Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 18, 2010
I suffer from the “urgency addiction.&# I know it sounds like one of the falsely humble things like telling somebody in a job interview that your weakness is that you’re too much of a perfectionist. But the urgency addiction is a bad thing that I’m fortunate enough to get away with. When I first discovered the concept I found it enlightening.
InfoChachkie
AUGUST 10, 2010
“Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise: Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye, Not uttered by base sale of chapmen’s tongues” . William Shakespeare, British Playwright, from Love’s Labour’s Lost , 1598. Intellectual Property (IP) is an ugly thing at a startup. It requires you to expend your two most valuable resources, your time and your money.
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socalTECH
AUGUST 18, 2010
Jason Calacanis , the high profile CEO of Mahalo, and angel investor, has made an investment in Georgia-based StorkBrokers , an online community site focused on new mothers and fathers. The investment was worth $25,000, and Calacanis has joined the firm's board. The investment commitment was actually made live, on the air on This Week In Startups back in June, but had not been otherwise widely covered, The funding officially closed Friday, according to regulatory filings from StorkBroker filed W
Berkonomics
AUGUST 30, 2010
At one time or another, most all businesses use consultants to fill the gaps in knowledge or to provide guidance for management. Consultants are good in that you can sample their work with short projects, change to other consultants quickly, and stop using them when a project is completed. I have a partner in a consulting practice that specializes in the travel industry.
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SoCal Tech Calendar
AUGUST 26, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 -- CommNexus Presents:Sencha Touch for Mobile Web App Development. Sencha Touch is a new mobile app framework based on Javascript, HTML5, and CSS3. It allows developers to create amazing experiences on Android and iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone. In this presentation, we will look at the current state of mobile development, the benefits and availability of WebKit, and some specific developer-centric features of Sencha Touch.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 25, 2010
A while back, when a startup founder mentioned to me that he wasn’t sure he had the personality to be an entrepreneur, I realized how important that insight was. My first thought is that if you are more annoyed than energized by expert advice, team suggestions, and customer input, then you should probably avoid this line of work. Actually, it’s more complicated than that, but that’s a good start.
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InfoChachkie
AUGUST 20, 2010
Noted entrepreneurial blogger and respected Venture Capitalist, Mark Suster , who is also a Partner at GRP Partners, recently published a great post related to influence and persuasion, which is excerpted below: ———————————————-. Mark Suster – Both Sides Of The Table.
socalTECH
AUGUST 17, 2010
San Luis Obispo-based MINDBODY , a developer of software-as-a-service for the yoga, pilates, wellness, and spa market, said today that wellness businesses are signing up for its MINDBODY Finder product, technology which allows consumers to book and pay for fitness classes and wellness appointments online. According to the firm, partners IDEA Health and Fitness, TeachStreet, RoamingQ, Yogoer, FindYoga.com, Yoga Tampa Bay and Kidzmet are among the customers who will be rolling out the technology t
Berkonomics
AUGUST 23, 2010
When do you cross the line between honesty and dishonesty in tax planning? Is it ethical to allocate income between periods to take advantage of tax breaks? Can expenses be put off until the next period to increase income, or accelerated into this period by prepayment to decrease net income? Where do you draw the line, assuming no intent to defraud?
SoCal Tech Calendar
AUGUST 26, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 -- Managing the Governmental Enterprise: The basis for legislative mandates for Enterprise Architecture in Federal Agencies and the Department of Defense. Presentation discussing the background, rationale and requirements for the legislative and other administrative mandates for using Enterprise Architecture in federal agencies and the Department of Defense.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 26, 2010
There are times to fight. I must admit it’s part of my DNA to enjoy a good fight (not as much as does Jason Calacanis, mind you ahem: Facebook. Er: Comscore , Cough: Angel funding payola ). But there are times to given in and compromise. Don’t confuse the two. When you give in, do so graciously. Take the high road. Act and feel zen.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 10, 2010
An entrepreneur recently sent me an @ reply message on Twitter asking for some help with a decision coming up in his business. I get these frequently via Twitter, Facebook or email. I don’t mind. I can’t always get to them. Basically a request like this is stacking on top of my already large to-do list. But I do like to try and make time for some and I’ll admit I’m a bit random about it.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 30, 2010
Seth Levine of Foundry Group addresses this important topic this morning on his blog with a post, “ Has Convertible Debt Won ?&# Seth was basing this on a Tweet by Paul Graham that said&#. “Convertible notes have won. Every investment so far in this YC batch (and there have been a lot) has been done on a convertible note.&#. I have to say that I didn’t take the question to mean that convertible debt had won for the entire market, but either way it’s clear that convertible
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 15, 2010
The life of an entrepreneur is filled with 20 second opportunities. Some get converted into 5 minute opportunities or into a lifetime. Most are squandered. It starts in a crowded room at a conference or networking event. You bump into the person you’ve always wanted to chat with or your perfect business development partner who can “make” you. What are you going to say in the moment?
