Tag Archives: Startup Superhero Series

Introducing the Startup Superhero Video Series! – This Week Featuring Chris Bechtel on “Driving Growth For Early-Stage Startups”

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles and the Preccelerator Program are proud to announce the launch of their Startup Superhero Video Series – featuring SA&M Attorneys, Preccelerator Mentors, and entrepreneurs on topics specific to entrepreneurship and lessons learned throughout the journey.

This week we’re featuring Preccelerator Mentor Chris Bechtel of Growth Engine Labs as he chats about “Driving Growth for Early-Stage Startups.”  Chris is a growth consultant, start-up advisor, customer acquisition and sales coach, former SaaS CEO, and marketing executive. Chris brings 20 years of sales and marketing expertise, specializing in demand generation, marketing automation, pipeline optimization, content marketing, and sales technologies. Chris has extensive experience in B2B, internet and SaaS technologies working with start-ups, growth stage organizations and brands to maximize the results of their digital marketing, PR and revenue generation activities through the use of content and technology.

 

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Transcript

Heidi: What do you think is the most important thing for driving growth for early stage companies?

 Chris: I think really, the most important thing is really the market. Being in the right section of the market, really focused on customer needs. I think that most start-ups, start with a hypothesis. It usually comes from personal experience, but people often forget there’s many potential buyers of that start-up’s initial idea. There’s a problem, there’s a pain that needs to be solved and think sort of the biggest barrier is not really focusing on the right growth segment within that market. So, I think first and foremost it’s about making sure you’re in a strong market, where the customer’s segments under served. I think then it’s really about that focus. It’s really about focusing on the right section of the market, really understanding who you are marketing to and that’s really going to dictate the value proposition to use and what channels you use to acquire them.

 Heidi: Going back to barriers, talk about the most common barrier to early stage success.

 Chris: I think really the same it’s about focus. With every entrepreneur, it’s both a blessing and a curse to have that creative mind. To be able to come up with unique solutions to common problems. But, then the barrier often comes from overthinking and questioning all those ideas and then not actually being able to focus because essentially every start-up is a hypothesis and then when it comes to marketing that hypothesis those are also a set of hypotheses. The key is focusing and prioritizing a series of tests.

 Heidi: For early stage start-up, how do you find the right people to surround them with to provide attraction and growth.

 Chris: I think that’s a great question, and one that often many founders struggle with.  In terms, of how do I have a co-founder, who’s my initial founding team?  A lot of it starts with what’s the stage that you’re in? What kinds of people? Do you have people, you know, if you’re already at product market fit and you need people to scale? You will need people who have had experience really scaling. In the early days, you needed people who could do many things and are willing to do many things and are able to then also focus on those core things and get us to the next stage of validating product market fit and identifying the actual acquisition channels that are going to help us get to that next stage. Hopefully get some more capital to start scaling.

Heidi: Finally, what’s your favorite thing about being a mentor here at the Preccelerator? What drove you to join us?

 Chris: Well, first of all it’s a great community. There’s great people here and I just really love helping people. That’s why I do what I do I think and helping people get clarity. Because people have so much passion, but it’s hard, it’s really, really hard. So, I love the joy in people’s face when they sort of get clarity, at least what I’m supposed to focus on for the next week or two and get unstuck. I think that’s really what I enjoy the most about being here at Stubbs.

 Heidi: Yeah, community and that sense of empathy, among advisors, mentors, and other entrepreneurs that are advising. It’s been really important and greatly beneficial. Thank you for being here.

Chris Bechtel
Growth Engine Labs
cbechtel@growthenginelabs.com

 

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To learn more about the Preccelerator Program, contact Heidi Hubbeling at hhubbeling@100.26.91.60.

Startup Superhero Series with Kimberly Brooks – Dot-Com Entrepreneur, Artist and Tech Wizard at Lightray

Join Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP
for this exclusive event!

 

Startup Superhero

What is a Startup Superhero? Join us as Kimberly Brooks, Founder and Chief Strategist of Lightray, is interviewed by Kevin DeBre, Partner at Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, stories from her Dot-Com adventures, and how entrepreneurship has changed for her today.

