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What Angel Investing & Florida Condos Have in Common

Both Sides of the Table

They have marked-up paper gains propped up by an over excited venture capital market that has validated their investments. Logic tells me the following: It is hard to make money angel investing. I have called it a “mug’s game&# and I mostly try to avoid it. It was an investment management class.

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Turkey’s Spyke raises $55M in a seed round to bring a social twist to casual mobile games

TechCrunch

This is a big sum for a seed round in any country, but as it happens, it’s the largest seed round to date for a startup out of Turkey, underscoring just how much things have evolved in the country when it comes to attracting investment. ” Spyke’s arrival in the market comes at an interesting crossroads for casual gaming.

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a16z, Avenir and Google back South African mobile games publisher Carry1st in $20M round

TechCrunch

Carry1st , a South African publisher of social games and interactive content across Africa, has raised a $20 million Series A extension led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Carry1st also received investments from Avenir and Google; it’s the latter’s second check from its Africa Investment Fund. It’s a heavyweight group.

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TechCrunch+ roundup: VCs rate pitch decks, IPO analysis, Techstars’ expansion plans

TechCrunch

“Especially for first-time founders, assessing product-market fit at a stage where it’s mostly anticipation can be as much art as science,” writes News Editor Darrell Etherington, who interviewed three VCs about the topic for TechCrunch Disrupt: Heather Hartnett, Human Ventures. David Thacker, Greylock. Victoria Treyger, Felicis. “In

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Skate Where the Puck is Going

Both Sides of the Table

Last year’s passĂ© terms that even entrepreneurs cringe at (and the best are embarrassed to lead with) are social network, social media and social games. I guess “social&# is just soooo last year. And I feel the same about investing. I hope they are because badges will run their course.

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Virtual HQs race to win over a remote-work-fatigued market

TechCrunch

Thus, people are smart enough to understand gaming — but what about wanting to do it every single day with their colleagues, sans music and flashing lights? The total addressable market for professional, social gaming is murky. Lavingia invested in Branch’s seed round. Image Credits: Bryce Durbin.