Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

We received so much positive feedback from our This Week in Venture Capital show walking through valuation calculations & term sheets that we decided to do a Q&A show this week to address topics that entrepreneurs want to learn about. on the entrepreneur side of the table) when I raised at too high of a price.

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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>>.

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Venture Capital Capital Southern California News 113

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2017

Investment interests: Consumer Internet, eCommerce, enterprise software, cloud computing, financial technology, advertising technology. Managing Director: Bill Maris (formerly of GV/Google Ventures) Investment interests: Health care investments. Section 32. www.section32.com. Fund size: $230M fund. Fund size: $40M. HashTagOne.

Southern California 178

Southern California Venture Capital Artificial Inteligence Capital 178

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

how on Earth could the venture capital market stand still? One of the most common questions I’m asked by people intrigued by but also scared by venture capital and technology markets is some variant of, “Aren’t technology markets way overvalued? And the truth is that several entrepreneurs prefer it this way.

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Venture Capital Writing Invest Pricing 471

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2019

I became a VC 12 years ago in 2007 when the pace of deals was much slower. As I was trying to figure out the role I wanted to play in the VC world I decided I wanted to focus on businesses that were building deeply technical products to solve problems for business users. VCs have different views and strategies on this.

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Venture Capital IP Startup Google 223

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

Something happened in the past 7 years in the startup and venture capital world that I hadn’t experienced since the late 90’s — we all began praying to the God of Valuation. How might our next phase of the journey seem brighter, even with more uncertain days for startups and capital markets? What happened? It was 1991.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series about Raising Venture Capital. A few years ago it became fashionable for large VC’s to do seed funding. A few years ago it became fashionable for large VC’s to do seed funding. Some larger VCs felt they were being “scooped&# by some younger, nimbler and smaller VCs.

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Seed Funding Venture Capital Funding Software Review 283

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2010

This is part of my ongoing series on Understanding Venture Capital. I recently wrote a blog post on understanding how the size and age of a venture capital fund might affect you when you’re raising money. I believe these VC funds have suffered some amount of reputation fall out. Let me explain: 1.

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Venture Capital Seed Funding Pricing Invest 265

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

Picking a VC is hard. So I thought I’d write about out with what I would look for in a VC knowing what I know now and why. Most VCs are book smart. VCs should be more of a coach than proscriptively telling you what to do. You want a VC who will spar with you but then STFU and let you get on with things.

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Venture Capital Coach Writing SaaS 364

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 result was a massive increase in startups & a whole group of new funding sources: both angels & “micro VCs&#. But … Downsizing Venture Capital.

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Venture Capital Capital Cloud Computing Marketing 289

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

I recently read a blog post by Beezer Clarkson, Managing Director of Sapphire Ventures about why entrepreneurs should care about from whom their VC funds raise their capital. I spent a bunch of time thinking about this position — especially since Beezer is an investor in Upfront Ventures. I’m still not sure.

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Entrepreneur Venture Capital Invest Funding 150

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 17, 2017

He eventually founded and sold consumer health firm ViSalus to a public company and is now back making investments, in technology companies, as a venture capitalist here at Los Angeles-based HashtagOne (www.hashtagone.com). I'm a bit of an anti-VC, as you know. I love entrepreneurs. What's the theme of your investments?

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Venture Capital Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review 100

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 29, 2011

If the tech community believes that a certain area is the epicenter of a particular industry, motivated entrepreneurs will start their ventures in such locations, thus reinforcing the geography’s perceived advantageousness. Thanks Mr. Big Firm VC. SECTOR: Software, Energy, Bio Or Bust. Do The Math.

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Venture Capital Capital Funding Technical Review 233

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Los Angeles- and Nashville-based Clovers, a developer of interviewing and recruiting software, has raised $15M in a funding round, the company said this week. According to Clovers, the funding was led by Greycroft and Alpha Edison, and also included Crosslink Capital, Acadian Ventures, Fika Ventures and Act One Ventures.

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Cornerstone OnDemand Software Coach Los Angeles 124

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 3, 2011

I’m often asked the question about why there aren’t more women who are entrepreneurs. But last week I noticed a blog post by a woman, Tara Tiger Brown, that asked the question, “ Why Aren’t More Women Commenting on VC Blog Posts? She has a quote from literally every major VC from whom you’d want to hear.

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Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup Blogging 341

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

Beware of VC Seagulls, who shit on you and then fly away (or worse yet leave you with Red Herrings). I write this post as a warning to pick your VC’s carefully. I like to say to first-time entrepreneurs, picking a VC is more permanent than marriage. I guarantee this is a bad VC. There are many great VCs.

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Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur 297

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2012

We asked the same four questions of a variety of top technology entrepreneurs, investors, and others, to hear what they're thinking about, and are sharing it here over the next week. Today, we're featuring Marc Averitt , co-founder and Managing Director of Okapi Venture Capital. I think "enterprise 2.0" READ MORE>>.

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Venture Capital Capital Southern California High Tech 164

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

I had previously raised VC in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005. In case VC’s haven’t figured this out yet, shit rolls downhill. My blog linked to Brad Feld’s blog because I was so grateful for his series on term sheets and he was one of the biggest reasons that as a VC I felt compelled to blog. And covered we did.

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Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2018

Jim Semick: I’ve been launching and managing software products for 15 years now, going back to when you and I worked together at Expertcity before it was acquired by Citrix. We build product roadmap software – it’s a SaaS company based here in Santa Barbara, California. Who is Mr. Semick and what is ProductPlan all about?

