VC success story: Skype

[Ties [r.i.p.] 31]

Hoi mede-HLers,

 

na onze eerder discussie over Skype zou ik jullie het verhaal van de eerste investeerder in Skype willen laten lezen.

 

€2.1 Billion

€2.1BILLION from €20m in venture capital. The sale of Skype to eBay has been billed as the start of the real internet boom. Telcos look out.

 

The European venture industry has witnessed its first €1bn-plus technology deal. What is more, it took just €20m to reach this exit. Skype’s business model poses a serious threat to encumbent telecom operators. In contrast, it has lifted sentiment in Europe’s beleagured venture market and reignited interest in the industry.

 

Je kunt verder lezen @ http://www.realdeals.eu.com/Show.aspx?ChannelID=13&ArticleID=37771. Weet niet precies hoe lang dit artikel nog gratis te lezen is dus wacht niet te lang.

 

Zou toch twee quotes uit het bovenstaande artikel willen lichten. Deze illustreren hoe (early stage) investeerders entrepreneurs beoordelen:

 

“It is important not to overestimate the input that you have when it comes to a deal like this. They were impressive guys and would have made it work without us because they were driven and committed,” says Mark Tluszcz, partner at Mangrove Capital Partners, the first investor in Skype.

 

“We didn’t know that the technology would work, but we knew that Zennström and Friis had a great understanding of what people want. The idea is straightforward, but their strength is that they are phenomenal at marketing a product. Even when Skype had no customers or revenue, the web site felt like it belonged to a huge multinational.”

 

Met vriendelijke groet,

 

Ties