Both Sides of the Table
JUNE 27, 2011
I made every textbook mistake at my first startup, which is why I believe I was much more effective at my second one. I have adopted the motto “ good judgment comes from experience, but experience comes from bad judgment. “ We need to learn from doing, by trial-and-error. If I can help you avoid some of my first-time mistakes it would be a victory.
socalTECH
JUNE 30, 2011
Last night, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill which taxes Internet retailers if they have California affiliates, a move which looks to have major impact on local companies who use Internet affiliate marketing. As part of that, Amazon.com, Overstock.com, and a large number of e-commerce retailers have cut off their California affiliates, saying that they will immediately stop paying them for referrals due to the move.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
InfoChachkie
JUNE 27, 2011
Note: This is part I of a five part series. Access the second installment HERE , part III HERE , part IV HERE and part V HERE. I recently answered the question “ What are good ways to raise your children to be entrepreneurs? ” on Quora. My response was brief and straightforward, which is common of popular Quora answers (as discussed in How To Write An Effective Quora Answer ).
Berkonomics
JUNE 30, 2011
And d oing both well usually wins the day. This is one of those arguable insights, where both sides win. Dell is a great example of emphasis upon fast, creating a customized computer in 48 hours or less, bringing in assemblies and components just-in-time to make the assembly line. However, if Dell quality were poor and returns high, the company surely would not have survived on speed of response alone.
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.
Both Sides of the Table
JUNE 28, 2011
In this three-part series I will explore the ways that the Venture Capital industry has changed over the past 5 years that I would argue are a direct result of changes in the software industry, not the other way around. Specifically, Amazon has changed our entire industry in profound ways often not attributed strongly enough to them. I believe the changes to the industry will be lasting rather than temporal change.
socalTECH
JUNE 29, 2011
Online retail giant Amazon.com is threatening to pull its California affiliates, as efforts to tax online purchases in the state gains steam. In an email to Amazon Associates who are located in California, Amazon said that it will terminate the associates program for California-based participants, as of the date of any law on the issue becomes effective.
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
JULY 1, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011 -- LA CEOs, an education and support group for CEOs presents: New Media Training. The power of a video of you speaking or your own words in a blog introducing your product, service, a key event is tremendous and every CEO should leverage it. The potential for missteps and misinterpretation is huge. A lackluster performance can seriously undermine your efforts.
Both Sides of the Table
JUNE 30, 2011
This is the final part of a 3-part series on the major changes in the structure of the software & the venture capital industries. The series started here if you want to read from the start. Or the Cliff Note’s version: Open Source & Cloud Computing (led by Amazon) drove down tech startup costs by 90%. The result was a massive increase in startups & a whole group of new funding sources: both angels & “micro VCs&#.
socalTECH
JUNE 27, 2011
Those visitors you see wandering around the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles with their smartphones? They might not checking Facebook or surfing the web--they might be just be getting a smart phone tour of the art. Google said Monday afternoon that the museum has just gone high tech with its displays, with a new link to Google's "Google Goggles" mobile app.
InfoChachkie
JUNE 27, 2011
Part 4 of Startup Children will be posted in the upcoming weeks. Please subscribe to the feed and receive updates as soon as new posts are available.
SoCal Tech Calendar
JUNE 27, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 -- JETRO 4th Tuesday Technology Exchange Seminar. How International Tax and Transfer Pricing Impacts Your Global Business. Email stephen_tanaka@jetro.go.jp.
Startup Professionals Musings
JUNE 27, 2011
All true entrepreneurs operate off a set of tenets that are built into their psyche, or drilled into them from training and mentors. These are represented by sayings like “You never get anywhere unless you take a chance” and “Passion and persistence are the keys to success,” Unfortunately, there are still other old, reliable tenets that don’t work anymore.
socalTECH
JUNE 30, 2011
California's move yesterday to tax out-of-state, e-commerce retailers, will cause "immediate devastating loss of income" to web-based business in California, says a group focused on the affiliate marketing industry. According to the Performance Marketing Association , the signing of ABX1 28, an attempt to balance California's budget, will lead to "dramatic income loss of small businesses and job loss".