Venture Capital 115

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Santa Barbara SaaS 115

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2010

To see the video of This Week in VC click on this link. What a pleasure that I got to spend an hour talking with both Om Malik (whom I’ve always respected his views) and Paul Jozefak , a venture capital partner at Neuhaus Partners in Germany (and formerly the head of Europe for SAP Ventures). Total raised: $22.0mm.

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Venture Capital Google Web Sites 225

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 25, 2009

This is part of my blog series “ Pitching a VC.&#. I’ve sat through a lot of VC pitches and having been CEO of an enterprise software firm for many years I’ve also sat through many customer meetings with sales teams. The following are some tips for the debate style VC meeting.

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Venture Capital Sales Slides Startup 275

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 1, 2019

Software development companies tackling services for niche industries, like commercial real estate subcontracting, continue to find Los Angeles to be fertile ground for development. Software for the service industry is nothing new for Los Angeles entrepreneurs. Co-founded by former ServiceTitan devel.

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Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2014

I had dinner this week with a top new customer at one of our enterprise software investments. I wish I did more enterprise software investing because when I attend meetings like this I realize that this is my core DNA – rolling out business software solutions to customers. Contrast that with a VC conversation I had.

Custom 341

Custom Customer Venture Capital Software Review 341

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2010

Had a great chat with Jim Armstrong who is a General Partner at Clearstone Venture Partners today on TWiVC. It was especially fun for me because we got the chance to talk about the VC industry and how entrepreneurs should think about the VC industry in addition to discussing deals. LivingSocial. AppDynamics.

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Clearstone Venture Capital ReachLocal Google 236

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Pasadena-based 17hats , a developer of business automation software, has raised $1.25M in a seed funding round, according to the company. 17hats develops a suite of software featuring CRM, project management, calendaring, quotes, contracts, invoicing, time tracking and bookkeeping, all aimed at solo entrepreneurs. READ MORE>>.

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Software Outsource Development Seed Funding Pasadena 100

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 1, 2009

In the first post in this three part series I described why I believe the VC market froze between September 2008 – April 2009. I’m not a doomsday guy, but just believe that we won’t see a V shaped recovery, which could make VC funding more difficult for tech start-ups (don’t shoot the messenger!).

Venture Capital 269

Venture Capital Startup Funding Technical Review 269

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 5, 2011

Steve Blank , January 25, 2010 10 Tips for Adding Game Mechanics to a Non-Gaming Service - ReadWriteStart , September 21, 2010 Startups & VCs: Learn How to Design, Market, & Eat Your Own. - First Principles.

Startup 378

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Coach 378

socalTECH

APRIL 4, 2014

It hasn''t been a great few months for San Diego''s software and technology industry, as the city has seen three, big software companies move their operations, and thousands of jobs, to Texas. growth investment industry software diego swarm' READ MORE>>.

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San Diego Software Equity Invest 185

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2011

By Dave Lavinsky, President and Co-Founder of Growthink At one point or another, most entrepreneurs find themselves in a place where they could use money. These entrepreneurs often dream about how much they could accomplish if they had millions in the bank. And as they sit and dream, most entrepreneurs think about venture capitalists.

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Venture Capital Capital Invest Entrepreneur 93

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 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 wanted to also post the series here to have it as a resource on my blog for future entrepreneurs who stop by. I once had a debate with a prominent VC on a panel.

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Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Google 338

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2015

*. If you are a 20-something tech entrepreneur you could be forgiven for thinking that seed-stage investors, Angellist Syndicates and widely available angel money always existed. Some quick highlights include: The Role of a Seed Stage VC. Jeff and his peer group have done an excellent job at creating a new category of seed-stage VC.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Invest Cloud Computing 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Based on the best evidence I can find, the genesis of this trend and the advantages come from several evolutionary changes in the startup investment industry, and some innovations driven by the recession several years ago and the recent pandemic: Venture capital funds are regaining momentum.

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Guide Venture Capital Funding Class 136

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2010

Startups and entrepreneurs need to be realists. You need to accept the fact that the down economy over the last couple of years has changed the way in which venture capitalists see the world, so you should adjust your strategy and expectations in dealing with them. These include chips, computers, software, telecom, and the Internet.

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Venture Capital Capital Startup Summary 90

InfoChachkie

JULY 7, 2016

The entrepreneur cannot wait to show me their product via a demo. Most entrepreneurs seem confused by my reaction and often say something like: “VCs love demos. Note: I invest almost exclusively in b-to-b software companies. GUI Fever – Entrepreneurs are often justifiably proud of their clever, clean user interfaces.

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Venture Capital Product Software Review Technical Review 176

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2010

This episode of This Week in Venture Capital featured Michael Montgomery, president of Montgomery & Co. For entrepreneurs who want to learn about how to work with investment banks, how to position yourself to be acquired and what the IPO markets look like this is the episode to watch.

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Venture Capital Mission Ventures Capital Help 242

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

Lots of discussion these days about the changes in the VC industry. The VC industry grew dramatically as a result of the Internet bubble - Before the Internet bubble the people who invested in VC funds (called LPs or Limited Partners) put about $50 billion into the industry and by 2001 this had grown precipitously to around $250 billion.

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Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding Rustic Canyon 311

SoCal CTO

MARCH 20, 2007

Mobile Internet Apple Facebook ► 2009 (32) ► December (3) Startup Software Developers Startup Software Development – Do Your Homework Be. Product Manager Entrepreneur Mark Geller SEO for Startups Startup Version 1.0 Early Stage Marketing and Branding – Farida Fotouh.

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Venture Capital Guide CTO Coach Southern California 150