Comments on: European entrepreneurship and exits http://hkanji.com/2009/09/14/european-entrepreneurship-and-exits/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Musings on venture capital and the inefficient private markets Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:03:20 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Vinay http://hkanji.com/2009/09/14/european-entrepreneurship-and-exits/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Vinay Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:30:01 +0000 http://hkanji.com/?p=181#comment-11 Opsware? Opsware?

]]> By: hussein kanji http://hkanji.com/2009/09/14/european-entrepreneurship-and-exits/comment-page-1/#comment-10 hussein kanji Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:55:19 +0000 http://hkanji.com/?p=181#comment-10 My theory is there are more trained entrepreneurs in the US who know how to build valuable companies. The $1B exits are market-driven to an extent, the $500M+ require a bunch of a lot of know-how and work to scale up a business. My theory is there are more trained entrepreneurs in the US who know how to build valuable companies. The $1B exits are market-driven to an extent, the $500M+ require a bunch of a lot of know-how and work to scale up a business.

]]> By: hkanji http://hkanji.com/2009/09/14/european-entrepreneurship-and-exits/comment-page-1/#comment-9 hkanji Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:00:30 +0000 http://hkanji.com/?p=181#comment-9 Thanks Sean.<br><br>I debated putting Markit on the list, but it's also not liquid (yet). I know the old CTO of Markit quite well (he's also an advisor to Byhiras) and the story very well. It's a shame (for the asset class) not a single venture fund got into that deal. Thanks Sean.

I debated putting Markit on the list, but it's also not liquid (yet). I know the old CTO of Markit quite well (he's also an advisor to Byhiras) and the story very well. It's a shame (for the asset class) not a single venture fund got into that deal.

]]> By: parkparadigm http://hkanji.com/2009/09/14/european-entrepreneurship-and-exits/comment-page-1/#comment-8 parkparadigm Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:17:49 +0000 http://hkanji.com/?p=181#comment-8 Betfair is not really unrealized. Yes they are still private but there have been two liquidity events for investors in the past 3 years and so people have been able to take money off the table. <br><br>In terms of other big European start-ups (and post 2000 to boot): Markit Group is a multi-billion dollar company that was founded in 2002/03 in London. It is also still private, but has had a number of liquidity events and new investments over the years that give a real 'traded' valuation and have offered liquidity to shareholders who required it. No venture investors however, banks and hedge funds. The private equity and venture guys had a chance to get in a couple years after founding but got greedy / didn't realize they weren't in a position to haggle and missed what would probably have been a 4-6x return...<br><br>Good post. Think it underlines that the Valley is a lot better at PR than 'Europe'; plus the geographic concentration is helpful in this regard as well. Betfair is not really unrealized. Yes they are still private but there have been two liquidity events for investors in the past 3 years and so people have been able to take money off the table.

In terms of other big European start-ups (and post 2000 to boot): Markit Group is a multi-billion dollar company that was founded in 2002/03 in London. It is also still private, but has had a number of liquidity events and new investments over the years that give a real 'traded' valuation and have offered liquidity to shareholders who required it. No venture investors however, banks and hedge funds. The private equity and venture guys had a chance to get in a couple years after founding but got greedy / didn't realize they weren't in a position to haggle and missed what would probably have been a 4-6x return…

Good post. Think it underlines that the Valley is a lot better at PR than 'Europe'; plus the geographic concentration is helpful in this regard as well.

]]> By: Farhan Lalji http://hkanji.com/2009/09/14/european-entrepreneurship-and-exits/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Farhan Lalji Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:43:47 +0000 http://hkanji.com/?p=181#comment-7 So why does the US out perform EU on $600M-$1B exits? Is it because the US VC industry is better at spotting these really big but not huge opportunities? So why does the US out perform EU on $600M-$1B exits? Is it because the US VC industry is better at spotting these really big but not huge opportunities?

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