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.

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2010

One of things I’ve loved the most about doing now 11 weeks of This Week in VC is a chance to have an hour-long recorded conversation with investors. And in my interviews with many VCs I feel that people can watch these and get to know the VC’s as human beings a bit better. So how did Mike get into VC?

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Venture Capital Blogging Startup Fandango 230

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. Segment Three: “VC Deals Funded this Week”.

Clearstone 236

Clearstone Venture Capital ReachLocal Google 236

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

My primary role was “chief psychologist&# and as I’ve learned over the past few years the same has been true as a VC. Once you’ve been around for a few years, attracted some great people, landed real, paying customers and raised venture capital you’ve likely got a talented team around you.

Venture Capital 319

Venture Capital Startup Sales Customer 319

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2010

This episode of This Week in Venture Capital featured Michael Montgomery, president of Montgomery & Co. You have to be selected to present and it is typically reserved for companies that have already raised early-stage capital and are well into revenue growth. Should you use investment banks to raise venture capital?

Venture Capital 242

Venture Capital Mission Ventures Capital Help 242

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

Most entrepreneurs have found by now one or more of the many popular crowdfunding sites , and have the name and contact information for at least one of the big venture capital firms. Here are eight key insights that will help you find a productive match: Angels want equity ownership, not causes.

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Venture Capital Angel Seed Funding Invest 106

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

I came across this blog post about getting a computer science degree as the best degree for getting into venture capital or working at a VC-backed start up. I just completed an exercise where I went out to hire a new associate for my VC firm, GRP Partners. I had to laugh a bit reading it. What about strategy?

Startup 337

Startup Venture Capital Study Course 337

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2010

Our guest this week on #TWiVC was Dana Settle , partner at Greycroft Partners , a venture capital firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Greycroft is an early-stage VC. Closing a VC fund in 2009/10 is a major achievement in and of itself. Gilt Group is currently the largest private sale web site in US.

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Venture Capital Startup Platform Technical Review 240

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 3, 2010

This was really a fun week at TWiVC because we decided to have an entrepreneur come and talk about raising capital rather than having a VC come on. He’s also candid, humble and helpful. It’s a very product that allows you to do visual search of eBay, ETSY, Match.com, AllRecipes and several others sites.

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Venture Capital Startup Design S3 214

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, it still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return.

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

socalTECH

MAY 7, 2009

Aliso Viejo-based Evolver , a firm developing avatar creation technology, launched an alpha of its web site this week, focused on helping consumers create their own virtual avatars. The site allows users to create what Nilles says are "breathtakingly accurate" versions of users, or to create fantasy characters. READ MORE>>.

Sites 100

Sites Social Media Venture Capital Content 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 1, 2011

Manhattan Beach-based CapLinked said this week that it has made some major updates to the site, overhauling and improving the online service for managing investment activity for companies and deal tracking for investors.

Manhattan Beach 160

Manhattan Beach Sites Google Activity 160

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

He eventually applied his lessons learned in these experiences when he founded Zag, a company that helps consumers buy cars over the Internet at pre-negotiated prices with nearly 4,000 dealers across the country [disclosure: my firm GRP Partners is an investor in Zag]. Tags: This Week in Venture Capital. Total raised: $17mm.

Zag 248

Zag Truecar Venture Capital CarsDirect 248

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 23, 2011

I took the opportunity this past week to publish summary notes of some of the VCs and entrepreneurs I had interviewed on This Week in VC. One of my goals in doing the show was not only to educate entrepreneurs but also to put a human face on many of the VCs in our industry as VCs can be hard to get to know. 1:00 – 3:40).

Capital 265

Capital Venture Capital Veoh Startup 265

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2022

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, crowdfunding still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return.

Funding 141

Funding Startup Outsource Development Satisfaction 141

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2021

Most entrepreneurs have found by now one or more of the many popular crowdfunding sites , and have the name and contact information for at least one of the big venture capital firms. Here are eight key insights that will help you find a productive match: Angels want equity ownership, not causes.

Angel 126

Angel Funding Venture Capital Seed Funding 126

socalTECH

AUGUST 28, 2014

San Diego-based professional networking site Connequity says it has raised $550,000 in an angel round, and has opened up a new Series A funding, after renaming the company from its former name, GROWconnections. connequity venture capital angel professional social networking linkedin referrals' READ MORE>>.

Social Network 153

Social Network San Diego Venture Capital Networking 153

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2010

Last week at an angel investor forum I was privileged to meet Stephanie Spong, who is a Principal with EPIC Ventures, an increasingly rare early stage VC firm. Stephanie: I am a venture capitalist currently based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico, with EPIC Ventures. Stephanie: I love building companies. Marty Zwilling.

Venture Capital 65

Venture Capital Capital Entrepreneur Competition 65

socalTECH

OCTOBER 6, 2014

Santa Barbara-based ShipHawk , the online developer of technology for helping connect users with shipping companies, has raised $5M in a funding round, the company said this morning. shiphawk shipping marketplace logistics startup venture capital dncapital' READ MORE>>.

Santa Barbara 138

Santa Barbara Commerce Venture Capital Sites 138

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development. For the rest of us, the following suggestions will help you survive the valley of death: Accumulate some resources before you start.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

Pasadena-based 55Haitao.com , a Chinese shopping site which acts as a forum and shopping guide for Chinese consumers, has raised $15M in a Series A financing, the company said today. The funding was led by JJ Capital, a Chinese venture capital firm. 55Haitao wa founded by Alan Gu, who is the company's CEO. READ MORE>>.

