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I recently had the pleasure of spending an hour with Jon Steinberg, president of Buzzfeed , a company who focuses on helping media companies make their content go viral. His words, “we find things on Sunday morning that will be on the Today show on Tuesday morning.&# That’s why people turn up to Buzzfeed. We talked about a lot of great stuff in the video including how to do sales calls and a how a new “culture of writing&# is emerging as a critical skill set in business today.
Several people have recently come to me to help them source and/or hire full-time CTOs for their startup having found me through my post that looks at: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data. The first thing I do is suggest they explore if they really need to hire a full-time CTO for their startup and if so, what kind of CTO they need. There's a lot on my blog already around this topic.
As I noted in Why Most Business Books (Still) Suck , I am generally not a fan of business books. Although many are entertaining, most fail to provide entrepreneurs with a sufficient return on their time investment. If you are a leader at a startup and you are reading a business book, you are not closing customers, raising capital, improving your product, or spending time with your loved ones.
Visitors to Los Angeles-based video streaming service Hulu Friday were greeted with a surprise "redesign" of the web site, as part of a Hulu April Fool's gag. Users who logged into Hulu of Friday saw a Geocities-inspired, framed browser view featuring such notable 1990's shows as the X Files, Sliders, Murder One, and News Radio -- not to mention tacky, 1996-eras web design and highlighted links to the A-Team and Saturday Night Live.
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.
Here we must do a little math calculation together to make a point. Assume that your gross margin from sales is 50% for ease in calculation. Assume 30 days to collect receivables from completed work, and 30 days to complete the work. Finally, assume a fixed overhead equal to all of the remaining 50% of revenues, just for the sake of making this point.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011 -- Alternative Clean Transportation Expo. Launching in Southern Californiaa region with twenty five years of groundbreaking alternative fuel vehicle technology successACT Expo provides a sharp focus on the world of Alternative Clean Transportation. Plan to attend for the latest information on funding opportunities, regulatory policies, and inside details on new and emerging technologies.
This article originally appeared on TechCrunch. Banner Ads. They first started in 1994 and are therefore almost as old as the Web itself. They were very effective back then, with the original ad garnering a 78% click-through rate (CTR) ! I guess from there we had nowhere to go but down. Nowadays banner ads get on average 0.2% CTR meaning for every 1,000 ads that are served up only 2 people click on them.
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This article originally appeared on TechCrunch. Banner Ads. They first started in 1994 and are therefore almost as old as the Web itself. They were very effective back then, with the original ad garnering a 78% click-through rate (CTR) ! I guess from there we had nowhere to go but down. Nowadays banner ads get on average 0.2% CTR meaning for every 1,000 ads that are served up only 2 people click on them.
Several people have recently come to me to help them source and/or hire full-time CTOs for their startup having found me through my post that looks at: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data. The first thing I do is suggest they explore if they really need to hire a full-time CTO for their startup and if so, what kind of CTO they need. There's a lot on my blog already around this topic.
As a young boy, Bruce Wayne watched his parents die in an alley after they were shot by a mugger. This event was pivotal in his life and became the basis of his future career as Batman, Gotham City’s crime.
El Segundo-based iChange , the operator of an online community focused on lifestyle changes, weight loss, and nutrition, has been acquired by Herbalife , according to investor Momentum Venture Management. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. iChange, which was headed by Stu MacFarlane, will be used by Herbalife's independent distributors to provide wellness coaching to clients.
In the past insight, we created an example to demonstrate that it truly takes money to make money; that growth calls for increases in working capital. The example we crafted proved that companies can easily find themselves strapped for cash during periods of rapid growth as well as in downturns. There are many techniques and time horizons for forecasting cash.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 -- LA Games Conference. What will be the hot games and gaming platforms in 2011 and beyond? What trends will be shaping the games industry? How can you stay ahead in an increasingly competitive marketplace? Over 300 of the most influential decision-makers in the games industry gather for the LA Games Conference to network, do deals, and share ideas about the future of console, PC, online and mobile games.
