Make Me Pass!!

Before I get started with ‘Make Me Pass’, these two posts ‘Made Me Laugh.

First Josh posted this caption contest of Fat Nixon (click and scroll the responses):

Brian Lund puts Steve Ballmer in context with this tweet:

By the way – have a read about how Steve Ballmer actually got all his shares in the first place.

Onwards…

This week, Polina Marinova was out with a great piece titled ‘How Kleiner Perkins Fell‘. In the story she mentions Kleiner Perkins passed on Robinhood at valuations of $61 million, $250 million, and $1.3 billion. At $5.6 billion, it said yes.

As a Robinhood shareholder that first said yeas at $8 million, then $250 million and $1.3 billion and sold some at $5.6 billion…I hope Kleiner now keeps saying yes.

But again…not the point of this post.

My job at Social Leverage comes down to a few yes’s a year and a lot of no’s. I have strong opinions, but my job is to see as many people and plans as possible centered on financial services.

The worst thing I can say to an entrepreneur is no. Maybe the best thing is invest. I definitely will try and give constructive feedback if I understand the plan and of course make intros to help speed the founder to success.

Like Keiner I have passed on some incredible companies that would have brought me incredible windfalls.

But, the passes are a part of this business. If you invest in stocks, you know this as well.

I would ask everyone that reads me to make sure they put the word out that Social Leverage wants to see all seed stage financial tech and service companies.

I challenge everyone here to ‘Make Me Pass’!

Thanks and have a great Sunday.