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I am a junior angel in Silicon Valley. AMA

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: I am a junior angel in Silicon Valley. AMA

#231

Post by icey »

joshu wrote: post #108
jaybol wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With that in mind, how do you feel about all of the people who rushed to send money to the NYU kids with the 'Facebook killer' in mind?

Well, as an investor in Kickstarter, I approve. I feel bad for the Diaspora kids. They can't help but fail. Everyone will forget about it shortly, except for the people that gave money. I wish them the best of luck.

You don't see this as the best possible scenario for them?

They've been able to get everything they should need for success - adequate funding, lots of press, users who want what they're going to build so badly that they're giving them money sight unseen.

How could there be a better situation for someone who wants to take on Facebook?

Re: I am a junior angel in Silicon Valley. AMA

#232

Post by adrianscott »

joshu wrote: post #226
adrianscott wrote: post #211

I've done a series of angel investments, but was most active 99-01. Performance would probably put me in top decile v.c. for that time. Had two liquidity events in last 2 years from advisory shares. Expecting an IPO in next year. Most famous startup I passed on: Paypal, back when they were doing palmpilot stuff. ;) Most famous startup I invested in: Napster, which went bankrupt Best return: Giganet, acquired quickly…

> Paypal Ouch. I know the feeling. Doesn't Emulex make connectors? I would like to see some liquidity someday myself. What's the startup? We overlapped - I was at BofA Securities. My boss went on to Epoch Capital and then Schwab.

>> Paypal >Ouch. I know the feeling.

;) Yah, I also could have been in on Salesforce.com and a recent flip to MSFT if I'd pushed a little harder...

>Doesn't Emulex make connectors? Wow, I haven't looked at Emulex in so many years. That was at beginning of the decade...

>I would like to see some liquidity someday myself.

It'll come... it's funny that period between deal announcement and closing and liquidity, particularly w/ restricted stock and such. And also the ones that have taken 10 years to become liquid ;)...

> What's the startup?

Fosdev, I'll drop you a note.

> We overlapped - I was at BofA Securities. My boss went on to Epoch Capital and then Schwab.

Hehe, cool, I was helping Schwab Inst. first, then BofA Global Markets Group.

Re: I am a junior angel in Silicon Valley. AMA

#233

Post by pclark »

jwegener wrote: post #219
pclark wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do the same thing, except I bought lots of socks of different colors from the same range. Best feeling ever - not having to pair socks. (and being told you're wearing odd socks like some kind of mad man) Want to be friends?

I've had the same thought about socks. I've pondered starting a business around the idea -- pay $100 and we'd send you a few samples of different sock brands. Then choose the one you want most and we'll send you 30 pairs -- all you'll need! Feedback?

($100 is a ton of money for socks, most people don't care enough to care about socks.)

Re: I am a junior angel in Silicon Valley. AMA

#234

Post by jwegener »

pclark wrote: post #233
jwegener wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had the same thought about socks. I've pondered starting a business around the idea -- pay $100 and we'd send you a few samples of different sock brands. Then choose the one you want most and we'll send you 30 pairs -- all you'll need! Feedback?

($100 is a ton of money for socks, most people don't care enough to care about socks.)

(think market skimming, not market penetration).

Re: I am a junior angel in Silicon Valley. AMA

#235

Post by kenz »

pclark wrote: post #233
jwegener wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had the same thought about socks. I've pondered starting a business around the idea -- pay $100 and we'd send you a few samples of different sock brands. Then choose the one you want most and we'll send you 30 pairs -- all you'll need! Feedback?

($100 is a ton of money for socks, most people don't care enough to care about socks.)

I want to learn how to make your money. please help.i'm from vietnam.

Re: I am a junior angel in Silicon Valley. AMA

#236

Post by pook »

jwegener wrote: post #219
pclark wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do the same thing, except I bought lots of socks of different colors from the same range. Best feeling ever - not having to pair socks. (and being told you're wearing odd socks like some kind of mad man) Want to be friends?

I've had the same thought about socks. I've pondered starting a business around the idea -- pay $100 and we'd send you a few samples of different sock brands. Then choose the one you want most and we'll send you 30 pairs -- all you'll need! Feedback?

http://www.ozonesocks.com/sock-of-the-month-club.html

Looks like you've been beat, mate.

Re: I am a junior angel in Silicon Valley. AMA

#237

Post by kevinelliott »

I'd like to be an angel one day, but I'm still plumbing away at the entrepreneur thing first. I'd like to get a few successes under my belt, and really experience starting and growing the businesses, before I jump into investing.

What are some things I can be doing now to prepare myself for angel investing?

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