BLOG STARTUPS, VENTURE AND THE TECH BUSINESS
September 1 2010
by John Backus
Preserving the Start-Up Ecosystem: Loyalty vs. Brand
“Many a man owes his success to his first wife and his second wife to his success.” – -Jim Backus (of Gilligan’s Island and Mr. Magoo fame – and not related at all to this blog post author despite the similarity in name!) The provocative purpose of this post is to ask VCs and Entrepreneurs ...
August 19 2010
by Scott Johnson
August Slow Down, Where Art Thou?
In the previous century, the investment world took a mild breather in August ahead of the Q4 rush. I used to appreciate the slower pace as a time for unplugged reflection and time with family. But I have noticed an interesting shift in the last ten years. August is no longer sacred. You can’t blame ...
July 22 2010
by Thanasis Delistathis
Are there too many smartphone operating systems?
I had predicted that July 2008 would mark a seminal moment in the history of technology. That’s when Apple launched their mobile App Store. Now, it’s hard to think of an iPhone without the apps. A new app economy has been created with 250,000 applications in the App Store and $1BN paid out to developers. ...
July 14 2010
by Todd Hixon
The iPad Turns 6
In two weeks we have the six-month birthday of the iPad (announced January 27, 2010). A few things have become clear, some aligned with my expectations and some not [see the surprised /not-surprised postscript on each paragraph]: The tablet category is off to a strong start. Apple has sold ~3 million units. All the usual ...
July 14 2010
by Scott Johnson
The Six Step Venture Capital Investment Process
Every venture firm has pretty much the same six step process. It is not hard to understand, and every firm puts their own spin on it. But you can pretty much count on these six steps occurring in sequence before you will see any cash in your bank account.
July 13 2010
by John Backus
The SEC prohibits VCs from giving to Political Candidates!?!
Do a few bad apples spoil the entire bushel? There have been a few well-publicized investigations and prosecutions of illegal bribes and kickbacks between money managers and state and local pension funds. New York Common Retirement Fund is the poster child here. Bribery is illegal, and those who participate in it should spend time with ...
June 16 2010
by John Backus
Venture Capital Carried Interest Tax Debate – A VC’s Perspective
HB 4213. Much has been made of late of the Venture Capital Carried Interest Tax Hike Bill. It carries the gallows-humor title of the “American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010.” Charlie Rangel, the Congressman from Harlem (seen here relaxing on one of his properties which triggered his current ethics investigation) is the ...
June 16 2010
by Scott Johnson
iPhone 4.0: This Must Be Important
I just read that early iPhone 4.0 sales are ahead of 3Gs sales. This is impressive, but I am not surprised. Anecdotally, I am hearing that iPhone owners all want this phone immediately. This is not just from well-heeled VCs. It is from babysitters and people in line at the bagel store. And it is ...
June 11 2010
by Todd Hixon
The View From The Dark Side #2: Participating Preferred
Entrepreneurs often dislike participating preferred stock. It can be a contentious term at investment time, and I often sense resentment at exit time when investors “get $XX million off the top”. “Participating preferred” refers to convertible preferred stock with a special liquidation right: preferred stock holders receive return of their investment, and then they share ...
June 11 2010
by Scott Johnson
Arrogant Companies
If there is one thing that success inexorably leads to in a company culture, it is arrogance. Arrogance in turn leads to complacency, blindness to threats and a loss of touch with reality. Further, it motivates your competitors to join forces against you. I believe arrogance is a big part of why it is so ...
