SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

I’ve worked with 30+ early-stage companies in all sorts of capacities (and spoken to many, many more), so I thought it might be worthwhile trying to classify the various ways that I’ve engaged in different technology roles in startups. It depends on the business, people, technologies, etc. Each situation is just a bit different.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Technical Advisors CTO Coach Startup 170

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 4, 2010

If your startup can’t be bothered with social media, or has no plan to take advantage of it, then you are definitely at risk these days. They also identify clearly the five key social media mistakes that business often make, along the following lines: Diving in without a strategic plan. Not having a social media policy.

Social Media 85

Social Media Media Startup Content 85

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2012

If your startup can’t be bothered with social media, or has no plan to take advantage of it, then you are definitely at risk these days. They also identify clearly the five key social media mistakes that I often see, along the following lines: Diving in without a strategic plan. Not having a social media policy.

Social Media 93

Social Media Media Startup Tips 93

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 30, 2011

And as Jon Steinberg of Buzzfeed points out, the CTRs for social media banner ads are just 0.08%. Check out this chart from eye-tracking research conducted by the usability guru Jakob Nielsen published in this piece. And market research seems to confirm this. Nowadays banner ads get on average 0.2% Holy Shiitake !

Advertising 352

Advertising Media Social Media Screening 352

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2019

Image via Pixabay If you are a business owner today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 79

Social Media Media Invest Platform 79

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2020

Technical entrepreneurs love their technology, and often are driven to launch a startup on the assumption that everyone will buy any solution which highlights this technology. These founders all seem to be pushing their technology, rather than highlighting their solution to a painful need. Limit the features and complexity.

Technology 127

Technology Marketing Social Media Customer 127

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 18, 2019

The ARPANET, as it was called back then, was designed by government, industry and academia so scientists and academics could access each other’s computing resources and trade large research files, saving time, money and travel costs. On the other hand, it has led to excess and control in a number of domains.

UCLA 253

UCLA Social Media Social Network Santa Barbara 253

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2021

It works best through effective use of social media, mobile apps, societal initiatives, becoming an influencer, and providing a modern easily-found web site with credible customer-focused content. Consumers are doing their own research and don’t want to engage a pushy salesperson or message.

Customer 172

Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 172

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

Technical entrepreneurs love their technology, and often are driven to launch a startup on the assumption that everyone will buy any solution which highlights this technology. These founders all seem to be pushing their technology, rather than highlighting their solution to a painful need.

Technology 114

Technology Startup Social Media Customer 114

socalTECH

AUGUST 22, 2011

Glendale-based LegalZoom said Friday that it is turning to the San Francisco Bay Area, to extend its technology development efforts. The company said its new location will be home to LegalZoom's technology research and development, and social media programs.

Legalzoom 138

Legalzoom Glendale Social Media Research 138

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2020

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business which builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. And we all know Facebook didn’t invent social media. Many of the major business successes started this way.

Startup 157

Startup Social Media Study Research 157

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 10, 2021

Their expectations of relationship and personalization are taxing businesses today, and their power through social media will kill those who can’t or won’t comply. They are not hesitant to engage the crowd through social media and sites like Yelp to drive you from the marketplace.

Customer 173

Customer Custom Social Media Outsource Development 173

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2014

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business that builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. There is always time later for your next startup, using that disruptive technology of your dreams.

Technology 103

Technology Entrepreneur Study Research 103

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

Social Media Week (SMW) is finally here and is set to be one amazing week filled with panels, discussions, networking, and much more. What is Social Media Week? Social Media Week is a global platform that connects people, content, and conversation around emerging trends in social and mobile media.

Social Media 65

Social Media Media Tech Coast Angels Orange County 65

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2017

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 66

Social Media Media Tips Platform 66

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

We had scrambled to get a product to market, built our first website, rapidly hired a technology team, raised our seed round of capital ($1.5 Around this time B2C eCommerce had been dominating the media but the wheels were starting to come off. Gartner, Forrester, Jupiter and AMR Research all had good things to say about us.

Startup 310

Startup Venture Capital Press Journal 310

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2021

Irvine-based ThoughtWorld, a new market research and social media platform, says it has raised $2M in an angel investment round. ThoughtWorld said the new funding will used to build critical infrastructure and its 3D technology, and establish an active user base.

Social Media 113

Social Media Platform Research Media 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2018

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype, and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market research data. Conduct your own customized market research. Modern libraries are still worth a visit.

Research 87

Research Marketing Statistics Report 87

socalTECH

JUNE 22, 2010

Encino-based uSamp , the online market research and sampling firm founded by former goZing founders Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin, said today that it has raised $10M in a Series C funding. The funding was led by OpenView Venture Partners. The firm says it now has over 90 employees and operations not only here in California, but also in India.

