Well, good or bad, you do have a tendency to blog on concepts and start ups you find interesting, and then (in what seems like many cases) disclose an investment. What I've enjoyed is that you have shown a way of defining your own destiny via the interests you cover (e.g. I never know whether your topical blogging is first or the investment discussions). That is enough transparency IMO, the rest is for the formal announcement.
Philippe Bradley
· 1 year ago
Fred, what makes you feel the VC business particularly needs more transparency?
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
Because I think entrepreneurs are served better if they know what different vcs are like, what they are good at, what they typically invest in, etc
Its also helpful for entrepreneurs to understand terms and other aspects of venture deals. Brad Feld and his partners' service, Ask the VC, for example is great in that regard
VCs also benefit from more information about what entrepreneurs are thinking
I think all markets function better when there is more transparency
Fred
Stephen L. McKay
· 1 year ago
Fred, Yea, but you do let the cat out of the bag when you praise a business (Wasabi, for example), just before you make an investment (I just knew that a USV investment was coming after your posts). Nothing wrong with that at all, and I like it. Your not doing anything unethical, and your giving a little insight into what kind of investments you believe in, and why. All are good things, and one more reason I read you faithfully!
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
I think I have praised other non usv companies like youtube, facebook, hypemachine, seesmic, etc
I really try to keep it balanced
Fred
Loic Lemeur
· 1 year ago
Hi Fred. Of course you can't be transparent about this too much, it would immediately create competition for you. It happened to me once on a business angel deal I wanted to make, I blogged so much about it (and put it on stage at LeWeb3) that instead of taking my business angel money they directly sold the company with a great deal :) Good for the founder, not as good for a business angel investment... I do not feel bad about it though, happy for the founder, but I learnt there.
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
i think we were both involved in that one Loic, right?
Loic Lemeur
· 1 year ago
Disqus is really cool I also have it on my blog you should invest but don't tell anybody :)
Fred, ah ! I was actually thinking about a french startup which was sold for good money and I really was disappointed for me :) Now you remind me of this other one yeah, see, I also speak too much on my blog... I had fueled a nice french userbase for them as I adopted it on my blog.
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
Loic, there are no secrets anymore with you commenting on my blog!!!
Loic Lemeur
· 1 year ago
:)
rick
· 1 year ago
they probably won't be getting the users they'd like anytime soon. all 3 of the people this appeals to are already using youtube :(
All Comments
Its also helpful for entrepreneurs to understand terms and other aspects of venture deals. Brad Feld and his partners' service, Ask the VC, for example is great in that regard
VCs also benefit from more information about what entrepreneurs are thinking
I think all markets function better when there is more transparency
Fred
Yea, but you do let the cat out of the bag when you praise a business (Wasabi, for example), just before you make an investment (I just knew that a USV investment was coming after your posts). Nothing wrong with that at all, and I like it. Your not doing anything unethical, and your giving a little insight into what kind of investments you believe in, and why. All are good things, and one more reason I read you faithfully!
I really try to keep it balanced
Fred
Fred, ah ! I was actually thinking about a french startup which was sold for good money and I really was disappointed for me :) Now you remind me of this other one yeah, see, I also speak too much on my blog... I had fueled a nice french userbase for them as I adopted it on my blog.