source Thomson Reuters Masha Drokova, founder of San Francisco-based venture firm Day One Ventures, believes that investing in companies is a holistic, personal endeavor. She’s played the part of matchmaker to several of her portfolio companies’ founders. Falling in love is good for business, says Drokova. “Everyone is more productive when they fall in love,” says Masha Drokova. Drokova is the founder of Day One Ventures, a San Francisco-based firm focused on early-stage investments. The 28-year-old runs her firm differently than that of the average Silicon Valley venture capitalist: She considers investing in companies to be a deeply holistic undertaking, often forming close, personal relationships with her portfolio companies’ founders. “If I don’t have a human connection with someone, I won’t do business with them,” says Drokova. “For me, it’s never just about the money. I’m going to … [Read more...] about This 28-year-old Silicon Valley investor builds businesses by helping entrepreneurs fall in love
Silicon valley venture capitalists
3 women accuse influential Silicon Valley venture capitalist of groping them
By Seung Lee | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group July 6, 2018 at 2:15 pm Before Kit Bridges sat next to venture capitalist Lucio Lanza in a restaurant in Mountain View on a September night in 2011, she knew Lanza only as an influential board member helping to guide the burgeoning tech firm where she worked. But Bridges said she soon found herself swatting Lanza’s hand away under the tablecloth, as he repeatedly touched her legs and groin. “It was like having a mosquito who I couldn’t get rid of,” said Bridges. Bridges never confronted Lanza or made an official complaint. But seven years later, in an era of intense focus on sexual misconduct in the technology industry and other fields, Lanza was sued by startup founder Rachel Danae Vachata, 29, who alleges a drunken Lanza groped and sexually harassed her in the summer of 2017 after sitting next to her on a red-eye commercial flight. Now Bridges is one of three additional women who have told … [Read more...] about 3 women accuse influential Silicon Valley venture capitalist of groping them
Here are the top 3 qualities you need to succeed, according to a high school dropout who became a venture capitalist at one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent firms
source Founders Fund Cyan Banister is a self-taught engineer, entrepreneur, and angel investor. Banister made early bets on companies like Uber, SpaceX, and Postmates. Now, she manages multi-millionaire dollar deals at Peter Thiel’s venture firm Founders Fund. But Banister didn’t have a traditional education: She dropped out of high school as a teenager amid issues at home, and learned through odd jobs and picking up books. Cyan Banister is a self-taught engineer, entrepreneur, and angel investor who made early bets on companies like Uber, SpaceX, and Postmates. Now, she manages multi-millionaire dollar deals at Founders Fund, Peter Thiel’s San Francisco-based venture firm. Banister’s path to success isn’t typical for a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist: As a teenager, she dropped out of high school to provide for herself after issues at home forced … [Read more...] about Here are the top 3 qualities you need to succeed, according to a high school dropout who became a venture capitalist at one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent firms
Silicon Valley Venture Capitalists Prepare for an I.P.O. Wave
Supported by Technology By JACK NICASAPRIL 15, 2018 Continue reading the main story Share This Page Continue reading the main story SAN FRANCISCO — Jason Pressman spent Thursday morning cheering from the balcony of the New York Stock Exchange as shares of the software firm Zuora, which he backed in 2008, began trading.By the market’s close, Zuora’s stock had soared 43 percent, making his venture capital firm’s $17 million investment in the company worth roughly $150 million.“Not bad at all,” Mr. Pressman said by phone on Thursday night, before heading to a celebratory dinner with about 60 people at a pricey Italian restaurant in Chelsea. Mr. Pressman, a venture capitalist at Shasta Ventures, said he had been up much of the night before but still expected to raise a few glasses. “I’m running a little bit on adrenaline.”Mr. Pressman and many other Silicon Valley venture capitalists expect the windfalls to continue. Many … [Read more...] about Silicon Valley Venture Capitalists Prepare for an I.P.O. Wave
Heartland Tech Weekly: Distance shouldn’t keep Silicon Valley and the Midwest apart
For many Silicon Valley venture capitalists, the five-hour flight to the Midwest may seem five times that long, considering most of their portfolio companies may currently be within a 30-minute drive. But distance shouldn’t keep Silicon Valley and the Midwest from working together — and in fact, Silicon Valley venture capitalists are likely to miss out on killer deals if they only look at startups in their neighborhood. That was the message of a tour last week organized by Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Ro Khanna (D-California), who brought together more than a dozen venture capitalists to visit with entrepreneurs and investors in five Midwestern cities: Youngstown and Akron, Ohio; Detroit and Flint, Michigan; and South Bend, Indiana. “[Silicon Valley VCs] don’t necessarily have to pick up and go to Detroit, but [Midwest organizations] can certainly get on the phone and get on the video conference, to tap into the expertise of these people who have been … [Read more...] about Heartland Tech Weekly: Distance shouldn’t keep Silicon Valley and the Midwest apart