VC Cafe

MAY 23, 2023

As I mentioned in my post on the LLM Benchmarking , venture capital investment in AI startups was down 43% in Q1 2023. So one way to think about it is no different from how we have thought about maybe the personal computing shift, the internet shift, the mobile shift. So along that dimension, I think it’s a big shift.”

Generative AI 165

Generative AI Artificial Inteligence ChatGPT API 165

Steve Blank

AUGUST 13, 2009

It took me 8 startups and 21 years to get it right, (and one can argue success was due to the Internet bubble rather then any brilliance.) No internet, no blogs, no books on startups, no entrepreneurship departments in universities, etc. It took lots of trial and error, learning by experience and resilience through multiple failures.

Silicon Valley 204

Silicon Valley RSS Technical Review Lean 204

VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

I genuinely believe that when it comes to internet investments, eCommerce is not only a VC story, but that it is the VC story. to nearly 5% of the total retail market, with a forecasted continuous increase. That marketing, however, is dependent on capital, and that capital means Venture Capital.

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eCommerce Open Source SEM Technical Review 94

VC Cafe

APRIL 27, 2011

Despite the VC’s obvious disadvantage in the early stages, marketing and differentiation of venture capital funds is limited today. VCs should aim to provide comprehensive data to their portcos on industry benchmarks, burn rates, market research, competitive analysis, etc. Can they teach each other something?

Venture Capital 90

Venture Capital Differentiation Incubator Angel Investor 90

Version One Ventures

JULY 21, 2020

The startup market evolves, and so do we as VCs. At that time, Version One was a generalist firm, investing in consumer Internet, e-commerce, SaaS and mobile companies. No matter the vertical, geography, business model, macro or micro trends, entrepreneurs form the nucleus of a generational company. Technology changes.

Founder 213

Founder Vertical Differentiation Portfolio 213

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 23, 2011

In the late 90’s he saw the internet boom and helped start IronPlanet.com, a construction equipment marketplace that is nearing an IPO. He was introduced through mutual friends to Highland Capital. At the time consumer internet venture capital was still suffering from the collapse of the Tech Bubble. 37:00-40:30).

Vertical 265

Vertical Curation Boston Burn Rate 265

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. The venture capital market in this category is fairly concentrated among series A and expansion-stage funds that prefer to invest in companies with substantial revenue.

Vertical 120

Vertical Stealth Portfolio Seed Capital 120

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 6, 2011

This curriculum is based on the various questions entrepreneurs have asked me over these 64 sessions, spanning financing, positioning, customer acquisition, marketing, sales, channel, and various other early stage, startup-related issues. As usual, then, I worked with three entrepreneurs working on specific businesses. Mava Consulting.

Vertical 115

Vertical Web San Francisco Entrepreneur 115

Steve Blank

DECEMBER 7, 2009

I was out and about in Silicon Valley doing what I would now call Customer Discovery trying to understand how marketing departments in large corporations worked. I remember presenting our ideas for Marketing Automation to one VP of Marketing in a large Silicon Valley company. He was now CEO of a new company in our market.

Silicon Valley 253

Silicon Valley Non-disclosure Agreement NDA Startup 253

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 5, 2009

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times Ardent would be my third technology company as a VP of Marketing (Convergent Technologies and MIPS Computers were the other two.) I’ve convinced the team you’d be perfect, come join us as the VP of Marketing.” It would be the company where I actually earned the title.

North Carolina 131

North Carolina Silicon Valley Fractional VPE Part-Time VPE 131

Steve Blank

APRIL 2, 2009

We had thought really hard about “ market type ” and decided to reposition the company from a technology provider to a solutions provider. Over the years marketers have found that using numbers to compare yourself to other products works well. Now as VP of Marketing, I could have sat back and let my PR agency handle the press.

Silicon Valley 127

Silicon Valley Technical Review RSS Software Review 127

The Next Web

FEBRUARY 24, 2014

With a little knowledge of some of the key cultural differences and unique properties of the local tech scene, Russia can easily become one of the most attractive tech markets in the world for investors. Russia currently has the largest online market in Europe. Russia in numbers. There is no secret Russian handshake that lands a deal.

