TechCrunch LA

MARCH 8, 2019

Responding to Elizabeth Warren’s call to regulate and break up some of the nation’s largest technology companies, the venture capitalists that invest in technology companies are advising the presidential hopeful to move slowly and not break anything. As a whole, venture capitalists viewing the policy were underwhelmed.

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Startup Chief Technology Officer Social Media 144

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

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. It’s no fun for either side.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

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. It’s no fun for either side.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Many of the entrepreneurs I advise or invest with spend considerable time on the Internet, keeping up with technology, customers, and competitors, but very few feel the need for an early personal presence. Anticipate and establish supporting social media accounts. Consistently review and respond to relevant online feedback.

Product 127

Product Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Technical Review 127

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

Even a million users on your social media site won’t pay the bills until you sell some advertising or a premium service. In my experience, even in startups, longer-term strategy often gets pushed off the agenda due to current challenges. Hone your process for due diligence and integrating these new elements.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2022

As a potential investor, I always think of the high rate of failure of disruptive technologies, due to the longer learning curve of customers, infrastructure change consistently required, and higher marketing costs. Technology is great, but high-tech major-step-forward solutions are not the answer to all our change challenges.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Metrics Resource Software Review 101

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2019

billion in new funding, through a convertible senior note offering and private placement. According to Snap, the convertible senior notes will be due in 2026, and will be a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. Santa Monica-based Snap says it is looking to raise $1.0 million principal amount of notes. READ MORE>>.

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Technical Review Capital Funding 113

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

I usually envision a 50-50 ownership split for their efforts, but every engineer believes the technology side deserves the majority share. If you consider yourself a technologist, you probably believe and may be propagating one of the following myths: The first priority for funding should be to develop the technology.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Patents Entrepreneur Customer 101

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

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2019

When you are starting a new business, every resource is precious, including time, funding, and people. Unit costs are important, but don’t forget about the cash flow hit, extra storage costs, and the probability of obsolete inventory due to necessary updates or pivots. Most challenges you have are not unique to your business.

Outsource Development 122

Outsource Development Outsource Metrics Technical Review 122

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2012

For the last week of the year, we're featuring the thoughts and reflections of some of the movers and shakers of Southern California's high tech community. 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.

Dollar Shave Club 272

Dollar Shave Club Technical Review Santa Monica Southern California 272

Tech.Co

OCTOBER 24, 2017

One of the major shifts we have seen in consumer behavior is how reliant they are on reviews and third party recommendations. In fact, 71 percent of people say they make buying decisions based on recommendations they find on social media. Another pitfall to traditional company ads comes in the way of pop up ads.

Technical Review 102

Technical Review Content Marketing Social Media 102

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. Funding for early-stage startups is more available than ever. Women are a growing force as entrepreneurs.

Startup 128

Startup Social Media Satisfaction Entrepreneur 128

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2018

As the rate of change continues to increase in business and technology, the more I’m convinced that marketing is the primary key to success for a new venture. Yet I find that many technical founders don’t feel they need it at all, or at best point to one person on the team who is marketing.

Marketing 71

Marketing Tips Technical Review Social Media 71

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2023

If you need investors, it’s important that you understand their filters, and even if you are funding your own efforts, you need to recognize the red flags. On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site.

Invest 98

Invest Sites Technical Review Social Media 98

socalTECH

JULY 21, 2011

Los Angeles-based MomentFeed (www.momentfeed.com) is looking to sort through that data to help marketers better tap into location based, social networking. Rob Reed: I was doing social media strategy consulting from 2007 until 2009, what I would really characterize as Social Media 1.0.

Social Media 248

Social Media Zumbox Media Startup 248

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 5, 2018

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Technical jargon may be natural for you, but investors read this as arrogance or laziness on your part, if not an intentional effort to intimidate the reader and obfuscate facts.

Funding 62

Funding Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup 62

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Technical jargon may be natural for you, but investors read this as arrogance or laziness on your part, if not an intentional effort to intimidate the reader and obfuscate facts.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Statistics Startup Social Media 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2016

Update your technology to reach new customer segments. Make sure you website is mobile-friendly, totally user-friendly, includes a blog and provides for customers review and feedback. Include mobile-app support and new social-media channels. Use social media and personal discussions to isolate their interests and needs.

Customer 55

Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 55

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

If you need investors, it’s important that you understand their filters, and even if you are funding your own efforts, you need to recognize the red flags. On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site.

Startup 126

Startup Sites Technical Review Social Media 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2017

Even the most diligent investors are often surprised by apparently solid business startups that fail, while others succeed, despite the odds. Social media and other channels provide the vehicles, but everyone has to be open for the process to work. Balance of technical and business knowledge.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Startup Mentor Study 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2019

Here I often find that you need to seek and work with a co-founder who can complement your technical skills with financial and marketing to start the business. You likely have hired a few helpers, such as an assistant, a social media coordinator, and a bookkeeper.

