Occam's Razor

OCTOBER 14, 2014

Leaders (company is leaving China, our IPO is next week, 1,800 new stores are being opened in 180 days, our new IRR is 8%). Conversion rate is one of those metrics that I strongly encourage you only create benchmarks for from your own data. The above graph shows you the dangers of setting targets on aggregated benchmarking analysis.

Analytics 133

Analytics Vertical Metrics Web 133

David Teten

MARCH 2, 2013

The Kauffman Foundation points out several reasons why they choose to keep pouring capital into the industry: the J-curve narrative, VC investment allocation mandates (which should disproportionally benefit large funds), the “relationship business” philosophy, and potentially misleading return metrics (such as IRR).

LP 114

LP Securities and Exchange Commission Silicon Valley Venture Capital 114

abovethecrowd.com

APRIL 20, 2016

Many have noted that the aggregate shareholder value created by all of the Unicorns will vastly overshadow the losses from the inevitable failed unicorns. The same thing happened to many Internet stocks. Anything that hints of a down round brings questions about the success metrics that have already been “booked.”

IPO 40

IPO Term Sheet Silicon Valley Valuation 40