Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
By now you probably know that Netflix is splitting its business into two parts: its digital streaming business (retains the name Netflix) and its DVD mailing business, which was its original business (to be called Qwikster). If you haven’t read Reed’s explanation of this split make sure you read it (of course, after you’re done with this post ) —> here.
This is going to be BIG.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
Don't know if you noticed, but LinkedIn has an editor now. Just think about that for a second. A professional social networking site has hired a content focused executive away from a traditional media company's digital arm. Isn't LinkedIn doing terrifically well with it's recruiting focused business? Isn't ad-supported content a tough place to be? Why would LinkedIn hire away Dan Roth from Fortune a few months ago.
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Gust
SEPTEMBER 29, 2011
The most successful serial entrepreneurs in the world may found three or four, perhaps even eight or ten venture-backed startups over the course of their careers. By contrast, venture capitalists and angel investors typically make scores or even hundreds of investments over the course of their careers. It should therefore come as no surprise that an asymmetry of information exists, mostly gleaned from experience, between founders and investors in a venture financing deal.
Berkonomics
SEPTEMBER 2, 2011
This is one of my favorite insights, since I lived this one in a positive exit from my computer business. Most people will tell you that there are two kinds of eventual buyers for your business: financial and strategic. A financial buyer will analyze your numbers, past and forecast, to the n’th degree, and calculate the price based upon the result, after carefully comparing your numbers with those of others in the same and similar industries.
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abovethecrowd.com
SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
Many journalists have offered their opinion on Netflix’s recent changes, its stock price decline, and their even more recent branding changes (Qwikster). Yet in each article, it appears as if the journalist all agree that the price move (creating separate prices for streaming and DVDs) was a bad strategic move. As an example, Techcrunch notes: “Raising prices for those of [.].
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Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 28, 2011
Email. Ah, email. That great productivity drain that we somehow all buy into. I’ve taken to saying, “Email is our personal to-do list that anybody adds to – whether they know us or not.” I was lamenting it tonight when I saw the most brilliant response Tweet by Andrew Hyde . “inbox = tetris getting zero lines doesn’t win it just makes the next move easy.” Brilliant!
This is going to be BIG.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
I lost a deal last week. It sucks. To be clear, it wasn't really a deal that I "had", but there was a company that our team at First Round got excited about and offered an investment to. There were lots of other investors interested and even when we had relegated ourselves to just having an angel-sized piece, when the music stopped, we were left without a chair to sit on.
Gust
SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
Amid the remembrance of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks this past weekend, much was made of the voluminous 9/11 Commission report, which described in excruciating detail countless ways in which the United States homeland security and emergency response infrastructure failed to respond adequately to a disaster of unprecedented proportions. The “system” as it existed at the time broke down, with every point of failure costing innocent lives.
Berkonomics
SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
Announcing EIGHT new mini-books and eBooks by Master Entrepreneur, Dave Berkus , just released by The Berkus Press. Covering important business growth subjects, these books are a must-have for you and your associates. As a bonus, the “quick read&# eBook and Kindle editions are priced as “singles&# at only $2.99 each. Featuring a total of 202 of Dave’s insights from BERKONOMICS and ADVANCED BERKONOMICS, these books are easy reading, cover important business issues, and help you
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abovethecrowd.com
SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
As you likely know, I am a big believer that the IPO can play a key role in the development of a company’s life. Moreover, I have argued that many in our ecosystem have an unhealthy anxiety regarding the dangers and consequences of being public. Lastly, I have argued that the IPO window is wide [.].
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 17, 2011
I recently wrote a post about why I didn’t think early-stage startups should have COOs. I expected it to be controversial and it was. To be clear, I said that most companies I see pitching have COOs & I don’t have a rule against it. I’ve had several COOs at companies in which I’ve invested. In bringing up the issue I wasn’t “hating on COOs&# – I’m just challenging you to think about whether your CEO + COO structure really provides the right amo
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
It’s very common for startup companies to have COO’s. So I know I’m getting myself into a bit of trouble by writing this. But … Startups don’t need – shouldn’t have – COOs. I have this conversation with every startup that comes to see me and has a CEO & a COO. I think usually a COO title at a startup is an ego thing.
