Tim Hanlon

🗞️ Breaking News: Red Ventures Selling CNET at a huge Loss❗️ Context: Red Ventures, the privately held digital media and marketing juggernaut based in Fort Mill, South Carolina, is selling CNET, one of the largest tech publishers on the web, to Ziff Davis for just $100 million. For context: Red Ventures bought CNET for approximately $500 million. Reason for the Sale: Total traffic to CNET has dropped by a staggering 50% over the last three years. The main driver behind this decline is a 68% drop in organic traffic (loss off Google rankings and traffic). Tables turned: This sale is a stunning turn of events for CNET, which once bought Ziff Davis (then a tech magazine firm) in a deal worth roughly $1.6 billion - more than two decades ago. Catch Up: - Ziff Davis trades publicly with a market value of $1.94 billion. The company lost about half of its marketcap over the course of the last 48 months. Strategic rationale: If Ziff Davis is able to ink a content licencing deal with Google, Bing/Microsoft or ChatGPT (or else e.g. X.AI) - like Reddit did - it might turn out to be a very smart deal …

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Really interesting question. Can it be done? Does the outdoor industry need it? Clearly some of the largest retailers have struggled with maintaining the correct amount of the right inventory and teams that are helpful and knowledgeable. But building a logistical beast such as Amazon is complex. Cheryl Stark any perspective?

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I recently saw this metric from Carta’s 1Q24 VC Fund Report, which is very concerning. DPI... is nowhere to be found in earlier vintages that probably should start showing DPI. Funding early-stage projects is great, but ultimately, these venture dollars need to exit their investments and pay back their limited partners. That’s where the metric Distributed to Paid-In Capital (DPI) comes in. While managing a fund, we get interim measures during the life of the fund (e.g. IRR, MOIC), but ultimately, “you can’t eat IRR.” If you want to build a lasting venture capital organization, you need to start showing DPI for your fund. Keep in mind that this is traditional VC data from Carta, and is not strictly crypto venture. Crypto venture tends to get liquidity earlier (tokens) and things tend to go parabolic sooner (faster, more unicorns) - but I’d wager that the data here is somewhat similar for Crypto VCs… Not as much DPI as there should be from these earlier vintages. Read the full article, as well as a recap of all the crypto fundraising rounds for August, here: https://lnkd.in/g3eVJ-iF

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I just wrapped up a panel with the Marketing Leadership affinity group within the How Women Invest community with my hero Auntie Nancy Hayes, aka the Yoda of board membership, angel investing, and general badassery. We talked about different ways to serve on boards, a role in which experienced Marketers seem to be often underrepresented. Why? If I had to guess, I'd say: 1 - Most heads of marketing are women 2 - marketing is undervalued, especially under sales/revenue experience 3—Compound the first two with the messages you tell yourself about your own worthiness, and suddenly, you're a great marketer for everyone else but yourself. ___________ For those who are interested in getting closer or into the board room, there are so many ways to start/get experience: 1—Board Observer (one of my current board roles)—you represent the investor but have no votes. It is unpaid, but/and hugely essential to act as a bridge of visibility and communication between the fund you've invested with and the company in which the fund has invested. My role brings value to both sides with much less bias than the other VC board seats. 2—Corporate board director—There is much governance but not much influence on the product, as the company usually has big enough teams for that. There is a lot of hiring/firing CEOs (read: drama), which can still be fun, especially for those fresh-popcorn-in-my-bag swag kinda folks (both grossly generalizing and way understating this role's fiduciary importance, but you get the idea). 3—Independent board director—this is another of my favorite places to sit. It is much like the Board observer role but with voting rights and equity (although not always, as these terms are negotiated and influenced by the shareholding board seats). You are NOT representing a VC fund (typically), but you might have subject matter expertise in the product or are a generalist boss gal like myself and bring a sense of neutrality and balance to the board. 4—Advisor. Advisors are similar to IBD in terms of influence and type of advice but are not part of the board or its meetings. This role is usually paid in some combination of equity and cash. It's another of my faves. (Are you seeing the trend here?) We have not even touched non-profit boards (where I got my start and am currently sitting on my sixth), but we will save it for next time as it's a whole 'nother Oprah. If you want to learn more, How Women Lead is hosting its 5th annual #getonboard week, starting October 21. Hybrid virtual and in-person. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/diizwv8j #womeninleadership #boardofdirectors #howwomenlead #governance #boarddiversity #corporategovernance #boardservice #businessleadership #leadership Julie Candelon Susan Greenwood Schroeder Mikayla Ludwig

