Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels.

Technical Review 138

Technical Review Startup Innocal Offshore 138

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 18, 2017

Transitions do happen in VC funds but many fail to make the move in a timely fashion and lose key younger personnel who break off and do their own funds or else the strong personalities of senior partners make it harder for new partners to flourish. Fred & Brad aren’t leaving but wanted Andy & Albert to take over management.

Venture Capital 161

Venture Capital Funding Capital Startup 161

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cash flow personally every day. Use social media for early marketing.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

They don’t realize that according to statistics from Startup.co , almost 60 percent are funded with personal savings and credit, and another 25 percent get their money from friends and family. That leaves only about fifteen percent that actually get their funding from investors, through crowdfunding, banks, angels, and venture capitalists.

Statistics 98

Statistics Entrepreneur Funding Social Media 98

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

We've created a social media platform which helps you meet new people, and we're also very focused on privacy, and don't sell your data, don't spy on you, but provide an environment where you can meet other people based on shared interests and shared locations. How is the company funded? I have a STEM degree, a Ph.D.

Mentor 157

Mentor Southern California Startup Networking 157

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 10, 2014

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a few brands & media properties that I truly love and for which I have huge loyalty. Technology is disrupting all types of media and talk radio will be no exception. And of course there are virulent debates about whether publicly funded media should exist at all. Jon Stewart.

Riot Games 299

Riot Games Media Startup News 299

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 26, 2020

billion investment vehicle that was launched in partnership with the private equity fund, Permira, according to a report in USA Today. As a mentor we drew on his wisdom, passion and drive everyday… In the short term our thoughts and hearts are with him, Gianna and his surviving family.”

Venture Capital 359

Venture Capital Los Angeles Legalzoom Calabasas 359

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

In other news we announced the closing of $61 million in funding at Maker Studios , which I’ll talk publicly about soon. As more consumers were skipping commercials the idea of authentically integrating brands into media seemed obvious to me and ended up informing a lot of my investments in 2009 and 2010. Media relationships.

Invest 340

Invest Venture Capital Startup News 340

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 -- The Workshop: Get Funded in One Day (Dealmaker LA). Brought to you by the team who produces Startonomics and Dealmaker LA, this hands-on "workshop-style" event will allow entrepreneurs to drill down on the key issues we face when laying the foundation to build and fund their company. See [link] (more).

Rustic Canyon 100

Rustic Canyon MyLife GRP Partners Funding 100

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Start Engine, started by Activision co-founder Howard Marks and investor Paul Kessler, said today that it is looking to provide mentorship, funding, and other resources to startups in the area, starting with a first class in January.

Startup 219

Startup Southern California Activision Mentor 219

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2023

As an entrepreneur mentor and startup investor, I see with sadness the 50 to 90 percent that fail. If you ask them for a reason, most will insist that they couldn’t get funding, or they ran out of money too early. It’s tempting to believe that one more new platform will win for crowd funding or video games, like Indiegogo and Wii.

Entrepreneur 125

Entrepreneur Netflix Social Media Startup 125

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. Any funding yet? We have received seed funding from a friend and it is personally funded. Based in Columbus, Ohio and community management in Washington, D.C,

Mentor 94

Mentor Platform Social Network Chief Technology Officer 94

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

Tracy built her company, Recycled Media , out of necessity. Once off the ground she could attract mentors from her industry. Danny became a small investor in Recycled Media (the parent company of Recycled Bride) and became one of Tracy’s lead advisors. She’s a painter and a self-proclaimed Bohemian.

Startup 363

Startup Entrepreneur SEO Venture Capital 363

TechCrunch LA

JULY 15, 2019

Coupled with the launch of a new networking application called AllBright Connect and the company’s AllBright Magazine, the women’s networking organization is on a full-on media blitz. The club’s first American location will be in West Hollywood, and is slated to open in September 2019.

West Hollywood 139

West Hollywood Networking Entertainment Coach 139

Tech.Co

JULY 19, 2017

Independent media network WelkerMedia is launching the world’s first no-equity and not-for-profit acceleration program with a focus on digital activism, social impact and creative projects. The program’s three tracks include digital activism & media; social change and non-profits; and creativity and art. How It Works.

Mentor 71

Mentor Media Activity Competition 71

Xconomy

JULY 12, 2019

It seems at times we’re never far removed from any one person, through their published papers, social media connections, friends, colleagues, or people they’ve mentored. But these worlds can be small, too. We had terrible news this week of the deaths of two people whose lives and work touched many people.

Social Media 82

Social Media Mentor News Media 82

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Wonderful human being who is civically engaged, mother of 3, mentorer of younger founders, hard worker and arguer extraordinaire (so says her current Twitter bio). For starters we’re an LA-based venture fund who invests nationally (and sometimes internationally, but less so). She is a coach and mentor to team members.

Venture Capital 408

Venture Capital Startup Outsource Development CitySearch 408

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Count on six months from beginning the funding process until a new check is cashed. As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cash flow personally every day. Use social media for early marketing.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 19, 2010

chapter of the Media, Entertainment and Technology Alliance (METal) and the voice of KenRadio's World Technology Roundup on CBS Radio, Rutkowski has recruited a roster of mentors to coach entrepreneurs who enroll in the institute's programs in LA. And then another $4,500 if you get at least $50,000 in funding. READ MORE>>.

