Building a startup is hard. There’s the wilderness period and valley of sorrow that many teams face once they launch from an initial phase of inspiration and hope for the future. To create a startup is to pursue a leap of faith into the zone of the unknown. There are challenges ahead and opportunities to…

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Starting up is really hard. By the time you find yourself with an investor, you feel a bit more seasoned to nail the pitch and leave with positive results. However, there are no guarantees and raising capital is nearly impossible, especially for underrepresented founders. Fundraising is a mode that requires constant attention and a whole lot of grit. With preparation, founders can achieve greater results and leverage every investor interaction as an opportunity to build the business.

Every story has its hero. There is a sound like that of a crowded marketplace. If you listen closely, you’ll hear a beat of enthusiasm and measured confidence as people come together around the innate possibilities of entrepreneurship and startup community building. …

History has a way of teaching some valuable lessons. Experience is the ultimate history professor. Proven methods and insights from those who have come before us can help keep us on the right path and ensure a safer journey on the road to success and impact. …

In just a few more hours, I’ll have embarked on another mission to help spark community, ideas, and impact by attending Startup Weekend Santa Barbara as a mentor and co-facilitator. If you’re not familiar with Techstars Startup Weekend, here’s a primer. We’re talking 54 hours of blazing entrepreneurial thinking, team-building…

You’ve been there right? A founder with an awesome idea and 10x potential sets out on a journey to go from zero to unicorn status in breakneck speed. Some call that Blitzscaling. Blitzscaling is a specific set of practices for igniting and managing dizzying growth; an accelerated path to the…

Enjoyed the leadership lessons offered by Liane Hornsey, Chief People Officer at Uber, during yesterday’s 10th Annual Central Coast Business Symposium hosted by Andre Morris & Buttery. Here are a few of my favorite highlights: Treat your people like people no matter who they are or where they come from. Find a way to involve them in decision making. Let them take an active role in shaping the future of the company.

A recent visit to the Santa Maria Business Development Center (MIYB Spaces), a hot bed of resources for small business owners on the Central Coast, led to a dynamic encounter with folks hungry for knowledge. …