davidsmuts

davidsmuts

8p

5 comments posted · 0 followers · following 0

14 years ago @ Mendelson's Musings - Three things NOT to do... · 0 replies · +1 points

Its amazing that Entrepreneurs still aren't learning this basic information (because the info is out there!) about the funding process before they pitch. I help and consult a lot of brethren Entrepreneurs and I find they get very defensive when you make comments like their business plan is too long. I love free advice, and I listen to it whenever I can, especially from luminaries. I don't have to follow it, but at least I should try and understand it!

14 years ago @ Mendelson's Musings - Just When You Thought ... · 0 replies · +1 points

$28B is a drop in the ocean compared to the Trillions managed or shall I say "leveraged" by PE. The problem in my view, is that Governments are addressing this in isolation (industry by industry) rather than addressing the wider macro-economic factors at play (need to engage w/the wider innovation economy). But just as the PEC is a lobby group so too is the NVCA. What is needed is a colloborative dialogue involving all groups of the innovation economy. THe NVCA fighting the corner of the VC community alone will not succeed unless supported by a broader base. Putting constraints on a small asset class (VC) which supports innovation, in my view, is not helpful for our economies or our unemployed.

14 years ago @ Mendelson's Musings - An Open Letter to Mr. ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Also would add to your letter: Reform SEC laws - Blue Sky laws- Create an accreditation for Angel Investors (give them 100% tax breaks for start up investments), so we can begin to build a more "professional" base of Angel Investors as well as increase the number of active Angels.

kudos to you my friend!

14 years ago @ Mendelson's Musings - An Open Letter to Mr. ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Jason, I admire you for putting this out- well done! I agree wholeheartedly on the issues you raise and in particular:

Sarbannes-Oxley- we plan to be listing on AIM in London and piggy-backing onto the OTCQX to avoid this excessive burden of SO legislation. It costs far too damn much to comply with ($1M+ ) and for a younger company its a stranglehold. London is a great alternative, without the red tape and AIM is significantly quicker and lower cost than Nasdaq.
Dollar devaluation- agree with you, but if we print trillions of paper notes this is what happens. The sheet will really hit the fan when BRIC and the Arabs dump the dollar. They're preparing to do so too, but no one is really taking this seriously in the US or considering the consequences or preparing for this eventuality. Just because there isn't an alternative currency to the Dollar yet, does not mean there won't be one. They're proceeding as per normal with their heads in the sand.

14 years ago @ StartupCFO - The Board Meeting · 1 reply · +1 points

Hi Mark

I like the recipee you have here. One thing I like to see omitted from my board meetings is the customary AOB (any other business) at the end of the agenda. It always sets the clock past closing time and if it doesn't, then there usually isn't sufficient time given to the matter. When chairing or setting up a new board I always keep the rule that we have no AOB at all (NO SURPISES RULE). If there is "other" business not covered in the agenda well then it should have been raised earlier or will have to wait till the next meeting. I replace the AOB with AOUB (any other URGENT business) just to give the board an option to bring something up which isn't on the agenda but which is of an urgent and critical nature. Usually "urgent" or "critical" issues are ones which have popped up unexpectadly or for which there was not sufficient time to inform others prior to the meeting.

all the best
David