BLOG STARTUPS, VENTURE AND THE TECH BUSINESS
February 3 2011
by Todd Hixon
When To Say Yes
2011 promises to be a good year for exits: economy healthier, stock market up, IPO window open, big tech companies with strong earnings and cash piles. Expectations for sorely-needed big exits are rising. I hope that happens. But let’s stay sober. I’m struck by how often venture boards overplay their hands in M&A negotiations. I’ve seen ...
February 1 2011
by John Backus
Startup America: Where’s the Beef?
At age 84, Wendy’s pitchwoman Clara Peller introduced Americans to the phrase, “Where’s the beef?” As I read the much-hyped announcement from the Obama Administration about Startup America, I felt as if I was channeling Clara Peller. Where’s the beef, I ask? I love entrepreneurs. At New Atlantic Ventures we see entrepreneurs every day who ...
January 30 2011
by Todd Hixon
The Hidden Truth About The Rich
Unless you are a media hermit, you have surely heard that: The distribution of wealth has become much more unequal in the last 20 years. Relatively few rich people control most of the world’s wealth, and this threatens to undermine democratic societies. “Rich” people means bankers, hedge fund managers, private equity managers, corporate CEOs, and ...
January 28 2011
by Scott Johnson
Mobile Clicks Are Garbage!
Most mobile advertisement banner clicks are accidental. The Harris group published a study yesterday saying this. Surprised? I’m not! Has anyone actually clicked a mobile banner on purpose? Really? I can’t imagine doing so – the experience is so bad. I think Shakespeare might have been thinking of mobile banner ads when he quipped “It is ...
January 24 2011
by John Backus
What’s your Rx for Health Care?
While we watch legislators attempt to repeal health care reform, I though it was about time I express my personal frustrations with the system, make some suggestions, and start a productive discussion about big opportunities for entrepreneurs. On Tuesday January 25, 2011 President Obama will give his State of the Union address and will no ...
January 21 2011
by John Backus
There’s a Slide For That!
The purpose of this blog post is to help entrepreneurs avoid looking “canned” when they pitch VCs. Every entrepreneur is passionate about their business, and a pitch to a VC is an important moment in the life of most startups. I hope that this post helps entrepreneurs see their pitches through our eyes – and ...
January 18 2011
by Todd Hixon
Honey Pots Wanted
We’ve made three investments in the business side of health care. We’re not a health care fund, not expert in treating disease or handicapping the odds of of new drug approval (except to say that they seem very poor). But we understand how new competitors using methods like eCommerce, software as a service, and new ...
January 18 2011
by Scott Johnson
Mobile Monetization 2.0
Mobile monetization 2.0 is going to happen in 2011. Marketing budgets against mobile are showing up in the hundreds of millions, some new monetization schemes (CPL and CPD) are paying good eCPMs, 4G is coming, and this is all really great news for entrepreneurs and mobile app publishers as everyone everywhere taps into mobile apps. ...
January 11 2011
by Todd Hixon
Watersheds: Real & Wannabe
This is part 2 of my observations from CES 2011. Year of the Tablet: Not Quite Yet The media proclaimed 2011 the year of the tablet, and obedient to their editors’ direction, reporters found many tablets on the floor, e.g., HuffPost: 11 New Tablets You’ve Probably Never Heard Of From CES 2011. In truth, the ...
January 10 2011
by Todd Hixon
Rule The Air
CES 2011 is over, I write with relief as I await the plane home. Observations follow; this is part 1 of 2. It’s So Big! Various reports put attendance at between 140,000 and 160,000, up from 120,000 in 2010. The display floor was so vast (36 acres) and crowded that it’s hard to find what ...
