Comments on: Top 10 Startup Financing Takeaways from Investors Michelle Goldberg and Andy Sack

By: Goldberg & Sack on the Downturn | KillerBlog

Goldberg & Sack on the Downturn | KillerBlog — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:05:24 +0000

[...] XConomy.com recently attended a talk by Michelle Goldberg and Andy Sack, from Goldberg & Sack, and they were nice enough to post the main takeaways from said talks. They talked about startups, the economy, and most importantly: funding. [...]

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:55:22 +0000

Contrast Michelle’s/Ignition’s view that “We’re not going cold with entrepreneurs who walk in and have a great idea” versus Paul Graham/Y Combinator’s approach which embraces this, and then compare their respective track records even given Y Combinator got started much later than Ignition, and it’s clear Ignition is lost.

I actually want Ignition to do well, and the Pacific Northwest needs them to do well. But their exceeding arrogance without any home-runs to prove their proposed model shows they are just plain poor VCs.

By: Gregory T. Huang

Gregory T. Huang — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:20:09 +0000

I think Michelle Goldberg meant ‘every single deal’ they’ve done in the past few months—not ever. As for Facebook, it’s certainly a valid question how to monetize Web 2.0 sites. She didn’t say a startup couldn’t figure it out, just that it’s a big challenge.

By: Top 10 Startup Financing Takeaways from Investors Michelle … | finance-web-guide

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:46:26 +0000

[...] Read the original here: Top 10 Startup Financing Takeaways from Investors Michelle … [...]

By: She Really Hasn't a Clue

She Really Hasn't a Clue — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:57:27 +0000

Did Goldberg really say that “If Facebook can’t do it, how is a startup supposed to do it?” Whereas VCs used to ask startups “What’s to stop Microsoft from competing and beating you?” it’s now “If Facebook hasn’t, you can’t”? How asinine.

I was kinda neutral on Ignition for a while, willing to let them prove themselves this kind of opinion really makes me think that Seattle VCs really have no freakin’ clue. She doesn’t even have any direct operational or entrepreneurial experience anyways.

By: Ignition, Ignition

Ignition, Ignition — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:49:27 +0000

Goldberg was quoted as saying ““Every single deal we’ve done is with people we know, and know well. We’re not going cold with entrepreneurs who walk in and have a great idea.”…

Hmm… to quote a particularly sagacious movie character “…and that is why you fail.” :-)