SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

I received a great question via LinkedIn: I'm the founding engineer and working hard to launch my startup. What can I do to best equip myself to step up when the need to officially fill this role arises? I've previously addressed the role of a CTO in early-stages in my post Startup CTO or Developer. A skills gap will emerge.

CTO Coach 231

CTO Coach CTO Hire Outsource Development Develop 231

InfoChachkie

APRIL 25, 2011

As I noted in Why Most Business Books (Still) Suck , I am generally not a fan of business books. If you are a leader at a startup and you are reading a business book, you are not closing customers, raising capital, improving your product, or spending time with your loved ones. Ask For Mentoring. No doubt, he did.

Technical Review 279

Technical Review Blogging Class Entrepreneur 279

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 2, 2011

Several people have been asking me to weigh in publicly on the “20 under 20″ initiative announced by Peter Thiel in which he will award up to $100,000 to 20 people under the age of 20 who agree immediately to pursue entrepreneurship (the implication of which is that they’d drop out of university to do so).

Education 322

Education Startup Incubator Class 322

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2014

I will soon announce a few fundings (not yet closed, sorry) and I’m beginning to help them think about how to ramp up their engineering teams. But they must all start somewhere. Let’s say your a junior developer, marketer, product manager, biz dev person at a startup or well-established technology company.

Networking 366

Networking Startup CTO Coach Email 366

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 20, 2013

I have a saying that I employ as a powerful metaphor at every startup with whom I work – “beware of shiny new objects.” Yet sadly most startups have “shiny object” obsessions. Or as Michael Lewis aptly called in this great book, “ The New, New Thing “ Pinterest is killing it with their new UI.

Course 368

Course Resource Social Media Design 368

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

According to a recent Forbes article , UC Santa Barbara''s Technology Management Program offers students a superior startup education over the University of Pennsylvania (home of Wharton), as well Harvard, Northwestern and even its acclaimed southern neighbor, the University of Southern California. Techpreneurs. Share and Enjoy.

Santa Barbara 258

Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

This is part of my series on Startup Advice. I love working with Aussies because their outlook on life seems very similar to what I grew up with in California. I recommend starting the meeting with a VERY brief introduction of your company, your background and why it’s relevant to the job you currently have.

Sales 314

Sales Startup Venture Capital Custom 314

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2022

Every entrepreneur can learn from a mentor, no matter how confident or successful they have been to date. Yet most entrepreneurs simply don’t know how to work with a mentor. Some of the best mentoring relationships don’t involve monetary compensation, but none are free. Agree on specific objectives and time frames.

Mentor 101

Mentor Develop Development Startup 101

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 21, 2014

Startups are hard. You join teams that got good write-ups on TechCrunch, have great VCs, have star CEO’s, whatever. We tell startup stories. Our founder, Yves Sisteron, was my mentor and board member at my first startup. You’ve heard that a million times. Those that we survive with become family.

CTO Hire 320

CTO Hire Startup CTO Coach Venture Capital 320

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

As the school year kicks off for college students, one of the big tasks of the year is buying books for their courses. One startup, SwoopThat (www.swoopthat.com)--started by a recent college grad Jonathan Simkin --has made it much easier to buy books for student, by pulling up books based on a student's schedule.

UCSD 185

UCSD Course Startup Sites 185

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

He had an idea for a startup that would help consumers better book service jobs and would take on Service Magic, which he believed had a business model that could be disrupted. I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. In the same year they won Business Insider’s Startup competition. Nice sweep!

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

I should note that my friend Brad Feld has written a new book on the subject that I would recommend if you want the bible on the topic. I admit that I haven’t yet read it but I’ve had numerous discussions with Brad over the years about board structure & conduct and consider him a mentor on the topic. In the Early Days.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

Let me start with the obvious baseline that most people probably know instinctively: Los Angeles is the 3rd largest technology startup ecosystem in the US. Given how efficient markets are when a large market like LA starts to blossom it attracts capital pretty quickly. LA By The Numbers. But even this is changing.

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

socalTECH

DECEMBER 17, 2013

Los Angeles-based Laudville , a startup developing an online platform to help users share entertainment like movies, books, TV, and music with friends, has added Gene Chuang to its board of advisors, according to the firm. Chuang is also a mentor at Muckerlab. Search Marketing, YP.com/AT&T Interactive and Chegg. READ MORE>>.

Oversee.net 190

Oversee.net Chief Technology Officer Entertainment Yahoo 190

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2022

Perhaps sparked by the recent pandemic, I’m seeing a new era of the entrepreneur, with startups springing up all around. Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. Problems will occur in every startup, simply because you are stepping into uncharted territory.

Startup 135

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review 135

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

There has long been a big debate about the best approach to starting a new business. Some argue the only way to start is to drop everything and jump in with both feet, while others recommend an overlapped approach to the lifestyle, including not quitting your day job until you have revenue and a proven business model.

Startup 128

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction News 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2020

Entrepreneurs inherently understand that they have to be the initial leader of their startup, but often they don’t have the experience or the training to know where their leadership competencies lie, or how to build a leadership team. They are excellent mentors and coaches, but have a strong need to be admired and respected in return.

Startup 173

Startup Entertainment Entrepreneur Coach 173

InfoChachkie

JULY 7, 2011

Make Mistakes On Someone Else’s Dime – My students are sometimes surprised that I advise them to first work in an industry in which they have an interest, rather than starting a company right out of school. This tactic is especially relevant at a startup, where everyone must wear multiple hats. ", not “How much will I earn?”

Entrepreneur 256

Entrepreneur Startup Santa Barbara Tips 256

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 26, 2020

The Los Angeles startup community is joining the rest of the world in mourning the death of NBA superstar, entrepreneur and investor Kobe Bryant who was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif., “He not only played at the peak of his sport but everything he did was quality from film, to books to philanthropy.

