The horse is too small, the jockey too big, the trainer too old, and I’m too dumb to know the difference. – Charles Howard, owner of Seabiscuit addressing comments about his horse, Seabiscuit and the team of people he had assembled to train and race Seabiscuit. Red Pollard was Seabiscuit’s jockey and Tom Smith was […]
Investing
Ceteris Paribus: When A Startup’s History Really Matters
Once in a while I meet a startup that makes me scratch my head in bewilderment. At first glance everything looks fine, but I can’t help but wonder if I might be missing something. In such instances I think to myself; Is there some important detail that is not so obvious, and that is concealed […]
A Reexamination: Can Venture Capitalists be Value Investors?
Let’s begin with some disclaimers. I have never actually been a value investor. I have also never made individual picks of stocks traded on the public markets. I was completely oblivious of stock markets until soon after I had graduated college in 2001. Before I arrived in the United States in 1997, I would not […]
Why You Should Apply The Less is More Rule of Seduction When You Meet an Investor
Two weeks ago I had a meeting with an entrepreneur who has built an interesting startup. It was our first time meeting one another to discuss his startup. Before we met I had spent about 10 to 15 minutes studying the startup’s website. After doing that I sent him a list of questions that occurred […]
After Our First Meeting, How To Help Me To Quickly Learn About Your Startup and Maybe Say Yes
Let’s be open. I am not going to make up my mind about investing in your startup after just one meeting. And, I definitely am not making my decision wholly based on looking at your pitch deck. I like to do my own homework. So I think of your pitch deck as only a starting […]
What I Worry About When I Am Studying A Startup
One of the things I really like about my job studying and investing in early stage startups is that I am constantly learning something new. This is true especially when I am encountering a startup for the first time, and begin to study polished and slick pitch materials on my own, listen to the entrepreneur […]