VC News Roundup

What we’re reading at Flatiron Investors…

• The WSJ reports on the increasingly tough funding conditions in public markets for tech companies. Private investors are less likely to drive up valuations, and there is a huge backlog of companies who may have no choice but to tap public markets for funding in 2016.
• Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures shares his thoughts on what it takes to develop leadership. This long post gives great advice important foundations of leadership, such as a clear purpose, conviction, relationships, team building skills, communications, empowerment, and presence.
• Hunter Walk of Homebrew interviews Howard Lindzon and discusses the difficulties of founding a new media company, the proliferation of user generated content, and his thoughts on video. Best quote: “ Long story short, anybody and everybody is a media business so start that way and prove you have a voice first.”
• Brian Laung Aoaeh of KEC Ventures gives a very detailed answer to a question he often gets from budding entrepreneurs, “How do I start?” The post does a good job of providing differentiation between three terms that are often used interchangeably and without much thought: a project, a startup, and a company.
• Josh Guttman reminds entrepreneurs to not lose sight of the core focus of building a business. He includes a fantastic quote by Adele to show how she avoids distractions and focuses on one thing and one thing only, her music.

• CB Insights provides data on cross over investors participating in digital banking deals. Crossover investors are mutual funds, hedge funds, asset managers, and others who are typically focused on public markets but have begun investing in startups.
• Bilal Zuberi of Lux Capital gives brief thoughts on a number of different sectors in tech.
• Bryce Roberts of OATV discusses a sense of entitlement that he has seen emerge due to the seemingly unlimited supply of money and investors’ FOMO about missing out on good deals. If anyone can raise money easily and become an entrepreneur, the realities of startup life will cause them to feel unhappy and adrift.
• Fred Wilson of USV goes through what predictions he got right and what he got wrong in 2015.
• Alex Iskold of Techstars in NYC discusses how to put together an excellent deck to raise a seed round.
• Chris Lynch of Accomplice does not like accelerators. In an interview with the WSJ, he lists his reasons why: standardized terms and training, duration, lack of quality mentors, and onerous terms.
• As its valuation skyrockets, Palantir employees including Peter Thiel try to figure out ways to sell shares.

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