Looks like my bottom call of late March was on target. VentureOne's Q2 numbers have the VC investment run rate up by 14% over last quarter. [/gloat]
2:56:58 PM    

A significant landmark has been passed, according to a Harris study. The 13-24 demographic, a prime target for many marketers, now spends more time online than with the tube. A good fraction of that TV time is apparently as 'background' while connected to the net.

If you're interested in the marketing and media impact of the net, read the whole thing. All can appreciate the implications of this, however:

Wenda Millard, Yahoo!'s ad sales chief, thought [young people] would have used the Internet more for entertainment instead of information purposes. The findings indicate that they approach the Web with an agenda, making search engines their first stop.

For marketers whose vocabulary is studded with words like 'compelling' and 'driving' consumers, this is a wake-up call. These aren't sheep, they're hunters. And even if you sell to a different age cohort, these people are headed toward you at one year/year. Better start figuring out how to serve them.
1:21:33 PM    

Following up on its earlier negative comments regarding FOIA requests to VCs through public institutions, Sequoia Capital has removed the University of Michigan's pension fund as a limited partner in Sequoia XI. According to prior disclosures, U of M had committed $8m to the maximum $395m capitalization of the fund. That apparently didn't overcome the potential hassle to Sequoia's managers and their portfolio.
1:06:32 PM