Mark Bivens
Scaling your startup successfully into the States
Nic Brisbourne of DFJ Esprit wrote a great piece last week called, “The smart way to expand software companies to the U.S.” I won’t rehash the whole post but definitely recommend you read it. While Brisbourne’s advice is geared for British startups, much of it is relevant for France as well. His money shot is […]
What the Gallois report means for tech startups
Last week the French government’s Commissaire général à l’investissement, Louis Gallois, released his eagerly anticipated diagnosis on France’s competitiveness to the Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault. Encompassing six major themes and 22 specific proposals, the Pacte pour la Compétitivité de L’industrie Française is both sweeping in its analysis and prescriptive in recommending solutions. The Gallois Report […]
Japan's renewed appetite for Europe
The Rude VC disappeared to Japan last week for a combination of business meetings and some spiritual re-calibration I return refreshed and pumped up. Pumped up because the country that the West likes to deride as the one of the “lost decade” is demonstrating a renewed appetite for expansion abroad, especially in the tech sector. This […]
Inspiring leaders crack the agency problem
Of the multiple traits that distinguish inspiring leaders, I submit that the fundamental undercurrent relates to their ability to crack the agency problem. The theory of the agency problem, or more accurately, agency costs, represents the inherent misalignment in the relationship between an agent and a principal. Agency costs arise when a company’s employees (the […]
The power of immediate feedback
Probably the best recruitment I ever made when I was running my internet real estate startup was of a salesman named Bob. I stumbled onto Bob by accident and hired him in a daze of desperation after a disastrous experience with a previous salesperson. Bob was coaching high school football when I met him, and […]
Rude VC: Pigeons don't poop in private
Wow, it has been quite a week ! President François Hollande’s Socialist government unveiled its draft 2013 budget comprising some potentially devastating tax dis-incentives for entrepreneurs and VCs. A revolt ensued, with the birth of the Pigeon Movement, an explosion of emotion on social media sites, worldwide media attention, and the culmination of a dialogue […]
Rude VC: The Resources vs. Agility Trap
These are times of tremendous uncertainty for France’s startup ecosystem. Uncertainty of how the new administration of President Hollande will treat startups. Uncertainty over upcoming revisions in the tax code that will affect entrepreneurs and investors alike. Uncertainty in the French jobs market. Uncertainty hanging over the euro. Uncertainty over how exothermic macroeconomic events, such […]
Rude VC: Pour une France Compétitive
Over the weekend I had the pleasure of perusing France Digitale’s whitepaper “Pour une France compétitive et créatrice d’emplois.” I say pleasure, because I really did enjoy reading the organization’s pragmatic proposal of four concrete measures to include in the upcoming Loi des Finances 2013. For those who are not familiar, France Digitale is a […]
Rude VC: Year of the Draghi
It appears that rumors of the death of the Euro have been greatly exaggerated, at least for now. This is thanks in large part to the efforts of the President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi. Mr. Draghi seems to have made all the right moves so far. He successfully convinced Germany to accept the […]
Rude VC: Okay President Hollande, you’ve got our attention!
{The following is merely a tongue-in-cheek attempt at an imaginary letter I could write to President François Hollande. Its opinions are purely personal and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer or my industry.} Dear Mr. President, First off, thank you for opening my mail. If you’re reading this letter, you would be the […]