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 23, 2010
I was an early user of Quora and like all new technologies they take a bit of playing with them for a while, discussing them with others and reflecting on them to let them sink in. I’m no wall flower so when something doesn’t resonate I’m usually pretty vocal about it. With Quora , it was the opposite – something has always felt right but it took me a while to. really understand it.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 19, 2010
Yesterday I wrote a post about the " Urgency Addiction ” and how many people start important tasks late and then motivate with a huge wave of productivity and inspiration driven by deadlines and commitments to others. In the comments section Bill DAllesandro offered some insight that he had seen from Microsoft on "interruptions”. “A study by Microsoft showed just how lethal interruptions are to productivity.
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?). Short summary of my posts: 1. There is a structural reason that VCs are investing at early stages, 2. Many (Union Square Ventures, Foundry Group, True Ventures, GRP Partners, Mike Hirshland at Polaris Ventures) do it the right way – we treat it as a normal investment and we don’t h
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 24, 2010
Two days ago I wrote about Quora. I’ve been loving the product even if it sucks up some of my time. I prefer my time go into a very focused Q&A website than into a more generic Facebook. What Quora has done is wrap social networking around Q&A with the more clever next-gen UX I’ve seen. But my post today is not about Quora, it’s about an answer that I wrote on Quora.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 8, 2010
Around a month ago I heard people talking about Twitter’s bucket test ( definition ) of their new personalized suggested user list and this past week I actually got to experience it myself. The results for me have been excellent and in this post I’ll explain why this is critical to Twitter’s continued adoption. Twitter has implemented its recommended users on your Twitter.com home page as the “who to follow&# (see graphic above) and you have a list of two recommended peo
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 3, 2010
There is a telltale sign of an inexperienced startup entrepreneur. They get premature merge elation. You know, they get so excited about doing deals all the time instead of doing the hard work of figuring out their businesses. I understand this. I was a premature merge elater once. Here’s what I learned: 1. As a startup you shouldn’t focus on buying other companies until you’ve figured out your own business.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 12, 2010
In the technology world there are a few websites that most startups track to keep up with the latest financings, acquisitions, product announcements and gossip: BusinessInsider, TechCrunch, Mashable, GigaOm, etc. In the VC & Private Equity world there’s a small number, too, with one of the most respected being PEHub. That’s thanks to Dan Primack , founding editor.
socalTECH
AUGUST 2, 2010
San Diego-based NextWave Wireless announced late Sunday evening that it is in an agreement with NTT DOCOMO , to sell the remaining 65 percent equity interest in subsidiary PacketVideo. The deal is worth $111.6M. NextWave and DOCOMO have been partners in PacketVideo since July of last year, when DOCOMO acquired about 35 percent of PacketVideo. PacketVideo develops mobile phone software used for providing multimedia services from mobile operators.
socalTECH
AUGUST 13, 2010
Los Angeles-based GotCast , the online casting call and talent site run by Alec Shankman, said it now has now reached nearly 10,000 job postings to-date on the site. GotCast--which allows anyone to submit their photo, profile, and other relevant information in hopes of attracting the attention of Hollywood talent agents and casting directors--said the site is looking to fill the role of traditional employment tools and job search resources, as they continue to dry up.
socalTECH
AUGUST 12, 2010
Gevo , a startup which is developing renewable chemicals and biofuels technology, has filed for an IPO, according to an S-1 filing by the firm Thursday afternoon. Gevo--which is now based in Englewood, Colorado--was started in Pasadena, and has licensed technology from both the University of California, Los Angeles, and Caltech. Gevo is using both technology from UCLA to produce next-generation biofuels through genetically modified Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, as well as technology from
socalTECH
AUGUST 10, 2010
Encino-based uSamp , the online sampling and panel firm headed by former goZing founders Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin, said today that it has named Chuck Miller as Chief Research Officer at the firm, and appointed Melanie Courtright as Vice President, Client Services. Miller is the president of DMS Insights, which uSamp acquired in June from AOL. Courtright was also at DMS.
