socalTECH

OCTOBER 24, 2011

To that end, last week, Los Angeles-based MuckerLab (www.muckerlab.com) announced its plans--and a big lineup of local CEO mentors--to start up a new, YCombinator- and TechStars-type program in Los Angeles, headed by former Silicon Valley venture capitalist Erik Rannala , and affiliated with the TechStars Network. Erik, thanks for the time.

Technical Advisors 176

Technical Advisors Startup Southern California Los Angeles 176

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. You need to have a technical genius on the team to get your startup product off the ground. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 123

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 5, 2014

But as I rose in my career (and post MBA) I moved into a role in which I was to advise board-level executives on topics where I was expected to rapidly become an expert. Some areas were easy because they were technical and the answer was knowable or estimate-able.

Entrepreneur 337

Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Startup Venture Capital 337

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2021

Getting customer attention often takes more innovation today than solving the tough technical problems. As a business adviser, I still see too many new venture founders who skimp on their marketing focus, or start too late. Network with local organizations and industry groups. Use social media for marketing, not just feedback.

Technical Advisors 154

Technical Advisors Tips Marketing Case Study 154

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 4, 2009

I advised against the SF role because it was a bigger company and his role would be pushing paper from one side of his desk to the other. He wanted to know what to do. I told him that he needed to decide whether to learn or to earn. He’s young enough to do either but know why you’re doing it.

Startup 418

Startup Technical Advisors Venture Capital Santa Monica 418

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. You need to have a technical genius on the team to get your startup product off the ground. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Advisors 105

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 105

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

I spent nearly a decade building software for large companies and then advising companies on the same. There’s a guy in Los Angeles that I met at several tech networking events. He would have found somebody technical and inspired that individual to work for equity or deferred payment. Making Things Happen.

Entrepreneur 414

Entrepreneur Technical Review Slides CTO Coach 414

TechEmpower

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Often this situation is characterized as a “good problem to have” until you’re the technical person who needs to solve the problem—and quickly. Well, there are a number of technical reasons for applications suffering performance issues. We therefore routinely advise leads of new projects to consider performance early.

Web 200

Web Technical Advisors Framework Technical Review 200

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2023

In my own experience with technical startup founders, I still find it hard to name one who was also good, or even interested in financials or business operations. You need a dedicated team, gleaned from your network of informal connections between family members, friends, and individual relationships with other professionals.

Technical Review 149

Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur Software Review 149

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2011

Most people totally advise against stealth. I worked with an entrepreneur who was to appear at a startup networking event where he was to talk about his company’s plans. You always have too much technical debt, too many problems, staff members quitting, not enough capital, customer complaints, etc. You don’t.

Marketing 380

Marketing Startup Press Technical Advisors 380

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Many of the entrepreneurs I advise or invest with spend considerable time on the Internet, keeping up with technology, customers, and competitors, but very few feel the need for an early personal presence. Invest your time in networking online, as well as offline. Every future entrepreneur should start by networking.

Product 127

Product Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Technical Review 127

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. You need to have a technical genius on the team to get your startup product off the ground. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Advisors 57

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 57

Tech.Co

OCTOBER 16, 2024

What’s more, alongside financial support, a lot of grant programs give businesses the chance to increase their brand exposure and network, providing them with opportunities that are too good to miss. To improve your chances, we’d advise researching the grantor and focusing on how your venture’s goals align with theirs.

Technical Review 167

Technical Review Technical Advisors Design News 167

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 28, 2012

There were a few hours of just networking and playing an ice breaking game to get to know people. The team needed would consist of at least 1 non-technical business person (me) and 2 or more technical people—designer and developer. I was only able to create a team with non-technical business people and a designer.

Startup 99

Startup Technical Advisors Ideas USC 99

Tech.Co

NOVEMBER 28, 2017

The aim, according to the private college’s press release, is to provide “mentoring, advising and access to resources for up to 15 student- and community-run companies with a philanthropic twist.” Salt Lake City, Utah’s Westminster College debuted it’s Social Impact Incubator on August 30 of this year.

Incubator 70

Incubator Santa Clarita Technical Advisors FAQ 70

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

There is a second set of career discussions I have even more frequently than my “angel yourself” advice but this type is almost never discussed publicly in blogs, which tend to emphasize only billion-dollar opportunities, 20-something technical founders and Silicon Valley elitism. Being a CEO begets the network to be a CEO.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital IP 150

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 10, 2012

Anthony Batt , president of Katalyst Networks and founder of BUZZmedia. Effects Artist and Technical Director, Dreamworks AnimationJason hails from Kentucky, where his parents met at a Renaissance Faire, hooked up at the Wicca Coven, and raised him at sci-fi conventions. Going to be out of town this weekend for Mothers day?

Technical Advisors 89

Technical Advisors Design Education Study 89

Frank Addante

JUNE 4, 2006

I decided that I was going to consult/advise a few companies and relax for a bit. He went from recruiter to IT manager to technical sales… Then, he did such a great job in sales that we had to build up more infrastructure for our ad-serving and email delivery platform to support the increased demand.

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Email CTO Hire 40

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 21, 2014

At the same time, the related menace of telephone Denial of Service attacks is on the rise … That’s why law enforcement alone isn’t enough to solve the problem, and the FTC is investing in technical solutions that can help a growing community of experts do battle with robocallers.” No, your information is not secure!

Technical Advisors 107

Technical Advisors Press Examples Training 107

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2010

More importantly, as a parent or mentor, what should you advise young potential entrepreneurs about getting an MBA? It’s now the second biggest social networking site (Facebook passed it recently) with about 125 million unique visitors per month. Chris DeWolfe, CEO and co-founder of MySpace. Consider it a waste of time.

Entrepreneur 60

Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Education Social Network 60

Frank Addante

MAY 15, 2006

L90 was the premier advertising network on the Internet. Their server room was larger than our entire office and our entire ad network was being run on the exact same type of computer that their receptionist used as her desktop computer. One guy was the creator of Microsoft Excel and the other created the first network for IBM. (No,

Advertising 40

Advertising Startup Technical Review Chief Technology Officer 40

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 5, 2010

I often advise these CEOs to make the tough choices early in the company’s history – either move up North or build your tech team in LA. I believe that startup tech companies need to develop a technical DNA and this doesn’t happen when you outsource. There are pluses and minus for both cases. What about offshoring?

Technical Advisors 335

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Offshore Startup 335