Company 99

Company Companies Technical Review Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2015

Most Angel groups and VCs advertise the startups they have recently funded, with pointers to startup websites, sometimes including open positions. Typically you can browse them by region or technology to find founders. Every geographic area has entrepreneur networking activities, such as startup weekends and tech meetups.

Sample 101

Sample Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

As an active angel investor myself, I understand how the process works, and I see the disappointment in the eyes of entrepreneurs who approach angel groups for funding and often get turned away for not being timely or prepared in the minds of potential investors. Contrary to a popular myth, angels don’t fund dreams.

Angel 65

Angel Startup Technical Review Social Media 65

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2014

Most Angel groups and VCs advertise the startups they have recently funded, with pointers to startup websites, sometimes including open positions. Typically you can browse them by region or technology to find founders. Every geographic area has entrepreneur networking activities, like startup weekends and tech meetups.

Startup 100

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Conference 100

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

TechZulu caught up with co-founder Calvin Schemanski chat about their upcoming launch, their product and why Long reviews suck. myfab5 is a platform that reinvents the restaurant review. Unlike typical review sites, our platform does not use star ratings or long reviews. What is myfab5?

Software Review 79

Software Review Technical Review Writing Startup 79

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 5, 2010

I know of at least 2 deals from that cohort that are either funded ( Backupify ) or nearly funded (can’t really disclose, I’m not sure if it’s yet closed and/or announced. Jason & Tyler brought forward 5 high quality companies and super high quality ones rose to the top and quickly got funded.

Angel 254

Angel Technical Review Software Review Platform 254

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 28, 2012

Just request advice and, if granted, leave a review on how effective you found the Advisor’s input. Entrepreneurs ask Advice, when granted, they leave a review for the Advisor. We review the credentials of Advisors via LinkedIn and other social media sources to ensure they’re worth their weight in advice.

Entrepreneur 89

Entrepreneur Startup Paramount Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2013

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. Funding for early-stage startups is more available than ever. Women are a growing force as entrepreneurs.

Startup 109

Startup Entrepreneur Social Media Satisfaction 109

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2016

In fact, the report suggests that the total amount raised annually (over $30 billion) now exceeds the funding from venture capitalists during the same period. Project your costs as diligently as your revenues. Don’t underestimate the amount of funding actually required. Get funding sizing input from senior advisors.

Technical Review 58

Technical Review Platform Entrepreneur Funding 58

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

Silicon Valley may still be the capital of technology with a mix of new (Google, Facebook) and old (Apple, HP) sprinkling the landscape. However, Silicon Valley isn’t the only place to grow technology innovators from the ground up. So many thinkers, developers and entrepreneurs want to bring their idea to life.

Social Network 111

Social Network Social Media Press Technical Review 111

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2016

Now it’s all about how fast you recognize and adapt to market change, new competitors, and new technology. This means regular updates are required to your business plan, marketing message, social media, and website content. Failure to react quickly often leads to funding freezes and founder replacements.

Social Media 67

Social Media Metrics Startup Technical Review 67

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

“You have to look like America looks, because right now the tech sector doesn’t look like America.” And of course African Americas and Latinos over-index in spend and consumption in many categories including many health & beauty products, movie theater attendance, mobile phone usage and even social media.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Course Entrepreneur 150

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 18, 2019

This led to massive funding rounds at Bird, Lime and others. There was seasonality, theft, tough unit economics and slowing funding rounds. This is only true when: 1) there is funding available to finance short-term losses and 2) when there is a lucrative positive unit-economics business when you become the winner.

Santa Monica 250

Santa Monica Venice Competition Software Review 250

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 22, 2014

You will need this granularity not only for successfully managing your business, but also when preparing for funding pitches and during investor due diligence. At a minimum, you should engage a lawyer to draft and/or review every contract you enter into. Outsourcing can be an extremely cost-effective solution here.

Startup 97

Startup Outsource Development Software Review Sales 97

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2013

I have never felt prouder of the team & product at awe.sm ( please visit to check out our latest & be ready for our next big product announcement due out in next month or so) and yet we just brought in a new CEO to the company, Fred McIntyre. I funded Jonathan’s first $500,000. I funded Jonathan’s first $500,000.

Startup 303

Startup Technical Review Product Blogging 303

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2019

Then there is the need for more substantial business accounting, database, and social media monitoring. New manufacturers and new technology are hard to get right the first time, so you will have unusable inventory and emergency repairs. Unanticipated pivots, quality write-offs, and shrinkage.

Startup 105

Startup Software Review Technical Review Social Media 105