Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Avoid fuzzy goals, like making big money or being a market leader. You probably already know the key challenges to complete each step, but it helps to write them down, review them with peers, and have a written list to update as you learn more. Stop talking and writing, and start executing the plan. Celebrate your successes.

Writing 139

Writing Startup Summary Activity 139

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

His challenge is to focus on one market, with a specific design, cost, and price. Bill was initially the idea person and technologist, while Steve had the business and marketing experience from Proctor & Gamble to close the business equation. Build your own personal brand image through blogging, industry forums, and networking.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

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. Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Of course, previous successes provide more direct evidence of a network of the right people.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2015

Fred has of course been a public mentor to us all with his market-defining terminology that he popularized including “freemium” and “mobile first.” What you may not know is that Fred has been a behind-the-scenes mentor to many of the newer VCs in the industry including myself. That always stuck with me.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Writing Blogging 150

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Today they say its Africa’s largest and fastest growing social networking utility with over 4,000 daily new sign-ups. They also add that LAGbook ranks #2 in the city of Yaba-Lagos, where the social network was incepted, and #37 in the city of Hirtshal, Denmark. Who are your mentors, role models? What is LAGbook?

Social Network 100

Social Network Networking Advertising Startup 100

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

I started in 2007 with a thesis that my primary investment decision would be about the team (70%) and only afterward about the market opportunity (30%). Of course these are great places to network with other investors, meet great entrepreneurs and keep your connections strong with senior execs at larger companies like Yahoo!,

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2013

The most successful entrepreneurs are those with multiple real-life experiences, who have personal exposure to markets where opportunities are being left on the table. If offered at your college, don’t forget the practical business skills like “Critical Thinking”, “Business Writing” and even “Dress for Success.” Pick an idea, any idea.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

If you want the full SlideShare deck with many slides not in either post it’s in this link –> The LA Tech Market. Has it begun to mature or is it just better marketed than in was say 5 years ago? Given how efficient markets are when a large market like LA starts to blossom it attracts capital pretty quickly.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2011

The most successful entrepreneurs are those with multiple real-life experiences, who have personal exposure to markets where opportunities are being left on the table. If offered at your college, don’t forget the practical business skills like “Critical Thinking”, “Business Writing” and even “Dress for Success.” Pick an idea, any idea.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2013

The issue in these cases was usually not the technology per se, but the bigger business picture of marketable prices, ease of use, and support infrastructures. You don’t really understand a new idea, until you try to write it down and succinctly communicate it to peers and critics. Network in the industry as well as outside.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Startup 101

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2014

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. Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Of course, previous successes provide more direct evidence of a network of the right people.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Angel Social Media Patents 107

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

There are lots of resources available for the challenge of that activity, including the Internet and mentors like me. Writing down key parameters will force you solidify the specifics, and mentally commit to them. Prepare your marketing story for customers and investors.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

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

SEPTEMBER 12, 2010

The most successful entrepreneurs are those with multiple real-life experiences, who have personal exposure to markets where opportunities are being left on the table. If offered at your college, don’t forget the practical business skills like “Critical Thinking”, “Business Writing” and even “Dress for Success.” Pick an idea, any idea.

Technical Advisors 90

Technical Advisors Startup Course Entrepreneur 90

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2017

That means that you need to overtly market yourself, rather than wait and hope that the right people or customers will find you. In my long-time role as a mentor and business advisor, I still see too many people who are waiting to be found as a candidate for their dream role, or waiting for investors to find their startup.

Startup 55

Startup Organization Newsletter Content 55

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2014

If you’re an early investor like I am that often means writing the first $2-3 million check into a business that previously had either survived on fumes or on a $500,000 angel round. What they do with the money is add more engineers and maybe hiring a marketing person. You’re the coach, mentor, cheerleader.

Startup 381

Startup Resource Venture Capital Activity 381

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 10, 2012

During the weekend participants with a technical background write code for prototypes, designers create branding and user interfaces, business people model potential revenue sources and test marketing strategies, and everyone engages potential customers. 5:00pm – Networking. 2:00pm – Mentors help teams one-on-one.

UCLA 87

UCLA Startup Ideas Mentor 87

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

Based on my current role as a mentor to entrepreneurs, I will paraphrase and recommend Whiddon’s top techniques in business terms: Build an image of likability and rapport. You can also establish authority by writing and public speaking. We all relish working with and buying from people we can relate to on a personal level.

Social Media 58

Social Media Customer Custom Entrepreneur 58

Tech.Co

MARCH 1, 2018

The event is open to tech enthusiasts who want to join an event filled with some of the top leaders, investors and mentors from tech industry to network, find mentors and build their companies. The Mentor Method (Washington, D.C.). AdWallet (Albuquerque, NM). That’s the concept behind AdWallet. Qoins (Atlanta, GA).

Startup 79

Startup Mentor Platform Help 79

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2010

For an angel investor, it’s a buyer’s market. A trophy investor is a great coach and mentor, sometimes providing the only shoulder an entrepreneur can cry on during difficult times. This mentoring can be particularly useful to the entrepreneur working through the personality issues that tend to dominate start up companies.

