InfoChachkie

APRIL 21, 2011

Part I of this series describes the 360-review that I conducted at a growing, dynamic SaaS business which has recently graduated from the startup stage and entered the early-growth phase. One of the most compelling conclusions I drew from the reviews is that both Founders need delegate more of their day-to-day tasks. Competency.

Technical Review 182

Technical Review Software Review Startup Outsource 182

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 1, 2014

The second is that the retailers were constrained by their high costs of local real estate and service staff relative to the costs of centralized warehouses where goods could be stacked high, sorted by robots, managed by RFIDs and then shipped via overnight to eager, cost-conscious customers across the US. 10x the experience.

Technical Review 380

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire Startup 380

socalTECH

MARCH 29, 2011

Torrance-based LiveOffice , the developer of cloud-based email archiving, compliance, discovery, and backup services, reported this morning that it has rolled out a new feature for message review by customers.

Software Review 124

Software Review Torrance Email Organization 124

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2014

Los Angeles-based Shotgun Software , a developer of cloud-based production tracking, review, and asset management software for the film, television and games industries, has been acquired by Autodesk , the two said Wednesday. Autodesk said it will help the company accelerate solutions to its creative customers.

Software Review 147

Software Review Software Hollywood Acquisition 147

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 3, 2013

A “deal room” is an electronic or physical space dedicated to storing the massive amounts of data to be used in due diligence by a buyer, lender or by an investor. Deal rooms contain access to or copies of all significant contracts with suppliers, customers, consultants, and others. Email readers, continue here.]

Software Review 191

Software Review Patents Startup Email 191

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 19, 2013

The era of VCs investing in successful consumer Internet startups such as eBay led to a belief system that seemed to permeate many enterprise software startups that hiring sales or implementation people was a bad thing. We only want software revenue.” How do you get referenceable customers? I believe it’s flawed.

Startup 403

Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

The second bullet, getting feedback from customers is most often not valid either. Even with these, you will have paper-tested your MVP, but the reality is that customers will not be able to assess the value to them until they actually use it. Review the code being built. To prove/disprove a hypothesis.

Technical Review 338

Technical Review CTO Hire CTO Coach Software Review 338

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2014

Agoura Hills-based TouchCommerce , which helps provide brands with online software and services for helping better connect with their customers and potential customers, said today that it is planning growth and hiring at a new headquarters in Agoura Hills. touchcommerce hiring jobs employment agoura software'

Agoura 185

Agoura Agoura Hills Software Review Commerce 185

Berkonomics

AUGUST 27, 2020

A “deal room” is a cloud-based or physical space dedicated to storing the massive amounts of data to be used in due diligence by a buyer, lender or by an investor. Data rooms contain access to or copies of all significant contracts with suppliers, customers, consultants, and others. Your data room and its contents.

Software Review 156

Software Review Startup Patents Email 156

TechEmpower

MARCH 4, 2024

Key Functions with High Impact Generative AI is revolutionizing sales by enabling dynamic pricing and personalized customer interactions, boosting conversion rates and customer satisfaction. Post-sale, AI analyzes customer data to improve service and loyalty, making it a cornerstone of modern sales methodologies.

Generative AI 297

Generative AI TechEmpower CTO Hire Outsource Development 297

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Work on budgets, submit RFPs, answer customers support calls, work the bug-tracking software, and trying to meet the next sprint release schedule. Your 2am coding session is more important than their 2am cocktails on the redeye back from Japan where they have no customers. Sell stuff. Your 8-year-old Toyota is just fine.

Conference 398

Conference Technical Review Truecar Software Review 398

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Los Angeles-based CapLinked , the developer of software for helping companies to raise capital which is headed by Eric M. Companies use CapLinked to help manage the fundraising process in angel, venture capital, and other fundraising efforts. According to CapLinked, the PRO accounts start at $39 per month.

Software Review 140

Software Review Startup Venture Capital Los Angeles 140

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Woodland Hills-based Gumiyo , the mobile publishing software firm led by Shuki Lehavi, reported this week that it saw a surge in mobile traffic due to Hurricane Irene. Gumiyo develops software which helps publishers create mobile apps. The firm said it saw the biggest traffic on August 28th.

Woodland Hills 174

Woodland Hills Software Review Mobile Venture Capital 174

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2017

In the early days this is expensive because the logistics & warehouses are amortized over a small customer base but with scale this infrastructure and the technology that drives it becomes a powerful moat and hard for new entrants to compete. years of software development.

Technical Review 268

Technical Review Funding Software Review Artificial Inteligence 268

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2021

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Failure to prepare for due diligence. Not doing due diligence on the funding source.

Software Review 123

Software Review Seed Funding Funding Startup 123

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 2, 2009

As noted in Pour and Stir Part I , the key to the successful execution of this strategy is managing the following equation: The cost to acquire a customer < lifetime value of a customer. Decreasing Your Customer Acquisition Costs. This is equivalent to being handed a free customer for every ten customers you acquire.

Customer 164

Customer Custom Advertising SEM 164

InfoChachkie

JULY 7, 2016

Note: I invest almost exclusively in b-to-b software companies. As such, I understand the degree to which hand waving and vaporware can influence investors and potential customers. An interface that is engaging can fool customers into trying a sub-par product. Customers Are All That Matter. Don’t Demo Me Bro.

