing context.

Social Network 329

Social Network Startup Blogging Venture Capital 329

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SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal , the provider of local online marketing services to small and medium sized businesses run by Zorik Gordon, said this morning that it continues to expand its presence with the opening of three new offices. ReachLocal said it has opened up direct local sales offices in Dusseldorf, Germany; Newcastle, Australia; and Columbus, Ohio.

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ReachLocal Woodland Hills Advertising Web 247

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Note: This is Part I in the Startup Team Building series. Each generation, a few magnetic personalities emerge and generate a mania of public interest. Before Elvis, there was Sinatra. Before Sinatra, there was Bing. Before Bing, there was Caruso and before Caruso, there was Blondin. Jean Francois Gravelot, who wisely abandoned his given name and dubbed himself The Great Blondin , was a true rock star of the 19th Century.

Startup 243

Startup Equity Funding Help 243

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. First, if your idea really is something that a couple programmers can whip up in a few weeks, then you may not have much of a business here.

Startup 211

Startup IP Ideas Patents 211

Advertiser: Aggregage

Office leases are one of companies’ largest expenses, and if your whole team is working from home with no clear end in sight, you may be wondering what to do about your lease.

Company

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

By now you probably know that Netflix is splitting its business into two parts: its digital streaming business (retains the name Netflix) and its DVD mailing business, which was its original business (to be called Qwikster). If you haven’t read Reed’s explanation of this split make sure you read it (of course, after you’re done with this post ) —> here.

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Netflix Evite Pricing Hulu 329

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SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Santa Monica-based Get.com , a new startup founded by Jake Gold and Steven Fruchter, has launched, looking to help users make product purchase decisions. According to the firm, it has raised $1M in seed funding for its efforts, which the firm's founders says solve the same problem for products as Yelp and TripAdvisor do for local services and travel.

Sites 187

Sites Product Santa Monica Seed Funding 187

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. First, if your idea really is something that a couple programmers can whip up in a few weeks, then you may not have much of a business here.

Startup 198

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Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

BSAK Errors. I always loved the term … ”Between seat and keyboard.” Normally it was my tech team just being cheeky with me about my withering technology chops. But … … was thinking about a very common BSAK error that I see committed – the “flaming email.” Or when I worked at Accenture we called these “CLMs.” (career limiting maneuvers).

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Writing Email Startup Ideas 292

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SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

In his quest to better connect with new friends, Alex Capecelatro had a problem: none of the existing social networking sites were really designed to connect people with who you didn't know, and might share your hobbies and interests. To make it easier to find new people and connect with new friends, he thought he's start his own company to help solve that issue.

UCLA 187

UCLA Startup Culver City Social Network 187

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

I’ve been involved with well over a dozen successful exits and four initial public offerings over the years, some of them with monstrous gains, some more modest. Then in addition, there are the exits that returned some portion of capital, but nothing more. And finally, there are the sad exits that were complete write-offs for the investors, regaining some portion of note-holder or creditor money in the process. .

Writing 159

Writing Sales Entrepreneur Invest 159

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

I've posted quite a few things on the topics associated with being a Startup CTO. I've tried to collect them together here as a starting point for this topic. Technology Roles in Startups Visualization of Startup CTO Equity and Salary Data Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data Hiring a CTO for Your Startup Startup Founder Developer Gap Startup CTO or Developer Part-Time CTO Technology Advisor CTO Founder Acting CTO Start-up Advisors CTO Equity - Negotiation After Funding Equity-Only CTO and Equity-

CTO Hire 175

CTO Hire CTO Coach Resource Startup 175

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

I recently wrote a post about why I didn’t think early-stage startups should have COOs. I expected it to be controversial and it was. To be clear, I said that most companies I see pitching have COOs & I don’t have a rule against it. I’ve had several COOs at companies in which I’ve invested. In bringing up the issue I wasn’t “hating on COOs&# – I’m just challenging you to think about whether your CEO + COO structure really provides the right amo

Startup 292

Startup CTO Hire Sales Email 292

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SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

San Luis Obispo-based Honest Label Foods , a new startup, said today that it has launched both iPhone and Android apps to help consumers sort out food labels. The firm's new app allows users to scan barcodes on food products, and receive more accurate food labeling information on products. According to the firm, its free app will help users flag foods containing ingredients users are looking to avoid; will recalculate daily values based on a person's specific dietary needs and calories, and more

San Diego 185

San Diego Help Product Startup 185

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

I have saved this next story until now because it is one of my favorites, and certainly illustrates the point as well as anything I could devise from fiction. First here is a bit of the background. The year was 1998. After presenting a “state of the company” report at a national meeting of resellers for a company where I sat on the board, I was approached by one of the audience members, complimenting my presentation and stating, “I have a problem.

