Sat.Feb 02, 2013 - Fri.Feb 08, 2013

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How to Configure Your Startup Team

Both Sides of the Table

I am fond of quoting that about 70% of my investment decision of an early-stage company is the team. 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. How you build out your team in the first few years can have a huge impact on the trajectory of your company.

Startup 388
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Deal Hair: Is Your Startup More Like Russell Brand Or Bruce Willis?

InfoChachkie

A version of this article previously appeared on Forbes. Venture Capital is a game of pattern matching. Whenever a VC assesses a potential investment opportunity, they attempt to match the entrepreneur(s), their solution, and intended markets with a pattern they have previously encountered. If you haven't already subscribed yet, subscribe now for free weekly Infochachkie articles!

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Retention Science Debuts Retention Score

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Retention Science , the developer of big data analytics software for online marketing, announced today that it has launched a new "Retention Score", which it bills as a Klout Score of e-commerce. The score allows online stores to see, at a glance, what their performance is with customer retention. Retention Science said the score looks at customer churn, customer engagement, customer sentiment, and repeat purchase rate to let businesses get an idea of how they are doing with cu

Commerce 242
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Setting your moral compass

Berkonomics

Almost all of us in our leadership roles are looked upon to provide clues for behavior by those who look up to us, whether family members or subordinates in the workplace or even those we associate with as peers, suppliers, or customers. In your business and personal life, there will be moments that will define you forever in the eyes of those you might not be aware are watching.

Startup 166
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Can You Ask for Office Rent Relief? How to Manage Your Lease During COVID-19

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.

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Announcing a Deal I’ve Wanted to Talk About for a Year

Both Sides of the Table

Let me not bury the lede. I’m super excited to announce that GRP Partners led the investment in Ethan Anderson’s new company MyTime (link has LA-based merchants but will give you a good feel for the product). I am taking the lead from GRP and we also invested alongside a number of friends including Dave McClure, Dave Tisch, Ben Smith (Merchant Circle), Brian Lee (ShoeDazzle, LegalZoom), Jason Calacanis, Evan Rifkin, Jennifer Lum, Jay Weintraub and a whole host of other angels.

CTO Coach 359
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Great Entrepreneurs Build Deep People Connections

Startup Professionals Musings

Entrepreneurship is more about building a business than inventing a product. It’s more about the quality of the execution, rather than the quality of the idea. Most importantly, it’s more about being a proactive leader who connects to customers and the team deeply, rather than a bright light that struggles to be seen amidst the glare of a million other bright lights.

More Trending

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TechZulu & Digital LA Black & Red Bash | And You’re Invited!

Tech Zulu Event

Celebrating five amazing years of LA tech. That’s right. We all work hard, now it’s time to play hard. TechZulu and Digital LA are turning five this month and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than with all of you. After all, you are LA tech, and this party is just as much a celebration of how far this community has come…and how far it’s yet to go.

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Why You Shouldn’t Launch Your Startup at a Major Tech Event

Both Sides of the Table

It’s February now. That means a slew of companies will be preparing to launch their new products or announcing their companies at the annual SXSW conference in Austin, Texas. I get asked often how to best launch at SXSW. What strategies to use, how to get attention, how to become “hot.” I get asked many PR questions which is why I started this stream of posts on PR at Startups.

Startup 332
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8 Key Actions for Entrepreneurs Needing Early Money

Startup Professionals Musings

Most entrepreneurs have learned that it’s almost always quicker and easier to get cash from someone you know, rather than Angel investors or professional investors (VCs). In fact, most investors “require” that you already have some investment from friends and family before they will even step up to the plate. You see, investors invest in people, before they invest in ideas or products.

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MyTime Snags Funding For Appointment Service

socalTECH

MyTime , which operates an online service focused on online deals for appointment-focused businesses like chiropractors, personal trainers, housekeeping, and more, has raised a round of funding to expand its service beyond Los Angeles. The round was led by GRP Partners, and also included angels such as Dave McClure, Dave Tisch, Ben Smith (Merchant Circle), Brian Lee (ShoeDazzle, LegalZoom), Jason Calacanis, Evan Rifkin, Jennifer Lum, and Jay Weintraub.

Services 229
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StartupWeekend Next Teaches Teams How to Level Up

Tech Zulu Event

The creators of the renowned StartupWeekend — a place where random ad hoc teams work frantically for 54 hours to build a demo of a new business and then complete for fame and fortune — have picked up where StartupWeekend left off and have birthed a new course for entrepreneurs who need to level up called StartupWeekend Next. The program is based on a highly developed process created by entrepreneurial thought-leader and Ivy League educator Steve Blank , author of the book The Four Steps to the E

Mentor 98
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Gradient X Snags Exec From OpenX

socalTECH

Gradient X , the online mobile marketing and advertising technology developer backed by GRP Partners, Rincon Venture Partners, Crosscut Ventures, Founder Collective, Double M Capital, Baroda Ventures, Siemer Ventures, and others, has snapped up some talent from OpenX with its latest hire. Gradient X said this morning that Stephan Cunningham has been named Vice President of Marketplace Operations, heading up the firm's client, partner and vendor relations, first and third-party data management, i

