Ben Kuo just posted on SoCalTech: Are the good times for startups back? That seemed to be the mood running through the cloud at the more-than-sellout crowd at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica Thursday at the first LA Demo Day. At the event, the enthusiasm for startups was palpable. Are others seeing this as well MORE >>

It’s a 4 hour time difference with Los Angeles; I forgot. So when I said I’d meet First Angel Network’s Ross Finlay for breakfast at 7:30am I hadn’t realized that would feel like 3:30am for me. But a friendly face early in the morning is a benefit in itself as I begin a 8-day visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia. MORE >>

How do you help aspiring actors and actresses break into the film industry? Beer told us a bit about the startup, and how it compares with starting up a cable channel like the Sundance Channel. What is StarCast Auditions? Gary Beer: We launched in December, and the premise of it, is to use video auditions to vet up and coming actors. Thanks! MORE >>

Thursday, May 17, 2012 -- TriTech SBDC Freestyle Forum. Topic: marketing for startups.strategies and tactics for rapid growth. Email Marquise Jackson at marquise.jackson@rccd.edu. MORE >>

I recently spoke at the Blue Glass conference on the topic of marketing. I’ll write up some thoughts in a blog post format soon. I’ve been spending time looking at marketing conversion metrics at portfolio companies lately. How do brand pages convert relative to the Timeline. How well do YouTube ad campaigns work? hint: remove Bit.ly MORE >>