socalTECH

MARCH 12, 2013

GRP Partners , the Los Angeles venture capital investment firm, said Tuesday morning that it has added former HauteLook CMO Greg Bettinelli as a Partner at the firm. Bettinelli was Chief Marketing Officer at HauteLook, having taken it form startup to its acquisition by Nordstrom for $270M.

GRP Partners 147

GRP Partners Venture Capital Los Angeles Acquisition 147

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2012

Today, we're featuring Mark Suster , a venture capitalist at GRP Partners , founder of LaunchpadLA , the startup accelerator, not to mention well read blogger and highly watched host of This Week In Venture Capital. The most significant news for GRP Partners in 2012 was the first close of our 4th venture fund.

GRP Partners 178

GRP Partners Southern California High Tech Venture Capital 178

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2013

Los Angeles-based venture capital investor GRP Partners announced this morning that it has raised a fourth fund, worth $200M, and also renamed the firm Upfront Ventures. GRP has been quite active in the local technology industry, having founded accelerator LaunchpadLA. READ MORE>>.

GRP Partners 164

GRP Partners Funding CitySearch Venture Capital 164

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2011

We have significant VC commitments (listed below) – every entering company will get $50,000 in funding, mentorship from top VCs and successful entrepreneurs plus free office space. To provide an opportunity for VCs and senior executives to engage with the community by giving back rather than just attending more cocktail parties.

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Venture Capital Funding Startup GRP Partners 287

socalTECH

DECEMBER 1, 2011

Los Angeles-based GRP Partners is one of the lead investors in a developer of social media analytics software, Awe.sm , Awe.sm has raised $4M in a round which was led by Foundry Group and GRP Partners, and which also included Neu Venture Capital and kps+p Ventures. said Thursday.

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GRP Partners Invest Social Media Venture Capital 140

socalTECH

JULY 19, 2011

Southern California companies raised $739M in venture capital in Q2 of 2011, according to the latest numbers from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) based on data from Thomson Reuters. According to the MoneyTree report, released last night, Orange County led fundraising, with $319.3M

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Southern California Venture Capital Orange County Rustic Canyon 167

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

Lots of discussion these days about the changes in the VC industry. The VC industry grew dramatically as a result of the Internet bubble - Before the Internet bubble the people who invested in VC funds (called LPs or Limited Partners) put about $50 billion into the industry and by 2001 this had grown precipitously to around $250 billion.

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Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding Rustic Canyon 311

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Los Angeles-based venture capital firm GRP Partners has just chalked up an IPO for its portfolio, with the IPO this morning of Redwood City-based Qualys. GRP Partners owns 8.3% GRP's investment in Qualys is overseen by Yves Sisteron. Qualys priced its IPO last night at $12.00 READ MORE>>.

GRP Partners 133

GRP Partners Pricing Venture Capital Los Angeles 133

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

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. I had to laugh a bit reading it.

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Startup Venture Capital Study Course 337

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 4, 2011

Mark Suster of GRP Partners has ranked number two on a list of "Most Respected Venture Capitalists". The rankings came out Thursday from Seeking Omega, which said it used technology from Lithium, review of entrepreneurs on TheFunded, and individual surveys to rank the VCs. READ MORE>>.

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Venture Capital GRP Partners Southern California Technical Review 145

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2010

Southern California venture capital investments totaled $686.5M in 29 venture capital deals for Q1. Tags: venture capital financing investment quarterly moneytree nvca. According to the report, released today, Southern California investments totaled $686.5M received in the region in Q1 of 2009.

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Southern California Orange County Invest GRP Partners 208

socalTECH

JULY 13, 2009

This morning's interview is with Mark Suster , a venture capitalist at GRP Partners (www.grpvc.com). GRP has just recently closed on a new $200M fund, and Mark has been one of the more active venture capitalists in the Los Angeles area in recent months. What's your thoughts on the local venture market?

GRP Partners 157

GRP Partners Southern California Santa Barbara Rustic Canyon 157

socalTECH

DECEMBER 22, 2010

Today, we spoke with Mark Suster , a venture capitalist at GRP Partners. We asked the same five questions of a variety of top technology entrepreneurs, investors, and others, to hear what they're thinking about, and are sharing it here over the next two weeks. Yesterday, we heard from Scott Painter of TrueCar.