Sales 149

Sales Web Design Web Entrepreneur 149

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

I've posted quite a few things on the topics associated with being a Startup CTO. I've tried to collect them together here as a starting point for this topic. Technology Roles in Startups Visualization of Startup CTO Equity and Salary Data Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data Hiring a CTO for Your Startup Startup Founder Developer Gap Startup CTO or Developer Part-Time CTO Technology Advisor CTO Founder Acting CTO Start-up Advisors CTO Equity - Negotiation After Funding Equity-Only CTO and Equity-

CTO Hire 175

CTO Hire CTO Coach Startup Equity 175

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

I had the pleasure of sitting down for an hour with Dmitry Shapir o of AnyBeat this week. The last startup he did raised $70 million for the online video space before being sued for more than $1 billion by Universal. He won the battle (the lawsuit) but lost the war (went bankrupt, with pending litigation he couldn’t get funded. He’s back in the game as an entrepreneur and this time he wants to take on Facebook.

Veoh 269

Veoh Netflix Social Network Blogging 269

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Santa Monica-based MomentFeed , the provider of analytics software for tracking location-based check-in and other activity from Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and Gowalla, said Monday that it has scored an investment from Rockfish Brand Ventures , the venture capital arm of Rockfish Interactive. Size of the round was not disclosed. Rockfish Interactive is a digital agency which serves such clients as Walmart, Sams Club, Cisco, and Tyson Foods.

Invest 180

Invest Santa Monica Marketing Venture Capital 180

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Sunday, September 25, 2011 -- eCarFest. "Bringing the Electric Car Experience to You" Join the leading electric car makers, charging providers and local utilities for the latest innovations and trends in the eCar Marketplace at the Electric Lodge in Venice. The eCarFest is an informative display of electric vehicle innovations and lifestyles. If you are interested in learning more about electric vehicles, design, battery technology, charging infrastructure and financial incentives for owning an

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Venice Design Technology 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. Maybe it’s time to look harder at the mantra of a new breed of gurus and successful entrepreneurs, including Steve Blank and Eric Ries , called “nail it then scale it” (NISI).

Startup 114

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Custom 114

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

We are just over a month out and we’ve been holding off on this announcement for sometime. We want to provide our audience with not only amazing presenting startups/newly released products (submissions still open Apply Here ) but also outstanding people that can help you grow as an entrepreneur and lead a successful business. That’s why we are extremely excited to announce Mike Jones as our SuperDemo!

Tsavo 76

Tsavo Idealab Tech Coast Angels Userplane 76

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Woodridge, Illinois-based Elevance Renewable Sciences , a developer of renewable chemicals technology which was spun off from Pasadena-based Materia , has filed for an IPO. Elevance said it is looking to raise up to $100M on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol ERSI. The IPO is being underwritten by Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Jeffries, Piper Jaffray, and Raymond James.

CalTech 178

CalTech Pasadena Technology Marketing 178

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Friday, September 23, 2011 -- SMW LA Closing VIP Party sponsored by SocialVibe. The Closing Party is sponsored by SocialVibe. Attendance at the official Social Media Week Los Angeles closing party is by invitation only to the advisor board, event hosts, speakers, sponsors and invited guests. Email losangeles@socialmediaweek.org.

Social Media 113

Social Media Email Los Angeles Media 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Many entrepreneurs forget that their success is more about helping other people than about personally becoming famous, or overcoming the odds and getting rich. A successful business has to satisfy customers with a strong team, by helping them solve problems, save money, or experience more pleasure. That means more focus on helping others achieve their goals.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Custom Customer Mentor 102

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Los Angeles-based video streaming site Hulu was one of the many firms announcing new Facebook application yesterday at Facebook's F8 conference. According to Hulu, its new Hulu on Facebook app integrates Hulu with Faceboook, to make watching TV and movies on the site even more social. The new integration allows users to watch Hulu shows directly from Facebook, and add comments and information specifically tied to a moment in that video.

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Hulu Conference Sites Content 174

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SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Alex Bard , the San Diego-based CEO of customer support software firm Assistly , has sold his second company, as online CRM software giant Salesforce.com said today that it was paying $50M for Assistly. Salesforce.com said that Assistly, which provides an easy to set up customer support system for small and medium sized businesses, would go towards bolstering its product lineup.

