BLOG STARTUPS, VENTURE AND THE TECH BUSINESS
Author Archive
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 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 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 26 2010
by Scott Johnson
Fostering Innovation
I recently sat on a panel to discuss how to create an innovation economy with a high-level delegation from an Eastern European country. To prepare for this discussion, I sat down with a clean sheet of paper and outlined the necessary conditions for innovation to occur, and the attributes innovation hubs tend to share.
I ...
January 19 2010
by Scott Johnson
Beware Of The “No Question About It” Advisor
Advising and taking advice are a true art – particularly when it comes to questions of strategy. There is no advisor who can give a team of executives an unqualified point of view on a strategic issue. Yet such resolute advice is quite abundant. I am as guilty as anyone. It is so clear to ...
January 12 2010
by Scott Johnson
We Have Very Little To Whine About
I was wandering through stock chart land and decided to compare Art Technology Group against the Nasdaq since its IPO in 1999 as I hadn’t checked in on that company since 2001 or so. I noticed that the Nasdaq was flat since the ATG IPO, and that ARTG under-performed the Nasdaq but is still alive ...
January 11 2010
by Scott Johnson
Follow-on Capital
I see seed stage investing happening all around me. Angels appear to me to be very active as individuals although I have nothing but anecdotal data to support that. Dedicated funds doing seed investing are gaining traction with LPs who want their piece of the next super-deal. We at NAV do the occasional seed deal, ...
January 5 2010
by Scott Johnson
The Fourth Screen – Are Tablets for Real?
I am seeing startups that are using “tween” computers (essentially ipod touch look-alikes running android or linux with a 5×7” screen) for a variety of new applications. The price point is at $300 and declining for a fully performant connected machine, and I wanted to come right out and say that I am a believer in this category.
November 30 2009
by Scott Johnson
Tom Tom and Garmin In Serious Trouble
Personal Navigation is being disrupted. Garmin and Tom Tom, as their share prices show, are being Googled. That is, their expensive consumer service is suddenly free from Google. Can they survive? There is a great deal of speculation about this in the press. So I thought I would add mine, as I am an investor ...
November 24 2009
by Scott Johnson
Is the EU actually right about something?
> Update on 11/30. I spoke to several of my companies, and learned that MySQL from Sun is not something they can’t live without. They would prefer Oracle didn’t own it, but the premise that Oracle will harm startups as an owner of MySQL is not true. The argument that Sun/MySQL is the preferred vendor ...