Sample 133

Sample Encino Social Media Platform 133

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2014

You can have the best technology, but if customers don’t know you exist, or they don’t know how your technology solves a real problem for them, your startup will fail. Yet I see many technology entrepreneurs that focus on the basics of marketing too little and too late. Don’t dumb it down for social media.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Tips Marketing Entrepreneur 103

SoCal CTO

MARCH 12, 2007

I had to laugh when an analyst with Forrester said in the article - As impressive as these results may be, myShape’s approach will probably fail to gain a mass audience unless the company can somehow simplify the measuring process, said Sucharita Mulpuru, an analyst with Forrester Research.

MyShape 150

MyShape CTO Coach Southern California CTO Hire 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2023

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. Startups succeed most often when the founding partners know how to build and run a business, rather than how to build and run technology.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Technology High Tech Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2020

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. Startups succeed most often when the founding partners know how to build and run a business, rather than how to build and run technology.

Competition 174

Competition High Tech Startup Social Media 174

socalTECH

MAY 18, 2011

Earlier this month, Los Angeles-based MySocialNightLife.com (www.mysocialnightlife.com) announced a seed funding round, and its technology platform for the nightclub and bar industry. In addition, we though we'd connect this to social media, as a forward-facing view for customers. What is MySocialNightLife all about?

Social Media 174

Social Media Seed Funding Startup Design 174

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2020

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype, and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market research data. Conduct your own customized market research. Modern libraries are still worth a visit.

Marketing 157

Marketing Statistics Research Report 157

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2017

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly require an investment to be hard hitting – in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 58

Social Media Media Platform Tool 58

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2014

It turns out, nowadays, creating the content is only a small part of your job description The most successful YouTubers, studios, brands and agencies today are intensely focused on using social media to engage with fans, get that content out there, and grow their audience.

Downey 215

Downey Content Help Startup 215

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 15, 2016

Friday, June 17, 2016 -- The 15th Annual Conference of the North American Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics: Human Language Technologies. See [link] (more)

Artificial Inteligence 100

Artificial Inteligence Conference Social Media Knowledge Base 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 15, 2016

Thursday, June 16, 2016 -- The 15th Annual Conference of the North American Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics: Human Language Technologies. See [link] (more)

Artificial Inteligence 100

Artificial Inteligence Conference Social Media Knowledge Base 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 15, 2016

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 -- The 15th Annual Conference of the North American Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics: Human Language Technologies. See [link] (more)

Artificial Inteligence 100

Artificial Inteligence Conference Social Media Knowledge Base 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 29, 2009

Most notably you need to understand Earned Media and how blogging, public speaking and social media play an important role in the new PR landscape. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Raising Venture Capital Startup Advice startup technology vc. In your VC pitch your PR page should take no longer than 30 seconds – Wait.

Venture Capital 291

Venture Capital Press News Startup 291

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. Startups succeed most often when the founding partners know how to build and run a business, rather than how to build and run technology.

Technology 87

Technology High Tech Startup Social Media 87

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2022

You can have the best technology, but if customers don’t know you exist, or they don’t know how your technology solves a real problem for them, your startup will fail. Yet I see many technology entrepreneurs that focus on the basics of marketing too little and too late. Don’t dumb it down for social media.

Marketing 141

Marketing Startup Social Media Technical Review 141

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2020

Customer expectations of a relationship and personalization are stretching every business today, and pervasive use and confidence in social media by customers can override all your image building and marketing messages. Use new technology to personalize and expedite. Pursue a customer-centric strategy in everything you do.

Customer 133

Customer Custom Social Media Startup 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2020

Even the best technology can’t read your mind, which is why a simple Google search often gives frustrating and irrelevant results, and online advertisers bombard you with opportunities of no interest. They neither frequently use nor derive much satisfaction from social media, and would be classified at late adopters of new technology.

Social Media 131

Social Media Startup Tool Google 131

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2023

Many entrepreneurs are so enamored with their product vision that they believe their own hype and are convinced that the market for their solution is so huge that no one will ask them for independent market research data. Conduct your own customized market research. Modern libraries are still worth a visit.

Statistics 120

Statistics Research Report Newsletter 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2022

New technologies and the power of the Internet can change things almost overnight, so do your homework from scratch on every initiative. As an angel investor, I expected startups to have a passion for their solution, but also to have done the market research and customer validation to size the real opportunity.

Entrepreneur 144

Entrepreneur Artificial Inteligence Social Media Commerce 144