Archive: Articles

Massachusetts Vape Sales Plummet in Light of Health Concerns

By Allison Brickell on September 23, 2019

Massachusetts marijuana vape sales have plunged amid vape-related health concerns. And Juul, the biggest vape company in the country, is sounding a lot like its tobacco forebears as it grapples with the drop.

Mailbag: Disruptors Can Still Be Disrupted

By Early Investing on September 22, 2019

In this week’s Mailbag, the Early Investing team explains the difference between seed and Series A companies and what bitcoin maximalists get wrong.

News Fix: WeWork Can’t Shake Off Its IPO Woes

By Vin Narayanan on September 21, 2019

In the news this week, WeWork’s IPO woes continue, Massachusetts’ vape sales decline and the U.S. Army looks to hire crypto investigators.

The SEC’s Crypto Market Manipulation Fears Make No Sense

By Vin Narayanan on September 20, 2019

The SEC is refusing to approve a bitcoin ETF out of fear of market manipulation. But that fear is nonsensical.
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Binance Launches Its U.S. Exchange

By Vin Narayanan on September 20, 2019

Binance has launched its U.S. exchange, which is great news for U.S. investors. VanEck and SolidX have less-than-great news... but the crypto world is chugging along regardless.
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Aurora Cannabis missed its own guidance in its quarterly earnings report. But we’re not too worried about it. Here’s why.
Startups that challenge conventional thinking and go on to succeed are often the most profitable investments. But to take the plunge and invest in a truly crazy-sounding idea is one of the hardest things a startup investor can do.
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Airdrop Alert: Litecoin

By Allison Brickell on September 17, 2019

Today’s airdrop is litecoin, one of the First Stage Investor crypto portfolio coins.
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Why We’re Looking for More Series A Startup Investments

By Andy Gordon on September 16, 2019

The First Stage Investor team is on the lookout for more Series A companies to recommend. And we’re also keeping an eye on escalating valuations.

Today’s Emerging Markets Are Tomorrow’s Powerhouses

By Allison Brickell on September 16, 2019

Today’s emerging markets could become tomorrow’s market powerhouses. So investors currently stuck in overpriced U.S. stocks should consider these cheaper alternatives.
In this week’s Mailbag, the Early Investing team talks Silicon Valley investments and equity crowdfunding portals.

T. Boone Pickens’ Real Legacy Has Nothing to Do With Oil

By Vin Narayanan on September 14, 2019

This week, the News Fix is dedicated to legendary disruptor T. Boone Pickens. His true legacy went far beyond oil.
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VanEck has bypassed SEC regulations with a new quasi-ETF offering, while Bakkt is one step closer to launching its bitcoin trading platform.
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In this month's poll, we'd like to hear your thoughts on what you like about First Stage Investor and how we can do better.

Facial Recognition Technology Is Raising Serious Issues

By Andy Gordon on September 11, 2019

Facial recognition technology is spreading like wildfire, including among U.S. law enforcement. Here’s why that’s troubling.
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Startup Investors: Watch Out for These Five Red Flags

By Adam Sharp on September 10, 2019

Adam Sharp lists his top five red flags to watch for when evaluating startup investments.