Seed: The Best of Times. The Worst of Times
More Seed stage companies die than ever before. And more money is going into seed than ever before. And later stage investors are investing $20 for every $1 invested at the seed stage. Is it the best or worst of times for the seed stage investors and companies?
The Thanksgiving Issue
This week my new FinTech startup, SignalRank Corp, closed a $5m funding round. The company is focused on changing the rules of seed investing in favor of seed-stage companies and their seed investor. As more and more Decacorns are born, how do the early risk-takers secure their legacy?
The Apple Car?
Rivian lost $580m last quarter but is valued at $124 billion. Ford’s 2021 revenue will be over $120 billion and it is worth only 60% of Rivian. Now, is Apple about to join the party? Read on to see why it makes sense.
The Rise of the Private Dollar — USDC
DC is rapidly becoming an acceptable currency for investment firms. It is secure, stable and a ready-made bridge to every other cryptocurrency. Now its parent — Circle — has started a venture fund using it, Fred Wilson advises owning it and Wall Street hedge funds are earning up to 9% interest by holding it. So why is it important?
Should VC be Public?
After Sequoia Capital’s reorganization last week, rumors are spreading that Andreessen Horowitz is considering a public offering. Whether true or not it begs an important question. Should VC seek to list publicly and trade on Wall Street? Or should it remain open only to large fund investors and wealthy families?
Nothing to See Here
This week Facebook announced the NothingVerse (read it, you’ll see) whereas Sequoia Capital fundamentally changed their organization and venture capital forever. What a contrast.
Whatchamacallit?
Donald Trump is launching a social media platform just as Facebook is closing one down. Facebook’s proposed name change is an indication that Web 2 has reached the end of the road. Social Media is dead, long live Web 3. What Web 3 is, is still being written. But it is not Facebook, or TRUTH.
The Web 3 Revolution
This week venture heavyweights Andreessen Horowitz and Index Ventures go on the record about the shift. And we deep dive into Crypto
Growth: What is it Good For?
The Facebook whistleblower accused the company of putting growth and profit before everything. So, is growth bad? Is it incompatible with human good? Or is it the essence of progress?
A Global Operating System?
2.9 billion people voluntarily use Facebook. Is it the world’s largest democracy? Or an autocracy? It is bigger than China and India combined. The “GDP” of Facebook is $54bn. Voluntary adoption of a global network and content platform seems to be what we are choosing. What are the implications?