You Manage What you Measure. One of the things I discuss the most with the portfolio companies I’m involved with is that “you manage what you measure.”. It’s a very important concept for me because in a startup you are constantly under pressure and have way too many distractions. Having a set of metrics that you watch & that you feel are the key drivers of your success helps keep clarity.
'TCVN is proud to support the HBS/USC-Marshall BGC this year with a special TCVN code for attendees. Enjoy! This year, the Harvard Business School/ USC-Marshall Business Growth Conference is proud to announce four outstanding keynote speakers: Warren Bennis, founding chairman of USC’s Leadership Institute; Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive; James F.
Marc Bolan, lead singer of T. Rex, was a modestly talented glam rocker during the early 1970s who lyrically never had much to say. However, when he sang, “Bang a Gong, Get It On,” he hit upon a key entrepreneurial.
Los Angeles-based Break Media , the online content publisher headed by Keith Richman, said today that it has partnered with Scripped.com , an online community for screenwriters, on a new screenwriting contest. Break said the contest will give an up-and-coming screenwriter an opportunity to have his or her script produced as an original video on the site, via break Media Creative Lab.
A. Accumulate or acquire (product line, breadth of services). M. Marketing or merchandising (expert and diligent use of resources). D. Distribution (adding channels and reinforcing relationships). Let me credit CEO Erik Hovanec ( www.leisurelink.com ) for this one, whether he originated it or recast it from his past. As his chairman, I have watched him masterfully focus his employees all toward a common theme aligned with the company’s goals.
Monday, April 25, 2011 -- Digital LA - Branded Entertainment Panel. Join us for our Branded Entertainment panel. We'll discuss how content creators and brands work together to create, develop, and market digital branded entertainment, distributed via online, mobile, iPad, etc. Our scheduled speakers (more to be added) include: - David Beebe, Director, ABC Digital Studio @davidbeebe - Believe Entertainment Group, created The LeBrons animated web series featuring HP, Sprite, Bing, Intel, etc. - Mo
This post originally appeared on TechCrunch. There’s a line of thinking in Silicon Valley that you should build product businesses rather than services businesses. This thinking is largely driven by the venture capital industry (and subsequently Wall Street) who are in search of high margin, highly scalable businesses. It’s nearly impossible to get a services company financed by VCs.
It’s easy to think that the wife of a well-known & successful VC ( Fred Wilson ) would have had an easy and storied life of wealth and privilege. I had previously had the opportunity to spend time with Joanne Wilson , Fred’s wife, and knew otherwise. That’s why I was so interested in having “ The Gotham Gal &# come on This Week in VC ( video link on YouTube , download iTunes, episode 15) ) and dispel those myths.
I recently sat down with Matt Coffin , the founder of LowerMyBills, which sold for $400 million but was very nearly a bankruptcy only a few years early, and talked “startups.&#. Matt is one of the most transparent, focused & honest startup guys you’ll meet. You can watch him on YouTube , download in iTunes (for gym or commute) 3/31/11 edition.
Brad Feld is a fountain of knowledge & wisdom. I had the chance to sit down with him for an hour and ask him loads of questions that I thought you’d enjoy hearing. If you have time check out the video (or download on iTunes – Episode 27 - and listen at the gym or on your commute!). Or, as always, summary notes available below. Huge thank you to Steve De Long for the write up.
If you read this blog often you'll know that I'm a huge fan of First Round Capital. They have totally changed the way you run a VC firm, investing heavily in systems & events for their founders that are pushing the boundaries of the way our industry works. One example is that they introduced a program where their founders can pool together shares from their company and exchange them for a small portfolio of other First Round Capital companies.
I’ve just finished a week away from the office for Spring Break, which was much needed. I’m now back & ready for action. I took the opportunity this past week to publish summary notes of some of the VCs and entrepreneurs I had interviewed on This Week in VC. Back to regular writing this week so check back in. One of my goals in doing the show was not only to educate entrepreneurs but also to put a human face on many of the VCs in our industry as VCs can be hard to get to know.
Howard Lindzon is CEO and Co-founder of StockTwits (www.stocktwits.com), the financial micro-messaging service. He was also the founder of Wallstrip, which he sold to CBS back in 2007, is an investor in a significant number of web and social media companies. Through Howards investment in betaworks, he also owns early shares in Twitter. Howard is based in San Diego, and spoke to us about StockTwits.
