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

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2014

Sometimes entrepreneurs are so focused on making change happen for others, that they forget that continually changing themselves and their company is equally important. Here is a summary of recommendations from both of us, based on my own business mentoring insights: Re-launch using your enhanced core competency.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor Summary 105

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

Troy represents what I believe the best magic of Los Angeles is – the merging together of creative talent with technical talent and he brings the lessons learned from these two fields into investments nationally. So Troy and Lady Gaga were amongst the earliest artists that turned to social media and tech platforms to break out.

Mentor 150

Mentor Venture Capital Marketing Product 150

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. Explain what kinds of investments TenOneTen makes or hopes to make? David Waxman: We''ve been making investments since the beginning of the year.

Invest 159

Invest Technology Startup Venture Capital 159

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

” It’s the most common refrain I hear from investors and even entrepreneurs these days. ” I hear it when I visit LPs (the people who invest in VCs) all across the country, “Yeah, I haven’t been out there for a few years but I keep hearing that something is going on there.” for $565 million to Excite.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2022

Great entrepreneurs are not just idea people and then managers, they are extraordinary leaders. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Coach 114

Coach Framework Entrepreneur Tool 114

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

With the advent and popularity of crowdfunding platforms, including Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , as a winning alternative for funding your new venture, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs are confused about the need to ever seek a professional angel investor. Crowdfunding is not the best platform here.

Funding 119

Funding Startup Platform Examples 119

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. Major platforms are available online to find Angel groups or VCs, including Gust and AngelList. You won’t even be considered without a business plan.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

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

AUGUST 23, 2013

Great entrepreneurs are not just idea people and then managers, they are extraordinary leaders. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Coach Framework Tool 101

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

socalTECH

AUGUST 5, 2014

What do you get when you combine a technology investment demo day with a Hollywood-style story pitch session? Most of the companies included a strong element of technology, and many of the startup entrepreneurs in attendance had a strong engineering--rather than content--background. at the intersection of technology and media.

Media 124

Media Class Hollywood Incubator 124

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. Like any firm we of course invest in the San Francisco Bay Area where 33% of my personal boards are. Community builders.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

Sometimes entrepreneurs are so focused on making change happen for others, that they forget that continually changing themselves and their company is equally important. Here are the key recommendations from both of us, based on my own business mentoring insights: Re-launch using your enhanced core competency. Move to a higher platform.

Technical Review 99

Technical Review Marketing Mentor Entrepreneur 99

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

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

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2019

Great entrepreneurs are not just idea people and then managers, they are extraordinary leaders. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Coach 96

Coach Framework Entrepreneur Tool 96

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2018

Sometimes entrepreneurs are so focused on making change happen for customers that they forget that continually changing themselves and their company is equally important. Here are the key recommendations from both of us, based on my own business mentoring insights: Re-launch using your enhanced core competency.

Technical Review 59

Technical Review Mentor Entrepreneur Customer 59

Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

If you’re an early-stage entrepreneur, technology has served you well. The Case Foundation invests in people and ideas that can change the world. In five short years, they’ve helped build 52 companies, raised 25 million in investments and reached over 2000 founders. “[It] The Case Foundation (Washington, DC).

Startup 141

Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 141

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.

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2016

I laid out the following goals: Hire investment partners with operating experience combined with investment experience and deeply committed to LA Tech, but with strong relationships in SF, NYC and beyond. Build out our junior staff including pulling through some younger professionals into the investment ranks. I sat on panels.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Journal Invest Santa Monica 150

socalTECH

AUGUST 12, 2014

We select companies from an application process , and they join us for a twelve week program of workshops, mentoring, and business meetings in order to create value in our businesses, and also accelerate process for them. These companies were each offering a product or platform that really addressed one of those areas.

Startup 159

Startup Technology Hollywood Media 159

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

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

I explain to her that, like the contestants on the show, we work with very early startup entrepreneurs to build the next great product. We invest time and money into helping them develop their ideas, and help develop those companies and the entrepreneurs as leaders. Do you make an investment in those startups?

Startup 100

Startup Incubator Invest Resource 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

I challenge any entrepreneur, for example, to define the difference between "seed-stage" and "early-stage" financing. Most investors won’t touch a first-time entrepreneur at this stage. Yet, they often provide similar small seed investments, similar to those of accelerators. A seed-stage “super angel.”

Funding 104

Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2020

There are large sums of money to be invested and if investors can get comfortable with “downside protections” they’ll still write checks. But when a fund writes checks into a portfolio company it typically “reserves” money to invest in future rounds. Not anywhere nearly as hard as being an entrepreneur. Yes, critical.

Venture Capital 263

Venture Capital Marketing Startup Writing 263

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. These groups are now largely run by volunteers at no cost to entrepreneurs. Lack of checks and balances on startup valuations.

Equity 54

Equity Platform Entrepreneur Demand 54

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2015

Great entrepreneurs are not just idea people and then managers, they are extraordinary leaders. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Product 103

Product Coach Framework Entrepreneur 103

Tech.Co

JULY 12, 2017

“The Disney Accelerator has provided The Walt Disney Company incredible opportunities to connect with and be inspired by many talented entrepreneurs from all over the world,” said Michael Abrams, Senior Vice President, Innovation, The Walt Disney Company.

Artificial Inteligence 109

Artificial Inteligence Startup Entertainment Press 109

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. business plan entrepreneur investor startup value'

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 109

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2017

Great entrepreneurs are not just idea people and then managers, they are extraordinary leaders. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Coach 64

Coach Framework Entrepreneur Tool 64

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2021

Plus, I'm also direction of the Innovation node here in Los Angeles, as well as the Managing Director fo the Viterbi Venture Fund, which is a fairly small fund, which makes passive investments in teams that are affiliated with USC. Unlike what I'm used to, we don't negotiate term sheets.

Marina Del Rey 150

Marina Del Rey Startup USC Incubator 150

Tech.Co

APRIL 30, 2018

Their financial planning tool helps people track their spending, investments, and credit rating all in one mobile platform. Powered by blockchain technology, this groundbreaking fintech company is one to watch, no matter what you’re invested in. The Washington, D.C. RouteMarket.

Startup 70

Startup Tool Platform Metrics 70

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2019

In the entrepreneur world, it’s still a popular misconception that the “idea” is everything. Even though investors, like myself, have long made it clear that we invest in people, not ideas, new venture owners insist on talking about their latest “ million dollar idea ,” rather than their “ million dollar team.”

IBM 87

IBM IBM Ideas Technical Review 87

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 30, 2011

A serial Internet entrepreneur, Mike has founded, advised, invested and sold numerous businesses, including application platform Userplane, which he led from startup to its acquisition by AOL, Tsavo Media, Movoxx, PeopleMedia, Brizzly and Myspace. Dan Dato , Mentor at upStart.LA.

Tech Coast Angels 105

Tech Coast Angels Startup Angel Southern California 105

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 16, 2014

We recently sat down with Luc Berlin, co-founder of Miigle, a SoCal startup that has an aggressive global mission to bring entrepreneurs together from around the world. What differentiates us from other platforms is that our members are helping each other – it’s about startups helping each other.

SoCal 104

SoCal Southern California Startup Platform 104