Money & Mentoring for Media that Matters

There are several alternative sources of funding for new entrepreneurs, especially for tech, Internet, and media ventures. These are very exciting times. There are crowd funding sources, angel investor sites, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), as well as something new that I’ve recently discovered in my research…accelerator programs or incubators. Companies such as MuckerLab, Amplify LA, and Matter Ventures help upstart companies with both mentorship as well as seed funding. They not only insert themselves into your company for a time being and help it to develop a sustainable foundation, but they also introduce you to their network of professionals in your industry, including investors. They usually provide a platform for you to test out your prototypes and products, gain market understanding, and pitch to worthy collaborators and investors. This is invaluable hands-on training and mentorship.

I have been researching the company Matter Ventures, a media accelerator. Their intentions are clearly articulated on their website. They aim to “support media entrepreneurs building a more informed, connected, and empowered society. We invest $50k to give you five months of runway to do needfinding with your customers, prototype your solutions, and build traction with your audience.” I believe Eclipse Entertainment LLC and Matter Ventures is a perfect fit because their whole mission is “to build
 tomorrow’s meaningful media ventures 
from scratch.” Their tagline is “Change media for good”, which is very similar to our tagline “New media for a new world”. This could be kismet.

Joining an accelerator at this time would be very wise for my company. Our ideas, products, vision, and new technology are cutting edge and perfectly poised within the market at this time. Working with an accelerator company will expedite our progress and ensure that we get started on the right footing. This year will be round 6 for Matter Ventures. They have several startups that they've successfully mentored and funded over the years. I am in the application process currently, and hope to be one of the companies selected in 2016. If so, my team and I will spend 5 months in San Francisco while networking, learning, and birthing our company. I was born and raised in California, and many of my friends and family live around San Francisco, so I am ready to move forward with the next step of my company’s evolution…and the World’s.

Expert Advice on the Importance of Business Plans

Tim Berry

Tim Berry is a widely recognized authority on business plan writing and business planning. He is an expert business planner as well as creator of Business Plan Pro, a comprehensive business planning software. His advice and expertise is renown, as he is also a best-selling author and prolific writer, whose blogs can be found at TimBerry.com, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Forbes, Amex Open Forum, and many others. (2015)

As a member of an angel investor group, Berry looks at over 100 business plans a year, and has a clear idea of what is required for a business plan to be successful:

-Have a good summary in the beginning of your document, as many investors won’t even look past that

-Highlight your management team so that your investor can weigh their risks

-Show signs of high market growth potential with clear numbers

-Have all your ducks in a row, and make sure that these important details are in the summary

-Engage your reader with stories. Be brief; yet offer a deeper look into the players of the company and their vision

All of these suggestions are key in forming a worthy business plan, and I plan to implement them all. Keeping things concise while making your summary an interesting story that will pull in your reader is incredibly valuable insight. That is my intention with my business plan.

References:

Writing your business plan just got easier. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3, 2015, from http://www.paloalto.com/business_plan_software/features/expert_guidance#ixzz3nIh3xNus

Berry, T. (2005, September 11). What Investors Look For in a Plan. Retrieved October 3, 2015, from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/79834

Berry, T. (2014, July 14). Hard Truths About Business Plans and Angel Investors. Retrieved October 3, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-berry/hard-truths-about-busines_b_5585232.html

Will Hsu

Will Hsu, co-founder of the LA-based start-up accelerator MuckerLab, is another expert who has something to say about business plans. Hsu created MuckerLab, an angel investor crowd-sourcing site for pre-seed technology companies. MuckerLab offers more than just funding though, “MuckerLab is a mentorship-driven, pre-seed startup accelerator focused on working with a small number of exceptional technology entrepreneurs to help them launch and scale their businesses through collaborative ideation, productization, go-to-market, marketing, user acquisition, sales, legal guidance, and fundraising.” (MuckerLab, 2015)

Given his expertise working extensively with startups on every level, he is a source that I wanted to research more. He had some radical but relevant input. Here is what he had to say:

-Don’t write a business plan. Get a few whiteboards and hash-out the same items you would put into a business plan

-Go right to creating your product and selling it to your customer, so you can gather data, then take it back to your whiteboard and edit, edit, edit…until you get the right results, risks, and strategies

-For courting investors, create a short 10-15 page presentation instead. Highlight data that helps them understand how much product-market risk has been mitigated

- Rank what you believe could be major reasons your business will fail; e.g. "my price is too high". (Zetlin, 2013)

According to Hsu, investors are looking for actual data of your company’s success in the market…so give it to them. Run some launches and get going with what you can, by cutting out the months of research required to write a business plan and have a faster time to market, building their products and selling to their customers. I can definitely appreciate this perspective, and have already been taking this approach whilst I research and write my business plan. I have already created a presentation pitch for one of my businesses. And when I meet a worthy investor, I will be able to demonstrate tangible evidence of our projections and vision of the market with a thorough yet concise business plan. I love the idea of the white boards and have been planning to purchase a few for this exact reason.

Hsu and Berry have given me much validation for the approach I was planning to take with my own business plan. I am learning that “the business plan” is much more of a stylistic document than I’d thought. It is not so cut and dry. Creativity is required.

References:

MuckerLab. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3, 2015, from https://angel.co/mucker-lab

Zetlin, M. (2013, January 31). Write a Business Plan or Not? 2 Experts Debate. Retrieved October 3, 2015, from http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/should-you-write-a-business-plan-2-experts-debate.html

Tapping the Grid

In these times of suffering and change, everyone is desperate for a remedy, direction, or solution. We at Eclipse Entertainment LLC want to offer this to humanity. It is why we are here. Our "game" is entertainment, but we really are just revolutionaries. We strive to provide enjoyable entertainment that is not dependent on gimmicks, sensationalism, or auto-tune. Most of the media in the world today is geared toward conflict. It is the understanding of the entertainment industry that conflict drives a storyline and that drama is what the masses "tune in" to. While this may the case for our current times, it is not the reality of the human condition. Humans want to be entertained, not stressed out. These massive cultural conditionings are why the world is in such a chaotic state. Eclipse Entertainment LLC is a collective of creatives and gurus. We are creators...and our creations are aimed at salvation, fun, and celebration.

In this part 1 of Tapping the Grid, Khefreun Akua and myself break-down the current transition that the Earth is undergoing. In this first of three videos, we explain the trends and tendencies that will be taking place during this epic shift in humanity's collective consciousness and way of living...

During the next couple of decades, we are entering into a Golden Age. The advent and assimilation of the Internet is just one beautiful example of the ease with which humanity is progressing. In the coming years there will be many more inventions of convenience, as well as new levels of compassion, togetherness, and healing. There will be many reasons for celebration.

We human beings have been on the Earth for many millennia, but it is now during this Age of Aquarius where we will officially come together in wisdom to change our bestial patterns of fear, fight, or flight. In these times, we are indeed growing up. Growing pains are natural, so our media is here to alleviate the sting of maturation while bringing the celebration and fun back to life.

Digital Publishing in the Entrepreneur Age

I am deeply inspired, which is why I'm posting about it. I have discover a brand new production company that honestly can say "for the people, by the people". They are called HitRecord.org, and they are an open-source community-run, fully functioning production company. Not only do they produce all the media and music, but they also publish it via their television show called HitRecord On TV with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He is the show's the creator, and what a revolutionary he is.

There is so much talent in the world, and it is not fair that the bulk of Hollywood entertainment is written by the same companies and people. The ideological story that we are telling is tragically limited when we marginalize or ignore the diversity of thought, wisdom, and stories that could be shown on TV and in music and films. What HitRecord.org does is solicit everything from the general public. Yep. And anyone that creates an aspect of media that is monetized receives a percentage of that revenue. Now that's democracy. And my idea of entertainment. My entertainment company employs a very similar system, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that we are not alone. And to see that the World is ready!

