With Q1 of 2014 behind us, Dan Primack of Fortune noted that the US has had 71 IPOs so far this year, marking the most first-quarter IPOs since 2000. After looking through a few years of IPO data, I put together a graph showing the market recovery since the 2008 meltdown. This year is projected to have the most IPOs since pre-meltdown levels in 2007.
NeuMoDx Molecular, an Ann Arbor-founded molecular diagnostics company, announced $21M in Series B funding, led by Pfizer Venture Investments and followed by Baird Capital, Arboretum Ventures, and the Wolverine Venture Fund.
In Austin, the local merchant-funded loyalty program Buzz Points raised $19M in Series D funding, leading to a $65M valuation. Part of the investment will support rollout of Buzz Point's marketing platform on investor PULSE's network.
Private equity firm Ares Management announced plans yesterday for a $100M IPO, the largest public offering of a private-equity firm since Carlyle Group LP raised $671M in 2012. This comes after its business development company affiliate Ares Capital Corp raised $283.2M in an IPO last December.
Personal Blogs
Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures talks about the value of an engineering degree.
You might be surprised to see Stevens Institute and NYU Poly on that list. But I am not. NYC is starved for the kind of technical, quantitative, and analytical minds that engineering schools generate. Combine a big urban center with a top engineering school and you have a recipe to print money. And you have a recipe to change lives. Many of the kids who go to NYU Poly are from immigrant families and are graduates of the NYC public school system. They are smart and work hard. And with an engineering degree and a big city like NYC, they can earn more in a year than their parents earn combined.
The value of a diploma is set by the marketplace, by the laws of supply and demand. There are more technical jobs open than qualified candidates to fill them. It is the one bright spot in an otherwise bleak employment picture.
"Gotham Gal" Joanne Wilson talks about Rebecca Rachmany of Israel-based Gangly Sister, a web-based program aiming to foster high-tech interests in girls.
Rebecca has had this concept rolling around in her head for a long time. The video is worth watching and I do believe she is on to something. She wants to build a company to be the content provider for young women (and boys) who become connected to role models that are tech saavy and love being engineers.
Entrepreneur-turned VC Mark Suster explains his most frequent advice: Be Politely Persistent.
But how do you get past gate keepers? How do you get on elusive calendars or invited to speak at conference?
1. Well, for starters you need to be a great networker. I wrote an example of why this matters when meeting VCs but it’s true of all exec. Nothing beats a warm intro.
2. You need to know how to write good & action oriented emails.
3. You need to know how to make good phone calls and not be afraid to pick up the phone.
4. Understand reciprocity and how helping others earns you good karma points – and favors.
5. Be humble – nobody likes too much arrogance; but
6. Don’t be afraid to be a bit cheeky. You can take some risks. You won’t have success with everybody you approach but I’d rather see you show some juevos and / or some humor sometimes to stand out. Just don’t go overboard.
No April Fools jokes for LunchLinks this year - I'm far too busy catching Pokemon on Google Maps.
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