Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
Executive Summary. I believe the rise in angel investing is here to stay and the professionalization of this class (aka “super angels&# or “micro VC&# ) is a good thing for the VC industry and for entrepreneurs. It is basically a return to the type of VC that was done 20 years ago long before the craziness of the Internet boom that skewed things so greatly.
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
San Diego-based Bump.com , a new startup headed by former Active Network co-founder Mitch Thrower, said today that it has launched a new service which allows drivers to send voice, text, and email messages too people based on their license plate numbers. According to Bump.com, it has an iPhone application which allows users to send messages to any driver it sees, via voice or by text, given only the license plate of that driver.
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InfoChachkie
SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
Below is a talk on New Venture Investing from the University of California Santa Barbara’s Technology Management Program, by Jim Andelman. In this video Jim Andelman explores venture capital investing and the emergence of capital efficient businesses. Bio: Jim Andelman, co-founder and General Partner of Rincon Venture Partner. Jim is a co-founder and General Partner of Rincon Venture Partners.
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010 -- Business Innovation: Why Didn't I Think of That? Gold Coast Business Forum. Why Didn't I Think of That? Product Design Innovation - A Catalyst for Successful Business Growth. See [link] (more).
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Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 12, 2010
I recently got an email from a friend who had been approached by a well known VC. He sent me an email asking whether the approach was real and whether he should take it seriously. Here is the email he received (reprinted without names with his permission). “Hi [entrepreneur], I hope all is well. I’m an investor at [Big Name, Large Fund VC] and recently came across [Your Company].
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
Irvine-based Kareo , a developer of web-based medical billing software, announced today that it has raised $9.5M in an investment round. According to Kareo, the funding came from OpenView Venture Partners. The firm said the new funding will go to enhance customer service, expand its product suite, build out sales and marketing, as well as to bolster its management team.
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010 -- RIM (Research In Motion) MarketLink. CommNexus MarketLink is a FREE program that pairs regional companies with multinational corporations hoping to discover new business interests and partnerships.WHAT RIM IS LOOKING FOR: RIM is interested in applications with no hardware components, no accessories or the need for additions to the device to make their product work.
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
This is the second article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). Part 1 – Access to Great Deal Flow – is here. I have talked extensively about “social proof&# in fund raising in the past. But the problem is that most deals – even really promising ones – fail.
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
Last night, we (and the entire rest of the tent) spied Olivia Palermo working her publicity magic on the gawkers. She is actually much shorter and slighter than I thought, pretty tiny. Whose shoes do you think she was wearing? She’s been a prominent fixture at most of the shows. Ah, reality shows — they’ve made stars of socialites.
Startup Professionals Musings
SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
If you can’t solve problems and enjoy it, you won’t make it as an entrepreneur. By definition, an entrepreneur is the first to undertake a given business, and firsts never happen without problems and people frustrations. The toughest problems are people problems, like personnel issues, but there are tough operational problems as well, such as vendor delays.
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010 -- Opportunity Green. The world can no longer afford business as usual. Opportunity Green confronts this challenge and brings together the brightest innovators leading the growth of the new green economy. On Sept. 22-24, forge new strategic partnerships, get the inside view on the hottest trends and technologies. Explore the latest in sustainability strategies and best practices, and lead your organization to success.
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
This is the third article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). Part 1 – Access to Great Deal Flow – is here. Part 2 discussed the need for domain knowledge since merely “joining the right club deal&# will in no way determine success. Not everybody agreed on the need for domain knowledge.
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
Despite the excitement and lure of startups to those in the tech industry, not everyone wants to join a startup after college--according to Mike Gammarino , who is helping to organize a new effort here to recruit students to startups. According to Mike, startups have an uphill battle recruiting from college campuses, including fighting over the best students with big name technology firm.
Startup Professionals Musings
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
In the beginning all businesses are just people playing out an idea. It’s never the other way around – there is no idea so big that it doesn’t need people to make it succeed. Investors know this, hence the saying “Bet on the jockey, not the horse.” A great jockey is a great role model. Like it or not, everyone looks to the entrepreneur as the jockey role model in a new business.
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 -- Do You Have Employees or Human Capital? AccessEN. Most companies have a good grasp on their revenue and expenses, but have no clear way to measure the ROI they have on their workforce. See why you should be looking at the ROI of your human capital practices and not just focus on cost controls, and receive practical and actionable guidance to increasing your revenue per employee.
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
This is the fourth article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). Part 1 – Access to Great Deal Flow – is here. The first three skills I espoused were: access to the highest-quality deal-flow, domain knowledge of the topic area in which you’re investing and access to VCs to help fund the next stages of development.
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
Los Angeles-based Health In Reach , a new startup founded by Scott Sangster, has launched its new service today at the DEMO Fall conference. Health In Reach is focused on helping patients find doctors, schedule appointments, and receive upfront pricing on medical procedures. Sangster is well known in Los Angeles for his work with the Tech Coast Angels, and previously was in strategic planning and corporate development at Walt Disney Internet Group.
Startup Professionals Musings
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
Remember a term sheet agreement is not a deal until the check clears. Entrepreneurs sometimes assume an initial agreement with an angel is a commitment, so they start spending before any money is received. But due diligence and paperwork take time, and can change everything. It’s true that angel investors typically do not present entrepreneurs with overly complicated deal structures, especially when compared to venture capitalists.
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 -- Search Marketing and Social Media. PPC Summit. Leading Search and Social Media experts teaching search marketing and social media strategies. See [link] (more).
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
This is the third article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). Part 1 – Access to Great Deal Flow – is here. Part 2 discussed the need for domain knowledge since merely “joining the right club deal&# will in no way determine success. Not everybody agreed. Paul Kedrosky made the case for “naive optimism&# being an important part of startup success.