The other thing that this company does is focus on a positive or engaging topic or storyline that actually entertains. They do not rely upon gimmicks or celebrity personalities in order to entertain. They use real people with engaging stories to tell, and then they turn it over to their plethora of creators in order to finalize each project. With so many creators collaborating on a project with full creative control, what is created is a very dynamic, timely, relatable, and inspiring series of stories. I've become addicted to the show, and can't wait to contribute as a creative. What a beautiful world we're weaving...

Negotiating Win-Win Contracts

What If They Use Dirty Tricks? By Claudio F. Kiala

In this podcast, the author shows the specific ways to wriggle out of a dramatic negotiation and create a win-win outcome. In the video he describes how to separate the people from the problem, invent options for mutual benefit, and insist on using objective criteria. These same principles are explained in the book Getting to Yes, which the author cites in his video description. In learning how to separate the people from the problem, the podcast demonstrates how to express feelings and interests and avoid blaming the other.

In learning how to protect oneself from dirty tricks, the video first explains the three most common dirty tricks negotiators can use: deliberate deception, psychological warfare, and positional pressure. When dealing with deliberate deception, it is best to separate the people from the problem by not blaming or being intimidated, but don’t trust the other, and verify their information by doing your research. When a party tries to use psychological warfare, such as scheduling the meeting on “their turf”, the author recommends that you accept their invitation as this may encourage them to listen to you more, plus it allows you to walk out easier. If they’re using personal attacks, such as calling your ignorant for example, he suggests you “raise the issue” directly instead of letting it go. In the third dirty trick most frequently used in negotiations, positional pressure, the author says to see the tactic of a refusal to negotiate (for example) as an actual negotiation ploy. Don’t attack them for not negotiating, and instead find out their reasons (interests) for not wanting to negotiate, and then suggest some other negotiation methods (BATNA), such as using a third-party to mediate.

An artist's guide to successfully negotiating contracts [Part 1] by Caleb Prochnow

In this valuable video, Caleb Prochnow confesses that negotiating contracts are “about the scariest thing” he has ever had to do as an artist. He explains the value of negotiating your pay by reminding the audience that their work is valuable, and that “your art is worth money to the client”. The type of work they are getting from the artist is unique. He states, “You’ve got the winning hand” because “they want what you have.” He then goes on to say that the best thing you have in negotiation is “awkward silence”. He says that if you break the awkward silence, you lose the negotiation. The next person that talks is the one that loses”. This is specifically against what we’ve learned in the book, Getting to Yes, which emphasizes separating the people from the problem and focusing on interests. So his suggestion most applies to the suggestion of what to do if someone tries to say “take it or leave it” in a dirty-trick negotiation tactic. Ignoring them and continuing on as if you haven’t heard them is the best plan. So in this sense, he provides good advice.

In his discussion of copyrighting your material in a negotiated contract, he states “you can negotiate full rights and full buy-out of your original work, but get paid for it…because they will be making money on your work. You are transferring authorship to someone else in a work-for-hire contract.” This is also an interesting correlation to the principle of insisting on using objective criteria. Being prepared prior to this meeting, and knowing what the industry standards are, an artist can avoid having their art stolen or exploited. If they don’t want to give full ownership of their work, they need to negotiate royalties in the contract. As an artist manager and entertainment company CEO, this presentation was incredibly valuable.