When:
Thursday, February 23, 2017
5:30-6:15pm – Networking
6:15-7:30pm – Fireside Chat with Kimberly Brooks

Where:
SAM Preccelerator Program
1453 3rd Street Promenade, Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Kimberly Brooks

Kimberly Brooks is a Contemporary American Painter, Innovator, Technologist. She has had numerous solo exhibitions in the United States and has been showcased in juried exhibitions, including curators from Mira Schor, Chris Burden, The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, California Institute of the Arts, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. As founding arts editor at the Huffington Post, Brooks grew the section to 22M unique monthly readers/month. She also founded the Science Section and Art Meets Science. In 1996, Brooks founded of Lightray, a web development incubator and design lab which works with numerous companies around the world: www.lightray.com. Website www.kimberlybrooks.com

Moderator 

Kevin DeBre Kevin D. DeBré is the chair of the Firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Practice Group. Kevin advises entrepreneurs and companies that use intellectual property to build their businesses. Kevin has particular expertise in structuring and negotiating technology commercialization and patent licenses, strategic alliances, research and development collaborations, trademark licensing and brand merchandising agreements and manufacturing, distribution and marketing arrangements. He also counsels clients on compliance with data security and privacy laws and regulations. Kevin is a business lawyer, a registered patent lawyer and a former engineer.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a business law firm with robust corporate, public securities, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, intellectual property, brand protection and business litigation practice groups focusing on the representation of, among others, venture backed emerging growth companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, entertainment and digital media companies, investors, venture capital funds, investment bankers and underwriters. The firm’s clients represent the full spectrum of Southern California business with a concentration in the technology, entertainment, videogame, apparel and medical device sectors. Our mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of our Firm. For more information, visit www.stubbsalderton.com

SAM Preccelerator Program Presents: Startup Superhero Series with Adam Nazar of ACD (f/k/a AutoClaims Direct)

Please join Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP and CohnReznick LLP for this special invitation-only speaker session and networking event!

What is a startup superhero? Join us as Adam Nazar, Founder and CTO of ACD (f/k/a AutoClaims Direct), is interviewed by Matt Swider, US Mobile Editor for TechRadar, on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and what it feels like to create a brand used by thousands of people.

When:
Thursday, February 18, 2016
5:30-6:15pm – Networking
6:15-8:00pm – Fireside Chat with Adam Nazar

Location:
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP
1453 3rd Street Promenade, Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Register!

SPEAKERS

Matt Swider is the Mobile Editor of TechRadar.com, covering smartphones, wearables and car tech. He began writing about gadgets when we started his own video game news and reviews website at 14 back in 1999. He holds a Journalism degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Adam Nazar is a founder and CTO of ACD (f/k/a Autoclaims Direct), which under his tenure has grown into one of the largest claims technology & service companies in the industry with over 1,000 employees and contractors. ACD has been named to Inc. Magazines’ list of fastest growing private companies, the Deloitte’s Technology Fast-500, and the Red Herring Top 100 North America among others.  Adam has spent over 15 years serving as a CTO, investor, board member, and advisor to many Southern California companies. He is still an avid programmer and has developed software and technology solutions for numerous industries leading to successful private companies and multiple acquisitions.

A native of San Diego, Nazar got his start developing software at the age of 16 where he worked for HealthLine Systems on one of the first web-based management systems in the Health Care industry. At 19, Adam became a developer during the early formation of The Content Project, which became Schematic/POSSIBLE, a leading global creative agency. Nazar went on to co-found ACD at age 20 and became actively involved in the Los Angeles startup & tech community.  Adam holds a BS in Computer Engineering and Computer Science, and an MS in Computer Science, as well as an MBA from the University of Southern California, where he has also served as a part-time faculty member in the Viterbi School of Engineering.

 

About Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a business law firm with robust corporate, public securities, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, intellectual property, brand protection and business litigation practice groups focusing on the representation of, among others, venture backed emerging growth companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, entertainment and digital media companies, investors, venture capital funds, investment bankers and underwriters. The firm’s clients represent the full spectrum of Southern California business with a concentration in the technology, entertainment, videogame, apparel and medical device sectors. Our mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of our Firm. For more information, visit www.stubbsalderton.com.

