Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 20, 2015
VC funding. Our perspectives on the topic wax and wane with market cycles. We love capital efficiency until we love land grabs until we abhor over funding until we get huge payouts and ring the bell for more funding until we attract every non-VC on the planet to invest in startups until it crashes and we start the cycle all over again none the wiser.
Berkonomics
AUGUST 6, 2015
This piece of wisdom came from Jeff Bezos, founder & CEO of Amazon, during a board meeting for one of the companies where he sits as board member. Jeff asked the question “Is there anything big or small, which is working better than you expected? Is there anywhere we could double down?”. Bezos’ point was that we spend a lot of time focusing on what’s not working in Board meetings (especially during difficult times) and not enough time focusing on what is surpassing expectations and how we c
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socalTECH
AUGUST 21, 2015
Tired of driving around a dusty, dirt encrusted car, but too darn busy to find a car wash? Los Angeles-based Squeegy has recently launched into the market, with an on-demand, car wash service--currently serving the west side. Squeegy--which says it uses an eco-friendly method of washing cars, which saves around 40-100 gallons of water per car wash--lets users from Santa Monica to Westchester and East to Culver City order up an on-demand car wash, starting at $29.00--all requested via the company
InfoChachkie
AUGUST 10, 2015
A version of this article previously appeared in Forbes. There are two schools of thought regarding how to make anything go viral. In The Tipping Point , Malcolm Gladwell emphasizes the importance of the messenger. In contrast, Jonah Berger’s Contagious: Why Things Catch On proclaims that a properly structured message makes the messenger inconsequential.
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.
Eric Greenspan
AUGUST 5, 2015
I just got back from Sage Summit and met Ron Baker and Ed Kless. These two do NOT believe in time tracking and are paving the way for making it considered not only unethical, but even illegal, I think. So I ask, Is Time Tracking Unethical? I had a chat with my pal and co-worker Seth David today about this same topic. He too met with Ron and Ed and they shared the gospel.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 2, 2015
Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. How an entrepreneur answers this question speaks volumes about their knowledge of business realities, customers, confidence, and their ability to handle investor funding.
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Berkonomics
AUGUST 13, 2015
Dave’s note: John Huston is founder and past manager of the 300+ member Ohio TechAngel Funds and a past Chairman of both the Angel Capital Association and the Angel Resource Institute. . By John Huston. While you are busy building your high growth venture, you may have occasionally thought about which large companies might be the ultimate buyer of your company – a buyer that could optimize your idea, customer base, and team.
socalTECH
AUGUST 21, 2015
In the dating world today, your ability (or inability) to text someone with the right words can be the difference between a hot date, and no date at all. However, what if you're no good with texting your potential date, and wooing them so they actually will go out with you? A new, Los Angeles startup, Textpertapp (www.textpertapp.co) has created a new app, where you can crowdsource your texts--and love advice--next time you are trying to woo that potential date.
InfoChachkie
AUGUST 3, 2015
A version of this article previously appeared in Forbes. The Beatles’ Manager, Brian Epstein, was a 30-yr old, former furniture salesman when Beatlemania hit America in 1964. When he was approached by savvy Nicky Byrne to license the Beatles’ name and likeness for various novelty products and toys, he firmly stated that he would not accept a penny less than 10%.
Eric Greenspan
AUGUST 6, 2015
Fiesta or Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara has been an annual festival in Santa Barbara and has been equally present for all of the 28 years I’ve been here. I’ve often avoided it. Traffic, people, drunks, confetti, fattening food, and other debauchery. This week however, I took my three kids and a wonderful woman and magically, it all made sense.
Tech Coast Venture Network
AUGUST 11, 2015
As long-time PR pros and communications advocates, we’ve grown accustomed to questions like “What is PR?” or “Why do we need PR?”. By definition, public relations (PR) is the practice of managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization and the public; but the strategic communication process that occurs in today’s PR world requires so much more than just information management.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 24, 2015
If you didn’t notice that the stock markets in the US dropped nearly 4% today (after falling last Thursday and Friday) then you were probably completely off-the-grid and on vacation. It was a nerve racking morning. My favorite Tweet of the morning came from Hunter Walk. You thought media twitter was bad… You thought tech twitter was bad… — Hunter Walk (@hunterwalk) August 24, 2015.
