Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2023

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. That’s not as high as the failure rate with professional investors, but it should convince entrepreneurs that crowdfunding is still no panacea for funding.

Equity 80

Equity Platform Entrepreneur Statistics 80

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

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. I would summarize the qualms and feedback from professional investors as the following: Crowdfunding platform costs trickle down to angel groups.

Equity 164

Equity Statistics Platform Entrepreneur 164

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2020

I’ve become fond of saying “if I had a dollar for every person who told me just how much they loooooved Kara Nortman, I’d have a 10x fund.” Our industry needs more female leaders and they shouldn’t have to all quit their respective firms and raise their own funds to get a shot at running things. And all the platform stuff.

Venture Capital 361

Venture Capital Startup Invest CitySearch 361

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

” It’s the most common refrain I hear from investors and even entrepreneurs these days. Over the past 4 years LA’s tech fundings have growing at a 30% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) which is > 4 times the US average VC CAGR (7%). “There’s something going on in LA.” Success begets success.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

And more recently he has turned that into a fund called CrossCulture VC such that many in Silicon Valley and beyond now know Troy as well. So Troy and Lady Gaga were amongst the earliest artists that turned to social media and tech platforms to break out. It’s the same story. And he said it so elequently.

Mentor 150

Mentor Venture Capital Marketing Product 150

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

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. Most of these scenarios involve attracting outside investors, strategic partners, or key team members: You are the team and you don’t need outside funding.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

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

socalTECH

JANUARY 31, 2013

It was standing room only at StartEngine 's Demo Day Wednesday afternoon, held at Santa Monica's Cross Campus , as the startup accelerator launched eight of its latest startups into the world, after a 90 day process of mentoring, honing their business model, and heads down development. Standing room only crowd at StartEngine). It's unclear.

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Startup Commerce Santa Monica Mentor 256

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

Even if you work every day in the world of new-venture funding, as I do, the options are confusing, and their meanings seem to change on a regular basis. I challenge any entrepreneur, for example, to define the difference between "seed-stage" and "early-stage" financing. Business accelerator funding.

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Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

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 107

Funding Startup Equity Examples 107

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

We've created a social media platform which helps you meet new people, and we're also very focused on privacy, and don't sell your data, don't spy on you, but provide an environment where you can meet other people based on shared interests and shared locations. How is the company funded? which is somewhat unusual for an entrepreneur.

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Mentor Southern California Startup Networking 157

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2020

As an entrepreneur advisor, I am surprised at how often I hear the same or very similar proposals of an incremental innovation to an existing process, versus a really new or breakthrough solution. Investors are looking for breakthrough solutions to fund. Investors are looking for breakthrough solutions to fund.

Startup 134

Startup Artificial Inteligence Ideas Entrepreneur 134

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Huddlewoo a live video platform set to launch early 2013 to give people the ability to access extraordinary people for one-on-one conversations and mentoring. We are a platform that facilitates the most important conversations of people’s lives! The calendar, payment and live-video are all facilitated through our platform.

Mentor 94

Mentor Platform Social Network Chief Technology Officer 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2020

As an entrepreneur mentor and startup investor, I see with sadness the 50 to 90 percent that fail. If you ask them for a reason, most will insist that they couldn’t get funding, or they ran out of money too early. Actually, great new customer solutions lead to great platforms, not the other way around. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 124

Startup Netflix Social Media Customer 124

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

In other news we announced the closing of $61 million in funding at Maker Studios , which I’ll talk publicly about soon. It was a software platform for allowing advertisers to purchase brand integration (product placements) as a standardized unit through a marketplace. Mark, why wouldn’t you fund him? Startup DNA.

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Invest Venture Capital Startup News 340

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Even if you ignore all the hype around crowdfunding, there can be no doubt that it is a real alternative for entrepreneurs to achieve visibility and funding today. In Europe, other investors can buy equity, with platforms such as Seedrs. are actually matchmaking sites between entrepreneurs and professional investors or banks.

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Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

He has a really interesting background as a product manager and now an entrepreneur. We are creating a platform that enables users to play instant games and apps directly on the computer desktop. This time I'm getting to know Mark Geller ( LinkedIn , @markgeller ). Tell me a bit about your background. What are you working on now?

Product 150

Product Entrepreneur Social Media Google 150

Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

If you’re an early-stage entrepreneur, technology has served you well. Still though, when founders are seeking funding, “ 75 percent of the venture capital goes to three states: Massachusetts, New York, and California,” said Steve Case in an interview with Recode. Watch our video series at SXSW 2018 with The Case Foundation.

