Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

As I’ve written about recently, at Upfront Ventures we started talking a couple of years ago about wanting to fund stuff with more meaning. Did anybody hold patents that would prevent us from using this technology? I seldom hire patent attorneys during due diligence but this was too important.

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 30, 2016

conversation literally every week with startups. It is a truism that with more capital you will hire people more quickly and spend more liberally whether it’s on external contractors, PR firms, attending events, doing legal work (trademarks, patents) or whatever. million and in my second company we raised only $500,000 by choice.

Startup 292

Startup Software Review Pricing Entrepreneur 292

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2020

If you have a software development background like mine, I’m sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. If your software or your manufacturing process is your “secret sauce,” you need to keep the work in-house. Spend time building relationships, ask for referrals, and follow up.

Outsource Development 122

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Technical Review 122

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Even bigger is the desire to stick one’s middle finger up at all of the people who doubted you all along. We checked patents. Are we right in all of our assumptions and diligence? She has never given up despite setbacks. What about competing patents. It can be one of the strongest motivators. Time will tell.

Technical Review 417

Technical Review Startup Software Review Course 417

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 10, 2010

Intellectual Property (IP) is an ugly thing at a startup. However, to a Big Dumb Company (BDC), a startup’s IP is a thing of beauty. How can IP be worthless to a startup yet very worthwhile to a BDC? Patents held by startups generally have a limited ability to reduce competition.

IP 256

IP Patents Company Companies 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2010

Yesterday I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Cohen and Michael Rybarski, titled “ Start-Up Smarts.” Failure to prepare for due diligence.

Software Review 95

Software Review Startup Seed Funding Funding 95

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2012

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Cohen and Michael Rybarski, titled “ Start-Up Smarts.” Failure to prepare for due diligence.

Seed Funding 100

Seed Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Funding 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2011

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Cohen and Michael Rybarski, titled “ Start-Up Smarts.” Failure to prepare for due diligence.

Software Review 98

Software Review Funding Seed Funding Startup 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

As a business advisor, I have to recommend even to established companies that they review and revamp their competitive strategy now, even if it appears to be working today. Simple metrics and your personal knowledge of the industry can’t keep up with all the relevant competitive forces. You need to be part of a larger ecosystem.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

socalTECH

APRIL 26, 2011

Los Angeles area entrepreneurs, investors, and startups have gotten to know Paige Craig fairly well over the last few years, as he's made many investments in the local ecosystem. What drove you move from investing to starting up BetterWorks? Paige Craig: It was a couple of things.

Startup 216

Startup Technical Review Software Review Platform 216

socalTECH

APRIL 29, 2014

We caught up with one of the local teams competing in that competition, VOXearch (www.voxearch.com), to learn more about the prize as well as their specific approach to the competition. Mike Outmesguine: We''re one of about thirty teams left in the challenge, out of more than 300 that signed up last August.

Startup 262

Startup Competition Software Review UCLA 262

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2014

If you have a software development background like mine, Im sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. If your software or your manufacturing process is your secret sauce, you need to keep the work in-house. Spend time building relationships, ask for referrals, and follow up.

Outsource Development 95

Outsource Development Outsource Offshore Software Review 95

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 18, 2015

No one likes to talk about it, but the odds of an individual startup making it are pretty daunting. Startup Killers. This might be tough to stomach, but founders themselves pose the greatest threats to the viability of their startups. Protect your IP : Patents are the gold standard. Choosing the wrong co-founder (s).

Technical Review 40

Technical Review Software Review Startup IP 40

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

On December 2nd, 2006 I wrote the blog post published later in this post when I was CEO of startup Koral about my experiences in pitching VCs. This blog post ended up on Valleywag (which had much bigger presence back then). Anyway, the starting point for this blog entry is a cartoon I remember reading in the New Yorker.

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2016

If you have a software development background like mine, I’m sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. If your software or your manufacturing process is your “secret sauce,” you need to keep the work in-house. Spend time building relationships, ask for referrals, and follow up.

Outsource Development 53

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Technical Review 53

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 25, 2011

Currently in closed beta testing, the company’s “Avenue&# client and online storefront offers consumers a quick and easy way to find, acquire and maintain Windows-based software on all types of PCs – from desktop computers to netbooks, tablets and other devices that lack traditional disk drives.

