20 VC 068: Why Now Is The Best Time To Be An Entrepreneur with Sean Seton-Rogers @ PROfounders Capital

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

The Twenty Minute VC

Finance, Venturecapital, Tech News, News, Siliconvalley, Technology, Investing, Startups, Business

4.4 • 637 Ratings

🗓️ 2 September 2015

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Sean Seton-Rogers is a founding Partner at PROfounders Capital, a venture capital fund for entrepreneurs powered by entrepreneurs. Their investors and principals number some of the best-known players within the digital media space -- people who have built some of Europe's most successful companies. Prior to PROfounders, Sean has been investing in technology companies across both the US and Europe, when he was at both Balderton Capital and Commonwealth Capital Ventures in Boston. In addition to the PROfounders portfolio companies, he has in the past worked closely with others such as Bebo, Wonga.com, and ConstantContact.

In Today's Episode You Will Learn:

1.) How did Sean make his entry into the VC world at the peak of the first tech bubble?

2.) What was the biggest lesson Sean learnt from experiencing the bubble imploding?

3.) Why are we seeing this trend of US VC funds investing in Europe?

4.) What are the key drivers to the growth of the European tech ecosystem?

5.) Why is there a serious decline in the amount of Series C rounds, only 7 in Q2 2015?

6.) Is Sean concerned by the rise of Crowdfunding? Does Sean see it as a competing finance model to VC?

7.) Do investors on Crowdfunding platforms experience the same deal terms as VCs?

Items Mentioned In Today's Episode:

Sean's Fave Book: Robert Cialdini: Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion, Neal Stevenson: Cryptonomicon

Sean's Fave Blog or Newsletter: Benedict Evans Newsletter

Sean's Must Have Productivity Tools: Evernote, Google Apps

Sean's Most Recent Investment: Made.com

As always you can follow Harry, The Twenty Minute VC, Sean and PROfounders on Twitter right here!

For a more colourful view of Harry and maybe a few mojito sessions follow Harry on Instagram here!

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the 20 minute VC with your host, Harry Stebbings. And following our fantastic interview with Atomico,
0:06.4	we are back on the streets of London to talk to the incredible Sean Seton Rogers, founding partner at ProFounders Capital,
0:13.7	a venture capital fund for entrepreneurs powered by entrepreneurs. Their investors and principles
0:19.3	number some of the best known players within the
0:21.5	digital media space from the likes of Bebo and Last Minute.com, just to name a few. And prior to
0:27.7	pro founders, Sean has been investing in technology companies across both the US and Europe,
0:32.7	when he was at both the one and only Baldson Capital and Commonwealth Capital Ventures in Boston.
0:39.0	In addition to the ProFounders Portfolio Companies, Sean has worked closely with others such as
0:44.6	Bebo and Wonga.com. It's an incredible episode today where we discuss the rise of crowdfunding,
0:50.6	the rise of Europe as a tech ecosystem, and much, much more. But first, are you having trouble hiring or finding those 18 players?
0:58.0	Or check out HiringScreen.com, the smartest and fastest way to find the most relevant candidates for your job.
1:06.0	Hiring Screen even has the ability to create the job description for you.
1:10.0	What can I say? They're brilliant,
1:12.3	one-stop shop and must check them out. However, back to today's incredible episode with Sean,
1:17.7	so without further ado, it's time to welcome the man himself, Sean Seaton Rogers, at Pro Founders
1:23.6	Capital. Three, two, one, zero.
1:30.1	You have now arrived at your destination.
1:33.2	Sean, a legend of the industry.
1:35.5	I'm hugely excited to have you on the 20-minute VC.
1:38.3	Very happy to be here.
1:39.8	Excited to be here.
1:40.7	Now, can you take us back to your early days and entering the industry and how did you make your move into the VC industry?
	...

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