Tech Zulu Event
JUNE 30, 2011
Google, they’ve cracked a nut here. With Wave being an experiment, and Buzz being a dead duck from the get go, Google Plus (Google+) is actually a usable, integrated, complete-feeling product released this week, and it’s pretty damn good. I have my suspicions on whether or not it will stick; but I’m leaning more toward “yes&# than “no&# , unlike Buzz and Wave.
SoCal Tech Calendar
JULY 1, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011 -- LA Entrepreneurs Connecting Communities. Come mingle with the top social networks of L.A and learn how successful CEOs and founders of MyLife and NeighborGoods built their business by bringing people together on and offline, changing the face of internet startups. This networking event for L.A entrepreneurs will feature presentations from the main speakers and QandA session with an additional panel of local startups.
Startup Professionals Musings
JUNE 29, 2011
A while back I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ Ten Steps in Choosing the Right Startup Partner ”. The feedback was good, but some readers asked me to be a bit more specific on attributes that might indicate an ideal startup partner. Even if you are looking in all the right places, it helps to know what you are looking for. In this context, I’m broadening the definition of partner from co-founder to “business partner.
socalTECH
JUNE 30, 2011
Earlier this month, Los Angeles-based Gamzee (www.gamzee.com), a new game company founded by Howard Marks, the co-founder of Activision and Acclaim Games, announced a seed round of funding. We caught up with Howard to hear about what Gamzee is all about, and where he thinks the next big thing in games is going to be. What is Gamzee all about? Howard Marks: We started our business in April.
Tech Zulu Event
JULY 1, 2011
Big news in the tech gaming industry with Zynga’s official filing of their S-1 with the SEC. With last week’s valuation rumors ranging in the dozen billion range, the company has officially filed for a $1 billion IPO and is estimated to be worth more than $15 billion. Zynga has best been known for mega titles like “Farmville&# , “Mafia Wars&# , “Cityville&# , and more recently “Words with Friends&#.
Both Sides of the Table
JUNE 29, 2011
Yesterday I wrote Part 1 of the series on the changes to the software industry over the past decade that has led to changes in the venture capital industry itself. If you don’t want to read that post, the summary is: Open source computing drove computing costs down 90%, which spurred innovation in technology. Open cloud led by Amazon with their AWS services drove total operating costs down by 90%.
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 1, 2011
These days I see a surge of new startups as we fight our way out of the recession. If you are not starting one yourself, the next best thing is joining one as a partner, or as an early employee. It takes much the same preparation to make you the best entrepreneur, or the best job candidate. Of course experience is the best teacher, but you need to get the job to get the experience.
socalTECH
JUNE 29, 2011
Los Angeles-based uSamp , the online surveying firm headed by Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin, said today that it has launched a new London office. The firm said the new office is part of a European expansion for the company. uSamp said the new office comes after triple digit revenue growth last year, and a doubling of its employees since 2010. uSamp provides online survey and panel services, allowing market researchers to conduct online panels. uSamp said the new office will be overseen by Gaelle No
Tech Zulu Event
JUNE 30, 2011
So America’s birthday is right around the corner and most of us will be outside enjoying the summer weather, barbecuing and spending time with our friends and family. Here are some geeky websites, apps and gadgets that should come in useful this holiday weekend. Beach/Outdoor. Surfline. Most of us Americans, especially Californians, will find their way to the beaches this weekend.
socalTECH
JUNE 29, 2011
Irvine-based Specific Media , the Internet advertising network run by Tim Vanderhook, has released further details on the company's acquisition of Myspace , saying that Justin Timberlake is taking an ownership stake and major role in the acquisition. According to Specific Media, Timberlake and the firm will unveil their vision for the site later this summer.
socalTECH
JUNE 27, 2011
Are you constantly battling creditors, dealing with debt, late credit cards, and finance fees? Well, you shouldn't have to be -- or at least, that's the premise behind Payoff.com (www.payoff.com), a new startup launching today. Scott Saunders, the CEO and co-founder, of the company is hoping to change that, by providing tools to consumers to help pay off their debt and achieve their life goals.
socalTECH
JUNE 29, 2011
Los Angeles-based ShareSquare , the QR code software firm headed by Matthias Galica, said this week that it has scored a win with NBC/Universal, and will be powering a campaign for the DVD releases of The Adjustment Bureau and Blue Crush 2. ShareSquare said it is providing QR codes to point users at mobile trailers, photos, and other information for packaging for the DVD releases of those two titles.
