Archive for July, 2008

Google in the Venture Capital field?

Google Inc. is working on plans to start a venture-capital arm, according to some rumors.

The group will be lead by David Drummond, Google’s senior vice president of corporate development and chief legal officer, according to two of these people.

What’s sure is that Google has hired William Maris, a 33-year entrepreneur who has worked as an investor, to help set up the venture

Google is able to attract attention every time it moves itself.

Y Combinator: Startup Ideas We’d Like to Fund

Y Combinator says to us what are the main interesting idea fields to invest for them. Here’s the link.

I found very interisting:

  • Simplified Browsing
  • Enterprise software 2.0
  • Online Learning
  • Finance software for individuals and small businesses
  • Tools for measurement
  • Web Office apps

but overall the “bestselling”:

Something your company needs that doesn’t exist

Startup, learning from fails

Interesting “post mortem” article written by the investor of Monitor110:


http://www.informationarbitrage.com/2008/07/monitor110-a-po.html?cid=122921406

Hendrix burnt guitar, first bid at 700.000$

The Jimi Hendrix guitar, burnt during a concert, will be sell in a auction. The first bid will be 700.000$. Here some pics.

MobileMe don’t push anymore…

Pure Design – Ammunition Group

This is a really cool group! I read about it by the rumors on the Gphone, and as I’m passionated by design I went on the website. They do a great job!

I started to think that is cool that big firm are outsourcig design to this work group, and that doesn’t happen in Italy where it’s very hard to find them. But I clicked on “Who we are” and found out that it’s based in San Francisco CA, and in Padova, ITALY!

No Way!

http://www.ammunitiongroup.com/

First Mover vs Fast Followers

Reading this article I like very much the conclusions:

Lessons for entrepreneurs;

  • Never stop innovating
  • Build a well rounded management team early
  • Value sales and marketing talent as much as technical talent
  • React quickly to disruptive technologies or business models
  • Don’t be too proud to imitate when it makes sense