The engagement threshold: transforming one-time customers into repeat business
Are you focused on new sales or bringing in loyal, repeat customers? Whenever a business is completely dependent on new customers, it’s vulnerable. Not only are customer acquisition costs high, but new customers are just as likely to turn to any new competitor that enters the market. The better a company is at turning one-time […]
Four founders share what they’ve learned
People say that hindsight is 20/20. After working knee-deep in the trenches for a year or two, you gain a better appreciation of where to focus, what to let go, and how you can do things (or should have done things) better. There’s no shortage of advice out there for startup founders. But since entrepreneurs […]
Seven life lessons at 40
I recently turned 40, which many consider to be a pretty significant milestone. Entering a new decade of life sparked a few reflective moments where I thought about what truly matters and what I’ve learned over the years, both in my professional and personal life. To that end, here are seven key life lessons I’ve […]
Key investment themes
Every venture capital firm narrows its investment focus one way or another…perhaps by geography, sector, and/or stage. In some cases, it’s the result of conscious planning; in other cases it’s a natural evolution as a fund starts making investments. For example, at version one ventures, we’re focused on early-stage (seed and Series A) opportunities in […]
Is it time for a Chief Talent Officer? How to create local hubs for high tech entrepreneurship
In an effort to spur on their local economies, many provincial and city officials have been wondering what it takes to create the next Silicon Valley. From cities in Canada, the U.S. and worldwide, we’ve seen the emergence of numerous policies all designed to encourage start-up activity. There have been taxpayer-sponsored VCs, mentoring programs, generous tax […]