3.7
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Over Rated Team. They Are 'Ok'
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by FloridaCEO on 2008-07-21
I really wasn't impressed with the quality of the team's questions or their due diligence. Not sure they could grasp the value proposition.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyDown For The Count? Hartenbaum Bails...
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-01
http://venturebeat.com/2008/04/15/how...
I was reading that the infamous, blunt, and outspoken general partner, Howard Hartenbaum, has left Draper Richards for another venture firm. From my dealings, Howard is definitely rough around the edges, but he was the face man of the firm.
Since almost all of the reviews here are of Howard's performance, ranging from "Really Conceited" to "Howard Is Human," I am not sure what the future hold for Draper Richards. Draper Richards needs to move quickly to separate its image from Howard and build a new reputation.
It's also not a great sign that the face man has left. Are they out of money?
PRIVATE: Members OnlyWest Coast Focus
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-03-31
Does not seem interested in deals outside of the bay area.
PRIVATE: Members Only (83 Characters)Pitched, Turned Down, And Love Howard
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-02-02
Yup, he turned us down, but then kept helping us.
Unlike his peers at DFJ, Howard delivers when he offers to help. DFJ folk seem to just want volume, and don't care for you. Howard is different and I suspect the part of the ego that offends others as reviewed above, is probably a way Howard establishes whether it's worth to help them going forward. If you are weak skinned, why bother, since the vc world is going to be tough?
PRIVATE: Members Only (409 Characters)Asks A Lot Of Questions, Some Of Them Good!
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-11-17
My experience with HH is that he asks more questions during a meeting than other VCs, really listens to your answer about as often as other VCs and figures things out pretty quickly. Some of the things he figures out are actually correct.
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Thoughtful And Open Minded
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by newmkt on 2007-09-08
We pitched Howard on our consumer product business. Our market is outside their stated focus on technology, yet Howard was open to learning about out company, and immediately able to give good feedback. Rhonda Stinson also contributed to the conversation, and was great to have involved. If she's available, I recommend having her join your meeting. She's very smart and is influential within the team. Bill stepped into the meeting as well, and seemed to be very personable, and similarly open-minded. I have not had the opportunity to meet Robin.
PRIVATE: Members Only (352 Characters)Howard And Bill Care
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-07
Our experience with Bill and Howard was extremely positive. They were highly engaged during the pitch and provided thoughtful feedback. Bill focused on the team and Howard on the business model. Although they did not invest they went out of their way to help by providing introductions to potential investors. They followed up immediately; Bill even called one investor while we were meeting.
PRIVATE: Members Only (349 Characters)Very Refreshing!
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-08-23
I recently reached out to Howard and Robin regarding funding a venture in Florida. Although they are not making investments in Florida, they responded quickly and provided a direct referral to a Florida-based VC, with whom they have co-investing experience. This is how pros behave. Very refreshing!
PRIVATE: Members Only (120 Characters)Howard Is Human
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-08-23
Howard Hartenbaum likes entrepreneurs, treats them with respect, and does what he does very well. He is a pleasure to pitch, and a supportive and productive board participant. One of the good guys.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyA Pleasure
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-08-16
I met with Bill and Howard in late 2003 to pitch my business (at Buck's in Woodside no less!) and I was impressed with their enthusiasm and energy.
Within hours, both Bill and Howard are calling contacts to both vet us and make useful intros. I spent some time chatting with Bill one-on-one and was impressed at how genuine and personable he was. Howard was particularly inciteful in his analyses of business and markets in our industry. I liked the way he was thinking & the fact that he didn't fear thinking out loud.
They decided to pass, but they so helpful and gracious.
Truly a couple of gems in this industry.
Meet or pitch 'em if you ever get the chance.
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Very Impressed With Howard
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by abeson on 2007-08-01
I've met with Howard both to collaborate on investment projects as well as to solicit feedback on my own company and have been extremely impressed each time. He always adds great insight and goes to great lengths to solicit others to help. And rare in the Bay Area, he is always prompt and attentive.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyHoward Is The Best.....
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by Ajax on 2007-07-20
Ok, I have known Howard for 4 years, and in all that time Howard has always been supportive, honest, insightful and a great guy to get along with. He doesn't have time to coddle you, but he returns calls promptly, gives you well thought out and reasoned advice, and is just about the only guy in the valley I really trust to look out for me as an entrepreneur.
Last year I took a company I am on the board of out to meet Howard. he gave them straight forward advice that meant they had to change a LOT. A year later they did it all and Howard got them 5 meetings in a week. Howard got nothing out of this, but did it because he is a good guy who likes to see entrepreneurs succeed.
Howard is the man.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyBill And Howard Are Fantastic
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by auren on 2007-07-17
while i have never pitched Bill or Howard, plenty of the companies i have been an angel investor in have. Bill and Howard are both great guys and they are the "good guys" in the venture world. they have both been extremely helpful to me over the years with lots of helpful advice, contacts, and insights. they are definitely a go-to stop for an entrepreneur.
PRIVATE: Members OnlyHoward Is Great
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by bhl211 on 2007-07-10
I think that Howard is very insightful and very straight forward. Some people may be put off by this approach but it helps, in my opinion, to cut to the chase and through the b/s
PRIVATE: Members Only (51 Characters)Howard And Bill
Fund: Draper Richards, LP
Posted by joescout on 2007-07-02
I met Howard Hartenbaum and Bill Draper 3 weeks ago through a referral from another VC. We had just 2 days earlier closed a small seed round with a small VC and a group of angels. They gave great feedback, asked great questions, and followed through with an investment exactly as promised.
Howard and Bill scheduled around me and agreed to meet me first thing in the AM - I showed up 10 minutes early and we started right away. Both asked great on point questions as they had prepared in advance and obviously read the ppt and executive summary I had provided them a day before the meeting. It was also clear by their questions, they had done some phone calls to learn more about me and the business already.
I only showed one slide (the business model) as the questions and answer discussion was on track and covering the key items I wanted to cover. 50 minutes into the meeting - Bill turned to Howard and they talked about what they thought to each other (in front of me). They then agreed to fund the same amount on the same terms as the original VC and add to our just closed round. They agreed to make it happen in a week subject to them checking 2 references on me. 7 days later they sent their signature pages and wire as agreed.
Summary - I have not worked with Howard and Bill before - but based on their great questions, track record, and doing what they said they would so far - I am super excited to have them involved.
PRIVATE: Members Only (775 Characters)