Russia 140

Russia Europe Government Vertical 140

abovethecrowd.com

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

Fortunately, the rise of the Internet, and specifically Internet marketplace models, act as accelerants to the productivity benefits of the division of labour AND comparative advantage by reducing information asymmetry and increasing the likelihood of a perfect match with regard to the exchange of goods or services.

Internet 88

Internet Matching Vertical Hosting 88

Mucker Lab

DECEMBER 2, 2015

Most brilliant “Internet of Things” ideas are quicksand for capital unless you have the branding, vertical integration and customer lock-in that Apple achieved. 20 years ago, a majority of “Sand Hill” venture capital went into enterprise-focused startups. The iPod model will separate IoT platforms from fads.

Vertical 60

Vertical Widget Distribution China 60

Steve Blank

MAY 11, 2009

At the time no one (including Apple) knew exactly what consumers were going to do with multimedia, it was still pre-Internet. This is the first way to get video into a computer, we’re going to sell and market this board like there’s no tomorrow. That’s every marketeers excuse for putting their kids in an ad.)

Video 184

Video Silicon Valley RSS California 184

Cracking the Code

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

Thoughts from a Venture Capitalist on Software, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Cloud Computing, Internet and more. It is also intriguing to see that the market bottom was reached only two years after the start of the decline for the 1929, 1973 and 2000 crises, so we might need another year before the market reaches it lowest point.

Software Review 48

Software Review Technical Review Valuation Portfolio 48

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 24, 2009

Now, helping potential customers discover new things they might like is the job of the discipline of marketing. But that job is changing dramatically, and this brings us to the next major problem facing traditional media organizations: Media companies are failing at marketing. There are too many products clamoring for attention.

San Francisco 113

San Francisco Lean Technical Review Distribution 113

Cracking the Code

DECEMBER 2, 2006

Thoughts from a Venture Capitalist on Software, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Cloud Computing, Internet and more. If you would ask me what part of the market is most underserved by technology companies today, Id tell you its small and medium sized business. Labels: sales and marketing , Small and medium businesses , software.

Software Review 48

Software Review Technical Review Europe Software 48

The Next Web

OCTOBER 2, 2013

It is also the world’s largest smartphone market. In this aspect, China’s huge market seems ripe for the taking — and which firms are better-placed to do so than homegrown startups, especially app developers looking to conquer the mobile market? For mobile app developers, the impressive figures are enticing.

China 122

China Developer Intellectual Property Mobile 122

cdixon.org

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Very, very few markets have room for only one player. Quite early on, you will be able to differentiate yourself – and having competitors help you grow the market can actually be a good thing. The only thing I wouldn’t do is to post it on the internet. [link] Kristian Dupont. I agree completely. link] Dejan Strbac.

Stealth 68

Stealth Startup NDA Cofounder 68

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 3, 2009

This post describes how the traditional product development model distorts startup sales, marketing and business development. In the next few posts that follow, I’ll describe how thinking of a solution to this model’s failures led to the Customer Development Model – that offers a new way to approach startup sales and marketing activities.

Customer Development 228

Customer Development Developer Silicon Valley Customer 228

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

Private equity and venture capital investors are copying our sisters in the hedge fund world: we’re trying to automate more of our job. . In liquid markets, most of the calories expended on technology and analytics are focused on trade selection, or “ origination ”. 2) Market .

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78

Hunter Walker

MAY 20, 2018

Brian Morrissey: Digiday is a media brand focused on the changing nature of the media and marketing businesses as they collide with digital technology. We’ve built Digiday without venture capital. I joined Digiday seven years ago after many years reporting on the industry. You need diversity in revenue streams.

PR 64

PR Media Differentiation Audience 64

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 2, 2009

In times when venture capital is hard to get, investors extract high costs for failure (down-rounds, cram downs , new management teams, shut down the company.) Marketing demand creation programs (Search Engine Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising, Lead Generation, Trade Shows, etc.)

Lean 260

Lean Silicon Valley Startup RSS 260

www.informationarbitrage.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Home About Press IA Capital Partners Archives After 17 years in M&A, Derivatives and Trading, Im spending my time with young entrepreneurs in and around financial technology and digital media. Click to email him.

