Portfolio

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

New York. New York. So good ....


I just spent 3 weeks working out of New York. You can feel the buzz and the energy even in these difficult times.

There is a lot happening on the East Coast in the web start-up scene.

Just as many of the digital media, real time web start-ups on the west coast choose to set up in San Francisco – rather than Palo AltoNew York and Boston have got their attractions too.

An example is Daylife, a TAG investment of some 4 years vintage. Its hard to imagine them based in a better place than New York, surrounded as they are by the large scale publishers who use their technology.

New York is, after all, media city – all the TV networks are there, IAC is there, the ad agencies, the Investment banks and a few really good tech investors.

Union Square Ventures are as good as any and better than most – with a string of great companies in their stable….and of course Fred Wilson’s blog is required reading (but you can do that from home!)


John Borthwick and Andy Weissman of Betaworks have an original approach to developing Digital businesses – or if you prefer, a new type of media company.


Veteran (or should that be founder) of the Venture Capital industry like Alan Patricoff is turning his Greycroft Partners towards digital media in a serious way and has already built a portfolio of interesting companies.

Sure, for deeper tech you’ll need to go to Boston – where Atlas and other famous VCs are based – but for content and digital media, NY is hard to beat.

Of course, the NY economy is so huge that start-ups are hardly noticeable. Not like SF or Palo Alto where every bar, café and restaurant is an opportunity to meet and greet the like minded. There is something to be said, however, for operating below the radar.

On the other end of the scale, Providence Rhode Island, where Moo chose to set up their US distribution and customer service centre has welcomed Moo with open arms and can’t do enough to help. Meetings which Richard and Brian had with the Governor and Mayor indicate their commitment to promoting start-ups in the state.

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