'venture capital' Category
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What packing can teach us about management at a startup
May 27, 2014Ever notice how packing a suitcase always seems a lot more stressful and time-consuming when you’re planning what to bring on your trip at the same time? Conversely, drafting a packing list before actually opening the empty suitcase makes the packing exercise flow so much more smoothly. Behind this phenomenon lies a trait inherent in […]
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Leveraging your VC’s network
May 13, 2014Two weeks ago I wrote about a good way for entrepreneurs to ask one VC for a referral to another. This time let’s talk about one of the most effective ways to ask your VC for business referrals once you’re venture-backed. This also applies to entrepreneurs who are looking to derive the most from any […]
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VC internship opportunity
May 9, 2014My dynamite colleague in Truffle’s Energy sector is looking for a dynamite intern. Here are the description and application requirements: Position: Internship at Truffle Capital in Energy/Cleantech Department reporting to the Investment Director – Energy Role: Assist with analysis, strategy and build-up of energy/renewables portfolio companies Requirements: A dynamic and entrepreneurial individual with aspirations to […]
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How I pitch “La French Tech”
May 6, 2014I’m blessed to have the opportunity to travel a fair amount, and the people I encounter often ask me about the state of the French tech ecosystem. Admittedly, sometimes I’m the one who first puts the topic on the table, but I only share my pitch with those who are interested. Furthermore, calling this a […]
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Asking one VC for a referral to another
April 29, 2014For entrepreneurs attempting to raise funds for their venture, an over-the-transom solicitation directly or via a fundraising intermediary is rarely as effective as an endorsed introduction from a portfolio company or from another VC. . If a member of one of my portfolio companies recommends I meet someone, I will most likely accept a meeting […]
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Stickers-as-a-Service is the new SaaS
April 22, 2014LINE’s creators market finally opened up last week allowing third parties and independent illustrators to submit their sticker collections for distribution on the Line’s messenger app. In case you haven’t heard yet, there’s a sticker revolution going on. A recent article in Le Figaro deems the business still-as-yet unrecognized, but entrepreneurs know better. With all […]
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Infographic: Entrepreneurs vs. VCs
April 1, 2014What would April 1 be without a little fun? Although VCs and Entrepreneurs are fundamentally different animals, they do share a few traits in common, as the infographic below depicts (special thanks to Jerry Yang for his artistic talents in helping me design this).
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ハッピーエイプリルフール !
April 1, 2014このブログはこれから日本語で書いて行きます。数少ない特定な読者様は「この決定は何の意味があるかい」って指摘するはずだけど、理由があります。それは、フランスのハイテク会社がこれから日本にインスピレーションを得るべきだと思います。 我々はすでに日本文化から貰ったものを考えてください： フランスのスタートアップ企業は、よく「忍者」の採用募集をしてます。「製品担当忍者」、「プログラミング忍者」、「マーケティング忍者」、「業務拡張忍者」など。 フランスの起業家は「二郎は鮨の夢を見る」を見ます。そして、突然自分の会社も二郎風に完璧を目指すようになります。 ミシュラン星付きレストランの数について、私たちは日本に負けない自信を持ってます。 フランスのデザイナーが「わび・さび」の紹介記事を読み、突然その概念を自身の全デザインに取り入れました。 フミ・ベップさん、ツール・ド・フランスの歴史上最速かつ素晴らしい競技者の1人ですが、日本からフランスに引っ越して来られました。（これは冗談ではありません。ようこそ別府さん！） 最後に、フランスの起業家は皆ラーメンが大好き！！ 今日（２０１４年４月１日）からまだこのブログを読みたいなら、どうぞ日本語を習ってください。
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There’s a party goin’ on [not] here
March 25, 2014. There’s a party goin’ on right here A celebration to last throughout the years So bring your good times, and your laughter too We gonna celebrate your party with you Kool & The Gang probably did not have the stock market in mind when their hit song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 […]
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Can eBay’s failure in China teach us something in Europe ?
March 18, 2014Most of us in the West have never shopped on Tmall or Jingdong. Yet these two firms represent the leaders of the imminently largest e-commerce market in the world: China. Although JD (formerly 360Buy) is a distant second to Alibaba’s Tmall platform, the firm still served a cool $16 billion worth of goods to 140 […]
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Five films filled with lessons for entrepreneurship
March 11, 2014Apparently the Academy Awards took place last week. This annual distraction represents one of the primary conversation topics at watercoolers in American workplaces for a week each year (French workplaces treat the Oscars with a bit less ceremony; then again, fewer conversation topics are taboo around the office Nespresso machine). Even though I haven’t viewed […]
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Musings on ethics in VC
February 18, 2014Lunar new year has taken place and the Year of the Horse is now underway. I had never really thought about the varied interpretations of the horse as a symbol across different geographies until now. For my French colleagues, the horse is a manifestation of elegance, nobility, and masculine energy. I understand that in China, […]