Entrepreneur 83

Entrepreneur Mentor Invest Angel 83

socalTECH

JUNE 18, 2009

Our interview today is with Santa Monica-based OneCubicle (www.onecubicle.com), a new startup we ran across recently, which is looking to provide a more professional social networking site for younger people. Gregg Champion: OneCubicle.com is a social business network for people on their first, second, and third jobs.

Social Network 100

Social Network Entertainment Startup CTO Coach 100

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

MIIGLE is a LA-based social network for entrepreneurs and innovators that recently launched its Beta version. The concept of entrepreneurship is extremely broad; it’s like marketing. The concept of entrepreneurship is extremely broad; it’s like marketing. What does that refer to exactly? I want to change that.

Startup 101

Startup Ideas Platform Entrepreneur 101

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 17, 2017

So, how is it you ended up going from a technology infrastructure entrepreneur at SkyPipeline, to the consumer market with Visalus? I had a sales force when I was at SkyPipeline, selling telecom, networking, and broadband wireless products. Ryan Blair: When I first had invested in Visalus, I was at SkyPipeline.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review 100

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 40

Web Design Social Media Seed Funding Design 40

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 1, 2013

CreatorUp is the online web series school teaching the next generation of web series creators how to make and market their own new video projects on the web. Following graduate school, he worked in Film Finance and Sales at CAA, Creative Development at Vuguru (Michael Eisner’s multi-platform studio), and Content Partnerships at Blip Networks.

Web 93

Web USC Course Guide 93

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

It became a theme in my keynote at Caltech on the future of social networking. A huge shout out to Ricky Wong of NYCSteals for helping me with the write-up. Seth’s interest in helping others grew out of his lack of having a mentor. He was drawn to Stanford by the people ecosystem- access to professors and mentors.

Startup 286

Startup Venture Capital Web Ideas 286

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 30, 2012

We write and create our own content for the game. CallFire provides Voice and SMS Solutions to over 40,000 customers including political groups, non-profits, insurance agents, small business owners, and marketers. Demeter Interactive is a digital marketing and communications firm based in Los Angeles, California.

CalTech 91

CalTech Company Companies Idealab 91

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Aaron is also the Program Director for Entretech’s Nitro.la , a non-profit mentoring network in partnership with USC, UCLA and Caltech, to help develop LA’s entrepreneurial community by “getting more companies funded in greater Los Angeles&#. 9:30a – 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the next session.

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Aaron is also the Program Director for Entretech’s Nitro.la , a non-profit mentoring network in partnership with USC, UCLA and Caltech, to help develop LA’s entrepreneurial community by “getting more companies funded in greater Los Angeles&#. 9:30a – 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the next session.

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Aaron is also the Program Director for Entretech’s Nitro.la , a non-profit mentoring network in partnership with USC, UCLA and Caltech, to help develop LA’s entrepreneurial community by “getting more companies funded in greater Los Angeles&#. 9:30a – 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the next session.

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

CEO Flow

MARCH 2, 2009

Aaron is also the Program Director for Entretech’s Nitro.la , a non-profit mentoring network in partnership with USC, UCLA and Caltech, to help develop LA’s entrepreneurial community by “getting more companies funded in greater Los Angeles&#. 9:30a - 10a: Network with CEOs from this and the next session.

Santa Monica 40

Santa Monica Los Angeles Finaventures Angel 40

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. Write a business plan for your desired new business. The ability to pivot quickly is a key to success.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Why Every Entrepreneur Should Write and 9 Tips To Get Started - OnStartups , September 27, 2010 "The best part of blogging is the people you will meet"- Hugh MacLeod repeating wisdom from Loic Lemeur to me at the Big Pink at 2 am in South Beach after the Future of Web Apps 2008. Why You Should Write. Why You Should Write.

Startup 191

Startup Product Technology Venture Capital 191

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 2, 2011

Thiel and friends will also agree to mentor these young entrepreneurs. Actually, they’ll get even more attention because this selection will put them in an even more exclusive peer group and will introduce them to even more connected mentors. In Poly Sci I learned critical thinking and writing. So is this a good idea?

Education 322

Education Startup Incubator Class 322

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

We had to write a CRM to keep track of them all. Often board members give entrepreneurs two bits of advice regarding scale: Get a mentor. A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks , August 9, 2010 This is Part 3 of the series: 5 lessons from 150 startup pitches.? Kudos to John for an excellent pitch. 10 cents per DAU.

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2012

The issue in these cases was ususally not the technology per se, but the bigger business picture of marketable prices, ease of use, and support infrastructures. You don’t really understand a new idea, until you try to write it down and succinctly communicate it to peers and critics. Network in the industry as well as outside.

Technology 95

Technology Mentor Ideas Entrepreneur 95

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2012

You have to understand why people need something they don’t have, before you can create it, or market it effectively. When I do mentoring and writing about current experiences, I realize all the things I don’t know, and this gives me more incentive to learn more. Share what you do know. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Startup Class Education 93