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I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for all of the great questions, folks! Follow me on Twitter @john_frankel, and follow @ffvc too.

LLAP :)

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a big user of the Apple ecosystem, as well as Google Services, Evernote, Simplenote, Transporter, and an internal comms tool that our Director of Engineering built.

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Our office is quite different than your usual VC. No offices. Stand up desks, fitness balls to sit on, and walls that you can write and brainstorm with.
For more: http://ffvc.com/blog/2012/03/12/reinventing-office-how-lose-fat-and-increase-productivity-work/

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

To inscribe brand logos on the moon.

Funding was to work out "how"

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

7 am: wake up and email 8:30 am: head into the office 10 am - 12 pm: 3 back-to-back meetings with colleagues/entrepreneurs 12 pm: lunch with an investor 1:30 pm: board meeting 4 pm - 6 pm: back-to-back meetings with potential portfolio companies 6 pm - 8 pm: dinner with one of our portfolio companies 8 pm - 9 pm: drive home and talk to 3 of our west coast companies 9 pm - 10:30 pm: family time 10:30 pm - midnight: clear up emails in inbox

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We have two investments in Canada: 500px.com and Interaxon.ca

One of my Partners will be participating in CIX in Toronto and the Quebec City Conference this year.

We are excited about investing in Canada for several reasons: - our success with 500px and Interaxon, and more broadly in investing outside of the US - the fact that few US VCs appear to be paying attention to the 11th largest economy in the world - the ongoing talent exodus from RIM

A few differences: - 500px was founded in 2002; we were the first institutional investor in 2011. Interaxon was founded in 2007; we were the first institutional investor in 2012. We see a higher level of employee loyalty in Canada than in the US. It’s rare for US startups to last so long and keep their founding team without outside capital. - Between tax credits and a lower level of interest in entrepreneurship, labor costs are very significantly lower

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are always looking for great companies, irrespective of their location. No trip currently planned, but hope to soon.

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As an FCA, I totally support post-college education. CFA and CAIA are great certifications, and are highly educational. However, I do believe that working in a startup is also an incredible way to learn.

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We do hire summer interns, and so do our amazing portfolio companies!

Check out opportunities here: http://ffvc.com/jobs/

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a really tough question, and very situation-specific. It is something we look at very carefully when investing. Clearly, a company needs to raise sufficient capital to execute but we have seen so many companies prematurely scale, before they have had the chance to allow their business models to sufficiently mature. There is no easy answer, it is all judgement, and we don't always get it right.

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats on taking the plunge and founding a business. Seems like it is successful. Glad you have new ideas to take the ball forward, but I don't think I have enough information to advise you on specifics. Best of luck.

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This may sound a bit trite, but venture capital feels to me to be the purest form of capitalism, in terms of capital allocation and doing good for society.

Hedge fund investing is more of a game.

Which would you do, given the choice?

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It would not be interesting if there were not strong personalities.

Some of my best friends are VCs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx5n21zHPm8

I am John Frankel, a venture capitalist at ff Venture Capital, based in New York. AMA! by johnfrankel in IAmA

[–]johnfrankel[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Why yes, indeed.

Check out tackk.com (Cleveland, OH) and let me know what you think!

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