Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

The VC industry grew dramatically as a result of the Internet bubble - Before the Internet bubble the people who invested in VC funds (called LPs or Limited Partners) put about $50 billion into the industry and by 2001 this had grown precipitously to around $250 billion. So the people who invest in VC funds have two problems.

LP 311

LP Technical Review Early Stage Silicon Valley 311

Feld Thoughts

JULY 28, 2014

On paper, only one is in positive return territory as a fund, but the SBIC leverage is a substantial negative factor for the LP investors in that particular fund. And, in the other two, I don’t expect to ever see any of my capital back because of the SBIC leverage.

SBIC 142

SBIC Venture Capital Colorado SBA 142

VC Cafe

JULY 4, 2022

What’s happening in the venture capital world? The WSJ confirmed what we already know: Q2 venture capital investments declined both in size and in valuation. Venture Capital Feels the Stock Market’s Pain, Wall Street Journal. For example, Klarna is rumoured to be raising $650M in fresh capital at $6.5

Venture Capital 167

Venture Capital Valuation Private Equity LP 167

This is going to be BIG.

JULY 30, 2015

One of the first things I did when I joined the venture asset class as a lowly institutional LP analyst in 2001 was to build the VC fund cashflow model. You incorporate expected company returns, mortality rates, and fee structures to try to predict how a venture capital fund works from a cash in, cash out, and NAV standpoint.

Venture Capital 60

Venture Capital Pre-Money Valuation IRR Valuation 60

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 14, 2015

I spoke at Michael Kim’s excellent annual Cendana VC/LP conference today. One of the points I tried to make is that as venture capital investors as an industry we seem to have a healthy disdain for public market investors. This will be seen as a watershed moment in the wake-up call and rationalization of our industry.

Burn Rate 150

Burn Rate San Francisco Private Equity LP 150

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2015

I’ve seen friends (and family members) lose much of their savings that way over the years because “Black Swans” happen and in 1987, 2001, 2003 & 2008 (just to name a few from my memory) huge market gyrations caused much financial distress to people seeking short-term gains. At least later stage investors.

Stock 150

Stock Finance Marketing Valuation 150

Agile VC

JULY 19, 2012

1) Self-Awareness & Humility - These are of course virtues that transcend venture capital or even professional pursuits broadly. A good example of this was Charles River Ventures experience with their 11th fund. And yes… great firms are self-confident too.

Cofounder 193

Cofounder Limited Partner Early Stage LP 193