12 posts and columns on VCs

“Great” is Tough To Pick Out of the “Good” Crowd

in Voices on December 1, 2011 at 10:46 am PT

One of the oldest adages in start-ups, for entrepreneurs and VCs alike, is that “the key to success is the quality of the people.” My experience supports this notion unequivocally.

As Web IPOs Hit, Few Share the Spoils

in News on July 8, 2011 at 12:00 am PT

Silicon Valley’s technology boom is giving a lift to the venture-capital industry. But many of the gains are being disproportionately reaped by brand-name venture firms, which are benefiting from a wave of Internet IPOs and the soaring valuations of closely held companies such as Facebook Inc.

The Midas List, Or Why Facebook May Be The New Google

in News on April 7, 2011 at 5:30 am PT

With hundreds of prominent venture capitalist gathered at the NVCA conference in Boston today, it was an interesting time for Forbes to release its sometimes-annual Midas list of 2011’s top 100 tech investors. We imagine some VCs gave their touch-screens a good workout as they scrolled through the list to see where they ranked – [...]

VCs Pay Up for Second(ary) Chance to Invest in Web Winners

in Social on February 15, 2011 at 2:14 pm PT

Apparently some folks wanted extra cash to buy ultra-deluxe Christmas gifts last year. Current employees of private companies made up the largest single portion of stock sellers on SecondMarket in December, a huge leap from prior months.

VCs: The Time to Make Money in Security Has Finally Arrived

in News on February 14, 2011 at 2:35 pm PT

Thousands of people are descending on San Francisco this week to check out the latest in computer security at the RSA Conference, and among them will be angel investors and venture capitalists looking for their next deal.

Google Ventures Sows Seed Funding With New Start-Up Lab (Video Tour)

in Social on February 12, 2011 at 7:00 am PT

As incoming CEO Larry Page seeks to recapture Google’s entrepreneurial spirit, Google Ventures thinks it’s in for a year of expansion and support from its corporate parent.

A Web Ad That Tells You It's Stalking You

in Media on November 18, 2010 at 9:34 am PT

Web ads that follow you from site to site are both standard practice and potentially disturbing. Not this campaign–it’s aimed at people who love this kind of stuff.

Start-Up CEOs Gripe About VCs' Lack of Operating Experience

in News on November 12, 2009 at 12:51 am PT

Start-up CEOs often spend nearly all of their waking hours building their companies. Their investors, on the other hand, typically appear once a month for board meetings. So it’s not surprising that some entrepreneurs may feel a little resentful toward their venture backers. That’s somewhat evident from the new survey, “A Seat at the Table,” which canvassed more than 500 VCs and CEOs at venture-backed companies and asked them several questions about their thoughts on boards.