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
Los Angeles-based ResumeBucket , the online job search site co-founded by Josh Stomel and Ted Hekman, said this week that it has launched a new set of tools on the site. According to the firm, it is offering up a new resume builder to help people create a resume; ability to create up to 20 different resumes tailored to different opportunities, industries, or job titles; and sample resumes for job seekers looking for a start point for their own resume.
Startup Professionals Musings
SEPTEMBER 12, 2010
Many believe that entrepreneurs are born, not made. While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. There are people who are natural musicians, but that doesn't mean we don't try to teach them music. Of course, there's no law saying you have to go to college to start a business.
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 11, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010 -- Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility. How Convergence is Creating a More Mobile, Connected, and Social Society. Join the San Diego Venture Group for our special Keynote Headliner program featuring Dr. Sanjay K. Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility. See [link] (more).
Tech Zulu Event
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
Click here to watch live on Thursday 4pm PT. This week on TechZulu Live we have special guest Eric Jackson , CEO of Caplinked and former U.S. Marketing Director for Paypal Inc. CapLinked was founded in late 2009 by Eric M. Jackson and Christopher Grey. With multiple ventures under their belts, they knew from firsthand experience how difficult the process of raising capital is for entrepreneurs, who'd rather be building their company than managing paperwork and updating cap tables.
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
Zynga , the high flying social gaming firm behind the popular Farmville social game, appears to be ramping up its recruiting efforts in Los Angeles. The firm, which said last year that it had selected Los Angeles for an expanded recruiting effort, recently posted a position for a Chief Technology Officer, based in Los Angeles. Zynga said in the listing that the CTO will be instrumental in growing and scaling the organization.
Startup Professionals Musings
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
You have probably heard plenty of times that being an entrepreneur is a risky business, and investors talk all the time about reducing the risk. Yet everyone seems to have their own view of key risk sources for startups, and I’m no exception. I don’t agree, for example, that the first priority is to avoid startups with a high attrition rate, like trendy restaurants and entertainment.
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 -- SoCal Mixergy Meetup. Mosses Akizian is organizing a Los Angeles meetup featuring two of Mixergy's most popular interviewees. See [link] (more).
Tech Zulu Event
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
We are just over a week out from StartupDemo and things are shaping up to be an amazing event. Last Friday was the final deadline for all StartupDemo applications to be submitted and we are hard at work selecting the best Startups to Demo during the event. We will be announcing the StartupDemo companies very soon. We also have some very exciting sponsors to announce who really believe in the startup community and have jumped on board to show their support.
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
Ahead of its IPO, Santa Monica-based Demand Media , the online domain name and media publishing business run by Richard Rosenblatt, updated its IPO filings Thursday, saying that it has granted $30.8M in additional, stock-based compensation to its executive officers, if the firm completes an IPO before March of next year. According to the new S-1, it has awarded grants to officers to acquire 11.7 million of its shares, upon the completion of an IPO before March 31, 2011.
Startup Professionals Musings
SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
If you have a unique creation or invention, and you are not selling it around the world on the Internet, now is the time to start. The cost of entry has never been lower. Anyone can be an entrepreneur today, without a huge investment, bank loans, venture capitalists, or angels. In the early days (20 years ago), most new e-commerce sites cost a million dollars to set up.
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010 -- Addressing the Top Ten Challenges in Software Testing. SCQAA-SF will host Steve Bender a well known speaker on software quality and project management subjects. Steve will talk about "Addressing the Top Ten Testing Challenges". His focus is making you be able to determine whether or not it is a challenge for your software testing organization, and if so, begin to determine whether you want to make recommendations to your software testing group to address that chal
Tech Zulu Event
SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
TechZulu Live Episode 9. Part 1. Part 2. In this episode of TechZulu Live we had special guest Eric Jackson CEO of Caplinked and former U.S. Marketing Director for Paypal Inc. CapLinked was founded in late 2009 by Eric M. Jackson and Christopher Grey. They knew from firsthand experience how difficult the process of raising capital is for entrepreneurs, who'd rather be building their company than managing paperwork and updating cap tables.
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
Los Angeles-based Ad.ly , the Twitter advertising startup, is further looking to diversify its service from Twitter, saying this week that it has added support for Facebook. The firm--which originally started as a way for celebrities, athletes, and others on Twitter to place advertising in their stream--said the move is part of a move to extend its reach beyond Twitter, Twitter apps, and MySpace.
Berkonomics
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
Start-ups with one founder rarely have or need a board of directors. In fact, such a board would seem out of place in a one person company. As soon as any outside money is ingested into the corporation, others have a vested and legal interest in the behavior of officers entrusted with the best use of funds. Money from friends and family usually is offered in a casual manner with much less restriction than professional investors, so that a formal board is a logical step but not often created u
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010 -- LAVA hosts PricewaterhouseCoopers' Shaking the MoneyTree. Please join LAVA, PricewaterhouseCoopers and a distinguished panel of industry experts and local VCs for their insights on the results of the Q2 2010 PricewaterhouseCoopers/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree Report based on data from Thomson Reuters.
Startup Professionals Musings
SEPTEMBER 11, 2010
By Ernst Gemassmer As an entrepreneur, you know the world changes constantly, and you know the value of being able to adapt quickly. But changes to your startup need to be done for cause, well thought out, and communicated effectively to all impacted parties. Don’t lose your focus, or allow your operation to descend into chaos. Here are a few principles that I recommend to guide you in the change process, and keep you on track and focused: Customers and competition must be the driving force.
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