Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2016

I went to an industry event where people actually called me self-centered for writing publicly. In 2016 I finally cracked SnapChat with the launch of Discovery. It’s hard to be discovered on SnapChat right now so I occasionally tweet my SnapChat add handle: https://www.snapchat.com/add/msuster.

Snapchat 150

Snapchat Product Startup AMA 150

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2017

Or you know the other one — the one where Snapchat lost $2 billion in just one quarter. They hired a marketing team to promote their products more broadly. If there was strong market demand for their product then this investment might pay off handsomely. Two-f **g-billion! What a disaster!

Startup 227

Startup Venture Capital Sales Course 227

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

It’s actually very easy to spot when a founder has decided to focus on a concept because he or she has “spotted an opening in the market” or building a derivative business that is “Uber for X” or “Airbnb for Y” or “Dropbox for Z.” But we of course now live in a “knowledge economy” that has to constantly adapt to changing market conditions.

Design 150

Design Ideas Startup Writing 150

socalTECH

DECEMBER 11, 2018

So, if you're a marketer, how do you track and encourage those word-of-mouth recommendations? Right now, when people are communicating using Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and others, those businesses are principally using display advertising and sponsored listings to monetize those users. We're taking a different approach.

San Diego 159

San Diego Social Media Commerce Snapchat 159

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

seed and they are writing $1.25m of it you can expect them to require a board seat) The competitive landscape (If you have several sources of capital you can likely politely decline the board request or can grant them a seat but ask for it to be “common appointed” and those revokable if you need in the future).

Startup 236

Startup Venture Capital Tips Capital 236

socalTECH

MARCH 16, 2017

We are going to write checks of between $100,000 and $500,000, and we are going to invest in what we are calling first institutional capital. We're taking a bit of our playbook from First Round Capital, where, if you look at their website, they provide market help and raising their next round of capital.

Invest 145

Invest Funding Capital Startup 145

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2015

I must admit I discuss this very frequently with portfolio companies but hadn’t thought to write about it. As the desk-based Internet emerged it was initially sold through telecom carriers (after players like AOL and EarthLink innovated the market). I need to give credit for the topic to PR Malloy who Tweeted me this question.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Startup Customer Custom 150

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

I recently survey more than 150 VC friends from all stages and geographies what they thought about the market by asking “Which of the following statements best describes your mood heading into 2016?” Brad was openly writing about this and it felt like he was giving the VC playbook away for free! In short – no.

Startup 150

Startup Companies Company Venture Capital 150

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Writing a wish list for birthday presents at 10 years-old is expected. For hyperlocal businesses looking to attract members of their community, soon they will be able to partner with Doppels, target their marketing dollars and provide special discounts or offerings to a celebrant on their birthday. “We Say Goodbye To The Wish List.

Startup 113

Startup Venice Social Network Tool 113

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 5, 2013

You get to learn everything from marketing to sales to accounting to business development to being able to make pretty websites and graphics. Then, I’m doing emails, accounting, HR, writing proposals, interviewing potential hires, and other random tasks until noon. I am not surprised that Snapchat is LA based.

Startup 107

Startup Los Angeles USC Southern California 107

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 17, 2016

As I sit here writing this, I can’t help but think how excited I am about our future. While running my family wine business , I used Twitter’s search for market research and to find new customers. Dear Twitter, I have always loved you and I always will. Everyone is saying #RIPTwitter , but I still believe in you.

Platform 40

Platform Startup News Content 40

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

15 years ago we were at the peak of Internet hype with the launch of many over-capitalized businesses with a market size & opportunity was limited. The VC market has right-sized (returned back to mid 90′s levels & less competition). But markets value high growth over short-term profitability. Where are we today?

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 17, 2017

In more than a decade of writing about the Internet and tech-enabled businesses I’ve learned that mobs don’t do nuance well. This market structure in which the few, large players use their market position to eliminate competition is inevitable. Our social graphs are locked in Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat.

Course 280

Course Startup Framework Marketing 280

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2016

Thus begins Snapchat and why you don’t get it. Snapchat will be used for both like the Internet (and TV) are. I just need to break you of the idea that Snapchat is for one thing – it is not. But since Snapchat uses the frequency above your hearing range it’s nearly impossible to “get” without help.

Snapchat 150

Snapchat Screening Venture Capital Guide 150