Both Sides of the Table
MARCH 2, 2021
It’s March 1st as I write this*. The year is two months in. Seems like just a moment ago it was New Year’s Day and we were all committing to our better selves for 2021 as so many of us do. It’s been a tough year for people around the world with the pandemic, work stress, crazy elections and uncertainty. Anybody would forgive you if your plan slipped.
TechCrunch LA
MARCH 16, 2021
Squarespace has raised $300 million in a round of funding that values the company at a staggering $10 billion valuation. New backers include Dragoneer, Tiger Global, D1 Capital Partners, Fidelity Management & Research Company, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and Spruce House. Existing backers Accel and General Atlantic also participated. .
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Berkonomics
MARCH 4, 2021
My stories of missing the context of the times. Over the years, as I managed my several computer companies as CEO or executive chairman, I made the decision to go to market with a brand-new product that had never before been exposed to my customer’s marketplace. In each case, after overwhelming publicity, certainly noticed by a great number of potential decision makers, and after record-breaking sessions at industry trade shows to introduce these to the potential buyers, the products failed in
L.A. Business Journal
MARCH 15, 2021
It has been nearly 20 years since Space Exploration Technologies Corp. was founded with the relatively humble goal of bringing down the cost of launching small satellites into orbit.
Advertiser: Aggregage
Office leases are one of companies’ largest expenses, and if your whole team is working from home with no clear end in sight, you may be wondering what to do about your lease.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2021
Newport Beach-based Chipotle is jumping into the Bitcoin craze, saying today that it is launching a promotion where it will give away $100,000 in Bitcoin, plus another $100,000 in free burritos, as part of a "National Burrito Day" on April 1st. According to Chipotle, the promotion focuses on attempting to guess a valid, six-digit code for a chance to win a free burrito or up to $25,000 in Bitcoin.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 15, 2021
As a member of an angel investment group for years, I’m sometimes surprised to see founders with a good technical business case get rejected for funding, while others seem to have a hidden quality that gives them credibility to be fundable despite some missing elements. Investors often chalk this up to inbred charisma or charm, but I’ve often wondered if could be a learned skill.
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TechCrunch LA
MARCH 2, 2021
Making money on livestreams has never been easier thanks to a suite of tools from the Los Angeles-based startup Maestro , which just nabbed $15 million in financing to grow its business. As video commerce becomes the norm and entertainers, brands, businesses, and franchises of all sizes and stripes look to cut out the middle man, the array of services on offer from Maestro may be the scissors these entities need to cut the cord.
Berkonomics
MARCH 11, 2021
Here’s the question: Sean Ellis, the marketing guru behind DropBox and other successes, advises clients that “The most important question on a survey is , ‘How would you feel if you could no longer use this product?’” He goes on to quantify the response. If more than forty percent of the respondents say they would be “very disappointed,” then the product should go viral and be a great success.
L.A. Business Journal
MARCH 8, 2021
Fledgling video game studio Theorycraft Games Inc. announced March 4 that it had hauled in an impressive $37.5 million to fund development of its first title.
socalTECH
MARCH 24, 2021
Los Angeles-based Worth Network, a new software startup, is aiming to help marketers reach more consumers via organic Instagram posts, the company said today. According to the company, it is currently helping restaurant chains such as Silverlake Ramen, Pokeworks, EMC Seafood and others, and is looking to expand to consumer product goods, health and wellness, and other industries, with its service.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 31, 2021
I’m a big fan of the old adage "There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers." We have all heard questions that begin, "This may be a dumb question, but …" used effectively by smart people who are not afraid of risking ridicule by challenging a questionable assertion from an intimidating speaker. Most people in business seem to expect their leaders just to give orders.
SoCal Tech Calendar
MARCH 29, 2021
Friday, April 2, 2021 -- USC Viterbi Startup Garage Deadline. USC Viterbi Startup Garage (VSG) is hosting an open call for early-stage technology startups for their Spring Cohort kicking off late-April. VSG is an incubation space in the heart of Silicon Beach to stimulate the growth of technology-based ventures and support the USC innovation network.
TechCrunch LA
MARCH 27, 2021
Who knew building a vertical software as a service toolkit focused on home heating and cooling could be worth $8.3 billion? That’s how much Los Angeles-based ServiceTitan , a startup founded just eight years ago is worth now, thanks to some massive tailwinds around homebuilding and energy efficiency that are serving to boost the company’s bottom line and netting it an unprecedented valuation for a vertical software company, according to bankers.
Berkonomics
MARCH 25, 2021
We know that one of the ways we hold onto our customers is if there are high switching costs to move away to a competitor. But how about the other side of the coin? Do you have an estimate of the cost for a potential customer to switch to your side? And are you prepared to help with concessions if needed? Here’s important homework for your marketing effort.
L.A. Business Journal
MARCH 1, 2021
Internet provider Boingo Wireless Inc. is set to be acquired by an affiliate of investment firm Digital Colony Management in a deal valued at $854 million.
socalTECH
MARCH 3, 2021
Santa Monica-based NextCar, the newest automotive-focused startup led by startup veteran Scott Painter, is gearing up for the launch of the company, saying this week that it has named a senior management team. The company named Jim Nguyen (co-foudner of TrueCar) as its President and Chief Operating Officer; Kash Sheikh (family office, private equity) as Chief Financial Officer; Joseph Chang (Houlihan Lokey) as Chief Revenue Officer; Lucas Donat (TrueCar) as Chief Marketing Officer; Matthew Cacci
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 17, 2021
If you have had some success in a business, I’m sure you bristle just like I do when someone says “You were just lucky…” I’m a strong believer that we all make our own luck, which means that the harder we work, the luckier we get. In reality, “hard work” is just a catch-all term for a list of principles that good entrepreneurs follow, allowing them to work smarter and improve their odds of success.