GRP Partners 170

GRP Partners Southern California Technical Review High Tech 170

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

It is with great pleasure that I can finally announce that we have added Greg Bettinelli as a partner at GRP Partners. This is exactly the brand that GRP Partners wants to embody. When I think about what defines us as a VC I think: Operationally knowledgeable / strong startup competence. Community builders.

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Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

socalTECH

JANUARY 21, 2011

Mark Suster , a venture capitalist at GRP Partners , has made the top 10 in an annual ranking of venture capitalist bloggers, the only Southern California venture capitalist to make the listing.

Venture Capital 145

Venture Capital GRP Partners Southern California Blogging 145

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2010

Our guest this week on #TWiVC was Dana Settle , partner at Greycroft Partners , a venture capital firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Greycroft is an early-stage VC. Closing a VC fund in 2009/10 is a major achievement in and of itself. Go Boulder! Total Raised: $9.64mm.

Venture Capital 240

Venture Capital Startup Platform Technical Review 240

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 1, 2010

There has been much discussion about VCs doing seed funding in the past year. I’ve written about it myself (Is VC Seed Funding Dead?) and (Is There Really a Signaling Problem with VC Seed Funding?). There is a structural reason that VCs are investing at early stages, 2. Short summary of my posts: 1.

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Seed Funding Funding Venture Capital GRP Partners 298

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2013

If you’ve been following the press about VC funds you’ll know this is no small feat. 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. Our portfolio companies value us as sparring partners. What’s up with that?

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Funding Santa Monica Venture Capital Startup 343

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

He eventually applied his lessons learned in these experiences when he founded Zag, a company that helps consumers buy cars over the Internet at pre-negotiated prices with nearly 4,000 dealers across the country [disclosure: my firm GRP Partners is an investor in Zag]. led by Altos Ventures and Maverick Capital, with Larry Braitman.

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Zag Truecar Venture Capital CarsDirect 248

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 12, 2013

It’s why I talk about building VC relationships early – Lines, Not Dots. Fill your VC good will, build relationships, be helpful to them not just asking for things. Early in his days when he was raising capital for DocStoc he came to see me a lot. “I’ve never been a VC before. Be helpful.

Venture Capital 407

Venture Capital Press GRP Partners Blogging 407

socalTECH

JANUARY 17, 2013

The latest numbers from the PricewaterhouseCoopers/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree report were released today, finding that a total of $683.7M billion in venture capital. Karlin Ventures and Siemer Ventures both made five investments each. was invested across Southern California in Q4 of 2012.

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Southern California Orange County GRP Partners San Diego 237

socalTECH

OCTOBER 18, 2012

The latest numbers from the PricewaterhouseCoopers/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree report finds that companies here in Southern California raised $695.4M billion has been invested in the region via venture capital. Nationally, venture capitalists invested $6.5 was raised. Image courtesy Bigstock.

Southern California 210

Southern California GRP Partners Funding Orange County 210

socalTECH

JANUARY 22, 2010

The latest numbers from the MoneyTree Report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), based on data from Thomson Reuters, were released this morning, finding that there was $587.8M Tags: venture capital investment quarterly moneytree thomson reuters. was invested in the region.

Southern California 154

Southern California Venture Capital Invest Orange County 154

SoCal Tech Calendar

AUGUST 4, 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 -- LAVA's Annual VC Breakfast. Meet the top VCs who are investing in Southern California. Find out what does it take to secure Venture Capital for your company. Moderators: Stephen Hughes, Senior Relationship Manager, Silicon Valley Bank; Scott Alderton, Partner, Stubbs Alderton, and Markiles LLP.

LAVA 100

LAVA Venture Capital Palomar GRP Partners 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Los Angeles-based venture capital firm GRP Partners --which has been very active in the local technology startup market--has made its latest investment, in an interesting industry: mortgage lending. GRP is the lead investor in Skyline Financial , a Calabasas-based provider of mortgage banking and lending.

