From my buddy Scott Foehner: Check out Bessemer Venture Partners‘ anti-portfolio. Excerpts of some funny (and painful) missed opportunities: (GFB)
eBay: “Stamps? Coins? Comic books? You’ve GOT to be kidding,” thought Cowan. “No-brainer pass.” (GFC)
Federal Express: Incredibly, BVP passed on Federal Express seven times. (GFD)
Google: Cowan’s college friend rented her garage to Sergey and Larry for their first year. In 1999 and 2000 she tried to introduce Cowan to “these two really smart Stanford students writing a search engine”. Students? A new search engine? In the most important moment ever for Bessemer’s anti-portfolio, Cowan asked her, “How can I get out of this house without going anywhere near your garage?” (GFE)
Gotta appreciate VCs with a sense of humor. (GFF)