Over BBQ at Redbones, I had lunch with an entrepreneur whom I’ve long admired from afar. The conversation took a quick turn when we both talked about our personal insecurities. This entrepreneur talked about how he came east from the Midwest, turned down MIT when he was offered a killer financial aid package elsewhere, and
Author: Jo Tango
E-commerce: My 2 Cents
I entered the VC business in 1998. I worked on, and screened, a lot of e-commerce companies. I have seen a lot of e-commerce companies the past few years, but have hesitated because it has been a popular area for VCs. Now that VC interest seems to be waning, I’m actively looking again in the
Why You Should Not Be an EIR at a VC Firm
“Should I be an entrepreneur in residence at a VC firm?” I get this question a lot, and a variant of this came up today. My advice to entrepreneurs is “no.” I used to sponsor “EIRs” but I stopped many years ago. It’s because I think such a program is rarely a win-win for the
Scotch O’Clock
Cort Johnson, Jeremy Weiskotten and the folks at Terrible Labs invited me to be on “Scotch O’Clock.” They’re behind some cool companies. “The Scotch” is an on-video interview. A bit off the rails (no pun intended, as Terrible Labs is a Ruby on Rails shop). I really enjoyed meeting them and I’m grateful for the
Seeking “Authenticity” (through Skype)
I’m increasingly pursuing “authenticity.” It’s a hard word to define, but to me it is: “Living life in a way that is real and meaningful in all areas and at all times. No spin, no masks.” So, I’m increasingly doing Skype video calls rather than Plain Old Phone Calls when I cannot meet someone in
Why Vest Founders’ Equity?
When you start a company and raise outside money, your investors will always ask that your equity be vested over time. Some founders are insulted by this, and it’s understandable. You work on an idea, and suddenly, your equity is subject to a vesting schedule (what’s common is a four-year period). So, what gives? Investors