Andrew Warner, founder of Mixergy, gives some quick hints and tips about keeping your inbox clear.

"Uncle Saul" gives some hints and tips on negotiating agreements with big companies.

Sam Wu, a business, corporate and securities attorney and partner of Technology Capital Law Group, gives an in-depth look at how pre-money and post-money valuation works.

Yes, we are in a recession. Maybe not a textbook definition of one, but textbooks tend to be behind the times. So, we’re in a recession. You can feel it. You can see the change in the business climate. Interestingly enough, those who have the resources – secure funding, or wealth – are relishing the inherent contradictions of the marketplace. They know that this is a time of great opportunity.

Your lawyer may be the most important member of your extended venture. The difference between a great lawyer and a good lawyer is startling and you will know it once you experience both.

Brian Ring, program director at the Greater Los Angeles Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program, gives some hints and tips on how to become a successful entrepreneur.

Marc Averitt, a venture capitalist at Okapi Venture Capital, wrote this post for one simple reason: to be able to point every would-be-entrepreneur who asks him what it takes to “get venture capital.” So, what are VCs looking for before they decide to invest in a start-up? The good news is that Marc discloses the secrets here. The bad news is that even if you cover all of these elements it still doesn’t guarantee you will get funding.

Angel investor Al Schneider, of the Tech Coast Angels and Pasadena Angels, talks about the ways investors value your startup, deal terms, and valuation concepts.

Every startup faces the question of who to hire for their first sales position. Do you look for that fantastic VP of sales who is not only a great closer, but also a master strategist? Do you hire that friend of the founder who is young but promising? How do you decide?

"Uncle Saul" talks about why most business books suck, and why.

A well regarded, local technology exec--who has led one IPO, was closely involved in another, along with a number of M&A transactions, but who wishes to remain anonymous -- talks about the "rookie advantage" of being a startup.

Omid Rahmat--former publisher of Tom's Hardware Guide--speculates on the next Internet wave, which he thinks will involve web applications and software-as-a-service.

Sid Mohasseb, managing director of Venture Farm and an angel investor who is the incoming President of the Tech Coast Angels Orange County, talks about the importance of watching performance indicators -- even as a startup.

Scott Fox, the Los Angeles-based author of "Internet Riches," talks about the problem of Internet companies not telling people where their company is located.

Hitting the wall is a term that will be familiar to anyone who has attempted to run a marathon. Omid Rahmat, former CEO of Tom's Guide Publishing, talks about the current state of online publishing and advertising, and how online content is flagging a little these days, and may need to get a second wind.

Matt Ridenour, Managing Director at Momentum Venture Partners, a Los Angeles early stage venture fund and advisory firm, shares some hints and tips about basic corporate structure for startups and entrepreneurs.

Jared Reitzen, CEO and Founder of Los Angeles-based mobileStorm, gives some hints and tips on making sure important things don't slip through the cracks when running a growing business.

Building a great company requires a combination of talent, persistence and luck. Angel investor Ken Deemer discusses the five things that he believes will ultimately have the most impact on your chances for success.

Entrepreneurs often find themselves in high-stakes negotiations with big, savvy players, with significant negotiating power (referred to herein as “Big Boys”) -- whether it be a venture capital firm in connection with a financing or a private equity firm in connection with the sale of the entrepreneur’s business; the situation can indeed be daunting. Scott Edward Walker gives ten tips to entrepreneurs.

Mark Averitt, a venture capitalist at Okapi Venture Capital, talks about the different kinds of risk that venture capitalists assess when deciding to invest--or not invest--in a startup.

Most entrepreneurs looking for funding have heard about the various avenues available to them, but are not familiar with the positives and negative of each. Sid Mohasseb of Venture Farm gives a 10,000 foot view of different funding sources.

Scott Edward Walker, a corporate attorney, gives ten tips for entrepreneurs who are launching a start-up that will seek venture capital financing.

Your company name. Your logo. Your slogans. The look and feel of your business and products. These all set your business apart from your competition, and therefore can act as trademarks. Steven C. Sereboff, Mark A. Goldstein, and Michael D. Harris discuss some of the basic issues behind trademarks.

