Description: The company has done nearly everything right, but it’s dangerously overvalued, even for a tech company. Should Facebook, LinkedIn, and Groupon take heed? Source: Fortune.com Date: 05/13/2011 Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/05/13/opentable-broken-stock-a-lesson-in-the-dangers-of-tech-ipos/ Questions for discussion: Summarized the essence of the report with respect to the lessons that might be learned for other technology IPOs. Do you agree… Read more »
Posts Tagged: IPO
The Class That Built Apps, and Fortunes
Description: ALL right, class, here’s your homework assignment: Devise an app. Get people to use it. Repeat. That was the task for some Stanford students in the fall of 2007, in what became known here as the “FacebookClass.†No one expected what happened next. The students ended up getting millions of users for free apps… Read more »
digits: Google’s Answer to Groupon
Description: Google’s rival to services such as Groupon and LivingSocial, called Google Offers, has officially launched in some cities. Will Google dominate daily deals, or has the daily deals market grown too crowded? Plus: what it means for Groupon’s planned IPO. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: 04/22/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/digits-google-answer-to-groupon/C16FD858-3A59-44FA-8E56-7645A80F4EBF Questions for discussion: What contribution… Read more »
Silicon Valley Cashes Out Selling Private Shares
Description: SecondMarket and its ilk allow investors and employees—including Facebook’s—to convert pre-IPO shares into millions. But is it healthy for startups? Source: Businessweek.com Date: 04/21/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_18/b4226070179043.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues raised in the report. What is your view about this behavior? Should it be prohibited?
LivingSocial Is Next Bet for Steve Case After Zipcar IPO Payoff
Description: America Online co-founder Steve Case, recasting himself as a venture capitalist, pledged to invest $200 million in fast-growing companies in 2005. With his bet on Zipcar Inc., he’s now made that cash back. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 04/16/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-04-16/livingsocial-is-next-bet-for-steve-case-after-zipcar-ipo-payoff.html Questions for discussion: Would you have followed the investment route taken by Steve Case? Is… Read more »
The ultimate pitch: 11 startups, 8 minutes, 500 investors
Description: In an old East Village music hall in downtown New York, more than 500 investors from around the country crowded into a dimly lit auditorium to hear 11 startups pitch. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 04/15/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/15/technology/techstars_demo_day/index.htm Questions for discussion: What do you think about this method of raising capital? What do these players have… Read more »
SecondMarket trading doubles in private company stock
Description:Â Investors spent $158 million snapping up shares of privately held companies like Facebook on SecondMarket’s platform last quarter — twice the volume the exchange had just one quarter earlier. Source:Â CNNMoney.com Date: 01/22/2011 Link:Â http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/21/technology/secondmarket_q4/index.htm Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest about the Secondmarket environment and the firms on the list? Would… Read more »
Prada Said to Decide on IPO by End of Month, Open 90 Stores
Description: Prada SpA, the Italian fashion company that has scrapped initial public offerings four times in 11 years, may decide to proceed with an IPO by the end of the month, according to two people familiar with the situation. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 01/21/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-21/prada-said-to-decide-on-ipo-by-end-of-month-open-90-stores.html Questions for discussion: What are the positive and negative implications… Read more »
Skype CEO: Only 6% of users pay
Description: Despite a small base of paying users, the VOIP and video chat service is still profitable. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 01/14/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/01/13/t_connected_skype.fortune/ Questions for discussion:  Can Skype be sustainable when only 6% of users pay anything for services? How can Skype convert the growing customer base to more revenue generation? Do you… Read more »
Groupon reportedly spurns Google’s billions
Description: Groupon Inc. has walked away from a Google Inc. acquisition offer worth as much as $6 billion, according to reports late Friday, appearing to set the stage for a Groupon IPO as soon as next year. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 12/04/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/groupon-reportedly-spurns-google-merger-2010-12-04 Questions for discussion: Do you think Groupon is… Read more »