Berkonomics
AUGUST 27, 2015
Dave’s note: We are privileged this week to host a post by Arthur Lipper, a well-respected member of the international financial community since 1954. He has served as advisor to and member of numerous financial exchanges, and was the founder and CEO of Arthur Lipper Corporation and co-founder and Chairman of New York & Foreign Securities Corporation.
socalTECH
AUGUST 25, 2015
The Los Angeles City Council has voted to let ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft go ahead and pick up passengers at Los Angeles International (LAX), despite an earlier delay. The vote, which was 9-6, is the first time that the ridesharing services have gained access to the airport, which had barred all but licensed taxi and airport transportation companies from entering.
InfoChachkie
AUGUST 24, 2015
A version of this article previously appeared in Forbes. Sometimes being clueless makes you fearless. This was certainly the case with Hollywood star turned inventor, Hedy Lamarr. In 1937, Ms. Lamarr abandoned a successful European film career to become a Hollywood star. Although successful, she quickly became bored with the vapid nature of stardom, once saying, “Any girl can be glamorous.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 9, 2015
Winning customers as an entrepreneur in a startup has many parallels to a young army trying to penetrate some formidable new and unfamiliar territory. You need a strategy as well as a goal, and you need to pick your battles well. Even in this age of purpose before profits, a business won’t survive by pretending there are no competitors out there to worry about.
Tech Coast Venture Network
AUGUST 11, 2015
In my youth I read a Jack London tale about a scruffy teen who hung around the wharf in Oakland. He did whatever work he could find as he was alone, no family or resources. The time line was in the 1930’s. Not a great time in American history. The Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and other circumstances made just living very difficult. Not all this teen’s activities were above the law.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 30, 2015
Technology. It has been a hobby of mine since 1981 when I fell in love with programming, applications and online games. My brain is wired for logic and for problem solving and computers have always helped me fill this compulsion. And since I was 13 years old I have been accustomed to the debate about the limitations of technology or rather the downsides of being overly obsessed with gadgets, devices, software or applications.
Berkonomics
AUGUST 20, 2015
Dave’s note: Guest author, David Steakley returns to explain his theory of exit valuations. It’s a short but excellent read… By David Steakley. You may recall that earlier in this series, I explained the definition of an inciting incident, using the movie industry and its story telling as the model. The inciting incident in a movie is the event at the beginning of the story that causes the hero’s life to be completely transformed and irrevocably changed, and makes the w
socalTECH
AUGUST 26, 2015
BCG Digital Ventures , a venture investment and incubation company, said today that it has opened up a new headquarters in Manhattan Beach, which it also hopes to share with startups it is incubating. The company says its global Innovatoin and Investment Center in Manhattan Beach is housed in The Manhattan Towers on the PCH. BCG Digital Ventures is led by Jeff Schumacher; the company says it already has 300 employees worldwide, with the majority of those, around 160, already in Manhattan Beach.
TechCrunch LA
AUGUST 5, 2015
During the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles last week, a fifth grader named Ari stopped by a booth set up by Google. The booth had information about its “Impact Challenge” for disabilities. What Ari didn’t know is that her life would change before she left the games. Read More.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 28, 2015
In my experience mentoring new entrepreneurs and aspiring business leaders, I see far too many who seem to be driven by all the wrong reasons. Everyone seems to espouse extrinsic motivations, such as getting rich, having power, and fulfilling parent dreams, when in fact a focus on satisfying internal interests and desires will likely lead to more success, as well as satisfaction.
Tech Coast Venture Network
AUGUST 11, 2015
Having great company culture is no longer just an option. Today’s workers consider it as much as they consider salary and benefits. In fact, fantastic company culture is almost expected along with other traditional benefits. While the culture that works for one company might not work for another , you can learn a lot from companies who are doing it right, and get started on company culture hacks of your own. 1.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 25, 2015
Last night I wrote a post about how the fall in the stock market over a 3-day period may affect the venture capital markets. If you’re an entrepreneur or VC who wants somebody else’s view on that you should read it. This morning the US stock markets are rallying. So now what? Let me give you the quick summary of what I said yesterday: Public markets affect venture funding.