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 25, 2011
Yesterday I saw a Tweet from Chris Sacca fly by that prompted me to want to write a blog post helping entrepreneurs understand why they should push back against VCs asking for “super pro-rata” rights. I’ll explain what they are and why you should avoid them if you can. A primer on “pro-rata” rights. Institutional investors will always insist on pro-rata rights.
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This is going to be BIG.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
Tweet. The amazing thing about the internet is that you never know when and how you’re going to get inspired—and what voice will emerge and speak to you. This is a story that you have to read. It’s from a girl looking back, through her Gmail archives, at a relationship with a love she lost to cancer. I wanted to know who it was that wrote this and so I poked around, finding her blog.
Gust
SEPTEMBER 12, 2011
Most of us love the idea of a new beginning, a makeover, and a fresh start. Yet, despite the tremendous amount of innovation in our space, there is still a huge. amount of, (excuse the graphic word), regurgitation going on in our blogosphere. I’m not referring to the use of viral media to spread good ideas; I’m referring to. the frequency with which old thoughts get re-packaged and spread, under new. authorship.
Gust
SEPTEMBER 12, 2011
Since this is my inaugural post here, I decided it would fit the occasion to list the five things I value most in an startup investment proposal. What I say here is my opinion and mine alone. It’s the result of several decades in high tech, three years as an investor in a local Oregon angel investment group , some consulting in due diligence for venture capital, and my experience as founder and co-founder of successful ventures.
Berkonomics
SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
Have you ever noticed how slow time passes when you are in a troubled environment? Conversely, sometimes you look up at the end of a great day and wonder where the time went. Over the years, I have discovered that the difference is not just applicable to the good times, but to the environment, created by the senior executives, that filters throughout the organization.
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Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
Fred Wilson wrote a blog post yesterday called “Real Names” in which he talked about a commenter on his blog who preferred not to comment because he didn’t want to use his real name. It’s all told through a graphic & very short so worth your having a quick read. It’s a powerful concept. The idea of not using one’s real name is something I’ve had to come to understand better through other people providing context.
Berkonomics
SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
I’ve been involved with well over a dozen successful exits and four initial public offerings over the years, some of them with monstrous gains, some more modest. Then in addition, there are the exits that returned some portion of capital, but nothing more. And finally, there are the sad exits that were complete write-offs for the investors, regaining some portion of note-holder or creditor money in the process. .
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
Sales. It’s the lifeblood of any organization and yet most startups don’t have any sales DNA on their teams. It’s important enough that I dedicate a tab on my blog to startup sales & marketing. This week I had the chance to have an hour-long discussion with Vince Thompson (ran West Coast sales for AOL for 7 years – back in the day when AOL was what Facebook is today) and Mo Ali , who has the awesome Twitter handle @BornToCall – runs sales at This Week In.
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
BSAK Errors. I always loved the term … ”Between seat and keyboard.” Normally it was my tech team just being cheeky with me about my withering technology chops. But … … was thinking about a very common BSAK error that I see committed – the “flaming email.” Or when I worked at Accenture we called these “CLMs.” (career limiting maneuvers).
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Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
I was an entrepreneur for years. I must have pitched 40-50 VCs over the years. Possibly more. As I talked about on many occasions when I was an entrepreneur – and blogged publicly about - I learned a lot about my business and myself in these meetings. It was largely a positive experience. [Make sure to watch the video ]. Still, it was bloody annoying, too.
Berkonomics
SEPTEMBER 17, 2011
I have saved this next story until now because it is one of my favorites, and certainly illustrates the point as well as anything I could devise from fiction. First here is a bit of the background. The year was 1998. After presenting a “state of the company” report at a national meeting of resellers for a company where I sat on the board, I was approached by one of the audience members, complimenting my presentation and stating, “I have a problem.
This is going to be BIG.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
Tweet. Let's be clear--you can absolutely build an incredible company without participating in social media. There is certainly success without blogging, and blogging definitely isn't a guarantee of success by any means. So why bother? You have tons of things to do as a founder. You have hiring to do, money to raise and you've got to get your company's story out there.
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
I had the pleasure of sitting down for an hour with Dmitry Shapir o of AnyBeat this week. The last startup he did raised $70 million for the online video space before being sued for more than $1 billion by Universal. He won the battle (the lawsuit) but lost the war (went bankrupt, with pending litigation he couldn’t get funded. He’s back in the game as an entrepreneur and this time he wants to take on Facebook.
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