Another Bubble…

For those who haven’t seen the “another bubble” video thought it was worth posting…  was actually shown at a lecture I attended earlier this month. Very catchy.

Game Conferences

So which conferences and gatherings are the gaming conference most looking forward to and see as a must go!?

Well…….

The results from the GamesIndustry.biz Network survey:

Which event do you consider the most important this year?

• Game Developers Conference: 40.6%
• E3: 34%
• GamesCom: 5.7%
• Develop in Brighton: 3.8%
• Nordic Game: 2.8%
• DICE Summit: 2.8%
• Games Convention Asia: 1.9%
• Game Connection: 1.9%
• GameHorizon: 0.9%
• Other: 5.7%

(Source: www.gamesindustry.biz)

Niall O’Donnell, RiverVest Venture Partners - How (some) investors think

Niall O’Donnell, RiverVest Venture Partners - How (some) investors think

Some thoughts and comments from the recent session with Niall O’Donnell a VC from RiverVest Venture Partners:-

• Never accept “No”, there’s always room to wriggle.
• When talking to VC’s act quickly, hitting all their “checks-points”
• VC backed companies tend to do better, quicker. 5-6 year, “in and out”
• Most VC’s main interest apart form viable idea is the team and individuals involved.

If your venture doesn’t have an experienced CEO, perhaps look to bring in a CTO, CMO or COO with more experience to help

Answer these questions for the investor:

1. Track record - Is this your first time? Has the team had any success?
2. Do I like and trust them? - What if I were trapped in a blizzard at the airport with them?
3. Will the ideas work? - Technical risk
4. How quickly to exit? - Meaningful value inflection, can the investor get 3x in three years? even with another round?
5. Is it new? - Investor heard mentality - “yes” but then why hasn’t someone else thought of it?
“no” but then why are you better?

Customer herd mentality - “No one has ever got sacked for buying GE”

“Rockstar CEO” - CEO who can run or make the firm successful

Early stage CEO should and has to be able to role up their sleeves and get on with it. Be a good all-rounder.

Investment horizon? - Ask a VC what theirs is… when are they looking to get their money out (back)?

“Know of the secret sauce, but not the recipe (secret ingredients)”

Generally an entrepreneur on the board, the VC’s will want to be on the board and an outside mentor. Primarily an odd number of board members.

Term Sheet Red Flags

Full ratchet in an early-stage investment

• Board members with no industry experience or time - Lifestyle board members
• Big Board
• Only one Investor - lack of diversity and network, no leverage
• Lengthy no shop & T/S comes very early w/o DD - the investor is getting a free option on your company (30-45 days sufficient for most DD)
• Voting by class - Early investor can block exit or new investment
• Option pool - a good investor (with ops experience) will want a recharge options at each round

Become really good friends with an good I.P.  and a great lawyer from the start!

Technology over the next 12 months

I recently read an article on the BBC website about the optmism in Silicon Valley despite 2009 being predicted as a challenging year in technology (and many other sectors).

So what does the coming year hold for this area of the world? Here are some of the views of those living and working in the Valley.

Find out here, part one and part two.