GRP Partners 160

GRP Partners Calabasas Venture Capital Invest 160

socalTECH

AUGUST 24, 2010

Bass & Associates and Allegis Capital participated in this funding round, and continue to have representatives on the firm's board; the firm has also raised funding in the past from GRP Partners, and Fort Washington Capital. Tags: emn8 venture capital kiosk retail. It appears that Sid R.

Allegis 174

Allegis GRP Partners San Diego Venture Capital 174

socalTECH

JANUARY 9, 2014

ChowNow has previously raised funding from Daher Capital, Double M Partners, GRP Partners, Karlin Ventures and Velos Partners, and was part of LaunchpadLA. chownow venture capital food ordering launchpadla mobile tablet' Details on the funding have not yet been announced by the company.

GRP Partners 170

GRP Partners Venture Capital Mobile Los Angeles 170

socalTECH

JUNE 11, 2013

ChowNow is venture backed by Daher Capital, Double M Partners, GRP Partners, Karlin Ventures and Velos Partners. chownow venture capital mobile restaurant ordering solomo food facebook' The round is targeted at $2M. Chownow lets users order food via their mobile phone or Facebook.

GRP Partners 174

GRP Partners Incubator Mobile Venture Capital 174

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2012

The latest numbers from the PricewaterhouseCoopers/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree report finds that companies here in Southern California raised $695.4M billion has been invested in the region via venture capital. Nationally, venture capitalists invested $6.5 was raised. Image courtesy Bigstock.

Southern California 180

Southern California GRP Partners Funding Orange County 180

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 3, 2011

But last week I noticed a blog post by a woman, Tara Tiger Brown, that asked the question, “ Why Aren’t More Women Commenting on VC Blog Posts? She has a quote from literally every major VC from whom you’d want to hear. ” [it's short, you should read it]. Please watch this. Every single one.

Entrepreneur 341

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup Blogging 341

socalTECH

JUNE 4, 2010

Los Angeles-based Burstly , the mobile ad management firm run by Evan Rifkin, said this week that it has added SoftBank Capital and Founder Collective to its Series A funding round. investment from Rincon Venture Partners and GRP Partners. Tags: burstly softbank mobile advertising venture capital.

GRP Partners 169

GRP Partners Venture Capital Mobile Advertising 169

SoCal CTO

MAY 17, 2011

Venture Capital As long as I'm pulling this together, here are some venture capital firms in Los Angeles that can help get you wired in. I'd also recommend you subscribe to So Cal Tech Central. It brings together events and content for Los Angeles.

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Los Angeles Southern California Startup Angel 196

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

Draw Your Ideas - A VC : Venture Capital and Technology , May 16, 2010 I saw Jack Dorsey give this talk at The 99% Conference last month. When I’m on a VC panel, I’m always amused by the answers from my co-panelists as they are usually the same set of “VC cliches” which makes it even more fun when I blurt out my answer.

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Startup Venture Capital Conference Social Media 248

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Santa Monica-based venture capital firm Clearstone Venture Partners currently tops the list for the best performing fund within CalPERS private equity funds, according to recently released figures from CalPERS. Tags: clearstone calpers venture capital fund performance. READ MORE>>.

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Clearstone Funding Palomar GRP Partners 164

socalTECH

MAY 24, 2013

more in funding, from GRP Partners and Siemer Ventures. adly celebrity advertising partners venture capital social media twitter' Los Angeles-based celebrity advertising firm Ad.ly disclosed Thursday that it has raised $2.0M helps match up celebrities with social media advertisers. READ MORE>>.

GRP Partners 159

GRP Partners Social Media Advertising Venture Capital 159

socalTECH

MAY 29, 2013

Los Angeles-based social, celebrity advertising startup Adly confirmed the company''s recent $2M funding round today, officially announcing the funding from GRP Partners and Siemer Ventures. adly venture capital funding social celebrity advertising' The firm disclosed the funding last week. READ MORE>>.

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Funding GRP Partners Social Media Advertising 170

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 5, 2010

Having street smarts with no inspirational ability to build teams can yield a great small business but will be difficult to scale into a large VC-backed business. So we as VCs search for entrepreneurs/founders who have the whole package or as much of it as possible. In the book they profile how VC worked in the early days (60s / 70s).

Entrepreneur 293

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital CTO Hire 293