Comments on: Thriving in the Crisis: A Mentor Roundtable at Innovate Europe 09 http://www.jorgebernal.info/business/thriving-in-the-crisis-a-mentor-roundtable-at-innovate-europe-09 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:23:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Nils http://www.jorgebernal.info/business/thriving-in-the-crisis-a-mentor-roundtable-at-innovate-europe-09/comment-page-1#comment-1449 Nils Thu, 07 May 2009 13:47:47 +0000 http://www.jorgebernal.info/?p=300#comment-1449 If your company already makes money and is sustainable it's really not so much venture capital now, is it? At the moment it's far more lucrative to buy plain old simple blue chips and other stock as opposed to funding some company that could be the next Google (if that's even possible). With credit drying up there is less leverage involved so an intelligent investor would lower his risk exposure, especially with government swooping in and influencing the market dynamic. It might be better to raise the money by other means so you can keep more of your future profits ;) If your company already makes money and is sustainable it’s really not so much venture capital now, is it?

At the moment it’s far more lucrative to buy plain old simple blue chips and other stock as opposed to funding some company that could be the next Google (if that’s even possible). With credit drying up there is less leverage involved so an intelligent investor would lower his risk exposure, especially with government swooping in and influencing the market dynamic.

It might be better to raise the money by other means so you can keep more of your future profits ;)

]]> By: Jorge Bernal http://www.jorgebernal.info/business/thriving-in-the-crisis-a-mentor-roundtable-at-innovate-europe-09/comment-page-1#comment-1447 Jorge Bernal Thu, 07 May 2009 01:50:23 +0000 http://www.jorgebernal.info/?p=300#comment-1447 Arjen, I completely agree with that. I liked David Sifry's statement that customer money is the best kind of funding. I've never been sure about getting VC funding for our company. Just because you have a chance to get it, doesn't mean you need it. Arjen, I completely agree with that. I liked David Sifry’s statement that customer money is the best kind of funding.

I’ve never been sure about getting VC funding for our company. Just because you have a chance to get it, doesn’t mean you need it.

]]> By: Arjen Lentz http://www.jorgebernal.info/business/thriving-in-the-crisis-a-mentor-roundtable-at-innovate-europe-09/comment-page-1#comment-1445 Arjen Lentz Tue, 05 May 2009 21:40:28 +0000 http://www.jorgebernal.info/?p=300#comment-1445 Experience indeed, good names there - but it's important to realise what they have experience with. In terms of building successful businesses, they're definitely there. Bootstrapping (no venture capital), not so much. Running a non-VC-funded company is quite different in many respects, but that's exactly the kind of thing that people might want/need to do right now. In many cases, VC funding is the problem, not the solution - the issue is not potentially VC capital drying up for new ventures, the problem is distracting focus from really good ideas getting to the real world as soon as possible, while building a viable long-term business model. Presentation and charisma is important and makes for an excellent experience, but that does not make someone an expert on everything. They are just expert in whatever they have experience with, not other things. Being "expert" or "experienced" is very subject-matter specific. Experience indeed, good names there – but it’s important to realise what they have experience with.
In terms of building successful businesses, they’re definitely there. Bootstrapping (no venture capital), not so much.

Running a non-VC-funded company is quite different in many respects, but that’s exactly the kind of thing that people might want/need to do right now. In many cases, VC funding is the problem, not the solution – the issue is not potentially VC capital drying up for new ventures, the problem is distracting focus from really good ideas getting to the real world as soon as possible, while building a viable long-term business model.

Presentation and charisma is important and makes for an excellent experience, but that does not make someone an expert on everything. They are just expert in whatever they have experience with, not other things. Being “expert” or “experienced” is very subject-matter specific.

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