View from Seed

MARCH 29, 2018

We wanted to learn more about the nuanced industry market forces before applying the same hands-on investing model we do with tech startups in other verticals. We don’t seed companies that are developing drugs or medical devices that will require FDA approval. It’s a world that doesn’t fit our seed-focused model and fund strategy.

Vertical 120

Vertical Stealth Portfolio Seed Capital 120

Haystack

NOVEMBER 24, 2018

venture capital to date (more on this in a separate post), unfortunately relegating billion-dollar exits as “ho-hum” events to the technology crowd. 1/ A Pre-Seed Reminder: According to Crunchbase, PlanGrid was founded and went through Y Combinator in 2012. The company only raised a bit over $1M as seed capital.

Acquisition 62

Acquisition Artificial Inteligence Balance Sheet Cofounder 62

Haystack

AUGUST 18, 2019

If you’ve been following my tweets lately, you’ve read some of my quick musings on the state of the seed market this summer. years of investing in the seed stage, I have never seen activity levels like I’m seeing today. We know private markets hold the key to 100x or even 1,000x multiples. Granted, 6.5

Seed Stage 108

Seed Stage Cap Table Early Stage Malaysia 108

thebarefootvc

MARCH 8, 2012

I saw some specific gaps in the market which I looked to address: NYC: I have been fortunate to be a part of the surge of entrepreneurial activity in NYC over the past several years. While the seed capital gap has closed, there are still only a handful of venture capital firms here in NYC investing in the crucial Series A/B rounds.

Silicon Valley 69

Silicon Valley Ghana Venture Capital India 69

ReadWriteStart

APRIL 2, 2012

The real truth is, since the "Internet bubble" burst in 2001, initial public offerings have not resumed the vitality levels of the late 1980s, let alone the boom years of the '90s. Crowdfunding is an efficient way for entrepreneurs to raise seed capital," the editors wrote.

IPO 121

IPO Startup Florida Seed Capital 121

Steve Blank

JUNE 11, 2013

Sigh… What I should have been hearing is the search for the business model, specifically the progress on product/market fit, but I hear the fund raising story first at least 90% of the time. Does our product or service solve a customer problem (product-market fit)? But to achieve scale, startups need risk capital.

Venture Capital 333

Venture Capital IRR Liquidity Event Business Model 333

Steve Blank

JUNE 11, 2013

Sigh… What I should have been hearing is the search for the business model, specifically the progress on product/market fit, but I hear the fund raising story first at least 90% of the time. Does our product or service solve a customer problem (product-market fit)? But to achieve scale, startups need risk capital.

Venture Capital 225

Venture Capital IRR Liquidity Event Business Model 225

techcrunch.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2010

Researchers polled experts in lending, mezzanine capital, private equity, venture capital and private businesses themselves. Not a big shock, but things don’t look pretty, especially in the venture capital world. 41% of them feel that they qualify for venture capital funding. just my opinion.

Venture Capital 62

Venture Capital Technical Review Sweat Equity Valuation 62

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 24, 2010

the wave of semiconductor startups in the 1960’s/70’s, the emergence of venture capital as a professional industry, the personal computer revolution in 1980’s, the rise of the Internet in the 1990’s and finally. the wave of internet commerce applications in the first decade of the 21 st century.

Silicon Valley 335

Silicon Valley United States Venture Capital Software Review 335

Steve Blank

MAY 9, 2017

I’ve seen the Valley grow from Sunnyvale to Santa Clara to today where it stretches from San Jose to South of Market in San Francisco. I’ve watched the Valley go from Microwave Valley – to Defense Valley – to Silicon Valley to Internet Valley. And to today, when its major product is simply innovation.

Restful 222

Restful Silicon Valley Puerto Rico San Jose 222