CTO Hire 40

CTO Hire Founder Cap Table Vesting 40

Cracking the Code

JANUARY 19, 2016

I began my career at McKinsey and when the Internet bubble burst in 2001, I made a shift towards online software (ASP at the time). SaaS startups need to have a VC that understands the SaaS model, including market development strategies, upsell dynamics, sales incentive plan, etc. What makes a good VC for a SaaS startup?

API 48

API Silicon Valley Europe Differentiation 48

Steve Blank

APRIL 22, 2009

As we were plotting marketing strategy, I mentioned that the phrase “Speaking to the Big Dogs” might end up as his corporate brand. And that he might want to think about aligning all his video and Internet products under that name. How big are your Mexican and Spanish markets,” I asked? But over analysis may imply paralysis.

Silicon Valley 201

Silicon Valley RSS California Customer Development 201

Hearpreneur

FEBRUARY 19, 2023

#2- Competitive Photo Credit: Denise Hemke Over the past decade, entrepreneurship has become huge that the market has become quite saturated. The market is super competitive and if you don't offer what the consumer needs, you won't stand a chance. Thanks to Matt Bowman, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency ! #9-

Artificial Inteligence 108

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Entrepreneur Global 108

abovethecrowd.com

APRIL 17, 2013

Many Internet marketplaces also have a rake or vig. Before discussing the merits of low rakes versus high rakes, let us first take a look at current examples of different rakes across the Internet. At the same time, there were several larger players in the market such as Freelancer and Rent-a-coder.

Europe 101

Europe Social Network Technical Review IPO 101

Steve Blank

AUGUST 27, 2009

Ironically, the model is a good fit when launching a new product into an existing , well-defined market where the basis of competition is understood, and its customers are known. We had no clue what our market was when we first started. Thirty years later we now realize that its one the causes of early startup failure.

Silicon Valley 269

Silicon Valley Product Startup Product Development 269

Austin Startup

AUGUST 7, 2017

Texas has produced world-changing startups in the past such as Dell Software , National Instruments and Whole Foods Market but all of those were founded more than 30 years ago. 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.

Texas 97

Texas San Antonio Houston Dallas 97

Steve Blank

AUGUST 3, 2009

These posts cover two distinct periods – the first, the rise of “ Microwave Valley ” chronicles the decade of 1946-1956 as Stanford University became the hub of military/industry contracting in the Bay Area. If you want to refer to PVO by name, call it just PVO (acronym for “Air Defense&# in Russian). Reply Nelson A.

Silicon Valley 173

Silicon Valley RSS Europe Germany 173

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Knowing this venture firms have come up with a canonical checklist of what they would like to see. Do they believe you have a big enough vision and market. Tons of advice is available on how to pitch , present and market your company. consumer Internet) might have a really, really high bar of achievement for funding.

Customer Development 267

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 267

Jason Ball

MAY 25, 2008

— Industry: Vertical Market Applications Software —?. Other round investors included Siemens Venture Capital, Beacon Group, and OPG Ventures, Innovation?Valley Valley Partners, Endeavor Capital Management, GulfSouth Capital,? series E financing for SmartSynch.

Mississippi 28

Mississippi Vertical Venture Capital Finance 28

Reid Hoffman

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

Whether you’re pivoting in the early days because you haven’t yet found product-market fit, or you’re pivoting by reinventing yourself later on, all companies – if they’re going to become and stay successful – are going to have to pivot. But achieving initial product-market fit isn’t enough; you also need to achieve scale product-market fit.

Startup 36

Startup Silicon Valley Business Model Mobile 36

Steve Blank

MARCH 19, 2009

While I was waiting in the lobby to pick up my offer letter, the head of marketing communications (who was to be one of my direct reports) came up to me as I held my just signed employment agreement. OK, let’s start with the basics, who does marketing think our customers are?”

Silicon Valley 210

Silicon Valley RSS Software Review Technical Review 210

Seeing Both Sides

AUGUST 16, 2012

Last week, I wrote about Akamai , a company with strong network effects that successfully transitioned from a single product to build a platform that garners over a billion dollars in revenue and is now a core part of the Internet’s fabric. billion market capitalization as of this writing. . Magical, really.

Part-Time VPE 54

Part-Time VPE Software Review Costa Rica Technical Review 54