Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2013

Perhaps the biggest piece of new news is that after 17 years of operations we’ve changed our name from GRP Partners to Upfront Ventures. Wouldn’t we be a bit hypocritical if we talked with entrepreneurs about innovation and change but we weren’t willing to take it on ourselves? What’s up with that?

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Funding Santa Monica Venture Capital Startup 343

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 20, 2010

Noted entrepreneurial blogger and respected Venture Capitalist, Mark Suster , who is also a Partner at GRP Partners, recently published a great post related to influence and persuasion, which is excerpted below: ———————————————-.

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Southern California GRP Partners Blogging SoCal 113

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2013

Brunson’s short and to-the-point blog post, “ It’s Called Networking, Not Using.” One of the most common questions I hear from first-time entrepreneurs is, “How do I meet angels?” It’s why I wrote the blog post on 50 Coffee Meetings. ” There is such an obvious solution.

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Venture Capital Press GRP Partners Blogging 407

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2013

However, one, longtime local fund-- GRP Partners --appears to have found the right formula for venture success, and has just raised a brand new, $200 million fund. Being so open, when entrepreneurs think about capital, we want to be top of mind. Tell us about the new fund? Mark Suster: It''s a $200M fund.

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Funding Venture Capital Los Angeles Social Media 196

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Now, I’m pretty on the record that being an entrepreneur is about being great at The Do. I had one of the biggest mental breakthroughs about what I want to do differently at GRP Partners in 2013. The number of times I’ve had people come to me and say they want to blog more. Startups Are for Doers.

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Venture Capital Conference Ideas Entrepreneur 400

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 24, 2012

I wrote a blog post on how to work with lawyers at a startup nearly two-and-a-half years ago. This was 2005 when I had no exits under my belt, no blogs … nobody was looking. For starters, David had once been an entrepreneur himself so it seemed like such a natural fit. It was very widely read. Startup-focused.

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Venture Capital Startup Los Angeles GRP Partners 299

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 1, 2010

Many (Union Square Ventures, Foundry Group, True Ventures, GRP Partners, Mike Hirshland at Polaris Ventures) do it the right way – we treat it as a normal investment and we don’t have a “options&# strategy with our investment. Many firms do it in a way that can be more detrimental to entrepreneurs.

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Seed Funding Funding Venture Capital GRP Partners 298

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2013

I’m very excited to be finally be able to announce that this week we’ve added Sam Rosen to our ranks at GRP Partners in the role of entrepreneurs-in-residence – EIR. I became aware of Sam several years ago as I started noticing his name repeated in the comments section of my blog. Jordan Hudson.

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Startup Course Ideas Invest 372

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2010

I’m going to save that for a future blog post. Entrepreneurs always walk away with new relationships, knowledge, deal discussions and enthusiasm. And it’s his mantra for successful entrepreneurs, “you need to be extremely focused on the details.” My action item – I will soon announce the GRP Partners CEO Summit.

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Startup Venture Capital Tips Custom Development 279

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2010

Since I answer this all the time anyway I thought it might make an interesting blog post. I get paid (well) for interesting people to come in and tell me how they want to change the world – Being an entrepreneur is like having blinders on. At least for the best entrepreneurs. That’s true. Here’s why: 1.

Venture Capital 312

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur 312

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

Kathy Sierra at Business of Software 2009 - Business of Software Blog , May 4, 2010 "In the old days, getting customers was easy. Why Entrepreneurs Hate Lawyers. In many of them I get asked similar questions, including the inevitable “what makes a great entrepreneur?” You could just outspend. You Can’t Sign This Deal.

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Startup Venture Capital Conference Social Media 248

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 21, 2014

I started working with David when I was an entrepreneur and he was an associate with a VC firmed called … wait for it … GRP Partners (now Upfront Ventures)! David is also frequently an inspiration for a story on my blog. I liked David so much I eventually persuaded him to join BuildOnline as our CFO.

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CTO Hire Startup CTO Coach Venture Capital 320

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2010

I recently wrote a blog post on understanding how the size and age of a venture capital fund might affect you when you’re raising money. I know many super experienced entrepreneurs who don’t understand the basics of how fund size and age can affect them so I thought it was worth establishing a baseline. Let me explain: 1.

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Venture Capital Seed Funding Pricing Invest 265

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

I’m an entrepreneur at heart so I’m always inspired when I hear stories about innovation. It’s why my investment philosophy is called, “ the entrepreneur thesis.&#. I know it’s not single-handed as he has both fantastic partners at Foundry Group and many other community leaders. Of course I have.

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Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Press 317

SoCal Delicious

AUGUST 23, 2010

Mark Suster – GRP Partners Mark joined GRP Partners in 2007 after having worked with GRP for nearly 8 years as a two-time entrepreneur. He blogs here and tweets here. a network of widely read blogs including Engadget – ranked # 1 by Technorati, Joystiq, Autoblog, and Blogging Baby.

Guide 42

Guide Startup Mahalo GRP Partners 42

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

I was reading Chris Dixon’s blog tonight. I came across this blog post about getting a computer science degree as the best degree for getting into venture capital or working at a VC-backed start up. I just completed an exercise where I went out to hire a new associate for my VC firm, GRP Partners.

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Startup Venture Capital Study Course 337

SoCal Delicious

MARCH 1, 2010

Mark Suster, a partner at GRP Partners in Los Angeles, spoke with Fastcompany.com about what makes L.A.s before which is second-time entrepreneurs. of Internet entrepreneurs following up on the successes of the first generation (Overture, etc.). startup scene so hot. What makes L.A. a great place for startups?

Los Angeles 50

Los Angeles Company Companies Angel 50

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 1, 2010

I call it the entrepreneur thesis. I’m not talk about the age old debate amongst investors whether you back entrepreneurs, markets or products (or as people like to hedge – product / market fit). It’s entrepreneurs I back. It’s what I call the “entrepreneur thesis.” So what is the “entrepreneur thesis?”

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Entrepreneur GRP Partners Venture Capital Invest 321

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 28, 2012

Panels were based at hubs including Leadership, Branding / Advertising, Social Media, Entrepreneurs, Community and more. RT @OEInnovation #SBF why I live in #LA: intersection of #beach #tech #entrepreneur #entertainment. & Abbot Kinney Venice Blog: The New West Coast Digital & Creative Hubs: Venice and Santa Monica.

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Hollywood Technical Review Startup Rustic Canyon 67

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 6, 2012

And ff Venture Capital cleverly has created a blog where their portofolio companies contribute. It seems obvious enough – have a centralized place for ideas which can drive more viewership than only blogging on each startups own website. Don’t be surprised if you see me bagsie that idea for GRP Partners.

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Cornerstone OnDemand Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup 303

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2011

Today I’m announcing that GRP Partners is doubling down on the Twitter ecosystem by investing in DataSift , a company who provides a real-time data platform and tools to third-party developers and corporations. Read this story that is typical of many entrepreneurs with whom I talk. In fact, they seem intentionally opaque.

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Platform News Startup Invest 307