Pfeffer on core competency:
Has Your Company Lost Its Core Competence? | The Corner Office | BNET “The idea of focusing on the core is sensible. The trick is in figuring out what is core and what isn’t.” http://bit.ly/30iyL0
How much does venture capital need to contract?
Today, Josh Kopelman wrote another piece on the need for the asset class to shrink: http://bit.ly/2vgJRv. He also says funds need to shrink in size. I agree but we also need to make sure a thousand early stage firms fighting for the same few deals doesn’t get out of hand. Whenever there is pressure for pricing to get away from a deal’s fundamentals, I get nervous.
Venture capital dollars invested per year
Over the last several years, the venture capital has invested about $25-$30 billion per year. For the exact data, go here. For a graphical representation, see this: http://twitpic.com/ncapj. This is shrinking quickly.
Finding the Smartphone Inside Motorola
Finding the Smartphone Inside Motorola – NYTimes.com ““When you are trying to make something small and powerful, everything is a tradeoff,— http://bit.ly/1u9Gvn
Deal Notes: GSI Commerce to Acquire Retail Convergence and Enter Private Sale Space with Addition of Rue La La
The transaction is valued at up to $350 million, including $180 million at closing (50 percent cash, 50 percent stock) and an earn-out of up to $170 million.
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
| NGIO needed for target payment |
$18.3 |
$34.4 |
$51.9 |
Some other good information (unique visitors, financial ratios) available on the announcement page: http://bit.ly/2VGXDl
How Do Innovators Think? – HBR Editors’ Blog
Enjoyed this:
How Do Innovators Think? – HBR Editors’ Blog – Harvard Business Review “The first skill is what we call “associating.” It’s a cognitive skill that allows creative people to make connections across seemingly unrelated questions, problems, or ideas. The second skill is questioning — an ability to ask “what if”, “why”, and “why not” questions that challenge the status quo and open up the bigger picture. The third is the ability to closely observe details, particularly the details of people’s behavior. Another skill is the ability to experiment — the people we studied are always trying on new experiences and exploring new worlds. And finally, they are really good at networking with smart people who have little in common with them, but from whom they can learn. ”
Accounting Tricks At Amazon.com: Some analysts speculate that Amazon may be managing its accounts payable
Magic Tricks on the Corporate Books – BusinessWeek “Some analysts speculate that Amazon may be managing its accounts payable” http://bit.ly/nlndz
Amazon.com- a content or ecommerce business?
They have a strong competitive advantage in both. Keeping the Faith in Silicon Valley – BusinessWeek http://bit.ly/1Jonnb
Article on Plug and Play incubator
This business week article is a little older and profiles Plug and Play:
Keeping the Faith in Silicon Valley – BusinessWeek http://bit.ly/1Jonnb
Paul Graham: What Startups Are Really Like
One of his best: Paul Graham- What Startups Are Really Like http://bit.ly/3Fmamg