Twiistup 45

Twiistup Angel Technical Review Software Review 45

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 27, 2009

This morning's interview is with San Diego-based Kadonk (www.kadonk.com), a startup which is creating project management tools that work with Microsoft Project. The key here is to provide visibility to everyone along the process--not just at the start, when you put it on the wall, or email the project plan to everyone.

Startup 100

Startup Software Review Technical Review Software 100

socalTECH

JULY 31, 2013

In the world of mobile app and Internet startups, it''s not that often that you see companies who touch the hardware side of the world get funding nowadays. The firm recently raised a $15M series C funding, and we caught up with Kevin to learn more about why its customers, and investors, are interested in its technology.

Technical Review 213

Technical Review Software Review Networking Technology 213

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 4, 2014

It’s almost been a work week since Techzulu and Gadget Review’s REACH | The Connected Future and we’re still reeling with excitement. Today, the conversation on Cleantech with a panel of entreprenurs, doing work as local VC’s, university, incubators, and startups. The floor opens up to Sandy Itkoff.

UCLA 99

UCLA Technical Review Software Review Incubator 99

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 22, 2010

It's been awhile since we last caught up with Los Angeles-based Language Weaver (www.languageweaver.com), a venture-backed firm which develops language translation software, so we sat down the other day with Mark Tapling , the President and CEO of the firm, to hear more about where the company is nowadays--plus its strategy for growth and an exit.

Software Review 145

Software Review USC Content Tech Coast Angels 145

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 10, 2009

Steve Pelletier: Just as a bit of background, our company started in 2001, and had a product called AdBook, which is a very robust order management, workflow inventory, and billing package for large online publishers. We've created a patent pending technology called Autobuild. Steve Pelletier: We try to bring up a couple of points.

Advertising 127

Advertising Startup Sales Tool 127

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

With a room full of investors, founders, media, and tech enthusiasts; and a hilariously dramatic orchestral soundtrack that would show up from time to time (Cal Tech Symphony practice happening on the first floor), there was definitely a strong air of excitement through our different stages of the evening.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Idealab Startup Mobile 94

InfoChachkie

JUNE 25, 2009

Johnnie Cochran was an effective, albeit smarmy, defense lawyer who would say or do anything to defend his clients (anyone up for a glass of OJ?). Yet, despite his exceptional courtroom theatrics, you would be foolhardy to hire good old Johnnie to review your software cross-licensing agreement. free weekly Infochachkie articles!

Technical Advisors 124

Technical Advisors Technical Review IP Patents 124

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Tech startup accelerators dot the landscape, feeding investments into the waiting arms of the nation’s most intelligent and driven entrepreneurs. Founder and CEO since starting the company back in 1999, Miller has led Cornerstone through 11 years of consecutive growth. 27 on the list of Most Valuable Startups. You betcha.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Entrepreneur Riot Games Southern California 75

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Startups and SMBs have been able to take advantage of the cloud, and all of the speed and flexibility it offers, long before large enterprise companies due to strict security and privacy standards, as well as regulations for major industries like banking, healthcare, and financial services.

IBM 40

IBM IBM Technical Review Patents 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2020

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always surprised by the fact that some never seem to be able to that first startup going, while many others never seem to stop, starting their second or third initiative before the first one is fully hatched. You can’t win a race that you never start.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Software Review 131

SoCal CTO

JULY 13, 2010

Some great content around the intersection of startups and being a Startup CTO in June this year. This continues my series of posts: Top 29 Startup Posts May 2010 Startup CTO Top 30 Posts for April 16 Great Startup Posts from March There was some really great content in June. It shows a lack of interest.

Startup 175

Startup Venture Capital Slides Blogging 175

Frank Addante

MAY 15, 2006

► August (1) Stay Positive ► July (2) Go Fast, but Don’t Hurry The DNA of an A++ Team ► June (1) Setting up Shop - Picking an Office Space ► May (3) Startup 6.0 - the Rubicon Project: Internet Advert. No, it’ Startup 2.0: Startup 1.0: “The Bug Bite&# - The Internet Needs.

Advertising 40

Advertising Startup Chief Technology Officer Technical Review 40