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Posting people's personal experiences in dealing with these organizations, with the willingness to publicize contrary opinions (ie positive experiences), and le

by BRadmin 17y ago

Posting people's personal experiences in dealing with these organizations, with the willingness to publicize contrary opinions (ie positive experiences), and letting individuals decide for themselves is a tribute to the community. The inner-workings of these groups are generally clandestine - exposing information not readily-available to the average entrepreneur about them can't be a bad thing.

jasonmcalacanis 17y ago
Word.
bonsaitree 17y ago
That would be fine IF there was any semblance of an open/neutral forum and Calacanis hadn't already used blanketing statements. What sane set of founders would voluntarily violate agreements to "come out" publicly FOR their experiences in this context? It's a rigged trial. As I've already stated, from what's been published, I disagree with these practices, but we're only hearing "leaked documents" from ONE SOURCE. There's ZERO discourse here--just fear mongering and name-calling. It all comes across as extremely pandering and childish. Hopefully, that will change. It would be one thing if Calacanis had some semblance of independence, but as a partner in Sequioa, he is, quite literally, a fiduciary in a competing firm. How would you like to have your business's private contractual affairs paraded in front of a bully pulpit?
- skmurphy 17y ago
  Calacanis does not appear to be a partner in Sequoia. A search of the http://www.sequoiacap.com/ http://www.sequoiacap.com/ site for "calacanis" delivers no hits. The page http://www.sequoiacap.com/us/jason-calacanis http://www.sequoiacap.com/us/jason-calacanis does not exist (which I believe would if he were on their team in a formal capacity). In December 2006 he took an "entrepreneur in residence" role, which is normally temporary (e.g. 6-12 months to find a company to start or invest in), which may be misleading you. No one likes to have their private business contracts leaked, but it's always a good idea to operate in a way that you can withstand public scrutiny. Many other qualified investors--both Angels and VC's--have also been critical of the same business practices that Calacanis is criticizing. For example, the Angel Capital Association, Brad Feld, Fred Wilson, Joe Platnick.
  - bonsaitree 17y ago
    Perhaps my information is simply out of date. Given that Mr. Calacanis is active on this thread, he clearly would be the best source to clarify things. FWIW, (see below) I also disagree with these practices, but have serious reservations on the methods and motivations employed to expose them.
  - jasonmcalacanis 17y ago
    Uhhhh.... I'm not a partner at Sequoia.

by BRadmin 17y ago

jasonmcalacanis 17y ago

Word.

bonsaitree 17y ago

That would be fine IF there was any semblance of an open/neutral forum and Calacanis hadn't already used blanketing statements. What sane set of founders would voluntarily violate agreements to "come out" publicly FOR their experiences in this context? It's a rigged trial. As I've already stated, from what's been published, I disagree with these practices, but we're only hearing "leaked documents" from ONE SOURCE. There's ZERO discourse here--just fear mongering and name-calling. It all comes across as extremely pandering and childish. Hopefully, that will change. It would be one thing if Calacanis had some semblance of independence, but as a partner in Sequioa, he is, quite literally, a fiduciary in a competing firm. How would you like to have your business's private contractual affairs paraded in front of a bully pulpit?

skmurphy 17y ago
Calacanis does not appear to be a partner in Sequoia. A search of the http://www.sequoiacap.com/ http://www.sequoiacap.com/ site for "calacanis" delivers no hits. The page http://www.sequoiacap.com/us/jason-calacanis http://www.sequoiacap.com/us/jason-calacanis does not exist (which I believe would if he were on their team in a formal capacity). In December 2006 he took an "entrepreneur in residence" role, which is normally temporary (e.g. 6-12 months to find a company to start or invest in), which may be misleading you. No one likes to have their private business contracts leaked, but it's always a good idea to operate in a way that you can withstand public scrutiny. Many other qualified investors--both Angels and VC's--have also been critical of the same business practices that Calacanis is criticizing. For example, the Angel Capital Association, Brad Feld, Fred Wilson, Joe Platnick.
- bonsaitree 17y ago
  Perhaps my information is simply out of date. Given that Mr. Calacanis is active on this thread, he clearly would be the best source to clarify things. FWIW, (see below) I also disagree with these practices, but have serious reservations on the methods and motivations employed to expose them.
- jasonmcalacanis 17y ago
  Uhhhh.... I'm not a partner at Sequoia.