View from Seed

APRIL 14, 2020

VCs are always founder focused no matter the market environment. But in a FOMO world, more investors are willing to take a chance on a founder that they don’t know, but seems to match some of the heuristics of other high quality founders. This gets really challenging if it remains difficult to meet in person or to travel.

Early Stage 374

Early Stage Software Review Technical Review Due Diligence 374

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2010

Founded in November 2007 in New York City by Alexis Maybank and Kevin Ryan (co-founder of DoubleClick); CEO is Susan Lyne (ex-CEO Marta Stewart Living Omnimedia) Revenue estimates: $50mm in 2008; $170mm in 2009 (versus budget of $150mm); $450mm forecasted for 2010. Founded in October 2006 by Jonah Peretti (co-founder of Huffington Post).

Partner 240

Partner New York City Cofounder Syndicate 240

Agile VC

APRIL 17, 2011

Kayak was started here in my backyard of Boston… co-founder & CTO Paul English and the product/engineering team is based here in Concord MA. Co-founder & CEO Steve Hafner and the business team are based in Norwalk, CT. Distribution revenue is CPC and CPA. . Kayak generates both distribution (i.e.

Pre-Money Valuation 113

Pre-Money Valuation Liquidation Preference Dividend Common Stock 113

Austin Startup

MARCH 7, 2021

It seems like every day there is a new headline about an exceptional startup founder, investor, or corporate headquarters moving to Texas. In short, the first wave of internet companies were widely distributed and brought people online (AOL in Virginia, Microsoft in Albuquerque and Seattle, Dell in Austin, etc.) Joe Lonsdale.

Texas 90

Texas San Antonio Houston Dallas 90

Agile VC

JULY 11, 2012

Brentwood Associates [Silicon Valley] –> Founded in the early 70s and focused primarily on VC, Brentwood had big wins in both IT like Wellfleet Communications (big chunk of what eventually became Nortel) and WebTV (part of Microsoft) and healthcare (various businesses that make up a big chunk of what is now Medtronic and Baxter).

Silicon Valley 240

Silicon Valley Carried Interest Cofounder Boston 240

Austin Startup

AUGUST 7, 2017

Some businesses can service all four cities with a single distribution hub in one of the cities, making it a unique market for launching new businesses. Entrepreneurs in San Antonio will drive up to Austin for a day of office hours with guest mentors visiting from Silicon Valley. It’s not Silicon Valley.

Texas 97

Texas San Antonio Houston Dallas 97

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

The founders felt that having a legitimate site for content would discourage Silicon Valley VC’s from funding entrepreneurs to create the next big TV killer. Once this new service became popular then the media companies could control the rules of distribution & advertising.

Video 292

Video Technical Review Advertising Distribution 292