socalTECH

NOVEMBER 27, 2019

which offers up dog walking and boarding via its app, has named a new CEO, saying that it has appointed its current Vice President of Product, Partnerships, and Corporate Development at Wag Labs to its top post. Los Angeles-based Wag! According to Wag!, Garrett Smallwood will become CEO, and also join the company's board of directors.

Venture Capital 113

Venture Capital Los Angeles Entrepreneur Capital 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2023

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market research data. These are also important for your product positioning in the competitor section of your business plan.

Statistics 120

Statistics Research Report Newsletter 120

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 19, 2020

A new initiative from a Los Angeles investor is taking stock of venture firms and their ability to commit capital in an effort to match firms that are still open for business and cutting checks to startups that are fundraising in the age of COVID-19. PLEASE RT to spread the word. — Laurent Grill (@laurentgrill) March 18, 2020.

Venture Capital 135

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Los Angeles 135

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2023

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. Strategic partnerships in this context can take the form of joint ventures, intellectual property licensing, outsourcing agreements, or even cooperative research. Up-sell related products or cross endorsement. Willing to learn from each other.

Startup 105

Startup Outsource Competition Entrepreneur 105

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2015

If you think you are the perfect fit for the entrepreneur lifestyle, but you’re not yet sure if you’re ready to start your own, then I recommend that you take a job with an existing startup first to validate the culture realities against your dream. Hang out where entrepreneurs meet. Explore investor websites and conferences.

Sample 101

Sample Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup 101

socalTECH

DECEMBER 31, 2018

Editor's note: As we head into the new year, we've been featuring reflections on 2018 from notable investors, entrepreneurs, and others from Southern California's technology community. Here's Marc Averitt of Okapi Venture Capital (www.okapivc.com). You'll be able to browse all of those contributions here. READ MORE>>.

Venture Capital 113

Venture Capital Capital Southern California News 113

InfoChachkie

MARCH 2, 2015

Despite the fact that I teach entrepreneurship at UC Santa Barbara , I do not believe that entrepreneurs are created in classrooms. Instead of trying to teach students to be an entrepreneur, I expose my entrepreneurial students to tools that will help them solve real-world problems. Image: Pixabay. Share and Enjoy.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Class Course Case Study 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over twice as many companies, according to a classic Crunchbase article. They have too many highly paid partners, fat fees, an aging corporate infrastructure and difficulty raising money from institutions.

Guide 136

Guide Venture Capital Funding Class 136

InfoChachkie

JUNE 3, 2013

Upon graduation from Wharton, John and Kyle launched a startup based upon a simple, pedestrian product: a computer mouse shaped like the head of a golf driver. Putting their expensive educations to good use, they aptly named their novelty product a "MouseDriver". Dear Friends, We have no income and no venture capital funding.

Newsletter 233

Newsletter Startup Entrepreneur Writing 233

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 5, 2015

In his premier film appearance in the blaxploitation send-up “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” Chris Rock inadvertently addresses a key pricing challenge faced by most entrepreneurs. A recurring entrepreneurial challenge is to determine the optimal price of a new product, especially absent a directly competitive alternative. Price = Value.

Pricing 100

Pricing Product Startup Customer 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2014

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype, and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market-research data. These are also important for your product positioning in the competitor section of your business plan.

Marketing 97

Marketing Entrepreneur Statistics Research 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2021

Most entrepreneurs expect to face the “normal” challenges of starting a business, which include finding the right opportunity, building and executing a winning plan, and financing their venture. Sometimes entrepreneurs are so set on creating a successful business, they forget to create one that they love to work on every day.

Startup 152

Startup Training Entrepreneur Course 152

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2013

Many entrepreneurs I know don’t realize that the language they learned in the corporate world, or even their recent MBA class, won’t get them ahead in the startup world today. As a reality check, try this quick test of your entrepreneur savvy. As a reality check, try this quick test of your entrepreneur savvy.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Startup Web Equity 109

InfoChachkie

MAY 5, 2016

Given TimeHop’s failed experiment, I was especially intrigued when I learned that a team of a dozen remote entrepreneurs hack the typical corporate structure and creates a company that generated nearly $100 million in revenue. Note: I am an investor in TaxJar via Rincon Venture Partners.). No venture capital.”.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Santa Barbara Email Outsource Development 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2019

Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. The Alliance is following the classic start-up trajectory: transition from the big idea to your beachhead product offering.

SoCal 140

SoCal Southern California Startup Venture Capital 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

There is a common belief in the angel and venture capital community that you put your money on the best team, rather than the best idea. Thus the top priority of every entrepreneur who wants funding should be to build and highlight their “dream team” of co-founders, executives and advisers, to attract the biggest and best investors.

Startup 60

Startup Entrepreneur Software Review Technical Review 60

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2019

Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. Our ability to respond quickly with features is one key reason weve been able to find product-market fit. READ MORE>>.

Startup 100

Startup News SaaS Entrepreneur 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2020

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype, and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market research data. These are also important for your product positioning in the competitor section of your business plan.

Marketing 157

Marketing Statistics Research Report 157

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

One of the big decisions every aspiring entrepreneur has to make is when to quit your current job to devote yourself fulltime to your new startup. Some of you are so committed to the new passion that you quit your day job early, and dedicate all your time and resources to the new venture. Which is right?

Startup 153

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Statistics 153

socalTECH

MAY 10, 2012

Los Angeles-based online advertising firm Rubicon Project is significantly boosting its executive ranks today, saying that it has named a new CTO, General Counsel, and SVP of Product Management to the firm. READ MORE>>.