San Diego 171

San Diego Customer Custom Software 171

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

San Diego-based SweetLabs , the startup formerly known as OpenCandy, said today that it has launched a $50,000 contest which will reward web developers for creating desktop applications for its Pokki desktop app environment. The firm, which is venture backed by Google Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, said that the top prize is $30,000, and will be rewarded to the best desktop app submitted by a developer to the company.

Develop 168

Develop Development JavaScript San Diego 168

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Los Angeles-based Chill , the social video streaming service created by Brian Norgard and Dan Gould, said Wednesday afternoon that it has launched a new feature around its "Chill Lounge". The firm said that anyone can now create a "Chill lounge"--essentially, a place to view a live stream of video and chat and interact with other users--around any live stream from Ustream, Justin.tv, Livestream.com, YouTube Live, or Twitch.tv.

Redpoint 168

Redpoint Los Angeles Content Services 168

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Monrovia-based Prolacta Bioscience , the venture-backed provider of human milk-based fortifiers for premature infants, said today that it has inked a deal with the National Milk Bank , where the firm will process all of the milk through the bank for conversion into human milk formulations. According to Prolacta, the National Milk Bank will recruit potential breast milk donors for Prolacta.

Arcturus 166

Arcturus Draper Monrovia Capital 166

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SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Santa Monica-based GotCast reports today that it is powering a casting call for cosmetics line Smoak , to help that firm find a co-star of its next campaign. GotCast, which offers up an online platform to find talent and models, did not announce the financial impact of the win. GotCast said that its platform will also be used by Smoak's founder, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler, to find pageant models for this year's Miss Nevada USA pageant.

Santa Monica 165

Santa Monica Platform Report Help 165

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Los Angeles-based Hipgeo , the develope rof a location-aware, smartphone applications service focused on recording and sharing your day with others, said this morning that it has launched its iPhone app. The firm said that the HipGeo app for iPhone allows users to record what they did during the day, and then share their trips and stories with others.

eHarmony 164

eHarmony Social Network Blogging Los Angeles 164

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Santa Monica-based eHarmony , the online matchmaking service, announced this morning that it has launched a new iPad app, eHarmony HD. eHamony said the app allows singles to access its service through the iPad, allowing users to interact with its relationship questionnaire and personality profiles, find matching listings, upload photos, and much more.

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eHarmony Santa Monica Services Mobile 160

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Los Angeles-based CODA Holdings , the developer of electric vehicles and battery systems, said late Monday evening that it has completed a $147M, Series D funding round. The firm said the new funding brings its total raised to more than $300M. The new funding came from New World Strategic Investment Limited, Indus Capital, Och-Ziff, AERIS Capital, Angeleno Group, Harbinger Capital Partners, Riverstone Holdings, as well as other un-named, high net worth individuals.

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Funding .Net Los Angeles Capital 159

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Zipments , a startup developing a marketplace for the courier and delivery service, said today that it is launching into the Los Angeles market, hoping to help connect individuals with businesses looking for local courier service. The startup--based in Michigan--is hoping to apply a model it has been piloting in Grand Rapids, Michigan; New York City; and Chicago, to the Los Angeles area.

Los Angeles 159

Los Angeles Design Pricing Startup 159

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Mojave-based The Spaceship Company , a joint venture of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites , announced that it has opened up a new final assembly, integration, and test hangar in Mojava, to suport final production of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo space vehicles. The firm said it has invested $8M in a new, energy efficient hangar, which was unveiled at a grand opening today in Mojave.

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Company Companies Invest Funding 159

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SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Los Angeles-based streaming media site Hulu said last night that it has extended its Hulu Plus Android app to run on nine more devices. The firm said its app now runs on eight more Android phones, including the Motorola Droid Bionic, Motorola Droid 3, Motorola Droid X2, LG Revolution, LG G2x, HTC Incredible 2, HTC Evo 3D, HTC Sensation, and HTC Flyer tablet.

Hulu 157

Hulu Los Angeles Sites Media 157

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SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Los Angeles-based Marketshare , the developer of marketing and advertising optimization software, has raised $5.0M in a debt funding round, according to a regulatory filing form the firm. The funding has not yet been announced. According to the filing, round close on September 8th, and came from a single investor. MarketShare's equity investor is Elevation Partners, which invested $32M in the firm earlier this year.

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Funding Advertising Equity Los Angeles 157