The Relationship Between Public and Private Markets

The recent sell off in public tech stocks has reverberated across the markets. The imminent threat of rising interest has caused many investors to shift from growth to value-oriented stocks. As a result, several well-known, high-growth technology companies have experienced a double-digit percent drop in their stock price in the last few months. Why are tech stocks selling off at these levels? What impact do … Continue reading The Relationship Between Public and Private Markets

Information Gatherers vs. Information Analyzers

Several months ago, I wrote a blog post about how in today’s hyper-competitive business environment, those who win are only marginally better than their competitors. In this blog I want to describe what that marginal advantage is and how the “winners” in business maintain it.  Prior to the invention of the internet, gathering information was a slower and more manual process. Now it seems we suffer from … Continue reading Information Gatherers vs. Information Analyzers

Crowdfunding

No matter who you are, if you want to invest in a publicly traded company it is relatively easy to do so. But what if you want to invest in a private company? Or, what if you’re a startup company needing to raise money but you’ve exhausted your network of friends and family members and you’re unable to raise capital from a bank or from … Continue reading Crowdfunding

Become A Smarter Investor by Asking Better Questions

The process of becoming a smarter investor isn’t solely about intelligence; it’s about curiosity. I don’t think intelligence and curiosity are mutually exclusive. But I do think that while intelligence inspires one to acquire more facts, curiosity inspires one to ask more questions. When I think about this comparison and how it applies to the world of investing, asking more questions can be immediately beneficial. … Continue reading Become A Smarter Investor by Asking Better Questions

My Perspective on Hot Topics in Venture Capital, Part 3 – Valuations and Exits

In the last several weeks I have spent a lot of time thinking about the current environment of the venture capital industry. At a high level it may seem like an inefficient market because the flow of information is quasi-directional and there are only a handful of firms capable of tracking it. Be that as it may, those of us who rely on this information … Continue reading My Perspective on Hot Topics in Venture Capital, Part 3 – Valuations and Exits

Starting Your Own Venture Investment Fund

The reason I started blogging was to contribute my small part to the entrepreneurial/venture capital ecosystem by sharing knowledge, insights, and experiences. I am not famous and I don’t know if I care to be. There are several individuals who have become widely known for their success and contribution to the ecosystem. People like Eric Ries who wrote the Lean Start-up; Ben Horowitz who wrote … Continue reading Starting Your Own Venture Investment Fund

The Rise and Fall of Fidget Spinners

My son has 38 fidget spinners! In fact, his collection of fidget spinners practically doubled on Christmas day because my wife and I bought him a large box full of them as Christmas present. About a year ago, purchasing a box full of fidget spinners and not breaking the bank, would have been impossible. Now, every store we go to there are piles of fidget … Continue reading The Rise and Fall of Fidget Spinners

My Perspective on Hot Topics in Venture Part 1 – Bitcoin

At the beginning of every day, I usually spend an hour or so reading a variety of different newsletters, articles, and blogs on the latest and greatest happenings in venture capital. It’s been a great way to stay current and keep a steady pulse on things. In the line of work I’m in, knowing what’s going on at all times is important for maintaining credibility … Continue reading My Perspective on Hot Topics in Venture Part 1 – Bitcoin

The Pursuit of Discipline in Venture Capital

Over the years, I’ve become more and more convinced that what sets apart great venture capitalists from the not-so-great ones is investment discipline. By default, most all people who work in venture capital are intellectually brilliant and have strong entrepreneurial backgrounds. As such, if everyone is smart, it makes sense to suggest that brilliance alone isn’t a true competitive advantage. Another competitive advantage is having … Continue reading The Pursuit of Discipline in Venture Capital