I've been asked by numerous people over the last few years why I don't blog. I've usually given the following reasons:
1. I don't have the time.
Each day I wake up thinking about what I need to do to help my portfolio companies come closer to reaching their ambitious goals. When I'm not focused on the portfolio I'm meeting with scores of entrepreneurs looking for my next potential investment. When I'm spending time with entrepreneurs I'm doing primary research on sectors that could produce significant returns over the next 5-10 years. When I'm not conducting research I'm spending time with new contacts (other VCs, corporate execs, service providers, thought leaders, etc). When I'm not meeting new people I'm updating my LPs on the progress of our fund. When I'm not updating my LPs I'm thinking or working on building out our firm and plotting out the firm's future direction. And when I'm not doing any of those things I try to find some time to spend with my wife, friends, family and dog. Oh yeah - sometimes I do sleep although if you asked any of the CEOs of my portfolio companies they don't believe I actually ever sleep!
2. Why would I want to be tempted to reveal secret details about our strategy or my portfolio companies strategies?
Most of the greatest investors in the world don't blog, they don't share their deep thoughts or let others into their psyches for fear of losing their edge. Warren Buffett doesn't blog and either do the most legendary VCs.
3. VCs should be LESS visible in general.
Entrepreneurs are the rock stars and should be the face of innovation. Everyone knows Brad Pitt but can you tell me who has produced his biggest movies? Everyone knows The Rolling Stones but can you tell me who has produced most of their albums? Ideally the entrepreneur and her company should be more famous than the VC backing them. Our industry worked that way for a long time and I often wish we could go back to that time. I'm not saying VCs shouldn't work their asses off trying to promote their companies publicly but the focus should be on the company and entrepreneur. VCs shouldn't be trying to prove how smart they are to the public or shouting from the mountain tops about their fabulous returns. Arthur Rock never needed to feed his ego this way. Ed Glassmeyer at Oak (a role model for me and one of the best VCs on the planet) keeps his head down and makes good investment after good investment.
So why start now when there's already 8 trillion VC bloggers? Simple - it's the only way I can think of to most efficiently raise entrepreneur awareness of our firm here in the NY venture market as well as nationally. My hope is through this blog I will attract the following:
- great entrepreneurs that are looking for a venture firm that will never rest in its effort to create value while putting the success of the entrepreneur's company first, second and third.
- great entrepreneurs that value substance over flash, hard work over superficial value-add and intellectual honesty over sound bites and false support
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