Film Negotiations with Weissmann & Levine

In this podcast, Hollywood Entertainment Attorneys Eric Weissmann and Paul Levine do a mock negotiation at the Sherwood Oaks All Access to Hollywood Screenwriters' Event on February 9, 2008. They are negotiating a mock contract between a studio executive and the manager of a script-writer. This podcast was valuable because it demonstrated the necessity of doing one's research prior to negotiating a contract. Finding out the industry standards, a background on invested interests, as well as other objective criteria, and a BATNA is a prerequisite to dealing with an executive at a studio. Since this is my line of entertainment business, this video was invaluable. What they demonstrate in this mock negotiation shows the specifics of entertainment negotiations…which tend to be more informal than usual business negotiations. They also illustrate how studios try to get as much from the writer as possible before they will even pay the writer. They discuss how "the writer’s guild rules" are imperative in negotiating these types of contracts. The studios will always try to give the minimum of what is legal. In this presentation they also stress how the royalties and/or payment for your work is an important aspect of the contract negotiation. One’s “writing” can be viewed as their artwork, and so the copyrighting of ownership is thus paramount to any contract negotiations. Knowing the standards, as well as what you will and won't accept prior to the meeting is necessary.

Multi-Billion Dollar Penny Stock Scam Stopped by the SEC

Before taking my latest course in Entertainment Business, which is Finance, I read an article about this company CYNK Technology, but didn't quite understand what it meant. Now that I'm learning about finance language, formulas, balance sheets, and financials...I went back to take a look at this company and its overnight rise from nothing to a 6 billion dollar market value in a manner of 3 weeks...

In June the company was worth 6 cents a share, which rapidly rose 25,000 percent to over $14 a share by July 10th of 2014. (Source)

Even Apple Inc's stocks (in comparison) have risen a whopping 18,000%...but that's since it went public in 1980. So naturally, every financial analyst was up in arms about this company CYNK; calling it a "pump and dump" scheme that by the time the SEC got involved (and halted sharing) was up to 6 billion dollars. Geez! After investigating the shady company's financials it has been disclosed that there are no assets, no revenue, and only 1 employee. Furthermore, the stock is only exchanged over the counter on an unregulated exchange site. When authorities went to investigate the single owner and shareholder of the company (Javier Romero, located in Belize), they discovered his poverty-ridden family in Belize, who say he knows nothing about the company and owns nothing. (Source)

(Source)

After all the hype from analysts and the media, CYNK stock continued to rise until the SEC called a halt. Then, naturally, shares began to sell like hot cakes. "Even if a company is on the up-and-up, a trading halt will absolutely wreck its shares. CYNK fell from $13.90 to $2.50 within 30 minutes after the market opened." (Source) So again, we have another Penny Stock company that gets away with ultimately grand theft. Someone walked away with 6 billion dollars, and no one knows who. 

Apparently this happens all the time, which makes me a little wary of our stock market and the legitimacy of taking a company public. Who wants to play on a field where cheaters are making fouls that the reps let them get away with? This is not reassuring news for a legitimate company planning to earn its 6 billion dollars.

Open Door

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In this twenty-three minute TED talk, India Arie and Idan Raichel share several songs from their collaboration album “Open Door”. In addition, India gives a moving speech about her creative process for songwriting, which she says is dependent upon first praying, then listening, and finally accepting instead of expecting. She details how to not edit the creative process, and how to instead allow the creativity to “flow”. This TED talk has been one of the most meaningful and engaging TED talks I’ve ever seen. Plus, it’s a great little mini-concert of original sound and rare beauty.

Open Door is an album about acceptance and Community. They bridge together two cultures from opposite ends of the Earth into a celebration of diversity and open-mindedness. Open Door means to open yourself to others while also allowing others into you. Their songs are deep and true, resonating with every human spirit on Earth…and at a time when we could really use the uplift and solidarity. In many ways this album is more of a social movement of practical peace, so it’s unfortunate that no one can find it. Their concert tour has received critical acclaim, but the album still has not been released…even though it was produced more than 3 years ago.

India Arie calls the phenomenon of creative expression a spiritual act, knowing as she does that as soon as she begins to edit “the flow”, everything goes. Only when you allow the creative flow to course through you sans editing will you experience the gift of expressing original art. Music is collaboration with the divine within, whether we choose to accept this or not. India articulately describes this, as well as her process for reclaiming this natural-born gift. These rare songs are evidence. They will uplift your spirit and rejuvenate your soul. Enjoy!