Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2021

Some advisors recommend that the best time for a startup is immediately after academic studies, or even earlier, but I find that real business experience, perhaps many years in business , is the best education on the realities of business, current tools, and processes. You need complementary skills for marketing, financials, and operations.

Startup 159

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Equity 159

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

A grant is not an equity investment, so the entrepreneur doesn’t have to give up a stake in the company either. They need you, since grants associated with commercializing products are favored over ones allocated simply for academic study and papers. For university professors, grants are their lifeblood, and they know the process well.

Equity 92

Equity Startup High Tech Research 92

socalTECH

JANUARY 3, 2019

2018 was a great year for TVC Capital and we were able to get our fourth growth equity fund closed, taking our assets under management to close to $400 million. Lexus upended the US car market with vehicles that were light years ahead of the junk Detroit was producing. I'm trying to leave the hammer in the toolbox. I doubt it.

Capital 113

Capital Southern California El Segundo SaaS 113

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 7, 2021

Jennifer Schwab, the founder and CEO of Entity, has built the business since 2016 on virtually no outside funding, but said that this latest financing is a precursor to the company working on its first, more traditional VC-led equity round. That number is expected to double to 500 next year, Schwab said.

Mentor 297

Mentor Training Startup Course 297

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Applied research is still primarily scientific study, seeking to solve practical problems, but doesn’t yet focus on a commercial product. Product development at this stage is the process of scaling up for manufacturing and marketing rollout. Technology pilots. This is the transition stage from basic research to applied research.

Resource 102

Resource Ideas Funding Research 102

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2022

According to one study a decade ago, only 45% of founders plan to exit after stage one, and my guess is that less than half the remainder survive the next stage in their own company. They need a large infusion from venture capitalists, private equity, bank loans, or mezzanine financing. There is no free lunch.

Sales 147

Sales Metrics Guide Startup 147

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2022

In a famous Harvard study of 212 new ventures a few years ago, USC professor Noam Wasserman found that half the founders were no longer at the helm after three years, and over time 80% were forced out. The right time to jump is a function of favorable career, personal, and market circumstances. The right time to start dilemma.

Startup 130

Startup USC Entrepreneur Statistics 130

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Justine and I have included venture capitalists and people focused on debt equity, crowdfunding, and all kinds of different sources for raising money at our upcoming conference. Justin Lassoff: There was a study recently that showed that investors, in general, have a bias against women. They have to be able to lean in on raising money.

Help 224

Help Entrepreneur Capital Startup 224

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2016

In 2016, our Santa Monica office more than doubled market share of early-stage companies. I studied East Asian religions in college and was intrigued to hear that a Buddhist monk was delivering meditation and mindfulness via a mobile app. Traditional venture capitalists will focus on leading larger rounds of equity in fewer companies.

Santa Monica 124

Santa Monica Southern California Venture Capital SoCalTech 124

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 25, 2013

Tool Users - Startups often have a long gestation period in which the team is in discovery mode, defining the company's value proposition, target market, pricing, business model, etc. Sadly, relatively few entrepreneurially minded MBA graduates can now afford to accept a below-market salary at a startup.

Entrepreneur 279

Entrepreneur Technical Review Case Study Class 279

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2021

Applied research is still primarily scientific study, seeking to solve practical problems, but doesn’t yet focus on a commercial product. Product development at this stage is the process of scaling up for manufacturing and marketing rollout. Technology pilots. This is the transition stage from basic research to applied research.

Help 165

Help Research Startup Funding 165

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

According to a classic Harvard Research study, first inventors spend at least a third more on their initial technology than later innovators. Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market. Studying and learning from the mistakes of others is the best way to reduce your own risks.

Startup 65

Startup Social Media Study Research 65

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2016

Idling capacity is a notion that was first systematically studied and measured in the context of industrial processes. In the US, we are still waiting for equity crowdfunding, but the rewards, donation, pre-order, and debt-funding models are already working. There is value in the “idling capacity” of all assets.

Marketing 52

Marketing Commerce Social Media Entrepreneur 52

socalTECH

JULY 9, 2019

On the medical device side, we're looking to be growth equity, like a company on a 510K pathway. Chris Bostick: Before joining OCV, I was at a postdoc at Columbia, studying genetic epilepsies and invitro and in-vivo models for translational medicine. Chris Bostick: We want to see really validated proof-of-concept work.

Venture Capital 113

Venture Capital Invest SaaS Entrepreneur 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2022

You need to do the due diligence to make that decision before you sign away your equity. A recent study shows that happy people in business are also the most successful. In my experience, most technical entrepreneurs have little interest or expertise in the financials, or marketing. Their skills and interests complement yours.

Technical Review 125

Technical Review Satisfaction Summary Startup 125

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 24, 2011

Marketing is free or cheap because of social media. Determining the perfect moment to enter the startup market, whether by creating a company or joining an ongoing venture, is akin to timing the financial markets. At the end of the period studied, 94.5% People are free or cheap because of the recession.

Company 257

Company Companies Startup Study 257

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2014

According to a recent Harvard Research study, first-time inventors spend at least a third more on their initial technology than later innovators. Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market. Studying and learning from the mistakes of others is the best way to reduce your own risks.

Technology 103

Technology Entrepreneur Study Research 103

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2015

Today, we have the thoughts of Jeb Spencer of TVC Capital (www.tvccapital.com), a software focused growth equity fund which just raised a new fund, and has had some great success in the market. Jeb Spencer: For TVC, closing on our new $115 million software focused growth equity fund at the end of last year made for an exciting 2015.

