socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2019

Earlier this month, the annual Montgomery Summit conference was held in Santa Monica, including a special portion of the conference dedicated to the Rise of the Female Entrepreneur. I see you were involved in the Rise of the Female Entrepreneur effort at the Montgomery Summit this year, tell me a little about what that is all about?

Capital 162

Capital Entrepreneur Invest Artificial Inteligence 162

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

He has a really interesting background as a product manager and now an entrepreneur. Like many product managers, my background is fairly eclectic. That's where I learned I enjoyed interacting with customers and working with development teams to build and launch products. Tell me a bit about your background.

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Product Entrepreneur Social Media Google 150

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

What is the biggest issue that local event organizers--health and family fairs, sports events, and so on--have? Los Angeles-based Planana (www.planana.com) found out it's getting sponsors for their events. Anna Sergeeva: What Planana does, is it connects sponsors to events, where it's more than just their logo on a banner.

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Tech Coast Angels Organization Platform USC 191

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most have the technical challenges well understood, but many are a bit short on some basic street smarts , or basic business realities. Planning for the future must be a regular activity, not just an early-stage or once-a-year event. Survival requires regular updates.

Entrepreneur 173

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TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

Launched by Karen Rodgers O’Neil, a longtime marketing executive, and Daniel Perrone, a serial entrepreneur and technology executive whose previous company, BroadMap, was acquired by Apple; The Shed hopes to take the rental model that Home Depot has turned into a billion dollar business line and take it to the masses. .

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Startup Product Demand Los Angeles 285

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

It really is possible for an introvert to succeed as an entrepreneur, even though you can’t expect to start and build a business alone. Every entrepreneur, especially an introvert, can benefit from the perspective of another business person, ideally one who has prior experience in the domain you are about to enter.

Entrepreneur 104

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

Serious entrepreneurs know that, but too many “wannabes” still fall for that elusive get-rich-quick scheme with no risk. As an active angel investor, I still hear entrepreneurs asserting large opportunities with minimal risk and no competition. When entrepreneurs become prisoners of hope, they look for others to solve their problem.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Marketing Customer Custom 107

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Thus entrepreneurs were able to build prototypes and design new products without the traditional huge prototyping cost. The movement has long since spread across the country and across the globe, spawning innovative products such as the MakerBot Digitizer and all the things you can access from Thingiverse.com.

Startup 159

Startup Tool Design Demand 159

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

(In case it’s not obvious it’s a play on the Nike slogan, “Just Do It.&# ) I believe that being successful as an entrepreneur requires you to get lots of things done. Entrepreneurs make fast decisions and move forward knowing that at best 70% of their decisions are going to be right. This paralyzes most people.

Entrepreneur 414

Entrepreneur Technical Review Slides CTO Coach 414

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 30, 2021

Pilot-authors tell their stories in the first person, and all of us readers slow down to think while reading of these events, wondering “what if” or whether this could happen to me. How about the entrepreneur -founder? Professional investors rarely attach a red letter upon a failed entrepreneur. Why do we tell this story?

Entrepreneur 156

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socalTECH

MAY 22, 2019

For our interview this morning, we talked with David Wood , the Founder and CEO of Eventene (www.eventene.com), an early stage startup, bootstrapped startup developing event management software. David Wood: We make event planning software for social organizations. We do private events, not public events.

Startup 212

Startup Evite Organization Software 212

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2019

Most entrepreneurs I know admit to a poor first media interaction, and many are still waiting for the instant replay. A crisis is an event, precipitated by a specific incident, that attracts critical media attention and lasts for a definite period of time. It could be a product quality problem, or a major customer complaint on Twitter.

Press 96

Press Entrepreneur Social Media Training 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

If an entrepreneur doesn’t find themselves in over their head at least 20% of the time, they are probably not pushing the limits, not taking enough risk, and probably not working on an idea that’s worth doing. Unfortunately, too many entrepreneurs I know are terrible at finding and accepting help. Seek help or get out.

Entrepreneur 99

Entrepreneur Startup Help Mentor 99

Berkonomics

JUNE 6, 2024

Here are some examples: Entrepreneurs blaming their board for failures of a fragile, early- stage company. I’ve been sued as a board member too many times over the past twenty-five years of board service. Five times. Does that shock you? It does me. What’s the exposure? Employees reaching out to anyone above to redress grievances.

Email 156

Email Examples Services Entrepreneur 156

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2020

Every entrepreneur I know finds it a challenge to balance the joys of entrepreneurship against a set of frustrations they never anticipated. The norm for entrepreneurs is to be optimistic on revenue projections, and miserly on funding needs. Endless pivots are required to keep up with market changes.

Entrepreneur 122

Entrepreneur Startup Course Examples 122

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2011

One of the most common questions that entrepreneurs who meet me for the first time like to ask is, “Do you miss being an entrepreneur? I thought I’d talk a bit about the differences I’ve experienced between being an entrepreneur & a VC – you know, from “both sides of the table.&#. On Being an Entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur 384

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Ideas 384

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 25, 2021

Of course, there are external risks that cannot be controlled or predicted but can be planned for as well – natural disasters, sudden political or economic events that rattle the entire economy, and more. Will the marketplace accept your product? Is there a market for your class of product at all? Second is product risk.

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Competition Marketing Class Product 156

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2016

I had blogged when I was an entrepreneur. I went to an industry event where people actually called me self-centered for writing publicly. Here’s the thing: If you never try new product and new networks you’ll never learn anything. In 2008 I started VC blogging. In 2011 I started using Instagram. By now I’m used to the haters.