Scott Edward Walker, a corporate attorney, gives ten tips to entrepreneurs who are thinking about, or want to know more about, selling their business.

The decision to pursue patents, which kind and how much to spend is a business decision that merits both consideration and planning. Steven C. Sereboff, Mark A. Goldstein, and Michael D. Harris discuss some of the basic issues and costs of filing a patent.

How do entrepreneurs identify and manage the personal connections that are central to their new ventures? Perhaps more importantly, what network-building strategies are most effective?

Scott Steuber and Ted Simpson look at the changing Los Angeles real estate landscape for technology focused startups who are looking for office space, and answer the question about where people are putting their startups today.

Mark Skaist, a corporate lawyer at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, gives some hints and tips for entrepreneurs. Skaist talks in this interview about shareholders agreements, valuation, and intellectual property protection.

The success of your startup is likely to be greater if you plan your business. The ensuing discussion focuses on proper planning prior to the start of operations, and continued planning during implementation.

In a perfect world, the most creative and innovative ideas would have an easy time getting funded, while all of the flawed business concepts would quickly fall by the wayside. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world: we live in Southern California, a place where even the “next big thing” can have trouble lining up money. Technology entrepreneurs could save themselves a lot of time – and heartache – if they followed a few rules before they approached angel investors and venture capitalists.

5 software applications that every startup needs, according to the author of The Streetwise Small Business Book of Lists.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Tenants: How Los Angeles Technology Companies Can Make Real Estate Work for Them covers some key basic topics for high tech companies planning for their future.

Venture Capital: A Practice Guidebook for Capital-Seeking Business, Owners, Managers and Advisors is a complete book covering the basics of venture capital funding, including a overview of venture capital funds; investors rights agreements;what to expect in a VC transaction; terms sheets; venture capital terms and jargon, and more. The book comes courtesy of Michael Colwin, SVP of Sales at Bowne, who can be reached at mike.colwin@bowne.com or (310)282-8800.

You don't have to wait for angel investors or venture capitalists to fund your business in order to start. Steven Mednick gives some tips to get going on your own.

Angel funding for growing companies is a mysterious process to most entrepreneurs. Somewhere between hitting up your rich uncle and begging for a loan at the bank, a professional angel group can provide $250,000 to $1.5m in equity funds to accelerate growth and make it attractive to later stage investors. Ken Hayes, a member of the Pasadena Angels, gives a rundown of the angel funding process and how it works.

While one can't underestimate the importance of funding, it's not the make-or-break factor that separates successful ventures from the also-rans. Rather, the most important issue is leadership. Simply put, companies need to have senior-level decision makers with the experience to understand how to navigate the unique and challenging path that start-up ventures need to take.

Frank Addante, a successful Los Angeles entrepreneur, and former founder and CEO of StrongMail Systems and CTO and founder of L90, talks about when it is, and isn't appropriate to look for venture capital, and why.

What really turns you on? Think about it … what would cause you to jump out of bed every morning with a fire in your belly instead of dreading that train ride into “work?” What would you do if you could do anything in the world? Now, get ready for this question: Why aren’t you doing it? Kelly Perdew, Managing Director at Angel-Led Venture Partners and winner of "The Apprentice", talks about finding your passion.

Matt Ridenour, Managing Director at of Momentum Venture Management, talks about some tips on finding early stage investors.

Richard Abbitt, CEO and President of Venture Realty Group, gives some hints and tips to startups looking for real estate and office space.

Three Keys to Obtaining Venture Capital is designed to help first-time entreprenuers understand the venture capital process and provides a useful step-by-step tool for creating a business plan. Through this understanding, and armed with a comprehensive and thorough business plan, and entreprenuer will have realistic expectations and can concentrate on targeting the financing search for the most promising business investment sources.

What are venture capitalists looking for today? Entrepreneurs often have a hard time figuring out what venture capitalists are looking for, and when the best time it is to approach them for funding. This article looks at what VCs are looking for.