SoCal CTO

JANUARY 26, 2010

In December 2007, I described how I commonly take on an Acting CTO Role in a Start-up. However, I’ve now begun questioning how and what an early-stage / startup CTO should be. What worries me a bit is how often I read that startups should hire a developer / hands-on lead developer. Gap closed, right?

Fractional CTO 225

Fractional CTO CTO CTO Hire CTO Coach 225

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2014

We are in the age of outsourcing, by any of many popular names, including subcontracting, freelancing, and virtual assistants. These approaches allow your startup to grow more rapidly, save costs, but costly mistakes can lead to business failure. Let’s cut costs by outsourcing all from this point forward.” Be flexible.

Outsource Development 92

Outsource Development Outsource Entrepreneur Startup 92

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2019

We are in the age of outsourcing, by any of many popular names, including subcontracting, freelancing, and virtual assistants. These approaches allow your startup to grow more rapidly, save costs, but costly mistakes can lead to business failure. Let’s cut costs by outsourcing all from this point forward.” Be flexible.

Outsource Development 121

Outsource Development Outsource Entrepreneur Summary 121

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 31, 2021

The sweeping infrastructure package put forward today by President Joe Biden comes with a price tag of roughly $2 trillion (and hefty tax hikes) but gives startups and the broader tech industry about $1 trillion worth of reasons to support it. A Biden presidency doesn’t need a Green New Deal to make progress on climate change.

Startup 229

Startup Technical Review Invest Research 229

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

Research is paramount, and sources are everywhere, especially for public companies and large investment firms. Start with the “matrix method.”. You and your advisors, board or partners should start by completing what you can of the matrix shown on this page. Find up to ten likely candidates that fit your business.

Outsource Development 156

Outsource Development Paramount Outsource Research 156

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

These things outside your control do happen, but based on my years of experience as a startup advisor and angel investor, I still see too many strategies leading to failure that are inside the entrepreneur decision realm. I certainly agree that starting a business is fraught with risk, and none of us get it all right the first time.

Startup 174

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 174

Inverted Software

JUNE 15, 2018

At Inverted Software we often help our clients manage offshore and onshore development teams. Our proprietary processes and unique experience helps us evaluate and correct software development practices that have proven inefficient and instill practices that insure productivity and success. Developers love to experiment.

Software Review 51

Software Review Software Development Outsource Development Development Team Review 51

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2021

Entrepreneurs often have formidable technical expertise, key to developing a new product or service, but a great naïveté in management skills. I’ve extracted here some key ones relevant to startups entering the growth stage: Communication clarity is essential. Most startups begin first, and think about organization later.

Startup 171

Startup Organization Training Entrepreneur 171

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2019

If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done. Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales. In many cases, experts with academic or research credentials are not good partners for a business venture.

Software Review 88

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development Startup 88

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Even these have had their ups and downs, but credit their team culture with a mindset of being innovative and agile, compared to the more prevalent corporate culture of focus on profits, repeatable processes, minimal risk, and business as usual. Have each develop a personal transformation plan with your support.

Case Study 117

Case Study Outsource Development Outsource Customer 117

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2014

Even when your startup is a one-man show and lots of fun, a “business” needs some discipline and controls to keep it from being defined as a hobby by investors, and assure some financial return. Here are eight key business tasks that relate to almost every startup, generally prioritized by criticality. Develop your business plan.

Startup 107

Startup Outsource Development Training Outsource 107

socalTECH

OCTOBER 5, 2011

One of Southern California's biggest assets are the number of world class, local universities researching and developing technology and knowledge across a large number of disciplines. What our company is doing, is it is developing an online tool for people to find addiction treatment to meet their needs.

UCLA 204

UCLA Research Tech Coast Angels Offshore 204

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2016

These things outside your control do happen, but based on my years of experience as a startup advisor and angel investor, I still see too many shortcuts leading to failure that are inside the entrepreneur decision realm. I certainly agree that starting a business is fraught with risk, and none of us get it all right the first time.

