Typically, when things are going well in the startup world, venture capitalists optimistically boost valuations of early-stage companies to reflect the promise of the young fledglings. That’s exactly what’s going on right now for those companies raising money, with a new report out today from the law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati indicating that pre-money… Read More…
Entrepreneurs have an interesting perspective on decision-making. For one, they do a lot of it. But moreover, I believe they tend to think about opportunities differently than most people. This applies to the big decisions that make or break a company, as well as the day-to-day decisions that we all face. In this post I’d… Read More…
“There is no reason why good cannot triumph as often as evil. The triumph of anything is a matter of organization. If there are such things as angels, I hope that they are organized along the lines of the Mafia.” – Kurt Vonnegut. Depending on who you ask, the Seattle startup ecosystem is weak and/or… Read More…
Entrepreneurial students from colleges and universities throughout the region competed Wednesday in the annual University of Washington Business Plan Competition Investment Round. More than 200 judges — many from leading companies and venture capital firms — whittled down the field from 36 to 16. We always get a kick out of seeing what types of companies… Read More…
Welcome back to The Startup File. For those who missed the first installment, let me explain the framework of this new column. Every day, GeekWire combs the SEC filings to find out what’s new in Seattle’s burgeoning startup scene. Oftentimes, these filings, form Ds as they’re known, lead to compelling stories that we cover frequently… Read More…
Washington state has one of the best tax systems in the country when it comes to supporting entrepreneurship and small business, according to a report out this week from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. Washington state, which has no income tax system, ranked fifth behind South Dakota, Texas, Nevada, and Wyoming. The bottom states included California,… Read More…
At the GeekWire Meetup earlier this week, I bumped into Seattle venture capitalist Enrique Godreau. I didn’t get a chance to ask in any great detail what he’s been up to following his departure from Voyager Capital, the Seattle venture firm that he co-founded 15 years ago. But perhaps I should have asked more direct… Read More…
Are entrepreneurs better off being a little crazy — guided by their emotions? Or should they stick to good-old fashioned number-crunching, letting rationality rule the roost? That’s the topic that Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman raises today in a fascinating blog post titled “Never tell me the odds.” The entire post is worth reading for any… Read More…
Kickstarter is radically changing the way entrepreneurs think about raising money for their ideas. And in recent days we’ve seen some veterans of the Seattle gaming community take advantage of the crowdfunding sensation to great success. But Kickstarter is not just about grizzled startup vets pitching for cash. Meet Tyler Simpson and Brandon Keller. Simpson,… Read More…
Can you summarize your startup company in one simple sentence? It may seem easy, but it’s hard to craft something punchy and memorable in a few words. As Mark Twain once famously quipped: “I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” With that in mind, GeekWire and the Founder Institute asked entrepreneurs this… Read More…
GeekWire Summer Bash, June 21: We’ll be breaking out the ping-pong tables for this giant summer celebration at the Showbox SODO — with expert and intermediate tournaments, foosball, prizes, and more. Sign up to compete, or just come to enjoy the party and cheer on your friends. Tickets available now.
Join us at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards gala to see who will take home top honors in the Pacific Northwest. The finalists are high-growth entrepreneurs and leaders who are innovating, expanding and creating jobs and enhancing our communities. June 15, 2012 | Hyatt Regency Bellevue | 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Come celebrate!
You’re invited to HAPPY HOUR, a monthly meet up for leaders in the film, music and interactive industries to share, learn and make meaningful business connections. This month features guest speaker Trey Gunn, guitar player for King Crimson, Brian Eno, Tool, and more. Trey will speak to the value of original voice, how to find it, and how, as an artist and business professional, to use it to your advantage.
See you Wednesday, May 30th, 5-7 PM at Spitfire in Belltown, free admission (21+)
In case you haven’t heard, Splunk’s Seattle office is responsible for the company’s developer platform and Microsoft offerings. Join us for our open house, where you can geek out at demo stations, enjoy food and drinks, and meet our CEO, Godfrey Sullivan, and more Splunkers. The event is free, but if you’d like to make a donation, check out Year Up Seattle.
RSVP for this free event, and we’ll see you on Wednesday, 6/20, 5-8 PM
FounderDating is a premier online network for entrepreneurs to connect with cofounders. You should apply if you want to a part of a network that is:
Ideas change, people don’t. FounderDating: Where Founders Meet. @founderdating
On May 22nd at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel, join 800 tech and business leaders at the Technology Alliance’s 2012 State of Technology Luncheon for a timely conversation with John McAdam, President, CEO & Director of F5 Networks, Inc.
Co-founder, Seattle Editor
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Chief Business Officer
rebecca@geekwire.com | (206) 714-6341
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Rebecca Lovell, GeekWire's chief business officer and a veteran of Seattle's tech startup scene, dispenses tips, tricks, insights and tough love in this regular column. Have a question for Rebecca? Submit your lovelletter to rebecca@geekwire.com, and follow her on Twitter @lovelletters.
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