Archive: unicorns
How Early Investors Can Profit From the Unicorn Explosion
By Andy Gordon on September 1, 2021
Unicorns used to be a rare breed. Not anymore. When Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures first coined the term “unicorn” — referring to startups worth $1 billion or more — in 2013, she identified 39 unicorns. The vast majority were valued below $5 billion. Apart from Facebook, the average was $3.6 billion. And 27 of them were based in the San Francisco Bay Area. What a difference eight years makes! 2021 has…
The Problem With Ratchet Terms
By Andy Gordon on January 15, 2020
After a slew of underperforming IPOs, investors seem more risk-averse than they used to be. And that may mean ratchet terms are on the rise.
A Shift in Private Markets
By Adam Sharp on January 14, 2020
Since WeWork’s massive IPO failure, the startup investing landscape has started to change. Unprofitable unicorns are no longer getting a free pass.
Startup Investing Master Class: How to Bag a Unicorn
By Early Investing on January 14, 2020
Unicorns are the ultimate prize for an early investor. Here’s how to identify and invest in them before everyone else does.
News Fix: Bitcoin Is Back and 12 Governors Are Uniting for Marijuana Reform
By Allison Brickell on June 8, 2019
Bitcoin is back in a big way. In the U.S., governors are coming together for marijuana reform, while in Japan, tax officials struggle to track down crypto gains.
How Retail Investors Can Use the Venture Capital Funnel
By Andy Gordon on May 13, 2019
A look at the venture capital funnel shows how retail investors can profit where VCs can’t.
Getting in Before the IPO Party Starts
By Andy Gordon on March 27, 2019
CNBC can’t decide whether IPOs are good or bad for investors. It ought to subscribe to Early Investing...
Attainable Returns Are Something to Brag About
By Andy Gordon on March 13, 2019
Unicorns are great for bragging rights, but they’re not the only measure of success for an early investor.
Venture Capital Investing Surpasses Dot-Com Levels
By Allison Brickell on January 21, 2019
Venture capital spending just hit its highest level since the dot-com era, and it’s raising questions about the future of startup funding.
Founders Can Just Say No to VCs
By Andy Gordon on January 16, 2019
There’s no rule saying startups have to accept venture capital funding. Andy Gordon looks at three alternatives to venture capital.