Startup 57

Startup Entrepreneur Writing Ideas 57

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2019

How do you create a tool to help address unconscious bias in the workplaceand why would you create a new startup in that area? We caught up with Michele and Dan to better understand why they founded the company, and why this market was such an interest to them. That's what we do over the course of our two year contract.

Content 150

Content Training Education Outsource Development 150

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2013

Entrepreneurs often have formidable technical expertise, key to developing a new product or service, but a great naïveté in management skills. I’ve extracted here some key ones relevant to startups entering the growth stage: Communication clarity is essential. Most startups begin first, and think about organization later.

Startup 109

Startup Entrepreneur Organization Training 109

socalTECH

JUNE 9, 2014

Los Angeles-based Jukin Media (www.jukinmedia.com) thinks it has figured that out, and instead of trying to create viral videos, has been buying up the rights to those videos--before they really go viral--to create not just a one-hit, viral video wonder, but a sustainable business. What is Jukin Media? Can you talk about those businesses?

Media 235

Media Content Startup IP 235

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

The software that First Resonance has developed allows manufacturers to coordinate their workflow processes. But the software — and the information it’s collecting from manufacturing — can be used to inform better design decisions and the upstream product development process, Talati said.

SpaceX 248

SpaceX Tool Los Angeles Design 248

Tech.Co

MARCH 8, 2018

Getting face time with VCs or people of influence is an ongoing challenge for startup founders, and it may take layers of introductions to get to the right person. She launched the iTech program within NASA to reach out to startups with innovative technology that have an Earth and space travel application.

Technical Review 70

Technical Review Startup Software Review Entrepreneur 70

Berkonomics

MARCH 5, 2020

One way to mitigate this is by using early money to create a prototype, to perform market research, to complete the first generation of the product, or to deliver the service to a satisfied customer. Here we expand the definitions a bit to encompass businesses that are still early stage, but perhaps beyond startup.

Outsource Development 156

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 156

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

Even when your startup is a one-man show, you will soon find that you are “out of control,” unless you start organizing and writing down how and when key things need to get done. Here are eight key business tasks that relate to almost every startup, generally prioritized by criticality. Develop your business plan.

Startup 102

Startup Outsource Development Writing Training 102

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2015

These things outside your control do happen, but based on my years of experience as a startup advisor and Angel investor, I still see too many common failure causes that are inside the entrepreneur decision realm. I certainly agree that starting a business is fraught with risk, and none of us get it all right the first time.

Startup 105

Startup Entrepreneur Writing Ideas 105

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 15, 2009

Steve Gilison worked as a market researcher and product manager at a startup where my company, TechEmpower , did the software / web development. I have about 11 years in the technology sector including roles doing market research, sales and product development. What keeps you up at night? I can see that.

Los Angeles 179

Los Angeles Product Angel Startup 179

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2023

The potential for large currency swings may change the way you need to manage transactions, specify contract terms, and project futures. It pays to research markets proactively, and engage local experts to negotiate a path early, rather than reactively dealing with fines and tarnished reputations.

Outsource Development 110

Outsource Development Social Media Entrepreneur Summary 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2011

A while back I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ Ten Steps in Choosing the Right Startup Partner ”. The feedback was good, but some readers asked me to be a bit more specific on attributes that might indicate an ideal startup partner. Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales.

Software Review 96

Software Review CTO Hire Startup Outsource Development 96

socalTECH

AUGUST 26, 2019

For this morning's interview with an entrepreneur, we spoke with Thomas Russell , the Ceo and co-founder of ETC Solar (www.etc-solar.com), a Los Angeles startup developing technology to improve the efficiency and cost of solar cells. What is the most difficult technical challenge for your startup? What does ETC Solar do?