OpenX 223
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Nimble Links Contact Records, Web Pages

socalTECH

Nimble , the developer of web-based, contact management software, said Thursday that it has enhanced its software to allow users to link any web page to contact records in the product. Nimble--which is led by CRM software vet Jon Ferrara--said that the new enhancements lets users pull in external data, such as maps, invoices, news, and much more. Nimble's web-based software lets users track all of their interaction with a customer or client, including emails, social networking activity, phone ca

Web 219
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GameSalad Ships Universal Binaries For iOS

socalTECH

GameSalad , the Los Angeles- and Austin-based developer of software which makes it easy for game developers to develop their own, Apple iOS and web games without coding, has just launched a new, universal binary for ioS. The new feature--which debuted last week--means that developers no longer have to create separate targets and apps for each of Apple's various platforms when using GameSalad.

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Tapiture Gets $825K

socalTECH

How do you capture the interest of male users, and not only capture their eyeballs--but drive some e-commerce revenues? In the case of Tapiture , you create a Pinterest-inspired, visual, social discovery service which surfaces photos of men's fashion, food, motorcycles, funny videos, and more, and inspires those men to learn more about those products.

Commerce 194
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Club W Gets $3.1M For Wine Subscriptions

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Club W , the subscription wine club service out of the Amplify accelerator in Venice, disclosed today that it has raised $3.1M in a Series A funding round. The round came from Crosscut Ventures, Guild Capital, Siemer Ventures, 500 Startups, Amplify, and Brener International Group, as well as individuals Adam Goldenberg and Csaba Konkoly.

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MediaPass Wins New Publisher, RightWisconsin

socalTECH

One of the hottest area for online publishers, has been the move back towards paid subscription paywalls for content. One of the companies which has been helping to drive that trend is Los Angeles-based MediaPass , a supplier of software which helps online publishers meter and paywall their content. MediaPass has just added another customer looking to use the firm to help drive its subscription business, the Journal Broadcast Group, which owns and operates 35 radio stations and 15 television sta

Journal 185
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Viddy Thrown Into Turmoil As O'Brien Loses CEO Post

socalTECH

Live by the echo chamber, die by the echo chamber. Or so, it seems, as Los Angeles-based mobile video sharing startup Viddy learns that being the startup-darling-of-the-second isn't all that it's cut out to be for a startup. Viddy has lost its CEO, Brett O'Brien, in a shakeup that reported has to do with either not accepting (or not getting) an acquisition offer from Twitter.

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Citysearch Debuts Visual Guide Site, New iPhone App

socalTECH

West Hollywood-based Citysearch has launched two new products today, including both a visual city guide, and a new iPhone app. Citysearch said its new Guides by Citysearch service is aimed at helping users easily find new places in major cities around the country, in a photo-centric way. Separately, the company also launched a new iPhone app, which it says features new expert content linked to those city guides and a new redesigned UI.

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What Happens When A Startup Is, Literally, Your Life?

socalTECH

Startup founders are often told to pour all of their energy, and time, into making their company a success--usually, with the requisite tradeoff in quality of life and personal time. What happens when a startup goes even farther, and goes 24/7--with the company's employees not only working, but living together? Fast Company has the fascinating story of Enplug , a Los Angeles startup which has taken startup dedication to a new level, with all eleven of the startup's employees living, eating, slee

Startup 178
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Focus@will's Music Service Opens Up To Public

socalTECH

- Focus@will , the Los Angeles music startup which says its service can help users improve their concentration and retention while working, said today that it has opened up a public beta of its service. The service--headed by Will Heshall--said its public beta will let a wider set of users test and evaluate its tool, which helps select and play music that enables users to better work, study, write, and read.

Services 178
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Legend3D Gains $8M For 3D Effects

socalTECH

Legend3D a developer of 3D visual effects and 3D conversion technology, announced this morning that it has raised $8M in a Series B funding round. The Carlsbad-based company said that the funding was led by Augustus Ventures Limited and Northwater Capital Management, via its Intellectual Property Fund. Legend3D's 2D-to-3D conversion technology is used by moviemakers to convert films into 3D format; the firm said its most recently work has been on such titles as Top Gun 3D, Oz: The Great and Powe

Funding 174
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Let's Date Takes On Online Dating With Mobile App

socalTECH

How can you apply technology to refining your next date, based on the good (or really bad) experience you had on your last date? LetsDate , a new, mobile app startup headed by Sean Suhl (SuicideGirls), is doing just that, by using your feedback on dates to help refine, over time, how you connect with other singles. Let's Date is the the latest startup out of Los Angeles-based Science Inc. , the startup incubator headed by former MySpace Mike Jones, and is hoping to help solve the many issues wit

Mobile 171
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Covario Snags CMO From OpenText

socalTECH

San Diego-based Covario is announcing today that it has hired a chief marketing officer, James Latham, who was last the CMO of OpenText, Canada's largest software company. According to Covario, which develops search marketing software, tools, and services, Latham will help provide strategic marketing advice and counsel to the firm. Latham has also served at McCann-Erickson.

