Published in Venture Inside·PinnedWhere did consumerization of the enterprise go?As software has become increasingly affordable and accessible, purchasing has been democratized down to the end user. Consumers can now buy B2B SaaS tools in much the same way that they purchase B2C mobile apps. Meanwhile, corporations are increasingly adopting consumer-like software solutions for business uses and are purchasing products…Saa S4 min read
Published in Venture Inside·PinnedHow the Shared Responsibility Model Complicates Cloud SecurityAs I’ve said before, I believe we are in a generational time for security businesses, in great part driven by some seismic shifts in the market. The first, and one of the biggest in my opinion, is the promise and vulnerability of multi-cloud. While this may seem like a natural…Cloud Computing6 min read
Published in Venture Inside·Apr 28From solving “your” problem to solving “our” problem: the value of design partnersThe Lincoln Highway, the latest novel from Amor Towles, includes a short conversation between a main character named Duchess and a traveling salesman that meet at a restaurant. The salesman touts his company’s innovation ability, and says “…This year, I’m proud to say, we became the first blender manufacturer in…5 min read
Published in Venture Inside·Apr 4Powering Solopreneurs One at a Time: DaysliceWith all of the talk of the return to office and the great resignation, there is a groundswell of change around where and how we work. Some of this was caused by massive layoffs in early 2020 when Covid-19 hit. US unemployment hit 14.7% in April 2020, and people were…4 min read
Published in Venture Inside·Jan 27The Consumerized Enterprise is the best thing to happen to software since its name changed to SaaSAs my old boss Barry Diller always said, “Words matter” and that applies even in enterprise software. Specifically, all of the terms used to describe modern B2B SaaS — customer obsessed, PLG, bottoms up SaaS — make a lot more sense when seen in the context of the overarching theme…Saa S4 min read
Published in Venture Inside·Jul 13, 2021Goodbye steak dinners, hello product-led sales: Meet EndgameSince our investment last year, I’ve been patiently waiting to share our investment in Endgame. It’s rare to meet a founder as talented as Alex Bilmes, but it’s especially exciting to meet one who’s building a best-in-class solution aligning with a massive shift in SaaS. …Enterprise5 min read
Published in Venture Inside·Apr 16, 2021What VCs Seek in a First MeetingWe seek… inspiration or meeting a founder who helps us see a market, problem or opportunity through a different lens. High level in a first 30–45 minute meeting, I — like most VCs — look for a thing or a FEELING more than anything specific to (not) waste that founder’s…Venture Capital6 min read
Published in Venture Inside·Apr 13, 2021CISOs in the C-Suite: Making Cyber Strategy Company StrategyBy Kara Nortman, Managing Partner & Spencer Calvert, Associate, Upfront Ventures This article originally ran on TechCrunch. When you think of the core members of the C-Suite, you probably think of the usual characters: CEO, CFO, COO and maybe a CMO. Each of these roles is fairly well defined: the…5 min read
Published in Venture Inside·Apr 11, 2021The Importance of ClichesToday I am thinking about the most cliched things VCs say and perhaps either should say less, say differently or say more specifically. This could become a list, but today let’s start with three that popped into my Sunday brain. First Cliche: How Can I Be Helpful? This is the cliche line every VC worth our salt…Venture Capital5 min read
Published in Venture Inside·Mar 19, 2021Securing the Everything-as-a-Service WorldWhen I interned at Microsoft in Redmond more than two decades ago, I visited the employee store on campus to stock up on products. It was filled floor to ceiling with boxes the size of a ream of paper with labels like Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003: Professional Edition…5 min read
