"venture capital" entries
Rob Coneybeer on Nest and the next big thing in hardware
The O’Reilly Hardware Podcast: Virtual reality, robotics, and today’s hardware landscape.
Subscribe to the O’Reilly Hardware Podcast for insight and analysis about the Internet of Things and the worlds of hardware, software, and manufacturing: TuneIn, Stitcher, iTunes, SoundCloud, RSS.
In this new episode of the Hardware Podcast, David Cranor and I talk with Rob Coneybeer, managing director and co-founder of Shasta Ventures, one of the critical first investors in hardware startups including Nest, Fetch Robotics, and Turo (formerly RelayRides).
Discussion points:
- Why Nest looked like an appealing investment back in 2010
- Coneybeer’s focus on virtual reality and robotics as the next big things for hardware startups.
- Why it’s essential for hardware startups to have a long-term plan for improving products after they’re in place, and the importance of over-the-air software updates.
- The consumer psychology of selling a compelling hardware product, and when to aim for high price and high value. “People are willing to spend money when there’s something that’s really revolutionary,” says Coneybeer.
- The current state of venture capital investments in hardware startups. While raising later rounds is becoming more difficult, Coneybeer says: “the most interesting, innovative hardware companies will always find capital.”
Roger Chen on hardware and robotics startups
The O’Reilly Hardware Podcast: Hardware from the venture capitalist’s point of view.
Subscribe to the O’Reilly Hardware Podcast for insight and analysis about the Internet of Things and the worlds of hardware, software, and manufacturing.
In this new episode of the Hardware Podcast, David Cranor and I talk with Roger Chen, formerly a principal at O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, O’Reilly Media’s sister VC firm.
Discussion points:
- Chen’s perspective as an investor on companies that are creating 3D robotics, drones, and satellites
- The Maker movement’s impact on the hardware startups
- Etsy’s influence on the new hardware movement
- Trends in robotics, and the outlook for robotics startups
Publishing News: Wattpad raises $17.3 million in series B funding
A storytelling platform gets funding, publishers are missing the mark on digital, and an overview of the ebook industry.
Wattpad gets funding for its social ereading and storytelling platform, Brett Sandusky muses on digital publishing, and Jeremy Greenfield takes a big-picture look at the publishing industry.
An angel who bets on women-led companies
Joanne Wilson on startup diversity and supporting local economic engines.
In this interview, Joanne Wilson discusses becoming an angel investor, how investors can help change the ratio of women CEOs, and the Mars versus Venus approach to entrepreneurialism.
Creating the ideal conditions for tech startups
European tech entrepreneurs have concerns about startup environments.
Creating economic conditions that are beneficial to startups is increasingly important for governments. What are the factors that will attract and retain top talent?
The VC-free startup
The big-bet model works on occasion in Silicon Valley, but it seldom works elsewhere.
The big-bet venture capital model works on occasion in Silicon Valley, but it seldom works elsewhere. Dale Dougherty mulls the trajectory of non-VC startups: the small firms that don't need an exit strategy because the business creates its own type of fulfillment.