About CohnReznick

CohnReznick LLP is one of the top accounting, tax, and advisory firms in the United States, combining the resources and technical expertise of a national firm with the hands-on, entrepreneurial approach that today’s dynamic business environment demands. Headquartered in New York, NY, and with offices nationwide, CohnReznick serves a large number of diverse industries and offers specialized services for middle market and Fortune 1000 companies, private equity and financial services firms, government contractors, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. The Firm, with origins dating back to 1919, has more than 2,700 employees including nearly 300 partners and is a member of Nexia International, a global network of independent accountancy, tax, and business advisors. For more information, visit www.cohnreznick.com.

You’re Invited! Startup Superhero Series with James Citron and Networking Under the Stars – Nov 12, 2015

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Startup Superhero Series & Networking Under the Stars

 

Please join CohnReznick LLP and Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP for a special invitation-only speaker session followed by an opportunity to network under the stars.

What is a startup superhero? Join us as James Citron, CEO of Pledgeling, is interviewed by Matt Swider, US Mobile Editor for TechRadar, on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and what it feels like to create a brand used by thousands of people.

When:
Thursday, November 12, 2015
5:30-7:00pm – Startup Superhero Series with James Citron
7:00pm-9:30pm – Networking Under the Stars (2nd Floor Patio)

 

Location:
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP
1453 3rd Street Promenade, Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90401

RSVP:

Katie Garcia, 310-843-8218

Speakers

Matt SwiderMatt Swider is the Mobile Editor of TechRadar.com, covering smartphones, wearables and car tech. He began writing about gadgets when we started his own video game news and reviews website at 14 back in 1999. He holds a Journalism degree from Pennsylvania State University.
James CitronJames Citron is a mobile entrepreneur, evangelist, and disruptor. Over the last dozen years, Citron has led multiple companies through acquisitions, built products that have reached 150MM Americans on mobile and launched mobile products in 20 countries.

As Co-Founder & CEO of Mogreet, he helped to jump start the mobile video industry when his products powered the first mobile video campaigns for ABC, Fox, Nike and Paramount beginning in 2008. Nicknamed the ‘Father of MMS’, Citron’s company sent the first cross-carrier MMS in the market and today, his technology powers 80% of all MMS messaging sent by US brands. While serving as President of Outspoken, his mobile CRM platform become an industry standard used by brands and agencies to power over fifty thousand mobile campaigns. As CRO of mGage, Mr. Citron’s ran the largest mobile messaging business in the United States delivering over four billion mobile messages annually to over fifty percent of American wireless subscribers. In

2015, Mr. Citron recently joined Pledgeling as its CEO with the goal of making charitable donations via mobile simple, secure and fun.

Citron is a long-time active member of the Mobile Marketing Association and author of several mobile industry guidelines currently in use today. He is a frequent speaker at leading industry trade events, published author, educator, and an advisor and investor in early-stage companies. Citron is a graduate of Princeton University.

 

 

About Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a business law firm with robust corporate, public securities, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, intellectual property, brand protection and business litigation practice groups focusing on the representation of, among others, venture backed emerging growth companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, entertainment and digital media companies, investors, venture capital funds, investment bankers and underwriters. The firm’s clients represent the full spectrum of Southern California business with a concentration in the technology, entertainment, videogame, apparel and medical device sectors. Our mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of our Firm. For more information, visit www.stubbsalderton.com.

About CohnReznick

CohnReznick LLP is one of the top accounting, tax, and advisory firms in the United States, combining the resources and technical expertise of a national firm with the hands-on, entrepreneurial approach that today’s dynamic business environment demands. Headquartered in New York, NY, and with offices nationwide, CohnReznick serves a large number of diverse industries and offers specialized services for middle market and Fortune 1000 companies, private equity and financial services firms, government contractors, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. The Firm, with origins dating back to 1919, has more than 2,700 employees including nearly 300 partners and is a member of Nexia International, a global network of independent accountancy, tax, and business advisors. For more information, visit www.cohnreznick.com.