Monthly Archives: May 2010

Privacy-Déjà Vu All Over Again

By gary | Published: May 31, 2010
Another privacy “tempest in a teapot” is about fade away. See http://bit.ly/cjZ4Lj.  Ever since Internet users discovered the “evil” cookie way back in browser ancient history, the Internet privacy cognoscenti periodically get their knickers in a twist and manage to garner PR far in excess of consumer interest. “The people” (whatever nebulous mass of humankind that phrase represents) have voted [...]
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Own the Exit Strategy

By gary | Published: May 26, 2010
At one point earlier in my startup career when I was VP of Marketing at a 3D graphics startup, I was advised by a well-known Silicon Valley VC that I wasn’t to worry about the exit strategy. Our job was to build value and the exit would come. Basically, go away and let the smart [...]
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Angels vs. VCs

By gary | Published: May 24, 2010
An angel investor in Knowledge Reef Systems sent me a copy of Basil Peters presentation (no link at this time) to the Angel Capital Association Summit in San Francisco this month. Absolutely spot on with one minor complaint (see a couple paragraphs below). Basil’s key points: Target an early M&A exit (get out in 2-3 years) Build [...]
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Oracle “Mini-Me” vs. “Cool-Tech” Startups

By gary | Published: May 10, 2010
Why is it that so many enterprise software startups continue to be structured as “mini-me” clones of Oracle (or pick your favorite large, established software vendor)? In a world of agile development processes, alternative distribution channels and customers accustomed to employing open source software that demands “self-help” evaluations, you would think that new business models [...]
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