BLOG STARTUPS, VENTURE AND THE TECH BUSINESS
February 26 2010
by Scott Johnson
Speculating on Apple’s “Big Bold Moves”
Apple said yesterday in its shareholder meeting that it is not going to dividend any of its cash. Rather, Steve is planning some “Big, Bold Moves” for the $40 billion mountain of green he sits atop. He either said this because he needs good World Cup tickets from investment bankers, or he is actually planning ...
February 25 2010
by John Backus
VC Tips for Entrepreneurs: How to manage the VC on your Board
Venture Capitalists love giving advice to startup entrepreneurs. We especially love doing it while in the boardroom, before, during, and after that 40-slide powerpoint presentation that you and your management team spent a week preparing. With a VC on your board of directors, you never know if you are going to get The Good, The ...
February 25 2010
by Todd Hixon
Five Reasons To Believe in Tablets
We recently made an investment in Tap ‘n Tap; they provide an Android-based software framework that enables OEMs to create tablets that compete with the Apple iPad. You have to believe a couple of things for this investment to work out: 1) the tablet market will be big, 2) Android will be a major ...
February 25 2010
by John Backus
VC Tips for Entrepreneurs: Thoughts About Raising Money
Most entrepreneurs raise money to help their businesses get off the ground. Whether from angels or venture capitalists, I see most entrepreneurs making the same mistake. They raise money when they “have to.” There is a better way. With some advance planning, you can raise money, easier, at certain moments in time. Take advantage of ...
February 17 2010
by Thanasis Delistathis
Mobile communications opening up
I believe that this week’s announcement of Verizon exclusive bundling of Skype into its mobile phones is a significant milestone in the inevitable march towards a world of open mobile communications.
What I mean is that carriers will increasingly become value added internet service providers. They are currently the old AOL. Providing access to the internet ...
February 12 2010
by Todd Hixon
Pay to Pitch?
Should entrepreneurs pay third parties to help raise money? This is a perennial question in the venture world. It comes down to two things:
Will the investment in outside help pay off?
Will investors see paying for help as a negative factor?
There are different kinds of fund-raising help. The main ones are: “investment ...
February 10 2010
by Scott Johnson
The Web Landscape 2010
Facebook’s monthly unique count is approaching Google’s. This got me thinking about the maturity of the internet, who the incumbents are ahead of the next phase of innovation as handsets become as important as the desktop, and who might be vulnerable to an entrepreneur and some investment.
In my view, the important consumer-facing companies on the ...
February 9 2010
by Todd Hixon
The Seduction of Venture Debt
Summon up your picture of a VC: insouciant air, expensive casual clothes, youthful with a touch of gray for gravitas, cruising the 101 in a Porsche, thinking about moving up to a Tesla. Does this guy have a sub-prime mortgage? No way, you think! But probably he does, not on his house but on his ...
February 5 2010
by Scott Johnson
An Apple/iPhone Rant
I love Apple’s products, and choose them over competitors despite higher prices (the Apple Tax) because they are better by far. The iPhone is a great value. But Apple is beginning to screw up, as they always do, by controlling the experience too much. Here are three reasons they will, in five years, have handed ...
January 29 2010
by Thanasis Delistathis
iPad and the amazing Apple PR machine
So the Apple tablet is finally out and it is called the iPad, to the amusement of most females who think they should have been consulted on the name. I have been following the rumours and hype surrounding the lead up to the announcement and I was having a tough time thinking of another product ...
