Aziz Grieser's Comments

Feld Thoughts : Zynga Live Poker Launches

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:30:44 +0000

Thanks for the Zynga update. I expect to have the traction necessary for your intro, middle of spring '09. I'll keep you posted.

http://www.jeffnolan.com/blog/ : Freakonomics on the Market

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:49:16 +0000

Surprised to see you are a freakonomics fan.

TravelFli Blog : Travelfli Meetings: Intercontinental Hotel Group

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:38:19 +0000

You guys is executing. Well done.

Breast Cancer For Husbands.com : The Green Green Garage of Home

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:04:46 +0000

Have you seen the ads for the new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid? 20 city/21 hwy MPG still sucks, and no way is it electric while loaded up, no matter what speed. http://www.cadillac.com/escaladehybrid/ Then again oil prices have hit an all time low.... so people may not pay the premium.

Bill Flagg : Unfair Advantage

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:08:15 +0000

Nice post Bill. There are several metrics for BPW. We'll set the bar for the competition, and this type of thinking will keep us way ahead. FYI - I'm in Emeryville, CA now, and remember the last Oakland A's game that I saw last year... that was one awful team to carry the legacy.

TechStars Community : Fantasy Leagues / Web 2.0 Concept

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:13:44 +0000

Sent an email to these guys... Will see if anyone is listening.

Feld Thoughts : My Quandary

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:13:10 +0000

Why'd you never get into piloting? I've always wanted to fly.

Feld Thoughts : How High Tech Sales Really Works

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:09:44 +0000

Yep Dave, thanks Brad. I too was "uplifted" by the left side-bar.

Bill Flagg : Profitable Pricing

Sun, 7 Sep 2008 09:59:57 +0000

I agree with all of your pricing comments. I'd only add that your pricing model should change as your grow: low profit margins to start with attract customers, and increasing the profit margin later as your able to lower costs through economies of scale. We'll see if I can walk that talk.

Feld Thoughts : Palin in Church

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 11:58:21 +0000

Mine was too...

Feld Thoughts : Cycles

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 11:17:23 +0000

Perhaps you've heard of Smith & Tinker, Brad's latest game tech investment? They're going to turn your cell phone into a light saber. At least that's what I can interpret from their general description, below, and what Brad told me. I want a gree light saber! "reinventing play for the connected generation" http://www.foundrygroup.com/blog/archives/2008/06...http://www.foundrygroup.com/blog/archives/2008/03...

Ask the VC : What Price Adjustments Do You See Prior To Closing In A Financing?

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 10:43:48 +0000

I am amazed that you have these questions after plunking down "low" six figures of your own investment. If I had to answer your question, I'd say that your VC investor doesn't want surprises. They'd probably be ok with you paying off a portion of your debt or picking up half your regular salary, if continuing without their assistance was going to bankrupt you shortly, but only a portion so that you would still have some skin in the game. It sounds to me like you are in no danger of running short of personal fund to finance your own debt and pay your own salary, and it will sound that way to a VC too.

Mendelson's Musings : Anyone Out There A Cat Psychologist?

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 09:42:42 +0000

Jason, you big softy. You just want to show everyone how much you love your cat. Cute cat though.