Ticketmaster 133

Ticketmaster Clearstone Yahoo Web 133

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 23, 2012

3:00 You were running corporate development for Yahoo before this? 4:45 How do young entrepreneurs begin to work with a company like yours? 7:00 Thank you to Walker Corporate Law for sponsoring the show. 25:00 How should entrepreneurs approach you for funding? 37:30 What are your thoughts on product placements?

Media 285

Media Company Companies Venture Capital 285

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 4, 2014

If you could share one startup lesson with a young entrepreneur, what would it be? So I ask prospective new entrepreneurs, ''What is it specifically that you can bring to the industry?'' Do you have any specific advice for entrepreneurs who might be considering starting a venture with a loved one? Share and Enjoy.

Entrepreneur 187

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Resource 187

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 4, 2013

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. A version of this article previously appeared on Forbes. Hairy Pattern Matching.

Technical Review 244

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital RSS 244

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2023

Many entrepreneurs are convinced that banks are not worth the effort for startups, especially early-stage ones that still don’t have a revenue stream, or collateral to back up their financing needs. A winning product or service. Provide a simple yet complete description of your product or service and its competitive marketplace.

Equity 121

Equity Technical Advisors Funding Ideas 121

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2020

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. Strategic partnerships in this context can take the form of joint ventures, intellectual property licensing, outsourcing agreements, or even cooperative research. Up-sell related products or cross endorsement. Willing to learn from each other.

Startup 126

Startup Outsource Competition Acquisition 126

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 29, 2014

Most products out there suck so mom gets stuck with angst of wanting to have decorations, activities and chatzkies for other kids to take home. We built great eCommerce tools from scratch, spent a great deal of efforts deeply integrating with Pinterest and build great corporate relationships with Target and the like.

Startup 296

Startup Southern California Marketing Activity 296

InfoChachkie

JUNE 3, 2013

Upon graduation from Wharton, John and Kyle launched a startup based upon a simple, pedestrian product: a computer mouse shaped like the head of a golf driver. Putting their expensive educations to good use, they aptly named their novelty product a "MouseDriver". Dear Friends, We have no income and no venture capital funding.

Newsletter 133

Newsletter Startup Entrepreneur Writing 133

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2016

As a startup advisor and investor, I find that more and more entrepreneurs avoid using the term “profit” in pitching their new venture. Thus I was pleased and a bit surprised to see a new book, “ The Purpose Is Profit ,” by Ed “Skip” McLaughlin, an entrepreneur who has both succeeded and failed in starting multiple businesses.

Entrepreneur 58

Entrepreneur Ideas Pricing Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2010

Every so often a promising entrepreneur seems to freeze in the oncoming headlights and gets run over by his competition. The only difference might be that the economy is down, resulting in a lower valuation for Internet ventures, and that makes all the difference. This is a problem with many product-based companies.

Entrepreneur 87

Entrepreneur Ideas Research Demand 87

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

You don’t have to be a new venture advisor like me to hear all the excuses for not starting your own business. Unfortunately, sorting out facts from excuses in the new venture arena has always been difficult, and today’s information overload has made it that much harder. You need a business degree to start a venture today.

Startup 72

Startup Entrepreneur Incubator Guide 72

InfoChachkie

MAY 9, 2011

This series describes how entrepreneurs can craft company-changing agreements with BDCs, while avoiding Kiss of Death contract provisions. Entrepreneurs should never agree to the following provisions when negotiating with a BDC, no matter how lucrative the potential relationship. Kiss of Death ConTraps.

Outsource Development 170

Outsource Development Entrepreneur Press Technical Review 170

InfoChachkie

APRIL 9, 2012

These entrepreneurs do not risk everything, work outrageous hours and put themselves under extreme pressure because they want to. If it were a decision to be an entrepreneur, then most right-minded individuals would decide to turn back when they encountered the first inevitable startup crises. Entrepreneurs want to matter.

Startup 243

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Statistics 243

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 15, 2011

Most entrepreneurs expect to face the “normal” challenges of starting a business, which include finding the right opportunity, building and executing a winning plan, and financing their venture. Sometimes entrepreneurs are so set on creating a successful business, they forget to create one that they love to work on every day.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Training Course 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over twice as many companies, according the Crunchbase. Institutional venture capital dispensed in 2019 was down a bit from record highs the previous year, but up significantly over the last few years.

Funding 125

Funding Venture Capital Startup Class 125

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

A frequent concern I hear from aspiring entrepreneurs is “I have invented a great product, but I have no idea where to start in setting up a company, to avoid all the tax and legal problems I hear about on the news.” Many entrepreneurs follow old shoebox habits in managing expenses until the company launches.

Startup 84

Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur News 84

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2018

While spending years in a big company as an employee and an executive, I heard many people talking about jumping the corporate ship, dreaming of being an entrepreneur, and totally in charge of their own destiny. I’m not saying success is rare, but the list of famous entrepreneurs who started their career in a big company is small.

Startup 52

Startup Technical Advisors Entrepreneur IBM 52

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

This is part of my ongoing Raising Venture Capital (VC) series. Yesterday I had lunch with a really interesting and capable serial entrepreneur who is raising his A round. Many serial entrepreneurs who have been burned would use something less kind than quotes. The reality is that their core business is not venture capital.

Venture Capital 279

Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur Framework 279