There Aren't Many Venture Backed IPOs

#1

Post by snikolic » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 2:07 PM UTC

There Aren't Many Venture Backed IPOs
avc.com

Re: There Aren't Many Venture Backed IPOs

#2

Post by alex_martin » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 2:16 PM UTC

I really like Fred Wilson's blog. But I'm wondering - he reckons there's a bubble in startups at the moment, should he be trying to exit USV investments [1]? I understand his complaints from a series-A investor perspective, but many of their portfolio companies are well established (Twitter, Meetup, Covestor etc.), why aren't they making a move for an exit?

[1] http://www.usv.com/investments/

Re: There Aren't Many Venture Backed IPOs

#3

Post by loumf » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 2:24 PM UTC

If you don't include time, this graph is worthless. It's not just the exit amount, but how long it took you to get there. I think PG pointed out at Startup School that super-angels seem to be going for quick M&As, not IPOs, and that therefore, didn't care about the valuation as much.

Re: There Aren't Many Venture Backed IPOs

#4

Post by suking » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 3:20 PM UTC

alex_martin wrote: post #2

I really like Fred Wilson's blog. But I'm wondering - he reckons there's a bubble in startups at the moment, should he be trying to exit USV investments [1]? I understand his complaints from a series-A investor perspective, but many of their portfolio companies are well established (Twitter, Meetup, Covestor etc.), why aren't they making a move for an exit? [1] http://www.usv.com/investments/

I'm pretty sure he hasn't denied exiting Twitter via SecondMarket.

Re: There Aren't Many Venture Backed IPOs

#5

Post by yakto » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 7:21 PM UTC

suking wrote: post #4

alex_martin wrote: post #2

I really like Fred Wilson's blog. But I'm wondering - he reckons there's a bubble in startups at the moment, should he be trying to exit USV investments [1]? I understand his complaints from a series-A investor perspective, but many of their portfolio companies are well established (Twitter, Meetup, Covestor etc.), why aren't they making a move for an exit? [1] http://www.usv.com/investments/

I'm pretty sure he hasn't denied exiting Twitter via SecondMarket.

I'm pretty sure he has: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2650977

Re: There Aren't Many Venture Backed IPOs

#6

Post by suking » Fri, Jun 24, 2011, 3:00 PM UTC

yakto wrote: post #5

suking wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure he hasn't denied exiting Twitter via SecondMarket.

I'm pretty sure he has: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2650977

That only denies SecondMarket - I think what he is saying is they might have sold to later stage VC/PE firms in an organized round and doesn't appear to be denying that he somehow exited. Honestly, don't blame him for at least cashing some out on 20X+ home run.