4 ms·

Kevin Rose's Next Move: Partner at Google Ventures

52 points by asanwal 14y ago

cantbecool 14y ago
For some reason I still remember him as the 'Dark Tipper' and explaining emule (or was it torrenting?) on Tech TV's The Screen Savers. I never would have imagined him being an angel investor/entrepreneur.
staunch 14y ago
Surprisingly Google ventures doesn't seem very savvy to date. Kevin Rose will probably be the highest performing partner in no time. Smart move for everyone involved.
- cicloid 14y ago
  ... and probably a better fit for Rose ?
  - speg 14y ago
    Probably, his investments have had a better track record than his products as of late.
  - samstave 14y ago
    Exactly. I dont think having him as a Sr product manager on G+ was a good idea at all. I think he is probably far better suited for this role as he does have a good pulse on the trends of the internet and that pulse should allow him to spot great opportunities.
- tsunamifury 14y ago
  I'd say their investment in Nest was pretty savvy. An incredible product that seems to have consistently sold well.
- joshu 14y ago
  They're doing a lot of stuff that's not showy but will likely show very solid returns. Don't discount them because they don't show up on HN too much.
  - staunch 14y ago
    Looking at http://www.googleventures.com/companies http://www.googleventures.com/companies it just seems like they've missed so many of the great companies over the past few years, though there are definitely some good ones in there. Your personal portfolio is far more impressive. Would be neat if you went there too. You, Kevin Rose, and Joe Kraus would make GV a more exciting investor.
    - joshu 14y ago
      It's a very different thing to be an angel investor and a venture investor. Different opportunities, responsibilities, etc. If I were a venture investor, I'd be competing against all Sand Hill, because it's pretty much an either/or proposition: if you're in, someone else is out. Whereas, angels happily deal with an investor pile-on; the more the merrier.
      - staunch 14y ago
        That's a really good point. Still, bet that team would work out well.
        joshu 14y ago
        I've been very tempted to raise a fund several times. I worry that I would find being a VC painful. It seems to involve saying "no" to a lot of people, and that's not what I like doing.
        staunch 14y ago
        Speaking of "no", can I talk to you for a few min sometime about where we're doing with Get.com? We're talking to people right now, and damn if you're not on our top 5 wishlist. No worries if not, still hope you become a VC :-)
suking 14y ago
I swear he is the world's luckiest person. Implodes Digg, somehow gets $ out and does angel investing. Gets his next pos start-up bought out for an ungodly sum for doing nothing and not making a cent. And now a VC. This guy should play the lottery.
capred 14y ago
Now this is good work if you can get it. $12m talent acquisition and then he quits in 3 months. Maybe im just not a valley insider but what exactly has Kevin done that was successful? I'm not trying to be critical here, just don't see what warrants the hype around him.
- oldstrangers 14y ago
  Digg was a success once. But mostly I think what Kevin offers is a very 'industry insider' perspective. He's created startups, he's worked with a lot of them, he's funded many more. So, experience and opinions/insight mostly.
  - libraryatnight 14y ago
    He also seems popular from his TechTV days, and then his time on TWiT, and then of course Digg Nation or whatever his video podcast for Digg was called only made him more famous among technology enthusiasts. He seems like a good face and name to have around when you couple the insight with the fame.
    - mey 14y ago
      Revision 3
- moolcool 14y ago
  Digg was pretty successful for a while, and you could consider Pownce successful if you consider that he probably made a bundle when it sold to sixapart (IIRC)
  - cmer 14y ago
    It was a talent acquisition from what I remember. I don't think anybody made much money with that deal unfortunately.
- jinushaun 14y ago
  I'm in the same boat. He basically made Slashdot for web 2.0. Digg can't be the sole reason why he is considered so valuable and is so highly sought after.
rjj 14y ago
Duh, makes total sense. I was initially unsure where he'd fit in at Google (Google+?, Android?, Gmail?), but as soon as I read the headline I thought "Duh". His angel investments have been super strong and his willingness to share his life has been inspiring. Digg and Milk didn't ever turn into Instagram, but he kept making great moves forward. Kevin - keep sharing your thoughts online and to the community, it has served you well and will continue to do so. Congrats. (Sorry for the lovefest HN, but that's how I feel.)
cpeterso 14y ago
Moving from talent acquisition to G+ to Google Ventures in just three months sounds like the "we're not firing you, but we'll call you "Director of Special Projects" and you'll have an office but don't need to come in until you find a new job" exit.
benackles 14y ago
I'm a little surprised they didn't put Rose on the YouTube team. He would've been a great figure head for the video platform. It would have played to his strengths as a creator and promoter of pro-am content. That being said, perhaps Google Ventures is a great place too. Kevin has shown a strong ability to act as a connector between budding entrepreneurs and capital. This might be a brilliant move for deal flow.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]

