Feld Thoughts

JULY 28, 2014

I woke up to an article in Daily Camera today titled Small Business Administration trying to bring SBIC funds to Colorado. I’m an investor in over 40 VC funds around the world (mostly in the US) and three of them are SBIC funds. Each of the SBIC funds were raised in the 2000 – 2002 time period.

SBIC 142

SBIC Venture Capital Colorado SBA 142

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

” And if aspiring investment teams are looking to get together the SBIC has come back with a new VC focused program to help non-Silicon Valley communities fund companies beyond their initial angel money. It’s a very smartly designed debenture program. Every city should have a “BuildIn” program.

Community 378

Community San Diego Silicon Valley Los Angeles 378

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

It is not a “jobs program” for the local populace. It’s Yozma program kick-started a private venture capital industry with government funds, (emulating the U.S. lesson of using SBIC funds.), Any attempt to make it so dooms it to failure. A scalable startup ecosystems is the ultimate capitalist exercise.

Government 335

Government Silicon Valley Startup Venture Capital 335

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 29, 2009

Ampex’s first customer was Bing Crosby who wanted to record his radio programs for rebroadcast (and had exclusive distribution rights.) The Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Act in 1958 guaranteed that for every dollar a bank or financial institution invested in a new company, the U.S. In response, one of the many U.S.

Silicon Valley 125

Silicon Valley SBIC San Francisco RSS 125

Steve Blank

AUGUST 10, 2009

ELINT Tasking The ELINT program sought answers to operational questions like: What was the Radar Order of Battle a penetrating bomber would face? They would be one the first venture firms to organize their firm as a partnership rather than an SBIC or public company. Tommy Davis would go on to found the Mayfield Fund in 1969.

Silicon Valley 155

Silicon Valley RSS SBIC California 155