Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2015

In building successful businesses, I find that creating a new and innovative product or service is usually the easy part. The top two on the personal side are “urgency” and “desire,” but these have to be matched on the business side with the willingness to burn the platform (change any aspect of the business) without a crisis.

Product 103

Product Coach Framework Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2021

As a new business advisor, I am no longer surprised that every new entrepreneur believes the hard part is creating the first product and the business. Most importantly, this is not just in the products and services you offer, but in the way your company operates. Your task is follow-up in support, mentoring, and setting goals.

Tips 170

Tips Startup Mentor Press 170

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2021

She speaks from years of experience mentoring and facilitating independent contractors and helping large companies, since well before the term “gig economy” was even coined. As a new business advisor and mentor myself, I enjoyed her recommendations on many of these issues. Charging by the hour only makes sense for commodity work.

Pricing 149

Pricing Mentor Entrepreneur News 149

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Every entrepreneur and every business I meet in my consulting and mentoring role has great intentions of bringing real innovation to the market, yet I find that most ideas are merely small extensions to existing solutions. It addresses a growing customer need, especially in times of a pandemic, with an innovative logistical platform.

Startup 146

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Ideas 146

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

We've created a social media platform which helps you meet new people, and we're also very focused on privacy, and don't sell your data, don't spy on you, but provide an environment where you can meet other people based on shared interests and shared locations. However, if you want to meet new people through Facebook, it's very difficult.

Mentor 157

Mentor Southern California Startup Networking 157

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2020

The core of the investing job of course is investing dollars into startup companies and helping as a mentor, advisor and board member on the companies in which you’ve invested. And all the platform stuff. Marketing, recruiting, building data products & tools, event management, analyzing the portfolio, etc.

Venture Capital 361

Venture Capital Startup Invest CitySearch 361

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2023

For example, witness the current creation of the space tourism industry, vaccines to control new viruses, or simply providing a free product to the needy for every product sold. As a mentor to many business professionals, I find many who are risk-averse or not confident in their own abilities to make forward-looking decisions.

Capital 142

Capital Netflix Resource Customer 142

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

He has a really interesting background as a product manager and now an entrepreneur. Like many product managers, my background is fairly eclectic. That's where I learned I enjoyed interacting with customers and working with development teams to build and launch products. Tell me a bit about your background. How did it help you?

Product 150

Product Entrepreneur Social Media Google 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

With the advent and popularity of crowdfunding platforms, including Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , as a winning alternative for funding your new venture, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs are confused about the need to ever seek a professional angel investor. Business-to-business products need professional investors.

Funding 119

Funding Startup Platform Examples 119

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most have the technical challenges well understood, but many are a bit short on some basic street smarts , or basic business realities. Start with a range of platforms, including social media, advertising, and a great website.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Tech.Co

JANUARY 29, 2018

“From participating in Eureka Park 2017, I learned that the show can become a bit overwhelming, but if you are able to keep it positive and have perseverance, it is a great platform not only to network, but to create great working relationships,” Cabral said. Add Mentors to Your Roster. Get Your Playbook Together.

Startup 87

Startup Mentor Artificial Inteligence Research 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2023

With pervasive access to social media, customers no longer differentiate poor product repair and replacement from a poor shopping experience or customer usage satisfaction. This new definition applies equally to brick-and-mortar stores, as well as online platforms. Inflexible processes. You can never edict all decisions.

Competition 109

Competition Services Customer Custom 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2020

According to a recent article on Thrinacia , there are now aver 600 crowdfunding platforms in existence, currently estimated to add more than $89 billion to the economy at a compound growth rate of 17% from 2019 to 2022. Product pre-order model. Product pre-order model. In the U.S.,

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Satisfaction Equity 129

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 20, 2013

In today’s uber-connected, social media, everything-is-public, people tell you there’s killing it with these new features, investor & mentor whiplash – it’s hard to avoid the latest thing. 4 months later every f **g product I see looks like Pinterest. The new thing. The shiny object. get me some. Or DropBox.

Course 368

Course Resource Social Media Design 368

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2020

For example, I often hear proposals for new online social media or collaboration platforms, maybe more specifically tuned to inventors or artists, or easier to use, and populated by experts, to compete against Slack or Facebook. Be forever curious and optimistic. Build a prototype and experiment with real customers.

Startup 134

Startup Artificial Inteligence Ideas Entrepreneur 134

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 17, 2020

From the beginning, the Imagine Impact team recognized that Netflix was democratizing storytelling and creating a global platform for talent. Brian and Ron run one of the most creative and forward-thinking production companies in the business,” said Tendo Nagenda, Vice President of Netflix Films.

Netflix 137

Netflix Entertainment Hollywood Writing 137

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2022

In building successful businesses, I find that creating a new and innovative product or service is usually the easy part. The top two on the personal side are “urgency” and “desire,” but these have to be matched on the business side with the willingness to burn the platform (change any aspect of the business) without a crisis.

Coach 114

Coach Framework Entrepreneur Tool 114

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. Major platforms are available online to find Angel groups or VCs, including Gust and AngelList. You need an investor, and want to solicit professionals online.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

It was a software platform for allowing advertisers to purchase brand integration (product placements) as a standardized unit through a marketplace. At every entrepreneur event I through between 2008-2012 I invite Hamet because he was a great mentor for entrepreneurs. I’ve known Hamet for 5 years. I stayed close.