SoCal Tech Calendar
MARCH 24, 2021
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 -- TechFire Fireside Chat: Aydin Senkut (Felicis Ventures), in discussion with Michael Platner, Chair of the Corporate Practice and Co-Chair of the Securities and Corporate Finance Practice, Lewis Brisbois (online).
TechCrunch LA
MARCH 29, 2021
The coming wave of electric vehicles will require more than thousands of charging stations. In addition to being installed, they also need to work — and today, that isn’t happening. If a station doesn’t send out an error or a driver doesn’t report it, network providers might never know there’s even a problem. Kameale C. Terry, who co-founded ChargerHelp!
Berkonomics
MARCH 18, 2021
Well, of course it is. So, let’s dig a bit deeper. Sometimes, you can reduce your personal risk by taking in other people’s money in various ways, perhaps starting with a consulting contract with a customer, purchasing a going business where profit or loss is known, or spinning off an existing revenue-generating portion of an existing business. But the risks don’t stop there.
L.A. Business Journal
MARCH 19, 2021
Online fundraising startup Pledge announced that it had raised $3 million in new seed funding to finance the launch of a new virtual fundraising platform.
socalTECH
MARCH 3, 2021
San Diego-based startup accelerator operator Nex Cubed says it has launched a virtual, summer startup acceleration program, focused on founders from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). According to the company, participants in its program will receive $10,000 in non-dilutive capital, technical resources to develop a minimally viable products, physical working space in Silicon Valley, business advice, as well as service provider perks and discounts.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 13, 2021
Once you are able to achieve some real “traction” with your business (paying customers, revenue stream), it may seem the time to relax a bit, but in fact this is the point where many founders start to flounder. All the skills and instincts you needed to get to this level can actually start working against you, and you can fail to scale. Investors often say that successfully navigating the early stages of a startup requires lots of street smarts, guts, and luck.
AllTopStartups
MARCH 26, 2021
Over 3 million apps are developed for iOS and Android every year. Millions of more ideas are being generated and iterated every single day. If you’ve ever had an idea… The post What Does It Cost to Hire a Mobile App Developer in 2021? appeared first on AllTopStartups.
TechCrunch LA
MARCH 23, 2021
In a recent interview discussing Bill Gates’ recent book “ How to Avoid a Climate Disaster “, the Microsoft and Breakthrough Energy founder (and the world’s third wealthiest man ) advocated for citizens of the richest countries in the world to switch to diets consisting entirely of what he called synthetic meat in an effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
SoCal Tech Calendar
MARCH 25, 2021
Wednesday, March 31, 2021 --.
L.A. Business Journal
MARCH 15, 2021
MediaAlpha Inc., which generates customer acquisition leads for insurance carriers through a digital platform, is far from a typical tech startup.
socalTECH
MARCH 11, 2021
A new, Pasadena-based fintech startup, Cheese, said on Wednesday that it has launched a digital banking platform focused on Asian communities. According to the company, it is offering up zero-fee, cashback banking services to customers, serving primarily Asian-Americans and immigrants in the United States. The company has coupled its banking services with cash back at stores, and donations to charitable organizations supporting the Asian-American community.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 29, 2021
As a business consultant, I often have to remind small business owners that their marketing needs to be more interactive, versus the traditional “ push ” model, where you broadcast your message to as many people as possible. New generations of customers respond better to the “ participative ” approach, where they get to provide input via social media and the Internet.
AllTopStartups
MARCH 25, 2021
When you imagine your dream home, what does it look like? Is it a modern and rustic mansion nestled amongst the cliffs? A massive brick estate with a pool and… The post Small Luxury Homes: How to Afford Your Dream Home appeared first on AllTopStartups.
TechCrunch LA
MARCH 24, 2021
Aspiration , the financial services business for socially conscious consumers, is back with another environmentally friendly offering for its customers — this time, it’s a credit card. The Los Angeles-based company, which has raised roughly $250 million from investors including the celebrities Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr.’s Footprint Coalition, and Orlando Bloom and more traditional institutional investors like AlphaEdison, Capricorn Investment Group, the Omidyar Networ
SoCal Tech Calendar
MARCH 19, 2021
Thursday, March 25, 2021 --.
L.A. Business Journal
MARCH 8, 2021
Well before the pandemic forced schools to adapt to virtual instruction, Myles Hunter was brainstorming ways to make tutoring more efficient.
socalTECH
MARCH 24, 2021
Los Angeles-based AppliedVR, a developer of virtual reality software to treat chronic pain, has raised $29M in its Series A funding. The funding came from F-Prime Capital, JAZZ Venture Partners, Sway Ventures, GSR Ventures, Magnetic Ventures and Cedars-Sinai. According to AppliedVR said it will use the new funding to pursue FDA approval and prepare for market paunch.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 12, 2021
There comes a time in the life of every business owner when you need to move on to something new, retire, or let your business go to someone with new energy and ideas. As a business advisor, I always have qualms about recommending this move, because the process of selling your business can generate more pain and loss than continuing to run it yourself.
AllTopStartups
MARCH 8, 2021
Statistics show that more than 90% of new businesses disappear within 5 years of launching and less than 5% of businesses survive over a period of 10 years. Naturally, a… The post There is a Visionary Leader Behind Every Thriving Business appeared first on AllTopStartups.
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