Every year I like to read Byron Wien’s Top Ten (economic) Surprises for the year. I’ve written about Byron before, but for those who don’t know him, he is the Vice Chairman for Blackstone, a large wealth management firm with $554 billion in assets under management. While Byron’s list of economic surprises are interesting and helpful, I always find his “Life’s Lessons” commentary at the … Continue reading Life Lessons for the New Year
I was recently talking with a close friend of mine about the U.S. economy and he asked me how an economic recession would affect the venture capital industry. He works in the heavy equipment leasing industry and he was telling me that he’s beginning to see some companies postpone capital spending on construction projects because of concerns about the economy. I always enjoy hearing his … Continue reading What Happens to VC in an Economic Downturn?
One of the lessons I learned early on in my career was the importance of distinguishing between “income-generating” activities and “non-income-generating” activities. Income-generating activities are activities that have the potential to generate revenue and non-income generating activities are activities that do not. No matter who you are or what field you work in, every business activity can be clearly delineated as one or the other. … Continue reading Income-Generating vs Non-Income Generating Activities
I had the opportunity to be interviewed in a podcast with Erika Lucas, co-founder of StitchCrew, an accelerator in Oklahoma City that works with early stage technology companies. The purpose of the interview was to share insights on how investors think and how entrepreneurs should prepare themselves when raising capital from investors. I want to give a shout out to Erika for the opportunity to … Continue reading My Thoughts on VC and Entrepreneurship- Podcast Edition
I was reading Byron Wien’s September 2019 market commentary and I thought I’d share a few takeaways. But before I do, I’d like to suggest signing up for Byron’s monthly commentary. I read several market commentary newsletters each month, but I find Byron’s is the easiest to read because his writing style is very conversational and the content is straightforward. I’ve never met Byron or … Continue reading Economic Outlook
For the second year in a row I had the pleasure of talking with Pat Brown, CEO and founder of Impossible Foods (I.F.). Impossible Foods started roughly seven years ago and makes meat using plants. The principle ingredient that Impossible Foods uses to do what they do – “Heme.” In simple terms, “heme is what makes meat taste like meat.” Heme is found in both … Continue reading Redefining the Definition of “Meat”
I recently reviewed a new book called The Startup MixTape written by a friend of mine, Elliott Adams. The book provides a comprehensive approach to the methods entrepreneurs use to start and grow successful companies. In my opinion, this book is perfect for anyone who is looking for an all-in-one summary of the steps involved with getting a new company off the ground. The book … Continue reading Book Review: The Startup MixTape
When Usain Bolt won the gold medal in the 2016 Olympics for the 100-meter sprint he did so at a time of 9.81 seconds. Justin Gatlin came in second at 9.89 seconds and the eighth-place finisher came in at 10.06 seconds. Usain Bolt is widely considered the best sprinter in the world, and justifiably so. He’s the first athlete to win gold in the 100-meter … Continue reading Gaining The Marginal Advantage in Today’s Competitive Environment
Overall, the VC market is experiencing significant growth. In the last two years, deal value has reached a combined $160 billion value. This number will likely increase as the results for the fourth quarter are not yet included. While valuations have increased across the board, pricing for companies in Series A rounds remains relatively tame compared to later stage funding rounds where median valuations have … Continue reading Current Environment in VC (brief)
We are experiencing a remarkable period in economic history where the market has produced uninterrupted gains since March 2009. According to David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Funds, “The pessimism that’s been a hallmark of the bull market has actually ensured its longevity.” Entrepreneurs and venture capitalists have also benefited from the current environment in that they are able raise the capital they need … Continue reading Spur Thoughts on the Current Venture and Economic Environment
