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![Page 1: LESSONS IN FINDING - Squarespace · PDF fileLESSONS IN FINDING GREAT COMPANIES Craig Sherman Managing Director, Meritech Capital Partners MOMENT 2016](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022030509/5ab86dde7f8b9a684c8cc47d/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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LESSONS IN FINDING GREAT COMPANIES
Craig ShermanManaging Director, Meritech Capital Partners
MOMENT 2016
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SECTOR LEADING FRANCHISE COMPANIES
STRATEGY
FUNDAMENTALS BASED INVESTMENT
MODEL
ALL TECHNOLOGY SECTORS 3X+ OPPORTUNITIES
TARGET 6 - 9 INVESTMENTS
PER YEAR
LATE STAGEONLY
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7 EQUALPARTNERS
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SUCCESS IN THE RIGHT SECTORS
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BIG DATA / ANALYTICS CONSUMER / INTERNET MEDICAL DEVICE
SAAS SECURITY STORAGE
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25%NET LIMITED PARTNER IRR OF
SINCE 20031
#1MCP III IS THE
PERFORMING VENTURE FUND OF 2005 VINTAGE2
1. As of June 30, 20162. Cambridge Associates First Quarter 2016 Venture Capital Industry
Benchmark Statistics Report, Report provided free of charge.
45IPOS/SALES OF PORTFOLIO
COMPANIES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2009
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ABOUT ME
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• COO at ancestry.com• EIR at Benchmark Capital• Independent board member at 8 different companies• 18 angel investments• Joined Meritech in 2011• 6 investments at Meritech• 11 exits so far
B I G G E S T E X I T S
$2.5B
$1.5B
$2.4B
$6B
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LESSONS WE’VE LEARNED
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CHARACTERISTICS OF GREAT-POTENTIAL COMPANIES
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B2C• Momentum• Huge market• Value Proposition• Retention• Weak/old/slow competitors• Talented team with huge ambitions
and aggression - but not reckless• High gross margins• Riding a secular behavioral change
B2BSame as B2C, but also:• Enterprise traction• Upsell rates• Financial planning
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WHYMANY GOOD COMPANIES DON’T BECOME GREAT COMPANIES:
B2C
B2B
• Market is smaller than you think
• Competition• Market wasn’t ready
SA
LE
S
Y’0 Y’1 Y’2 Y’3 Y’10¥¥
new company
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WHY
Company is at the forefront of a secular change that we don’t understand
Watching others play video games live
Sleeping in someone else’s home
Using a non-professional driver instead of Taxi
SOMETHING IS UNINTUITIVE (I.E.: NEW)GOOD VC’S OFTEN STILL MISS THE GREAT ONES:
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Pick the winner- Follower often wins- Examples:
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CONCLUSION:
You must recognize new (unintuitive) trends- Use, research, talk
IN THE FACE OF NEW THINGS, YOU MUST
#2
#1
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CASE STUDY: ZULILY
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2007 - 2010:Flash Sales e-commerce Companies
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MAKING A GREAT VC
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• Encourage diversity of opinion and voting process• Hire young people and give them authority to invest• Psychologically safe environment• Minimize reports and paperwork!• Example:
How can you structure your VC to make good judgements?
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SUMMARY:• We’ve had some success but we’re still learning• Always opportunity for us – and you – to up your game
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