BLOG STARTUPS, VENTURE AND THE TECH BUSINESS
September 17 2010
by John Backus
Students Rule: Students are the Future of Education!
Students Rule! I first heard these words a few months ago at a board meeting for a rapidly growing company in the education space whose board I sit on – Koofers. Boy, do I wish they existed when I was a student. Students Rule. What a simple idea. But how very different from the command ...
September 17 2010
by John Backus
Entrepreneurs: How to Pay 0% in Capital Gains Taxes when you Sell your Business
How? Simple. Start your company in Virginia. Or, move your company to Virginia. We are pretty centrally located on the east coast. New Governor Bob McDonnell passed a poorly publicized law earlier this year. In an effort to spur new company creation in Virginia, he created a 3-year capital gains tax holiday window in Virginia. ...
September 14 2010
by Todd Hixon
Is Android The Next Windows?
Is history repeating itself? Recently the monthly connect rate for Android phones passed the iPhone in the U.S., and many analysts believe Android phones in use will outnumber iPhones early next year. Apple popularized the personal computer with the launch of the Apple II in 1977. Microsoft, IBM, and Intel followed in 1981 with what ...
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 ...
