This post originally appeared in Forbes. America recently celebrated Memorial Day to honor military men and women who paid the ultimate price to secure and defend liberty. In a country full of heroes, these are the superheroes. In response to COVID-19, we’ve seen numerous examples of other types of heroism, including those exhibited by first responders […]
Save America. Start A Company. Read More »
This post originally appeared in TechCrunch. Some entrepreneurs think that (more) money will solve all their company’s problems. It won’t. Like a teenager with a million-dollar allowance and an identity crisis, a startup with too much capital and no product-market fit will become capable of making larger mistakes. Biggie Smalls said it best: “Mo Money,
Why More Funding Won’t Magically Fix Your Startup Read More »
This post originally appeared in Forbes. Startups are uncertain, high-risk exercises under any circumstance. When investors make available capital, it’s possible to mitigate some of that risk by extending runway – in some cases, almost indefinitely. But markets are cyclical, and in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the venture capital landscape has changed. While many
Thriving As A Post-Coronavirus Startup Read More »
If you’re thinking about launching a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company, there are two different ways to approach the market. Horizontal SaaS: These companies aim to create a product that services a specific type of employee, function or division across all industries. Examples of horizontal SaaS companies include Salesforce, which sells cloud software for sales teams, and Adobe,
Understanding The Vertical SaaS Product Stack Read More »
If Alex Canter’s last name sounds familiar, it’s because his family owns the iconic deli of the same name that has been serving up matzo ball soup and pastrami sandwiches from the same spot on L.A.’s Fairfax Avenue since his great-grandfather founded the eatery in 1931. After spending much of his childhood at Canter’s, Alex
Founder Interview: Alex Canter, Co-founder and CEO, Ordermark Read More »
By William Hsu The annual Forbes Midas list just came out. Which reminded me that I put together the following data for last years list for a blog post I planned for a while. Not having the time, I thought I just share the raw data for those interested. Data compiled via https://www.forbes.com/midas
How to Become a Midas VC: Just The Data Read More »
by Erik Rannala Real innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum, a lesson that the famed inventor Thomas Edison understood better than most. Throughout his life, Edison revealed that great ideas come alive thanks to the proper mix of setting, timing, mindset, and luck. And so it was on the night of July 18th, 1877, during
5 Lessons for Startups from Edison’s Invention of the Phonograph Read More »
by William Hsu, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Mucker VCs say a lot of cryptic stuff when we pass on an investment – partially because it make us appear smart, but mostly because we simply don’t want to be assholes. So, we try as hard as we can to not simply say “no,” when we
The Cryptic VC’s Guide to Saying “No” on Investments Read More »
Following the inevitable ups and downs of the VC investment cycle, and what founders can do when it all turns cold. The “venture recession” of 2016 is in full swing. Combined with the usual summer slowdown, some are already raising the spectre of 2001 or 2008. Recession or not, what is universal is the bewilderment
How Lemming VCs Cause Venture Recessions Read More »
Four years after founding and bootstrapping Mucker Capital, we are pleased to announce the close of a new $45 million fund, Mucker III. This is our third fund, which might make us seem like grumpy, rich, old VCs. In reality, we are scrappy founders, just like the entrepreneurs we serve. To use a startup fundraising analogy,
