Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2023

This is the mysterious and dreaded due diligence process, which can kill the whole deal. Some entrepreneurs do very little to prepare for due diligence, assuming all the talking has already been done, and the business plan and results to-date tell the right story. My best advice is to stick to the middle ground.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Invest 118

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 12, 2013

DriveCam , the San Diego startup developing technology which analyzes and tracks the performance of commercial fleet drivers, reported this morning that it has just reached over $100M in 2012 sales. DriveCam said the revenue growth came due to global expansion, strategic partnerships, and continued growth within its customer fleets.

Tech Coast Angels 157

Tech Coast Angels Carson Technical Review San Diego 157

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 9, 2011

Let’s review all of our existing investments. I show charts on housing, structural unemployment, home equity re-financings that we spent meaning less spending power post crash, new housing sales, debt-to-income ratios, public-sector job problems that will cause crises in cities and states across the US. Cut where needed.

Marketing 305

Marketing Venture Capital Funding Technical Review 305

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 4, 2014

I think as a tech industry we have bred a culture that places more emphasis on product excellence than managing human behavior. Yet talk with people at Twitter these days and many seem to feel like they are part of a movement – and that doesn’t just come due to product success. Equity for the future?

Startup 340

Startup Technical Review Course Press 340

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2010

If I’m interested I get to spend more time with them, if I’m not I don’t have to – A few companies per month come in that have fascinating business ideas that warrant my spending more time trying to understand their people, company, technology and market. The upside for entrepreneurs is the equity in their business.

Venture Capital 312

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur 312

socalTECH

JANUARY 16, 2013

Lynda.com , the online video education provider which has been one of the region's most successful, bootstrapped companies--is no longer bootstrapped, after inking a massive, $103M growth equity round. The business saw a dramatic growth when--due to the downturn of the dot com crash--the company started to post its video online.

Funding 178

Funding ReachLocal Santa Barbara Southern California 178

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

But VC is an “illiquid asset&# so funds didn’t disappear quickly - In 2000/01 the stock market quickly adjusted punishing investors in the NASDAQ and in individual public technology stocks. It takes less to start a business these days – We all know that it takes less to start a technology company these days.

Venture Capital 311

Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding Rustic Canyon 311

socalTECH

OCTOBER 10, 2012

The firm gave the example of a Pinterest "pin" of a Christmas card, and its tracking that found that a retailer received 6,815 visits and 65 direct sales due to that one "pin". Convertro is trying to better track conversions and visitors, and attribute those to different online advertising and outreach.

Product 145

Product Paid Search Advertising Technical Review 145

TechCrunch LA

JULY 19, 2022

It also handles the back end as well by automating the posting, sale and shipment of unsold inventory while offering immediate payment to creditworthy sellers. Ghost is not alone in developing technology focused on inventory. Last week, Syrup Tech raised $6.3 Syrup Tech bags $6.3M

Product 191

Product Funding Technical Review Equity 191

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

For some aspiring to be tech entrepreneurs, I often suggest a two-step process, as I argued in this post that “ The First Startup Founder You Need to Invest in Is You.” He or she has worked at some very successful big technology or media companies and went to a great school. He still has the dream. He has the hunger.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital IP 150

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

As an entrepreneur, I helped create companies which achieved two IPOs and two trade sales totaling $385 million. Value is created through diligent hard work. Public relations at a startup is a sales process. Evaluate their sincerity by asking them to accept equity in exchange for all or a portion of their overall compensation.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

James (chairman of the Althea Foundation) and appointed Adam Sroka as Senior Vice President of Technology in a move to make business transactions simple and secure. . Jackson , “This financing round, coupled with hiring Adam Sroka as our head of technology, puts CapLinked in a position to further enhance our enterprise product offerings.”.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Software Review Bertelsmann Technology 88

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2010

I can save tons of development time and I think I can buy it for all equity. I’m doing due diligence on a company of another entrepreneur in LA whose company was apparently doing very well. I know, I know … technically they can be structured as mergers. Me: “Zero dilution.

Technical Review 276

Technical Review Startup Press Pricing 276

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

To say that the tech elite were cynical of Hulu’s launch would be an understatement , but by the time it launched just a few months later it was getting great reviews. Amongst other things it chronicles the frustration many media companies have had in not being able to play by the same rules as the tech companies.

Hulu 292

Hulu Technical Review Content Advertising 292

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 13, 2012

Running that effort is Kevin Hell , the founder of DivX, who we caught up with to learn more about EvoNexus and how the group is trying to help grow technology startups in San Dieog. When companies come into our incubator, we take no equity, we take no stake in the company, it's completely free for the participant.

Incubator 212

Incubator San Diego Technical Review Development Team Review 212

socalTECH

OCTOBER 2, 2012

Southern California's technology community--despite all of the recent excitement around Silicon Beach--continues to be underserved in terms of capital, with a lack of venture capital funds (with money), and other private technology investors. Jeb Spencer: We consider ourselves a private equity firm.

Acquisition 168

Acquisition Software Review Technical Review Equity 168

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2017

Boards are not appointed to be founder-friendly lapdogs for the 1–3 founders who start companies and usually own the largest equity positions in the company. To be clear — most founders I’ve ever worked with have been super ethical, very conscientious, not overly greedy and take their personal responsibilities very seriously.