Capital 100

Capital Beverly Hills Artificial Inteligence Equity 100

socalTECH

JUNE 21, 2013

Instead of equity, the company is aimed at profiting profitable small businesses with business debt funding from investors, to help those businesses grow and get to the next level. Why did you decide to focus on debt, not equity? I studied finance, and worked on Wall Street as a credit analyst, so I understand debt better.

Startup 247

Startup Software Review Entrepreneur Equity 247

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

Bootstrapping allows you to maintain full control of your startup strategy, retain maximum equity, and avoid the time delay and energy spent to attract outside investors. The real value of a college education is in learning how to learn, since markets and business models are changing so fast.

Startup 72

Startup Entrepreneur Incubator Guide 72

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2016

According to a classic Harvard Research study, first inventors spend at least a third more on their initial technology than later innovators. Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market. Studying and learning from the mistakes of others is the best way to reduce your own risks.

Technology 57

Technology Startup Study Research 57

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2019

In a famous Harvard study of 212 new ventures a few years ago, USC professor Noam Wasserman found that half the founders were no longer at the helm after three years, and over time 80% were forced out. The right time to jump is a function of favorable career, personal, and market circumstances. The right time to start dilemma.

Startup 97

Startup USC Entrepreneur Statistics 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2017

Until the recession a few years ago, market research indicated that as many as 90 percent of the roughly 20 million American small business owners were motivated more by lifestyle than growth and money. More recently, the desire for extra income has become the key driver in new startups, according to a 2015 study.

Entrepreneur 69

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Course 69

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

According to one study a while back, only 45% of founders plan to exit after stage one, and my guess is that less than half the remainder survive the next stage in their own company. They need a large infusion from venture capitalists, private equity, bank loans, or mezzanine financing. There is no free lunch.

Startup 97

Startup Sales Metrics Guide 97

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

The most important advice I could give you before you set out in fund raising mode is to understand that fund-raising a sales & marketing process and needs to be managed. People who believe the former believe that you should see the market demand before too many people know you’re “in market.”

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

When you raise money from investors you produce information that you are told they want and care about: A fund-raising deck that articulates your company strategy, plans, team, market, competitors and so forth. You are going to “study” the details before making a decision. and then asking to take a brochure home with you.

Funding 336

Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2013

Until the recent recession, market research indicated that as many as 90 percent of the roughly 20 million American small business owners were motivated more by lifestyle than growth and money. Since 2008, the desire for profits has trumped passion in 54 percent of new startups, according to a more recent study.

Startup 92

Startup Entrepreneur Equity Course 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

According to a classic Gompers and Lerner study, the challenge is very real, with a majority of new ventures that don't attract investors failing within the first three years. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding to build reserves. Join a startup incubator.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Equity 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

According to a Gompers and Lerner study, the challenge is very real, with a majority of new ventures that don''t attract investors failing within the first three years. The hottest new way of funding startups is to use online sites, like Kickstarter , to request donations, pre-order, get a reward, or even give equity (coming soon).

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Funding Startup Technical Review 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

According to my experience and a classic Gompers and Lerner study, the challenge is very real, with a majority of new ventures that don't attract investors failing within the first three years. The hottest new way of funding startups is to use online sites, like Kickstarter , to request donations, pre-order, get a reward, or even give equity.

Develop 70

Develop Development Product Startup 70

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Until the recent recession, market research indicated that as many as 90 percent of the roughly 20 million American small business owners were motivated more by lifestyle than growth and money. Since 2008, the desire for profits has trumped passion in 54 percent of new startups, according to a recent study.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Course 96

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 12, 2010

In the VC & Private Equity world there’s a small number, too, with one of the most respected being PEHub. But there are also going to be those companies that require capex and growth equity (Zynga, Facebook, etc). A recent study said seed stage valuations have been quite static recently. Dan also agrees with this.

Venture Capital 232

Venture Capital Slides Seed Funding Google 232

InfoChachkie

JUNE 11, 2012

Facebook had to resolve expensive and time-consuming litigation related to promising early hires senior positions and substantial equity stakes. Bill Gates – “The best way to prepare [to be a programmer] is to write programs, and to study great programs that other people have written.

Tips 279

Tips Startup Education Entrepreneur 279

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

According to a Gompers and Lerner study, the challenge is very real, with 90% of new ventures that don't attract investors failing within the first three years. The hottest new way of funding startups is to use online sites, like Kickstarter , to request donations, pre-order, get a reward, or even give equity (coming soon).

Startup 123

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 123

SoCal CTO

APRIL 8, 2010

- Startup Company Lawyer , March 14, 2010 After the recent announcement of the Series Seed Financing documents by Marc Andreesen, Brad Feld points out that there are now four sets of “open source” equity seed financing documents. It’s the old – 5% of massive market gives us a big number.

Startup 150

Startup Software Review Competition SoCal 150

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 3, 2012

We had been looking at the landscape of the mobile videogame market, and Epic games launched Infinity Blade 2, which was the best looking game we'd ever seen, let alone the best game for a small mobile device like the iPhone. Jonathan LaCour: I studied finance in law school, and did lots of structured finance and investments.

Startup 217

Startup Mobile Venture Capital Resource 217

Xconomy

NOVEMBER 2, 2016

It asked leading Xconomists the question: What should students be studying now to prepare for 10 years from now? This dedicated portion of our website, featuring its own home page, will bring together all articles about education and edtech from across our 11-market network. Agtech and Food, and Cybersecurity.

Education 40

Education Newsletter Training High Tech 40