Sherman Oaks-based SaveFans , an online, third party marketplace for sports, concert, theatre, and other tickets, has recently scored a round of investment. The firm's first outside round came from angel investor Jamie Kennedy. SaveFans is headed by Wes Brodsky. Amount of the angel funding was not disclosed. READ MORE>>.
NASA , which is in the process of retiring the Space Shuttle, announced the final destination of the space shuttle fleet Tuesday, saying that the Space Shuttle Endeavor will go to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The Endeavor, which is set to have its final flight at the end of the month, is one of four Space Shuttles which are going to museums after the shutdown of the Space Shuttle program.
Santa Monica-based BetterWorks , the employee benefit and perks startup headed by angel investor Paige Craig, said Tuesday that it has added a slew of new vendors to its service. BetterWorks, which provides pre-negotiated local deals, discounts, and savings on gyms, restaurants, and services to employees of companies, said it added six health and wellness vendors, and half a dozen food and restaurants to its list of vendors.
Santa Monica-based TrueCar , the online car pricing site headed by Scott Painter, has scored a new, equity investment and partnership with direct marketing firm Guthy-Renker , the firm announced today. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed. TrueCar said that Guthy-Renker will play an "integral role" in shaping the firm's brand visibility, through TV, print, radio, and other advertising channels.
Messenger: Angie Hicks, Co-Founder Angie’s List 8 ) Angie, why does the world need Angie’s List? “Everyone’s heard, or maybe even told, a story about how hard it is to find good help. In 1995, my co-founder and I decided.
Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal , the provider of local online marketing services to small and medium sized businesses, said Tuesday that it has become a global premier Google AdWords partner. The firm said the strategic partnership with Google will "accelerate the delivery" of Google's AdWords advertising to local businesses. Details of how the partnership works between the firms were not disclosed.
Woodland Hills-based Nevolution said today that it has raised $450,000 in an angel investment round, for the development of its Windows App Store. Nevolution said the round was led by Don Walerstein, founding partner of entertainment law firm Rohner & Walerstein, and also included Bradley Maryman, founder and president of international security and technical consulting firm Maryman & Associates.
Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal , the provider of online marketing services for small and medium sized businesses, said Wednesday that it has expanded into New Zealand, via a strategic alliance. ReachLocal said it has partnered with SureFire Search Ltd, to provide its online advertising products and services to the country. ReachLocal said it will train SureFire's dedicated sales force to sell its products and services.
Odysseus could not help himself. He knew the risks, but he had to hear the alluring sound of the Sirens’ song. In Greek mythology, the Sirens were a combination of birds and women who sang to passing sailors, enticing them to approach the shore and crash on its hidden shoals. To avoid wrecking his ship, Odysseus instructed his crew to plug their ears and ignore his orders, no matter how much he implored them to approach the Sirens’ island.
Earlier this month, Fullerton-based HipGeo (www.hipgeo.com) announced a $500,000 funding round from Morado Venture Partners, the seed fund of ex-Yahoo executives Ash Patel and Michael Marquez, eHarmony's Galen Buckwalter, and San Diego angel investor Bob Bingham. Rich Rygg is a co-founder of the company, who explains to us what exactly HipGeo is, and what they're hoping to do.
Los Angeles-based MyLife.com , the people search service run by Jeffrey Tinsley, said today that it has acquired CitizenLocal.com , a local deals site. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. MyLife said the buy will allow businesses and merchants to promote their offerings to its 50 million registered members. MyLife said it hopes the buy will help lawyers, accountants, plumbers, contractors, and other service providers using its site to generate new clients.
Note: This is part I of a two part series. Part II will be available soon. “He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.”. Lao Tzu, Ancient Chinese Philosopher. Ever wonder why most people are dissatisfied with photos of themselves? The reason is more than false modesty. We know our appearance by the image we see in a mirror. However, the image seen by everyone else, including a camera, is our actual image, rather than our reversed, mirrored reflection.
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