socalTECH
JUNE 30, 2011
Los Angeles-based Paperlinks , the provider of QR code software and mobile apps, said Thursday that it has started providing its products to the food and beverage market. The firm said it has signed up a number of restaurants and wineries as customers, who are using Paperlinks QR codes on menus, wine labels, and elsewhere. Paperlinks is headed by Hamilton Chan.
socalTECH
JUNE 29, 2011
Los Angeles-based SeeVolution , the online web analytics and heatmap firm headed by Edo Cohen, has raised $530,000 in angel funding, the firm said this morning. The firm says it has now raised over $730,000 in funding from angel investors. Source of the new funding was not disclosed. SeeVolution said the funding will go towards development of new services and features, as well as other tiers of services and products.
socalTECH
JUNE 28, 2011
Multiple reports today say that once lofty social networking site MySpace is now being set to be sold by News Corp. for as little as $20M to $30M. Irvine-based Internet advertising network Specific Media and Golden Gate Capital are among the rumored bidders for MySpace. MySpace is reportedly planning big employee cuts at the company today. READ MORE>>.
socalTECH
JUNE 29, 2011
Los Angeles-based Payoff.com , a new startup led by Scott Saunders, said Tuesday that it has officially launched its free, social finance site. The firm said it is backed with $3.5M in investment capital from FirstMark Capital, as well as angel investors Betsy Bernard, the former President of AT&T; Kai Huang, founder of Guitar Hero; Jim Nordstrom, former president of Nordstrom; David Solomon, Global co-head of Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs, and others.
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2011
Santa Monica-based GotCast is powering a campaign for Maxim Magazine, using its new contest platform, MediaBlastr. The firm is powering the "Maximum Warrior" contest for the magazine, which is looking find readers willing to train on firearm and driving skills, competing against ten special operations veterans. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed.
socalTECH
JUNE 30, 2011
Bizzy , the personalized, local recommendations site owned by Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal , said today that it has made some major updates to its iPhone and Android apps. According to the firm, it has added the ability to follow friends from Facebook and Twitter; view streams from friends; check out nearby activity; and more. Bizzy launched its site in June of last year, focusing in on the social aspects in November, and rolled out the iPhone app in December.
socalTECH
JUNE 28, 2011
Pasadena-based UberMedia , the developer of Twitter client software backed by Idealab, has further enhanced the firm's UberSocial for BlackBerry client today. The firm said it has launched a new feature called "Inner Circle" which prioritizes and brings tweets from users who are most important to them to an exclusive timeline. UberMedia said the new feature is one of its most widely requested features.
socalTECH
JUNE 29, 2011
Manhattan Beach-based ICON Aircraft , which is developing sport aircraft, said today that it has raised $25M in a funding round. The firm said the financing came from investors Satyen Patel and Bart Becht, along with Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, Phil Condit, the former CEO of Boeing, and un-named, Silicon Valley venture capitalists. The funding is divided into an initial, $15M tranche with a $10M option.
socalTECH
JUNE 27, 2011
Thousand Oaks-based Xirrus , the developer of wireless networking equipment, said today that it has named Steven Wastie as its Chief Marketing Officer. Wastie has previously served in similar roles at iPass, Juniper Networks, Inktomi, Netscaape, and At&T Online Services. Xirrus said Wastie will be responsible for the firm's global marketing and product management activities.
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2011
A report Friday from the Los Angeles Times says that Google is in preliminary talks to buy Los Angeles-based Hulu. According to the LA Times--citing "people familiar with the situtation"--Hulu has also been shopped to Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. Hulu has reportedly retained investment banks Morgan Stanley and Guggenheim Partners to shop the firm.
socalTECH
JUNE 29, 2011
StyleMint , the newest celebrity-and-ecommerce site from BeachMint , the startup headed by MySpace founder Josh Berman and Diego Berdakin, has opened up early access to select supporters of the site. StyleMint is being run in conjunction with celebrity twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The early access invite, send Wednesday afternoon, says that users can sign up to create a "style profile" to get access to custom T-shirt designs from the Olsens, which will cost $29.99 per month.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
380 
Let's personalize your content