Invest 340

Invest Venture Capital Startup News 340

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2022

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. Platform as a Service (PaaS). I wish it was that easy.

Technology 133

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 133

socalTECH

AUGUST 5, 2014

The startups included SideVision , an ecommerce software platform; Portal Entertainment a content development company; Bubbl , a developer of mobile and web-based video editing tools; Wisemetrics , social content publishing; Incoming Media , push notification for video; and Toggle , a developer of HDMI dongles for streaming UltraViolet content.

Media 124

Media Class Hollywood Incubator 124

Tech.Co

JULY 12, 2017

This corporate partnership has proven well for these startups in helping them launch their products and services into another galaxy. Through inspirational content, online classes, and products, Brit + Co enables their audience of over 125 million to use creativity to shape their best lives. Epic Games.

Artificial Inteligence 108

Artificial Inteligence Startup Entertainment Press 108

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. DatavizVR is the world’s first big data analytics and visualization virtual and augmented reality platform. AdWallet (Albuquerque, NM).

Startup 79

Startup Mentor Platform Help 79

socalTECH

AUGUST 12, 2014

We select companies from an application process , and they join us for a twelve week program of workshops, mentoring, and business meetings in order to create value in our businesses, and also accelerate process for them. These companies were each offering a product or platform that really addressed one of those areas.

Startup 159

Startup Technology Hollywood Media 159

LATechDigest

MAY 13, 2016

SMASHD’s first Cohort brought four early-stage + one mature company into the fold: Sidestep : Mobile platform for live events that allows fans to order merchandise before, during and after an event for VIP pickup and delivery, who has relationships in place with Ticketmaster, and is a merch partner on Beyonce’s latest tour.

Mentor 75

Mentor Venture Capital Draper USC 75

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2016

So, instead of just dealing with the consumer experience, we decided to tackle the problem head on and build an entire platform, and intelligent mortgage platform. For them to get to date with the times, to automate and build a platform, they'd have to reinvent and re-engineer their entire platform. It's plan and simple.

Startup 100

Startup Platform Pepperdine CIO 100

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 8, 2021

This is an incredibly rewarding milestone and an apt tribute to the vision of my late mentor, Norman Rostoker,” said TAE’s current chief executive officer, Michl Binderbauer, in a statement announcing the company’s achievement.

Technology 354

Technology Artificial Inteligence Google Orange County 354

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2023

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” Use online platforms like Gust to find them, and local networking to find ones that relate to your industry and passion. Start a crowdfunding campaign online. Request a small business grant.

Startup 106

Startup Capital Equity Funding 106

socalTECH

DECEMBER 22, 2016

Today, we have Cody Simms , Executive Director of Techstars (www.techstars.org), which has been very active this year in the startup accelerator and mentoring area. This holiday season, we are again sharing the reflections on the year from Southern California's technology community. What was the biggest news from you or your firm this year?

Southern California 100

Southern California Snapchat Yahoo Social Media 100

Tech.Co

APRIL 30, 2018

Their financial planning tool helps people track their spending, investments, and credit rating all in one mobile platform. Once you RSVP for an event, and the host accepts, the platform will send you all the details and charge your card if a fee is required. Headai launched the product in Finland and projects to start in the U.S.

Startup 70

Startup Tool Platform Metrics 70

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2015

As a member of the advisory board for several startups and a mentor to other entrepreneurs, I’ve accumulated my own list of strategies and recommendations on where “going the extra mile” can save you from disaster or supercharge your startup for maximum growth under any circumstances. Actively listen to mentor and customer feedback.

Startup 96

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Social Media 96

socalTECH

JANUARY 20, 2015

Last week, Los Angeles-based Sense360 raised $2.75M in a funding round, to go towards its development of a platform to help developers pull together information and make sense of all the data coming from your mobile phone. What platforms will this work on? What did you learn from ThinkNear that you''re applying at this new company?

Startup 100

Startup Platform Mobile Advertising 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2020

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” Use online platforms like Gust to find them, and local networking to find ones that relate to your industry and passion. Start a crowdfunding campaign online. Request a small business grant.

Funding 174

Funding Startup Equity Examples 174

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

The platform enhances the process of turning ideas into entrepreneurial ventures and growing startups through social collaboration. In terms of entrepreneurship, what has attracted me is social entrepreneurship: building and designing products that benefit society and have a positive impact in the world. I want to change that.

Startup 101

Startup Ideas Platform Entrepreneur 101

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 11, 2011

Enterprise Software sucks, and if you’re an engineer or product designer, we invite you to join this hackathon to reinvent business 2 business software. The goal is to take the complicated out of softwares like CRMs and project management tools and turn them in to simple, beautiful and usable products. Second Prize: $500.

Santa Monica 72

Santa Monica Yammer Geni Southern California 72

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

I’m super excited to announce that GRP Partners led the investment in Ethan Anderson’s new company MyTime (link has LA-based merchants but will give you a good feel for the product). ” So Ethan went to work as a product manager at Google Video. I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

Greg was the first person to share with me the insights of mobile conversion and why with a simpler product selection and conversion funnel they would get higher conversion on mobile than on the web. Natural mentors – a desire to help. On each subsequent meeting I’d learn a little bit more. Quantitative & analytical.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360