Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
1–10 of 23 posts
Re: Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
#2I like all of the criteria laid out for portfolio investments, save #5: The entire team should be located in the SF Bay Area. I'm seeing this requirement more and more often among venture firms. Clearly K9 Ventures has had success with their investments, so they are free to allocate their money as they choose.
I have nothing against the Bay Area. I went to school here, live here, and started my company here. However, if I want to start another venture down the road I feel like I'd have no choice but to start it here. And not having choice only hurts the entrepreneur.
Re: Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
#3Awesome. I remember discussing Rapportive with Manu back when we started and although we didn't end up working together (maybe he didn't want too many companies that would sell to LinkedIn :p ?), the quality of his insights was off the charts.
Re: Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
#4I like all of the criteria laid out for portfolio investments, save #5: The entire team should be located in the SF Bay Area. I'm seeing this requirement more and more often among venture firms. Clearly K9 Ventures has had success with their investments, so they are free to allocate their money as they choose. I have nothing against the Bay Area. I went to school here, live here, and started my company here. However,…
Those are his criteria, not yours. He lives in the Bay Area and wants to be close to all the companies he invests in. As an entrepreneur, you'd have to start a company here if you'd like Manu to invest in you. If you want to start it someplace else, then he may not be the right investor for you. It's that simple.
What I like about Manu's criteria is that they are very clearly laid out. Not all investors make it so easy to know what they expect out of companies, so they end up wasting a founder's time.
Disclosure: I've known Manu since the late 90s, and he invested in my company (IndexTank).
Re: Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
#5I like all of the criteria laid out for portfolio investments, save #5: The entire team should be located in the SF Bay Area. I'm seeing this requirement more and more often among venture firms. Clearly K9 Ventures has had success with their investments, so they are free to allocate their money as they choose. I have nothing against the Bay Area. I went to school here, live here, and started my company here. However,…
Those are his criteria, not yours. He lives in the Bay Area and wants to be close to all the companies he invests in. As an entrepreneur, you'd have to start a company here if you'd like Manu to invest in you. If you want to start it someplace else, then he may not be the right investor for you. It's that simple. What I like about Manu's criteria is that they are very clearly laid out. Not all investors make it so ea…
I definitely appreciate how clearly everything is laid out. Some VCs have ridiculously wishy-washy copy on their website. If I had a nickel every time I read about "investing in big ideas" I'd have a $1M seed round in no time.
Re: Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
#6I like all of the criteria laid out for portfolio investments, save #5: The entire team should be located in the SF Bay Area. I'm seeing this requirement more and more often among venture firms. Clearly K9 Ventures has had success with their investments, so they are free to allocate their money as they choose. I have nothing against the Bay Area. I went to school here, live here, and started my company here. However,…
I wonder when all these Bay Area VC's are going to realize that the smartest people are smart enough to not live on active fault lines in earthquake season.
Re: Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
#7Congrats to Manu! (we were classmates)
Re: Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
#8I like all of the criteria laid out for portfolio investments, save #5: The entire team should be located in the SF Bay Area. I'm seeing this requirement more and more often among venture firms. Clearly K9 Ventures has had success with their investments, so they are free to allocate their money as they choose. I have nothing against the Bay Area. I went to school here, live here, and started my company here. However,…
Investors are gamblers, and gamblers look for good odds. Until we can prove that the odds of success in the Bay Area are not better than other places, we'll have to often deal with required local operation.
Lots of folks who aren't already wealthy would prefer living elsewhere (unless you like places with Manhattan-style prices, but no Manhattan-style amenities).
Re: Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
#9I like all of the criteria laid out for portfolio investments, save #5: The entire team should be located in the SF Bay Area. I'm seeing this requirement more and more often among venture firms. Clearly K9 Ventures has had success with their investments, so they are free to allocate their money as they choose. I have nothing against the Bay Area. I went to school here, live here, and started my company here. However,…
Those are his criteria, not yours. He lives in the Bay Area and wants to be close to all the companies he invests in. As an entrepreneur, you'd have to start a company here if you'd like Manu to invest in you. If you want to start it someplace else, then he may not be the right investor for you. It's that simple. What I like about Manu's criteria is that they are very clearly laid out. Not all investors make it so ea…
Well said Diego. I think it's a testament to Manu's desire to be hands-on and actively involved in every company he backs. He wants to add value to everything he is involved with, and the best way he can do this is by being close to the companies he invests in.
Re: Announcing K9 Ventures II – A $40M technology-focused micro-VC fund
#10I like all of the criteria laid out for portfolio investments, save #5: The entire team should be located in the SF Bay Area. I'm seeing this requirement more and more often among venture firms. Clearly K9 Ventures has had success with their investments, so they are free to allocate their money as they choose. I have nothing against the Bay Area. I went to school here, live here, and started my company here. However,…
Investors are gamblers, and gamblers look for good odds. Until we can prove that the odds of success in the Bay Area are not better than other places, we'll have to often deal with required local operation. Lots of folks who aren't already wealthy would prefer living elsewhere (unless you like places with Manhattan-style prices, but no Manhattan-style amenities).
Do you really believe that the odds of success outside of the SF Bay area are equal to the odds of success in the Bay area?