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The U.S. advertising industry ad spend will $397 billion in 2024, and experiencing a robust 9.6% growth rate in Q2 2024, marking the third consecutive quarter of around 10% growth, according to a study from renowned analyst from Madison and Wall via Digiday #marketing #marketingagency #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy #advertising #adagency #adtech

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In 2013, Lori Torres felt an undeniable spark when she conceived the idea for Parcel Pending, a smart locker solution designed to tackle the package crisis in apartment buildings. Despite being the primary breadwinner in her family with a thriving real estate career, she took a monumental risk. She left her secure job, sold the family’s cherished home, and even persuaded her mother to risk her property for a loan. Within a year of these sacrifices, Lori had developed her first smart lockers. Her innovation soon caught on, with her lockers becoming a key solution for property management companies and residents. By the end of 2014, Lori’s commitment had not only secured her first major order but also attracted investors, setting the stage for tremendous growth. Within six years, Parcel Pending was sold for $100 million, turning her mother’s loan into a $1 million return and ensuring her family's future. Lori’s story highlights a key lesson for anyone seeking investors: truly committing to your vision can make a world of difference. By investing your own resources and security, you show investors just how dedicated you are to your idea. When you put everything on the line, it not only proves your commitment but also makes a strong case to potential backers. If you’re all in, it’s far easier to convince others to believe in your dream, and it could be the turning point in making it a reality. Are you prepared to go all in on your entrepreneurial dreams? Grab a copy of my book, “Thinking Bigger”, at the link below to read my personal experience chasing my dream and the advice I would share to anyone starting today. https://lnkd.in/dZpQYX6D #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #Startups #Investment #ThinkBigger

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At the CFA Society Indianapolis Venture Breakfast last week I mentioned how SaaS is losing its VC footing to AI. A couple of folks asked for more information, so I figured I'd share today's PitchBook newsletter on the topic. (https://lnkd.in/eJ285n-a) Amid shifting landscapes in the tech sector, corporate innovation funds and investment dollars are increasingly pivoting towards AI experimentation. As traditional SaaS startups experience a deceleration in revenue growth, the focus is shifting. 💡 As we witness this transition, it's crucial for professionals in tech and investment sectors to understand how AI can drive not only efficiency but also innovation. ❓ Let's discuss how your organizations are adapting to this shift. Are you experimenting with AI? What impacts do you foresee in your industry? #AI #CorporateInnovation #TechTrends #StrategicInvestment

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Great time on the Embracing Erosion podcast w/Devon O'Rourke! We talked about: 🚀 How to scale a company from concept to 9-figure exit 🔄 How to break away from the traditional consulting model and apply product approaches ⏩ Why it’s important to iterate quickly and often with messaging 💸📈What signals are important to pay attention to when investing in startups and much more!

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If you enjoyed our first blog on the metrics that matter for Verticalized SaaS then don't miss on the Part II of the series where my colleagues Devraj Hom Roy and Matt Schaar discuss the strategic and operational choices to improve these operational indicators. https://lnkd.in/g5QkCrcH

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My amazing cousin, Cleven Ticeson (https://lnkd.in/gWis4xX6) , a 14 time Emmy award winning producer for KCTS9 in Seattle, is a hero of mine. I grew up watching the educational shows like Bill Nye and the performing arts they would showcase. He was following the work I have been doing de-siloing the Black professional class working in venture scale entrepreneurship in the Pacific Northwest and composed a news reel covering Dreamward Group that moved me not only because he is my hyper-talented and dear cousin but because it voiced and gave me the perspective of the decades that what we’re building has been missing from the mass culture and my culture. Lewis Rudd once told me that the hardest target to hit is an invisible one and my dear cousin hit me right in the heart by speaking in his video about the unseen, but nonetheless felt, absence of inclusive capitalization of startups. Felt by the generation of Black people that watched the tech industry grow not only painting Black technologists and Black founders out of the heroic saga of tech, but Black funders as well. I am so glad that Dreamward Group is able to paint the target and make it visible through our work. Venture Capital, the financial backing of the tech industry, just like tech itself, had an evolution with foundational moments in the 70s on Sand Hill Road in Silicon Valley yet it’s mechanics, drama, and operation are largely unknown to the public that isn’t working in tech entrepreneurship. It’s trajectory and heights of accomplishment with Andreessen Horowitz and Madrona Ventures are parallel and analogous to Google and Amazon…But only the later two brands are household names to people outside of the industry. The world knows the story of Black people being excluded from Tech, It knows the story of Black people being excluded from executive leadership. It experienced the Obama administration and the depravity of the Trump backlash and had to ask itself why it had actively or passively participated in writing off Black professionals. Some of the world hears of Black founders getting less than 2% of invested capital, but even on hearing that, they don’t know the story of Black people being excluded from the role of deciding which startups get funded using a yet third party’s (often their own government’s) money…That is the story of Venture Capital today, and that’s what Dreamward is changing for the future.

