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What Did I Learn From the First VC Check I Ever Wrote?

Both Sides of the Table

I became a VC 12 years ago in 2007 when the pace of deals was much slower. Defensible IP When I’m asked by newer, younger VC partners for advice on our sector, one of the things I always emphasize is looking for companies who have built defensible intellectual property (IP). Defensible IP becomes insanely valuable?—?particularly

IP 223
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The fork in the road

deal architect

“The advertising industry is evolving and growing at an incredible pace, moving increasingly toward online and IP-served platforms, which dramatically increases the importance of software for this industry,” Guess what: Steve Ballmer of Microsoft said that in 2007 when they.

IP 210
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What is the Right Burn Rate at a Startup Company?

Both Sides of the Table

by Michael Woolf that is worth any startup founder reading to get a sense of perspective on the reality warp that is startup world during a frothy market such as 1997-1999, 2005-2007 or 2012-2014. So money spent should add equity value or create IP that eventually will. (it is also the title of a fabulous book from Internet 1.0

Burn Rate 383
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What Makes an Entrepreneur? Cojones (7/11)

Both Sides of the Table

If this idea was so big then why would they risk not being first to market, not building defensible IP for the sake of a few hundred thousand dollars extra in lock-up money at a big company? I joined GRP Partners in 2007 before they raised their current fund (we closed a $200 million fund in March 2009). I finally called bullshit.

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What YouTube Taught Me About Facebook Live & Violent Footage

Hunter Walker

I saw this firsthand during my time at YouTube where in addition to running the product org from 2007-2011, I sat on our Policy Committee. Ben Thompson has a smart Stratechery column today about Facebook’s emerging role as a Journalism Company. And the internal discussions (debates?) which are likely occurring.

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What YouTube Taught Me About Facebook Live & Violent Footage

Hunter Walker

I saw this firsthand during my time at YouTube where in addition to running the product org from 2007-2011, I sat on our Policy Committee. Ben Thompson has a smart Stratechery column today about Facebook’s emerging role as a Journalism Company. And the internal discussions (debates?) which are likely occurring.

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An Open Letter to Startup Founders Everywhere in a Time of Crisis

David Cohen

Around 2007, the subprime mortgage crisis contributed to a recession that lasted through 2009. Founded in 2006, Techstars ran our first startup accelerator in 2007. Other startups will fail, and you can acquire their talent, their IP, their customer bases for cheap. I increased my investing pace. Fear and panic set in.

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