Mentor 185

Mentor Class Entertainment Technical Review 185

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2023

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. There are a wealth of tools available today, relying on social media and marketing, to create or foster the market your company needs.

Startup 135

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Course 135

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Contrary to popular belief, most investors are not looking for entrepreneurs who are desperate for funding. Being the first mover or lowest cost is not a good long-term strategy.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2020

As an entrepreneur mentor and startup investor, I see with sadness the 50 to 90 percent that fail. If you ask them for a reason, most will insist that they couldn’t get funding, or they ran out of money too early. It’s tempting to believe that one more new platform will win for crowd funding or video games, like Indiegogo and Wii.

Startup 124

Startup Netflix Social Media Customer 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2022

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. In her book, Jan devotes a whole chapter to speaking to the media, as a key aspect of public speaking.

Marketing 113

Marketing Entrepreneur Customer Custom 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2013

In the latest roundup of fundings (big few weeks for San Diego, apparently): PatientSafe Solutions ($20M, San Diego, mobile health). TapIt Media acquired for $23M by Phunware. How to find a startup mentor. LaunchpadLA Opens Up Spring Applications. Broadcom Powering New Mac Wireless. Surf Air Gets First Aircraft.

Southern California 168

Southern California Technical Review SoCal San Diego 168

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

That company was Invoca, which just announced a $20 million fund raise led by Accel. Working with early-stage teams : coaching, mentoring, setting strategy, rolling up sleeves: 9/10. So I think it’s now fair to rate me at 9/10 on follow-on fundings. I am closing 3 new fundings in April (2 new, 1 follow-on).

Venture Capital 387

Venture Capital Downey Writing Press 387

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

For example, many investors I know tell me they look for business plans that allocate the largest portion of a requested investment to marketing, but most often see the top “ use of funds ” to be further product or service development. Seek out people who are already known in your space.

Marketing 133

Marketing Customer Custom Outsource Development 133

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

The program is basically to take entrepreneurs, pair them with a mentor who is also an entrepreneur themselves, either a CEO or a CTO. It's structured so that they get funding, office space, all of the Internet resources, tools they need from mentors. There might be one or two mentors, one might be a CTO, another, a CEO.

CTO Coach 194

CTO Coach Startup Mentor Activision 194

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 30, 2013

Amplify Mentor Panel in full swing. Amplify’s close mentoring is by design. Like good mentors Paul, Jeff, Richard, Oded and David as well as Chris and Kris create an atmosphere in which the motivated founders can take advantage of the knowledge base to which they are exposed. Setting up for Eric Garcetti.

Web Design 103

Web Design Social Media Seed Funding Design 103

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

You should also use these forums to test and hone your solution idea for general acceptance, before your risk your own money and investor funds to build a shippable version. Anticipate and establish supporting social media accounts. It’s easier, cheaper, and quicker to pivot at this stage rather than later.

Product 127

Product Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Technical Review 127

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

A new startup Meritful, out of Michigan Univeristy and accelerated and funded through Ann Arbor SPARK has launched into public beta to unite both students and mentors or even teachers. Meritful is a professional network for students and mentors. Meritful is like LinkedIn for high school – with showcases and mentors.”

Help 68

Help Social Media Mentor Study 68

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2011

The tech market is filled with many stories of early-stage funding. My partner & mentor Yves Sisteron ( You can get to know Yves in this YouTube video ) has been active at HDI for years (as has our CFO, Dana Kibler ). Whatever the outcome, our fund will be ranked in the top 5 funds or top 1% no matter how it’s sliced).

GRP Partners 285

GRP Partners Technical Review Truecar Invest 285

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2020

Investors are looking for breakthrough solutions to fund. For example, I often hear proposals for new online social media or collaboration platforms, maybe more specifically tuned to inventors or artists, or easier to use, and populated by experts, to compete against Slack or Facebook. He is quoted as saying, “I have not failed.

Startup 134

Startup Artificial Inteligence Ideas Entrepreneur 134

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2022

Your role is to provide this enablement, through listening to their needs, and providing personal coaching and mentoring as required. He is always open to the ideas of his team, and even if he doesn't agree that an idea will work, he'll say so, but he often supports and funds it anyway.

Product 109

Product Training Customer Custom 109

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2020

For example, you may feel you are saving money by doing all your own administrative work and monitoring social media feedback. I’m a total believer in servant leadership and mentoring others, but nobody wins when you are in charge as an entrepreneur, and the business fails because you didn’t do your job.

Product 123

Product Startup Tips Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Contrary to popular belief, most investors are not looking for entrepreneurs who are desperate for funding. Being the first mover or lowest cost is not a good long-term strategy.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126

socalTECH

OCTOBER 24, 2011

Accelerator programs--like YCombinator in Silicon Valley, and TechStars in Colorado--have come to the forefront of the minds of entrepreneurs as a way to boost their ideas quickly into the market, find funding, and into existence. We're providing seed funding, office space, and put them through a three month, structured program.

Technical Advisors 176

Technical Advisors Startup Southern California Los Angeles 176

InfoChachkie

JUNE 9, 2015

With top-ranked accelerators Lauchpad LA closing its doors and Y Combinator rebranding itself as a seed fund, it seems fair to ask the question, “Are Accelerators Dead?”. Convert Graduate-Founders Into Mentors. Bringing an accelerators’ graduates back as mentors provides value to the next class, certainly.

Startup 100

Startup Class LAMP Santa Barbara 100