By Nitasha Tiku 7/07/11 3:17pm

Class Is in Session

Gov. Sarah Palin

Self-Promotion Lessons for Non-Self Promoters

The only person who doesn’t prickle at the sound of a self-promoter is a self-promoter, although we can’t vouch for their internal pangs of self-loathing. To get over the conundrum of the loudest voices in tech not necessarily being the wisest, First Round Capital’s Charlie O’Donnell is contemplating offering classes in what we’d like to call The Art of Non-self-promoter-y Self promotion (Want to upboat your brilliance without boasting?! Here’s how!). Read More

By Nitasha Tiku 7/05/11 2:42pm

Angelic Cabals

charlieodonnell

Charlie O’Donnell Explains How First Round Capital Made the Grade For Most Active VCs in 2011

Thomson Reuters Venture Capital Journal just released its list of top VCs and deals thus far this year, with First Round Capital and Draper Fisher Jurvetson joining the ranks of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital. First Round, from its New York outpost on Park Avenue, and Draper, from DFJ Gotham’s suite on West 31st St., both have a strong presence in New York City.

In total, peHUB says DFJ ‘s network is responsible for 28 deals from January to June, tying with Sequoia for the No. 3 slot. First Round’s network is responsible for 27 deals through June. Among First Round’s investments this year are homegrown start-ups like AdKeeper, GroupMe, and 33Across.  DFJ Gotham plunked down cash for Made In NYC ventures like Seamless Receipts, Yipit, Altruik, and Solvate.

Betabeat asked First Round principal Charlie O’Donnell how much of its $130 million fund, raised in 2010, was geared towards New York companies. “As a seed/angel stage investor, we’re always on the most active lists and a lot of it is NYC, but a lot of it is our great SF office, too,” he responded, via email. Read More

By Adrianne Jeffries 5/27/11 6:08pm

shameless rumormongering

rumormonger

Rumors & Acquisitions: Money Come, Money Go, and Some Free Advice

Happy holiday weekend, rumor city.

CASH STARS. TechStars alum Shelby.tv just signed term sheets for its first round of funding, which the company had doubled to $1 million due to a surplus of investor interest. They’re looking for two engineers, we hear, and already have their eye on someone special.

HASH SLASH. Overexposed New York start-up Hashable quietly laid off two engineers about a month ago and replaced them with non-technical interns, Betabeat learned today. The company is making a full-court press on the publicity front though, springing for a Promoted Tweet during all three days of TechCrunch Disrupt. Read More

By Adrianne Jeffries 5/13/11 5:47pm

shameless rumormongering

criss angel

Rumors & Acquisitions: Games Edition

Do any of these rumors beat Betabeat’s random act of art last night? You be the judge:

MAGIC AND MAGICIANS: What is designer/angel/connector Matt Shampine doing in this photo tweeted today by Vegas showman Criss Angel with the caption, “In secret project meeting will reveal details about 1 of the projects this Sunday….” No idea what it could be, as Mr. Angel’s website is already maximum sick!

Read More

By Ben Popper 12/16/10 4:05pm

Ad-Tech

Look at us. Now look at your investors. Now look at us. Fantastic!

First Round Capital Has The Best Holiday Card

Earlier this year Old Spice premiered an ad campaign in which their spokesman replied in real time to users Twitter comments.

The partners and portfolio companies from First Round Capital, which has a strong presence in New York, are recreating that act to send out their holiday greetings.

“Hello Internet denizens, how are you this Read More