Comments on: Winning and Losing with High Tech Investors http://stardustglobalventures.com/2009/04/15/winning-and-losing-with-high-tech-investors/ Home of Sheryl Breuker Media & Ken Camp Consulting Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:17:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Ken http://stardustglobalventures.com/2009/04/15/winning-and-losing-with-high-tech-investors/comment-page-1/#comment-3011 Ken Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:55:28 +0000 http://stardustglobalventures.com/2009/04/15/winning-and-losing-with-high-tech-investors/#comment-3011 You may be right about eBay and Skype, David. The sheep in that deal may be Skype employees and users in the long run. There are multiple wolves for sure. I agree about the shepherds. Rather than coming from typical VCs, they're the angels who come in and bring passion and leadership. They actually join the team and fight to build something. While they want the profit, I think they also get jazzed by being involved in success. And sadly, I agree that VC funding is tied to good old boys, past wins and all the old stereotypes. I'm not sure you're cynical as opposed to realistic. You've got the firsthand experience of not being a sheep, but not being tied tightly enough to the good old boys to ever get the right attention. We gotta find you an angel bud. You've demonstrated some of the coolest and most innovative ideas. And you're truly one of our best and brightest. I'm often a pessimist, but I know that one of these days you're going to find a skyrocket that really catches hold. And I can't think of many who are as deserving for all the work they do. Hang on David! You may be right about eBay and Skype, David. The sheep in that deal may be Skype employees and users in the long run. There are multiple wolves for sure.

I agree about the shepherds. Rather than coming from typical VCs, they’re the angels who come in and bring passion and leadership. They actually join the team and fight to build something. While they want the profit, I think they also get jazzed by being involved in success.

And sadly, I agree that VC funding is tied to good old boys, past wins and all the old stereotypes.

I’m not sure you’re cynical as opposed to realistic. You’ve got the firsthand experience of not being a sheep, but not being tied tightly enough to the good old boys to ever get the right attention. We gotta find you an angel bud. You’ve demonstrated some of the coolest and most innovative ideas. And you’re truly one of our best and brightest.

I’m often a pessimist, but I know that one of these days you’re going to find a skyrocket that really catches hold. And I can’t think of many who are as deserving for all the work they do.

Hang on David!

]]> By: David Beckemeyer http://stardustglobalventures.com/2009/04/15/winning-and-losing-with-high-tech-investors/comment-page-1/#comment-3008 David Beckemeyer Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:36:59 +0000 http://stardustglobalventures.com/2009/04/15/winning-and-losing-with-high-tech-investors/#comment-3008 I can't think of anybody but wolves (on all sides) regarding eBay and Skype, so would love to get your take (perhaps out of band). As you might guess, I'm very cynical when it comes to investors, especially VC (probably to my detriment). There are Shepherds of course, but I think they are few and far between (especially in VC, as opposed to private equity/angels etc.) I think there are as many SHEEP as there are wolves though. Most VC simply do the safe thing, investing in their buddies, their former classmates, entrepreneurs that have made them (or their friends/enemies) money in the past, etc. These are safe bets, in the sense that it makes the Partners and LP's happy and ensures the VC keeps getting those 500K+ salaries (who cares what happens with the their portfolio companies - that's icing on the cake). Did I mention I was a tad cynical? :) I can’t think of anybody but wolves (on all sides) regarding eBay and Skype, so would love to get your take (perhaps out of band).

As you might guess, I’m very cynical when it comes to investors, especially VC (probably to my detriment).

There are Shepherds of course, but I think they are few and far between (especially in VC, as opposed to private equity/angels etc.)

I think there are as many SHEEP as there are wolves though. Most VC simply do the safe thing, investing in their buddies, their former classmates, entrepreneurs that have made them (or their friends/enemies) money in the past, etc. These are safe bets, in the sense that it makes the Partners and LP’s happy and ensures the VC keeps getting those 500K+ salaries (who cares what happens with the their portfolio companies – that’s icing on the cake).

Did I mention I was a tad cynical? :)

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