If I Knew Then What I Know Now

Avoiding Common Entrepreneur Mistakes

When venturing out on your own, there is no manual to guide you. So we have asked an experienced panel of entrepreneurs and advisors to share some of the things they may have done differently if they knew then what they know now. Please join TechBiz Connection and its panel to find out how you can avoid these less obvious, but more common mistakes.

MODERATOR

Don Hicks | Director, Business Development | Quantum Leaders
Don Hicks has been a part of the Orange County technology community since 1980. He currently provides strategic business development expertise to emerging technology companies as Director of Business Development for Quantum Leaders. Until recently, Don served as Executive Director of TechAmerica (formerly AeA) Orange County Council, the largest association representing technology in the country. Don serves on the board of directors for TechBiz Connection as well as the board of advisors for TriTech SBDC and Chapman University Department of Math and Computer Science.

PANELISTS

Kirsten Mangers | Co-Founder & CEO | Webvisible
Kirsten co-founded Webvisible, a software company, in 2001 transforming the way local businesses buy and benefit from advertising on the Web. Prior to WebVisible, Kirsten accumulated 20 years of experience in the local interactive, wireless, and yellow pages industries with GTE, Pacific Bell, SBC, Go2 Systems, and Engage Technologies (a CMGi Company). She has held executive positions in Sales, Strategic Planning, Marketing, and Business Development. Kristen is a featured speaker for local media conferences and is a self-proclaimed "small business advocate."

Stuart MacFarlane | Managing Director | Momentum Venture
Stuart brings more than 10 years of consumer internet and new media experience to Momentum Venture Management, with a strong track record of launching popular online destinations. He joined Momentum in 2007 after serving as CEO of Insider Pages, a search engine backed by Sequoia Capital, Softbank Capital and Idealab. Stuart quickly built Insider Pages into a leading user generated content site before it was sold to Citysearch in 2007. Previously he was VP of New Ventures at Idealab, where he advised portfolio companies in business development, fundraising and new product development. Prior to joining Idealab, Stuart was Managing Director of Digital Media Services at Loudeye Technologies, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at MXG Media, and was also a consultant at Bain & Company. He started his career working for SmithKline Beecham for five years. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor's Degree from Cornell University.

Sid Mohasseb | CEO | WiseWindow
Mr. Mohasseb is the CEO of WiseWindow, Inc., a sentiment extraction platform technology company. He is also serving as a Managing Director of Venture Farm LLC; an early stage funding and execution firm. He is the past president of the Tech Coast Angels in Orange County; the largest angel network in US with in excess of $100 million dollars of direct investments in over 150 companies with follow-up investments of over $ 1.0 Billion from the Venture Capital community. He also serves or has served on a number of corporate and advisory boards: WiseWindow, Inc. (Chairman), Anabasis, Clupedia.com, AccuScore (Orion Data Corp.), Trend Point Systems, Vator.TV, Cerius Consulting and XS Capacity (Chairman). He is also on the advisory board of a number of non-for profit and educational organizations, including Paul Mirage School of Business: University of California at Irvine, The Southern California Technology Council, and TiE.

Bart | Greenberg | Partner | Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Bart is a partner is the Orange County office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, where he practices general corporate law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings and the cost-effective representation of entrepreneurs, start-ups and emerging technology companies. Mr. Greenberg serves as Co-Chair of the firm's Venture Capital & Technology practice group. Bart is also a strong contributor to the community by his tireless support and active involvement in many local technology organizations, including, among others, Tech Coast Venture Network, where he currently serves as its Chairman, TechBiz Connection, where he currently serves on its Board, the Office of Technology Transfer & Commercialization, California State University, San Bernardino, where he currently serves as a reviewer and evaluator of grant applications, and the Digital Media Center in Santa Ana, California, where he currently serves on its Advisory Board.