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Snapchat Product Startup AMA 150

Berkonomics

JANUARY 27, 2022

It’s human nature for investors to want to buy into a fast growing future, proven by some event in the immediate past. While working toward good news events, some entrepreneurs plan to take in consulting work to pay some of the costs during the early stage of a company. So, here’s the rub. The post Don’t just raise money.

News 156

News SaaS Platform Sales 156

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

For example, if it’s getting harder to charge a price premium for the product you’re marketing, or others are offering your subscription service for free, it may be time to start thinking in a new box. Another example is seeing substitute versions of a product, like eBooks, for a low price displacing hardcover books.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur eBook Metrics Examples 93

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2010

On why you should be an entrepreneur, “A lot of people do what they have to do. He stood up, grabbed the mic and gave a heartfelt overview of his experiences in experimenting with new technologies to build relationships with his audience, get feedback on his product quality and to market his music all the way to the top of iTunes.

Entrepreneur 356

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup Email 356

Berkonomics

AUGUST 3, 2023

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). And even with the significant cost of credit card debt, many entrepreneurs aggressively use existing cards to finance a startup.

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Venture Capital Startup Class Invest 295

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

When pitching to investors, entrepreneurs always seem to start with a customer pitch, then add a slide or two about the business. Remember, investors are buying into the business, not the product. Investors are business experts, while the entrepreneur is more likely the product expert.

Product 103

Product Slides Customer Custom 103

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 15, 2009

Steve Gilison worked as a market researcher and product manager at a startup where my company, TechEmpower , did the software / web development. I have about 11 years in the technology sector including roles doing market research, sales and product development. My focus has been marketing strategy and product development.

Los Angeles 179

Los Angeles Product Angel Startup 179

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

I’m still amazed at how many technical entrepreneurs don’t have a business pitch, and offer me their product pitch or product spec instead. I’m a technologist, so I always love to learn about the product, but every investor needs to make sure you have a business, as well as a product.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

That great productivity drain that we somehow all buy into. If I have an event in the evening or am traveling for work then I can easily get through 2 days without sending any non-essential email. I do what I wish all entrepreneurs would do. I spent a late morning meeting with a product exec at one portfolio company.

Email 314

Email Product Startup Writing 314

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2023

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. There is real value in doing the key things yourself, before your startup is even started: Demonstrate thought leadership before selling a product. Entrepreneurs who wait to be found are destined to spend a lot of time alone.

Ideas 126

Ideas Startup Social Media Blogging 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2021

To build a startup, entrepreneurs need a laser focus on providing an innovative solution to a real problem. Most entrepreneurs dream of achieving the exponential expansion of a Google or Amazon, but few investor pitches I see outline any strategy beyond simple marketing to make this happen. Deliver edgy product demonstrations.

Search Engine Optimization 158

Search Engine Optimization Artificial Inteligence Organization Social Media 158

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 13, 2013

On October 24th, the quarterly event series, REACH, presented as a collaboration between TechZulu and GadgetReview , took place. Inside Sony had a “booth” showing off their latest Vaio products for people to test and preview. Lastly, over $6,000 worth of prizes were given away to those that Tweeted about the night’s event.

Lootcrate 80

Lootcrate S3 Education Activision 80

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2014

Thus entrepreneurs began building prototypes and designing new products without the traditional huge investment. The movement has spread across the country and across the globe, spawning innovative products such as the MakerBot Digitizer and all the things you can download from Thingiverse.com. Have you tried it yet?

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Tool Design Demand 98

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

She actually IS the prototypical entrepreneur. Weddings are a bit like college degrees – they often set you back financially for many years after the event. But Tracy did what entrepreneurs do. Sam is the managing director of Launchpad LA and we were about to pick our 2012 class of entrepreneurs. She never gave up.

Startup 363

Startup Entrepreneur SEO Venture Capital 363

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2017

Negative events cause uncertainty, doubt, or confusion in people’s sense of themselves, and lowers their motivation for the work. The asymmetry between the power of setbacks and progress events appears to apply even to relatively minor triggers. Steve Jobs had his share of setbacks, but he never let those dampen his team enthusiasm.

Entrepreneur 74

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Examples Startup 74

SoCal Tech Calendar

DECEMBER 5, 2009

Friday, December 11, 2009 -- 22nd Annual Most Innovative New Product MIP Awards. Don't miss San Diego's most prestigious event honoring local high-tech and life science innovation. Join CONNECT to honor San Diego's leading innovators and entrepreneurs at the 22nd annual MIP Awards luncheon. See [link] (more).

Product 100

Product San Diego High Tech Entrepreneur 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2015

This term refers to the penchant to add just one more feature to the product or service before first delivery, just because you can. The result is a bloated first product which finally collapses under its own weight, or is too late and too expensive for the intended customer. Final features approval event. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 104

Technical Review Product Software Review High Tech 104

socalTECH

JANUARY 18, 2019

EV Safe Charge rents out EV chargers for events, in addition to having its own business installing charging stations. With that project, we provide level 2 DC fast chargers, providing everything needed for successful EV charging at events, anywhere in this country or Canada. What is EV Safe? What were you doing before this?

Startup 243

Startup Customer Custom Entrepreneur 243

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2022

Serious entrepreneurs know that, but too many “wannabes” still fall for that elusive get-rich-quick scheme with no risk. As an active angel investor, I still hear entrepreneurs asserting large opportunities with minimal risk and no competition. When entrepreneurs become prisoners of hope, they look for others to solve their problem.

Entrepreneur 153

Entrepreneur Marketing Customer Custom 153

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2014

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. There is real value in doing the key things yourself, before your startup is even started: Demonstrate thought leadership before selling a product. Entrepreneurs who wait to be found are destined to spend a lot of time alone.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Social Media Startup Blogging 102