Both Sides of the Table

article thumbnail

The Power of Getting the Band Back Together

Both Sides of the Table

In fact, just a short Google search reveals that I’ve referred to him frequently through the years. Neither is very strategic nor in the best interest of either set of customers that VCs have (portfolio companies & LPs). Here’s just one example post featuring the wisdom I learned from Stuart about negotiations.

CTO Hire 320
article thumbnail

What I Would Look for When Choosing a VC – Knowing What I Know Now?

Both Sides of the Table

I would call their portfolio companies and ask how helpful or not they’ve been. Simply put – I’d be in search of a VC who had an intuitive sense of my product, my customers, my organizational issues, my competitors, etc. look at their portfolio list. EQ and Team Leadership? Nail on the head.

Portfolio 364
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

The Case for In-Stream Advertising

Both Sides of the Table

At the time Google said it was against sponsored links because it confused the person searching for content – one of the main arguments people are again using about in-stream advertising. John Batelle profiles this well in his book The Search. Are you horrified when you search for an address in Google Maps and ads pop up?

article thumbnail

Why We’re Looking to Fund Stuff With More Meaning

Both Sides of the Table

Periodically we do portfolio reviews to evaluate whether we have enough diversified risk across the fund. We have another investment in the Ag Tech space but as I couldn’t find it in any Google Search I’m assuming neither party has announced the relationship. We look at stage, geography and of course sector.

article thumbnail

What Makes an Entrepreneur? Cojones (7/11)

Both Sides of the Table

So we as VCs search for entrepreneurs/founders who have the whole package or as much of it as possible. I want our associate to have empathy for the customers we serve — our portfolio companies. Few people have it. I told him, “Sorry mate, it was a one-time offer. You had the door cracked open and should have taken it.”.

article thumbnail

Get to Know Richard de Silva of Highland Capital

Both Sides of the Table

Highland Capital did a systematic search for who could build a stand-alone contextual ad search company and met with six or seven companies including Mike. An example is Metacafe, a Highland Capital portfolio company. A lot of the traffic comes from search. He does think there are opportunities in vertical search.

Vertical 265
article thumbnail

How do I Really Feel About Anonymous Apps Like Secret?

Both Sides of the Table

It was hardly Secret that I love my wife but on Valentine’s Day I posted pictures of flowers I bought her and said that I didn’t miss the days of being out at nightclubs in search of love. I have a very happy marriage and family life – not exactly juicy Secret material. I have a blog and a voice.