San Diego 171
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LaunchpadLA Application Deadline Nears, As Class Graduates

socalTECH

Interested in getting some help in getting your startup off the ground and funded? Launchpad LA , the Los Angeles startup accelerator program which is run by Sam Teller, and was founded by venture capitalist Mark Suster, is gearing up for another class, to start next month. The deadline for applying for the next class , which runs from March through July, is February 17th.

Class 168
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Siemer Ventures Backs Ribbon

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Siemer Ventures , the venture capital arm of investment bank Siemer & Associates, has been one of the most active local investors lately--and is continuing that trend, with the investment in Ribbon. Ribbon, the developer of a social commerce platform which lets users list items for sale, distribute that through their social networks like Facebook , and accept credit card payments--said today that it has raised $1.6M in a seed funding round.

Draper 164
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Anametrix Names VP

socalTECH

Anametrix , the San Diego developer of digital marketing analytics software, said Thursday that it has hired Olivier Silvestre as its new VP of client success. Silvestre has served at Certona Corp., was a co-founder at Tealium, and also served at WebSideStory. Anametrix said that Silvestre will oversee the company's implementation and account management teams.

San Diego 164
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Boastcards, Another Photo-To-Postcard App, Launches

socalTECH

Did you ever wish you could turn that photo on your mobile phone into a real postcard, and send it to your friends? Another new Los Angeles-based startup, Boastcards , said this week that it has a service which do just that, letting users turn their digital photos and images into real, physical postcards. The firm recently released a mobile app for iOS doing just that, leeting users send postcards for $1.99 per postcard.

Mobile 164
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MaintenanceNet Wins Panasonic

socalTECH

Enterprise software might be considered on the boring side for some of those in the technology world, but it looks like the industry is being good to Carlsbad-based MaintenanceNet. The firm, which develops software-as-a-service used by companies to automate warranty and maintenance contract management, reported another win this morning, with Panasonic.

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j2 Global Buys IGN Entertainment

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based j2 Global , the provider of cloud-based business and telephony services, said today that it has acquired IGN Entertainment , the video game, entertainment, and men's lifestyle publisher, via is Ziff Davis subsidiary. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. The acquisition significantly bolsters j2's media properties. j2 Global said the acquisition will more than double its digital media business. j2 moved into digital media in only November, when it purchased Ziff Davis

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Health Data Vision Lands $2.8M For Medical Records Software

socalTECH

Health Data Vision , a new startup based in Burbank, said this week that it has raised a Series A funding round, to go towards its software-as-a-service platform for medical records analysis. Size of the funding was not announced, however, a regulatory filing indicates the funding was worth $2.8M. The round was led by GRP Partners and Redhills Ventures.

Software 159
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FamilyFinds Sold To CertifiKid

socalTECH

FamilyFinds , the daily deals service focused on family and kids, which was based in Los Angeles, has been sold to CertifiKid , the company told its subscribers Wednesday. According to FamilyFinds, it has become part of the CertifiKid family, effective today, with the site honoring vouchers purchases until April 15th. Financial details and structure of the deal were not disclosed.

Class 159
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Competition Heats Up For DogVacay, As Rover Gains Funds

socalTECH

DogVacay , the online peer-to-peer marketplace which helps pet owners find dog sitters, has been one of the favorites of local Los Angeles investors, having picked up funding from such firms as Science Inc., Andreessen Horowitz, Baroda Ventures, Benchmark Capital, First Round Capital, and others. However, it looks like there's another dog loose in the neighborhood, after a direct competitor- Rover.com --announced an additional funding round Monday, for its own, peer-to-peer dog sitting marketpla

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News Corp. In Repeat With Sale To Local Tech Firm

socalTECH

Does this sound familiar? News Corp. spends hundreds of millions of dollars on a media property, runs it for about seven years, and then decides to unload that same property for a fraction of the price it paid to a Southern California technology--not media--company. MySpace? Well, could be. How about IGN ? That appears to be the story (again) today, after news that Ziff Davis , the publisher owned by Los Angeles-based J2 Global , has acquired IGN.

News 159
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Morphlabs Takes On Amazon AWS With OpenStack Platform

socalTECH

Morphlabs , the developer of cloud-based infrastructure software, announced today that it has launched a new, Openstack-powered public cloud platform. The firm said the new software allows service providers to implement their own, public cloud software--and claims that it out-performs the giant in the market, Amazon Web Services. Morphlabs said its software is aimed at helping service providers compete head-to-head with Amazon Web Services.

Platform 157
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Hulu Users Select Top Super Bowl XLVII Commercials

socalTECH

It looks like the serious commercials won the popularity contest during the Super Bowl, at least according to voting on Hulu , on its Super Bowl XLVII commercial site. Hulu--which again ran its Hulu Adzone section again this year to let people see the new Super Bowl ads in real time, said its voting from viewers this year ranked the top commercial during the Super Bowl.

Hulu 157