Private Equity
Like Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital prides itself on cultivating an air of mystique: it rarely releases information or talks to the press. That’s why the firm’s “RIP: Good Times” presentation - presumably meant to give cover to its partners and their portfolio companies - created such a stir. Still, playing along with Sequoia’s mania for secrecy can be exhausting. Herewith, my most recent exchange:
3 min read · 28 October 2008
2 min read · 28 October 2008
3 min read · 28 October 2008
2 min read · 27 October 2008
In January of last year, for the San Jose Mercury News, I wrote about 27-year-old Sherwood Partners in Palo Alto, long known to industry insiders as “the undertaker" because its primary role is to efficiently shutter companies. Sherwood made a killing in the aftermath of the Internet bubble, closing down roughly 180 startups. In the years that followed, however, as the tech economy rebounded and startups became more efficient, Sherwood's business slowed considerably. It closed two satellite offices that it had opened and cut down its staff of 60 MBAs and CPAs to less than 30. In fact, as I was writing my piece, it was fair to compare Sherwood to some of the former high-fliers it has wound down -- and I did. What a difference an almost unprecedented economic meltdown makes. When I caught up with Sherwood’s gregarious cofounder Marty Pichinson on Friday afternoon, he was just wrapping up an hour-long conference call, juggling two new calls, and eager to escape the office after a very long week. Before he took off, Pichinson, who has an inimitable flair for drama, told me why startups should keep their PR people, how to negotiate with a landlord, and what most startup employees can expect in the way of a severance package.
8 min read · 25 October 2008
2 min read · 24 October 2008
If you’re discouraged by the financial situation now, just wait until the Kellogg School MBA candidates graduate. Here's an email the classes of '09 and '10 received last week. Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 12:54 PM To: class09and10@kellogg.northwestern.edu Subject: Student Conduct at Social Events Students, During our time at Kellogg, we have many opportunities to strengthen the "Kellogg" brand. Our relationships with one another and the time we spend together, both at Jacobs and away from campus, often provide great benefits to students and the school. Unfortunately, there are also times when students' conduct can have a negative impact on the brand. Since CIM Ball, there have been many rumors about what occurred that evening. KSA would like to provide clarification as well as provide a few reminders: The Field Museum made the decision to shut the bar at CIM Ball down early because of student behavior, NOT because they ran out of alcohol. A few examples of such behavior included: *Students were throwing things at a historic artifact: Sue, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, which The Field Museum purchased for over
2 min read · 24 October 2008
2 min read · 23 October 2008
1 min read · 23 October 2008
1 min read · 23 October 2008
