Local Venture Capitalist Fred Wilson, talks about their portfolio and why they tend to invest in more local companies despite the fact that great technology is being developed all over the world.
Investing locally helps for the following reasons:

• recruting management/teams, you'll have a social network in place locally
• they typically desire to be lead investor, more hands on work with the entrepreneurs
• mentoring, coaching, and advising is better done in person

Evan Bartlett :: Nov.30.2006 :: Angel Investor, VC :: Comments

From: VC Ratings and Infectious Greed

Evan Bartlett :: Nov.16.2006 :: Angel Investor, VC :: Comments

Janis Machala of Paladin Partners, a service provider to the startup industry in Seattle, gives us 10 things that will commonly scare off investors:

1. Saying the company has no competition.

2. Saying you will do an IPO or be bought in next year or two.

3. Saying the financial numbers are conservative.........

Evan Bartlett :: Nov.03.2006 :: Angel Investor, Entrepreneur :: Comments

Brad Feld has had a variety of successes creating small businesses, and now wants to grow these into medium sized businesses. To help address the problem he shares a loose outline of the the different stages of developing a company.

• Birth
• Teenager
• Young Adult
• Adult
• Senior Citizen

As with all tips about business, these are fairly general. Each company has its own unique set of circumstances and Brad proposes that these stages can shift depending on the ways each of these companies are funded.

Evan Bartlett :: Nov.03.2006 :: Angel Investor, Entrepreneur :: Comments

In a move to start covering more Angel Activities around the world, we launch "Angels Abroad" a series highlight international Angels and their investment news.
Here a Norwich based startup raises £515,000 from a syndicate comprised of London Seed Capital, London Business Angels, Lond Business Angel's EIS Tracker fund, and GEIF Ventures.

Evan Bartlett :: Nov.02.2006 :: International, Syndication :: Comments

Charles River Ventures, and an early stage VC firm, has launched a program called Quickstart to rapidly invest small amounts of money in a variety of startups. The investment size will be around $250,000, which is definitely taking a step into the space where Angels typically make investments. Read more about their "friend convertible seed" rounds here.

They said that most Internet entrepreneurs can design prototypes and launch their ideas on a quarter million dollars. Under the program, if the start-up does well and needs more money to expand, Charles River will have the right to invest during the first round of institutional funding, called a “Series A.”

Evan Bartlett :: Nov.02.2006 :: VC :: Comments