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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 i

by 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 :-)
        joshu 14y ago
        Drop a line. Not really my space but happy to take a look. (Did you pivot? I recall get was similar to Jig.)
        staunch 14y ago
        Great. No, not a pivot, just the second stage in our plans (which we were a bit coy about). No email in your profile, but dropped a line to <first name> @ <your domain>.org. Hope that works. Thanks.

by 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 :-)
        joshu 14y ago
        Drop a line. Not really my space but happy to take a look. (Did you pivot? I recall get was similar to Jig.)
        staunch 14y ago
        Great. No, not a pivot, just the second stage in our plans (which we were a bit coy about). No email in your profile, but dropped a line to <first name> @ <your domain>.org. Hope that works. Thanks.