socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Fariborz Masseh: The idea of funding a business plan competition is not a new idea. Even though they usually end up innovating and creating at the idea level, they usually need to have a business partner or someone else, to either become CEO of a company, or help them translate their innovation into practical use.

Competition 154

Competition Southern California Mentor USC 154

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

Business accelerators like YCombinator and TechStars are sometimes able to help startups looking for seed-stage funding. Most accelerators provide small seed investment in the range of $25,000, as well as mentoring, workspace and professional services, in exchange for an equity stake in the company.

Funding 104

Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2016

I find that this type offers the most value to new entrepreneurs or startups in the early idea stage. Direction, mentoring and resources required. They already have relationships with outside experts and advisors, and should evaluate organizations based on funding potential, connection to key people and access to members of interest.

Incubator 58

Incubator Startup Seed Funding Equity 58

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2018

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” I always answer that there isn’t any magic, and contrary to the popular myth, nobody is waiting in the wings to throw money at you, just because you have a new and exciting business idea.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Funding 96

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2012

Now they are coming back, and the best even provide networking, technical leadership, and seed funding, as well as investors waving money at graduates. TechStars has several excellent mentors on staff, led by founder and CEO David Cohen. Look for the best mentors, and the toughest regimen for program survival.

Entrepreneur 86

Entrepreneur Incubator Startup Seed Funding 86

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. Shared business support services, including telephone answering, conference rooms, teleconferencing, administrative support, and a business mailing address.

Incubator 87

Incubator Startup Resource Seed Funding 87

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” I always answer that there isn’t any magic, and contrary to the popular myth, nobody is waiting in the wings to throw money at you, just because you have a new and exciting business idea.

Funding 107

Funding Startup Equity Examples 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2012

A while back I heard a talk by Dave McClure, a long-time angel investor, who also proclaims to be one of the “new breed” of venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, as CEO of 500Startups , which is either a micro-VC seed fund, or a startup incubator, or both. He is going gangbusters, and is now targeting a $50M second round of funding.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Startup Seed Funding Incubator 101

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

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2016

Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. Shared business support services, including telephone answering, conference rooms, teleconferencing, administrative support, and a business mailing address.

Incubator 106

Incubator Startup Help Resource 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2011

Recently I heard a talk by Dave McClure, a long-time angel investor, who also proclaims to be one of the “new breed” of venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, as CEO of 500Startups , which is either a micro-VC seed fund, or a startup incubator, or both. Early-stage startup. Every startup is early-stage to someone. Lean startup.

Startup 92

Startup Funding Seed Funding Incubator 92

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

MAY 26, 2016

My response is almost always the same; I think dropping out is a very bad idea. Young entrepreneurs can call upon their alumni networks for advice, recruitment of key employees and even funding. If you haven't already subscribed yet, subscribe now for free weekly JohnGreathouse.com articles! Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Entrepreneur 150

Entrepreneur Case Study Education Seed Funding 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2014

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” I always answer that there isn’t any magic, and contrary to the popular myth, nobody is waiting in the wings to throw money at you, just because you have a new and exciting business idea.

Startup 113

Startup Entrepreneur Funding Equity 113

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2014

For accelerators to proliferate you need access to capital to fund them and then you need a huge community of people to fund the graduates. The growth of angels, seed funds, VC, corporate investors and that like and the high percentage of graduates raising money has led to the continued growth of accelerators.

Venture Capital 290

Venture Capital Startup Idealab Funding 290

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors. But don’t expect incubators to magically convert your pre-hatched idea into a successful company. Peer-to-peer networking with other startups and founders in the same stage.

Incubator 98

Incubator Startup Help Resource 98

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2015

There are too many deals to look at, too many seed funds or angels asking you to look at deals and weekly “demo days” with manicured and monocultural presentations crafted by experienced story tellers to help even the mundane idea sound like it will. For investors life is no different. Easier said than done.

Software Review 150

Software Review Startup Venture Capital Invest 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2021

They dream of appearing at the door, with their idea on the back of a napkin, and popping out a few months later with investor money to burn. His tests focus on personality traits alone (ignoring your startup idea), looking for fluid intelligence, openness, and agreeableness. Initial funding. Expert mentoring and training.

Incubator 146

Incubator Technical Review Entrepreneur Mentor 146

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

As a mentor to young aspiring entrepreneurs , I often get asked for tips on a strategy to get started. Don’t be shy about networking for advisors with business experience for coaching and mentoring. Raising money is difficult, even with the best idea, so don’t assume any entitlement to loans, grants, or seed funding.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2022

This “parallel entrepreneur” idea has been around since at least the days of Thomas Edison, and for the new generation of entrepreneurs, who have been multi-tasking since birth, it’s probably not even a stretch. Advisors and mentors are busy people. Optimize your advisers and investors.

Entrepreneur 145

Entrepreneur Startup Resource Course 145

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 30, 2014

They dream of appearing at the door, with their idea on the back of a napkin, and popping out a few months later with investor money to burn. His tests focus on personality traits alone (ignoring your startup idea), looking for fluid intelligence, openness, and agreeableness. Initial funding. Expert mentoring and training.

Incubator 103

Incubator Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2013

They dream of appearing at the door, with their idea on the back of a napkin, and popping out a few months later with investor money to burn. His tests focus on personality traits alone (ignoring your startup idea), looking for fluid intelligence, openness, and agreeableness. Initial funding. Expert mentoring and training.

Incubator 115

Incubator Help Startup Technical Review 115

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2019

This “parallel entrepreneur” idea has been around since at least the days of Thomas Edison, and for the new generation of entrepreneurs, who have been multi-tasking since birth, it’s probably not even a stretch. Advisors and mentors are busy people. Optimize your advisers and investors.

Startup 99

Startup Entrepreneur Resource Course 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2017

This “parallel entrepreneur” idea has been around since at least the days of Thomas Edison, and for the new generation of entrepreneurs, who have been multi-tasking since birth, it’s probably not even a stretch. Advisors and mentors are busy people. Optimize your advisers and investors.

Startup 60

Startup Entrepreneur Resource Course 60

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2013

This “parallel entrepreneur” idea has been around since at least the days of Thomas Edison, and for the new generation of entrepreneurs, who have been multi-tasking since birth, it’s probably not even a stretch. Advisors and mentors are busy people. Optimize your advisers and investors.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Startup Resource Course 92

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

Though this was 2000 , and all startup & VC blogs we've grown to love didn't exist yet, I did have mentors available. What if someone copies your awesome business idea? No, the question is: What are doing now knowing that a big company will copy your idea? How can I answer this question? How can I answer this question?

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217