Comments on: Innovation in Baltimore http://www.stravora.com/2009/02/innovation-in-baltimore/ Connect. Innovate. Grow. Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:56:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul Capestany http://www.stravora.com/2009/02/innovation-in-baltimore/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Paul Capestany Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:39:10 +0000 http://stravora.com/?p=405#comment-28 Bob, I read the articles about VCs going overseas as well. If US entrepreneurs are leaning towards lifestyle businesses because of the current economic conditions or their limited vision, then that is their own loss. Lifestyle businesses will never be world-changing, and they were never meant to be. I think the best investors will be smart enough to hold off for the best ROI, and that everyone will be the better for it. It's the Googles that make the world go round. Bob, I read the articles about VCs going overseas as well. If US entrepreneurs are leaning towards lifestyle businesses because of the current economic conditions or their limited vision, then that is their own loss. Lifestyle businesses will never be world-changing, and they were never meant to be. I think the best investors will be smart enough to hold off for the best ROI, and that everyone will be the better for it. It’s the Googles that make the world go round.

]]> By: Bob http://www.stravora.com/2009/02/innovation-in-baltimore/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Bob Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:32:40 +0000 http://stravora.com/?p=405#comment-27 I agree Paul. I wonder whether there is a strong trend toward lifestyle businesses however. It seems I talk to alot of entrepreneurs who are interested in the work to live approach rather than the live to work model, that Scott correctly highlights, is the model demanded by the VCs. I know there is concern in the Valley as well that there are not enough big ideas anymore. In fact many VCs are going overseas to find new fertile ground for investments. But if we assume that angels and VCs should be only funding the big ideas, what does that mean if the trend toward lifestyle businesses is real? Interesting thought experiment. I agree Paul. I wonder whether there is a strong trend toward lifestyle businesses however. It seems I talk to alot of entrepreneurs who are interested in the work to live approach rather than the live to work model, that Scott correctly highlights, is the model demanded by the VCs. I know there is concern in the Valley as well that there are not enough big ideas anymore. In fact many VCs are going overseas to find new fertile ground for investments. But if we assume that angels and VCs should be only funding the big ideas, what does that mean if the trend toward lifestyle businesses is real? Interesting thought experiment.

]]> By: Paul Capestany http://www.stravora.com/2009/02/innovation-in-baltimore/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Paul Capestany Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:08:50 +0000 http://stravora.com/?p=405#comment-26 I was about to say, credit cards/loans are the model that fuel lifestyle businesses. Not sure anything else is really needed for those, we definitely need angel investors to be taking the big risks on the big ideas! I was about to say, credit cards/loans are the model that fuel lifestyle businesses. Not sure anything else is really needed for those, we definitely need angel investors to be taking the big risks on the big ideas!

]]> By: Bob http://www.stravora.com/2009/02/innovation-in-baltimore/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Bob Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:03:32 +0000 http://stravora.com/?p=405#comment-25 Thanks for the comment Scott. I agree 100%. It seems there is a need for some kind of investment model that works for the growing number of lifestyle businesses, beyond the traditional bank. Don't know what that is yet. Thanks for the comment Scott. I agree 100%. It seems there is a need for some kind of investment model that works for the growing number of lifestyle businesses, beyond the traditional bank. Don’t know what that is yet.

]]> By: Scott Paley http://www.stravora.com/2009/02/innovation-in-baltimore/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Scott Paley Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:55:06 +0000 http://stravora.com/?p=405#comment-24 In my experience, lifestyle businesses and venture-backed businesses rarely are the same businesses. VC's are not terribly interested in the lifestyle or comfort of the founders. VC's want to invest in businesses that can grow quickly and can be sold at a large profit in a relatively short timeframe. The decisions that founders make when setting up a lifestyle business are not necessarily aligned, therefore, with VC interests. That said, I'd LOVE to see a way to make this actually work... In my experience, lifestyle businesses and venture-backed businesses rarely are the same businesses. VC’s are not terribly interested in the lifestyle or comfort of the founders. VC’s want to invest in businesses that can grow quickly and can be sold at a large profit in a relatively short timeframe. The decisions that founders make when setting up a lifestyle business are not necessarily aligned, therefore, with VC interests.

That said, I’d LOVE to see a way to make this actually work…

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