My friends at Charles River Ventures , George Zachary and Bill Tai, just launched the QuickStart seed funding program. QuickStart is aimed at providing seed funding for up to $250.000 to entrepreneurs and the work needed to build out your idea, enabling you to explore its potential in its earliest stage before they raise a round of formal equity financing.
Too many entrepreneurs go through the painful process of raising seed capital that consume time better spent on actually building the idea. The capital raised often also come at a high price in the form of painful dilution which translates into the founders getting less than their fair share.
I knew of this initiative already two weeks ago, when I was working out of CRV's offices in Palo Alto. I think it is a great idea that makes sense on many levels. I promised George and Bill to help out to find and recommend interesting ideas and good people that are worthwhile investing in. So if you have a good idea - please send me a mail: net (at) mashupmedia (dot) net.
Money is money. A loan does put skin in the game since it's unsecured.
I'd be much more pessimistic if they were looking to have the entrepreneure be personally liable for it (as is the case for some deals here in Utah).
Posted by: jeff barson | November 01, 2006 at 09:59 PM