CalTech 113

CalTech Outsource Development IP Marketing 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2010

Even when your startup is a one-man show, you will soon find that you are “out of control,” unless you start organizing and writing down how and when key things need to get done. Here are eight key business tasks that relate to almost every startup, generally prioritized by criticality. Develop your business plan.

Startup 95

Startup Outsource Development Writing Training 95

socalTECH

AUGUST 8, 2012

Recently, an interesting project popped up on the site--a a 2D to 3D conversion project , from the inventor of the original, LCD projector, Gene Dolgoff. Since Dolgoff is raising money for his 2D-to-3D startup via Fundable, we thought it would be interesting to hear about the project, and how he ended up turning to Fundable.

Startup 252

Startup Sites Patents Outsource Development 252

InfoChachkie

MARCH 24, 2016

As discussed in Mini-ventures Build Entrepreneurial Muscle , I am an advocate of students starting side businesses while in college. Although the startup is still nascent, it has the potential to grow rapidly, as it rides the momentum of one of the most contentious and closely watched elections of the past several decades.

Startup 100

Startup Sites Research Santa Barbara 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2014

A while back I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ For a Startup, Two Heads are Always Better Than One ”. The feedback was good, but some readers asked me to be a bit more specific on attributes that might indicate an ideal startup partner. Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales.

Software Review 107

Software Review Entrepreneur CTO Hire Outsource Development 107

InfoChachkie

MAY 29, 2012

Because Your Big Break May Start As A Little One. Once the tour concluded, the group returned to Ron’s office where he notified them that he would initially sign them to a development deal. Industry veterans know each other and freely share information about up-and-coming products, companies and people. I am not surprised.

Startup 222

Startup Outsource Development RSS Entrepreneur 222

Xconomy

OCTOBER 24, 2016

A San Diego civil engineer who has developed an alternative technology for automating the measurement of water flow gave the best presentation at EvoNexus Fall Demo Day, an event that drew nearly 400 entrepreneurs, investors, and supporters late Thursday to Qualcomm’s corporate headquarters. was founded as Catalyst eClinical.).

San Diego 40

San Diego Startup Orange County Artificial Inteligence 40

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

A while back I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ For a Startup, Two Heads are Always Better Than One.” The feedback was good, but some readers asked me to be a bit more specific on attributes that might indicate an ideal startup partner. Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales.

Software Review 103

Software Review Equity CTO Hire Outsource Development 103

socalTECH

AUGUST 19, 2019

com), based in Glendale, which has developed new heat energy storage technology aimed at use in the industrial sector. The startup was part of the Techstars Dubai Accelerator earlier this year. We originally developed this heat storage technology for use in concentrated solar, for collecting heat from the sun.

Help 113

Help Startup Technology Outsource Development 113

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 17, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series “ Start-up Lessons. &# If you want to subscribe to my RSS feed please click here or to get my blog by email click here. Imagine you pour 5 years of your life into your next gig and it starts to become successful. Starting with 25% is even harder. Not worth it.

Startup 365

Startup Technical Advisors IP Ideas 365

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 9, 2014

You need to research the possibilities in a new landscape but your personal research has been well, a bit fruitless. Traditionally, these between a rock and hard place problems have been solved with a limited pool of expensive options – usually associated with long contracts and high billables for “MBA quality” work.

Outsource Development 105

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review Outsource 105

Berkonomics

MARCH 15, 2012

One way to mitigate this is by using early money to create a prototype, to perform market research, to complete the first generation of the product, or to deliver the service to a satisfied customer. Is the product or service possible to produce at all, let alone economically enough to compete in the marketplace? Second: Market risk.

Outsource Development 200

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 200

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2013

Even when your startup is a one-man show and lots of fun, a “business” needs some discipline and controls to keep it from being defined as a hobby by investors, and assure some financial return. Here are eight key business tasks that relate to almost every startup, generally prioritized by criticality. Develop your business plan.

Outsource Development 92

Outsource Development Training Outsource Metrics 92