socalTECH

MAY 11, 2010

We do deep research on every single product we advocate for, using the criteria and condition that they create a healthy child and a healthy world. Between 1991 and 1995, I was in enterprise software and computer distribution. After I sold that business, I would call up those VCs, and ask them what industries I ought to be looking at.

Software Review 200

Software Review Commerce Startup Sites 200

socalTECH

OCTOBER 28, 2010

Not too many people are aware of the success and story of Lynda.com (www.lynda.com), started by Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin , and how the firm's now grown to a double-digit, multimillion dollar business which is known as THE source for online training on such things as web design, graphics software, animation, video editing, and much more.

Startup 242

Startup Web Design Writing Web 242

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Huge thank you to Steve De Long for the write up. A deep dive into the Foundry Group investment philosophy including an interesting discussion of their investing Themes. “… our lens is: Internet Software Companies anywhere in the U.S. If you are outside internet software we are not going to invest. Is that when it became big?

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 19, 2012

The industry had seen unprecedented growth in the past decade due to a combination of factors, one of which was the United States’ economic recession. Due to the combination of these factors, marketers began to more heavily fund digital platforms. As the combination of the three provide the ultimate benefit.

Mobile 85

Mobile Software Review Statistics Technical Review 85

socalTECH

MAY 18, 2010

As of the last four months, we've had about 200,000 plus downloads, a bunch of great write ups, and a lot of mom bloggers who have been reviewing the app and writing stories on it. How did you end up in the mobile market from last running an enterprise software firm? What's special about the application?

Mobile 168

Mobile .Net Pasadena Software Review 168

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2010

Writing down your weight from your scale is obviously a manual process and it’s tedious. My favorite new software tool is DailyBurn. Problem is – Weight Watchers software TOTALLY SUCKS. Their first batch of shipping is due out in the next few weeks. We’ll see. Enter Withings. No keying in required.

Technical Review 278

Technical Review Software Review Startup SoCal 278

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

I was happy to see a real focus on preparing for tomorrow highlighted in a new book, “ Start a Successful Business ,” by Colleen DeBaise, who has made a career of studying and writing about entrepreneur challenges. Regularly follow reviews and influencers in your industry.

Customer 57

Customer Custom Technical Review Software Review 57

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 15, 2016

When you raise larger rounds there is more “due diligence,” which includes: calling customers, looking at financial metrics, doing cohort analysis (looking for trends like changes in churn rates), evaluating competitor positioning and understanding more of the competency of your executive team.

Startup 150

Startup Capital Funding Invest 150

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

There’s one attribute (coming soon) that I need to have in order to write a check but I don’t believe is vital for success. In no time after they had researched their market they were up with pilots with local TV stations in 3 key DMAs. And the progress since my first product review is also great. Another example.

Entrepreneur 267

Entrepreneur Startup SaaS San Diego 267

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 2, 2010

I’m writing this series because if you better understand how VC firms work you can better target which firms make sense for you to speak with. I’m writing this post to explain to entrepreneurs what you should be thinking about in terms of the VC’s you approach and the size and stage of their funds.

Venture Capital 269

Venture Capital Funding Invest GRP Partners 269

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

I’m a software guy so I’m sure there are cases where building isn’t feasible. Go research it. The key to getting money is that the people writing the check trust you. The pure delays due to admin if I would have had 3-4 pig farmers would have killed me. But for most businesses it is.

Angel 291

Angel Funding Venture Capital Startup 291

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 23, 2012

If you forget everything else I write about creating an app, remember this: every app needs a hook. Your research through apps will compile a large list of competitors. You should cull this list to the best of the best, those that have a large number of high ratings and gushing reviews. The Hook Brings You back.

Marketing 84

Marketing Software Review Tips Competition 84

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

It says that selling an airplane ticket for $500 and getting paid a $5 fees by the airlines (1% gross margin) is not the same thing as selling $500 of software that you built (>90% gross margin). The questions that a VC mulls before writing a check are precisely the questions you should be asking yourself. Market Size.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

I write this post as a warning to pick your VC’s carefully. Many years ago I worked at Andersen Consulting, originally developing software for large corporations and then as a strategy consultant. I personally ruled out Pakistan due to the perception that our staff would feel less safe there. Let me explain.

Venture Capital 297

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur 297

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 29, 2009

Wordpress), video (YouTube), pictures (Flickr), review sites (Yelp) and collaborative content (Wikipedia). Because they wouldn’t have the enormous amounts of profits that they’ve been able to sink back into research & development. Also, lost of people leaving comments on websites and having a dialog with other users.

Ideas 286

Ideas Advertising Google Technical Review 286

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

aka: An Open Letter to the Next Big Social Network) - 500 Hats , November 1, 2010 I've held off writing this post for a long time, because I couldn't quite get my head around all the issues. The United States is now a debtor nation to China and that the bill is about to come due. But I didn’t write it for you; I wrote it for myself.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 22, 2010

Journalists don’t know enough about your company before the show, don’t have time for proper research, and you will be competing for their time afterward with 49+ other companies that want them to write about you. - Do not equate that with them giving you glowing reviews – you have to earn that.

Tips 307

Tips Startup Press Blogging 307

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 12, 2018

Many people will write the history on why Ring became an enormously successful company and why it became a real-world unicorn in a world when many startups are anointed that merely on paper. It is an LA-based company that was recently acquired by Amazon, which you can read more about in this incredibly well-researched article.

Startup 247

Startup Pricing Product Marketing 247

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 28, 2011

I’ll write that post one day – it is a very interesting story. Researchers at MIT and Carnegie Mellon found that groups have a high collective intelligence when members of a group are good at reading each others’ emotions — when they take turns speaking, when the inputs from each member are managed fluidly.

CTO Hire 363

CTO Hire Technical Review Startup Demand 363

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 7, 2011

Sometime around 2003/04 my technology team turned me on to “Spolsky on Software&# a periodic newsletter served up blog style from Joel Spolsky of FogCreek Software, a maker of bug-tracking software. Blogs weren’t popularized yet so it was an oddity for me to read the founder of a software company spewing out advice.

Software Review 285

Software Review Software Blogging Startup 285