Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

Technical entrepreneurs love their technology, and often are driven to launch a startup on the assumption that everyone will buy any solution which highlights this technology. These founders all seem to be pushing their technology, rather than highlighting their solution to a painful need.

Technology 114

Technology Startup Social Media Customer 114

socalTECH

MAY 17, 2018

The insurance industry is an old industry, with a lot of contradictions--it's one where the more claims insurers pay to help customers, the less money the insurers make--and it's also one that hasn't been disrupted much yet by technology. Is it possible to use technology to replace the age-old system currently in use in insurance?

Technology 165

Technology Startup West Los Angeles Platform 165

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2018

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” If you have the urge to be an entrepreneur, I encourage you to think seriously about each of these, before you zero-in on one or two, and get totally discouraged if those don’t work for you.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Funding 96

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2021

As a logical and data-driven business advisor, I have long focused on facts, technology, and quantifiable pain in guiding entrepreneurs. For example, the sharing economy is a trend that has resulted in many successful businesses, including Airbnb and Uber. I see this even extending into business-to-business.

Customer 172

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 172

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

Equally, I encouraged entrepreneurs to spend time getting to know their future VCs early because getting a feel for your chemistry is far more important than how the VC is ranked in some survey. Equally, I encouraged entrepreneurs to thoroughly reference check their VCs – you’ll learn much more from this than anything else.

Entrepreneur 330

Entrepreneur Marketing Venture Capital Hulu 330

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2022

This software platform is used by many local angel organizations for managing deal flow. Gust claims to have facilitated over $1 billion of investments in 650,000 startups to date, via connection through their platform to over 85,000 angel investors in 190 countries. In addition, they serve as a jobs available site for 24,000 startups.

Startup 135

Startup Keiretsu Platform Invest 135

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2023

Most of the entrepreneurs and aggressive business owners I meet in my consulting practice are focused on finding new disruptive solutions and killing competitors as the key to success. This starts with debunking the existing assumptions that have concealed the opportunity and then reframing it with today’s technology to find a solution.

Capital 142

Capital Netflix Resource Customer 142

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2009

This is part of my new series on what makes an entrepreneur successful. I originally posted it on VentureHacks , one of my favorite websites for entrepreneurs. I also wonder about the entrepreneur who would sign a term sheet that came from somebody they hadn’t gotten to know over time. Great entrepreneurs pivot.

Entrepreneur 291

Entrepreneur Startup Google Yammer 291

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 8, 2019

Responding to Elizabeth Warren’s call to regulate and break up some of the nation’s largest technology companies, the venture capitalists that invest in technology companies are advising the presidential hopeful to move slowly and not break anything. One issue is do we need regulation on the full platform companies.

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Startup Chief Technology Officer Social Media 144

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2022

In my experience as an advisor and mentor to entrepreneurs in business, one of the biggest failures I see is a lack of self-leadership. For example, I often hear from aspiring entrepreneurs that “I had that idea first, and he stole it, and is now making money on my idea.” Build your character and reputation with personal values.

Capital 114

Capital Coach Satisfaction Ideas 114

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

You don’t need to invent an innovative product to be a real entrepreneur. Many of these new entrepreneurs were regular employees a few years ago, focused on a skill specialty. Here are a few examples: Marketing specialists. Now some never see the people they support, but are experts on the technology involved.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Services Search Engine Optimization Startup 106

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Every entrepreneur and every business I meet in my consulting and mentoring role has great intentions of bringing real innovation to the market, yet I find that most ideas are merely small extensions to existing solutions. Inventors are always talking about what they can do with technology, before sizing the need and the market.

Startup 146

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Ideas 146

socalTECH

OCTOBER 6, 2017

For example, we're the official mobile app of UCLA, even though behind the scenes is actually Hopscotch. We've built an open architecture, so we can pull in the latest and greatest technology. Combining that with my previous experience, which was in the platform and SaaS market, and sports, was really a home run.

Mobile 162

Mobile Platform El Segundo UCLA 162

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2013

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly require an investment – in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time. Pick the right platform for your business.

Social Media 101

Social Media Media Entrepreneur Metrics 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2020

For example, I usually hear about an aggressive marketing budget, with a plan to penetrate a few big retail chains, and some videos to catch your attention on YouTube. Examples include the Nike Run Club app where people participate in challenges and win trophies. Everyone loves to compete, and maybe even win something.

Marketing 170

Marketing Startup Examples Customer 170

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2023

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” If you have the urge to be an entrepreneur, I encourage you to think seriously about each of these, before you zero-in on one or two, and get totally discouraged if those don’t work for you.

Startup 106

Startup Capital Equity Funding 106

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 17, 2010

And we’re left with a city with idyllic weather, major commerce, the media center of the world, and a great emerging technology scene. We have many seasoned entrepreneurs who have built successful companies here and made a lot of money for investors and themselves. But we have a great city for building technology companies.

Company 290

Company Companies Technology Startup 290

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2017

Even though I love technology, I always cringe when an entrepreneur starts an angel investor pitch to me by touting his new technology. They have forgotten that new technologies are perceived by most customers as causing more pain than the problems they eliminate. Focus on user pain points. Keep it simple and easy to use.

Technology 53

Technology Customer Custom Marketing 53

socalTECH

APRIL 25, 2013

In the arms race of search technology, only the big guys -- Google, Microsoft -- seem to be able to keep up with all of the innovations in the space. We caught up with CEO Dev Bhatia --a serial entrepreneur who''s been involved with such companies at Hotsocket, Screaming Media (IPO), and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo)--to learn more about.

