For McCain and Obama Supporters

Our portfolio company Foneshow has been producing great free audio contents/shows from the two presidential candidates that get delivered free to your phone via SMS. You get speeches, commercials, political conference calls, press conferences...it's fascinating material. The SMS (text message) comes to your phone with a clickable phone number. Just click the number and you are listening to the show. Press 3 to skip to the next show, 1 to go back to the beginning or 6 to hear the candidates talk faster (125% normal speed). These shows are quickly becoming some of the fastest-subscribed to shows on foneshow and have an extremely high SMS/call ratio. Good stuff. And it's free.

Click here to subscribe to Barack Obama Media or here to subscribe to John McCain Media. Enjoy.

The (Very Real) Early Stage Capital Gap

Clear Venture Partners, the new fund-in-formation, that I work for is designed to address the early-stage capital gap for companies in New England. The capital gap refers to the difficulty that early-stage companies have in successfully securing $1-4 million Series A rounds. As venture capital funds in the US have gotten larger and larger, if a $300 million fund can not see the light of day towards getting upwards of $20 million into one deal, then it may not be worth their time. The New York Times had a great article on July 19 titled Venture Financing Drops for Youngest Companies As Older Ones Suck Up More Cash.

The article begins by saying: "In an ominous sign for Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial machine, venture capital firms are cutting back on their investments in companies at their earliest stage of development...". The capital gap is real and we believe that the market for funds like Clear is compelling. Just talk with entrepreneurs: Demand certainly outstrips supply.

Putney Pasta financing

I am pleased to announce that Sea Change Investment Fund has led a Series C investment in The Natural Pasta Co. d/b/a Putney Pasta. To see the press release, go here. Stay tuned for the company's new skillet meal line, to launch soon. It's out of this world good and there's nothing in the market like it.