References to Articles about Public Venture Investing
The following articles and blogs give you some background and useful
good insights about venture investing from various points of view. These
articles cover the historical efforts of MeVC, OffRoad Capital and OpenIPO
to bring venture investing to the public. [Some of the articles are
available at the the FairShares private site archive.
The problem with these companies has been that they still catered to
the wealthier investors while taking some pretty hefty commissions.
FairShares4U is working to organize the same types of funds with smaller
minimums and is also committed to make direct investments possible to
lower the costs of middle men. If you are interested in such funds,
email fundnvst@fairshares4u.net.
An
IPO for Everyone
Inc. Magazine 090101
A good article on the formation of OpenIPO and the dutch-auction IPO
concept. Unfortunately the investments describer are generally only
available to accredited investors. The Google IPO in 2004 was an exception
when some of the Google stock was made available to the general public
through an auction process.
How
to Fix Venture Capital
A very recent blog that expresses some interesting thoughts and advocates
ideas that we have been working on at FairShares.
Getting
In on a Private Equity Boom
International Herald Tribune 110400
Reports on a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the accounting firm,
and 3I Group PLC, the British venture-capital company, of the global
private-equity marketplace. The report, "Global Equity 2000," shows
that international venture-capital investments grew 65 percent in 2000,
to $136 billion.
OffRoad
Capital Eyes Global Opportunities
by Kathleen Willcox Investment Management Weekly 103000
" The private sector is a dynamic high-growth market with unmet
needs, according to John Forlines III, the co-president of OffRoad.
So far, it has been fragmented and poorly inter-mediated."
ONE
on ONE with Stephen Pelletier
San Francisco Business Times 092200
"The lack of organization in the private securities market worldwide
and the greater opportunity to innovate with technology is what has
us concentrating on introducing technology-based innovations in the
private capital markets." says Stephen Pelletier, CEO of OffRoad
Capital.
The
Evolution of Investing in an Electronic Age
MeVC, 081500
New technologies have increased the availability of and access to investment
information. This has opened up investment opportunities, especially
in the area of venture funding.
Large
Cap, Small Cap and Two Guys in a Garage Cap
MeVC,
070300
Why diversification is important with venture investing.
Why
VC Investors Shouldn't be too Concerned about a Softening IPO Market
MeVC, 061900
This article sheds some important light on the value of venture investing
and how cashing out works.
Being
a Venture Capitalist Is Getting Easier
Business Week, 052200
This is a useful review of some of the web sites that offer investors
better access to venture investing.
Smash
the Venture Cartel
by Rich Karlgaard, Forbes Magazine, 011000
Are ordinary folks too stupid to invest in ventures? Karlgaard doesn'
think so. He believes that venture capitalists want to keep the public
out so that can keep making higher returns than everyone else!
A
VC Fund for the Masses1
Two articles that provide background on the MeVC fund which
was one of the early efforts to broaden access to venture investing.
A
VC Fund for the Masses2
by Vanessa Richardson 121499
Investors gobbled up the MeVC fund right away. It is a start but still
leaves out the independent investor who wants to invest smaller amounts
directly. There is also still a "middle-man" fee that can
significantly reduce investment returns.
Taking
Private Placements Online
by Dan Burke, Gomez Advisors 032699
Brief overview of OffRoad Capital's plans to make private placements
available for online investors.