socalTECH
AUGUST 4, 2010
John Dilts , founder of angel group the Maverick Angels and co-founder of the BioTech Forum, a group promoting biotechnology industry development in Ventura County, has died. No details of Dilts' death was given, however, the Maverick Angels said that Dilts passed away on the morning of August 2nd. The group said that Dilts viewing is Thursday. Tags: john dilts maverick angels investor.
socalTECH
AUGUST 31, 2010
Irvine-based Integrien , a developer of enterprise IT monitoring software, has been acquired by VMware , according to VMware this morning. Although VMware did not announce financial details of the acquisition, sources close to Integrien said the acquisition was worth $102M. The acquisition was a big win for Southern California's investors, particularly from Clearstone Venture Partners and the Tech Coast Angels.
socalTECH
AUGUST 25, 2010
Los Angeles-based LowFares.com , the online travel search and comparison site owned by Oversee.net, said Tuesday that it has reached more than one million subscribers. The firm said those subscribers get access to travel deals on cheap flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages. LowFares.com also said it is now getting more than 4 million unique visitors per month to the site.
socalTECH
AUGUST 23, 2010
Torrance-based LiveOffice , the provider of email archiving and compliance services backed by Summit Partners, reports today that it has added the Los Angeles Dodgers as a customer. According to LiveOffice, the Dodgers are using the firm's services to replace an outdated backup system. Financial impact of the win was not announced. LiveOffice says the Dodgers are using LiveOffice Discovery Archive, LiveOffice Email Continuity, LiveOffice Personal Archive and LiveOffice Personal Archive for Black
socalTECH
AUGUST 30, 2010
Los Angeles-based X Prize Foundation , the group which manages a series of competition-based prizes aimed at advancing science and technology, said today that it is running an eBay auction for a zero gravity flight with Avatar producer and director James Cameron. According to the foundation, the fundraiser will allow guests to purchase seats next to Cameron, as well as other X Prize board members, on a ZERO-G Experience flight taking off from Van Nuys airport in October.
socalTECH
AUGUST 16, 2010
Pasadena-based TweetUp , the Twitter advertising firm owned by Idealab, said today that it has linked its Twitter Client, Twidroyd, to the TweetPhoto media sharing service. Twitter said its client--which runs on Android devices--provides full integration of TweetPhoto, including uploading of photos, voting, commenting, and geo-tagging features. TweetUp bought Twidroid in July.
socalTECH
AUGUST 20, 2010
For this morning's interview, we thought we'd talk with Los Angeles-based Sidebar (www.sidebar.com), a venture backed startup in the mobile space, to learn more about what they are up to. We caught up with CEO Patrick Kennedy. What is Sidebar all about? Patrick Kennedy: Sidebar is a company that was founded to bring consumers personalized content, focused on mobile delivery of that content.
socalTECH
AUGUST 19, 2010
Santa Monica-based Total Beauty Media 's John Hadl has joined venture capital firm U.S. Venture Partners , USVP said today, on the heels of the acquisition of USVP's LimeLife by Total Beauty. According to U.S. Venture Partners, Hadl has been appointed as Venture Partner on the firm's Consumer Internet and Business Services investment team. Hadl is also CEO of Brand-in-Hand (BIH), a provider of mobile advertising to brands.
socalTECH
AUGUST 10, 2010
The latest e-commerce numbers from comScore, which tracks online spending, find that U.S. retail, e-commerce spending was up 9 percent in Q2 2010, versus spending in Q2 of last year. Spending reached $32.9M for the quarter, the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth. Despite the gain, the growth rate is well below the double digit gains e-commerce was seeing up until Q3 of 2008, when e-commerce sales dropped to single digits and eventually turned negative in 2009. comScore said the g
socalTECH
AUGUST 24, 2010
Los Angeles-based social networking site MySpace , which is a unit of News Corporation, said late Monday that it is integrating the Fox Audience Network (FAN) directly with MySpace. Fox Audience Network is News Corp's ad serving unit. The move comes as FAN President, Adam Bain, is leaving the firm. The Fox Audience Network was created in 2007 as a spinout of MySpace.
socalTECH
AUGUST 24, 2010
It's been a good summer for Laguna Beach-based venture capital firm Okapi Ventures (www.okapivc.com), which recently saw its first portfolio firm exit last month in Carlsbad-based Helixis , which was acquired by Illumina for $105M. In light of the recent success, we sat down with Marc Averitt and Sharon Stevenson to talk about the recent exit, where they are with their fund nowadays, and what advice they have for entrepreneurs.
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