Comments on: Is Strategic Money an Oxymoron? http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/ Entrepreneur turned VC Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Is Strategic Money an Oxymoron? | CloudAve http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-2443 Is Strategic Money an Oxymoron? | CloudAve Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:05:56 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-2443 [...] great strategics please list them.  I’d love to give them some recognition.(Cross-posted @ Both Sides of the Table)Posted Under : Entrepreneurship Tags startups entrepreneurship vc funding Start-up Advice Pitching [...] [...] great strategics please list them.  I’d love to give them some recognition.(Cross-posted @ Both Sides of the Table)Posted Under : Entrepreneurship Tags startups entrepreneurship vc funding Start-up Advice Pitching [...]

]]> By: Global From Day One: Amobee helps operators adapt to a changing mobile landscape : Venture Capital Cafe http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-2442 Global From Day One: Amobee helps operators adapt to a changing mobile landscape : Venture Capital Cafe Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:31:21 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-2442 [...] as some VC bloggers have pointed out, strategic investment can present challenges. For example, Vodafone and Telefonica will always put [...] [...] as some VC bloggers have pointed out, strategic investment can present challenges. For example, Vodafone and Telefonica will always put [...]

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-13195 msuster Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:12:11 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-13195 Thanks, Max. Even worse in Europe, I'm afraid. We just got completely "torpedoed" by a "strategic" investor in France. They launched a hostile takeover of the company at a low price that screwed everybody and the court system in France recognized their legitimacy because they were a large company and the jobs were seen as more protected under their ownership. A big FAIL for French entrepreneurship and for having strategic investors. It is unlikely we would ever invest in this country again after such an outrageous incidence. Thanks, Max. Even worse in Europe, I'm afraid. We just got completely “torpedoed” by a “strategic” investor in France. They launched a hostile takeover of the company at a low price that screwed everybody and the court system in France recognized their legitimacy because they were a large company and the jobs were seen as more protected under their ownership. A big FAIL for French entrepreneurship and for having strategic investors. It is unlikely we would ever invest in this country again after such an outrageous incidence.

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-2449 msuster Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:12:11 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-2449 Thanks, Max. Even worse in Europe, I'm afraid. We just got completely "torpedoed" by a "strategic" investor in France. They launched a hostile takeover of the company at a low price that screwed everybody and the court system in France recognized their legitimacy because they were a large company and the jobs were seen as more protected under their ownership. A big FAIL for French entrepreneurship and for having strategic investors. It is unlikely we would ever invest in this country again after such an outrageous incidence. Thanks, Max. Even worse in Europe, I'm afraid. We just got completely “torpedoed” by a “strategic” investor in France. They launched a hostile takeover of the company at a low price that screwed everybody and the court system in France recognized their legitimacy because they were a large company and the jobs were seen as more protected under their ownership. A big FAIL for French entrepreneurship and for having strategic investors. It is unlikely we would ever invest in this country again after such an outrageous incidence.

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-2441 msuster Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:12:11 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-2441 Thanks, Max. Even worse in Europe, I'm afraid. We just got completely "torpedoed" by a "strategic" investor in France. They launched a hostile takeover of the company at a low price that screwed everybody and the court system in France recognized their legitimacy because they were a large company and the jobs were seen as more protected under their ownership. A big FAIL for French entrepreneurship and for having strategic investors. It is unlikely we would ever invest in this country again after such an outrageous incidence. Thanks, Max. Even worse in Europe, I'm afraid. We just got completely “torpedoed” by a “strategic” investor in France. They launched a hostile takeover of the company at a low price that screwed everybody and the court system in France recognized their legitimacy because they were a large company and the jobs were seen as more protected under their ownership. A big FAIL for French entrepreneurship and for having strategic investors. It is unlikely we would ever invest in this country again after such an outrageous incidence.

]]> By: Max Bleyleben http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-13194 Max Bleyleben Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:44:32 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-13194 This is a great summary, Mark. I also feel like I have this discussion with European entrepreneurs every week. Strategic investors are a double-edged sword, but in most cases they limit a company's ability to maximise equity value, either because they limit what you can do commercially, or because they restrict the number of potential acquirers. From now on I'll point entrepreneurs to your post... thanks! This is a great summary, Mark. I also feel like I have this discussion with European entrepreneurs every week. Strategic investors are a double-edged sword, but in most cases they limit a company's ability to maximise equity value, either because they limit what you can do commercially, or because they restrict the number of potential acquirers. From now on I'll point entrepreneurs to your post… thanks!

]]> By: Max Bleyleben http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-2440 Max Bleyleben Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:44:32 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-2440 This is a great summary, Mark. I also feel like I have this discussion with European entrepreneurs every week. Strategic investors are a double-edged sword, but in most cases they limit a company's ability to maximise equity value, either because they limit what you can do commercially, or because they restrict the number of potential acquirers. From now on I'll point entrepreneurs to your post... thanks! This is a great summary, Mark. I also feel like I have this discussion with European entrepreneurs every week. Strategic investors are a double-edged sword, but in most cases they limit a company's ability to maximise equity value, either because they limit what you can do commercially, or because they restrict the number of potential acquirers. From now on I'll point entrepreneurs to your post… thanks!

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-13197 msuster Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:08:42 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-13197 Awesome story, Philip. I'm involved with a young startup now and every strategic partner wants a small piece of equity. I told the young entrepreneur my story that every one of my early partners wanted the same. We wasted days talking to them about it and in the end couldn't reach agreement. When the stock market continued to crash throughout 00/01 both our partners and we were happy we hadn't reached agreement. They were happy for obvious reasons. We were happy because had we taken their money I would never have been able to restructure the company as I did in 01 and we wouldn't have survived.<br><br>Ultimately it's tempting when partners want small pieces of equity. But if you have a strong response to anyone who asks that no partners will get equity they often respect this and at least find comfort that they won't find their competitor with equity. Being Switzerland as a startup is important. Awesome story, Philip. I'm involved with a young startup now and every strategic partner wants a small piece of equity. I told the young entrepreneur my story that every one of my early partners wanted the same. We wasted days talking to them about it and in the end couldn't reach agreement. When the stock market continued to crash throughout 00/01 both our partners and we were happy we hadn't reached agreement. They were happy for obvious reasons. We were happy because had we taken their money I would never have been able to restructure the company as I did in 01 and we wouldn't have survived.

Ultimately it's tempting when partners want small pieces of equity. But if you have a strong response to anyone who asks that no partners will get equity they often respect this and at least find comfort that they won't find their competitor with equity. Being Switzerland as a startup is important.

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-13199 msuster Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:04:43 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-13199 Thanks, Dan. Unfortunately the "eerily accurate" is only because I lived it! I appreciate your input. Thanks, Dan. Unfortunately the “eerily accurate” is only because I lived it! I appreciate your input.

]]> By: msuster http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2009/12/03/is-strategic-money-an-oxymoron/comment-page-1/#comment-13202 msuster Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:03:41 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=1516#comment-13202 Ha. I'm 3 weeks in and must admit that so far I'm pretty happy. Ha. I'm 3 weeks in and must admit that so far I'm pretty happy.

]]>