Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and beginning to the Holiday season.
I look forward to seeing our OCTANe "Family" for our Holiday Party on Dec 2nd. However I have gotten a few comments on "why aren't you cancelling your party given this environment." Certainly a legitimate question; so I thought about it, thought about it a little more and then decided to give my ..."Top 10 reasons OCTANe did not cancel its Holiday Party." (In semi-random order).
10. It is a FREE reception for our members, partners, supporters who have been working with us for years to develop OCTANe into a true, national "innovation development" best practice that continues to grow and get results. PLUG INTO something special if you haven't yet.
9. We tucked the costs into the AIG bill at the St. Regis (and still weren't a line item)
8. Related to #9, the reception will be bare bones and modest ... exactly how OCTANe is run (we don't do hype, BS or overhead here! ... everything supports our mission).
7. I like Mistletoe better than garlic.
6. There is never a #6 (please someone get this one).
5. The show must go on... innovation and bringing talented "minds and money" together to network, form new companies etc. IS our primary economic driver in this country. One day soon I hope we (as a country en masse) invest in Science and Tech instead of saving dinosaurs who ride on corporate jets. I am a dog lover (my 2 labs are 10 and 12) but sometimes a dog ain't sleeping; it's dead.
4. I saw Bolt recently with my kids and got all misty...then watched Bad Santa after they went to bed to balance and remind myself I will not have to wear a Santa Suit.
3. OCTANe had double digit growth AGAIN in 2008 (thxs to our supporters/members! This reinforces the notion that if you stay laser focused on creating value and results, you will always rise at the end of the day), so we will be lowering our membership price next year...stay tuned!
2. It's been a "dramatic year" on all accounts; from Wall St. stock drops, to real estate drops to Obama being elected (incredible on so many levels) to recession, to well, you get the picture. Taking a step back to spend a little time with friends to celebrate the fortune we STILL have is both warranted and healthy as we head into a challenging 2009.
1. OC venture capital investments in 2008 is already the highest in four years!!!! ... and OCTANe absolutley played a tactical role; certainly worth at least one glass of egg nog.
A safe and happy holiday season to all.
Gary
Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts
Monday, December 1, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
VC fundings down...tied to economic recession?
Was having pleasant cup of joe reading the paper (yes once in awhile I still like the "print dinosaur") when I read the article on slowing VC fundings in 1q 2008. Both PWC and E&Y do a great job covering the field.
On the same page or close to it, was an article on recession and unemployment rising. So is there a link? Who is the tail and who is the dog? (I will skip the easy analogy of an ass). Is there correlation between the two and what is the lag effect, if any?
My 2 cents...a recession, oil at a gazillion dollars a barrel and gas at $4 a gallon does not make people feel good. Quick poll, who has gone over $100 on an SUV fill-up? Let me start the list, but I digress.
If you were a VC, why would you deploy risk capital - particularly early stage - in a time of upcoming economic uncertainty? For the most part, the answer is - you wouldn't. You'd cherry pick your opportunities and be conservative and ride out the storm. I think this is much truer in the IT world than in biomedical, as biomedical sectors are influenced more by reimbursement, government, legal and market issues than consumer spending. (Note: Botox has passed milk in the family home and happy hours in the single home on the list of “critical needs,” so that isn’t really a discretionary spend).
Hence as VCs take a breather and raise more money/new funds as many are now doing, entrepreneurs should keep plugging away, increase business value and be realistic that although there is a lot of money out there, it might stay “out there” for awhile. Focus on capital efficiency and position for a stronger 2009.
Thoughts?
On the same page or close to it, was an article on recession and unemployment rising. So is there a link? Who is the tail and who is the dog? (I will skip the easy analogy of an ass). Is there correlation between the two and what is the lag effect, if any?
My 2 cents...a recession, oil at a gazillion dollars a barrel and gas at $4 a gallon does not make people feel good. Quick poll, who has gone over $100 on an SUV fill-up? Let me start the list, but I digress.
If you were a VC, why would you deploy risk capital - particularly early stage - in a time of upcoming economic uncertainty? For the most part, the answer is - you wouldn't. You'd cherry pick your opportunities and be conservative and ride out the storm. I think this is much truer in the IT world than in biomedical, as biomedical sectors are influenced more by reimbursement, government, legal and market issues than consumer spending. (Note: Botox has passed milk in the family home and happy hours in the single home on the list of “critical needs,” so that isn’t really a discretionary spend).
Hence as VCs take a breather and raise more money/new funds as many are now doing, entrepreneurs should keep plugging away, increase business value and be realistic that although there is a lot of money out there, it might stay “out there” for awhile. Focus on capital efficiency and position for a stronger 2009.
Thoughts?
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