Highlights for Entrepreneurs (02/15/24)

I was digging through some old emails and realized that I recently started the FOURTH?year of this newsletter (OG: Jan 26, 2021: original title: "Articles & Webcasts"). Some of you have been there from the beginning, and I thank you all for allowing me into your feed each week. I always?appreciate hearing from you and welcome your suggestions, comments and feedback!

And since this is a big event, I'm putting it in the lead:?Montgomery Summit. (In Person Santa Monica Mar 5 & 6 $$$) ?Another reminder that this gathering of investors, founders and the entire startup and tech communities will be meeting next month for the annual summit.

I know that you are very busy, but I hope you enjoy the information and the?music selections?in the newsletter.?Get in touch if you have any feedback,?sources or other interested?readers - feel free to forward!??If you hear of any?upcoming events, please pass them along too! If the links speak to you, consider subscribing to the source! If you find a link particularly interesting, let me know so I can look for more like it.

Have a great week,?be safe and healthy...?and take some time to care for yourself!?Here are this?week's resources for you to check out.?

Paul?

ANOTHER EXPANDED EDITION (SORRY!)

1)?Digital LA: Digital LA - Digital Drinks (In Person Hollywood - Feb 20 $$)

- Get ready to network and mingle with fellow digital enthusiasts in the heart of Los Angeles. Hopefully some of the drinks are analog too!

2)?Founder Institute: Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder (Webcast Feb 20)

-?At the "Employee to Entrepreneur" event, you can hear the stories, tips, and best practices of those who left their jobs to pursue their own startup company. Listen to the experiences of people just like you that have made the transition, and discuss any questions or concerns that you have.?

3)?Founder Institute: PR Hacks for Startup Founders (Webcast Feb 21)

- we will talk through the basics of PR is.. and what it is not, leaving you with a better understanding of how to easily embrace it within your business, along with some important points on timing and tools.

4)?AI Tech, Sunset Ventures and Emerging Tech LA: LA Founders & Investors (In Person Santa Monica Feb 21 $$)

- Join us for an evening of connection and inspiration at a fireside chat with a local serial entrepreneur.? Limited tickets; RSVP in advance

5)?Startup Game Changer: Startup Game Changer Summit 4.0 (In Person, Garden Grove Feb 21 $$$)

- I'm not sure this is worth the fee, but you can decide based on the agenda and the speakers. A?networking event dedicated to exciting startups looking forward to getting funded??

6)?UCLA Technology Development Group: UCLA TDG New Ventures x CNSI Magnify | Third Thursdays Founders Mixer (In Person Feb 22)

-??"Come join us to kick off the 2024 Founders Mixer series! Grab food and network with other UCLA founders and ecosystem partners."

7)?Plug In Ventures: Office Hours with Haley Bryant (Hustle Fund) Webcast Feb 21)

-?February Office Hours featuring Haley Bryant, Principal with Hustle Fund.

8)?Entrepreneur: How to Make the Leap From the Corporate World to Entrepreneurship (Webcast Feb 22)

- Join Launi King in this transformative conversation as she details her journey from corporate success at Mattel and Disney to starting her own inventive accessories company Claspees.?

9)?Westside Digital Mix: Santa Monica Edition (In Person February 22)

- An?opportunity to network, learn, and enjoy the company of like-minded entertainment, media, and technology professionals

10)?Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center: How to Manage Success for SaaS Companies (Webinar Feb 23)

-?Learn why Software as a Service is now the dominant business model for software companies and how to find long-term success with Eric Mersch

11)?Healthcare Happy Hour: Welcome to LA: Hosted by ScaleHealth, Sidebench, Techstars Healthcare, BioscienceLA, and StartUp Health (In Person LA Feb 25)

- ScaleHealth, Sidebench, Techstars Healthcare, BioscienceLA, and StartUp Health are joining forces to host an exceptional happy hour event--a unique opportunity to connect, collaborate, and celebrate with the brightest minds in HealthTech.

12)?Excel Ribbon: Microsoft Excel Tips, Tricks, and Ideas! (Daily Newsletter)

- Follow on to last week's link, this is an almost daily newsletter with some quick, some advanced, Excel tips. Subscribe box is on lower right

13)?Amplify LA: Los Angeles 2H 2023 Seed Report (Report) ?

-?The most recent update of our LA Seed Report, encompassing all seed funding to SoCal companies in the second half of 2023.

14)?Founder Institute: From Startup to Scale: Lessons from Slidebean CEO and TEDx Speaker, Caya (Video)

- "Are you a startup founder looking to secure funding? Watch this webinar and learn the essential skills to project your runway, estimate your scaling potential, and prepare for a successful fundraising round. This webinar will help you take the first step toward financial confidence and startup growth."

15)?Crunchbase:What Did It Take To Raise A Series A Round In 2023? (Article)

- Kruze Consulting looks at Seed Stage fundings in 2023, and examines which company profiles were successful (or not)??

16)?Lighter Capital: How to Raise a Series A Round (Article)

- Another pass at raising an A Round, although much of what's written applies to Seed Rounds, IMO. Pretty clear and concise, though.

17)?Saastr: 2024 State of SaaS: Trends and Predictions (Article)

-?Jason at SaaStr covers quite a few topics surrounding SaaS in this article including revenue, sales comp, NRR, the downturn, sales efficiency

Musical Diversions:

Pearl Jam - Dark Matter

I haven't thought about PJ in quite some time, but this is a good new one from them

Beyoncé - TEXAS HOLD 'EM

In this episode, Beyonce goes country

Cage The Elephant: Neon Pill

Genesis - Watcher of The Skies | The Midnight Special

Readers of a "certain age" will remember The MIdnight Special, when performances like this were shown on regular TV...every week! If you don't know this song, please please check it out

Charley Crockett - Killers of the Flower Moon

This Week's Cover:

Jake Shimabukuro - Landslide

Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks

In Memoriam (an occasional section, hopefully)?

The Spinners - Games People Play On Soul Train

RIP Henry Lee Fambrough, a founding member of the legendary R&B/Soul vocal group, The Spinners

#startupadvice #startupfunding #vcfunding #Startups #StartupEquity #StartupLeadership