Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Many of the entrepreneurs I advise or invest with spend considerable time on the Internet, keeping up with technology, customers, and competitors, but very few feel the need for an early personal presence. Invest your time in networking online, as well as offline. Reach out to friends and supporters for positive mentions.

Product 127

Product Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Technical Review 127

socalTECH

AUGUST 28, 2017

We're focused on larger scale events, not do-it-yourself type events, and we're really for people planning large scale events, looking for ideas, and who are looking for a professional to help them. Being a digital person, I kept looking online for new ideas. That's how I came up with the idea. Why did you create PartySlate?

Technical Advisors 100

Technical Advisors Technical Review Metrics Startup 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 24, 2011

Accelerator programs--like YCombinator in Silicon Valley, and TechStars in Colorado--have come to the forefront of the minds of entrepreneurs as a way to boost their ideas quickly into the market, find funding, and into existence. How much are you investing in the companies who are part of the program?

Technical Advisors 176

Technical Advisors Startup Southern California Los Angeles 176

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

The first thing to remember is that banks only do loans – they don’t do equity investments like angels and venture capitalists (and vice versa). Show focus and your understanding that your company is something more than just a good idea. Here, too, focus on outside advisers as well as on key executives. Be comprehensive here.

Technical Advisors 75

Technical Advisors Entrepreneur Equity Ideas 75

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 28, 2012

People had one minute to “pitch” their idea to the group as a whole. I was #33 to go up and pitch my idea. Although, many people believed in my idea, I found it difficult to create a full team that can execute an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) by Sunday. I initially planned to join his team, in case my idea wasn’t voted in top 10.

Startup 99

Startup Technical Advisors Ideas USC 99

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

I spent nearly a decade building software for large companies and then advising companies on the same. So we discussed his ideas several times. So over several months I went through a few iterations on his idea. He would have found somebody technical and inspired that individual to work for equity or deferred payment.

Entrepreneur 414

Entrepreneur Technical Review Slides CTO Coach 414

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

The first thing to remember is that banks only do loans – they don’t do equity investments like angels and venture capitalists (and vice versa). Show focus and your understanding that your company is something more than just a good idea. Here, too, focus on outside advisers as well as on key executives. Be comprehensive here.

Technical Advisors 80

Technical Advisors Startup Equity Ideas 80

Tech.Co

MAY 22, 2018

It’s validating that there is a market for their idea. Try to compile all the different types of questions you could be asked about your business, like technical details, financial assumptions and projections, marketing, IP, etc., I would advise trying not to get into an argument with an investor. Prepare for Q&A.

Tips 70

Tips Help Slides Technical Review 70

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I would argue that this mostly consists of consumer Internet companies (although not exclusively) and it is predominantly early-stage people who are product gurus and have a mildly technical bend to them. No, the ideas aren’t conflicting. I’m sure there are many more. I would mostly lump me in that category.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

We thought it was a good idea so we brought it up to Goldman. If it’s a biz deal you might care about IP protection, revenue share, investment commitments to joint marketing – whatever. Push hard to set up the technical reviews, the due diligence meetings, the reference calls – whatever. Goldman said NFW. Don’t be complacent.

Venture Capital 301

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Technical Advisors 301

Frank Addante

JUNE 4, 2006

► August (1) Invest in Transparency & Active Communication ► July (1) The Fear of Success ► May (2) Optimized for Speed = 30% Waste Happy 1st Birthday Rubicon Project! I decided that I was going to consult/advise a few companies and relax for a bit. Some ideas lasted months, others lasted hours.

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Email CTO Hire 40

Jason Nazar

APRIL 7, 2011

Who Are You: You corner us at mixers and tell stories about all the great things you do and how wonderful you are, without having any idea if we need your help. You take no interest nor show any curiosity in how technical systems are built or maintained, and Engineering is the least valued/respected part of your organization.

Technical Advisors 112

Technical Advisors Startup Social Media Ideas 112

Xconomy

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Each company is investing untold billions of dollars in developing AI technologies, betting on a future defined by computer systems that can perceive, reason, advise, and decide. The Partnership on AI , formally unveiled Wednesday, includes Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, IBM, Google and its 2014 acquisition DeepMind.

Artificial Inteligence 40

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Technical Advisors Research 40

Frank Addante

MAY 15, 2006

► August (1) Invest in Transparency & Active Communication ► July (1) The Fear of Success ► May (2) Optimized for Speed = 30% Waste Happy 1st Birthday Rubicon Project! To be honest, I don’t know where my response came from because the truth was that I was very intimidated and had no idea how we would beat them.

Advertising 40

Advertising Startup Chief Technology Officer Technical Review 40

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

On average they have taken 9-11 years to reach this status and most of our investments have never gotten there. But the status symbol of this milestone is driving investors, entrepreneurs, the press and everybody into thinking you magically can achieve this status in a matter of a few years with a great team and an astounding idea.

Technical Advisors 150

Technical Advisors Startup Writing Blogging 150