As my editor and I attempted to search out something lighthearted to do on this April Fool’s Day Monday, this query kept floating around Slack. And I needed to give it some thought for some time.
The VC himself is actually entertaining. And this is not just my opinion, it’s the opinion of the hit HBO series silicon Valley, which ran for six seasons. Many of the show’s best jokes are lines given to VC characters. (Personal favorite: gloriously deadpan VC Peter Gregory, taking the stage after rapper Flo Rida and telling him, “Thank you, Florida.”)
But are VCs themselves fun? I’m not the arbiter of what’s funny, but I do know what works for me, just as I think you realize what works for you. And there’s definitely lots of humor and VC-created content that won’t for me. I’ve all the time found the VC podcaster figure interesting – I find most VC podcasts informative at best, embarrassing at worst, and rarely that compelling narrative.
There are also Christmas music videos, created in private markets, that will be charming and touching at the same time. And if the tone is not right, things can quickly seem quite selfish.
That’s to not say that VC-generated humor is not for me. To take Bubble resistant, a mockumentary series created by Michael Fertik of Heroic Ventures and David Cowan of Bessemer. I laughed until I cried in the first three minutes when Fertik in a plaid shirt on a TED parody he speaks with soul: :
“Get to know an expert in your chosen field – and ignore every thing they must say… You pay your customers to be your customers… If you may’t find an issue, create one. Does this sound like a terrible concept that cannot possibly work? I bet you do.
Bubble resistantfor me it’s funny. A forged that appears to be mostly… VCs, not actors. As a returning theater major, I can truthfully say they’re pretty good. I managed to succeed in Cowan with my query: Are VCs funny?
“I think we are really funny as a group – more in the way that we laugh at you than at you. That’s how committed we are to bringing laughter,” Cowan said in an email to Term Sheet.
Humor will be risqué. One of my favorite books of all time is called Hammer and tickle: the history of communism told through communist jokes, which is a terrific introduction to dark Soviet humor and ultimately how a foul joke can cost you your freedom. Of course, it doesn’t go that far often. But have a look at any comedian and eventually they’ll start talking about the spectacular embarrassment and risk of being a humorist. And VC is all about risk, right? Humor is dangerous and vital – in defense of the holiday video trend, these videos are an investment and due to this fact a confirmation that humor Is vital.
Are VCs funny? The answer is of course that it depends, but I’m kind of inclined to say yes. In a way, they must be, given how fickle and strange the world of ventures and startups will be. The last time I laughed out loud unexpectedly and uncontrollably was after I met an investor friend of mine at an event. Somehow we began talking about the most absurd sounds that they had ever heard and I almost broke my wine glass in hysterics.
And I’ll never inform you where or who, but weeks later I’m still laughing. Happy April Fool’s Day.
In case you missed it…GGV has officially renamed to Notable Capital and GGV Capital Asia renamed to Granite Asia.
This month’s cartoon…Here’s our comic for April, by Ian Foley.
See you tomorrow,
Joe Abrams curated the deals section of today’s newsletter.
VENTURE OFFERS
– InStride HealthA Boston, Massachusetts-based outpatient facility specializing in the treatment of pediatric anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders has raised $30 million in Series B financing. Generic catalytic converter led the round and was joined by previous investors .406 Ventures, Valtruis, General Mass Brigham VenturesAND Hopelab Foundation.
– Correct minda Palo Alto, California-based artificial intelligence and model risk management platform for financial services has raised $8.1 million in seed funding. Point72 ventures he was leading the round and joined him Third Prime Minister, New York life ventures, AI Fund, The concept of capital, FJ Laboratories, Angel investmentAND Gaingels.
PRIVATE CAPITAL
– Sheltersupported by Carlyle Group AND Accel-KKRacquired TPG Software, a Houston, Texas-based provider of investment accounting and management solutions. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
– AgroFresh solutionsportfolio company Paine Schwartz Partnersacquired International pace, a provider of sustainable postharvest technologies based in Wapato, Washington. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
OTHER
– Blue Tam agreed to buy Enterprises of one networkDallas, Texas-based developer of an artificial intelligence-based supply change management platform for $839 million.
– Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) acquired OCR servicesa Rockville, Maryland-based global trade management and compliance solutions provider for about $90 million.
AND AFTER
– Boundless biographya San Diego, California-based biotechnology company developing oncogene-enhanced therapies for terminal cancer patients raised $100 million in an offering of 6.3 million shares priced at $16 on Nasdaq.
This is the online version of Term Sheet, a each day newsletter about the biggest deals and deals in venture capital and private equity. Register free of charge.
Credit : fortune.com