52 points by asanwal 14y ago

For some reason I still remember him as the 'Dark Tipper' and explaining emule (or was it torrenting?) on Tech TV's The Screen Savers. I never would have imagined him being an angel investor/entrepreneur.

staunch 14y ago

Surprisingly Google ventures doesn't seem very savvy to date. Kevin Rose will probably be the highest performing partner in no time. Smart move for everyone involved.

cicloid 14y ago
... and probably a better fit for Rose ?
- speg 14y ago
  Probably, his investments have had a better track record than his products as of late.
- samstave 14y ago
  Exactly. I dont think having him as a Sr product manager on G+ was a good idea at all. I think he is probably far better suited for this role as he does have a good pulse on the trends of the internet and that pulse should allow him to spot great opportunities.
tsunamifury 14y ago
I'd say their investment in Nest was pretty savvy. An incredible product that seems to have consistently sold well.
joshu 14y ago
They're doing a lot of stuff that's not showy but will likely show very solid returns. Don't discount them because they don't show up on HN too much.
- staunch 14y ago
  Looking at http://www.googleventures.com/companies http://www.googleventures.com/companies it just seems like they've missed so many of the great companies over the past few years, though there are definitely some good ones in there. Your personal portfolio is far more impressive. Would be neat if you went there too. You, Kevin Rose, and Joe Kraus would make GV a more exciting investor.
  - joshu 14y ago
    It's a very different thing to be an angel investor and a venture investor. Different opportunities, responsibilities, etc. If I were a venture investor, I'd be competing against all Sand Hill, because it's pretty much an either/or proposition: if you're in, someone else is out. Whereas, angels happily deal with an investor pile-on; the more the merrier.
    - staunch 14y ago
      That's a really good point. Still, bet that team would work out well.
      - joshu 14y ago
        I've been very tempted to raise a fund several times. I worry that I would find being a VC painful. It seems to involve saying "no" to a lot of people, and that's not what I like doing.
        staunch 14y ago
        Speaking of "no", can I talk to you for a few min sometime about where we're doing with Get.com? We're talking to people right now, and damn if you're not on our top 5 wishlist. No worries if not, still hope you become a VC :-)

suking 14y ago

I swear he is the world's luckiest person. Implodes Digg, somehow gets $ out and does angel investing. Gets his next pos start-up bought out for an ungodly sum for doing nothing and not making a cent. And now a VC. This guy should play the lottery.

capred 14y ago

Now this is good work if you can get it. $12m talent acquisition and then he quits in 3 months. Maybe im just not a valley insider but what exactly has Kevin done that was successful? I'm not trying to be critical here, just don't see what warrants the hype around him.

oldstrangers 14y ago
Digg was a success once. But mostly I think what Kevin offers is a very 'industry insider' perspective. He's created startups, he's worked with a lot of them, he's funded many more. So, experience and opinions/insight mostly.
- libraryatnight 14y ago
  He also seems popular from his TechTV days, and then his time on TWiT, and then of course Digg Nation or whatever his video podcast for Digg was called only made him more famous among technology enthusiasts. He seems like a good face and name to have around when you couple the insight with the fame.
  - mey 14y ago
    Revision 3
moolcool 14y ago
Digg was pretty successful for a while, and you could consider Pownce successful if you consider that he probably made a bundle when it sold to sixapart (IIRC)
- cmer 14y ago
  It was a talent acquisition from what I remember. I don't think anybody made much money with that deal unfortunately.
jinushaun 14y ago
I'm in the same boat. He basically made Slashdot for web 2.0. Digg can't be the sole reason why he is considered so valuable and is so highly sought after.

rjj 14y ago

Duh, makes total sense. I was initially unsure where he'd fit in at Google (Google+?, Android?, Gmail?), but as soon as I read the headline I thought "Duh". His angel investments have been super strong and his willingness to share his life has been inspiring. Digg and Milk didn't ever turn into Instagram, but he kept making great moves forward. Kevin - keep sharing your thoughts online and to the community, it has served you well and will continue to do so. Congrats. (Sorry for the lovefest HN, but that's how I feel.)

cpeterso 14y ago

Moving from talent acquisition to G+ to Google Ventures in just three months sounds like the "we're not firing you, but we'll call you "Director of Special Projects" and you'll have an office but don't need to come in until you find a new job" exit.

benackles 14y ago

I'm a little surprised they didn't put Rose on the YouTube team. He would've been a great figure head for the video platform. It would have played to his strengths as a creator and promoter of pro-am content. That being said, perhaps Google Ventures is a great place too. Kevin has shown a strong ability to act as a connector between budding entrepreneurs and capital. This might be a brilliant move for deal flow.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]