Startup 140

Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2015

As an entrepreneur mentor and startup investor, I see with sadness the 50 to 90 percent that fail. If you ask them for a reason, most will insist that they couldn’t get funding, or they ran out of money too early. Actually, great new customer solutions lead to great platforms, not the other way around. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 105

Startup Netflix Entrepreneur Social Media 105

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like the BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this Forbes article. You need funding, and plan to get it from friends and family.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 109

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 16, 2013

New entrepreneurs are setting up shop and the city is encouraging tech development with exciting initiatives. Keeping track of all the new companies, funding, networking and events going on across town is challenging. BILA) is an online community for digital tech entrepreneurs and innovators. Built In L.A. has to offer startups.

Startup 105

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Platform 105

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

MIIGLE is a LA-based social network for entrepreneurs and innovators that recently launched its Beta version. The platform enhances the process of turning ideas into entrepreneurial ventures and growing startups through social collaboration. So Luc , you call yourself a ‘Netrepreneur’ and social entrepreneur. Anyone can do it.

Startup 101

Startup Ideas Platform Entrepreneur 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2016

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. I would summarize the views and qualms from professional investors as the following: Crowdfunding platform costs could trickle down to angel groups.

Equity 54

Equity Platform Entrepreneur Demand 54

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2020

Seed deals, for example, are easier to get funded than a late-stage deal for obvious reasons. But there are some deals that will get funded even though not necessarily seed: If you’re in an anointed category that will serve a post Covid-19 world well. It may take much longer to close deals than you’d like. In a word: Yes.

Venture Capital 263

Venture Capital Marketing Startup Writing 263

LATechDigest

MAY 13, 2016

SMASHD’s first Cohort brought four early-stage + one mature company into the fold: Sidestep : Mobile platform for live events that allows fans to order merchandise before, during and after an event for VIP pickup and delivery, who has relationships in place with Ticketmaster, and is a merch partner on Beyonce’s latest tour.

Mentor 75

Mentor Venture Capital Draper USC 75

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2016

Invest more heavily in platform services. Build a long-term LP based, anchored by diverse asset types (Universities, Endowments, Family Offices, Pensions, Insurance Companies, Sovereign Wealth Funds & Fund of Funds). I created an accelerator & mentor network (Launchpad LA). I tried to be at every event.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Journal Invest Santa Monica 150

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 30, 2013

The value that is being “added” is often at arms length or via a specialist who interacts with the entrepreneur. Amplify Mentor Panel in full swing. Amplify’s close mentoring is by design. But like a Darwinian experiment, the extent to which these gifts are utilized remains entirely up to each individual entrepreneur.

Web Design 103

Web Design Social Media Seed Funding Design 103

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2013

Despite a growing technology industry here in Southern California, local investors and entrepreneurs tell us there''s still a shortage of local, venture capital. In particular, funding for companies developing deep technology--software and cloud, as opposed to content and media--seems to be lacking. How did the new fund come about?

Invest 159

Invest Technology Startup Venture Capital 159

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 25, 2012

Open to both military and non-military participants, the event kicked off Thursday evening with the first ever Google for Entrepreneurs Day for Veterans, Service Members and Military Families. The Google team was there to introduce Goggle’s tools for businesses and entrepreneurs. Flutterly was also voted Crowd Favorite.

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San Diego Startup Services Google 96

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2021

The NSF determined eight to ten years ago that the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants they were funding to academic teams, to commercialize technology, they were losing, because not many academics had the background to understand how to go out and source customers, and did not know how to run a startup.

Marina Del Rey 150

Marina Del Rey Startup USC Incubator 150

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

He co-founded a prominent accelerator in Los Angeles called MuckerLab , that has produced a number of impressive companies and he mentored more than 20 of them. Natural mentors – a desire to help. So I began talking to him about joining the fund. This is exactly the brand that GRP Partners wants to embody. Approachable.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

As the solutions rooted in technology continue to dominate education-related discourse, Startup Weekend Bay Area (powered by the Kauffman Foundation) will offer a platform for educators and technology industry innovators to converge during the upcoming Startup Weekend EDU event.

Education 71

Education Entrepreneur Startup Mentor 71

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 7, 2013

Today’s announcement will go a long way to help us foster innovation and help entrepreneurs create wearable technologies that will define a new era in tech.”. Entrepreneurs will also be able to communicate with the Bloggerati and showcase their products to the world. Comprehensive App Directory. Over 100 Applications.

Google 87

Google Technical Review Press Software Review 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2016

As an entrepreneur mentor and startup investor, I see with sadness the 50 to 90 percent that fail. If you ask them for a reason, most will insist that they couldn’t get funding, or they ran out of money too early. Actually, great new customer solutions lead to great platforms, not the other way around. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 59

Startup Netflix Entrepreneur Social Media 59

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 21, 2014

Our founder, Yves Sisteron, was my mentor and board member at my first startup. And the fact that we’ve all worked for a decade with Dana Kibler who is our long-time CFO and now helping run Investment Operations & Platform Services we have a truly senior & killer internal team. Mafias matter a lot to me, as well.

CTO Hire 320

CTO Hire Startup CTO Coach Venture Capital 320