Why Your Startup Doesn’t Need a COO

It’s very common for startup companies to have COO’s. So I know I’m getting myself into a bit of trouble by writing this. But …

Why Super Pro-rata Rights are Not a Good Deal for Entrepreneurs

Yesterday I saw a Tweet from Chris Sacca fly by that prompted me to want to write a blog post helping entrepreneurs understand why they should push back against VCs asking for “super pro-rata” rights. I’ll explain what…

The Problem with Party Rounds

Collecting logos. It seems to be all the fad in the startup and VC world these days. VCs are paying up at enormous prices to say that they have GroupOn, Facebook and Twitter on their roster irrespective of whether they really venture funded them or bought in late stage.

Further Thoughts on Startup Operations

I recently wrote a post about why I didn’t think early-stage startups should have COOs. I expected it to be controversial and it was.

Why Reed Hastings Should be Applauded for Netflix Split

By now you probably know that Netflix is splitting its business into two parts: its digital streaming business (retains the name Netflix) and its DVD mailing business, which was its original business (to be called Qwikster).

Why Pseudonymity Is Such an Important Concept

Fred Wilson wrote a blog post yesterday called “Real Names” in which he talked about a commenter on his blog who preferred not to comment because he didn’t want to use his real name. It’s all told through a graphic & very short so worth your having a…

Don’t Commit BSAK Errors. The World is Too Small

BSAK Errors. I always loved the term … “Between seat and keyboard.”

Normally it was my tech team just being cheeky with me about my withering technology chops. But …

Tips to Help you Think About Sales at Your Startup

Sales.

It’s the lifeblood of any organization and yet most startups don’t have any sales DNA on their teams. It’s important enough that I dedicate a tab on my blog to startup sales & marketing

Why Email May Be Draining Your Company’s Productivity

Email. Ah, email. That great productivity drain that we somehow all buy into. I’ve taken to saying, “Email is our personal to-do list that anybody adds to — whether they know us or not.”

VCs with Personalities? Foundry Group FTW!

I was an entrepreneur for years. I must have pitched 40–50 VCs over the years. Possibly more. As I talked about on many occasions when I was an entrepreneur — and blogged publicly about — I learned a lot about my business and myself in these meetings. It…