Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

When you first start your company and raise initial venture capital your board probably consists of 1-3 founders and 1-2 VCs. Most experienced VCs won’t push you to give up founder control at this stage of the business nor should they. In the Early Days.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 6, 2015

Everybody now knows that LA produced SnapChat, Tinder and Maker Studios. If you’re an investor considering putting dollars in the ground in LA, you can see that there is a tremendous opportunity both because of the growth of our markets and there are fewer VC funds here relative to the opportunity than anywhere else in the country.

Marketing 150

Marketing Newsletter Venture Capital Blogging 150

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 28, 2014

There’s Snapchat that uses photos and then instantly disappears after 10 seconds, and then there’s the up-comer, Emojli , that uses tiny cartoonish icons for engagement. Snap Away with Snapchat. Snapchat, founded by Bobby Murphy and Evan Spiegel, boasts of its massive following among kids and teenagers.

Snapchat 82

Snapchat Social Media Social Network Media 82

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 16, 2013

Venture Capital: Upfront Ventures. Previously known as GRP Partners, Upfront Ventures has focused on early stage investments since 1996. Fun Fact: One of the most prominent figures from their firm, Mark Suster t, runs a blog startups follow religiously. Social Media: Snapchat. Social Enterprise: Hub LA.

Startup 111

Startup Snapchat Venice Social Media 111

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

What is the True Sentiment of VCs? I recently survey more than 150 VC friends from all stages and geographies what they thought about the market by asking “Which of the following statements best describes your mood heading into 2016?” When I started blogging it was because I was inspired by Brad Feld.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Today Upfront Ventures is announcing that we’ve backed Rebecca Kantar ’s startup Imbellus , a company designed to assess human potential and ultimately change the way we teach children. We led a $4 million investment along with Thrive Capital, GLG and Sound Ventures. So Why Imbellus?

Design 150

Design Ideas Startup Writing 150

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 18, 2015

I rarely talk to any startup entrepreneur or VC who doesn’t feel it and somehow long for simpler times despite the benefits we all enjoy from increased enthusiasm for our sector. We are experiencing a frenetic time. For entrepreneurs there’s too much money sloshing around. Year in, year out.

Software Review 150

Software Review Startup Venture Capital Invest 150

Xconomy

JANUARY 29, 2019

Equidate, one of the trading platforms that help employees sell their shares in pre-IPO unicorn companies, rolled out a new name today and announced a $35 million expansion of its $50 million funding round publicized in July.

Venture Capital 58

Venture Capital Platform Capital Funding 58

Xconomy

JULY 14, 2016

Showing little concern for stock-market volatility or worries over the Brexit, venture capital firms pumped $15.3 billion into 961 deals across the United States during the three months that ended June 30, according to the MoneyTree Report on venture capital activity. billion invested in Venice, CA-based Snapchat.

Marina Del Rey 40

Marina Del Rey Invest Venture Capital San Diego 40

Xconomy

NOVEMBER 21, 2016

IPO activity at a sluggish pace—so sluggish, in fact, that this year could end with the fewest IPOs and the lowest level of capital raised since 2009, according to PitchBook data for the first nine months of 2016. Uncertainty surrounding this year’s presidential election has kept U.S.

Research 40

Research Activity Capital Funding 40

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 17, 2017

Our social graphs are locked in Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. Breakout companies become much harder and this isn’t likely to improve unless we give new companies the tools and capital they need to flourish. In many ways, it could even become a new tool for earlier shareholder liquidity including the exit of some VC money.

Course 280

Course Startup Framework Marketing 280

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2016

Thus begins Snapchat and why you don’t get it. Snapchat will be used for both like the Internet (and TV) are. I just need to break you of the idea that Snapchat is for one thing – it is not. But since Snapchat uses the frequency above your hearing range it’s nearly impossible to “get” without help.

Snapchat 150

Snapchat Screening Venture Capital Guide 150

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

And for the occasional person who Tweets or comments, “Mark, I follow you to hear about tech or venture capital — not politics. yes, I get those) … There is an unfollow button on Twitter and Facebook and Snapchat and this blog on Medium. This isn’t my work blog or my company blog or a venture capital blog.

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Blogging Course Venture Capital Media 267