Tech.Co
AUGUST 31, 2015
I can honestly that, without a doubt, my favorite technologies are ones that get people up, out, and interacting with the real world. It could be an augmented reality platform that takes people to new parts of their city, or a superb set of element-proof, Bluetooth speakers built for the outdoors. There are few market verticals where this mindset is more applicable than the world of sports technology.
socalTECH
AUGUST 14, 2015
Santa Monica-based The Honest Company , which provides baby care, personal care, home care, and other healthy lifestyle products, said this morning that it has raised $100M in a Series D funding round. The funding round came from Glade Brook Capital Partners LLC, along with AllianceBernstein L.P. (AB) pllus existing investors Fidelity Management & Research Company, Wellington Management Company LLP and Institutional Venture Partners.
Tech Zulu Event
AUGUST 26, 2015
The perks of working remotely are undeniable. Your transportation costs are nearly diminished, you have more control over your work-life balance and you can set your own culture. A uStamp study reported 65% of companies allow employees to work remotely and 69 percent of remote employees say they feel liberated being able to work away from the office.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 10, 2015
If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, you need to take a hard look at yourself before leaving that regular paycheck. Don't assume you will be happier and make more money starting the business of your dreams. The good and the bad news is that as an entrepreneur, you won’t have a manager charged with directing your efforts or peers helping you implement, and your new team will be quick to tell you only what you want to hear.
Tech Coast Venture Network
AUGUST 11, 2015
As long-time PR pros and communications advocates, we’ve grown accustomed to questions like “What is PR?” or “Why do we need PR?”. By definition, public relations (PR) is the practice of managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization and the public; but the strategic communication process that occurs in today’s PR world requires so much more than just information management.
Steve Reich
AUGUST 15, 2015
How many Angels do you want in your cap table? Mark Suster wrote a great piece in July giving his answer: “If all else fails, angel-load away! If you can’t raise from a few strong angels, from seed funds or from a VC then raising from a ton (let’s say 20+) angels is a perfectly acceptable strategy. There. I said it. It’s not terrible, it’s just not ideal if you can avoid it. ” Well said, Mark.
Tech.Co
AUGUST 17, 2015
Want to learn more about the future of augmented and virtual reality? Well now’s your chance! There will be a demo showcasing the hottest augmented/virtual reality companies all over LA. Demo Company: . VR Playhouse. VR Playhouse is an independent creative studio and production company specializing in VR native experiences. They have made VR content for Red Bull, Discovery Channel, Brain Farm, and have three original immersive series in various stages of production, including a dramatic na
socalTECH
AUGUST 7, 2015
If you've ever rented an apartment, you will be very familiar with the experience of moving into a new place, thinking it will be great--but then, it ends up being unbearable because you didn't notice the bar around the corner that always lets out at 2am. What if there was a way to figure out how noisy that place would be--before you even think about renting it?
Tech Zulu Event
AUGUST 31, 2015
Kanye West and Taylor Swift at the MTV VMAs. Who is Kanye West really? A man who every year has come to upstage most acts at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) with some crazy rant. Everyone has an opinion, but only IBM’s cognitive computer Watson has a Personality Insights analyzer. Your social media feed was probably filled this morning with information about the 13-minute speech Kanye West made during the 2015 VMA broadcast, but only the objective big data behind Watson can really break it dow
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 23, 2015
These days, everyone wants to be an entrepreneur, pitching their latest and greatest new idea, and looking for someone to give them money. Angel investors, like me, have long figured out that asking to see the prototype is a quick way to separate the ‘wannabes’ from serious players. Talk is cheap, but entrepreneurs who show you a working model of their idea know how to execute.
Tech Coast Venture Network
AUGUST 11, 2015
In my youth I read a Jack London tale about a scruffy teen who hung around the wharf in Oakland. He did whatever work he could find as he was alone, no family or resources. The time line was in the 1930’s. Not a great time in American history. The Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and other circumstances made just living very difficult. Not all this teen’s activities were above the law.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 18, 2015
This summer I had the extreme pleasure of watching one of the funniest, funnest and most insightful documentaries in a long time: Supermensch. If I had one wish for all startup employees it would be that you watch this film. It’s not for everybody: it condones sex, drugs and rock & roll. But please read on before deciding. Supermensch (I won’t give anything away here other than high-level, obvious storyline of film) is about the life of Shep Gordon, one of the most revered talent
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