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Pasadena Guide Commerce Venture Capital 100

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Los Angeles- and Austin-based Moonshots Capital , the venture capital fund led by serial entrepreneur Kelly Perdew, is ramping its investment pace, with the first two formal investments out of its new fund. Moonshots led the $1.4M seed funding in that firm. presidential elections in 2016.

Invest 150

Invest Capital Seed Funding Social Network 150

socalTECH

MAY 8, 2017

Santa Monica-based equity crowdfunding site Crowdfunder is making it easier for it to work with investors, saying on Monday that it has just received its broker-dealer license to sell securities directly to accredited investors. Crowdfunder said the move will help create a "more seamless solution" for its customers. READ MORE>>.

Clearstone 113

Clearstone Draper Santa Monica Venture Capital 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors. As well, these companies usually bring real new venture funding opportunities to the startups they sponsor. Think of that challenge like competing for limited venture capital.

Incubator 98

Incubator Startup Help Resource 98

socalTECH

OCTOBER 10, 2013

The Los Angeles company said that the new round was led by Foundation Capital, and also included Benchmark and First Round Capital, along with new investors DAG Ventures and Sherpa Ventures. According to DogVacay, the new funding will help it invest in customer service offerings and to expand its pet care services.

Venture Capital 174

Venture Capital Sites Los Angeles Capital 174

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2009

This is part of my series on Raising Venture Capital. There’s an old saying that if I’m talking with you and I start the conversation by saying, “whatever you do, DO NOT think about Elephants &# then you can’t help but thinking about elephants while we’re speaking. You raised $1.5

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Venture Capital Startup Training Sales 264

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

The startup is creating an online marketplace and community which seeks to help connect employers and job seekers. workpop venture capital cornerstone ondemand jobs employment viddy resume employer employee hiring marketplace' in a funding round. READ MORE>>.

Cornerstone OnDemand 138

Cornerstone OnDemand Venture Capital Los Angeles Sites 138

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

Ideas posted on the site include "Pizza Bot" -- mobile app for pizza delivery; "Trashnado" -- mobile app for garbage removal; "Power Belt" - a wearable belt to charge your cell phone--and others. All of those ideas have a pre-commited amount of capital from investors willing to back those ideas. READ MORE>>.

Ideas 159

Ideas Idealab Startup Pasadena 159

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2021

There are other social networks in the list of 300 “major sites” recognized by Wikipedia that entrepreneurs use for networking, depending on where you are in the world, like Viadeo, Ryze, and Sina Weibo, but talking to friends on Facebook probably won’t help you. Remember it helps to give a little to get something back.

Entrepreneur 143

Entrepreneur Social Network Activity Networking 143

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 26, 2014

Venice-based ZEFR , which helps brands to better identify their fans on YouTube, said today that it has raised $30M in a new funding round. The funding was led by Institutional Venture Partners, and also included U.S. Venture Partners, Shasta Ventures, First Round Capital and Richmond Park Partners. READ MORE>>.

Venice 147

Venice Content Venture Capital Capital 147

socalTECH

JUNE 17, 2013

Fullscreen , the online entertainment video site headed by George Strompolos, announced this morning that it has raised a round of Series A funding. The round came from The Chernin Group along with Comcast Ventures and WPP. Strompolos helped co-create the YouTube Partner Program. Size of the funding was not announced.

Networking 174

Networking Funding Entertainment Hollywood 174

socalTECH

DECEMBER 8, 2011

Two local investors, Los Angeles-based Baroda Ventures and actor Ashton Kutcher , have helped boost the financing of New York-based fashion flash sales site Fab.com. Both have joined in a $40M, Series B funding for the site, which was led by Andreessen Horowitz. Kutcher's investment came via A-Grade Investments.

Venture Capital 157

Venture Capital Sales Sites Los Angeles 157

socalTECH

AUGUST 14, 2014

Vadio , the developer of a platform which helps match music videos and ads with streaming music , said Thursday that it has raised $2M in a seed funding round, which included Mucker Capital, Amplify.LA, as well as other LA investors. READ MORE>>.

Capital 138

Capital Funding Seed Funding Incubator 138

socalTECH

JANUARY 14, 2014

Porch.com , the online site focused on home improvement information which has operations and one of its founders in San Diego , has inked a big strategic deal today with Lowe''s , the companies said today. porch neighborhood remodeling home improvement realestate real estate lowes lowe venture capital strategic' READ MORE>>.

Invest 150

Invest San Diego Venture Capital Sites 150

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 12, 2014

Tapiture said the new funds will go towards growth, towards international expansion, and to help build merchant partnerships. tapiture venture capital angel investment social sharing photos products style' Tapiture said that Randall Kaplan, co-founder of Akamai, will join its board of directors as part of the funding.

Seed Funding 147

Seed Funding Funding Venice Venture Capital 147

socalTECH

OCTOBER 7, 2014

BloomNation lets floral designers post their designs online, and then connects customers with those designers, avoiding the cookie-cutter designs currently found on floral broker sites like FTD, 1-800-Flowers, and Teleflora. bloomnation local flower delivery fashion arrangement marketplace venture capital angel ronconway andreessen'

Santa Monica 178

Santa Monica Design Venture Capital Capital 178

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

According to Househappy.org, which operates an online site to let users browse through home properties in a visual way (think "Pinterest for real estate"), said it raised $1.5M from Greenberg, who the company said helped found Sketchers with is father Robert Greenberg in 1992. Househappy is based in Portland, Oregon. READ MORE>>.

Manhattan Beach 138

Manhattan Beach Startup Venture Capital Invest 138