Venture Capital 176

Venture Capital Product Software Review Technical Review 176

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 1, 2010

It makes no sense to meet in August or December due to travel schedules of most investors. For the record, this is not a secret, coded messages to companies for which I am on the board! VC’s Want to Help! Most VC’s want to help. So help your VC’s help you. Yet they WANT to help.

Startup 301

Startup Venture Capital Software Review Email 301

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. Generally I can provide quite a bit of help in that brief time. And I try my best to point them to resources that can help them longer term.

CTO Hire 264

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 264

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2013

In my first enterprise software company we developed a methodology for sales that we called PUCCKA. Having a methodology instead of just going on random sales visits helped force a bit of rigor and honesty amongst team members about how well or not we thought we were doing. These references make for great discussions with customers.

Sales 367

Sales Slides Startup Customer 367

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. Generally I can provide quite a bit of help in that brief time. And I try my best to point them to resources that can help them longer term.

CTO Hire 259

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 259

socalTECH

MAY 11, 2010

Our customers tend to be mostly moms, but also some dads who support their families, uncles, aunts, and their friends, but primarily moms. We help them identify products that are safe and health for them and their families, from organic baby food, to household items. What is your background and how did you get into this business?

Software Review 200

Software Review Commerce Startup Sites 200

socalTECH

DECEMBER 12, 2013

We''re very much a global footprint company, and we have customers from all over the world who fit that type of description. Right now, we have around 380,000 customers, with about a third of those outside the United States. Our target market is entrepreneurs, creatives, and developers. So, for us, competition is good.

Software Review 238

Software Review Cloud Computing Technical Review Platform 238

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2009

With open source software (LAMP stack) and cloud computing infrastructure it just wasn’t that expensive to get your company going and founders just wanted to raise less money. If a VC term sheet comes in they begin their due diligence process. They’re active, helpful and wise. The contra is also true.

Seed Funding 283

Seed Funding Venture Capital Funding Software Review 283

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 5, 2020

Companies that have leveraged technology to make the procurement and delivery of food more accessible to more people have been seeing a big surge of business this year, as millions of consumers are encouraged (or outright mandated, due to Covid-19) to socially distance or want to avoid the crowds of physical shopping and eating excursions.

Technical Review 343

Technical Review Startup Marketing San Diego 343

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

There is nothing more pure than building a product, putting it out in the world and seeing paying customers using your product and in some cases loving it. He came to work in our offices at Upfront Ventures as an EIR and immediately began building software to improve how storage was picked up, photographed, scanned and routed to a warehouse.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

The functions of an early-stage board are pretty obvious and well understood: Providing introductions to customers, biz dev partners, recruits, the press, other investors, etc. Reviewing financial & operational performance. Offering a sparring-partner function on strategic decisions. Mentorship. As You Start to Mature.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

In the initial phases of any new market you’re developing a product (hopefully with a minimal set of features), getting feedback from customers, refining your product based on user feedback and then re-launching your product. Testing is what helps determine whether you’re really on to something. Rinse & repeat.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Startup Resource 374

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2013

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Failure to prepare for due diligence. Not doing due diligence on the funding source.

Software Review 106

Software Review Funding Startup Seed Funding 106

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

However, savvy startups can leverage LinkedIn to create a customer acquisition and a churn reduction tool. However, in some cases, especially with its larger customers, the company displaces a competitor. It’s not about helping them use our software. Businesses typically use LinkedIn to recruit employees.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Software Review Technical Review 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2012

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Failure to prepare for due diligence. Not doing due diligence on the funding source.

Seed Funding 100

Seed Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Funding 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2011

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Failure to prepare for due diligence. Not doing due diligence on the funding source.

Software Review 98

Software Review Funding Seed Funding Startup 98

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 28, 2009

We went through the euphoria of massive exposure at the time of our launch due to an article that ran in the Financial Times. Our software wasn’t fully baked. We hadn’t even thought about having a customer support line or who would staff it. We had one of the largest US software companies talk about buying us.

Startup 331

Startup Press Customer Custom 331

socalTECH

MARCH 1, 2011

It really provides the most relevant reviews, because when you're looking for reviews, you want them from someone very similar to you. Johnson: It's different from a traditional white label because if you look at a normal white label, you're just taking the functionality and you're just taking the software.

Content 242

Content Software Review Technical Review Sites 242

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2022

I continue to believe that most of the data gathering in the real world, and on the Internet, is done by businesses to help you find what you want, protect you, and improve your experience, rather than invade your privacy or scam you. Market your solution and user benefits, not the mysterious technology behind it.

Customer 137

Customer Custom Technical Review Symantec 137

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 12, 2018

Both programmers, the two reconnected after doing stints as custom developers during and after college, and then when they were developing tools for their families’ businesses as residential contractors in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale. These kinds of technologies, unlike AI, don’t automate away workers.

Glendale 271

Glendale Los Angeles Startup Technical Review 271

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 17, 2018

You get to have interesting conversations with founders and review business plans and then see how these businesses evolve over the years. Payback periods on customer acquisition way more important to you in the near-term. You wouldn't build a single point of failure in your code - shouldn't in your company.

Software Review 242

Software Review Technical Review Pricing Metrics 242