It's always an interesting week in venture capital. Discover the best stories, blog posts and other information inside the VC ecosystem in the US and in hotspots around the world. Onward dear reader…
NEW FUND MARKETING RULES
While the lifting of the ban on general solicitation by venture capital firms under Regulation D may be fairly modest technically speaking, this piece at PE Hub indicates it may favor smaller and newer firms.
PE Hub: Smaller, Newer Funds to Benefit
The thought process is that a more permissive solicitation environment may make it easier for smaller and newer fund sponsors to get off the ground.
CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMY
Albert Wenger is concerned about the economic future of the U.S.:
Albert Wenger: Technology, Consumer Debt and the Labor Market
The Union Square Ventures partner thinks that the rise of technology is a significant reason for wage stagnation.
RAISING YOUR FIRST ROUND?
Experienced VC Fred Destin thinks you should raise a huge series A round if you can.
Fred Destin: Why You Too Should Raise a Massive Series A
Destin says that "Winter is coming" in the form of a bursting financing bubble, so startups should load up on as much capital as they can find.
SHARK TANK VC
Lightspeed Venture Partners’ Jeremy Liew has a serious post analyzing a recent episode of Shark Tank, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to a panel of investors.
Jeremy Liew: A Silicon Valley Take on ABC's Shark Tank
This is the first in a series of posts by Liew where he will review pitches from each episode during the current season.
BOARD MEETING STRATEGY
Should you present hypotheses or conclusions at board meetings?
Startup Revolution: Board Meetings - Hypotheses or Conclusions?
It's a short post, but it's packed with Internet VC Brad Feld’s insights on how to approach board meetings.
HIGH STARTUP VALUATIONS
There are conflicting philosophies from early-stage investors on the wisdom of seeking high valuations in early-stage funding rounds.
PE Hub: How to Get $20 Million Pre-Money
The author, an experienced investor in over 40 startups, advocates "taking in just the right amount from value-add investors, without getting clever…”
FUNDING AND EQUITY CALCULATOR
Understanding the impact of myriad financial decisions early in a startup’s life can be daunting.
SmartAsset: Startup Economics Calculator
SmartAsset has created a calculator that enables entrepreneurs to see the effects of financial options they face.
M&A UPTICK?
After several slow weeks, U.S. venture backed M&A activity is picking up.
PE Hub: VC Exit Pickup?
The author cites one theory called the "Facebook Reset”, which says that the bungled Facebook IPO has reduced valuations of smaller digital media companies. Now that expectations have been lowered, deals may be getting done.
STARTUP COMMUNITIES
The video below is a promotional trailer for the upcoming book on startup communities by Brad Feld.
The book espouses a framework for “Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City”.
JOBS ACT NOT INCREASING IPOS
Fortune blogger Dan Primack recently interviewed Bob McCooey, head of listings for NASDAQ. He says that the recent JOBS Act has not had a measurable impact on IPO listings
Fortune: JOBS Act Not Affecting IPOs
McCooey does say that companies are taking advantage of some aspects of the Act, such as confidential filing and spending less money on Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.