This Week in Venture Capital - Mark Suster and Jason Calacanis

TL;DR

This Week in Venture Capital Episode Two discusses various tech deals, including investments in companies like Tweet Up, Tweet Photo, and Groupon, as well as the acquisition of Tweety by Twitter. The episode also covers the importance of customer participation in product design and the challenges faced by the venture capital industry.

Transcript

hello everybody hello uh welcome to uh this week inventure Capital episode two sorry my head's getting chopped off here we're going to have to just correct a little bit of the video uh mark seer's back week two everybody loved week one what was the feedback you got I got a lot of really positive feedback I think people like to know about deals goin... Read More

Key Insights

• ✋ Digital Sky Technologies (DST) has been making investments in high-profile companies like Facebook, Zinga, and now Groupon, potentially indicating their belief in the undervaluation of these companies.
• 🔠 The venture capital industry is facing challenges due to capital constraints and underperformance compared to other investment options.
• 🙈 Internet radio and gaming industries are seeing innovation and investment opportunities.
• 💗 The importance of customer participation and customization in product design is recognized as a growing trend.
• 🚚 Edgecast's investment suggests the consolidation of the content delivery network (CDN) industry.
• ❓ The acquisition of Tweety by Twitter showcases Twitter's expansion into multimedia and advertising.
• 😮 The rise of Russian and Chinese investment in American companies indicates the search for high-growth opportunities amidst the global economic crisis.
• 🧑‍🏭 The role of venture capitalists extends beyond providing funding, as they also act as advocates and communicators for their portfolio companies.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the deal of the week discussed in this episode?

The deal of the week is Tweet Up, a new ad network and social search platform founded by Bill Gross.

Q: Who are some of the key investors in Tweet Up?

The investors in Tweet Up include Platinum Status, Danny Rymer from index Ventures, Steve Case, Howard Morgan from First Round Capital, and Jason Calacanis.

Q: What is the significance of the acquisition of Tweety by Twitter?

The acquisition signals Twitter's move towards monetization through advertising and the expansion of its platform to include multimedia content.

Q: How is customer participation important in product design?

Quirky, a company discussed in the episode, allows customers to participate in the design process, combining customer engagement, mass customization, and artisan craftsmanship.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Various tech deals, including investments in Tweet Up, Tweet Photo, and Groupon, are discussed.

• The acquisition of Tweety by Twitter is highlighted.

• The importance of customer participation in product design is emphasized.

• Challenges faced by the venture capital industry are addressed.