Technology 216

Technology Google Commerce Southern California 216

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2014

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” If you have the urge to be an entrepreneur, I encourage you to think seriously about each of these, before you zero-in on one or two, and get totally discouraged if those don’t work for you.

Startup 113

Startup Entrepreneur Funding Equity 113

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2020

The new paradigm, driven by disruptive technologies, cloud-served supercomputing, and the new generation of young adults with global empathy, is partnering and giving something now for a competitive advantage in the future. FabLab s is an example of a new class of facilities for entrepreneurs to start experimenting early.

Startup 124

Startup IBM IBM Examples 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2020

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” If you have the urge to be an entrepreneur, I encourage you to think seriously about each of these, before you zero-in on one or two, and get totally discouraged if those don’t work for you.

Funding 174

Funding Startup Equity Examples 174

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Not only has he become the richest man in the world again, leapfrogging a certain Mr Musk, but it has also been revealed that Amazon has quietly acquired ecommerce platform Selz. In fact, ecommerce website builders and platforms have become seriously big business over the last few years. It's been a big week for Jeff Bezos.

News 137

News Acquisition Platform Sales 137

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2020

And all the platform stuff. Kara will now be really involved with what goes on to successfully create and run a firm but while still handling her core duties of funding great entrepreneurs. For example, we’re now already well into our third growth fund that we started in 2015 (the first returned 2x cash in 3.5 I’m only 52!

Venture Capital 361

Venture Capital Startup Invest CitySearch 361

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2019

For this morning's interview, with caught up with serial entrepreneur James Citron , the founder of Pledgeling (www.pledgeling.com), a startup which enables any business to help connect their business with social causes. If you see all of the examples, like Salesforce, Warby Parker, the companies that do good outperform all of their peers.

Technical Review 113

Technical Review Software Review Mogreet Platform 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

As an advisor to business professionals and entrepreneurs, I often hear about an innovative new solution that could lead to business growth or a new business. Be customer focused, not technology focused. A legendary pivot example in social media was the transformation of Odeo into Twitter.

Tips 80

Tips Startup Satisfaction Ideas 80

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2022

Too many entrepreneurs I know charge into battle with only their passion, and hope for the best. Too many entrepreneurs push their product out without the proper scouting on high return or weak points in the existing market. Some entrepreneurs think they can do it alone, or can learn on the fly.

Marketing 125

Marketing Technical Review Startup Resource 125

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Chance Barnett: Crowdfunder is an equity crowdfunding platform. We help early stage entrepreneurs in technology and digital media raise early stage funding rounds. As an example is Neil Young''s Pono Music, his new digital music hardware and software venture, which is restoring sound quality to digital files.

Venture Capital 174

Venture Capital Invest Platform Entrepreneur 174

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2018

Editor's note: All this week, and into the start of next year, we'll be featuring reflections on 2018 from notable investors, entrepreneurs, and others from Southern California's technology community. Over the last four years, I watched numerous entrepreneurs raise equity. What was the biggest news for your company in 2018?

Southern California 133

Southern California SoCal Culver City Venture Capital 133

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2013

Charlene Li, in her book “ Open Leadership ,” shows leaders how to tap into the power of the social technology revolution and use social media to be “open” while still maintaining control. New publishing tools, like blogs, collaboration platforms, and even Twitter provide updates that are easily available. Centralized. Marty Zwilling.

Social Media 102

Social Media Entrepreneur Software Review Social Network 102

socalTECH

MARCH 2, 2020

If you think about it, in a multi-player game, for example, you have a very limited vocabulary for interaction. For example, if I were to have a room full of bouncing balls, we couldn't share that today because of the amount of information involved. It was tricky, because this is a platform, a new kind of platform.

Platform 168

Platform Startup Examples Web 168

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2022

As a startup advisor, I see too many entrepreneurs get distracted by technology or their favorite cause, and then wonder why they can’t find an investor, attract customers, or build a long-term business. For example, Netflix uses a digital model to unbundle television programming, creating new customer value.

Customer 103

Customer Custom Competition Netflix 103

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 3, 2022

After all, Glossier’s founder and CEO Emily Weiss is very, very far from the first entrepreneur to profit off of our desire to look good. Green has spent her career bankrolling the companies that define what’s cool, including Glossier, Outdoor Voices and Away, whose founders are often cited as the archetypal examples of “girlbosses.”. “I

Startup 280

Startup Netflix Los Angeles Innocal 280

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2021

As a new business advisor, I am no longer surprised that every new entrepreneur believes the hard part is creating the first product and the business. Build rock-solid processes first, then increase the through-put and accuracy by introducing the right technologies where it makes sense. Constantly strengthen the team.

Tips 170

Tips Startup Mentor Press 170

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

He has a really interesting background as a product manager and now an entrepreneur. to work on an entertainment-related technology project and have stayed ever since. We are creating a platform that enables users to play instant games and apps directly on the computer desktop. Tell me a bit about your background.

Product 150

Product Entrepreneur Social Media Google 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

You don’t need to invent an innovative product to be a real entrepreneur. Self-employed services specialists are just as important, and are a growing part of this new “ age of the entrepreneur ” that I discussed last week. Many of these new entrepreneurs were regular employees a few years ago, focused on a skill specialty.

Entrepreneur 89

Entrepreneur Services Product Search Engine Optimization 89

socalTECH

AUGUST 12, 2019

We've helped entrepreneurs raise over $225M in early stage, venture funding. Their goal is to partner in really unique ways with entrepreneurs, accelerators and investors, to create businesses and brands in new categories for P&G. So, where do you think the technology industry is today in terms of women founders?

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Metrics Los Angeles Help 124