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How Can Entrepreneurs Use LinkSViewer?: TheFunded.com Case Study

July 18, 2007 on 9:05 pm | In Company Analysis, Investor Analysis |

The Funded.com is a entrepreneurial resource that provides various ratings and data for VC funds.  LinkSViewer illustrates relations between Silicon Valley investors, companies, and their board members/management teams.  This post demonstrates LinkSViewer network map integration with TheFunded information to further supply resources for the emerging start-up company interested in obtaining venture capital.  The main idea here is to combine capital relations with entrepreneurial experiences. 

Some potential questions (with TheFunded.com in mind):

• What are the investment relations of the VC(s)?
• How are they related to other VCs?
• How are they related to board members and/or management team members?
• What other companies has the VC (or multiple VCs) invested in? 
• In what sector? 
• Over the what time period? 
• With what keywords? 

Let’s look at an example:

True Ventures is currently rated as one of the top VC firms by the members at TheFunded.  Let’s examine the relational network map for True Ventures’ portfolio companies in the Silicon Valley:

True Ventures Relational Map.  Notes: (1) All of the active companies are private companies (blue rectangles); (2) Three Angel investors (yellow ovals) have multiple capital relations with True Ventures: Auren Hoffman (Meebo & BrightRoll) and Michael Tanne & Jeff Clavier (BrightRoll & Maya’s Mom) have two common investment ties with True Ventures; (3) Three Board/Management Team Members (tan ovals) have board/management team interlocks with Sphere and Automattic: Phil Black (True Ventures), Toni Schneider (True Ventures & Automattic CEO), and Matt Mullenweg (Automattic founding executive).  Double click on each tan oval in the map for their LinkSV bio (in a new window).  Here is a complete view of all of the relations for True Ventures Silicon Valley active companies (including all co-investors and related management team and board members). (Source: LinkSV.com)

Here we gain a sense of the Silicon Valley company portfolio of True Ventures as it relates to its co-investors and board/management team interlocks.  LinksViewer provides a handy (and clickable) representation of the relational capital for each VC firm.  Below are some other potentially interesting maps for start-up entrepreneurs: 

Sequoia Capital + Accel Partners: Round 1-2 Internet Sector companies funded in 2005 or later 

Sequoia Capital + Accel Partners: Round 1-2 Keyword “Wireless” companies funded in 2005 or later

Entrepreneurs are encouraged to try out LinkSViewer for a free two-week trial (particularly when in capital-seeking mode).  This allows the user access to multiple map views, search, filtering, and a number of other features.  After the two-week trial, LinkSViewer is available on a per seat monthly subscription basis for $25/month.  Check it out, it may save you money in the long run…