After VC cash? Show ‘em what you’ve learned
(Editor’s note: Serial entrepreneur Steve Blank is the author of Four Steps to the Epiphany. This column originally appeared on his blog.)
I joined the board of Cafepress.com when it was a startup. It was amazing to see the two founders, Fred Durham and Maheesh Jain, build a $100 million company from coffee cups and T-shirts.
But Cafepress’s most memorable moment was when the founders used a “Lessons Learned” VC pitch to raise their second round of funding and… Continue Reading
Roundup: Obama’s environmental policy, Sun’s big loss, and more
Here’s the latest (mostly depressing) action:
President Obama reverses Bush policy on environment — Obama endorsed California’s strict limits on greenhouse gas emissions, and vowed that the federal government will follow suit. Auto manufacturers’ responses were “similar in their ambiguity and political correctness,” according to The New York Times.
Sun posts a $209M loss — At fault are falling demands for servers and storage, as well as a big restructuring charge.
AdMob offering Android-specific ads — The move mirrors AdMob’s similar… Continue Reading
Ponoko opens new service for custom on-demand crafts
Custom design is finally beginning to mean more than just cheesy screen-printed t-shirts and coffee mugs. With a little money, you can now order specially manufactured goods from a company called Ponoko, by tapping into a base of freelance designers who will bid to fulfill orders.
Ponoko is a startup that uses laser-cutters to create items from materials like wood and plastic. Designers send Ponoko files containing specs for items; the company then creates the item… Continue Reading
[Update] Confirmed: T-shirt site CafePress buys art marketplace Imagekind
![[Update] Confirmed: T-shirt site CafePress buys art marketplace Imagekind](/wp-content/themes/VentureBeat/lib/thumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/imagekind070708.png&w=150)
Update: Imagekind has confirmed the purchase.
Imagekind, an online marketplace for original and reprinted artwork, has been bought by online t-shirt and gift seller CafePress, a reliable source tells us, with rival Zazzle losing out on the deal. We hear the acquisition price may have been between $15 million and $20 million, although we’re still looking for confirmation on the amount.
While these days there are seemingly countless sites that let you design and sell your own… Continue Reading