Startup 217

Startup Technical Review Equity Report 217

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2020

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Find a private equity firm or friendly individual.

Startup 150

Startup Technical Review Equity Statistics 150

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

Responses ranged from, “hey, they’re in a HUGE market&# to “it is an amazing company and their technology rocks.&# It’s like people arguing that there’s a beautiful beach house in 2006 that represents great long-term value due to scarcity of similar property. But everything has intrinsic value.

Pricing 309

Pricing Marketing Venture Capital Startup 309

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 5, 2011

Through diligent preparation and dogged perseverance, entrepreneurs avoid foolhardy risks. "Sweat equity is the most valuable equity there is. Wily entrepreneurs constantly seek ways to improve their value proposition because the more value they can deliver to their end-users, the more their sweat equity will be worth.

Tips 274

Tips Startup Entrepreneur Ideas 274

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2010

It’s always fun debating companies with Dana because she’s always so knowledgeable on deals – particularly those in the digital media, ad-tech and eCommerce spaces. The “private sale” market phenomenon was started in France by Vente-Privee (literally means “private sale”) and was replicated in Germany by BrandsforFriends.

Venture Capital 240

Venture Capital Startup Platform Technical Review 240

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 4, 2012

At the inception of a company the entrepreneur typically focuses on product development, RandD, customer relationships and sales and marketing.Often, accounting and taxation are overlooked. Join us to learn how to minimize future headaches and risks and maximize potential future benefit, by taking simple, yet cost-effective measures.

OCTANE 100

OCTANE Startup Equity Sales 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Yet, according to many sources , over 90 percent of all businesses are started and grown with no equity financing, and many others would have been better off without it. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Of course, every company needs these, in due time.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Equity 102

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2013

Yet, according to many sources , over 90 percent of all businesses are started and grown with no equity financing, and many others would have been better off without it. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Of course, every company needs these, in due time.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Equity 100

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 6, 2014

I would start by asking the candidate, “How did you decide on these five people” as part of your review process. Most people delay reference calls until that point both due to expediency of time (why make phone calls unless you think you might hire the person?) And they have a general sense of reputation.

Startup 302

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Report 302

InfoChachkie

JUNE 11, 2012

Facebook had to resolve expensive and time-consuming litigation related to promising early hires senior positions and substantial equity stakes. As Clay Christensen aptly points out in The Innovator’s Dilemma, a large company’s defense of its legacy clouds its ability to appropriately assess the potential impact of disruptive technologies.

Tips 279

Tips Startup Education Entrepreneur 279

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2022

They couldn’t possibly understand the new social media culture, new technologies, or have the determination to beat their younger counterparts in the market. In fact, they are well-qualified overall, having worked with high technology and computers for at least 20 years, are highly educated, and highly motivated.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur Report 147

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Yet, according to many sources , over 90 percent of all businesses are started and grown with no equity financing, and many others would have been better off without it. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Of course, every company needs these, in due time.

Technical Review 95

Technical Review Startup Equity Entrepreneur 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Find a private equity firm or friendly individual.

Entrepreneur 115

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Equity 115

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2012

This source often gets overlooked, but it should be a major focus these days due to government initiatives on alternative energy and technology. An investment from a venture capital firm is usually expensive, in equity and control. Bartering services for equity. Small business grants. Startup incubators.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Equity Incubator Venture Capital 103

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Find a private equity firm or friendly individual.

Technical Review 105

Technical Review Equity Invest Startup 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

They couldn’t possibly understand the new social media culture, new technologies, or have the determination to beat their younger counterparts in the market. In fact, they are well-qualified overall, having worked with high technology and computers for at least 20 years, are highly educated, and highly motivated.

Startup 124

Startup Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur 124

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

Three reasons: There is a relative valuation between the price a VC pays and their expectations of what it will exit for in an IPO or trade sale. Also, it’s harder to pay a $30 million pre-money value on an unproved company when you see public companies with $100 million in sales trading for less than $20 million.

Venture Capital 263

Venture Capital Startup Invest Funding 263

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2011

This source often gets overlooked, but it should be a major focus these days due to government initiatives on alternative energy and technology. An investment from a venture capital firm is usually expensive, in equity and control. Bartering services for equity. Small business grants. Startup incubators.

Startup 93

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 93

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Equity investments are not loans, so there is no loan payback period or interest payments. Find a private equity firm or friendly individual.

Equity 55

Equity Startup Technical Review Statistics 55

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

They couldn’t possibly understand the new social media culture, new technologies, or have the determination to beat their younger counterparts in the market. In fact, they are well-qualified overall, having worked with high technology and computers for at least 20 years, are highly educated, and highly motivated.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review Report 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2016

As an angel investor, I’ve learned to believe in this approach, since I have seen great ideas go astray, due to poor execution and I have seen apparently marginal ideas make millions, managed by a savvy entrepreneur. Investors expect to hear annual revenues, average margins, customer acquisition costs and sales pipelines.

Ideas 53

Ideas Technical Review Entrepreneur Advertising 53