The long awaited Google venture capital fund, Google Ventures, is now open for business. The Fund is led by managing partners Bill Maris and Rich Miner.
The fund’s FAQ says they’ll invest in just about any type of startup (”consumer Internet, software, hardware, clean-tech, bio-tech, health care and others”) and they’re willing to invest just about any amount you might need (”from seed funding to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the stage of the opportunity and the company’s need for capital”). It’s not exactly what you’d call a tight investment focus, but hey, it’s not like they need to worry about keeping limited partners happy so they can raise the next fund.
They’re also happy to invest along side other venture firms and strategic partners. No other commercial arrangement, such as a partnership, is required (so no, you don’t have to build your service on App Engine).
This is, Google says, their primary engine for venture-style investments going forward.
The FAQs also say the fund will be actively involved with investments (”We believe that our active involvement will help to create value, so we look to work with management teams to maximize the impact of our investment and their technology or innovation”). That may be somewhat over-ambitious, depending on how many investments they actually make. There are only two partners after all.
Is this a good investor for your startup? The cachet of having Google behind you is great for marketing. But if you think you have the next new Google-killer search idea, you may want to bake it a while before showing the technology to these guys.
I wonder if they really will do much seed stage funding, or if like most VCs they’ll prefer $1 million plus?
Wondering if it’s worth it to apply to them for our seed-stage company. Hmm.
Well, if anything, they got the logo right. +1
Google attacking just about anything (this time the VC industry), and becoming more and more annoying!
It will be interesting to see exactly what types of companies they invest in, as it will give an excellent windows into the high level workings and forward plans of upper level management at Google
..unless it’s just a giant troll!! APRIL FOOLS we only invested in companies we have no confidence in
If they are going to do this, lets hope they try and raise the bar in some way within the VC industry
If Google is investing in tech, it is actually not the partner that I would want.
precisely. it’s scary knowing Google’s got enough resources to make your startup happen without you and faster than you can regret it.
it boils down to trust, and as an entrepreneur this is a huge risk that i’m frankly not sure is worth taking.
having seen the team heading this up, one in paticular has made a career out of takeovers, am not sure that as an entreprenuer i am prepared to take the risk of loosing a start up idea to a major player like this, even if you could copyright your next move, google and others would have the legal clout to overcome a small start up in the courts.
I do however use the applications they offer, but not sure about allowing them to be the hand that feeds me…
This is great for society. Especially at a time where were losing jobs at a tremendous rate. Hopefully some great things will be birthed because of this.
IN LEWISBURG? ITS A COOL PLACE ALL STONE, KIND OF HISTORICAL.
Would you really want to showcase any idea that you had that was internet related to Google?
Given their appetite for new products, personally I wouldn’t show them the front cover of a business plan.
It will be very interesting to see what they invest in. As Mike has pointed out already there are only two partners.
finally a little strategic innitiative. funny because G knows the G killer is out there lurking and is not gonna come from within, been 10 years and the site looks the same. funny the engineers must know alot about search algorithims and nothing about common sense “natural language location.” how a company can claim orgainization with no structured backbone is beyond me. this will be fun to watch.
KillerLocator.com – easy prey
Here’s an idea – why don’t you submit your earth shattering idea to them? see if they’ll invest in it.
You missed F*ckingannoyingbullsh*tlocactor.com better register that one quick.
Back on topic…This is completely a runway to acquisition…but who are we to judge it’s their money and I am sure there are many startups that would gag for Google to invest in them.
Although I am weary..it is April 1st in NZ.
finally a little strategic innitiative. funny because G knows the G killer is out there lurking and is not gonna come from within, been 10 years and the site looks the same. funny the engineers must know alot about search algorithims and nothing about common sense “natural language location.” how a company can claim orgainization with no structured backbone is beyond me. this will be fun to watch.
KillerLocator.com – easy prey
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
That is big news.
*submits*
We’ll see who they invest in…
does this mean google will help promote the companies they invest in? would an e-commerce service google invests in be favored over others in search results? if so, wouldn’t that be kind of unfair to those who do not partner with google?
I think this could drastically alter the playing field, no?
The caveat with going for funding from Google Ventures is that you cannot later sell the start-up expensive to Google.
I´d rather seek financing from a trivial VC firm.
y not? Isn’t it easier to sell it to google?
they have to remain impartial – google will favour with resources, but by no means in terms of “search results”. it would degrade the entire brand and their algorithm. so the answer is no to that one barz.
it will be interesting to see the investments made by this considering that google is such a consumer product facing company. you tell them your idea with business plan and they shoot it off to the product team to assess ?
VC firms grow from trust as much as they do from cash. i am sure they will invest with the things you mention above – or at least, i hope
Tough choice, google ventures or y-crap and its clones.
They laid off 200 workers so they can write checks to random companies in random industries. If i was a share owner i would be pissed and expecting dividends instead.
What if there was a site that could use this type of VC investment opportunity to create more jobs for average skilled workers such as me??? I can see how this would benefit startups. I like the fact that they are reaching into innovative minds to help propel us out of this financial crisis. This is what opportunity is all about! Keep BidWilly in mind…
Vast numbers of Americans live in the city where conventional wind turbines are strictly limited by tower foundation costs, and solar is still expensive everywhere. Why not push vertical axis turbines for the city dwellers. Make them attractive so zoning wont’ whine. They self limit rpms at about 370 rpm so little chance of a catastrophic overspeed. Though they offer lest cost, you could mount one or two on your balcony or back porch without 6 cubic yards of concrete, guy wires, etc. Put the small grid matching inverter into the machine, so to install it you simply plug it into the wall. Google U Da Man!!!
I wonder whether the venture arm will have access to Google data on consumer behavior? E.g., if a lot of gmail is talking about some product, Google could recognize an investment opportunity before anyone else. I recall at one point they were sitting on so much cash that they needed to request an exemption from the SEC to avoid being subject to rules governing financial institutions.
Will Google Ventures sign an NDA?
This is a corporate VC and should have no issues signing one. Otherwise very dangerous.
I would never give Google my startup idea. You think MSFT are a bunch of wolves!? Get ready.
I use to believe that Google Ventures is the answer for the small business guy like us that grew up to big business that now everyone wants to invest into…Big business was once start up just like everything else…