Feld Thoughts : Palin in Church

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 19:34:00 +0000

Woah, opened up a can 'o worms here did ya Brad? Keep it up --> Getting riled up makes 'em think. I think religion cannot be separated from church and state, and that it never was in this country. The rules that govern the land are created by the people, and if most of them believe, "In God We Trust", then that's what will show up on every dollar bill. My chief fear for our country is ignorance. Americans are no different from people in other countries: most are wiling to tow their party line without weighing the other side. Palin, Bush, and Muqtada al-Sadr all share the same lines: "One day I will be asked whether I have been in touch with someone who told me we would win, and I will respond: 'Yes, I have been in touch with God'." "I'm on a mission from God" “I believe that God wants me to be president” "God's will to get that gas line built". If anything, I'd be offended if I were a Christian. Not that she believes in Christianity, but because Palin says that god is in line with her agenda. Oh really? God, described by all religions as the creator of all things, the unknowable, the all-mighty, the all-powerful, the omnipotent, and the essence of all that is life to your tiny insignificant self, has regular team meetings with you, Palin? Oh. Does God ask for your feedback regularly, or did you get a free pass to pitch hit in God's absence? When someone uses the line "my policy is god's will", that's when I stop listening, because I know that someone is a bullshit artist, using partial facts and religioous fervor for their own will, like this example: Sean Hannity, referring to the attacks on Palin on his show Monday night: http://www.reason.com/convention2008/show/128537.... " …they tried to make the attack that she has a young daughter, pregnant and engaged. Is that fair that they would attack that? I mean, I don’t remember Chelsea Clinton being attacked. I don’t remember Al Gore’s children being attacked. I thought there was a general rule that children of candidates ought to be left alone." Here’s none other than John McCain, wowing them at a GOP fundraiser, circa 1998: http://www.salon.com/news/1998/06/25newsb.html Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father! Chelsea Clinton was 13 at the time. Going to need a new set of talking points, Sea

Feld Thoughts : Palin in Church

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 19:00:06 +0000

That is scary.

"I'M A GODDAMNED GENIUS" : TechStars Chapter Concludes: Turn The Page

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:06:36 +0000

Win. Must win.

Feld Thoughts : Amazon Acquires Shelfari

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:02:24 +0000

Congrats to Josh Hug. I thought he was very kind, open, and candid with us.

Feld Thoughts : Fantastic Post By Calacanis On How To Get PR

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:32:37 +0000

Interesting topic. Sounds like he would be the guy to know about how to handle PR correctly. I can only add that I do not control my company PR, and my company PR does not control my company. I think PR is a measurement, "your company is hot", or "your company is cold". We can only influence each other. Both marketing and PR investments are incredibly difficult to assess, given the amount of external influences for each. Consequently, there are a lot of egos involved in both industries, and a ton of wasteful spending gets falsely justified. Truly effective marketing and PR are different from solutions that currently exist. The point is to differentiate your message. Putting another ad on a page, or announcing the funding of your website on TechCrunch won't have the effect you're looking for. I think there are two important elements in PR and marketing: 1 - The Sheppard: Explaining what you do that is so great is part of it, but doing it in a way that makes someone want to let others know that they were the first to hear about it is the key. I think that an element of secrecy, or scarcity is really good for the brand. "I know something you don't know..." Scarcity should be used to lure your first-mover trend setting Sheppard. 2 - The Sheep: The second element gets a small group of sheep to flock after their first-mover sheppard, so the mass herds of sheep can see this tiny sheep group that always seems to be doing the cool thing. There are so many complex psychological factors at play here, but I'll stick with the simplest flocking psychology. A smaller group always proceeds the larger, and the larger never appreciates a sheppard. The smaller group is compelled to adopt the knew thing, or face losing influential power. The sheppard will never be cool from using the new thing. The new thing only becomes cool, after the small group makes it cool. The sheppard is usually fucked socially, but a good sheppard will help your product or service solution more than a thousand flocks giving you feedback. I learned all of this from conducting focus groups with child- customers at Hasbro Toys. Kids act more sheepish than sheep do. For some strange reason though, there is always that one kid in the group, who unconsciously assesses his/her peers in the group, and completely manipulates their judgment to the point where they look to him/her as they give their responses, just to see if he/she approves, or not. Welcome to 24 hour lines for an iPhone, pre-ordering an $800 Play Station 3, and paying $10K for a wedding ring.

Bill Flagg : Simplify Pricing

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:07:29 +0000

Pricing is a pain, and even a complex spreadsheet with industry benchmarks can't tell management how to price their product. As you said, watch your sales, and the market will tell you whether you're price is right.

http://www.jeffnolan.com/blog/ : Not Upgrading to the iPhone 3G

Thu, 7 Aug 2008 22:00:34 +0000

iPhone is good looking. I use a blackberry, because its functional. People drive Ferrari, why? Not for the functionality. It's for the show. Same with some pretty ladies out there. Not that there is anything wrong with callus materialism. It has its time and place.