When I interviewed Bob Ackerman (co-founder of Allegis Capital) a couple of years ago I called him “Mr. No” because he turns down so many deals but he and Allegis, which he co-founded, are one of the most highly regarded (he funded Ribbit, which got sold to BT, for instance).
Because he’s outspoken, it’s always fun to visit and hear his view on the market. We talked a long time in an interview I filmed this week, but one of the stories he told me is why he turned down Foursquare, among other things. You’ll also hear about why he thinks innovation is very much alive and that he hasn’t yet seen a venture bubble, other than valuations on a few companies, like Foursquare, gets too high for his tastes, but is always keeping his eye out for a broader, troubling, VC bubble.
I start the interview talking about the “angel bubble” and the problems that the VC field are going through right now. “It is parrots talking to each other,” he says, demonstrating how outspoken he is, but also how positive he is that he’s able to turn away from overhyped deals that get too expensive and that he is still able to find companies to invest in that show a good return.
Around minute 25 he talks about Foursquare. “It just beyond where we’re comfortable playing today.”