Venture Capital 359

Venture Capital Los Angeles Legalzoom Calabasas 359

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2019

Every entrepreneur can learn from a mentor, no matter how confident or successful they have been to date. Yet most entrepreneurs simply don’t know how to work with a mentor. Some of the best mentoring relationships don’t involve monetary compensation, but none are free. Agree on specific objectives and time frames.

Mentor 85

Mentor Startup Summary Satisfaction 85

socalTECH

AUGUST 23, 2013

I have a saying that I employ as a powerful metaphor at every startup with whom I work - "beware of shiny new objects.". Yet sadly most startups have "shiny object" obsessions. Or as Michael Lewis aptly called in this great book, " The New, New Thing " (continued.). insights opinions mark suster startup advice'

Social Media 187

Social Media Mentor Writing Blogging 187

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2023

Over my many years of mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs and business professionals, I often hear a desire to start a new business, with a big hesitation while waiting for that perfect idea and perfect alignment of the stars. Start today building a bigger network. Success requires a great amount of hard work.

Technical Review 149

Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur Software Review 149

socalTECH

APRIL 10, 2012

One of the most original, subscription startups to come out of Southern California's tech accelerator boom emerged last week, looking to disrupt not just another retail sector or e-commerce category, but something else entirely: the airline industry. How did this all start? The startup incubator actually found us. government.

Startup 240

Startup Mentor Technical Review Santa Barbara 240

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2021

The last thing they can afford is to waste any of these, but in my mentoring and coaching activities, I see it happening all too often. Waste in a startup is any activity that burns resources, but creates no value or competitive advantage in the eyes of customers. In the startup world, this is often seen as a lack of focus.

Startup 161

Startup Resource Training Entrepreneur 161

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2020

Almost every entrepreneur starts their journey by developing a solution, based on their idea of a new technology or required service. One answer is for the developer to find a partner, like Steve Jobs, who is a leader to build and run the business, and two heads in a startup are almost always better than one.

Startup 124

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Summary 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2022

You have to be extra tough mentally to start a new business venture. I learned some good lessons along these lines from the classic book “ The Way of the SEAL ,” by Mark Divine. I learned some good lessons along these lines from the classic book “ The Way of the SEAL ,” by Mark Divine. Are you up to the challenge?

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Mentor Training 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2021

Ironically, as a startup investor and mentor, I have seen too many failures caused by just the opposite – too much money spent too soon, taking time to get product perfection, and assuming customers will wait. How many times have you actually made up work to keep an idle person busy? Rethink or reframe the challenge.

Startup 164

Startup Resource Entrepreneur Competition 164

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 6, 2013

.” The local kennels were full as many people had pre-booked for vacations. She started watching dogs in her spare time through DogVacay and was able make ends meet during a tough period. I typed in my brothers zip code and ton of houses popped up in his area and I was able to search out on a map view. ” Booked it.

Venture Capital 344

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review San Diego 344

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2021

The challenge is to retain the same sense of urgency, energy, commitment, and readiness in a mature company that you felt during the startup stage. The importance and reality of this need has been detailed well in the classic book, “ State of Readiness ,” by Joseph F. Set-up for success and don’t set-up for failure.

Tips 170

Tips Startup Mentor Press 170

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2020

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I often feel the frustration of someone trying to build a startup in the wrong place and time, and wrongly attributing their struggle to personal limitations. I saw these addressed well in a new book, “ The Startup Community Way ,” by Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway.

Resource 131

Resource Startup Capital Mentor 131

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

One of the biggest myths I have found in the entrepreneur community is that every startup needs one or more outside investors for credibility and success, and perhaps is even entitled to at least one. Draw up a list of the best prospects, and put together your best story for follow-up. But don’t wait for them to contact you.

Funding 173

Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

InfoChachkie

MARCH 10, 2014

Mr. Brown''s aphorisms eventually evolve into twenty one books, including four New York Times bestsellers. With Life''s Little Instruction Book , Mr. Brown became the first author to simultaneously hold the number one positions on both of the NYT''s hardback and paperback lists. Never give up when you truly believe. Love deeply.

Competition 274

Competition Mentor Entrepreneur Startup 274

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2021

Although many won’t admit it, true entrepreneurs can’t wait to exit their current startup, and build a new and better one with their next great idea. For these reasons, I always look for an overt exit strategy in every startup I might consider for an angel investment. Set your startup health gauges and use them.

Startup 173

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 173

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2022

In my consulting work, when I ask team members in startups and small businesses how they know whether they are doing a good job, the typical response I get is “Nobody has yelled at me today,” or “No news is good news.” I can relate to this and other insights in his new book, “ Simple Truths of Leadership ,” with co-author Randy Conley.

Startup 133

Startup Mentor News Coach 133

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2020

If you are seriously looking to start the next billion-dollar startup, you need to get beyond the realm of enhancing a current solution. Rather than starting from a mindset of pushing the limits of technology, be determined to first find a customer need that can only be solved by the technology you know.

Startup 134

Startup Artificial Inteligence Ideas Entrepreneur 134

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

One of the most stressful and unanticipated challenges that comes with starting a new business is hiring and managing employees. I just finished a new book for entrepreneurs, “ Secrets to a Successful Startup ,” by Trevor Blake, which makes the same points, based on his own real-life experience with three successful startups.

Outsource 123

Outsource Startup Technical Review Training 123

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2021

I see the commonalities detailed well in the classic book, “ Extreme Teams ,” by Robert Bruce Shaw. The most effective teams are built from people with a strong sense of values and commitment, starting at the top of the company. Teams must openly deal with their own weaknesses and take action on underperformers. Marty Zwilling.

Class 155

Class Develop Development Startup 155