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Practice your #voting skills and help us highlight #regenerativefinance at SXSW!

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Thrilled to be featured in ADWEEK’s recent article on the ad tech M&A landscape. The past 18 months have been a whirlwind – high inflation, rising interest rates, and global uncertainty put a damper on liquidity. M&A activity slowed, and fundraising became a challenge. However, I see the current chess moves as a prelude to consolidation. This will unlock cash flow and pave the way for more strategic M&A deals in the near future. Expect to see some “average” deals this year, but the market is resetting for a stronger 2025. Get ready for solid returns and a more dynamic ad tech landscape next year. Thanks to Catherine Perloff! https://lnkd.in/dg7PQ6eU #adtech #investing

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👉 Just a reminder: We will be at Small Business Expo in Chicago tomorrow! If you're in the area you should stop by, it's free to attend! We're excited for Common Core Marketing to have a booth and be able to share more with small business owners about how HubSpot can: -Scale with their business -Eliminate inefficiencies through automating processes -Have the data and reports they need at their fingertips for better decision-making https://lnkd.in/gZq5w2Mf #chicago #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #sbe #hubspot #hubspotpartner #businessowner

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It was a real honor to interview Brad Burnham co-founder of Union Square Ventures and partner Placeholder on the history of hype cycles in technology and the value they bring to capital and market formation. Brad has had tremendous success across decades investing at the frontier - when it was the frontier/ before it was obvious. Crypto is still the underdog and his views on the opportunity and its nuances are prescient. Specifically it is both a technical and financial innovation which can lead to excess volatility and a unique muscle as it relates to being a venture manager. But the returns are real. And the innovation is real despite some of the the common narratives. No one debates the breakthrough applications in AI at M13 we have been very active. It is also very clear that incumbents have massive data and distribution advantages which can make it challenging to find the right pockets to invest. AI is on its own hype cycle and as always the best teams (typically with contrarian takes) win. Very exciting times to be a venture investor.

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Video advertising requires a new metric to determine the right balance of efficiency, attention and impact. Some agencies are already stepping up and using CPS Viewed, or Cost Per Second Viewed, as a primary metric. Find out what that means https://lnkd.in/gHfEYmk6 #advertising #videoadvertising

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In episode 13 of #ThePubWayPodcast, Mike and I sit down with Keith Gooberman, CEO and Co-Founder of Pontiac Intelligence, to discuss the role of DSPs in the CTV space, contextual advertising, and the upcoming 2024 Pontiac Summit, bringing together industry leaders across the ecosystem. During the episode, we covered: 🔐 Pontiac Intelligence and the changing privacy landscape 📺 The Role of DSPs in the CTV Space 🌐 The evolution of contextual advertising 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/ess9eqxu #CTV #Publishers #AdTech #ContextualAdvertising Seedtag

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Recently, I joined Daniel Scharff on the Startup CPG Podcast to break down these core financial pillars to help founders build a resilient and scalable brand. Here’s a quick rundown: 1. Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) → Understand the full cost to develop, produce and receive each product (it’s way more than materials.) 2. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) → You need to use your CAC as your constant in the spend equation. 3. Cash Flow → Scaling without a handle on cash flow is a recipe for disaster. Too fast of growth can kill a company as quickly as too slow of growth. 4. Margins → Razor-thin margins (stand alone or via discounting) means playing on hard mode. 5. Retention Rate → Repeat customers are the foundation of long-term success in e-commerce. I break down each one in more detail on the podcast. Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eJzypw6x

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Great post from Grace Carney Union Square Ventures on The Fragmentation Of Search: https://lnkd.in/egwnR95D Are consumers willing to pay for Search? We'll be able to answer that question in a subset of what current search excludes, when we launch our edtech MVP of MakeLoveNotPorn Academy in a few months' time: https://lnkd.in/e3jbrak6 - the aggregator hub for the best of the world's #sexed, searchable by age-appropriateness, cultural sensibility etc. At a time when open healthy #sexed is being censored and deplatformed everywhere (including deliberately in search), parents and teachers have told me for years, we'll pay anything for this service (while VCs/investors have refused to fund anything to do with this topic). We'll see - watch this space 😎

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This week, YouTube viewership ascends as cord cutting weighs on traditional TV, Temu cools on the U.S. after shelling out billions, and more. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ejtsNEsD #news #blog #industry #retail #cpg #consumer #traub #tcp

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